mmands behold me, without strife, }
Well-pleased, and ready to repeat--"The Wife." }

* * * * *

JOHN WOODVIL

A TRAGEDY

(1798-1802. _Text of_ 1818)

* * * * *

CHARACTERS

SIR WALTER WOODVIL.

JOHN. }
SIMON. } _his sons._

LOVEL. }
GRAY. } _Pretended friends of John._

SANDFORD. _Sir Walter's old steward._
MARGARET. _Orphan ward of Sir Walter._
FOUR GENTLEMEN. _John's riotous companions._
SERVANTS.

SCENE--_for the most part at Sir Walter's mansion
in_ DEVONSHIRE; _at other times in the forest of_
SHERWOOD.

TIME--_soon after the_ RESTORATION.

* * * * *

ACT THE FIRST

SCENE.--_A Servants' Apartment in Woodvil Hall._

Servants drinking--_Time, the morning._

* * * * *

A Song by DANIEL

_"When the King enjoys his own again."_

PETER
A delicate song. Where did'st learn it, fellow?

DANIEL
Even there, where thou learnest thy oaths and thy politics--at our
master's table.--Where else should a serving-man pick up his poor
accomplishments?

MARTIN
Well spoken, Daniel. O rare Daniel!--his oaths and his politics!
excellent!

FRANCIS
And where did'st pick up thy knavery, Daniel?

PETER
That came to him by inheritance. His family have supplied the shire of
Devon, time out of mind, with good thieves and bad serving-men. All of
his race have come into the world without their conscience.

MARTIN
Good thieves, and bad serving-men! Better and better. I marvel what
Daniel hath got to say in reply.

DANIEL
I marvel more when thou wilt say any thing to the purpose, thou shallow
serving-man, whose swiftest conceit carries thee no higher than to
apprehend with difficulty the stale jests of us thy compeers. When was't
ever known to club thy own particular jest among us?

MARTIN
Most unkind Daniel, to speak such biting things of me!

FRANCIS
See--if he hath not brought tears into the poor fellow's eyes with the
saltness of his rebuke.

DANIEL
No offence, brother Martin--I meant none. 'Tis true, Heaven gives gifts,
and with-holds them. It has been pleased to bestow upon me a nimble
invention to the manufacture of a jest; and upon thee, Martin, an
indifferent bad capacity