their admittance to-night, it seems, upon a particular occasion-Say we will wait upon them instantly. [Exit SERVANT. Lady T. I shall be but ill company to them. Lord T. No matter: not to see them, would on a sudden be too particular. Lady Grace will assist you to entertain them. Lady T. With her, my lord, I shall be always easy-Sister, to your unerring virtue I now commit the guidance of my future days Never the paths of pleasure more to tread, But where your guarded innocence shall lead; For in the marriage state, the world own, of sense and probity are sometimes forced to seem fond of such company? [Apart. Lady T. My lord, it will always give me pain to remember their acquaintance, but none to drop it immediately. [Apart. Lady G. But you have given us no account of the men, Madam. Are they good for any thing? Mask. Oh, yes, you must know, I always find out them by their endeavours to find out me. Lady G. Pray, who are they? Mask. Why, for your men of tip-top wit and pleasure, about town, there's my Lord-Bite must-Lord Archwag-Young Brazen-wit-Lord Timberdown-Lord Joint-life-and-Lord Mortgage. Then for your pretty fellows only -there's Sir Powder-Peacock-Lord Lapwing-Billy Magpie-Beau Frightful - Sir Paul Plaister-crown, and the Marquis of Monkey-man. Divided happiness was never known. To make it mutual nature points the way: Let husbands govern; gentle wives obey. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Opening to another Apartment discovers a great number of people in masquerade, talking all together, and playing one upon another. LADY WRONGHEAD, as a shepherdess; JENNY as a nun; the 'SQUIRE as a running footman; and the COUNT in a domino. After some time LORD and LADY TOWNLY, with LADY GRACE, enter to them unmasked. Lord T. So here's a great deal of company. Lady T. A great many people, my lord, but no company-as you'll find-for here's one now that seems to have a mind to entertain us. [A MASK, after some affected gesture, makes up to LADY TOWNLY. Mask. Well, dear Lady Townly, sha'n't we see you by and by? Lady T. I don't know you, Madam. [In a squeaking tone. Lady T. Not I, indeed. guess? Lady G. Right! and these are the fine gentlemen that never want elbow-room at an assembly. Mask. The rest, I suppose, by their tawdry hired habits, are tradesmen's wives, inns-ofcourt beaux, Jews, and kept mistresses. Lord T. An admirable collection ! Lady G. Well, of all our public diversions, I am amazed how this, that is so very expensive, and has so little to show for it, can draw so much company together. Lord T. Oh, if it were not expensive, the better sort would not come into it: and because money can purchase a ticket, the common people scorn to be kept out of it. Mask. Right, my lord. Poor Lady Grace ! I suppose you are under the same astonishment that an opera should draw so much good company. Lady G. Not at all, Madam; it's an easier matter sure to gratify the ear, than the understanding. But have you no notion, Madam, of receiving pleasure and profit at the same time? Mask. Oh, quite none! unless it be sometimes winning a great stake; laying down a Lady T. Yes, I could guess wrong, I be-vole sans prendre, may come up, to the profitable lieve. Mask. That's what I'd have you do. Lady T. But, Madam, if I don't know you at all, is not that as well. Mask. Ay, but you do know me. Lady T. Dear sister, take her off o' my hands; there's no bearing this. [Apurt. Lady G. I fancy I know you, Madam. Mask. I fancy you don't; what makes you think you do? Lady G. Because I have heard you talk. Mask. Ay, but you don't know my voice, I'm sure. Lady G. There is something in your wit and humour, Madam, so very much your own, it is impossible you can be any body but my Lady Trifle. Mask. [Unmasking.] Dear Lady Grace! thou art a charming creature. Lady G. Is there nobody else we know here? Mask. Oh dear, yes! I have found out fifty already. Lady G. Pray who are they? Mask. Oh, charming company! there's Lady Ramble-Lady Riot-Lady Kill-care-Lady Squander-Lady Strip-Lady Pawn-and the Dutchess of Single-Guinea. Lord T. Is it not hard, my dear, that people pleasure you were speaking of. [Apart. Lady T. I am, my lord; and amazed at my own follies, so strongly painted in another [Apart. woman. Lady G. But see, my lord, we had best adjourn our debate, I believe, for here are some masks that seem to have a mind to divert other people as well as themselves. Lord T. The least we can do is to give them a clear stage then. [A dance of masks here in various characters. This was a favour extraordinary. Enter MANLY. Oh, Manly, I thought we had lost you. Man. I ask pardon, my lord; but I have been obliged to look a little after my countryfamily. Lord T. Well, pray, what have you done with them? Man. They are all in the house here, among the masks, my lord; if your lordship has curiosity enough to step into a lower apartment, in three minutes I'll give you an ample account of them. Lord T. Oh, by all means; we'll wait up- | on you. [The Scene shuts upon the masks to a smaller apartment.] MANLY re-enters with SIR FRANCIS WRONG- lead me to my chair, with his hat under his arm all the way! Hold up, says the chairman; and so, says I, my lord, your humble servant. I suppose, Madam, says he, we shall see you at my Lady Quadrille's? Ay, ay, to be sure, my lord, says I-So in swops me, with my hoop stuffed up to my forehead; and away they trot, swing! swang! with my tasSir F. Well, cousin, you have made my very-Oh! it's a charming thing to be a woman of sels dangling, and my flambeaux blazing, and hair stond on end! Waunds! if what you tell me be true, I'll stuff my whole family into a stage-coach, and trundle them into the country again on Monday morning. Man. Stick to that, Sir, and we may yet find a way to redeem all. In the mean time, place yourself behind this screen, and for the truth of what I have told you, take the evidence of your own senses: but be sure you keep close till I give you the signal. Sir F. Sir, I'll warrant you-Ah, my Lady! my Lady Wronghead! What a bitter business have you drawn me into. Man. Hush! to your post; here comes one couple already. [SIR FRANCIS retires behind the screen. Enter MYRTILLA with 'SQUIRE RICHARD. 'Squire R. Well, is this the doctor's chamber? Myr. Yes, yes, speak softly. 'Squire R. Well, but where is he? Myr. He'll be ready for us presently, but he says he can't do us the good turn without witnesses: so, when the count and your sister come, you know he and you may be fathers for one another. 'Squire R. Well, well, tit for tat! ay, ay, that will be friendly. Myr. And see, here they come. Count B. Oh, the pretty flutterer! I protest, my dear, you have put mine into the same palpitation! Jenny. Ay, say you so but let's see now -Oh, lud! I vow it thumps purely-well, well, well, I see it would do, and so where's the parson? Count B. Mrs. Myrtilla, will you be so good as to see if the doctor's ready for us. Myr. He only staid for you, Sir, I'll fetch him immediately. [Exit. Jenny. Pray, Sir, am not I to take place of mamma, when I'm a countess? Count B. No doubt on't, my dear. Jenny. Oh, lud! how her back will be up then, when she meets me at an assembly, or you and I in our coach-and-six at Hyde-Park together! Count B. Ay, or when she hears the boxkeepers at an opera, call out-The Countess of Basset's servants! Jenny. Well, I say it, that will be delicious! And then, mayhap, to have a fine gentleman, with a star and a what-d'ye-call-um ribbon, quality! there's ne'er a dutchess of them all will be- and I'll find airs, I warrant you. SONG. What though they call me country lass, Oh, could I see the day! With a stand by-clear the way. Oh, could I see the day! I'd dart such glances from these eyes, With a stand by-clear the way. Oh, then for every new delight, With a stand by-clear the way. 'Squire R. Troth! I think this masquerading's the merriest game that I ever saw in my life! Thof' in my mind, and there were but a little wrestling, or cudgel-playing naw, it would help it hugely. But what a rope makes the parson stay so? Count B. Oh, here he comes, I believe. Enter MYRTILLA, with a CONSTABLE. [Pointing to the COUNT. Count B. Hey-day! what, in masquerade, doctor. Con. Doctor! Sir, I believe you have mistaken your man: but if you are called Count Basset, I have a billet-doux in my hand for you, that will set you right presently. Count B. What the devil's the meaning of all this? Con. Only my Lord Chief Justice's warrant against you for forgery, Sir. Count B. Blood and thunder! Con. And so, Sir, if you please to pull off your fool's frock there, I'll wait upon you to the next justice of peace immediately. Jenny. Oh, dear me, what's the matter? [Trembling. Count B. Oh, nothing, only a masquerading bling! preserve my honour, and I am all obefrolic, my dear. dience. [Apart to MANLY. Man. Sir Francis-my lady is ready to receive your commands for her journey, whenever you please to appoint it. 'Squire R. Oh, ho, is that all? Sir F. No, sirrah! that is not all. [SIR FRANCIS coming softly behind the 'SQUIRE, knocks him down with his cane. Enter MANLY. Sir F. Ah, cousin, I doubt I am obliged to you for it. Man. Come, come, Sir Francis, take it as you find it. Obedience in a wife is a good 'Squire R. Oh, lawd! Oh, lawd! he has thing, though it were never so wonderful! beaten my brains out. Man. Hold, hold, Sir Francis, have a little mercy upon my poor godson, pray Sir. Sir F. Wounds, cousin, I ha'n't patience. Count B. Manly! nay then I'm blown to the [Aside. devil. Enter LADY WRONGHEAD. Lady W. What's the matter here, gentlemen! For Heaven's sake! What, are you murdering my children? Const. No, no, Madam! no murder! only a little suspicion of felony, that's all. Sir F. [To JENNY.] And for you, Mrs. Hotupon't, I could find in my heart to make you wear that habit as long as you live, you jade you. Do you know, hussy, that you were within two minutes of marrying a pickpocket. Count B. So, so, all's out I find. [Aside. Jenny. Oh, the mercy! why, pray, papa, is not the count a man of quality, then? Sir F.Oh, yes, one of the unhauged ones, it seems. Lady W. [Aside.] Married! Oh, the confident thing! There was his urgent business then-slighted for her! I ha'n't patience!-and, for ought I know, I have been all this while making a friendship with a highwayman. Man. Mr. Constable, secure there. Sir F. Ah, my lady! my lady! this comes of your journey to London: but now I'll have a frolic of my own, Madam; therefore pack up your trumpery this very night, for the moment my horses are able to crawl, you and your brats shall make a journey into the country again. Lady W. Indeed you are mistaken, Sir Francis-I shall not stir out of town yet, I promise you. Sir F. Not stir! Waunds, MadamMan. Hold, Sir!-if you'll give me leave a little-I fancy I shall prevail with my lady to think better on't. Sir F. Ah, cousin, you are a friend indeed! Man. [Apart to my LADY.] Look you Madam, as to the favour you designed me, in sending this spurious letter inclosed to my Lady Grace, all the revenge I have taken, is to have saved your son and daughter from ruin-Now if you will take them fairly and quietly into the country again, I will save your ladyship from ruin. Lady W. What do you mean, Sir? Man. Why, Sir Francis-shall never know what is in this letter; look upon it. How it came into my hands you shall know at leisure. Lady W. Ha! my billet-doux to the count! and an appointment in it! I shall sink with confusion? Man. What shall I say to Sir Francis, Madam? Lady W. Dear Sir, I am in such a trem -And, now, Sir, we have nothing to do but to dispose of this gentleman. Count B. Mr. Manly; Sir, I hope you wont ruin me. hundred pounds, Sir? Man. Did not you forge this note for five Count B. Sir-I see you know the world, and therefore I shall not pretend to prevaricate-But it has hurt nobody yet, Sir; 1 beg you will not stigmatize me; since you have spoiled my fortune in one family, I hope you wont be so cruel to a young fellow, as to put it out of his power, Sir, to make it in another, Sir. Count B. Dear Sir! Man. No words, Sir; a wife or a mittimus. Count B. Lord, Sir! this is the most unmerciful mercy! Man. A private penance, or a public oneConstable! Count B. Hold, Sir, since you are pleased to give me my choice, I will not make so ill a compliment to the lady, as not to give her the preference. Man. It must be done this minute, Sir; the chaplain you expected is still within call. Count B. Well, Sir-since it must be soCome, spouse-I am not the first of the fraternity that has run his head into one noose, to keep it out of another. Myr. Come, Sir, don't repine: marriage is at worst but playing upon the square. Count B. Ay, but the worst of the match too, is the devil. Man. Well, Sir, to let you see it is not so bad as you think it; as a reward for her honesty, in detecting your practices, instead of the forged bill you would have put upon her, there's a real one of five hundred pounds to begin a new honey-moon with. [Gives it to MYRTILLA. Count B. Sir, this is so generous an actMan. No compliments, dear Sir-I am not at leisure now to receive them. Mr. Constable, will you be so good as to wait upon this gentleman into the next room, and give this lady in marriage to him? Const. Sir, I'll do it faithfully. Count B. Well, five hundred will serve to make a handsome push with, however. [Exeunt COUNT B. MYR. and CONSTABLE. Sir F. And that I may be sure, my family's rid of him for ever-come, my lady, let's even ciation. Man. You overheard it all, I presume?' Man. A sort of poetical justice, my lord, not much above the judgment of a modern comedy. Lord T. To heighten that resemblance, I think, sister, there only wants your rewarding the hero of the fable, by naming the day of his happiness. Lady G. This day, to-morrow, every hour, I hope, of life to come, will show I want not inclination to complete it. Man. Whatever I may want, Madam, you will always find endeavours to deserve you. Lord T. Then all are happy. 1447 But there our bard stopp'd short: for 'twere uncivil To have a modern belle all o'er a devil! Wives might be govern'd, were not husbands Whate'er by nature dames are prone to do, But modern consorts are such high-bred crea- They think a husband's power degrades their features: That nothing more proclaims a reigning beauty, Lady T. Sister, I give you joy consummate as Than that she never was reproached with duty: the happiest pair can boast. In you methinks, as in a glass, I see home. EPILOGUE. METHINKS I hear some powder'd critic say, And that the greatest blessing Heaven e'er sent, To give such dames a different cast of thought, Will all such freedom with the sex atone, You, you, then, ladies, whose unquestion'd Give you the foremost fame of happy wives, INKLE AND YARICO: AN OPERA, IN THREE ACTS. BY GEORGE COLMAN, ESQ. REMARKS. THE great success of this opera in every theatre of the kingdom, since its first representation at the Haymarket, is justified by its real merit. The dialogue is not a collection of trite common-places, to connect the music; but is replete with taste, judgment, and manly feeling :-the allusions to slavery (now so nobly abolished) correspond with every British, every liberal mind. The mal-a-propos offer of Inkle to sell his Yarico to Sir Christopher, is an admirable incident; and indeed all the characters are so forcibly drawn, that the most trifling part is effective. The pathetic story of Inkle and Yarico first attracted sympathy, from the narrative of Mr. Addison, in the Spectator: to that affecting story, Mr. Colman was indebted only for the cold, calculating Inkle; and the gentle, affectionate Yarico-the rest of the characters, and the developement of the story are the offspring of his abundant invention. SCENE. First, on the Main of America: afterwards in Barbadoes. |