[Geraldine flies to Percy's embrace.
Percy. Oh! speechless transport! mute let me infold thee!
Delawar. [To Kate.] And you, my little spark, perhaps, your cloak
Covers another duteous niece—or daughter.
Speak, lady: for I see that title writ
In crimson characters upon your cheek.
Art of my blood?
Larry. No, sir, she's of my flesh;
Flesh of my flesh, my lord. Now, arrah, Kate,
Don't blush. This goodly company all knows
My flesh may wear the breeches, without scandal.
Walter. Listen not, Alice, to his sophistry.
Sir, if our good wives learn this argument,
They'll logically pluck away our—
Alice. Tut:
Fear ye not that; for when a woman would,
She'll draw them on without a rule of reason.
Delawar. Methinks 'tis pairing time among the turtles.
Who have we here?
Robin and Nima come forward.
Robin. A pair of pigeons, sir; or rather a robin and a dove. A wild thing, sir, that I caught in the wood here. But when I have clipt her wings, and tamed her, I hope (without offence to this good company) that we shall bill without biting more than our neighbours.
Smith. Joy to ye, gentle lovers; joy to all;
A goodly circle, and a fair. Methinks
Wild Nature smooths apace her savage frown,
Moulding her features to a social smile.
Now flies my hope-wing'd fancy o'er the gulf
That lies between us and the aftertime,
When this fine portion of the globe shall teem
With civiliz'd society; when arts,
And industry, and elegance shall reign,
As the shrill war-cry of the savage man
Yields to the jocund shepherd's roundelay.
Oh, enviable country! thus disjoin'd
From old licentious Europe! may'st thou rise,
Free from those bonds which fraud and superstition
In barbarous ages have enchain'd her with;—
Bidding the antique world with wonder view
A great, yet virtuous empire in the west!