Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A36266
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The country-wake a comedy, as it is acted at the New Theatre in Little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields by His Majesty's servants / written by Mr. Tho. Dogget.
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Dogget, Thomas, d. 1721.
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1696
(1696)
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Wing D1828; ESTC R5372
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45,756
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82
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That you 'd be Merciful as you are Great Almighty Criticks you his Judges sit If you consent he shall set up a Wit He swears he wont be prouder for 't a Bit. A Country-Wake ACT I. SCENE I. Enter Friendly and Servant Serv. SIR Here 's a Letter for you Friend A Letter Let me see it Read Dear Frank I arriv'd this Day at London and to Morrow purpose for Gloucester where if after Three Years Travel I can find my Friend what I left him I cannot think my Self Vnhappy how unfortunate soever I may seem to the World Woodvill I wish Ned it were in my Power to make thee as happy as it was in thy Father 's to make thee miserable thou should'st find a better Welcome here from thy Friend then thou wilt from a Dead Sire and departed Acres Sirrah go to Sir Thomas Testies and see if â—e's at home and at leisure to receive an Hours Conversation Serv. Yes Sir Enter Woodvill Wood. Franck Friendly Friend Ned Woodvill Wood. What Acknowledgments shall I make my Stars for letting me live to see once more the Man that 's nearest to my Heart Friend There let me grow till want of Friendship makes me unworthy of the Place I was just now Reading your Letter and by that did not expect to see you these two Days How came you so soon Wood. I design'd to come in the Stage-Coach but finding no other Company but an old talkative Woman and two over-grown Boys I chose rather than be coop'd up with Old Age and Ignorance to ride Post and run the hazard of breaking my Neck upon Hackney Jades that have I think disjointed every Limb of me Friend I wish Ned after the fatigue of thy Journey I cou'd Entertain thee with something wou'd divert thy present pain and prove a Cordial for the future for the News I have to tell thee I fear will disorder thy whole Frame and make thy Mind as distemper'd as thy Body Wood. Say'st thee so prithee out with it at once for I am Arm'd against the worst that can befall me my Life which is the last and only thing Fate can now take from me I see in no Danger as for any other misfortune there can come none so great as what is past Friend I know not what you have met with abroad but the greatest you are to expect here is the News of your Father's Death who departed a Fortnight since but before he left the World took care to make you a younger Brother to his Extravagancy which has left you ne'r a Groat for he play'd the last Game with the last stake and Died leaving hardly enough to Bury him Wood. This I heard at London and expected it long before for when he sent me abroad it was only that I might not be a Curb to his Will which was as unbounded as his Lusts that t wou'd be obey'd in all those Vices his younger Years ough to have been asham'd of but the Age we live in is so perverted that Old Men pursue the Vanities of Youth taking up the Cudgels they lay down and fumble with those Debauches young Men grow weary of Friend Thou say'st true Ned but I wish thou hadst not experienc'd it so much at thy own Cost Wood. So do I Frank but since it was in my Power to prevent it it shall not now be my fault to repine at it the Old Gentleman cou'd not 'a chosen a better time to put me to my Shifts since the War gives me so Glorious an opportunity to try what Fortune has in store for me Friend Fortune Prithee what canst thou hope from Fortune with Bullets flying about thy Ears that cou'd Buffet thee so unmercifully in the time of Peace Had'st thou a Friend indeed who had Interest to get thee a Commission that had Authority in it to keep thee out of Harms way thou might'st hope as much as another Man But as thou hast nothing to prefer thee but a comely Figure of Six Foot high thou oughtst to look for nothing more then after the first Volley to chance on a clean place to measure thy Length on without spoiling thy Cloaths Wood. Prithee Frank What Commands are those that have Power to awe a Bullet for till now I never heard a Cannon made any distinction Friend True Ned if we come in their way but I 've known some Men whose Actions were above being question'd step aside when Danger fac'd 'em but if their Enemies meeting with the worst of it have been forc'd to turn their Backs have fall'n in like Lions to scramble for Honour and come home laden with as much as he that deserv'd most Wood. I must confess we have too frequent Examples of this kind however it shall not keep me from doing my best to serve my Country nor make medespair of Success Friend You do well to hope the best it doubles our misfortunes to afflict our Selves with the Apprehension of 'em which sometimes make 'em look more dreadful than they are in themselves Wood. That will never be my fault for disappointments are so frequent with me that I shou'd look for nothing else did I not believe all things must have an end one time or other Enter Servant How now Did not I send you to Sir Thomas Testies Serv. Sir I was going as you commanded me and met his Man by the way coming with a Message to you and he is now without waiting to speak with you Friend This Old Knight Ned was a Citizen of London but being weary of his Vocation and willing to keep a young Wife to himself is come to inhabit here upon an Estate which he has lately purchas'd part of it was your Fathers he has one only Daughter by a former Wife whom Nature has been very bountiful to she wants no Charm to make her Self Ador'd and hath found that way to my Heart which none of her Sex cou'd ever do before There is a Neece Ned is equally deserving and would be equally desirable did not Love to shew his Power byass my Affections Come thou shalt go with me and see them if thy Journey has not fatigu'd thee too much Wood. Never to hinder me from the Company of a pretty Woman Frank that Temptation is more prevalent with me than any other Nature can be liable to But at present I must deny my self that satisfaction I hear the Post goes hence within these Two Hours and I have Business obliges me to write by the first opportunity but let my Man go with you to acquaint my himself with the way and I will come to you as soon as I have dispatch'd Jack wait of Mr. Friendly and come back quickly Friend T is very well Your Servant Come back Exeunt severally SCENE II. A Room at Sir T. Testie's Enter Sir Thomas Testie and Lucia Sir Tho. Niece come hither Come hither I say and shut the Door Luc. Bless us What 's amiss in the State that I must be Closeted The Door is lock'd
this unexpected blessing tell me you Powers if there be any that knows a happiness like mine how shall I express my Joy Sir Tho. Woons what is all this Wood. O good Sir forbear swearing 't is an hollow'd sound and my ears can't bear it Sir Tho. Rot you and your ears you Canonical Pimp Confussion I 'm cheated out of my Estate too as well as my life Friend No Sir I will take care your Estate shall be dispos'd of according to your Act and Deed and you may live to now if you please and enjoy your liberty Flo. Which you had never wanted Pardon me Sir had you given me mine Sir Tho. Patience give me Patience Say In troth Neighbour 't is the best Remedy you can have e'en make use of it and let that seem your choice which is not now in your power to help Sir Tho. What wou'd you have me do Wou'd you have me give her to him Say Aye and your Blessing too or they 'll be happy without it an Estate is a good step to it and that you have given 'em already and there few Children in this Age that think their Parents can add any thing more Sir Tho. Come hither Take her and make her Wood. Any thing but a Wife or I forbid Woodvile interposes the Banes Sir Tho. You forbid the Banes Friend What 's the meaning of this Wood. Look'ee Frank while the Jest wou'd bare I was willing to carry it on But the Business grows now too much in earnest and the Welfare of my Friend obliges me to make bold with my Mistress Friend What say ye your Mistress Wood. Aye your Lady and her Companion were the two Masks that I told you I pick't up and one of 'em I thank her did me the Favour to afford me her Company that Night if it was Flora she has something very particular in her behaviour that makes her a very agreeable Bedfellow Friend Thou durst not sure say this to me in earnest Wood. But I dare Sir if it be truth as I 'm sure it is tho' perhaps you mayn't care to hear it Friend By Heav'n thou ly'st and did not her presence make this place sacred thou shoud'st pay dear for this Blasphemy Wood. Are you so hot Follow me and I 'll find you a place to allay your fury in Friend Follow thee Flor. Hold you shall not go What 's the meaning of this Enter Lucia Luc. What 's the matter As Wood. is going out Enter Lady Testie in a Mask meeting him Lady With your leave Sir Wood. Ha! Lady What are you surpriz'd to see me here Wood. Ay I'gad am I more than ever I was in my Life Lady Sir 't is hard to conceal wrongs from a Jealous Mistress Wood. And 't is harder for me to do you right whilst you conceal your self Lady Why did you not meet me as you promis'd Wood. Meet you S'bud I thought I had you here but since I find I 'm mastaken pray Madam satisfie me who you are For if you remember when you and I Bargain'd for a little Familiarity I was to be under no obligation till I had seen and lik'd you Lady That you have done already if you spoke truth but since you are so apt to forget refresh your Memory and look again What are you Dumb Pulls off her Mask Wood. I shou'd be dumb Madam if Wood. starts Lady If thou hadst nothing to say but thou hast a Tongue can never want words to excuse thy Perjury shou'd I stay to hear it farewel ungrateful Man Exit Wood. So very well what trick next Fortune is pleased to be very merry with me to day I find I have made a very pretty hand o' this matter Lost both my Mistresses wrong'd a vertuous Lady abus'd my Friend and brought a Quarrel upon me all in one quarter of an hour Hark'ee Friendly Friend Well Sir Wood. 'T is as thou say'st I do lie and prithee forgive me for it Friend 'T is very well Sir But do you think this will satisfie me Wood. At present I hope it will to Morrow thou shalt know more Friend In the mean time then pray make some amends to the Lady Wood I can only ask her pardon what else is requisite do thou do for me anon when the Curtains are drawn Woodvile goes to Flora. Friend Fear not Sir you shan't be troubl'd with any Night-work of mine Sir Tho. That I shou'd have both my Eyes and yet not see these pair of Counterfeit Knaves well 't is not the first time that Whoremongers and Adulters have been cloak't with the Law and the Gospel Enter Lady Testie My Dear art thou ventur'd hither too Lady Ay my Dear to fetch thee home hearing Hob was well and abroad I cou'd no longer bear to have you here since I have recover'd health enough to be happy with you at home Sir Tho What say'st thou Health and be happy What do'st thou mean ha Shall I have thee in my Arms And wil't thou be my Bride to Night Lady I shall be what you please to have me Sir Tho. Why then let sorrow vanish and a Fig for my Daughter Friendly take her and do what thou will 't with her Friend I thank you Sir and to deserve this Kindness if you get an Heir to Inherit your Estate you shall have it again Sir Tho. Hum Do you jeer an Old Man Well if I can't get an Heir do you I 'm contented now it shou'd be for my Grandson Friend How now Ned engaging afresh If you purchase there it must be for Life Wood. With all my heart Madam shall I have Possession upon that Condition Luc. I don't know what may be after seven Years Acquaintance Friend He 'll be worn out in half that time Madam if you don't reclaim him Lady Do you think it 's possible Sir to reclaim him Friend I hope so Madam Lady So do I tho' I doubt it Neice have a care of him Sir Tho. Let her take care of her self her Father left her at my disposal and if she Marries him I won't give her a Groat Luc. Then Sir I suppose your Courtships at an end for without that Charm my Beauty I fear will have but little force Wood. Enough Madam to make me a Convert if you dare put me to a Tryal Aside I know not whether Infected by Friendly's Example or any conceal'd Mischief in this holy Covering but I find my self of a sudden strangely enclin'd to do something to repent of as well as the foolish part of Mankind Flo. I know she loves him and if I thought he lov'd her Aside to Friendly Friend You need not doubt it if he Marries her for nothing but Love can make him do such a Violence to himself Aside to Woodvil Ned pursue your purpose if 't is honourable for such a Beauty and eight thousand Pound if we can work the old fellow to consent will be a better Fortune then any thou can'st hope for in Flanders Wood. If Love goes