ture treats her children but forrily after all; did fhe poffefs half her boafted intelligence, would fhe not have whisper'd him the fecret? Ah, Montague-(goes towards her table)-Eh, what is this!-a copy of verses as I live-and on my harp. (Reads.) " Antonio"-Lucy, Lucy, how long have you left the room-has any one been here have you feen any one loitering about?Quick, answer.

Lucy. Not a creature, ma'am, as I hope for

Conft. Who then do you fuppofe is Antonio?

Lucy. Young Mr. Vifage, ma'am; it must be a compliment from him.

Conft. Pfhaw, how could he leave it here?

Lucy. That is true-then it muft; yes, it must be Sir Harry Cecil!

Conft. Was ever any thing fo dull-Why, why Sir Harry Cecil?

Lucy. It cannot furely, ma'am, be Captain Montague? Conft. Now I am sure it can only be Captain Montague. You fhall hear. (Reads.)

Soft mufic, let my humble lay

Thy fweeteft accents move,
While in delufive hope I ftray,
To Julia, and to love.

That when to court the willing Arain,

She tries her graceful art,

Each trembling tone may breathe again
The figh that rends my heart.

And should thy plaintive murmurs fteal

A fympathetic tear,

In fond emotion then reveal,

Antonio fent thee here.

ANTONIO.

Lucy, did you ever hear any thing fo exquifite?

C 2

Lucy.

Lucy. Never, ma'am-Old Robin Grey is nothing to it. Conft. I fee you have a taste for poetry

delightful.—I must pofitively try it words to an air.)

it is indeed

(Sings the

Enter Harriet, who stops at the fide-frene.

Cont. But, Julia-Julia! if it fhould not be meant for me?

Lucy. Aye, madam, that plaguy Julia-do you know I have been turning and turning Conftance every way— and for the life of me, I cannot make Julia of it.

Conft. Ah, Lucy, but I have fomething here (touching her heart) which can

Har. So, fo, is it there with you, my good madam? (afide.) Conftance, my aunt waits breakfast for you in the parlour. Have you feen a fonnet hereabouts? Conft. A fonnet?

Har. Yes-where can it be?I was trying it this morning, and left it fomewhere here.

Conft. Are you fure it was for you

Har. As fure as that I am Julia.

Enter Sir Harry.

Sir Harry. Confufion! they are here.

[Stays behind,

Conft. Here is one I was endeavouring to make fome.

thing of but it was quite impoffible.

Sir Harry. A pretty ridiculous figure I make here.

Conf. A mere jingle of rhime.

Har. Nay, nay, you cannot think fo.

[Afide

Sir Harry. Now cannot I advance or retreat for the foul of me, though to stay here is the devil.

Conft. I was telling Lucy fo, when you came in-was I not, Lucy? (She turns and fees Sir Harry.) Eh! Captain Montague here!

Sir Harry. Yes, ma'am-Lady Panick-Lady Panick, I fay-requested me-to tell you the breakfast was-

on

on the table-but as-I faw-you were particularly engaged—I did not feel myself authorized to interrupt→ and with your permiffion will take my leave, [Going.

Conf. No, no, we are much obliged to you and as gallantry is fo rare in these days-fuppofe, Harriet, in return, you was to fhew the Captain this sonnet, if that is what you call it-let us have his opinion.

Sir Harry. Mine-by no means.Indeed you must excufe me.

Har. Oh fie! Conftance-fie,-I fhall have her dif cover the truth, [Afide. Sir Harry. Upon my foul, I am the dulleft dog aliveand have not, unluckily, the least taste for poetry.

Conft. Tafte-nay, nay, there is no great neceffity for taste—it is but the old story-fighs, fympathies, emotions, and fo forth-Ha, ha!

Sir Harry. Ha, ha—If ever I fet pen to paper again— [Afide. Har. This may be entertaining to you, Conftancebut, believe me, it has all the spleen of wit without its point.

Conft. Nay, my dear, if the thing has no wit in itselfdon't be angry that it is the cause of wit in others-You shall write dozens such in a second-I'll give you the receipt.

Sir Harry. Any other time I fhould be too happybut at prefent.

Har. The breakfast waits; confider my aunt.

Conft. Liften now. Receipt for a fonnet-Take of fighs and tears a quantity at difcretion-Then, if you mean to be very pathetic-and I would always recommend it-your fighs may add plaintiveness to the fouthern breeze, and your tears fwell the stream of the brookAt any rate, mix them well with fympathy-Oh, fympathy is a marvellous ingredient; for, as nobody knows what it is, every body has it--And, fhould the fit be

very strong, the rofe may turn pale at her complexion, and the lily be put to the blufh, or

Sir Harry, (interrupting her.) I can hold no longer. That I fhould be rejected, madam, perhaps a fense of my own unworthiness might have taught me to expectBut you must allow me to tell you,-in the anguish of my heart to tell you, I know not where I could have learnt that Mifs Evelyn would return contempt for confidence, or aggravate misfortune by infult.

Conft. What can he mean?

[Exit.

Har. Why that I have rejected and betrayed him to you to be fure, and join'd in sporting with his paffion. These are the effects of your raillery, the return for my confidence as he fays but I fly to undeceive him. They must be kept apart, or we are ruin'd. (Afide.) [Exit. Conft. I know not what to think- -There was a tender earnestness in his manner, a softness in his address to me, that ill accords-Harriet cannot fure-impoffible—it must be as fhe fays. Alas, alas! how wakeful is the heart to bewilder and mislead the judgment !

[Exit,

ACT II.

SCENE. An Anti-Room.

Enter Subtle with Robert, the Cook, and two or three more

HAV

Servants.

Subtle.

AVE a care, my boys, here comes his lordship. Now, as I know you are all of you given to lying, drinking, wenching, and fuch elegant accom

plishments,

plishments, I would have you keep in the back groundand, above all, put on your best looks, or you are undone: his lordship, you know, reads faces, and within this last month, on the bare evidence of their nofes and chins, he has detected five felons, a brace of highwaymen, fix sheep-stealers, and pickpockets out of number. To tell you the truth, the fervants in our country would almost as foon fee the devil; and, between ourselves, they are perfuaded he is in habits of familiarity with that gentleman, or how can he make fuch discoveries! 'Rob. I wish I was well out of his way..

[Afide. ift & 2d Serv. Oh, Lord! (fhuffling Robert before them.) Robert, you know you must stand first.

Rob. To be fure, to be fure; what are you afraid of— eh?- What noife is that? her ladyfhip's bell-Did you not hear it?

Sub. & 2 Ser. No, not I.

Rob. Very likely; but I must find heels, though you [As he is going out, he meets Lord Vifage.

can't ears.

Lord Vif. Eh, eh! how! what is that about ears? Subtle, I don't like that fellow's ears; there is a want of firmnefs about them that is ominous.

Rob. I beg your lordship's pardon, but I was running to answer my lady's bell. I muft invent fome excufe to get away. (Afide.) There it is again-Coming, my Lady, coming- -Happy to see your lordship at our houseThough I wish you were at your friend the devil's, from my foul. (Afide as he goes off.)

Lord Vif. Sly thief; but I mark'd him, nature has mark'd him, and the police will mark him;-his face is an overt act. Where is Sir Paul?

Sub. This way, my lord.

ift & 2d Ser. Come, cook, let us fueak off.

Cook. What, do you think I'll budge. If I do, damme.

!

Lord Vif. Eh! what an oath !I thought fo; that

fellow's face is all oaths; it's in a state of ebullition at this moment. Oh, he is a defperate dog!

6

Cook,