e, madam!

_Lady Rod_. Ay, love, sir.--Why, you have never said a word till me on
the subject,--nor cast a single glance at me,--nor heaved one tender
sigh,--nor even secretly squeezed my loof:--now, sir, thof our fathers are
so tyrannical as to dispose of us without the consent of our hearts;--yet
you, sir, I hope, have more humanity than to think of marrying me without
administering some of the preliminaries, usual on those occasions:--if not
till my understanding and sentiments, yet till the vanity of my sex, at
least, I hope you will pay some little tribute of ceremony and adulation:
that, I think, I have a right to expect.

_Eger_. Madam, I own your reproach is just:--I shall therefore no longer
disguise my sentiments, but fairly let you know my heart.

_Lady Rod_. [_Starts up, and runs to him._] That's right,--that is right,
cousin;--honourably and affectionately right;--that is what I like of aw
things in my swain.--Ay, ay, cousin--open your mind frankly till me, as a
true lover shou'd.--But sit you down--sit you down again: I shall return
your frankness and your passion, cousin, with a melting tenderness, equal
till the amorous enthusiasm of an ancient heroine.

_Eger_. Madam, if you will hear me----

_Lady Rod_. But, remember, you must begin with fervency,--and a most
rapturous vehemency:--for you are to consider, cousin, that our match is
nai to arise fra the union of hearts, and a long decorum of ceremonious
courtship;--but is instantly to start at once--out of necessity, or mere
accident;--ha, ha, ha! like a match in an ancient romance,--where you ken,
cousin,--the knight and the damsel are mutually smitten and dying for each
other at first sight,--or by an amorous sympathy before they exchange a
single glance.

_Eger_. Dear madam, you entirely mistake----

_Lady Rod_. And our fathers,--ha, ha, ha! our fathers are to be the dark
magicians that are to fascinate our hearts and conjure us together,
whether we will or not.

_Eger_. Ridiculous!

_Lady Rod_. So now, cousin, with the true romantic enthusiasm,--you are to
suppose me the lady of the enchanted castle, and you--ha, ha, ha! you are
to be the knight of the sorrowful countenance--ha, ha, ha! and, upon
honour--you look the character admirably;--ha, ha, ha!

_Eger_. Rude trifling creature!

_Lady Rod_. Come, sir,--why do you nai begin to ravish me with your
valour, your vows, your knight errantry, and your amorous phrenzy.--Nay,
nay, nay! guin