Mrs. _Barn._ You're nearer being so than you imagine: for there are some persons within, who have it in their power to punish you for your ridiculous folly. _Enter ~Erastus~, leading in ~Mariamne~._ Mr. _Barn._ How, Sir, what means this? who sent you here? _Er._ It was the luckiest star in your firmament that sent me here. Mr. _Barn._ Then I doubt, at my birth, the planets were but in a scurvy disposition. _Er._ Killing one of the king's stags, that run hither for refuge, is enough to overturn a fortune much better established than yours----However, Sir, if you will consent to give me your daughter, for her sake I will bear you harmless. Mr. _Barn._ No, Sir, no man shall have my daughter, that won't take my house too. _Er._ Sir, I will take your house; pay you the full value of it, and you shall remain as much master of it as ever. Mr. _Barn._ No, Sir, that won't do neither; you must be master yourself, and from this minute begin to do the honours of it in your own person. _Er._ Sir, I readily consent. Mr. _Barn._ Upon that condition, and in order to get rid of my house, here, take my daughter----And now, Sir, if you think you've a hard bargain, I don't care if I toss you in my wife to make you amends. _Well then, since all things thus are fairly sped, My ~Son~ in anger, and my ~Daughter~ wed; My ~House~ dispos'd of, the sole cause of strife, } I now may hope to lead a happy life, } If I can part with my ~Engaging Wife~._ } [Illustration] A =Journey= to =London=. Being Part of a COMEDY. Written by Sir =John Vanbrugh=. [Illustration] Dramatis Personæ. MEN. Sir _Francis Headpiece_, a country gentleman. Lord _Loverule_. Sir _Charles_. Uncle _Richard_, uncle to Sir _Francis_. Squire _Humphry_, son to Sir _Francis_. Colonel _Courtly_. _John Moody_, servant to Sir _Francis_. _James_, servant to uncle _Richard_. WOMEN. Lady _Headpiece_. Miss _Betty_, her daughter. Lady _Arabella_, wife to Lord _Loverule_. _Clarinda_, a young unmarried lady. Mrs. _Motherly_, one that lets lodgings. _Martilla_, her niece. A =Journey= _to_ =London=. +ACT+ I. +SCENE+ I. +SCENE+ _Uncle_ Richard's _House_. _Uncle ~Richard~ solus._