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With heartier glee than I do。
Wild。 Churl were he
That would gainsay you； madam。
Con。 ＇Curtseying。＇ What delight
To back the flying steed； that challenges
The wind for speed！seems native more of air
Than earth！whose burden only lends him fire！ …
Whose soul； in his task； turns labour into sport；
Who makes your pastime his！ I sit him now！
He takes away my breath！ He makes me reel！
I touch not earthI see nothear not。 All
Is ecstasy of motion！
Wild。 You are used；
I see； to the chase。
Con。 I am； sir。 Then the leap；
To see the saucy barrier； and know
The mettle that can clear it！ Then； your time
To prove you master of the manege。 Now
You keep him well together for a space；
Both horse and rider braced as you were one；
Scanning the distancethen you give him rein；
And let him fly at it； and o'er he goes
Light as a bird on wing。
Wild。 'Twere a bold leap；
I see； that turned you； madam。
Con。 ＇Curtseying。＇ Sir； you're good！
And then the hounds； sir！ Nothing I admire
Beyond the running of the well…trained pack。
The training's everything！ Keen on the scent！
At fault none losing heart！but all at work！
None leaving his task to another！answering
The watchful huntsman's cautions； check； or cheer。
As steed his rider's rein！ Away they go
How close they keep together！ What a pack！
Nor turn； nor ditch； nor stream divides themas
They moved with one intelligence； act； will！
And then the concert they keep up！enough
To make one tenant of the merry wood；
To list their jocund music！
Wild。 You describe
The huntsman's pastime to the life。
Con。 I love it！
To wood and glen； hamlet and town； it is
A laughing holiday！ Not a hill…top
But's then alive！ Footmen with horsemen vie；
All earth's astir； roused with the revelry
Of vigour； health； and joy！ Cheer awakes cheer；
While Echo's mimic tongue； that never tires；
Keeps up the hearty din！ Each face is then
Its neighbour's glasswhere Gladness sees itself；
And at the bright reflection grows more glad！
Breaks into tenfold mirth！laughs like a child！
Would make a gift of its heart； it is so free！
Would scarce accept a kingdom； 'tis so rich！
Shakes hands with all； and vows it never knew
That life was life before！
Wild。 Nay； every way
You do fair justice； lady； to the chase；
But fancies change。
Con。 Such fancy is not mine。
Wild。 I would it were not mine； for your fair sake。
I have quite given o'er the chase。
Con。 You say not so！
Wild。 Forsworn； indeed； the sportsman's life； and grown；
As you may partly see； town…gentleman。
I care not now to mount a steed； unless
To amble 'long the street； no paces mind；
Except my own； to walk the drawing…room；
Or in the ball…room to come off with grace；
No leap for me； to match the light coupe；
No music like the violin and harp；
To which the huntsman's dog and horn I find
Are somewhat coarse and homely minstrelsy：
Then fields of ill…dressed rustics； you'll confess；
Are well exchanged for rooms of beaux and belles
In short； I've ta'en another thought of life …
Become another man！
Con。 The cause； I pray？
Wild。 The cause of causes； lady。
Con。 He's in love！ ＇Aside。＇
Wild。 To you； of women； I would name it last；
Yet your frank bearing merits like return；
I； that did hunt the game； am caught myself
In chase I never dreamed of！
＇Goes out。＇
Con。 He is in love！
Wildrake's in love！ 'Tis that keeps him in town；
Turns him from sportsman to town…gentleman。
I never dreamed that he could be in love！
In love with whom？I'll find the vixen out！
What right has she to set her cap at him？
I warrant me； a forward； artful minx；
I hate him worse than ever。 I'll do all
I can to spoil the match。 He'll never marry …
Sure he will never marry！ He will have
More sense than that！ My back doth ope and shut …
My temples throb and shootI am cold and hot！
Were he to marry； there would be an end
To neighbour Constanceneighbour Wildrakewhy；
I should not know myself！
＇Enter TRUEWORTH。＇
Dear Master Trueworth；
What think you！neighbour Wildrake is in love！
In love！ Would you believe it； Master Trueworth？
Ne'er heed my dress and looks； but answer me。
Knowest thou of any lady he has seen
That's like to cozen him？
True。 I am not sure …
We talked to…day about the Widow Green！
Con。 Her that my father fancies。 Let him wed her！
Marry her to…morrowif he will； to…night。
I can't spare neighbour Wildrakeneighbour Wildrake！
Although I would not marry him myself；
I could not hear that other married him！
Go to my father'tis a proper match！
He has my leave！ He's welcome to bring home
The Widow Green。 I'll give up house and all！
She would be mad to marry neighbour Wildrake；
He would wear out her patienceplague her to death；
As he does me。 She must not marry him！
＇They go out。＇
ACT III。
SCENE I。A Room in Widow Green's。
＇Enter MASTER WALLER； following LYDIA。＇
Wal。 But thou shalt hear me； gentle Lydia。
Sweet maiden； thou art frightened at thyself！
Thy own perfections 'tis that talk to thee。
Thy beauty rich！thy richer grace！thy mind；
More rich again than that； though richest each！
Except for these； I had no tongue for thee；
Eyes for thee！ears！had never followed thee！ …
Had never loved thee； Lydia！ Hear me！ …
Lydia。 Love
Should seek its match。 No match am I for thee。
Wal。 Right！ Love should seek its match； and that is； love
Or nothing！ Stationfortunefind their match
In things resembling them。 They are not love！
Comes love （that subtle essence； without which
Life were but leaden dulness！weariness！
A plodding trudger on a heavy road！）
Comes it of title…deeds which fools may boast？
Or coffers vilest hands may hold the keys of？
Or that ethereal lamp that lights the eyes
To shed the sparkling lustre o'er the face；
Gives to the velvet skin its blushing glow；
And burns as bright beneath the peasant's roof
As roof of palaced prince？ Yes； Love should seek
Its matchthen give my love its match in thine；
Its match which in thy gentle breast doth lodge
So richso earthly； heavenly fair and rich；
As monarchs have no thought of on their thrones；
Which kingdoms do bear up。
Lydia。 Wast thou a monarch；
Me wouldst thou make thy queen？
Wal。 I would。
Lydia。 What！ Pass
A princess by for me？
Wal。 I would。
Lydia。 Suppose
Thy subjects would prevent thee？
Wal。 Then； in spite
Of them！
Lydia。 Suppose they were too strong for thee？
Wal。 Why； then I'd give them up my thronecontent
With that thou'dst yield me in thy gentle breast。
Lydia。 Can subjects do what monarchs do？
Wal。 Far more！
Far less！
Lydia。 Among those things； where more their power；
Is marriage one？
Wal。 Yes。
Lydia。 And no part of love；
You say； is rank or wealth？
Wal。 No part of love。
Lydia。 Is marriage part of love？
Wal。 At times it is；
At times is not。 Men love and marrylove
And marry not。
Lydia。 Then have they not the power；
So must they hapless part with those they love。
Wal。 Oh； no！ not part！ How could they love and part？
Lydia。 How could they love not part； not free to wed？
Wal。 Alone in marriage doth not union lie！
Lydia。 Alone where hands are fre