SIR L. Well, then', captain, 'tis we must begin-so come out, my little counsellor [Draws his sword] and ask the gentleman, whether he will resign the lady without forcing you to proceed against him?

CAFT. A. Come on then, sir, [Draws] since you won't let it be an amicable suit, here's my reply.

Enter SIR ANTHONY, DAVID, and the LADIES, L. U. E.

DAV. Knock 'em all down, sweet Sir Anthony ; knock down my master in particular-and bind his hands over to their good behaviour.

SIR ANTH. Put up, Jack, put up, or I shall be in a frenzy how came you in a duel, sir?

CAPT. A. 'Faith, sir, that gentleman can tell you better than I; 'twas he called on me, and you know, sir, I serve his majesty.

SIR ANTH. Here's a pretty fellow ! I catch him going to cut a man's throat, and he tells me he serves his majesty! Z-ds! sirrah, then how durst you draw the king's sword against one of his subjects?

CAPT. A. Sir, I tell you, that gentleman called me out, without explaining his reasons.

SIR ANTH. 'Gad sir! how came you to call my son out, without explaining his reasons.

SIR L. Your son, sir, insulted me in a manner which my honour could not brook.

SIR ANTH. Z-ds, Jack! how durst you insult the gentdeman in a manner which his honour could not brook?

MRS. M. Come, come, let's have no honour before ladies-Captain Absolute, come here-How could you intimidate us so? Here's Lydia has been terrified to death for you.

CAPT. A. For fear I should be killed, or escape, ma'am?

MRS. M. Nay, no delusions to the past-Lydia is convinced speak, child.

SIR L. With your leave ma'am, I must put in a word here. I believe I could interpret the young lady's silence Now mark

LYD. What is it you mean sir?

SIR L. Come, come, Dalia, we must be serious now; this is no time for trifling.

LYD. 'Tis true, sir; and your reproof bids me offer this gentleman my hand, and solicit the return of his affections.

CAPT. A. Oh, my little angel, say you so? Sir Lucius, I perceive there must be some mistake here. With regard to the affront which you affirm I have given you, I can only say that it could not have been intentional. And as you must be convinced, that I should not fear to support a real injury, you shall now see that I am not ashamed to atone for an inadvertency—I ask your pardon. But for this lady, while honoured with her approbation, I will support my claim against any man whatever.

SIR ANT. Well said, Jack, and I'll stand by you, my boy. ACRES. Mind, I give up all my claim-I make no pretensions to any thing in the world; and if I can't get a wife without fighting for her, by my valour! I'll live a bachelor.

SIR L. Captain, give me your hand--an affront handsomely acknowledged becomes an obligation; and as for the lady, if she chooses to deny her own hand-writing, here[Takes out Letters.

MRS. M. Oh, he will dissolve my mystery! Sir Lucius, perhaps there is some mistake. Perhaps I can illumi

nate

SIR L. Pray, old gentlewoman, don't interfere where you have no business. Miss Languish, are you my Dalia, or not?

LYD. Indeed, Sir Lucius, I am not!

[LYDIA and ABSOLUTE walk aside. MRS. M. Sir Lucius O'Trigger-ungrateful as you are -I own the soft impeachment-pardon my camelion blushes, I am Dalia.

SIR L. You Dalia !-pho! pho! be easy.

MRS. M. Why, thou barbarous Vandike-those letters are mine. When you are more sensible of my benignity; perhaps I may be brought to encourage your addresses.

SIR L. Mrs. Malaprop, I am extremely sensible of your condescension: and whether you or Lucy have put this trick upon me, I am equally beholden to you. And to show you I am not ungrateful, Captain Absolute, since you have taken that lady from me, I'll give you my Dalia into the bargain.

CAPT. A. I am much obliged to you, Sir Lucius, but here's my friend, fighting Bob, unprovided for.

SIR L. Hah! little valour-here, will you make your fortune?

ACRES. Odds wrinkles! No.-But give me your hand, Sir Lucius, forget and forgive but if ever I give you a chance of pickling me again, say Bob Acres is a dunce, that's all.

SIR ANTH. Come, Mrs. Malaprop, don't be cast down -your are in your bloom yet.

MRS. M. O, Sir Anthony! men are all barbarians?

[All retire but JULIA and FAULKLAND. JUL. He seems dejected and unhappy-not sullen : — there was some foundation, however, for the tale he told me-O women! how true should be your judgment, when your resolution is so weak!

FAULK. Julia!-how can I sue for what I so little deserve? I dare not presume-yet hope is the child of penitence.

JUL. O! Faulkland, you have not been more faulty in your unkind treatment of me, than I am now in wanting inclination to resent it. As my heart honestly bids me place my weakness to the account of love, I should be ungenerous not to admit the same plea for yours.

[SIR ANTHONY Come forward between them. FAULK. Now I shall be blest indeed.

SIR ANTH. What's going on here?-So you have been quarelling too, I warrant.—Come, Julia, I never interfered before; but let me have a hand in the matter at last. -All the faults I have ever seen in my friend Faulkland, seemed to proceed from what he calls the delicacy and warmth of his affection for you.-There, marry him directly, Julia, you'll find he'll mend surprisingly.

[The rest of the characters come forward.]

SIR. L. Come now, I hope there is no dissatisfied person but what is content; for as I have been disappointed myself, it will be very hard if I have not the satisfaction of seeing other people succeed better.

ACRES. You are right, Sir Lucius-So, Jack, I wish you joy-Mr. Faulkland the same.—Ladies,―come now, to show you I'm neither vext nor angry, odds tabors and pipes! I'll order the fiddles in half an hour to the New Rooms-and I insist on your all meeting me there.

SIR. A. 'Gad! sir, I like your spirit; and at night we single lads will drink a health to the young couples, and a good husband to Mrs. Malaprop.

FAULK. Our partners are stolen from us, Jack-I hope to be congratulated by each other—yours for having checked in time the errors of an ill-directed imagination which might have betrayed an innocent heart; and mine for having by her gentleness and candour, reformed the unhappy temper of one, who by it made wretched whom he loved most, and tortured the heart he ought to have adored.

CAPT. A. True, Faulkland, we have both tasted the bitters, as well as the sweets of love-with this difference only, that you always prepared the bitter cup for yourself, while I

LYD. Was always obliged to me for it, hey, Mr. Modesty?-But come, no more of that—our happiness is now as unalloyed as general.

JUL. Then let us study to preserve it so; and while hope pictures to us a flattering scene of future bliss, let us deny its pencil those colours which are too bright to be lasting. When hearts deserving happiness would unite their fortunes, virtue would crown them with an unfading garland of modest, hurtless flowers; but ill-judging passion will force the gaudier rose into the wreath, whose thorn offends them when its leaves are dropt!

THE END.

SCENE I.-A Tended Field in the background-the foreground, a Pavilion near Pizarro's Tent.

ELVIRA discovered reclining on`a couch, R. c.-VALVERDE enters, L, and attempts to kiss her hand; ELVIRA rises.

ELV. (R.) Audacious! Whence is thy privilege to interrupt the few moments of repose my harrassed mind can snatch amid the tumults of this noisy camp? Shall I inform thy master, Pizarro, of this presumptuous treachery?

VAL. (R. C.) I am his servant, it is true-trusted by him-and I know him well; and therefore 'tis I ask, by what magic could Pizarro gain thy heart, by what fatality still holds he thy affection?

ELV. (R. C.) Hold! thou trusty secretary!

VAL. (C.) Ignobly born! in mind and manners rude, ferocious, and unpolished, though cool and crafty if occasion need-in youth audacious—ill his first manhood— a licensed pirate-treating men as brutes, the world as booly; yet now the Spanish hero he is styled-the first of Spanish conquerors! and for a warrior so accomplis