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Lei. [With Puff's manner.] There spoke Old

England's genius!

'Then, are we all resolv'd?

'Aul. We are-all resolv'd.

Lei. To conquer-or be free.

'All. To conquer-or be free. 'Lei. All?

6 Au. All.'

Dan. Nem. con. egad!

Puff. O yes, where they do agree on the stage, their unanimity is wonderful.

'Lei. Then, let's embrace,-[They embrace ]—and

now'

[Kneels.

Sneer. What the plague, is he going to pray?

Puff. Yes, hush! In great emergencies, there is nothing like a prayer!

'Lei. O mighty Mars!'

Puff. Stop, my dear sir. You do not expect to find Mars there. No, sir, whenever you address the gods, always look into the upper gallery.

Lei. [Looking up to the gallery.] O, mighty Mars!' Dan. But why should he pray to Mars?

Puff. Hush!

'Lei. O mighty Mars, if in thy homage bred,

'Each point of discipline I've still observ'd;

Nor but by due promotion, and the right 'Of service, to the rank of Major-General

'Have ris❜n;'

Puff Keep up the Major-General! [Repeats the line with force.] To the rank of Major-General have ris'n!' Tip them the Major-General, pray. 'Lei. [After Puff's manner.]

Major-General

Have ris'n; assist thy votary now!

To the rank of

Gov. [Kneels] Yet do not rise-hear me!

Mast of H. [Kneels.] And me!

Sir W. [Kneels.] And me!

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Sir C. [Kneels.] And me!'

Puff. [Kneels] And me! Now mind your hits;

pray all together.

'All. Behold thy votaries submissive beg. That thou wilt deign to grant them all they ask;' Puff. No, no, gentlemen, the emphasis is upon

the word all. Thus:

'Behold thy votaries submissive beg.

'That thou wilt deing to grant them all they ask;' Now, gentlemen.

All. Behold thy votaries submissive beg,

That thou wilt deing to grant them all they ask ;
Assist them to accomplish all their ends,

And sanctify whatever means they use

To gain them!"

Sneer. A very orthodox quintetto!

Puff. Vastly well, gentlemen, indeed, for persons who are not much in the habit of praying. Is that well managed or not? I believe you haven't such a prayer as that on the stage.

Sneer. Not exactly.

Let. [To Puff.] But, sir, you haven't settled how we are to get off here.

Puff. You could not go off kneeling, could you?
Lei. O no, sir, impossible!

Puff. It would have a good effect, efaith, if you could!' exeunt praying!' Yes, and would vary the established mode of springing off with a glance at the pit.

Sneer. O never mind, so as you get them off, I'll answer, for it, the audience won't care how.

Puff. Well, then, repeat the last line standing, and go off the old way.

'All. And sanctify whatever means we use to gain them.'

Dan. Bravo! a fine exit.

Sneer. Stay a moment.

The Centinels get up.

[Exeunt.

1st Cen. All this shall to Lord Burleigh's ear.' 2d. Cen. 'Tis meet it should." [Exeunt Centinels. Dan. Hey!-why, I thought those fellows had been asleep?

Puff. Only a pretence; there's the art of it; they were spies of Lord Burleigh's. But take care, my dear Dangle, the morning gun is going to fire.

Dan. Well, that will have a fine effect.

Puff. I think so, and helps to realize the scene. [Canon, three times from Battery.] What the plague!-three morning guns!-there never is but one! Aye, this is always the way at the theatregive these fellows a good thing, and they never know when to have done with it. You have no more cannon to fire?

Promp. [From within.] No, sir.

Puff. Now, then, for soft music.
Sneer. Pray what's that for?

Puff. It shews that Tilburina is coming; nothing introduces you a heroine like soft music.-Here she

comes.

Dan. And her confidant, I suppose?

Puff. To be sure: here they are-inconsolable-to the minuet in Ariadne! [Soft music in Orchestra. Enter TILBURINA and CONFIDANT.

'Til. Now flowers unfold their beauties to the sun, 'And blushing, kiss the beam he sends to wake them. 'The strip'd carnation, and the guarded rose, The vulgar wall-flow'r, and smart gilly-flower, 'The polyanthus mean-the dapper daisy, 'Sweet William, and sweet marjorum, and all 'The tribe of single and of double pinks!

6 'Now, too, the feather'd warblers tune their notes

' Around, and charm the list'ning grove-The lark! The linnet! chafinch! bullfinch! goldfinch! green

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finch!

—But 0, to me no joy can they afford!

'Nor rose, nor wall-flow'r, nor smart gilly-flower,

'Nor polyanthus mean, nor dapper daisy,

'Nor William sweet, nor marjorum-nor lark,

Linnet, nor all the finches of the grove!'

Puff. [Holding his handkerchief to his eyes.] Your

white handkerchief, madam-there, if you please.

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Til. I thought, sir, I wasn't to use that, till' heartrending woe."

Puff. O yes, madam-at 'the finches of the grove,' if you please.

Til.

Nor lark,

'Linnet, nor all the finches of the grove!'

Puff. Vastly well, madam!

Dan. Vastly well, indeed!

[Weeps.

Til. For, O too sure, heart-rending woe is now The lot of wretched Tilburina!'

Dan. O! 'tis too much.

Sneer. Oh!- -it is, indeed.

'Con. Be comforted, sweet lady—for who knows, 'But heav'n has yet some milk-white day in store. Til. Alas, my youthful-gentle Nora,

Thy tender youth as yet hath never mourn'd 'Love's fatal dart.

'Con. But see where your stern father comes; 'It is not meet that he should find you thus.'

Puff. Hey, what the plague! what a cut is here! -why, what is become to the description of her first meeting with Don Whiskerandos? his gallant behaviour in the sea-fight, and the simile of the canarybird?

Til. Indeed, sir! you'll find they will not be miss'd! Puff. Very well.—Very well!

Til. The cue, ma'am, if you please.

'Con. It is not meet that he should find you thus. 'Til. Thou counsellst right, but 'tis no easy task

'For barefac'd grief to wear a mask of joy.

Enter GOVErnor.

'Gov. How's this-in tears!-0-' Puff. There's a round O! for you. Sneer. A capital O!

'Gov. Tilburina, shame!

'Is this a time for maudling tenderness,

'And Cupid's baby woes ?-has thou not heard

'That haughty Spain's Pope consecrated fleet

'Advances to our shores, while England's fate, 'Like a clipp'd guinea, trembles in the scale!

'Til. [Seizing GOVERNORS hand.] Then, is the crisis of my fate at hand!

'I see the fleet's approach-I see—'

Puff. Now, pray gentlemen, mind. This is one of the most useful figures we tragedy-writers have, by which a hero or heroine, in consideration of their being often obliged to overlook things that are on the stage, is allowed to hear and see a number of things that

are not.

Sneer. Yes; a kind of poetical second-sight!
Puff. Yes.-Now then, madam.

• Til.

-I see their decks

'Are clear'd-I see the signal made!

"The line is form'd !-a cable's length asunder!

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I see the frigates station'd in the rear;

And now, I hear the thunder of the guns !—

I hear the victor's shouts-I also hear

'The vanquish'd groan-and now 'tis smoke-and now 'I see the loose sails shiver in the wind!

'I see--I see what soon you'll see—”

[Swoons in the GOVERNOR's arms. Puff. [In rapture, taking TILBURINA's hand.] Mrs. Gibbs, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Dangle and Mr. Sneer. This is Mrs. Gibbs, one of the very best actresses on the stage, I assure you, gentlemen. 'Gov. Hold, daughter! peace! this love hath turn'd thy brain:

'The Spanish fleet thou canst not see-because -It is not yet in sight!'

Dan. Egad, though, the Governor seems to make no allowance for this poetical figure you talk of.

Puff. No; a plain matter-of-fact man; that's his

character.

Til. But will you then refuse his offer? 'Gov. I must-I will- Ican-I ought-I do. Til. His liberty is all he asks?'

Puff. His liberty is all he asks.

Sneer. All who asks, Mr. Puff? Who is-he!

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