[The two NIECES draw their two daggers to strike WHISKERANDOS : the two UNCLES at the instant, with their two swords drawn, catch their two NIECES' arms, and turn the points of their swords to WHISKERANDOS, who immediately draws two daggers, and holds them to the two NIECES' bosoms." Puff. There's situation for you! there's an heroic group !You see the ladies can't stab Whiskerandos-he durst not strike them, for fear of their uncles—the uncles durst not kill him, because of their nieces—I have them all at a dead lock !—for every one of them is afraid to let go first. Sneer. Why, then they must stand there for ever ! Puff. So they would, if I hadn't a very fine contrivance fort. -Now mind “ Enter BEEFEATER, with his halbert. Beef. In the queen's name I charge you all to drop Your swords and daggers ! [They drop their swords and daggers." Sneer. That is a contrivance indeed ! Puff. Ay-in the queen's name. “ Sir Christ. Come, niece ! Sir Walter. Come, niece ! [Exeunt with the two NIECES: Ha ! hell! the lie ! (Discovers himself, by throwing off his upper dress, and appearing in a very fine waistcoat. In Biscay's Bay I took thy captive sloop?" Puff. There, egad! he comes out to be the very captain of the privateer who had taken Whiskerandos prisoner-and was himself an old lover of Tilburina's. Dang. Admirably managed, indeed ! Puff. Now, stand out of their way. A weapon to chastise this insolent. [Takes up one of the swords. [Takes up the other su ord.” Dang. That's excellently contrived !-It seems as if the two uncles had left their swords on purpose for them. Puff. No, egad, they could not help leaving them. . 6. Whisk. " Whisk. Vengeance and Tilburina ! Beef. Exactly so— [They fight-and after the usual number of wounds given, WHISKERANDOS falls. Was fatal.-Captain, thou hast fenced well ! For all eter- -nity-he would have added, but stern death Cut short his being, and the noun at once !" Puff. Oh, my dear sir, you are too slow : now mind me.Sir, shall I trouble you to die again? And Whiskerandos quits this bustling scene For all eterBeef.. nity--he would have added,Puff. No, sir-that's not it-.once more, if you please. Whisk. I wish, sir, you would practise this without me-I can't stay dying here all night. Puff. Very well ; we'll go over it by-and-by.—[Exit WHISKERANDOS.] I must humour these gentlemen! “Beef. . . Farewell, brave Spaniard ! and when next-" Puff. Dear sir, you needn't speak that speech, as the body has walked off. Beef. That's true, sir-then I'll join the fleet. . If you please.—[Exit BEEFEATER.] Now, who comes on ? Gov. . . “ Enter GOVERNOR, with his hair properly disordered. A hemisphere of evil planets reign! [A loud flourish of trumpets. [Exii.” Puff. O Lord, sir—when a heroine goes mad, she always goes into white satin.--Don't she, Dangle ? Dang. Always-it's a rule. Puff. Yes—here it is—[ Looking at the book.] “ Enter Tilburina stark mad in white satin, and her confidant stark mad in white linen." “ Enter TILBURINA and CONFIDANT, mad, according to custom." Sneer. But, what the deuce, is the confidant to be mad too ? Puff. To be sure she is: the confidant is always to do whatever her mistress does; weep when she weeps, smile when she smiles, go mad when she goes mad.—Now, Madam Confidant -but keep your madness in the background, if you please. “ Tilb. . . The wind whistles—the moon rises-see, They have kill'd my squirrel in his cage : this a grasshopper?—Ha ! no; it is my whale's a bird ?-Ha ! did you call, my love ? [Exit.” Puff. There, do you ever desire to see anybody madder than that? Sneer. Never, while I live! Dang. Yes—egad, it was the first thing made me suspect she was out of her senses ! Sneer. And pray what becomes of her ? Puff. She is gone to throw herself into the sea, to be sureand that brings us at once to the scene of action, and so to my catrastrophe—my sea-fight, I mean. Sneer. What, you bring that in at last? Puff. Yes, yes--you know my play is called The Spanish Armada ; otherwise, egad, I have no occasion for the battle at all.—Now then for my magnificence !-my battle -my noise! -and my procession - You are all ready? Und. Promp. [Within.] Yes, sir. “ Enter THAMES with two ATTENDANTS." Thames. Here I am, sir. Puff. Very well, indeed See, gentlemen, there's a river for you - This is blending a little of the masque with my tragedy -a new fancy, you know-and very useful in my case ; for as there must be a procession, I suppose Thames, and all his tributary rivers, to compliment Britannia with a fête in honour of the victory. Sneer. But pray, who are these gentlemen in green with him? Puff. Those ?—those are his banks. Sneer. His banks ? Puff. Yes, one crowned with alders, and the other with a villa 1-you take the allusions ?—But hey! what the plague! you have got both your banks on one side.—Here, sir, come round.--Ever while you live, Thames, go between your banks. --[Bell rings.] There, so ! now fort !-Stand aside, my dear friends !-Away, Thames ! [Exit Thames between his banks. (Flourish of drums, trumpets, cannon, &c., &c. Scene changes to the sea—the fleets engage—the music plays“ Britons strike home." - Spanish fleet destroyed by fireships, &c.-English fleet advances—music plays “Rule Britannia.”—The procession of all the English rivers, and their tributaries, with their emblems, &c., begins with Handel's water music, ends with a chorus to the march in Judas Maccabæus.-During this scene, PUFF directs and applauds everything—then Puff. Well, pretty well—but not quite perfect. So, ladies and gentlemen, if you please, we'll rehearse this piece again to-morrow. [Curtain drops. . A TRIP TO SCARBOROUGH. A COMEDY. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. AS ORIGINALLY ACTED AT DRURY-LANE THEATRE IN 1777. LORD FOPPINGTON Mr. Dodd. SHOEMAKER . Mr. Carpenter. SIR TUNBELLY TAILOR Mr. Parker. CLUMSY COLONEL TOWNLY Mr. Brereton. AMANDA Mrs. Robinson. LOVELESS. Mr. Smith. Miss Farren. TOM FASHION Mr.J.Palmer. Miss HOYDEN . Mrs. Abington LA VAROLE Mr. Burton. MRS. COUPLER. Mrs. Booth. LORY Mr. Baddeley. NURSE : shau'. MENDLEGS Mr. Norris. SEMPSTRESS, POSTILION, MAID, and JEWELLER . Mr. Lamash. SERVANTS. } Mr. Moody. { Mrie Brad . PROLOGUE. SPOKEN BY MR. KING. What various transformations we remark, But now weak nerves in hackney-coaches roam, |