The farmer's wife: a comic opera, in three acts / Written by C. Dibdin, Jun. and performed, for the first time, at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on Tuesday, February 1, 1814.
- Charles Isaac Mungo Dibdin
- Date:
- 1814
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The farmer's wife: a comic opera, in three acts / Written by C. Dibdin, Jun. and performed, for the first time, at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on Tuesday, February 1, 1814. Source: Wellcome Collection.
85/92 page 75
!['Capt. B. Your servant, Sir Charles. I have introduced myself, though unknown to jou; but the business which bi'ought me here is of too much consequence for ceremony. Sir Charles, I hate ceremony, sir, as much as any man : but as I have some idea of your busi¬ ness, I think a little delicacy might be requisite. Capt, B. If you have an idea of it, delicacy, sir, is a consideration you can have little claim to. Sir Charles. \Aside?\ Well, this is the most impudent introduction to a love-story I ever met with. Capt. B. Concern for the happiness of a sister, sir— Sir Charles. I must, of course, be well acquaint¬ ed with : and, as you put delicacy out of the ques¬ tion, I shall follow your example, and declare, that I shall take care to keep that sister out of your reach. Capt. B. [Producing Pistols.] Either instant¬ ly deliver her to me, or take the alternative. [Pre- senting him with a Pistol?^ Sir Charles. [Taking the Pistol—amde?^ Well, this is the first time I ever knew that the way to make an impression upon a sister’s heart, was by a bullet through her brother’s. [They take places^ and the moment they preserit^ Miss Courtly, with a scream, enters and stands betzveen them.] Aliss C. For Heaven’s sake, brother—Captain Belton. Capt. B. Miss Courtly ! this must appear strange, madam; but insulted honour demands it. Sir Charles. Insulted honour? Zounds, sir, I don’t comprehend you : here’s a man introduces himself to me, without the least ceremony, disclaims delicacy while talking of the happiness of a sister, and demands her of me, as a higliwayman would my purse, by a pistol; then talks of insulted honour.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30374790_0085.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
