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IP The VILLAGE OPERA. Aft I.
Kind Deceiver^ flatter ftill^
Let me be in Wipes hlefl ;
My Breaft with fane fd Pie afures fill.
And Raptures^ tho* in Dreams pojfefs^d.
Sir Nicholas and Lady JVifeacre are on the Terrace ; I muft
retire, or I (hall be ask'd a thoufand impertinent Queftions, and
my Head and my Heart are at this time both too full, to bear
to be broke in upon. \_ExH Colin.
Enter Sir Nicholas and Lady Wifeacre,
La. Wife. Methinks it is pity but the young Folks had feen
one another before Marriage.
Sir Nich. No, Wife, no; 'tis Cent, per Cent, better as it is;
and I have done wifely, very wifely.
La. Wife. No doubt on't, Sir Nicholas, you have done very
wifely ; only I fay in cafe they fliou'd not like one another.
Sir Nich. Why, I wou'd have it fo, they (hou'd not like one
another.
La. Wife. As you fay, Sir Nicholas, it might be better; for
if they fhou'd be a fond Couple, the firft Child, they fay, will
prove a Fool,
Sir Nich. Not fo neither; that is an idle Tale, Wife; but I
wou'd have them go cooly into Matrimony, with as much In-
difference as \i they had been legally joined half an Age ; I
wou'd not have them, as the Cuftom is, to flump at once out
of the Honey-moon into Averfion.
La. Wtfe. As you fay, Sir Nicholas, a warm Palfion at firft
is not fo well, and it wou'd be right
Sir Nich. How do you know it wou'd be right } How fhou'd
a Woman know any thing that is right ^ 'Tis Fifty to One,
Wife, that you are never in the right.
La. Wife. That may be, Sir Nicholas., for I always agree with
you in every thing.
Sir Nich. Well, well, thou art an innocent Stupe, a poor
tame Bird, and mean'ft no harm. I wonder much we hear no-
thing of Sir William, and Mr. Freeman my Son-in-Law that
is to be; this is the Day appointed, and if they do not come —
La. Wife. It is true, Sir Nicholas, the Canonical Hour may
be part.
Sir Nich. Why, let it be pafl; thou art fo wife. Wife! Why
let it be pad ; if I pleafe the Parfon fhall marry them at Mid-
night, provided the Bridegroom appears.
La. Wife. Indeed, as you fay, if he fhould not come.
Sir Nich. Why, I (hall find as good a Bargain for the
Wlfench, fomewhere elfe ; why, what, (he has but 40c/. a Year
- Jointure,