The Works of Henry Fielding, vol. 12. Fielding Harold
I might have had an attorney of New Inn, or Mr Fillpot, the exciseman; yes, I had my choice of two parsons, or a doctor of physick; and yet I slighted them all; yes, I slighted them for – for – for you.
Luck. For me?
Money. Yes, you have seen too visible marks of my passion; too visible for my reputation. [Sobbing.
Luck. I have heard very loud tokens of your passion; but I rather took it for the passion of anger than of love.
Money. Oh! it was love, indeed. Nothing but love, upon my soul!
Luck. The devil! This way of dunning is worse than the other.
Money. If thou can'st not pay me in money, let me have it in love. If I break through the modesty of my sex let my passion excuse it. I know the world will call it an impudent action; but if you will let me reserve all I have to myself, I will make myself yours for ever.
Luck. Toll, loll, loll!
Money. And is this the manner you receive my declaration, you poor beggarly fellow? You shall repent this; remember, you shall repent it; remember that. I'll shew you the revenge of an injured woman.
Luck. I shall never repent anything that rids me of you, I am sure.
SCENE III. – LUCKLESS, HARRIOT
Luck. Dear Harriot!
Har. I have waited an opportunity to return to you.
Luck. Oh! my dear, I am so sick!
Har. What's the matter?
Luck. Oh! your mother! your mother!
Har. What, has she been scolding ever since?
Luck. Worse, worse!
Har. Heaven forbid she should threaten to go to law with you.
Luck. Oh, worse! worse! she threatens to go to church with me. She has made me a generous offer, that if I will but marry her she will suffer me to settle all she has upon her.
Har. Generous creature! Sure you will not resist the proposal?
Luck. Hum! what would you advise me to?
Har. Oh, take her, take her, by all means; you will be the prettiest, finest, loveliest, sweetest couple. Augh! what a delicate dish of matrimony you will make! Her age with your youth, her avarice with your extravagance, and her scolding with your poetry.
Luck. Nay, but I am serious, and I desire you would be so. You know my unhappy circumstances, and your mother's wealth. It would be at least a prudent match.
Har. Oh! extremely prudent, ha, ha, ha! the world will say, Lard! who could have thought Mr Luckless had had so much prudence? This one action will overbalance all the follies of your life.
Luck. Faith, I think it will: but, dear Harriot, how can I think of losing you for ever? And yet, as our affairs stand, I see no possibility of our being happy together. It will be some pleasure, too, that I may have it in my power to serve you. Believe me, it is with the utmost reluctance I think of parting with you. For if it was in my power to have you —
Har. Oh, I am very much obliged to you; I believe you – Yes, you need not swear, I believe you.
Luck. And can you as easily consult prudence, and part with me? for I would not buy my own happiness at the price of yours.
Har. I thank you, sir – Part with you – intolerable vanity!
Luck. Then I am resolved; and so, my good landlady, have at you.
Har. Stay, sir, let me acquaint you with one thing – you are a villain! and don't think I'm vexed at anything, but that I should have been such a fool as ever to have had a good opinion of you. [Crying.
Luck. Ha, ha, ha! Caught, by Jupiter! And did my dear Harriot think me in earnest?
Har. And was you not in earnest?
Luck. What, to part with thee? A pretty woman will be sooner in earnest to part with her beauty, or a great man with his power.
Har. I wish I were assured of the sincerity of your love.
AIR. Butter'd Pease.
Luck. Does my dearest Harriot ask
What for love I would pursue?
Would you, charmer, know what task
I would undertake for you?
Ask the bold ambitious, what
He for honours would atchieve?
Or the gay voluptuous, that
Which he'd not for pleasure give?
Ask the miser what he'd do
To amass excessive gain?
Or the saint, what he'd pursue,
His wish'd heav'n to obtain?
These I would attempt, and more —
For, oh! my Harriot is to me
All ambition, pleasure, store,
Or what heav'n itself can be!
Har. Would my dearest Luckless know
What his constant Harriot can
Her tender love and faith to show
For her dear, her only man?
Ask the vain coquette what she
For men's adoration would;
Or from censure to be free,
Ask the vile censorious prude.
In a coach and six to ride,
What the mercenary jade,
Or the widow to be bride
To a brisk broad-shoulder'd blade.
All these I would attempt for thee,
Could I but thy passion fix;
Thy will my sole commander be,
And thy arms my coach and six.
Money. [within]. Harriot, Harriot.
Har. Hear the dreadful summons! adieu. I will take the first opportunity of seeing you again.
Luck. Adieu, my pretty charmer; go thy ways for the first of thy sex.
SCENE IV. – LUCKLESS, JACK
Luck. So! what news bring you?
Jack. An't please your honour I have been at my lord's, and his lordship thanks you for the favour you have offered of reading your play to him; but he has such a prodigious deal of business, he begs to be excused. I have been with Mr Keyber too – he made me no answer at all. Mr Bookweight will be here immediately.
Luck. Jack.
Jack. Sir.
Luck. Fetch my other hat hither; – carry it to the pawnbroker's.
Jack. To your honour's own pawnbroker!
Luck. Ay – and in thy way home call at the cook's shop. So, one way or other, I find my head must always provide for my belly.
SCENE V. – LUCKLESS, WITMORE
Luck. I am surprized! dear Witmore!
Wit. Dear Harry!
Luck. This is kind, indeed; but I do not more wonder at finding a man in this age who can be a friend to adversity, than that Fortune should be so much my friend as to direct you to me; for she is a lady I have not been much indebted to lately.
Wit. She who told me, I assure you, is one you have been indebted to a long while.