262. Richard Brinsley Sheridan. 1751-1816. (Manual, p. 397.) FROM THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.' THE OLD HUSBAND AND THE YOUNG WIFE. Sir Peter Teazle. But here comes my helpmate! She appears in great good humour. How happy I should be if I could tease her into loving me, though but a little ! Enter LADY TEAZLE. Lady Tea. Lud! Sir Peter, I hope you haven't been quarrelling with Maria? It is not using me well to be ill-humoured when I am not by. Sir Pet. Ah, Lady Teazle, you might have the power to make me good-humoured at all times. Lady Teaz. I am sure I wish I had; for I want you to be in a charming sweet temper at this moment. Do be good-humoured now, and let me have two hundred pounds, will you? Sir Pet. Two hundred pounds; what an't I to be in a good humour without paying for it! But speak to me thus, and i' faith there's nothing I could refuse you. You shall have it; but seal me a bond for the repayment. Lady Teaz. Oh, no-there-my note of hand will do as well. [Offering her hand. Sir Pet. And you shall no longer reproach me with not giving you an independent settlement. I mean shortly to surprise you: but shall we always live thus, hey? Lady Teaz. If you please. I'm sure I don't care how soon we leave off quarrelling, provided you'll own you were tired first. Sir Pet. Well-then let our future contest be, who shall be most obliging. Lady Teaz. I assure you, Sir Peter, good nature becomes you. You look now as you did before we were married, when you used to walk with me under the elms, and tell me stories of what a gallant you were in your youth, and chuck me under the chin, you would; and ask me if I thought I could love an old fellow, who would deny me nothing-didn't you? Sir Pet. Yes, yes, and you were as kind and attentive Lady Teaz. Ay, so I was, and would always take your part, when my acquaintance used to abuse you, and turn you into ridicule. Sir Pet. Indeed! Lady Teaz. Ay, and when my cousin Sophy has called you a stiff, peevish old bachelor, and laughed at me for thinking of marrying one who might be my father, I have always defended you, and said, I didn't think you so ugly by any means. Sir Pet. Thank you. Lady Teaz. And I dared say you'd make a very good sort of a husband. Sir Pet. And you prophesied right; and we shall now be the happiest couple Lady Teaz. And never differ again? Sir Pet. No, never!-though at the same time, indeed, my dear Lady Teazle, you must watch your temper very seriously; for in all our little quarrels, my dear, if you recollect, my love, you always began first. Lady Teaz. I beg your pardon, my dear Sir Peter: indeed, you always gave the provocation. Sir Pet. Now see, my angel! take care-contradicting isn't the way to keep friends. Lady Teaz. Then don't you begin it, my love! You don't per Sir Pet. There, now! you-you are going on. ceive, my love, that you are just doing the very thing which you know always makes me angry. Lady Teaz. Nay, you know if you will be angry without any reason, my dear Sir Pet. There! now you want to quarrel again. Lady Teaz. No, I'm sure I don't: but, if you will be so peevish- Sir Pet. There now! who begins first? Lady Teaz. Why, you, to be sure. I said nothing-but there's no bearing your temper. Sir Pet. No, no, madam: the fault 's in your own temper. Lady Teaz. Ay, you are just what my cousin Sophy said you would be. Sir Pet. Your cousin Sophy is a forward, impertinent gipsy. Lady Teaz. You are a great bear, I'm sure, to abuse my relations. Sir Pet. Now may all the plagues of marriage be doubled on me, if ever I try to be friends with you any more! Lady Teaz. So much the better. Sir Pet. No, no, madam: 'tis evident you never cared a pin for me, and I was a madman to marry you-a pert, rural coquette, that had refused half the honest 'squires in the neighbourhood. Lady Teaz. And I am sure I was a fool to marry you—an old dangling bachelor, who was single at fifty, only because he never could meet with any one who would have him. Sir Pet. Ay, ay, madam; but you were pleased enough to listen to me: you never had such an offer before. Lady Teaz. No! didn't I refuse Sir Tivy Terrier, who every body said would have been a better match? for his estate is just as good as yours, and he has broke his neck since we have been married. Sir Pet. I have done with you, madam! You are an unfeeling, ungrateful-but there's an end of every thing. I believe you capable of every thing that is bad. Yes, madam, I now believe the reports relative to you and Charles, madam. Yes, madam, you and Charles are, not without grounds Lady Teaz. Take care, Sir Peter! you had better not insinuate any such thing! I'll not be suspected without cause, I promise you. Sir Pet. Very well, madam! tenance as soon as you please. make an example of myself for Let us separate, madam.. very well! A separate mainYes, madam, or a divorce! I'll the benefit of all old bachelors. Lady Teaz. Agreed! agreed! And now, my dear Sir Peter, we are of a mind once more, we may be the happiest couple, and never differ again, you know: ha! ha! ha! Well, you are going to be in a passion, I see, and I shall only interrupt you—so, bye, bye! [Exit. Sir Pet. Plagues and tortures! can't I make her angry either! Oh, I am the most miserable fellow! But I'll not bear her presuming to keep her temper: no! she may break my heart, but she shan't keep her temper. [Exit. CHAPTER XX. WALTER SCOTT. 1771-1832. (Manual, pp. 401-422.) FROM THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL.' 263. DESCRIPTION OF MELROSE ABBEY. If thou wouldst view fair Melrose aright, When the broken arches are black in night, When silver edges the imagery, And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die; When distant Tweed is heard to rave, And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave, Then go but go alone the while- 264. LOVE OF COUNTRY. Breathes there a man with soul so dead, This is my own, my native land! From wandering on a foreign strand? High though his titles, proud his name, Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, That knits me to thy rugged strand! Sole friends thy woods and streams were left; FROM MARMION.' 265. PITT AND FOX. To mute and to material things, Deep graved in every British heart, |