if I had read it; and now, madam, it is my advice you sit down and answer it directly. Con. Before I have read it? Lis. Yes, yes; give your answer at the time you receive his letter; consider how convenient it will be to give the one, while you take the other: we are so watched, you know, that we ought to let no opportunity pass, for fear we should never get another; and, therefore, when he finds means to send his letter, you must take the same to return your's. Con. But if my guardian should ever know I had written to a gentleman Lis. I'll write for you: and, should there be any discovery, the letter will be in my hand-writing, not your's. We must lose no time; the Doctor is abroad at present, and it must be both written and delivered before his return. [Goes to the table, and writes. Con. But, my dear LisetteLis. Don't put me out. Con. What are you saying? Lis. [Writing.] What you are thinking. Lis. I do. And here they are, in this letter. Lis. No, don't examine your thoughts, I beg you won't: [Folds the letter.] besides, you have no time to read it; I must run to the garden-gate and deliver it immediately. The worst difficulty is having, for near an hour, to supplicate this poor, simple, decrepit fool of the old Doctor's to open me the garden-gate for a moment. Jeffrey! Con. The Doctor has lately appointed Jeffrey his apothecary; he is busy preparing of medicines, and will be angry at being disturbed. Lis. No matter; it may save the life of some of his master's patients. Enter JEFFREY, with a bandage on his left eye, and one on his right leg. Jef. You made me overthrow the whole decoction. Lis. Great apothecary! Con. And alone worthy the physician under whom you have received instructions! Jef. I am very sorry I overthrew the decoction, for it was for my use my leg is in pain still, and I am not yet satisfied that the dog was not mad. Lis. I tell you, I am sure he was not; and, had you suffered him to live, it would have proved so. Jef. My master ordered me to kill him. Lis. Merely to make you believe he was mad, and to shew his skill by pretending to preserve you from the infection. Jef. Nay, don't speak against my master. Lis. Why, then, do you wear a bandage? Lis. And is it thus the Doctor cured you? Tef. He was so kind to put my left eye out, in order to save the right. Con. Well, still you are more fortunate than the god of love; for he has no eyes at all. Jef. And I shall have two, very soon; for my master has promised to buy me one at the great manufactory, which will be much handsomer than either of my other a very handsome glass one. Lis. And if the Doctor will remake you thus, piece by piece, in time, my dear Jeffrey, you may become a very pretty man: but you know, Jeffrey, I love you even as you are. Jef Love me that's a good joke. Lan afraid you want something of me, yu çu so pleasantly. Lis Want something of you! Hva.. an idea enter your head? Jef. Because when you don't want me, you huff me and cuff me from morta eh, eh! you look no more as you do now 5. I were dying, I durst hardly speak to ve Lis. Well, henceforward, you shall have to complain. But do you know, Jefrey, 120 little favour to ask of you. Jef. Ay, I thought so. Con. My dear Jeffrey, we will make you compence. Jef. What is it you want? If I can do w offending my master, I will Lis. If you don't tell him, he'll never kn w Jef. But I tell him everything; he navy wages for telling, and I must not take the earning them. Con. If money be of such value to you, here my purse. Jef. No; it is not money I want, it is somet else. Lis. What, what, then? Jef. Oh! Mrs. Lisette, you know what I w but you always denied me. Lis. Psha! if I could grant it, indeed, with my master knowing it Jef. Oh! I won't tell him of that, I protest Con. Well, Jeffrey, what is your favour? Jef. Just one salute of Mrs. Lisette. Lis. Oh! if that's all, after you have chign i you shall have twenty. Jef. But I had rather have one now than a twenty you promise after. Lis. Come, then, make haste, if it must be so, Jef. [Salutes her.] Oh! the first kiss of the one loves is so sweet! Lis. Now you are ready to comply with sur quest? Jef. Tell me what it is? Lis. To give us the key of the garden-gate. Jef. For several reasons. Jef. In the first place, I have not put the k my master took it with him when be wet Lis. You know you tell a falsehood bebas. got it. Is this your bargain and your face Jef. Nay, if you are angry at that gert ti kiss again. Lis. Ugly, foolish, yet artful and running leave the room. You make love to meet I always hated you, laughed at you, and desp you. Jef. I know that. Did not I tell yes, sim spoke so kindly to me, you wanted some then, could you expect me to oblige you? Lis. I shall ever detest the sight of you Jef. Unless you want something, and the call me again-and then I shall kiss you ha, ha! [Ert, how Lis. I never was so provoked in my in Con. My dear Lisette, if our two lovers the their schemes, than we have been in ours quis and his servant, prove no more must, according to his desire, marry the Daif, you Jeffrey. Lis. I marry Jeffrey! Here comes the Dor Enter DOCTOR. . What an indignity! I can't put up with it; 't bear it; I'm ready to choke with passion! 1. Dear sir, what is the matter? . I am disgraced, ruined, undone! a. And what has caused it, sir? e. A conspiracy of the blackest kind. Man's ness has arrived to its highest summit; and is nothing wanting but merit to draw upon us host cruel persecution. 5. Ah! I understand: the faculty have been iring against you. c. They have refused to grant me a diploma; d me to practise as a physician; and all because 't know a parcel of insignificant words, but exe my profession according to the rules of reason nature. Is it not natural to die? Then, if a n or two of my patients have died under my Is, is not that natural? is. Very natural, indeed. oc. But, thank heaven! in spite of the scandalreports of my enemies, I have, this morning, nine s to make. on. Very true, sir: a young ward has sent for to attend his guardian; three nephews have t for you, to attend their uncles, very rich men; five husbands have sent for you, in great haste, attend their wives. Doc. And it will render you immortal: my curiosity to become acquainted with the forms and effects of your power is scarcely to be repressed a moment. Will you indulge me with the smallest specimen of your art, just to satisfy my curiosity? La F. You are, then, entirely ignorant of it? Doc. Entirely. La F. And so am I. [Aside.] Hem-hem! you must know, Doctor Doc. Shall I send the women out of the room? La F. By no means; no, no; but I will shew both you and them a specimen of my art directly. You know, Doctor, there is an universal fluid, which spreads throughout all nature. Doc. A fluid? a Doc. Not very well. La F. I will give you a simile, then. La F. This fluid is like a river-You know what Doc. And is not that a sign they think what I can Is it not a sign they have the highest opinion my skill? And the faculty shall see I will rise erior to their machinations. I have entered upon roject that, I believe, will teaze them: I have La F. This fluid is like a river, that-that runs de overtures to one of their professed enemies, a-that goes-that gently glides-so-so-so-while n whom they have crushed, and who is the chief a sect just sprung up; of which perhaps, you er heard; for simply, by the power of magnetism, y can cure any ill, or inspire any passion. Con. Is it possible? Doc. Yes; and every effect is produced upon the Con. And will you become of this new sect? Enter JEFFREY. there is nothing to stop it; but if it encounter a mound or any other impediment-boo-boo-booit bursts forth-it overflows the country roundthrows down villages, hamlets, houses, trees, cows, and lambs; but remove obstacles which obstruct its course, and it begins again, softly and sweetly, to flow, thus-thus-thus-the fields are again adorned, and everything goes on, as well as it can go on. Thus it is with the animal fluid, which fluid obeys the command of my art. Doc. Surprising art! But what are the means you employ? La F. Merely gestures, or a simple touch. Doc. Astonishing! give me some proof of your art directly; do satisfy my curiosity. La F. I will; and by holding up this wand, in Jef. A doctor, at the door, desires to speak with which is a magnet, in a particular position, I will Enter LA FLEUR, dressed as a doctor. La F. Doctor, I hope I have your pardon, that, though no farther acquaintance than by letter, I thus wait upon you to pay my respects Con. [To Lis.] It is the same I saw with the Marquis. Lis. [Aside.] And it is La Fleur, his valet. La F. And to assure you, that I, and all my brethren, have the highest respect for your talents, and shall be happy to have you a member of our society Doc. I presume, sir, you are Doctor Mystery so direct the fluid, that it shall immediately give you the most excruciating rheumatism, which will last you a couple of hours. I will then change it to the gout; then to strong convulsions; and after, into a raging fever; and in this manner shall your curiosity become satisfied. [Holds up his wand as if to magnetise. Doc. Hold, Doctor! I had rather see the experi ment on some one else. La F. O then, sir, I have now at my house, a patient whom the faculty have just given up as incurable; and notwithstanding his disorder is of a most violent and dangerous kind, I will have him brought here, and I will teach you to perform his cure yourself. Doc. By the power of magnetism? Doc. That would do me infinite honour, indeed: but why bring him to my house? pray, who is he? La F. A young man of quality. 812 Con. Dear sir, let him be brought hither, and let me see the cure performed. Doc. [Takes LA F. aside.] I can't say I approve of a young man being brought into my house; for you must know, Doctor, that young lady is to be my wife; as we are not exactly of an age, another may make an impression. La F. Consider my patient's state of health; he is like a dying man. Doc. But he'll be well after I have cured him. La F. Very true. [DOCTOR whispers LA F.] True; certainly it is. [They whisper again. Con. Why this whispering? I am ignorant what are the virtues of your art, Doctor; but I am sure it has not that of rendering you polite. La F. Pardon, madam; I was but instructing the Doctor in some particulars of which you may hereafter have reason to be satisfied. Lis. I doubt that, sir; unless your art could ren Doc. I thank you a thousand times. Doc. Her maid has overheard us. La F. No, no; but take me into another ment, and I will explain to you what, at *** you are not able to comprehend; after vila. will permit me to step home, and fetch my p hither. Doc. Certainly: when I am in possesinf ward's affection, I can have nothing to m from him. And you are sure she will favourable to me? You are sure I shall ret La F. Yes, sure-by the loadstone. ACT II. der this solitary confinement we are doomed to, SCENE I.-Another Apartment in the Do's agreeable. La F. Before the end of the day, you shall prefer it to all the false pleasures of the gay world; for what are more false than the pleasures derived from balls, masquerades, and theatres ? Doc. Very true. Lis. Well, I must own I love a theatre. La F. The worst place of all, to frequent; once in my life I was present at a theatrical representation; but such a piece did I see!-ah! the most dangerous for a young woman to be present at. Lis. Pray, sir, what was it? La F. An honest gentleman, of about seventy years of age, was before the audience in love with a young lady of eighteen, whom he had brought up from her infancy, and whom he meant to make his wife. Doc. Very natural. La F. A young gentleman of the neighbourhood, because he was young, rich, and handsome, imagined he would suit the lady better. Doc. Just like them all. La F. He, therefore, disguised his valet, who, under the mask of friendship, introduced himself to this good man, the guardian. Doc. A villain! he deserved to be hanged. La F. And seized the moment when he embraced him, as I now embrace you, to stretch out his hand, while it was behind him, and convey a letter to the lady's waiting-maid. Embraces the DOCTOR, and exchanges letters Lis. And she gave him another. I have seen the play myself; and it was very well acted. [Retires. La F. And is it not scandalous to put such examples before young people? Con. And pray, Doctor, do you think I am not under sufficient confinement, that you take the same methods to make me still more unhappy. La F. [To the DOCTOR.] Why does your ward dislike confinement ? House. Enter LISETTE and CONSTANCE. Lis. I overheard in all; and he has given guardian the wand in which you heard him say be magnet was contained; and while he keeps a, vto magnetise you, and force you to love him in spute of yourself. Con. All this agrees with the letter he has given me from his master, in which the Marquis informas me by what accident that letter my guardian L to the doctor who professes magnetism, fell into ma hands, and immediately gave hit the caf guising his valet, and sending him hither under the name of that doctor. But where is La Fleur tow > Lis. Just left your guardian, and gode bate bring the patient you heard him speak of, and I would lay a wager, that very patient is no other than the Marquis himself. Con. But for what end is all this? Lis. That they have planned, you may depend upon it. For the present, you have bathing to de but to pretend an affection for your guaruan. Con. It will be difficult to feign a passion my beat revolts at. Lis. Never fear your good acting: besides, I «take an equal share in it. Con. How? you! Lis. I'll fall in love with the Doctor as val you. If the magnetism affect you, why not be the same power over me? and if it make your kitty it shall make me adore him. Con. Hush! here he comes. Enter DOCTOR, with the word. Doc. Aside.] What he has to seems so very surprising, that nothing but proofs can thurstiga” convince me; and now for the proof. [Lowdy at CONSTANCI Lis. [Aside to CoN.] He ogles you; cast ENT look, and accompany it with a sigh. Con. [Sighing. Alas! Doc. My dear Constance, my lovely -what makes you sigh? Weariness of your finement, I suppose? Con. [Sighing. Ah! sir. Doc. Come, come; I confess, the restra have been under has been too much, and la surprised you have taken a dislike to me Con. A dislike to you! Ah, sir! [Sights | | guardian! [Going to speak, turns away, and hide her Lis. And I adore you. Doc. What, you, too? I did not expect that. Lis. No, mine is not merely a love, but a ragea violence-I doat to distraction-love you to the loss of my health, of spirits, of rest and life. Con. If you do not take pity on the passion which burns in my heart Lis. If you can be regardless of the flames which consume me with violence Con. Can you be insensible of my tender pleadings? Lis. Take care how you turn my affection to hatred. Doc. [Aside.] What a terrible situation I have got myself into the effect of the magnetism is very natural; it acts upon one as well as another; but Lisette's love is very troublesome. I'll call Jeffrey in, and give up part of my power to him; he will take the wand for a few minutes, and charm Lisette. Con. Why do you thus run from me? Is this the return my love demands? But be not uneasy; death shall deliver you from an object, whose passion you despise. Doc. Oh! that you could but read what is written in my heart! Lis. Ah! sir, behold the state [Kneels.] to which you have reduced a poor innocent. If I am treated with kindness, I am naturally soft, gentle, and tender; but, if I am neglected, [Rising.] by all that's great and precious, I will do some strange thing either to you or my rival! Doc. This Lisette is so furious, she makes me tremble; I must put an end to her affection. [Aside.] Jeffrey ! Jef. Ha, ha, ha! Doc. Aside.] This is as bad as the other. Lis. Is it possible you can love Jeffrey? No, ne ; your situation forbids it. Take, take my master; I resign him to you. Con No, I resign him to you. Lis. I will not have him. Doc. This is a very disagreeable situation. Jef. No, I won't: I have been in love with her this twelvemonths, and I'll make choice of her. Con. Then what will become of me? Doc. I can bear this no longer. Give me that; [snatches the wand; and do you make up some medicines. Jef. Ah! my dear Lisette, you have made me so happy, I must shake hands. [Offers to take her hand, he slaps his face. Lis. Learn to behave with more reserve for the future. Jef. Ecod! I think you have not behaved with much reserve. Did you not hang upon me, and say you loved me! Lis. Love you! Behold my master, and do not imagine I can love any but him. Con. No; who can love any but him? Doc. This is worse and worse! Where is the Doctor? If he do not come, and give me some relief, I am a ruined man. [Loud knocking.] Jeffrey, see if that is him, [Erit JEFFREY.] I have no doubt but it is; and with him the young patient, on whom I am to prove my skill. Constance, and you, Lisette, leave the room for the present. Con. Yes, if you will go with me. But how do you think it is possible for me to leave you? A feeling, which I cannot explain Lis. And one I cannot explain Doc. But I am going to prescribe, and it is improper. Enter LA FLEUR, leading the MARQUIS DE LANCY, dressed in a handsome robe-de-chambre. La F. This, Doctor, is your patient. This is the renowned physician, from whom you are to expect a cure. Doc. He looks surprisingly well, considering how much he has suffered. La F. That renders his case the more dangerous. I would rather a patient of mine should look ill, and be in no danger, than look well, and be in imminent danger. Mar. To conceive the sufferings I have undergone, a being must be transformed! he must be more, before he can conceive what I have felt; for months have I led this agonizing life! But I am told, Doctor, you can put an end to my disorder; you have, in your possession, that which can give me ease; but by what science you are master of so great a power, l ́own, is beyond my comprehension. La F. Dear sir, you know not all the resources in the art of medicine; trust firmly, that you are in the hands of persons well informed and well prac tised. We know how to give nature a fillip Doe. Doctor Mystery, do you use your authority with these females, to leave us to ourselves. Con. I can't go. Lis. Nor L. La F. I believe it is very true, [Feels their pulse.] No, they can't go; no, the force of the attraction will not suffer them to go. [To DOCTOR.] What do you think of the power of magnetism now? Doc. It has double the power I desire, and I wish it not to act on Lisette. plaints. Ah! you hate me, you despise me h dread the effects of this contempt; I feel any power to accomplish all. Lis. He is going into his raving fit again in madam, speak to him, if it be but a word. Mar. Speak to me one word, if it be am word! Con. [To Lts.] I hope the Marquis is not really ill. La F. Your ward is afraid of disobigny La F. I will remedy that. [Whispers to the Doc-but give her leave to speak to him, if re TOR while the MARQUIS makes signs of love to CoN-word, only to be witness to a scene so Decrea STANCE.] Now attend to what I am going to do; I'll turn the whole affection of the maid upon myself. Dec. I will be very much obliged to you. [LA FLEUR whispers to the DOCTOR again. Mar. [Apart to CONSTANCE.] One word only:will you be mine, should my scheme prove successful? Con. What is it? Mar. I have no time to say—but answer me, will you be mine? Con. I will. Doc. [Apart to LA FLEUR.] Very well, extremely well: this will do very well; and now deliver me from her love as soon as you can. La F. I must approach her, and 'tis done. [Goes to LISETTE, makes signs of magnetism, and speaks apart. I am in love with you, feign to be so with me. Lis. I am in earnest, without feigning. La F. So much the better; it will appear more natural. [To the DOCTOR.] It's done; observe how she looks at me. Doc. What an art! La F. But I will shew its power in a manner yet more astonishing. Con. [Apart to the MARQUIS.] I was on the point of being married to my guardian. Doc. Is it possible? Mar. [Forgetting himself, and in warmth.] Distraction that must never be ! [DOCTOR turns to him in surprise, LISETTE perceives it. Lis. Oh, heavens! look to the patient. La F. One of his fits has seized him. [MARQUIS pretends a fit.] But it's nothing; it will soon be over. Mar. Nay, do not hide yourself. Oh! oh! that I could plunge this steel [holds up his handkerchief] a hundred times in that detestable heart. Come on, monster, and acknowledge thy conqueror, expiring under this hand. Doc. I'll go into the next room. It is me, I believe, he is going to kill. La F. But he has no weapon; don't be afraid. Con. [To LA F.] Oh! dear sir, relieve him from this terrible fit. Doc. Do; I beg you will. La F. I cannot wholly relieve him at present; but you shall see me change the manner of his raving. Behold my power! [Pretends to magnetise.] See, his countenance changes; his looks express tenderness. Now it is no longer fury that transports him; but the soft langour of love now pervades his senses. Mar. [Looking at CONSTANCE.] Oh! charming Arpasia! La F. Arpasia was the name of his first love: he fancies himself near to her. [The MARQUIS kneels to CONSTANCE. Mar. Is it you, then, whom I behold? But, alas! you do not suspect what I have suffered in your absence; and I only retain my life, in the pleasing hope of one day passing it with you, and rendering your's as happy as my own.. What am I to think of this silence? You do not answer to my tender com Doc. But, harkye! La F. Psha, psha! She looks at you fr tell her, she may say yes-just yes. Doc. But why suffer her to speak? La F. Consider you are in possession of me net, and nothing can prevent the power of COATE. Mar. Ah! cruel! Ought I thus to wait for a w from those lips? You wish, then, to behold ar úr? Doc. Well, well; answer him, yes. Mar. Do you love me? Con. Yes. Mar. [Kisses her hand.] I am transported! Doc. Endeavouring to separate them) El hold! This is a fit as powerful to me as it is to ya Lis. Dear sir, let him alone; he may fall into mu rage again. Mar. What thrilling transport rushes to my heart! all nature appears to my ravished eres more beantiful than poets ever formed! Aurora dawas; the feathered songsters chant their most melodious strains; the gentle zephyrs breathe their choices: perfumes, and the inspiring scene intoxicates my very soul ! Doc. Come, change this fit into another. Mar. And you, who listen to me, partake my . Come and dwell with me under the shady branches of the river-side. Come, lovely shepherdess; hold of CONSTANCE;] come, young shepherd; ¡lasta hold of the DOCTOR; mingle in the dance. Lis. Come, young shepherd. [Takes hold of the DOCTOR with one hand, and LA FLEUR with the other. Doc. I can't dance. Mar. In vain you refuse. Pass, with gentle steps, the mossy banks, and join in the rural pastime. [They all dance-Lon ACT III. SCENE I.—An Apartment in the Doctor's Emat Enter LISETTE and LA FLETE Lis. But when is this farce to end? La F. My master, now he is introduced, will take advantage of some circumstances, to obtain, char by force or stratagem, the Doctor's consent t wishes; and as he finds he is beloved by the yang lady, which, before, he was in doubt of Lis. Psha! he might easily have guessed her timents. A young woman, weary of continen she was, is easily in love with the first young who solicits her affections. La F. And may I hope you love me? mistress. La F. A thousand thanks, my dear Lisette door, no creature can either go out, or enter, a Lis. But while Jeffrey keeps the keys of me out his leave. |