Farmer Blackberry, .............. Mr. DARLEY.

Jemmy Jumps,...............

Counsellor Flummery, .............................

Mr. EDWIN.

Mr. Rock.

Mr. BLANCHARD.

.............................. ............................ Mr. THOMPSON.

......................... Mr. LEDGER.

Rundy,

Farmer Stubble,

Landlord,

Louifa,

Mrs. MOUNTAIN.

WAITERS, TRADESMEN, PEASANTS, &C.

SCENE, Kent and London.

THE

FARMER.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A Rural ProspectVALENTINE's House at a Distance.

Enter FAIRLY and TOTAL.

FAIRLY.

YOUR master's a rafcal!unknown to me marrying my daughter, then leaving her behind him at Canada, and here ftepping into all the vices of London. A fingle Gentleman, forfooth! Deny his marriage!-but I'll ftrip him of his new gor wealth.

Total. Huh! that's likely to happen without your help. You know that old humourist his uncle, Colonel Dormont, wifhing to avoid the buftle and etiquette of rank, gave my master here the enjoyment of his fortune; but of which hearing he makes fo ill a ufe, he has abfolutely advertis'd

in

in the news papers, to find if he has not fome other relations living to transfer it to.

Fair. Then he has another relation, hereabouts too, and to find him is what brought me now into Kent.

Total. What's his name? Fair. I won't tell. Total. Me you may! I'm Captain Valentine's fteward to be fure; but I was placed here by his uncle merely as a guard over him; and harkee, Mr. Fairly, you know the Colonel, from being fo long abroad, hasn't feen him fince the height of a pen cafe; I told him tho' of his deferting your daughter, and all his profligate exploits! He's fo much incens'd that-here's a letter in his own hand, commanding my mafter to refign every fhilling's worth belonging to him, without beat of drum this very evening to march out of his houfe yonder, and for the first time appear before him on the Parade, St. James's Park, to-morrow morning.

Fair. (with joy) Then he's ruin'd! ha, ha, ha! good Captain Valentine! Isn't that he, (looking out) cajoling fome fimple country girl? And his wife my poor child, Louisa !-Oh! how I should like to break his bones; but no fword or piftol work for me; no, I'll find the honeft farmer that's to fuperfede him: I'll teach a Captain to wrong a Lawyer. [Exeunt.

Enter VALENTINE and BETTY BLACKBERRY.

1

AIR.

VALENTINE.

Charming village maid!

If thou wilt be mine,
In gold and pearls array'd,
All my wealth is thine.

If

If not fhar'd with thee,
E'en nature's beauties fade,
Sweeteft do but love me,
Charming village maid!

Had I yon fhepherd's care,
Yon lambs to feed and fold,
The dog ftar heat I'd bear,
And winter's piercing cold;
Well pleas'd I'd toil for thee,
At harrow, flail or spade
Sweeteft do but love me,
Charming village maid!

This morn at early dawn
I had a hedge rofe wild,
(Its fweats perfum'd the lawn,
'Twas fportive nature's child,)
My lovely fair for thee,

Tranfplanted from the glade,
Sweetest do but love me,
Charming village maid!

Enter Farmer BLACKBERRY (with a Milking Pail)

Farmer B. Where is this daughter of mine? Ah! hey!

Betty. I vow, your honor, all these fine things fhou'd make me vaftly conceited.

Farmer B. Ah! ha! he won't have much trouble to do that. (afide)

Val. My adorable angel.

Farmer B. I've heard fay Fairies are good at it, but now I'll fee an angel milk my cow.

Betty. La! father, talk of a cow to a gentle

man!

Farmer B. Yes, and I'll keep my heifer from a gentleman. (Gives her the pail, and puts ber off) Val. Stop farmer! Yes, I'll propofe-he dare not refuse his landlord, (afide). Blackberry, I fhall

VOL. IV.

M M

deal

deal with you fair and open: your daughter Betty pleafes me; name any fettlement, or I'll fign a Carte Blanche. You know the world, and I dare fay understand me.

Farmer B. Why, yes, Sir, I think I do underftand you.

Val. I'm inclin'd to be your friend-I've company waiting at home, fo your anfwer will oblige. Farmer B. Pray, Sir, did you ever feel the weight of an English cudgel?

Val. A what!

Farmer B. Only a twig of oak like this, laid on with an old tough arm, pretty ftrong from labour, and a heart ftung by honeft refentment.

Val. Why, fellow! I fancy you forget who you're talking to..

Farmer B. Sir, you may yet be a parent, then you'll be capable of a father's feelings, at the cruel offer to make him a party in the proftitution of his child.

AIR.-FARMER BLACKBERRY.

Ere around the huge oak, that o'erfhadows yon mill,
The fond Ivy had dar'd to entwine

Ere the church was a ruin that nods on the hill
Or a rook built her neft, in the pine,

Cou'd I trace back the time, a much earlier date,
Since my fore fathers toil'd in this field;

And the farm I now hold on your honor's estate,
Is the fame that my grandfather till'd.

He dying bequeath'd to his fon a good name,
Which unfullied defcended to me;

For my child I've preferv'd it, unblemish'd with fhame,

And it till from a spot fhall

go

free.

[Exit

Val.