_Old Mir._ Where's my wenches?--where's my two little girls? Eh! Have
a care,--look to yourselves, 'faith, they're a coming--the travellers
are a coming! Well! which of you two will be my daughter-in-law now?
Bisarre, Bisarre, what say you, madcap? Mirabel is a pure, wild fellow.
_Bis._ I like him the worse.
_Old Mir._ You lie, hussy, you like him the better, indeed you do! What
say you, my t'other little filbert, eh?
_Oriana._ I suppose the gentleman will chuse for himself, sir.
_Old Mir._ Why, that's discreetly said, and so he shall.
_Enter_ MIRABEL _and_ DURETETE; _they salute the Ladies_.
Bob, harkye, you shall marry one of these girls, sirrah!
_Y. Mir._ Sir, I'll marry them both, if you please.
_Bis._ [_Aside._] He'll find that one may serve his turn.
_Old Mir._ Both! why, you young dog, d'ye banter me?--Come, sir, take
your choice.--Duretete, you shall have your choice too, but Robin shall
chuse first.--Come, sir, begin. Well! which d'ye like?
_Y. Mir._ Both.
_Old Mir._ But which will you marry?
_Y. Mir._ Neither.
_Old Mir._ Neither! Don't make me angry now, Bob--pray, don't make me
angry.--Lookye, sirrah, if I don't dance at your wedding to-morrow, I
shall be very glad to cry at your grave.
_Y. Mir._ That's a bull, father.
_Old Mir._ A bull! Why, how now, ungrateful sir, did I make thee a man,
that thou shouldst make me a beast?
_Y. Mir._ Your pardon, sir; I only meant your expression.
_Old Mir._ Harkye, Bob, learn better manners to your father before
strangers! I won't be angry this time: But oons, if ever you do't again,
you rascal!--remember what I say. [_Exit._
_Y. Mir._ Pshaw! what does the old fellow mean by mewing me up here with
a couple of green girls?--Come, Duretete, will you go?
_Oriana._ I hope, Mr. Mirabel, you han't forgot--
_Y. Mir._ No, no, madam, I han't forgot, I have brought you a thousand
little Italian curiosities; I'll assure you, madam, as far as a hundred
pistoles would reach, I han't forgot the least circumstance.
_Oriana._ Sir, you misunderstand me.
_Y. Mir._ Odso! the relics, madam, from Rome. I do remember, now, you
made a vow of chastity before my departure; a vow of chastity, or
something like it--was it not, madam?
_Oriana._ O sir, I'm answered at present. [_Exit._
_Y. Mir._ She was coming full mouth upon me with her contract--'Would I
might despatch t'other!
_Dur._ Mirabel, that lady there, observe her, she's wondrous pretty,
'faith! and seems to have but few words; I like her mainly--speak to
her, man, pr'ythee speak to her.
_Y. Mir._ Madam, here's a gentleman, who declares----
_Dur._ Madam, don't believe him, I declare nothing--What, the devil, do
you mean, man?
_Y. Mir._ He says, madam, that you are as beautiful as an angel.
_Dur._ He tells a damned lie, madam! I say no such thing--Are you mad,
Mirabel? Why, I shall drop down with shame.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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