Identifier: deviltopayorwive1748coff (find matches)
Title: The devil to pay: or, The wives metamorphos'd: An opera.
Year: 1748 (1740s)
Authors: Coffey, Charles, d. 1745, librettist
Subjects: Operas
Publisher: London: J. Watts
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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s a Woman! Job. Siilgs. He that has the beft Wife,Shes the Plague of his Life,But for her that will/cold and will quarrel. (Exit, Lady. O Rogue, Scoundrel, Villain! Sir John. Remember Modefty. Lady. Ill rout ye all with a Vengeance, Ill fpoil your fqueaking Treble, (Beats the Fiddie about the blind Man*s Head. Fid. O Murder, Murder! I am a dark Man, which way (hallI get hence ? Oh Heavn ! flie has broke my Fiddle, and undoneme and my Wife and Children, Sir John. Here, poor Fellow, take your Staff and be gone:Theres Money to buy you two fuch; thats your way. (Exit Fidler, Lady. Methinks you are very liberal, Sir; muft my Eftatemaintain you in your Profufenefs? Sir John. Go up to your Clofet, pray, and compofe yourMind* Lady. O wicked Man! to bid me pray. Sir John. A Man cant be completely curft, I fee, withoutMarriage; but fince there is fuch a thing as feparate Maintenance,flie (halt To-morrow enjoy the Benefit of it. G AIR 8 The Devil to Pay\ Or* A I R V. Of all Comforts I mifcarrfd.
Text Appearing After Image:
Of the States in Life fo various,Marriage, fur e, is moft precarious \9Tis a Maze fo Jirangely winding.Still we are new Mazes finding ;9Tis an Aclion fo fever e,That nought but Death can fet us clearsHappys the Man, from Wedlock free,Who knows to prize his Liberty : Were Men wary How they marry.We fhould not be by half fo full of Mifery. (Knocking at the Door.) Here, where are my Servants? Muft they be frighted from me? —Within there fee who knocks. Lady. Within there. Where are my Sluts? Ye Drabs, yc Queans Lights there. Enter Servants, fneaking, zuith Candles. But. Sir, it is a Doftor that lives ten Miles off; he praflifesPhyfick, and is an Aftrologer; your Worfhip knows him verywell, he is a Cunning-Man, makes Almanacks, and can helpPeople to their Goods again. Enter The Wives Metamorphosed. Enter Do&or. Do/1. Sir, I humbly beg your Honours Pardon for this unfea-fonable Intrufion; but I am benighted, and tis fo dark that Icant poflibly find my way home; and knowing your Worfh

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