And must not, shall not lose the son he loves, Lady R. My son! I heard a voice- Lady R. Didst thou complain aloud to nature's Doug. First, let me tell What may the tenor of your counsel change. At eve, unseen by Randolph and Glenalvon, 'Twas strange, they said, a wonderful discov'ry ; And ever and anon they vow'd revenge. Lady R. Defend us, gracious God! we are betray'd; They have found out the secret of thy birth; Fly to the camp, my son! Doug. And leave you here? No; to the castle let us go together, Some in your cause will arm. I ask but few Thou genuine offspring of the daring Douglas! Which, running eastward, leads thee to the camp. Instant demand admittance to Lord Douglas. Show him these jewels, which his brother wore. Thy look, thy voice, will make him feel the truth, Which I by certain proof will soon confirm. Doug. I yield me and obey; but yet my heart Bleeds at this parting. Something bids me stay And guard a mother's life. Oft have I read Of wond'rous deeds by one bold arm achiev'd. Our foes are two-no more-let me go forth, And see if any shield can guard Glenalvon. Lady R. If thou regard'st thy mother, or re ver'st Thy father's mem'ry, think of this no more. I have a great cause to dread. Too well I see The god of battles of my life dispose As may be best for you, for whose dear sake Lady R. I will not utter what my bosom feels. And as high heav'n hath will'd it, all must be. Glen. I'm prepar'd. Lord R. No; I command thee stay. I go alone; it never shall be said That I took odds to combat mortal man. The noblest vengeance is the most complete. [Exit LORD RANDOLPH. GLENALVON makes some steps to the same side of the stage, listens and speaks. Glen. Demons of death, come settle on my sword, And to a double slaughter guide it home! [LORD RANDOLPH behind the scenes. Lord R. Draw, villain, draw! Not as thou lov'st thyself. [Clashing of swords. GLENALVON running out. Now is the time. 募 紅糖 Enter LADY RANDOLPH at the opposite side of the "The world did once esteem Lord Randolph well Lady R. Lord Randolph, hear me; all shall be "Beneath the holy banner of the cross. thine own; But spare! oh, spare my son! Enter DOUGLAS, with a sword in each hand. Doug. My mother's voice! I can protect thee still. Lady R. He lives, he lives; For this, for this to heav'n eternal praise! Doug. It was Glenalvon; Just as my arm had master'd Randolph's sword, How pale thou look'st! and shall I lose thee now? And we must part! the hand of death is on thee! Oh, destiny! hardly thou dealest with me; Lady R. Has heav'n preserv'd thee for an end like this? Doug. Oh, had I fall'n as my brave fathers fell, But thus to perish by a villain's hand! Cut off from nature's and from glory's course, Lady R. Hear, Justice, hear! stretch thy of me. Some noble spirits, judging by themselves, Lady R. Despair! despair! Doug. Oh, had it pleas'd high heav'n to let me A little while! My eyes that gaze on thee Enter LORD RANDOLPH and ANNA. I am the stain of knighthood and of arms. The traitor's sword Anna. Alas! look there, my lord. "Now past the noon of life, shame comes upon Is innocence compared with what thou think'st it. of growing old amidst a race of thine, Who might make up to me their father's child- And bear my brother's and my husband's name; That only whilst I please; for such a son [Runs out. Lord R. Follow her, Anna; I myself would But in this rage she must abhor my presence. Enter OLD NORVAL. Norv. I hear the voice of woe; heav'n guard Lord R. Already is the idle gaping crowd, Norv. I fear thee not. I will not go. Lord R. The mother and her son! How curst Who saw that noble spirit swell and rise Above the narrow limits that confin'd it, And not the locks of Douglas. [Tears his hair, give! "My crest is fallen." For thee I will appoint Anna. My lord! my lord! Lord R. Speak; I can hear of horror. Anna. Is no more; She ran, she flew like lightning up the hill, Lord R. 'Twas I, alas! 'twas I That fill'd her breast with fury; drove her down In vain complaints, the passion of my soul. THE END. The tragedy of Douglas is one of the most chaste and beautiful plays known to the English stage; whether we look at the language, the poetry, or the plot, we find in all much to admire and nothing to condemn-yet its author, the Rev. Dr. Home, was publicly tried by the Presbyterian Synod of the Kirk of Scotland, and sentenced to be suspended from the ministry of the gospel, for the high crime and misdemeanor of having written a profane Stage Play. His stern accusers, like the Puritans of old, could find no mercy for so great an error, but it puzzled their wise brains to find a passage in the play to found their charge upon. Was it immoral? Quite the contrary. The moral was so sound and good that it courted investigation and foiled even bigotry, showing the consequence of disobedience to parental authority in so strong a light, that a life of spotless purity thereafter could not avert the fatal effects of the indiscretion of a concealed marriage, and the high worth and courage of the offspring, not of crime, but of affection, render his undeserved fate the theme of a universal commiseration, while a feeling of hatred removes all pity from Lord Randolph for his agency in it, even with the excuse of jealousy, and the unabashed villainy of Glenalvon, who urged him on, from his own base ends, to murder the preserver of his life as the supposed destroyer of his honor. The characters of Lady Randolph and of Young Norval are almost faultless-the victims of circumstances beyond their control, their only error concealment of their new-found relationship, and thus the mother and the son rush on their doom. But to return to the author and his unmerited persecution. Reader, on what do you think an assemblage of prelates, scholars, gentlemen, pronounced a sentence equal to excommunication in the Church of Rome? They twisted and tortured the following sentence into a sneer against the clergy: "He was not to blame! These schoolmen may well be called upon to tell us why they acted so base and cruel a part towards one of their own profession possessing a heart overflowing with the milk of human kindness, one whom all that knew him loved and reverenced, both as a clergyman and a man. Christian Charity may well drop a tear upon the heartless act; but Providence is just, and Home's name an 1 his Play of Douglas survive, while the names of his persecutors are already forgotten, or only named to be reviled whenever Home's name and his play are the theme of admiration. THE NEW YORK DRAMA TRAGEDIES, A CHOICE COLLECTION OF COMEDIES, WITH FARCES, ETC. CASTS OF CHARACTERS, STAGE BUSINESS, COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, &c., ADAPTED TO THE HOME CIRCLE, PRIVATE THEATRICALS, AND THE AMERICAN STAGE. VOL. 2. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by WHEAT & CORNETT, in the Office CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH. A Farce, in One Act. BY J. R. PLANCHE. CAST OF CHARACTERS. Covent Garden, 1841. Viscount de Ligny.... Mr. C. Matthews. Baron Vanderpotter.. Bartley. Collett. Adolf de Courtray.. "James Vining. Officer of the Watch.. Louis.. Pierre..... Guards.. Kristina.. Katryn. Ireland. EXITS AND ENTRANCES.-R. means Right; L. Left; R. D. Right Door; L. [Preparing to jump. Krist. No, no, no, not on this side. [He stands up.] Oh, dear! oh, dear! if you should be seen. Kat. Don't stand there, at any rate. Adolf. I won't. [Jumps into the garden. Krist. There, now! that's your doing, Katryn. What will become of me? Kat. Would you have had the young man stick D. Left Door: 2 E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle, on the wall like a broken glass bottle? Door. RELATIVE POSITIONS.-R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right Centre; L. C. Left Centre, &c. The reader is supposed to be on the stage, facing the audience. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Garden. At the back, a wall with a small door in it. A seat, on which are two battledores and a shuttlecock. Enter KRISTINA, L., and KATRYN, R., meeting. Krist. Well, Katryn, has my uncle gone out? Kat. No, he has changed his mind. He says it's too late to go out this evening. Krist. Which means that he would rather stay at Brussels, and play at primero with the Governor; he is as fond of that game Kat. As we are of this. [Taking one of the battledores.] Will you play, mamselle? Krist. No, I'm tired of it. Kat. Which means that you have found some more agreeable occupation. Krist. Hold your tongue, Katryn. I know what you were going to say; and you know I have forbidden you to speak of him. Kat. Oh, certainly, mamselle; I'm dumb. Krist. Poor young man! I shall never see him again. [Opens door. Adolf. Pardon me, dearest Kristina, I am half distracted; I heard that your uncle was about to sell this house, and remove no one knew whither. Immediately on the receipt of this intelligence I left Louvain, galloped hither like a madman-my horse fell dead as I entered the city Krist. Poor Adolf! Kat. Poor horse, you mean. Adolf. On arriving here, I saw a horrid board stuck against the gate, confirming the news of your intended removal: "This house to be sold, with immediate possession." The door was fastened-you might have already departed-I was in a paroxysm of despair, when this precious shuttlecock, like a descending angel, came pat on my nose, and announced the presence of my beloved. Kat. Affecting incident! Krist. Distressing situation! If my uncle-if your colonel Adolf. Oh, my colonel and I are at daggersdrawn already. My repeated visits, private and without leave, have been made known to him. He has threatened me with all sorts of punishment-vowed to send a description of me to the Captain of the Watch, and have me dragged to jail here, and exposed to the whole city. You may not believe it, but I am at this moment actually under arrest at Louvain. Kat. I didn't mention him then, mamselle. Krist. Would to goodness you were! This imKrist. No, no, Katryn, I know you didn't—and prudence will ruin everything. You know the exI didn't mean-but I was thinking of something press condition on which my uncle promised to else and so and so. [Playing with the shuttle- consent was that we should neither meet nor cock by herself, she knocks it over the wall—an ex-correspond until he had received a satisfactory clamation is heard without.] Oh, mercy, Katryn! account of you from the friends he had commis sioned to make inquiries as to your family prospects. Should he discover that you have broken that condition, not only once, but twenty timesAdolf. Tell me only, then Krist. I will tell you nothing here-begone this moment. Katryn shall write to you. Kat. Yes, yes, sir, I'll write to you; but go now directly. Adolf. But that won't do, because- Krist. I will hear nothing. Cruel Adolf, you want my uncle to see you, and break off the match, you do. Adolf. But one word must. Krist. Not a syllable. Nay, if you won't go I [Runs out. Adolf. Kristina! It is most important. Katryn, what must I do? Kat. Don't I keep telling you, sir, you must go directly? There's the door open for you, sir; run as fast as you can, and I'll write as soon as I know Adolf. Write! write! but you won't hear what I have to say; I can't tell you where to write to me. Kat. How? Adolf. My regiment is under orders for the frontier; we may march to-morrow morning-deuce knows where! Kat. Oh, mercy! and you never told my mistress? Adolf. How could I? she wouldn't stay to hear. It doesn't signify; war is about to be declaredwe shall soon be in action, and I will take good care to get killed in the very first charge. Kat. You wouldn't be so foolish. Adolf. I will, as sure as fate, and you may tell her so; if she doesn't grant me ten minutes' interview to arrange some plan for our future correspondence, I'll stake myself on the pikes of the enemy the very first opportunity. Kat. Well, well, let me see if I can manage it; the Baron will go out about nine to play his favorite game of primero with the Governor. Now, if I should leave this door unfastened about half-past nine[The CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH appears at the gate, c. Adolf. My guardian genius! Do that, andWho's this man? and what does he want here? Kat. It's nobody we know. He's only reading the board over the wall. Adolf. He's coming in, confound him-if he should know me! Kat. Then vanish directly. Captain. [entering and stopping ADOLF as he is about to pass him.] I beg your pardon, are you the owner of this house? Adolf. Owner, sir! No, sir. Capt. Oh, merely like myself, perhaps, attracted by the notice of sale. Adolf. Exactly so, sir. Good day, sir. Capt. May I ask if you have bought it, sir? Adolf. Bought it, sir? No-I- [Aside.] He's a devilish cool sort of fellow; I don't half like leaving him here. Capt. But do you mean to buy it, or have you decided on the contrary? because I would not interfere- Adolf. Oh, sir, you are perfectly welcome to Kat. [aside to ADOLF.] Why don't you go once? I'll answer this gentleman. at Adolf. [aside.] Go-umph! Suppose she does know this gentleman, and suppose this gentleman knows Kristina, and makes that cursed notice an excuse Capt. It's a pretty looking place; could one see the interior of the building? Adolf [aside.] Confound his impudence! Kat. It's rather late, sir, but- [Aside to ADOLF.] Why don't you go? Adolf. I won't stir from this spot till he leaves it! Kat. What's the matter now? Adolf. He has come to see Kristina, and you know it. Kat. For shame! for shame! I shall go and fetch the Baron, and see if that will make you decamp. [To CAPTAIN.] I will tell my master, sir, you wish to speak to him. Capt. Oh, pray do not disturb him; unless, indeed, this gentleman desires an interview. Adolf. Who, I?-by no means. Kat. I must tell my master, sir. [Aside to ADOLF.] If you are not gone before I return, no door open at half-past nine, mind you. [Exit R. Adolf. I care not. Capt. [aside.] There seems some little mystery here. [Aloud.] Sir, as I said before, I would not, for worlds, interfere; and as you seem to have some understanding about the house with that pretty little person, I withdraw from all competition; the property is yours, sir. that you Adolf. Indeed, sir! It's my belief, sir, did not intend to buy it at all, sir. Capt. To be frank with you-no more than you did, sir! Adolf. Upon my honor! a damned cool fellow. Then, sir, may I ask what business you have here, sir? Capt. Have a care; I may chance to put the same question to you. Adolf. Confound his assurance! [Aloud.] Sir, if I am compelled to justify my right to interrogate you, I will do so, on condition that, with equal good faith, you declare, on your part Capt. Stay, stay! Suffer me to advise, as well as to inform you, never make a confidant of a person you do not know Adolf. But 'sdeath, sir! I insist on knowingCapt. Hear me out-I had a foolish habit, myself, of explaining my motives to any person who considered himself privileged to ask, and once on a time I unfortunately stumbled on the actual husband of a party concerned, and received a thrust in my left shoulder that laid me up for six months -I feel it still in frosty weather; from that moment, sir, I made up my mind, and whenever I am compelled to confess, I always invent the confession! Adolf. Invent! Capt. Invent! And now, sir, after this candid acknowledgment, if you think you should be any the wiser, I am ready to begin with you, story for story. Adolf. Upon my soul, I cannot help laughing. Capt. It's the best thing, depend upon it. I have been laughing some time, internally, at this rencontre; and, as I am really innocent of any intention to cross or annoy you in any way whatever, I will voluntarily make amends for my malapropos intrusion, by loitering out the remaining ten minutes I must wait in some other part of the neighborhood. |