SCENE.—SherwoodForest.

scene.—sherwoodforest.

sirwalterwoodvil.simonwoodvil.(disguisedasfrenchmen.)

sirwalter

howfaresmyboy,simon,myyoungestborn,

myhope,mypride,youngwoodvil,speaktome?

somegriefuntoldweighsheavyatthyheart:

iknowitbythyalter'dcheeroflate.

thinkest,thybrotherplaysthyfatherfalse?

itisamadandthriftlessprodigal,

grownprouduponthefavoursofthecourt;

courtmanners,andcourtfashions,heaffects,

andintheheatanduncheck'dbloodofyouth,

harboursacompanyofriotousmen,

allhot,andyoung,court-seekers,likehimself,

mostskilfultodevourapatrimony;

andthesehaveeatintomyoldestates,

andthesehavedrain'dthyfather'scellarsdry;

butthesesocommonfaultsofyouthnotnamed,

(thingswhichthemselvesoutgrow,lefttothemselves,)

iknownoqualitythatstainshishonor.

mylifeuponhisfaithandnoblemind,

sonjohncouldneverplaythyfatherfalse.

simon

ineverthoughtbutnoblyofmybrother,

touchinghishonorandfidelity.

stillicouldwishhimcharierofhisperson,

andofhistimemorefrugal,thantospend

inriotousliving,gracelesssociety,

andmirthunpalatable,hoursbetteremploy'd

(withthosepersuasivegracesnaturelenthim)

inferventpleadingsforafather'slife.

sirwalter

iwouldnotowemylifetoajealouscourt,

whoseshallowpolicyiknowitis,

onsomereluctantactsofprudentmercy,

(notvoluntary,butextortedbythetimes,

inthefirsttremblingsofnew-fixedpower,

andrecollectionsmartingfromoldwounds,)

onthesetobuildaspuriouspopularity.

unknowingwhatfreegraceormercymean,

theyfeartopunish,thereforedotheypardon.

forthiscausehaveioftforbidmyson,

byletters,overtures,opensolicitings,

orcloset-tamperings,bygoldorfee,

tobegorbargainwiththecourtformylife.

simon

andjohnhasta'enyou,father,atyourword,

truetotheletterofhispaternalcharge.

sirwalter

well,mygoodcause,andmygoodconscience,boy,