SEELY

I will bespeak the Guests. I fear nothing, and I hope to die in this humour. I'll fetch a Cup of Sack Wife— Here, here sweetheart, they ar lóng me thinks a come ming, the Bells have rung out this half hour, hark now the wind brings the found of them swe tly again. I fack they do, sure the greatest fire in the Parish is in our Kitchen, and there's no harm done yet, no some merry conceit of the stretch ropes the Ringers, now they have done, and now the Wedding comes, hark, the Fiddlers and all, now have I lived to see a day come, take stand, and be ready for the Bride-cake, which we will so crack and crumble upon her crown: oh they come, they come. Brideg ome , In you before, for we this cake must break. Over the Bride— forgive me- what's become OF the Cake wife! Gentlemen, will it please you draw near, the guests are now all come, and the house almost full, meat's taken up. But son e Greg , Nephew Arthur, and the rest of the young Gentlemen, I shall take it for a favour if you will (it is and office which very good Gentlemen do in this Country) ac compane the Bridegroom in serving the meat. Well fare your hearts,—the dresser calls in Gentlemen, It's a busy time, yet will I review the Bill of fare, for this days dinner— (Reads) for 40 people of the best quality, 4. messes of meat; videlicet. a leg of Mutton in plum-broth, a dis of Marrow bones, a white-broth, a Surlovne of beef, a Big, a Goose, a Turki , and two Pies: for the second course, to every mess 4. Chickens in a dish, a couple of Rabbets, Custard, Flawn, Florentines, and stewd pruines,—all very good Country fare, and for my credit,— The service enters, Oh well said , play up the meat to the Table till all be served in, e see it pass in answer to my bill. A stone, it's horn man. And I will bid you welcome. Gentlemen will you in? Enough, enough, good boy, it's most apparent We all have had our rrors, and as plainly It now appears, our judgments, yea our reason Was poisoned by some violent infection, Quite contrary to Nature. If it be so, then at this happy hour, The Witch is taken that over us had power. Oh Mr. Generous, the noble favour you have showed My Nephew for ever binds me to you. Good Mistress Generous — How I and all my family have suffered you all know. And I praise heaven for you that were the means to it. Alas he is my child. You do not know what and only son is, Oh see, he comes now if you can appease his anger towards me, you shall do and act of timely charity. Oh son be patient. If ever I trangresse in the Like again— Oh this is not the way. This is to raise Impatience into fury. I do not seek his quiet for my ease, I can bear all his chidings and his threats, And take them well, very exceeding well, And find they do me good on my own partly, Indeed they do reclaim me from those errors That might impeach his Fortune's, but I fear Thunquiet strife within him hurts himself, And wastes or weakens Nature, by the breach Of moderate sleep and diet; and I can No less than grieve to find my weaknesses To be the cause of his affliction, And see the danger of his health and being. All shall be mended son content your self, But this time forget but this last fault. But I did it not son? It's gone and passed son. Truly we were civilly merry. But I have left it. Son, son. Prithee good Laurence be gentle and do not fright thy Master so. Go too you are a rascal: and you housewife teach your daughter better manners: i'll ship you all for new England else. But for your sake i'll forbear them, and bear with any thing this day. Now good son, wife, and daughter, let me entreat you be not angry. Nay but understand me neighbour Doughty. C Ome away wife, come away, and let us be rea die to break the over the Brides head at her entrance; we will have the honour of it, we that have played the Steward and Cook at home, though we lost Church by't, and saw not Parson Knit-knot do his office, but we hall see all the house rites performed; and. what a day of jol lity and tranquillity is here towards? Nay neighbour Doughty, your years shall excuse you. Inprim , a leg of Mutton in plum-broth,—how now Mr. Bridegroom, what carry you? It was Mutton, but now it's the horns . I fear it was by Witchcraft: for I now (Blessed be the power that wrought the happy means Of my delivery) remember that Some 3. months since I crossed a way ward woman (One that I now suspect) for bearing with A most unseemly disobedience, In and untoward ill-bred son of hers, When with and ill look and and hollow voice She muttered out these words. Perhaps erelong Thy self shalt be obedient to thy son. She has played her prank it seems. Gentlemen welcome to my best friends house, You know the unhappy cause that drew me hither. Sir, we do find that we have reason enough to thank you for your Neighbourly and pious care of us. I will acknowledge it most thankfully.