Fontainbleau Part 10

_Enter TALLYHO._

_Tall._ I'm an excellent whipper-in for the bottle--Oh, ho! [_Looking at HENRY, then takes him under the Arm._] Come along.

_Henry._ Where?

_Tall._ To get drunk, to be sure--You wear his Majesty's cloth, and go to bed sober, when my English Whirligig has beat the mounseers!--Such a pack of jolly dogs! such burgundy!--won't you come and get drunk with us?

_Henry._ Certainly, my boy--but, pray, Tallyho, can you tell me--you saw the young lady that parted from me now--admirably handsome!----

_Tall._ Handsome! Yes, every body says she's like me.

_Henry._ I shall soon call her mine.

_Tall._ The devil you shall!

_Henry._ I have some hopes; the only obstacle is a brother--but, perhaps, you know him--one of our stupid, thick-headed fellows, without an idea, beyond a c.o.c.k, or a horse.

_Tall._ For fifty pounds, I have as many ideas as you.

_Henry._ You!

_Tall._ Yes, Mr. Captain; who gave you commission to talk o'my thick head?

_Henry._ What a blunder! [_Aside._] But, really, Squire, is that young lady your sister?

_Tall._ Celia? yes, to be sure she is my sister, and that's your share of her too. [_Snaps his Fingers._] She has a great fortune, and you captains are d.a.m.ned poor--but, huzza! I have it, tol de rol lol!--[_Sings and capers._] You shall fill your pockets with French gold--Louis d'ors, sous and souces, you d.a.m.ned son of a--give me your hand.

_Henry._ Now, what--what is all--

_Tall._ You shall go halves in my slang match to-morrow. Colonel Epaulette has matched his Black Prince, to run against my Kick-him-Jenny--it's play or pay.--You shall back his Black Prince, take all the odds--I will get my jockey to lame Kick-him-Jenny; and, to give a colour for her not being able to run, I've mounted Sir John Bull to take an airing on her, ha! ha! ha!--I warrant she plays him some prank or other, so, as he's a bad horseman, I'll lay her accident upon him--she can't run--pays forfeit--you sweep the field--touch them all--and when you've gathered in the cash, we'll meet privately, and divide it, even, fair and honest, in our pockets--Damme, there's our snug ten thousand a piece with a twopenny nail!

_Henry._ And this, perhaps, you call honour?

_Tall._ Yes, 'tis good turf honour.

_Henry._ What! to be a scoundrel?

_Tall._ Oh, very well; if you're so nice--ay, now, you're a very delicate chicken! But, harkye, the next time you see sister Celia, don't look at her.

[_Going_

_Henry._ Stop, Tallyho--I think I'll punish my knowing one. [_Aside._]

On second thoughts, I will join with you in this roguery.

_Tall._ Then you're a cursed honest fellow--my sister's yours.

_Henry._ Ay, with her consent----

_Tall._ Her consent! if we make the match, what has her consent to do with it?--but I'll settle that--come, you shall have it from her own mouth, this instant.

_Henry._ But what shall I do with Rosa?

[_Aside, and looking out._

_Tall._ What, are you making a set, my pointer? Come, and be merry with us--Why, I'll get drunk to-night, though I'm in love up to the saddle girts--Oh, my darling Dolly!

_Henry._ Oh, Miss Bull--Ay, we shall soon have you a bridegroom too.

_Tall._ Yes, ha! ha! ha! I shall soon be a happy bull-calf.

_DUETT.--HENRY and TALLYHO._

Tall. _Your hand_,

Henry. _Your hand_,

Tall. _My hero_,

Henry. _My buck_,

Tall. _No more words_;

Henry. _No more pother_!

Tall. } _My sister is yours_, } Henry. } _Your sister is mine_,

Both. _And the bargain is struck_,

Tall. _My brother!_

Henry. _My brother!_

Both. _The field round_,

Tall. _We'll slang 'em_,

Henry. _We'll slang 'em_,

Tall. _And if they complain, the captain shall bang 'em._

Henry. _In this and that, and every nation_,

Tall. _Every rank, and every station, All, all declare, That cheating is fair,_

Henry. _If it takes but the knowing one in._