The Toy Shop (1735) The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737) Part 8

_1 C._ Did not you hear some-body just now? Faith I begin to be afraid we shall meet with some Misfortune to Night.

_2 C._ Why, if any-body should take what we have got, we have made a fine Business of it.

_3 C._ Let 'em take it if they will; I am so tir'd I shall make but small Resistance.

_The Keepers rush upon them._

_2 K._ Ay, Rogues, Rascals, and Villains, you have got it, have you?

_2 C._ Indeed we have got but very little, but what we have you're welcome to, if you will but use us civilly.

_1 K._ O, yes! very civilly; you deserve to be us'd civilly, to be sure.

_4 C._ Why, what have we done that we may not be civilly us'd?

_1 K._ Come, come, don't trifle, surrender.

_1 C._ I have but three Half-Crowns about me.

_2 C._ Here is Three and Six-pence for you, Gentlemen.

_3 C._ Here's my Watch; I have no Money at all.

_4 C._ Indeed I have nothing in my Pocket but a Snuff-box.

_4 K._ What, the Dogs want to bribe us, do they? No, Rascals; you shall go before the Justice To-morrow, depend on't.

_4 C._ Before the Justice! What, for being robb'd?

_1 K._ For being robb'd! What do you mean? Who has robb'd you?

_4 C._ Why, did not you just now demand our Money, Gentlemen?

_2 K._ O, the Rascals! They will swear a Robbery against us, I warrant.

_4 C._ A Robbery! Ay, to be sure.

_1 K._ No, no; We did not demand your Money, we demanded the Deer you have kill'd.

_4 C._ The Devil take the Deer, I say; he led us a Chace of six Hours, and got away from us at last.

_1 K._ Zoons! ye Dogs, do ye think to banter us? I tell ye you have this Night shot one of the King's Deer; did not we hear the Gun go off?

Did not we hear you say, you was afraid it should be taken from you?

_2 C._ We were afraid our Money should be taken from us.

_1 K._ Come, come, no more shuffling: I tell ye, you're all Rogues, and we'll have you hanged, you may depend on't. Come, let's take 'em to old _c.o.c.kle_'s, we're not far off, we'll keep 'em there all Night, and To-morrow-morning we'll away with 'em before the Justice.

_4 C._ A very pretty Adventure. [_Exeunt._

_Scene changes to the Mill._

KING, MILLER, MARGERY, _and_ d.i.c.k, _at Supper_.

_Mil._ Come, Sir, you must mend a bad Supper with a Gla.s.s of good Ale: Here's King _Harry_'s Health.

_King._ With all my Heart. Come, _Richard_, here's King _Harry_'s Health; I hope you are Courtier enough to pledge me, are not you?

_d.i.c.k._ Yes, yes, Sir, I'll drink the King's Health with all my Heart.

_Mar._ Come, Sir, my humble Service to you, and much good may do ye with your poor Supper; I wish it had been better.

_King._ You need make no Apologies.

_Marg._ We are oblig'd to your Goodness in excusing our Rudeness.

_Mil._ Prithee, _Margery_, don't trouble the Gentleman with Compliments.

_Mar._ Lord, Husband, if one had no more Manners than you, the Gentleman would take us all for Hogs.

_d.i.c.k._ Now I think the more Compliments the less Manners.

_King._ I think so too. Compliments in Discourse, I believe, are like Ceremonies in Religion; the one has destroy'd all true Piety, and the other all Sincerity and Plain-dealing.

_Mil._ Then a Fig for all Ceremony and Compliments too: Give us thy Hand; and let us drink and be merry.

_King._ Right, honest Miller, let us drink and be merry. Come, have you got e'er a good Song?

_Mil._ Ah! my singing Days are over, but my Man _Joe_ has got an excellent one; and if you have a Mind to hear it, I'll call him in.

_King._ With all my Heart.

_Mil._ _Joe!_

_Enter_ JOE.

_Mil._ Come, _Joe_, drink Boy; I have promised this Gentleman that you shall sing him your last new Song.

_Joe._ Well, Master, if you have promis'd it him, he shall have it.

SONG.

I.

_How happy a State does the Miller possess?

Who wou'd be no greater, nor fears to be less; On his Mill and himself he depends for Support, Which is better than servilely cringing at Court._