tion, with the whole affairs of the nation on his head, should have time to talk!-but hush! or you'll put him out. SNEER. Put him out! how the plague can that be, if he's not going to fay any thing? PUFF. There's a reafon !-why, his part is to think, and how the plague! do you imagine he can think if you keep talking? DANGLE. That's very true upon my word! [Burleigh comes forward, shakes his head and exit. SNEER. He is very perfect indeed-Now, pray what did he mean by that? PUFF. You don't take it? SNEER. No; I don't upon my foul. PUFF. Why, by that shake of the head, he gave you to understand that even tho' they had more justice in their cause and wisdom in their meafures-yet, if there was not a greater spirit shown on the part of the people—the country would at laft fall a facrifice to the hoftile ambition of the Spanish monarchy. SNEER. The devil!-did he mean all that by shaking his head? PUFF. Every word of it-If he shook his head as I taught him. DANGLE. Ah! there certainly is a vast deal to be done on the ftage by dumb fhew, and expreffion of face, and a judicious author knows how much he may truft to it. SNE E R. O, here are some of our old acquaintance. Enter HA TTON and RALEIGH. 66 SIR CHRISTOPHER. "My niece, and your niece too! By heav'n there's witchcraft in't-He could not "elfe "Have gain'd their hearts-But fee where they approach; "Some horrid purpose low'ring on their brows! 66 SIR WALTER. "Let us withdraw and mark them. [They withdraw. What is all this? SNEER. PUFF. Ah! here has been more pruning!—but the fact is, these two young ladies are also in love with Don Whiskerandos.-Now, gentlemen, this scene goes goes entirely for what we call SITUATION and STAGE EFFECT, by which the greatest applause may be obtained, without the affiftance of language, fentiment or character: pray mark! Enter the TWO NIECE S. "Ellena here! It NIECE. "She is his fcorn as much as I-that is "Some comfort ftill. PUFF. O dear madam, you are not to say that to her face!-afide, ma'am, afide.-The whole scene is to be afide. "It NIECE. "She is his fcorn as much as I-that is "But fee the proud destroyer of my peace. "Revenge is all the good I've left, [Afide. "He comes, the falfe difturber of my quiet. 2d NIECE, "Now vengeance do thy worst Enter WHISKERANDOS. "O hateful liberty-if thus in vain [Afide. 66 BOTH NIECES. "And ever fhalt! 66 SIR CHRISTOPHER AND SIR WALTER come forward, "Hold! we will avenge you. "Hold you 66 WHISK ERANDOS. -or fee your nieces bleed. ! [The two nieces draw their two daggers to frike Whiskerandos, the two Uncles at the inftant with their two fwords drawn, catch their two nieces arms, and turn the points of their fwords to Whiskerandos, who immediately draws two daggers, and holds them to the two nieces' bofoms.] PUFF. There's fituation for you!-there's an heroic group!-You fee the ladies can't ftab Whiskerandos-he durft not ftrike them for fear of their uncles-the uncles durft 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 firft. SNEER. Why, then they must stand there for ever. PUFF. So they would, if I hadn't a very fine contrivance for't-Now mind Enter BEEFEATER with his Halberd. "In the Queen's name I charge you all to drop "Your fwords and daggers! [They drop their fwords and daggers. SNEER. "What's he, who bids us thus renounce our guard? "Thou must do more, renounce thy love! "By heav'n thou'ft rous'd the lion in my heart! "Off yeoman's habit!-bafe difguife!-off! off! [Difcovers himself, by throwing off his upper dress, and appearing in a very fine waistcoat.] "Am I a Beefeater now? "Or beams my creft as terrible as when PUFF. There, egad! he comes out to be the very Captain of the privateer who had taken Whif kerandes prifoner-and was himself an old lover of Tilburina's. DANGLE. Admirably manag'd indeed, PUFF. |