to any situation; it is the reward granted by heaven to industry and frugality.

Enter SEBASTIAN, L.

[Exit, R.

Seb. My lord, your impatience will ruin everything. Dominique will apprize the lovers of your intentions, and you will have to dare all the fury of a jealous rival.

Ant. Be it so. I cannot stoop to dissemble.

Seb. Nor is it necessary. You shall dissemble by deputy. I will take that task upon myself, and will persuade Dominique that all you have said was to prove his fidelity; and that your errand to this island is to unite Paul and Virginia, with the consent of her aunt, Donna Leonora.

Ant. But to what purpose lose all this time?

Seb. To lull suspicion to sleep, and to enable you to carry off Virginia this night.

Ant. My dear Sebastian!

Seb. The governor has sent an answer to your message, and is now expecting you.

Ant. Well?

Seb. Let the governor see the letters written to Virginia by her aunt they will show your authority for carrying her to Spain.

Ant. I have the letters here.

Seb. And request assistance from the governor; guards to convey her on board of ship, and to secure Paul from obstructing our scheme.

Ant. Admirably planned!

Seb. Then leave me to manage our friend Dominique. Ant. While I obtain an audience of the governor.

[Exeunt Sebastian, R., Antonio, L.

SCENE II.-A pleasant Country, with Tropic's Plantation-Music.

Enter PAUL, JACINTHA, ALAMBRA, and VIRGINIA, who is supported in a seat on the shoulders of the Negroes as before. The Negroes place the seat on the ground, while Alambra, in dumb show, seems to explain to Paul and Virginia the news, &c. of Antonio's arrival. A dance of Negroes.

Paul. Thanks to my generous friends.

[Exit Negroes, L. U. E.

Vir. Return to my cottage, Alambra, and let the best of our simple fare be prepared to greet the noble stranger. [Exit Alambra, R. Paul. R.) And is the wealthy Virginia still resolved to unite herself with a lover so poor, so humble?

Vir. (c.) Can Paul venture to offend Virginia with such a question?

Jac. (L.) Reserve your love-speeches for some other situation. The echoes hereabouts are very communicative, and may, perhaps, tell more than you intend shall be known.

TRIO.-PAUL, VIRGINIA, and JACINTHA.
When tell-tale echoes whisper around,
The lover with prudence arming,
Then timid love retires from the sound,
Each whisper his caution alarming:
But when a lover echoes your sigh,
That's not amiss, if no stranger is nigh.
The sweet response of love-the sigh!
Oh! that is the echo most charming!
The sweet response I love, &c.

[Exeunt, R.

SCENE III-A Room in Virginia's Cottage.
Enter DOMINIQUE and SEBASTIAN, R.

Dom. Why, you don't say so?

Seb. I assure you of the fact. My master, Don Antonio, was resolved to try whether you merited the character given you by Donna Leonora.

Dom. And he did try me pretty effectually, to be

sure.

Seb. He admires your strength of mind.

Dom. I'faith! he had very nearly experienced my strength of body; for never in my life did I find my hands so inclined to mutiny.

Enter PAUL, L.

Oh! my dear Paul, let me never hear that fortune is blind; if she were so formerly, she has recovered her sight at last, and rewarded virtue.

Paul. My faithful Dominique !

[Exeunt Dominique, R., Sebastian, L.

SONG-PAUL.

A blessing unknown to ambition and pride,
That fortune can never abate;

To wealth and to splendour tho' often denied,
Yet on poverty deigns to await.

That blessing, ye powers, still be it my lot,
The choicest of gifts from above;

Deep fixed in my heart, it shall ne'er be forgot,
That the wealth of the cottage is love.

Whate'er my condition, why should I repine?
By poverty never distress'd;

Exulting I feel what a treasure is mine:
A treasure enshrin'd in my breast.
That blessing, &c.

Enter DON ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN, L.

[Exit, R.

PAUL brings in

VIRGINIA, MARY, and ALAMBRA, R.

Vir. My lord, I do not apologize for this humble abode: peace and virtue have dwelt here; and, by superior minds, like your's, honoured will be the roof that has given shelter to such guests.

Ant. Charming Virginia! how would Donna Leonora be delighted in beholding you add grace to the ornaments which her fondness presents to you.

Vir. Ah! my lord, how shall I express my gratitude for her affection! In this cottage, fifteen years ago, my exiled mother gave me birth. In this cottage, to-day, you announce to me the maternal fondness, the cherished blessings, of a second mother.

Art. This girl is an angel. [Aside to Sebastian. Seb. [Aside to Antonio, L.] Granted: but it may be not quite so convenient to inform Paul that you think her so.

Ant. [Aside to Sebastian.] I have seen the governor, and shown him Donna Leonora's letters; he consents to my plan, and I expect a guard presently to enforce his orders in consequence.

Vir. Aid me, my dear Paul, to express all the thanks we ought to offer.

Ant. Virginia, you have not yet told me the whole of your history.

Vir. Ah! my lord, our history is soon told; happiness in humble life offers but few circumstances to claim at

jon.

Paul

TRIO.-PAUL, VIRGINIA, and ALAMBRA
Lowly, humble was our lot,

& Vir. }

Fortune's frowns seem'd endless,
Yet, by kind Heaven are never forgot
Orphans poor and friendless.
Hope, from the skies descending,
Still her bless'd influence lending,
Labour o'er, we dance and play;
Hearts free from guile are ever gay.

Cho. Hearts free, &c.

Ala. Lowly, humble though your lot,
Goodness in you was endless;
Ne'er shall that goodness be forgot;
I, too, was poor and friendless.
Oh! may, from Heaven descending,
Hope, her bless'd influence lending,
Crown with joy each happy day!
Hearts free from guile are ever gay.

Cho.

Paul
& Vir. S

Hearts free, &c.

Blissful though our future lot,

Fortune's smiles, though endless,
Amidst our joys shall ne'er be forgot
We once were poor and friendless.
Humble content most prizing,

Our joys though the proud are despising,
Still this truth we may display,

Hearts free from guile are ever gay.

Cho. Hearts free from guile, &c.

Enter an Officer, L.

Offi. Don Antonio de Guardes ?
Ant. The same, good signor.

Offi. An order from the governor.

[Gives a paper.

Ant. The governor's order shall be obeyed; we are all ready. [Exit Officer, L.] Virginia, thus far I have listened to your story; now, in your turn, attend: it is reserved for me to complete your eventful drama.

Paul. What means Antonio?
Ant. Hark! my actors approach.

[March heard.

[The march still continues to be heard, Alambra re-enters in consternation. The Governor's Guards then enter, commanded by an Officer, who speaks apart to Don Antonio, L.

Ant. Come, sir, despatch; your order see obey'd.

Off. 'Tis from the governor.
Paul.

[Gives a paper.

Thus meanly betray'd!
His name by this order you degrade:

Stand forth, base deceiver, and say,
Of what are we accus'd? our crime display.

Antonio, Officer, and Chorus of Guards.

Be silent; the order you must obey,

Paul, Virginia, and the rest.

Cho. The order of the governor you must obey.
[The Guards carry off Virginia, R. and Paul, L.
march is heard as they retire.

The

SCENE IV.-Another Room in the Cottage. Enter MARY, L., meeting DOMINIQUE, R. Mary. Oh! Dominique, this is a miserable hour. Dom. [Agitated.] Yes, it isn't an hour of the happiest sort, to be sure.

Mary. That wicked Don Antonio!

Dom. Antonio! Curses on his name! but children vent their complaints in scolding; it is for men to bear misfortunes.

Mary. Where is Virginia?

Dom. Carried on board a ship.

Mary. And where is Paul?

Dom. By this time he is no longer a prisoner.

Mary. Who obtained his release?

Dom. Why, the gallant Englishman, whom Paul visited to-day; that man has, indeed, a heart in his bosom. Mary. See, Dominique, here he is.