BOX.-Small swallow-tailed black coat, short buff waistcoat, light drab trowsers short, turned up at bottom, black stockings, white canvass boots with black tips, cotton neckcloth, shabby black hat. COX.-Brown Newmarket coat, long white waistcoat, dark plaid trowsers, boots, white hat, black stock.

MRS. BOUNCER.-Coloured cotton gown, apron, cap, &c.

First produced at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, November 1st, 1847 Time in Representation-35 minutes.

EXITS AND ENTRANCES.

R. means Right; L. Left; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door.

RELATIVE POSITIONS.

R., means Right; L., Left; C., Centre; C, Right of Centre L. C., Left of Centre.

BOX AND COX.

ACT I.

SCENE 1-A Room, decently furnished. At c., a bed, with curtains closed, at L. c., a door, at L. 3d E., a door, at L. S. E., a chest of drawers, at back, R.. a window, at R. 3d E., a door, at R. S. E., a fireplace, with mantel-piece, table and chairs, a few common ornaments on chimney-piece. Cox, dressed, with the exception of his coat, is looking at himself in a small looking-glass, which is in his hand. Cox. I've half a mind to register an oath that I'll never have my hair cut again! [His hair is very short.] I look as if I had just been cropped for the militia! And I was particularly emphatic in my instructions to the hair-dresser, only to cut the ends off. He must have thought I meant the other ends! Never mind-I shan't meet anybody to care about so early. Eight o'clock, I declare! I haven't a moment to lose. Fate has placed me with the most punctual, particular, and peremptory of hatters, and I must fulfil my destiny. [Knock at L. D.] Open locks, whoever knocks!

Enter MRS. Bouncer, L.

Mrs. B. Good morning, Mr. Cox. I hope you slept comfortably, Mr. Cox?

to

Cox. I can't say I did, Mrs. B. I should feel obliged could accommodate me with a more protuyou, if you berant bolster, Mrs. B. The one I've got now seems to me to have about a handful and a half of feathers at each end, and nothing whatever in the middle.

Mrs. B. Anything to accommodate you, Mr. Cox. Cox. Thank you. Then, perhaps, you'll be good enough to hold this glass, while I finish my toilet.

Mrs. B. Certainly. [Holding glass before Cox, who ties his cravat.] Why, I do declare, you've had your hair cut. Cox. Cut? It strikes me I've had it mowed! It's very kind of you to mention it, but I'm sufficiently con

scious of the absurdity of my personal appearance alrea dy. [Puts on his coat.] Now for my hat. [Puts on his hat, which comes over his eyes.] That's the effect of having one's hair cut. This hat fitted me quite tight before. Luckily I've got two or three more. [Gocs in at L., and returns, with three hats of different shapes, and puts them on, one after the other-all of which are too big for him.] This is pleasant! Never mind. This one appears to me to wabble about rather less than the others—[Puts on hat,]—and now I'm off! By the bye, Mrs. Bouncer, I wish to call your attention to a fact that has been evident to me for some time past-and that is, that my coals go remarkably fast

Mrs. B. Lor, Mr. Cox!

Cox. It is not only the case with the coals, Mrs. Bouncer, but I've lately observed a gradual and steady increase of evaporation among my candles, wood, sugar, and luci

fer matches.

Mrs. B. Lor, Mr. Cox! you surely don't suspect me? Cox. I don't say I do, Mrs. B.; only I wish you distinctly to understand, that I don't believe it's the cat.

Mrs. B. Is there anything else you've got to grumble about, sir?

Cox. Grumble ! Mrs. Bouncer, do you possess such a thing as a dictionary?

Mrs. B. No, sir.

Cox. Then I'll lend you one-and if you turn to the letter G, you'll find "Grumble, verb neuter-to complain without a cause." Now that's not my case, Mrs. B., and now that we are upon the subject, I wish to know how it is that I frequently find my apartment full of smoke? Mrs. B. Why I suppose the chimney

Cox. The chimney doesn't smoke tobacco. I'm speaking of tobacco smoke, Mrs. B. I hope, Mrs. Bouncer, you're not guilty of cheroots or Cubas?

Mrs. B. Not I, indeed, Mr. Cox.

Cox. Nor partial to a pipe?

Mrs. B. No, sir.

Cox. Then, how is it that

Mrs. B. Why-I suppose-yes-that must be it— Cox. At present I am entirely of your opinion-because I haven't the most distant. particle of an idea what

you mean.

Mrs. B. Why the gentleman who has got the attics, is hardly ever without a pipe in his mouth-and there he sits, with his feet on the mantel-piece

Cox. The mantel piece! That strikes me as being a considerable stretch, either of your imagination, Mrs. B., or the gentleman's legs. I presume you mean the fender or the hob.

Mrs. B. Sometimes one, sometimes t'other. Well, there he sits for hours, and puffs away into the fire-place. Cox. Ah, then you mean to say, that this gentleman's smoke, instead of emulating the example of all other sorts of smoke, and going up the chimney, thinks proper to affect a singularity by taking the contrary direction ? Mrs. B. Why

Cox. Then, I suppose, the gentleman you are speaking of, is the same individual that I invariably meet coming up stairs when I'm going down, and going down stairs when I'm coming up!

Mrs. B. Why-yes—I—

Cox. From the appearance of his outward man, I should unhesitatingly set him down as a gentleman connected with the printing interest.

Mrs. B. Yes, sir-and a very respectable young gentleman he is.

Cox. Well, good morning, Mrs. Bouncer!

Mrs. B. You'll be back at your usual time, I suppose, sir?

Cox. Yes-nine o'clock. You needn't light my fire in future, Mrs. B.-I'll do it myself. Don't forget the bolster! [Going, stops.] A halfpenny worth of milk, Mrs. Bouncer-and be good enough to let it stand-I wish the cream to accumulate. [Exit at .. c.

Mrs. B. He's gone at last! I declare 1 was all in a tremble for fear Mr. Box would come in before Mr. Cox went out. Luckily, they've never met yet-and what's more, they're not very likely to do so; for Mr. Box is hard at work at a newspaper office all night, and doesn't come home till the morning, and Mr. Cox is busy making hats all day long, and doesn't come home till night; so that I'in getting double rent for my room, and neither of my lodgers are any the wiser for it. It was a capital idea of mine-that it was! But I haven't an instant to lose. First of all, let me put Mr. Cox's things out of Mr. Box's

Death will excuse the passion of my soul.
Since first I saw, I loved thee;-ev'ry day
But added to the fire thine eyes had kindled:

And now, e'en now, thou art more dear than ever!
There may be those as wretched as myself,

But none e'er loved so tenderly !

[Pescara, who has gradually advanced during the last speech, rushes between them.

Pes. Have I no other name? it is

To liberate a traitor; opportunity

your husband!

Should not have been abused. Why is he here? Flor. He shall depart-oh, hold! [To Hemeya.] he shall depart!

Pes. He shall-and never shall return!

Hem. Pescara,

This blackest plot of hell was worthy thee!
Worthy the Inquisition, where thy soul
Was early trained to guilt.

Pes. [Stamping.] Behold my answer:

[A cell opens in the wall, aud executioners appear in it, L. F.

Now let me look upon you!-this is well :

Thou art the man I hate: I wooed this woman,

And I was scorned for thee.

If without love

I loved, I didn't hate without revenge!—
Thou'st told me I was tutored in the cells
Of the Inquisition: thou'rt in the right,
And I will prove that I have studied well
The science of infliction!

Hem. Dost thou think

Thy tortures fright me, then?

Pes. I do not think it; here is my victim!
Flor. Do you hear this, ye heavens?

Pes. And do you hear me

E'en now the priest scarce breathed the marriage vow,

And passion fiercely burned; yet, even then,

You dared me with his name: you called aloud,

And bade me free him: love then died at once,