minion of lust and dishonour!-Perish first! If I have merited your gratitude, pay me by your secrecy.

Broad. His daughter, your wife—is she happy?
Count V. Yes; for she is dead.

Broad. Poor dear lady!-The old man never held up his head after he made a fresh will, and has given all his estate to a worthy gentleman, Mr. Templeton.

Count V. [Aside.] Ah, the name of the villain that bore away my child!-worthy! [With violence. Broad. What's the matter? There's no sin in saying a man's worthy-is there?

Count V. I shall betray myself. [Aside.]-No.

Broad. His son's a little matter skittish like, not penn'd in properly when young, and bad hedges make bad cattle.Between ourselves, he had a bit of a sweetheart here.

Count V. Here! here! where is she? [With vehemence. Broad. I don't know.-Ecod, he frightens me! and I never thought I should be afeard of a Frenchman.-You had better ax young squire about it; he can't be far off, for there's his servant.

Count V. Ah, fortune, this is all I asked! [Shewing pistols.]A father's curse weigh down thy steps, till a father's vengeance shall o'ertake thee! [Rushes out, R.

Broad. Pistols' there'll be murder!-Here, wife, [Exit into the house, L.

where's my constable's staff?

SCENE II.-Mr. Templeton's. Table and implements of

writing.

Enter ASPIC, with a memorandum book, R.-seats himself— writes.

Asp. "Eyes,-folly; teeth,-whales." There you are, my pretty, vain Mrs. Templeton, as large as life; if I could persuade you into the badinage of an intrigue, it would finish the character with spirit and effect. [Rises, leaving the book on the table.] I wonder she don't come. [Looking out of a window.] What, eh! bailiffs! [Runs from the window.] How the devil could they ferret me out here? [Peeps.] I know you, you faithful followers of genius! Miserable reflection! that the proceedings of the court of Apollo should be supersedable by the Court of Common Pleas; that the poet's bay should be withered by the cauliflower wig of a counsellor; and that the rules of composition should be accompanied by the rules of the Beuch. [Exit hastily, L.

Enter MRS. TEmpleton, r.

Mrs. T. What can be the matter with my husband? he sighs, seeks solitude;-sure he can't be vulgar enough to be jealous? If he thinks me unworthy his confidence, I shall not consider him entitled to my sympathy.-I wonder where Mr. Aspic is. One must laud these literary gentlemen; for a fashionable author is, now, become as necessary an appendage to a stylish party as a confectioner, or a Bowstreet officer--[Going to the Table.] His common-place book, I declare! Now for a peep! I know I'm his heroine; but if there be any fulsome compliments I shall prohibit the publication-[Reads.] "A sketch-Mrs. Templeton alias Mrs. Argus. "all"-all what-" all eyes! which "she rolls about as industriously as a sightless pauper, "and with the same effect, for it excites our pity" Pity I'll tear them out! I'll never open them again, only to have evidence of the villain's treachery." She smiles for effect, "without cause, and never shews her teeth without shewing "her folly" [Cries with vexation.]—" swallows flat66 tery as voraciously as the Malestrom in Norway does whales, though, in the vortex, is wrecked-" What! [With solemnity.] is wrecked a husband's happiness !"-Ah, am I awake!-Well, madam, what say you to the charge?Guilty!-Vain, unthinking woman! Oh, I could kiss the venomed ink!-What's to be done?-Ah, it shall be so! [Writes in the book.]-My husband comes :-let me conceal -no, he shall judge of the sincerity of my repentance by the voluntary exposure of my follies.

[Throws the book on the ground, and retires.

Enter TEMPLETON, r.

Tem. This agony of suspeuse is insupportable! No letters from London-no messenger! Mr. Damper gone without a parting word!-Hitherto I've concealed from my wife the tortures I endure; but soon, alas !-What's here? [Takes up the book and reads]- Mrs. Argus-excites pity-flattery"-Unmanly libeller! Ah, what follows is to Julia's character." To this she pleads guilty; but, happily, the sume moment that unmasked a hypocrite, impressed on her heart a keen sense of her folly, and with "it the resolution of seeking happiness in the active duties "of a wife, and in the indulgent forgiveness of an affection"ate husband."

66

[She comes unperceived, and kneels by his side.

E

Mrs. T. Oh, Sir, pardon!

Tem. Julia, joy of my life, rise to my doting heart! [Embraces her]-Blissful moment! it will sweeten my dying hour!-But, oh!—

Mrs T. You tremble!-your wife will entreat to partake your joys-but she demands to share your sorrows. Tem. Your husband is a beggar--ruined!-worse-the cause of others' ruin!

Mrs. T. [Faintly.] Is there no hope?

Tem. None.

Mrs T. Then we must welcome resignation. Oh, I could cherish the grief that has awakened in my bosom its better feelings, but for the agonising thought that I may have caused this ruin ;-teach me, Sir, what can I do?

Tem. Nothing, dearest wife! we will wait the events of

to-morrow,

Mrs. T. To-morrow! Do not afflict me with that hated word. Where's Vincent?-Where's your firm friend, Mr. Damper ?

Tem. Gone.

Mrs. T. Gone! he seemed your shadow.

Tem. But when the sun of my prosperity set, the shadow vanished.-Ah, here comes that vile libeller. Mrs. T. Templeton! no resentment, I entreat.

Enter ASPIC, L.

Asp. The porter (Cerberus) took his sop kindly enough; now if I can dose Templeton and his wife-and, luckily, they are here. What an interesting contemplation is domestic happiness! what a lesson to the world! Had I permission to record such worth, its advantages could not be lost-[Feeling for his book]-could not be lost-[Tremulously, and running to the table,] as I said before, could not be lost-[Searching eagerly about the room.

Tem. Is it this, Sir, you seek?

Asp. This! No! Oh, yes! my sketch book, where my friends' virtues and graces-[Peeps into it, and drops it]Punished-beat-shelved-defunct-screwed down and buried! The fangs of the law without, an enraged woman's tongue within ;-however, my shoulders will bear any thing but the paralysing paw of a bailiff. Sir, I, I, must live

Temt. Did it ever occur to you, Sir, that you must die? Is this base perversion of the human mind to be endured? Sir, I am sorry you impose on me the harsh task of requiring you to quit my house.

Asp. I would directly-but the danger
Tem. My servants shall conduct

Asp. Thank you, Sir; but that's very unnecessary; there are attendants without very willing to take all possible care of me, and see me quite safe to town. Mr. Tem pleton, I throw myself on your mercy. The fact is, Sir, there are bailiffs [Templeton stands, and trembles.] about the house, and if they see me-

Mrs. T. Templeton, you tremble!-Heavens ! do you fear?

Tem. Dear Julia, be composed. Sir, while I have power here, you may remain. Retire to some proper place of safety.

Asp. Thank you, sir.-Proper place! I know the poet's --the garret. [Crosses, and exit, R. T'em. Lost! disgraced! Oh, heaven end my days soon, soon!

VINCENT TEMPLETON rushes in, L.

Vin. I saw suspicious men lurking about.

Tem. Be not alarmed, my son; you are in perfect safety, These men, Vincent, wait for your father.

Vin. My father!

Mrs. T. [Shrieks.] No, no.

Tem. Hark! a noise!-They come.

Vin. Close all the doors.

[With horror.

Mrs T. Fly! conceal yourself, dear Templeton, for my

sake.

Tem. By your leave, love.

Vin. Secure the doors, I say.

[Kisses her hand.

Tem. I say, no! As this will be the last exertion of my authority, at least let it be an act of justice.--I command that all have free admittance. Dragged to a prison-my honest name given up to calumny-to-they are here.

Str. When you have perused that, [Presenting a paper.] I shall require you to go with me-I will wait in the next apartment.

Tem. Sir, I will not detain you long, the feelings and decorum you have shewn in discharging your duty demands my gratitude. [Exit Stranger, L.

Vin Father!

Mrs. T. Husband!

Tem. "Tis hard to part.

Mrs. T'. Part!-Never! never!

Tem. The die is cast.-Let me see at whose suit

[Unfolds the paper; utters an hysteric exclamation, and falls back, Vincent supporting him.}

Mrs. T. [Snatching up the letter] "Acquaint you, that "at six o'clock-Mr. Cleveland departed this life." Liberty-liberty-Oh, my husband! Let the warm breathings of affection call back your fleeting spirits these drops of sympathy reanimate your drooping heart!

Tem. [Recovering.] Heaven's will be done! Give me the paper. [Reads.] "His last moments were employed in calling for and blessing you, his beloved friend."-This demands a tear of grateful sorrow.-Merciful Father! how inscrutable are the dispensations of thy providence!

Enter ROBERT and an Attorney, L.

Rob. That is Mr. Templeton.

[Exit Robert, L. Att. Sir, the critical state of your affairs has compelled my client to institute what you may consider harsh, legal proceedings; but the security of your person

Tem. I am ever willing to pay a prompt submission to the laws of my country; but if you will have the forbearance to suspend further proceedings till you have accompanied me to the late Mr. Cleveland's

Att. Is Mr. Cleveland no more? [Templeton presents the paper.] The disposition of his property in your favour is well known. I will attend you, Sir; and am rejoiced that this event will preclude the necessity of pursuing measures so destructive to your happiness and honour.

Tem. Julia! Vincent! Oh, thus supported, thus beloved, thus blessed, I hardly dare trust my happiness.

[Exeunt, L.

SCENE III-A sequestered Place in a Park.

Enter VINCENT TEMPLETON, L.

Vin. A father restored to affluence and happiness, my whole heart turns to thee, Rosine! [Takes out a miniature.] And, must I be content with this inanimate semblance of my love?-Though it was pencilled in early years, to gratify a doting father's pride, yet here is the promise of those matchless charms, which time has perfected; here beam the eyes of ingenuous innocence, which seem to smile on