The Works of Henry Fielding, vol. 12. Fielding Harold

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       Money. Ha, ha, ha! he is the best company in the world, sir, and so full of his similitudes!

       Wit. Luckless, good morrow; I shall see you soon again.

       Luck. Let it be soon, I beseech you; for thou hast brought a calm into this house that was scarce ever in it before.

      SCENE XI. – LUCKLESS, MRS MONEYWOOD, JACK

       Money. Well, Mr Luckless, you are a comical man, to give one such a character to a stranger.

       Luck. The company is gone, madam; and now, like true man and wife, we may fall to abusing one another as fast as we please.

       Money. Abuse me as you please, so you pay me, sir.

       Luck. 'Sdeath! madam, I will pay you.

       Money. Nay, sir, I do not ask it before it is due. I don't question your payment at all: if you was to stay in my house this quarter of a year, as I hope you will, I should not ask you for a farthing.

       Luck. Toll, loll, loll. – But I shall have her begin with her passion immediately; and I had rather be the object of her rage for a year than of her love for half an hour.

       Money. But why did you choose to surprise me with my money? Why did you not tell me you would pay me?

       Luck. Why, have I not told you?

       Money. Yes, you told me of a play, and stuff: but you never told me you would order a gentleman to pay me. A sweet, pretty, good-humoured gentleman he is, heaven bless him! Well, you have comical ways with you: but you have honesty at the bottom, and I'm sure the gentleman himself will own I gave you that character.

       Luck. Oh! I smell you now. – You see, madam, I am better than my word to you: did he pay it you in gold or silver?

       Money. All pure gold.

       Luck. I have a vast deal of silver, which he brought me, within; will you do me the favour of taking it in silver? that will be of use to you in the shop too.

       Money. Anything to oblige you, sir.

       Luck. Jack, bring out the great bag, number one. Please to tell the money, madam, on that table.

       Money. It's easily told: heaven knows there's not so much on't.

       Jack. Sir, the bag is so heavy, I cannot bring it in.

       Luck. Why, then, come and help to thrust a heavier bag out.

       Money. What do you mean?

       Luck. Only to pay you in my bed-chamber.

       Money. Villain, dog, I'll swear a robbery, and have you hanged: rogues, villains!

       Luck. Be as noisy as you please – [Shuts the door.] Jack, call a coach; and, d' ye hear? get up behind it and attend me.

      ACT II

      SCENE I. —The Playhouse. – LUCKLESS, MARPLAY, senior, MARPLAY, junior

       Luck. [Reads.]

      "Then hence my sorrow, hence my ev'ry fear;

      No matter where, so we are bless'd together.

      With thee, the barren rocks, where not one step

      Of human race lies printed in the snow,

      Look lovely as the smiling infant spring."

       Mar. sen. Augh! will you please to read that again, sir?

       Luck. "Then hence my sorrow, hence my ev'ry fear."

       Mar. sen. "Then hence my sorrow." – Horror is a much better word. – And then in the second line – "No matter where, so we are bless'd together." – Undoubtedly, it should be, "No matter where, so somewhere we're together." Where is the question, somewhere is the answer. – Read on, sir.

       Luck. "With thee, – "

       Mar. sen. No, no, I could alter those lines to a much better idea.

      "With thee, the barren blocks, where not a bit

      Of human face is painted on the bark,

      Look green as Covent-garden in the spring."

       Luck. Green as Covent-garden!

       Mar. jun. Yes, yes; Covent-garden market, where they sell greens.

       Luck. Monstrous!

       Mar. sen. Pray, sir, read on.

       Luck.

      "LEANDRA: oh, my Harmonio, I could hear thee still;

      The nightingale to thee sings out of tune,

      While on thy faithful breast my head reclines,

      The downy pillow's hard; while from thy lips

      I drink delicious draughts of nectar down,

      Falernian wines seem bitter to my taste."

       Mar. jun. Here's meat, drink, singing, and lodging, egad.

       Luck. He answers.

       Mar. jun. But, sir —

       Luck.

      "Oh, let me pull thee, press thee to my heart,

      Thou rising spring of everlasting sweets!

      Take notice, Fortune, I forgive thee all!

      Thou'st made Leandra mine. Thou flood of joy

      Mix with my soul, and rush thro' ev'ry vein."

       Mar. sen. Those two last lines again if you please.

       Luck. "Thou'st made," &c.

       Mar. jun.

      " – Thou flood of joy,

      Mix with my soul and rush thro' ev'ry vein."

      Those are two excellent lines indeed: I never writ better myself: but, Sar —

       Luck.

      "Leandra's mine, go bid the tongue of fate

      Pronounce another word of bliss like that;

      Search thro' the eastern mines and golden shores,

      Where lavish Nature pours forth all her stores;

      For to my lot could all her treasures fall,

      I would not change Leandra for them all."

      There ends act the first, and such an act as, I believe, never was on this stage yet.

       Mar. jun. Nor never will, I hope.

       Mar. sen. Pray, sir, let me look at one thing. "Falernian wines seem bitter to my taste."

      Pray, sir, СКАЧАТЬ