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Except her beauteous fellow！ Oh！ to be
The chosen friend of two such neighbours！
Wild。 Would
His tongue would make a halt。 He makes too free
With neighbour Constance！ Can't he let her arms
Alone！ I trust their chosen friend
Will ne'er be he！ I'm vexed。 ＇Aside。＇
True。 But graceful things
Grow doubly graceful in the graceful use！
Hast marked her ever walk the drawing…room？
Wild。 ＇Snappishly。＇ No。
True。 No！ Why； where have been your eyes？
Wild。 In my head！
But I begin to doubt if open yet。 ＇Aside。＇
True。 Yet that's a trifle to the dance； down which
She floats as though she were a form of air；
The ground feels not her foot； or tells not on't；
Her movements are the painting of the strain；
Its swell； its fall； its mirth； its tenderness！
Then is she fifty Constances！each moment
Another one； and each； except its fellow；
Without a peer！ You have danced with her！
Wild。 I hate
To dance！ I can't endure to dance！Of course
You have danced with her？
True。 I have。
Wild。 You have？
True。 I have。
Wild。 I do abominate to dance！could carve
Fiddlers and company！ A dancing man
To me was ever like a dancing dog！
Save less to be endured。Ne'er saw I one
But I bethought me of the master's whip。
True。 A man might bear the whip to dance with her！
Wild。 Not if I had the laying of it on！
True。 Well； let that pass。 The lady is the theme。
Wild。 Yes； make an end of it！I'm sick of it。 ＇Aside。＇
True。 How well she plays the harpsichord and harp！
How well she sings to them！ Whoe'er would prove
The power of song； should hear thy neighbour sing；
Especially a love…song！
Wild。 Does she sing
Such songs to thee？
True。 Oh； yes； and constantly。
For such I ever ask her。
Wild。 Forward minx！ ＇Aside。＇
Maids should not sing love…songs to gentlemen！
Think'st neighbour Constance is a girl to love？
True。 A girl to love？Ay； and with all her soul！
Wild。 How know you that？
True。 I have studied close the sex。
Wild。 You town…rakes are the devil for the sex！ ＇Aside。＇
True。 Not your most sensitive and serious maid
I'd always take for deep impressions。 Mind
The adage of the bow。 The pensive brow
I have oft seen bright in wedlock； and anon
O'ercast in widowhood； then； bright again。
Ere half the season of the weeds was out；
While； in the airy one； I have known one cloud
Forerunner of a gloom that ne'er cleared up …
So would it prove with neighbour Constance。 Not
On superficial grounds she'll ever love；
But once she does； the odds are ten to one
Her first love is her last！
Wild。 I wish I ne'er
Had come to town！ I was a happy man
Among my dogs and horses。 ＇Aside。＇ Hast thou broke
Thy passion to her？
True。 Never。
Wild。 Never？
True。 No。
I hoped you'd act my proxy there。
Wild。 I thank you。
True。 I knew 'twould be a pleasure to you。
Wild。 Yes；
A pleasure！an unutterable pleasure！
True。 Thank you！ You make my happiness your own。
Wild。 I do。
True。 I see you do。 Dear Master Wildrake！
Oh； what a blessing is a friend in need！
You'll go and court your neighbour for me？
Wild。 Yes。
True。 And says she 〃nay〃 at first； you'll press again？
Wild。 Ay； and again！
True。 There's one thing I mistrustyea； most mistrust；
That of my poor deserts you'll make too much。
Wild。 Fear anything but that。
True。 'Twere better far
You slightly spoke of them。
Wild。 You think so？
True。 Yes。
Or rather did not speak of them at all。
Wild。 You think so？
True。 Yes。
Wild。 Then I'll not say a word
About them。
True。 Thank you！ A judicious friend
Is better than a zealous： you are both！
I see you'll plead my cause as 'twere your own；
Then stay in town； and win your neighbour for me；
Make me the envy of a score of men
That die for her as I do。 Make her mine；
And when the last 〃Amen！〃 declares complete
The mystic tying of the holy knot；
And 'fore the priest a blushing wife she stands；
Be thine the right to claim the second kiss
She pays for change from maidenhood to wifehood。
＇Goes out。＇
Wild。 Take that thyself！ The first be mine； or none！
A man in love with neighbour Constance！ Never
Dreamed I that such a thing could come to pass！
Such person； such endowments； such a soul！
I never thought to ask myself before
If she were man or woman！ Suitors； too；
Dying for her！ I'll e'en make one among 'em！
Woo her to go to church along with him；
And for my pains the privilege to take
The second kiss？ I'll take the second kiss；
And first one tooand last！ No man shall touch
Her lips but me。 I'll massacre the man
That looks upon her！ Yet what chance have I
With lovers of the town； whose study 'tis
To please your lady belles！who dress； walk； talk；
To hit their tasteswhat chance； a country squire
Like me？ Yet your true fair； I have heard； prefers
The man before his coat at any time；
And such a one may neighbour Constance be。
I'll show a limb with any of them！ Silks
I'll wear； nor keep my legs in cases more。
I'll learn to dance town…dances； and frequent
Their concerts！ Die away at melting strains；
Or seem to do sofar the easier thing；
And as effective quite； leave naught undone
To conquer neighbour Constance。
＇Enter LASH。＇
Lash。 Sir。
Wild。 Well； sir？
Lash。 So please you； sir； your horse is at the door。
Wild。 Unsaddle him again and put him up。
And； hark you； get a tailor for me； sir …
The rarest can be found。
Lash。 The man's below； sir；
That owns the mare your worship thought to buy。
Wild。 Tell him I do not want her； sir。
Lash。 I vow
You will not find her like in Lincolnshire。
Wild。 Go to！ She's spavined。
Lash。 Sir！
Wild。 Touched in the wind。
Lash。 I trust my master be not touched in the head！
I vow； a faultless beast！ ＇Aside。＇
Wild。 I want her not；
And that's your answer。 Go to the hosier's； sir；
And bid him send me samples of his gear；
Of twenty different kinds。
Lash。 I will； sir。Sir！
Wild。 Well； sir。
Lash。 Squire Brush's huntsman's here； and says
His master's kennel is for sale。
Wild。 The dogs
Are only fit for hanging！ …
Lash。 Finer bred …
Wild。 Sirrah； if more to me thou talkest of dogs；
Horses； or aught that to thy craft belongs；
Thou mayst go hang for me！A cordwainer
Go fetch me straightthe choicest in the town。
Away； sir！ Do thy errands smart and well
As thou canst crack thy whip！ ＇LASH goes out。＇
Dear neighbour Constance；
I'll give up horses； dogs； and all for thee！
＇Goes out。＇
SCENE II。
＇Enter WIDOW GREEN and LYDIA。＇
W。 Green。 Lydia； my gloves。 If Master Waller calls；
I shall be in at three； and say the same
To old Sir William Fondlove。 Tarry yet！ …
What progress； think you； make I in the heart
Of fair young Master Waller？ Gods； my girl；
It is a heart to win and man as well！
How speed I； think you？ Didst； as I desired；
Detain him in my absence when he called；
And； without seeming； sound him touching me？
Lydia。 Yes。
W。 Green。 And effects he me； or not？ How guess you？
What said he of me？ Looked he balked； or not；
To find me not at home？ Inquired he when
I would be back； as much he longed to see me？
What did hes