Tagg. Compliments! oh! call not by that hack nied term the voice of truth-lovely nymph, ah! deign to hear me, I'll teach you what it is to love. Miss P. Love-dear Mr. Tagg. Oh! moderate your transports-be advised; think no more of this fatal passion. Tagg. Think no more of it: Can love be controll'd by advice? Will Cupid our mothers obey? Oh then, consent, my angel, to join our hearts in one, or give me my death in a bumper. Miss P. [Aside.] Can I refuse any thing to such a lover? -but were I, my dear friend, to consent to our tender union, how could we contrive to escape ? my brother's vigilance would overtake us; and you might have reason to repent of his anger. Tagg. Oh, he's a Goth, a mere Vandyke, my love. But fear makes the danger seem double ; Say, Hymen, what mischiefs can trouble? I have contrived the plot and every scene of the elopement; but in this shady blest retreat will I unfold it all-let's sit down like Jessica and the fair Lorenzo, here. Would you taste the noon-tide air, To yon fragrant bower repair. [They sit in the bower. Since music is the food of love, we'll, to the nightingale's complaining notes, tune our distresses and accord our woes. While Tagg is singing in burlesque, Little Pickle, L. U. L. steals round the Stage and gets behind the Bower, and sews their clothes together, and then goes out behind unperceived by them. Miss P. Oh! I could listen thus for ever to the united charms of love and harmony-but how are we to plan our escape? Tagg. (L.) In a mea and low attire, muffled up in a great cloak and disguised with a large hat, will I await you in this happy spot-but why, my soul-why not this instant fly?-this moment will I seize my tender bit of lamb-m me, there I had her as dead as mutton. [Aside. Miss P. (R.) No, I am not yet equipped for an elopement, and what is of more consequence still, I. have not got D with me a casket of jewels I have prepared, rather too valuable to leave behind. Tagg. That is of some consequence, indeed, to me. My diamond, my pearl, Then be a good girl Until I come to you again. Miss P. Come back again in the disguise immediately, and if fortune favours faithful lovers' vows, I will contrive to slip out to you. Tagg. Dispose of me, lovely creature, as you please; but don't forget the casket. LITTLE PICKLE runs in, L. 2nd E. Little P. Granne! granne! Miss P. What rude interruption is this? all. Little P. Nothing at all--only father is coming, that's Tagg. The devil he is-what a catastrophe! [Both rise. Miss P. One last adieu! [Embracing.] Think you we shall ever meet again? [They find themselves fastened together, and struggle. Tagg. D- n me! If I think we shall ever part. Miss P. [Tenderly.] Don't detain me; won't you let me go? Tagg. Zounds! I wish you were gone. [They struggle, and at last get free, and run off different ways; Miss Pickle, R., Tugg, L. Enter OLD PICKLE, L. 2nd E. Old P. Well, all's not so bad as I feared-he is not yet gone to sea, and Margery assures me I shall see him e'er long, quite another thing from what he was-But now let me look after my sister-though she made me play the fool, I'll take care to prevent her-I must not give up the consols to --- -but odso, I have not yet seen my daughter; I'll to her first, lest young yeo, yeo, yeo, should get her ship't off-and when I have secured fifteen, I'll look after fiftybut who's coming here? I'll conceal myself and watch. [Retires up a little. Enter MISS PICKLE, with a casket, . Miss P. [Passing over to the bower] Mr. Tagg, Mr. Tagg-I hope he is returned-how I tremble-kind Cupid, guide your votary's feeble steps-Oh, my dear Mr. Tagg, take the casket, and let us make haste, that we may escape before my brother comes. [Catches hold of Little Pickle, who is behind the bower, disguised as Tagg. Little Pickle kissing her hand. They run towards Old Pickle, who comes forward and stops them. Old P. (L.) Your most obedient humble servant, maʼam ! -well said, fifty, egad-sir, your most obsequious, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Romeo-John-William-Thomas, [Calling the Servants.] You shan't want attendants, mighty prince; but mayhap you had rather sleep in a castle, great hero, we have a convenient goal close by-where you'll be very safe, most illustrious chief. Enter R. and L. Servants. Miss P. (R.) Heavens! a jail! poor dear Mr. Tagg, a victim to his love for me-oh, let us implore his forgiveness-intreat him to release you. [To Tagg. Little P. (c.) [Kneels and throws off his disguise as Tagg, and appears in his own hair, though still in the sailor's dress.] Thus let me implore for pardon, and believe, that a repentance so sincere as mine will never suffer my heart again to wander from it's duty towards him. Old P. What's this! my son. [Exit Miss Pickle, R. in anger; embracing Little Pickle.] Odds my heart, I'm glad to see him once more-Oh, you dear little fellow!-but, you wicked scoundrel, how did you dare play me such tricks? Little P. Tricks! Oh, sir, recollect you have kindly pardoned them already! and now you must intercede for me with my aunt, that I may have her forgiveness too, for preventing her from eloping, as she designed, with her tender swain, Mr. Tagg. Old P. Mr. Tagg; odso, then the consols were sinking apace, but you have raised them once more. Little P. And do you then indeed, sir, sincerely forgive me, and forget all my follies? Old P. Forget 'em, ah! had you vexed me as much again, I should be more than repaid by the happiness of this mo ment. Little P. Kind sir, my joy is then complete, and I will never more offend. [Comes forward. FINALE and CHORUS.-LITTLE PICKLE. Dear sir, once more receive me, And take me to your arms, Our S my CHORUS-My duty, love, &c. joy is then completed, Would but each generous heart, Applaud the artless jest. The object of these childish pranks, Was barely to amuse 'em ; Then censure not a school-boy's faults, But laugh at, and excuse 'em. CHORUS-The object of my duty, love, &c. THE END. DISPOSITION OF THE CHARACTERS AT THE FALL OF THE CURTAIN. SERVANTS. SERVANTS. LITTLE PICKLE. OLD PICKLE. R.] [L. |