Speed the plough : $b A comedy, in five acts; as performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden

"Speed the Plough" by Thomas Morton is a five-act comedy that sets the stage for a clash of tradition and progress in a rural community. The story centers on Farmer Ashfield and his family, whose lives are disrupted by the arrival of the ambitious Sir Abel Handy and his son. Themes of love, social climbing, and the simplicity of country life are woven together as the characters prepare for an agricultural competition. Initial interactions between the Ashfields and the Handys highlight the contrast between old-fashioned values and modern aspirations, laying the groundwork for romantic interests and social disparities that are revealed, leading to complicated relationships as the play progresses.