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Mr. J. Nor have they not been chattering to you of my affair at Pisa, with the Principessa del

Clar. No, indeed, sir.

Mr.J. Well, I was afraid they might, because in this rude country-But, why silent on a sudden?-don't be afraid to speak.

Clar. No, sir, I will come to the subject on which I took the liberty to trouble you-Indeed, I have great reliance on your generosity.

Mr. J. You'll find me generous as a prince, depend

on't.

Clar. I am bless'd, sir, with one of the best of fathers: I never yet disobeyed him; in which I have had little merit; for his commands hitherto have only been to secure my own felicity.

Mr. J. Apres, ma chere.

Clar. But now, sir, I am under the shocking necessity of disobeying him, or being wretched for ever. Mr. J. Hem!

Clar. Our union is impossible-therefore since I cannot be your wife, let me entreat permission to make you my friend. [Exit.

Mr. J. Who's there?

Enter JENKINS.

Jenk. Do you call, sir?

Mr. J. Hark you, old gentleman; who are you?
Jenk. Sir, my name is Jenkins.

Mr. J. Oh! you are sir John Flowerdale's steward; a servant he puts confidence in.

Jenk. Sir, I have served sir John Flowerdale many years.

Mr.J. Then, Mr. Jenkins, I shall condescend to speak to you. Does your master know who I am? Does he know, sir, that I am likely to be a peer of Great Britain? That I have ten thousand pounds a year; that I have passed through all Europe with distinguished eclat; that I refused the daughter of Mynheer Van Slokenfolk, the great Dutch burgomaster;

and, that, if I had not had the misfortune of being bred a protestant, I might have married the niece of his present holiness the Pope, with a fortune of two hundred thousand piastres, Mr. Jenkins?

Jenk. I am sure, sir, my master has all the respect imaginable

Mr. J. Then, Mr. Tomkins, how comes he, after my showing an inclination to be allied to his family; how comes he, I say, to bring me to his house to be affronted? I have let his daughter go; but I think I was in the wrong; for a woman that insults me is no more safe than a man. I have brought a lady to reason before now for giving me saucy language; and left her male friends to revenge it, Mr. Wilkins.

Jenk. Pray, good sir, what's the matter?

Mr. J. Why, sir, this is the matter, sir-your master's daughter, sir, has behaved to me with damn'd insolence and impertinence; and you may tell sir John Flowerdale, first, with regard to her, that I think she is a silly, ignorant, awkward, ill-bred, country puss, Mr. Hopkins.

Jenk. Oh! sir, for heaven's sake

Mr.J. And that, with regard to himself, he is, in my opinion, an old, doating, ridiculous, country squire without the knowledge of either men or things; and that he is below my notice, if it were not to despise him, Mr. Jenkins.

Jenk. Good lord! good lord!

Mr. J. And advise him and his daughter to keep out of my way; for, by 'gad, I will affront them in the first place I meet them- And, if your master is for carrying things further, tell him I fence better than any man in Europe, Mr. Simpkins.

[Exit.

Jenk. Tomkins! Wilkins! Hopkins! and Simpkins! what does he mean?-I must go and inform sir John of what has happened, but I will not tell him of the outrageous behaviour of this young spark; for he is a man of spirit, and would resent it. 'Egad, my owu fingers itched to be at him, once or twice; and, as stout as he is, I fancy these old fists would give him a belly

ful. He complains of miss Clarissa; but she is incapable of treating him in the manner be says. Perhaps she may have behaved with some coldness towards him; and yet that is a mystery to me too.

AIR.

We all say the man was exceedingly knowing,
And knowing most surely was he,

Who found out the cause of the ebbing and flowing,
The flux and reflux of the sea.

Nor was he in knowledge far from it,
Who first mark'd the course of a comet;
To what it was owing,

Its coming and going,

Its wanderings hither and thither;

But the man that divines

A lady's designs,

Their cause or effect,

In any respect,

Is wiser than both put together.

SCENE III.

[Exit.

SIR JOHN FLOWERDALE's Garden; with a View of a Canal, by Moonlight: the Side Scenes intermixed with Statues and flowering Shrubs.

Enter LIONEL, leading CLARISSA.

Lion. Hist-methought I heard a noise-should we be surprised together, at a juncture so critical, what might be the consequence-I know not how it is; but, at this the happiest moment of my life, I feel a damp, a tremor at my heart

Clar. Then, what should I do? If you tremble, I ought to be terrified indeed, who have discovered sentiments, which perhaps I should have hid, with a frankness, that, by a man less generous, less nobleminded than yourself, might be construed to my disadvantage.

Lion. Oh! wound me not with so cruel an expression -You love me, and have condescended to confess it

You have seen my torments, and been kind enough to pity them-The world, indeed, may blaine you——

Clar. And yet, was it proclaimed to the world, what could the most malicious suggest? They could but say, that truth and sincerity got the better of forms; that the tongue dar'd to speak the honest sensations of the mind; that, while you aimed at improving my understanding, you engaged and conquered my heart.

Lion. And is it, is it possible?

Clar. Be calm, and listen to me: what I have done has not been lightly imagined, nor rashly undertaken: it is the work of reflection, of conviction; my love is not a sacrifice to my own fancy, but a tribute to your worth; did I think there was a more deserving man in the world

Lion. If to dote on you more than life, be to deserve you, so far I have merit; if to have no wish, no hope, no thought, but you, can entitle me to the envied distinction of a moment's regard, so far I dare pretend.

Clar. That I have this day refused a man, with whom I could not be happy, I make no merit: born for quiet and simplicity, the crowds of the world, the noise attending pomp and distinction, have no charms for me: I wish to pass my life in rational tranquillity, with a friend whose virtues I can respect, whose talents I can admire; who will make my esteem the basis of my affection.

Lion. O charming creature! yes, let me indulge the flattering idea; form'd with the same sentiments, the same feelings, the same tender passion for each other, nature design'd us to compose that sacred union, which nothing but death can annul.

Clar. One only thing remember. Secure in each others affections, here we must rest; I would not give my father a moment's pain, to purchase the empire of the world.

Lion. Command, dispose of me as you please; angels take cognizance of the vows of innocence and virtue; and, I will believe that ours are already register'd in heaven.

Clar. I will believe so too.

AIR.

Go, and, on my truth relying,
Comfort to your cares applying,
Bid each doubt and sorrow flying,
Leave to peace and love your breast.
Go, and may the pow'rs that hear us,
Still, as kind protectors near us,
Through our troubles safely steer us
To a port of joy and rest.

Enter SIR JOHN FLOWERDALE.

Sir J. Who's there? Lionel!

Lion. Heav'ns! 'tis sir John Flowerdale.
Sir J. Who's there?

Lion. "Tis I, sir; I am here, Lionel.

[Exit.

Sir J. My dear lad, I have been searching for you this half hour, and was at last told you had come into the garden: I have a piece of news, which I dare swear will shock and surprise you; my daughter has refused colonel Oldboy's son, who is this minute departed the house in violent resentment of her ill treatment.

Lion. Perhaps, sir, the gentleman may have been too impetuous, and offended miss Flowerdale's delicacycertainly nothing else could occasion

Sir J. Heaven only knows-I think, indeed, there can be no settled aversion, and surely her affections are not engaged elsewhere.

Lion. Engag'd, sir

-No, sir.

Sir J. I think not, Lionel.

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Lion. You may be positive, sir,-I'm sure

Sir J. O worthy young man, whose integrity, openness, and every good quality have rendered dear to me as my own child; I see this affair troubles you as much as it does me.

Lion. It troubles me indeed, sir.

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Sir J. However, my particular disappointment ought not to be detrimental to you, nor shall it: I well know how irksome it is to a generous mind to live in a state of dependance, and have long had it in my thoughts to make you easy for life.

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