And yet how promifing the morning rose, That brought deftruction with the welcome light!

What may a day or what an hour disclose?

Farewell, dear fade !--Whilft memory re

mains,

With fond regret this bofom still shall heave;

Night.

Unwarning hour! what projects then were crush'd,

What hopeful fchemes, that furnish'd years

of care !

Perhaps, in fad concern alike were hush'd

Two restless rivals and fome fated fair! No common numbers justly can exprefs

The panic that Discovery maft feel, When the first victim of the dire distress Prov'd what Credulity would fain conceal. For, guilt-attractive, how the story flies!

The dark recefs, the city to alarm; Where gold no more could fix Avaro's eyes,

Unhing'd his happiness, unnerv`d his arm. Nor could the court th' unyielding fact evade,

To fupple arts and compliments unknown; Fearless of all, from none the truth is staid, Nor can the fycophants defend the Throne, But privileg'd they fly-and arms fevere,

The meaneft, not the guiltieft furround; Death in the front, and Terror in the rear! Distress, Distraction, and Despair confound. Nor art, nor industry, nor pray'rs prevail; The filent Thames a finking commerce fees;

No brifk winds whistle in the bleaching fail, Clofe furl'd, as fearful of the 'tainted breeze!

Habitual mifery the bofom fteels,

For this no heart felt charities can name, And Sympathy in fufferance conceals

Her mild fuavity, her cheering fame; And faint's the feeling fenfe of diftant woes, The past and future ftill the leaft engage! Let man anticipate each change he knows, Afpire with Virtue, and exult with Age.

ftrains,

And mourn till Pity's felf fhall cease to grieve.

MADELINE.

THE CATASTROPHE,

A TALE.

BY ANTHONY PASQUIN, Efq. IS a fix'd point in policy's belief,

That you should fet a thief to catch a thief.

SUSAN and DICK, a rufticated pair, Who 'ad long conceiv'd a mutual sneaking kindness,

Refoly'd the unhallow'd rites of Love to fhare;,
But the gay nymph, for reafons eafy guess'd,
(Perhaps by decency or fear imprefs'd)
Wish'd to eclipfe her mother's eyes by blind.
nefs.

To perpetrate that aim, this eager twain
Into an oven's dark recefs retreated;
But ere their extacies were in the wane,
The fly-projected business was defeated:
Lynx-eyed Difcretion left 'em in the nick,
And Cunning play'd them both a fcurvy
trick.

The Dame mifs'd SUE; the Dame had her

time;

And Cupid vifits but on fix'd conditions.She fought her from the cellar to the garret, Out-houfe and pantry, but the fought in vain; At length the oven ruth'd into her brain: And there lay Suz, high flufh'd with shame, like claret !

"Oh! you confounded, filthy, horrid jade; Why, faith! you're driving on a pretty trade !" Exclaim'd the matron in a raging fury, Ungrac'd by pity like a faction's jury.

"Ah! mother, mother," quoth the trem bling Su E,

"Pardon this weakness-your good-will reftore me;

Your feet had ne'er been led here by a clue, Had you not play'd vagaries here before me."

What can be faid the force of Nature's

great,

Venus and SUE were both the sport of fate;
The fair of Ephefus-the Spartan's pride-
The Queen of Carthage-and Uriah's bride

Let the harsh tongue of Apathy be still, It ever has been thus-and ever will. Rrz

This Piece is the production of Mr. Cobb, and is intended merely to exprefs the difficulties and embarrassments in confequence of the removal of the Drury-lane Company. Palmer and Barrymore enter, and, after lamenting the diftreffes of poor Wrighten the Prompter, give a very ludicrous description of the removal of the scenery from one house to the other. The ocean is washed away by a shower of rain, and the clouds are obliged to be tranfported under an umbrella, Alexander's triumphal car is fhattered to pieces by a hackney coach at the corner of St. Martin's-lane, and the coachman being blamed for the accident, infifts that he was on the right fide, and that Alexander, if he pleafed, might take his number.

Wrighten next enters, bewailing his embarrallments, and regretting his departure from Poor Old Drury. He is called for by a dozen at a time, who want his inftructions for what they are to do. A compliment is here introduced to Mifs Farren. The Prompter's boy calls to him that Mifs Farren wants the Prompter. "It can't be," exclaims Wrighten, "Mifs Farren never wants the Prompter."

Parfons enters in a rage, and swears that he will not appear in Comedy again. He wants to play in Tragedy, that he may be beard. He here roars aloud, and Mr. Paillimore, who is placed in the gallery, calls out to him that he need not strain his lungs fo, as he can hear him perfectly well. The audience, not understanding that this was a part in the Piece, hiffed poor Phillimore for what they thought an interruption.

Wewitzer, as a French critical dancing

mafter, devoted to the forms of the ancient drama, propofes, that according to the rule of Monf. Demofthene, action should be chiefly regarded; and therefore, that while Par fons delivers the fpeech, he (Wewitzer) fhould adopt a gefture conformable to the fentiments; and upon this principle he ob jects to the ufual practice of farting at the fight of the apparition, and infifts upon the propriety of bowing with reverence and love, as Hamlet knows it to be the ghost of his papa. This produces a very ludicrous ef

fect.

Several of the actors appear, and throw the Prompter into a violent rage, by murmurs against the new scene of action. Bland appears as an Italian finger, declaring that nothing but the Opera should be performed at that place; and the French critic and he retire, obferving that dancing and the Opera fhould always go together, in contempt of fenfe and nature.

Harlequin and his ufual pantomimical affociates next appear, but are told by Wrighten that there will be no employment for them, as the fterling merit of the British Dra ma will, for a feafon at least, be full fufficient for the entertainment of a British audience, Harlequin laments his difmiffion, but kindly refolves to give the audience a parting proof of his magic power; and therefore firkes the fcene, which rifes, and forms a view of Mount Parnaffus, with Apollo and other Mythological Deities. The Muses appear in fucceffion; and the Prelude concludes with airs and a fine chorus.

to fay, that she acquitted herself neither with excellence much to commend, nor yet in a manner to deferve blame.

7. A gentleman of the name of Snow appeared for the first time on any stage, at Covent-Garden, in the character of Olman, in the Tragedy of Zara. Of an attempt which was not heard by any one in the theatre, we fhall fay but little. To a voice inaudible the gentleman added a redundancy of action, which could not but have a ludicrous effect. He has a good person, and feemed to have a proper conception of the character, but from a want of powers is not likely to be again feen as a candidate for stage patronage.

20. After Steele's Confcious Lovers, a new Ballet Pantomime, taken from Offiau, called Ofiar and Malvina, was performed, and defervedly received with much approbation. CHARACTERS.

Fingal (a Highland Chief,} Mr. Blurton.

grandfire to Ofcar),

Ofcar (his defcendant, on the

point of marriage with Mr. Byrne, Malvina),

Dermoth (Attendant 'Squire Mr. King.

to Ofcar),

Mrs. Martyr, Mrs. Mountain, Mifs Broadhurst, Mifs Stuart, &c. &c. Attendants, Soldiers, Servants, Dancers, &c, THE FABLE.

OSCAR, the defcendant of Fingal, a renowned Highland Chief, being betrothed to Malvina, the daughter of Toscar, their Clans, accompanied by the Bards (according to the ancient customs of the country), affemble in the Hall of Fingal, with is fancifully decorated, to celebrate the approaching nuptials of the happy pair, and record the glories of their ancestry: their feftivity is interrupted by a vassal, announcing the arrival of Carrol, a powerful Chieftain of a neighbouring isle, who, accompanied by his troops, defcends the rocky mountain of Ben Lomond, to demand the hand of Malvina in marriage.

Carrol, on being informed the is betrothed to Ofcar, affumes the garb of friendship, and accepts an invitation to Fingal Castle, where, as circumstances offer, he artfully prefers his

fuit, and obtains from Malving, reluctantly, a ring (by defire of Ofcar) as a pledge of amity. Carrol adjures his 'Squires (Morven and Draco) to fecrecy, and commands their affiftance in procuring Malvina at all hazards; the former appears averfe, but the latter readily acquiefces. During this period, Fingal, Ofcar, and Malvina, unconscious of Carrol's treachery, indulge themselves in participating the ruftic fports of their dependants, who, in the ftubble fields, which ter⚫ minate with a diftant view of Fingal Castle, prefent them with a trial of ftrength and skill (after the manner of Highland peafantry).

Carrol, difguifed as a pedlar, avails himfelf of their hilarity, and offers a poifoned beverage to Ofcar, which he refufing, Carrol difcovers himself, and, difplaying the ring, avows his determination to make Malvina his by force. Draco, &c. at that inftant, with troops, rush forward, and bear off Malvina. Carrol is parfued by Ofcar, on whofe approach he entrusts Malvina with Morven, strictly enjoining him to put her to death rather than fuffer her to escape. She fupplicates the aid of Morven, who, overpowered by pity, forwards her escape from the cave wherein the is confined, by a fecret avenue.

In this interim Ofcar is made prifoner, and chained on the fummit of a lofty tower; this is fcarcely accomplished before Malvina and Morven are re-taken. Carrol endeavours to convey her on board a veffel riding at anchor, but is prevented by a storm arifing, which deftroys the veffel. He, however, forces her from her lover, leaving Ofcar ftill chained, who is at length relieved by Fingal, whofe men receive him in their arms, on his difengaging himself from his chains and leaping from the turret. Having regained his liberty, they determine on deftroying by fire Carrol's camp, fituate on a mountain, and to which a bridge is the pafs this he accomplishes by his troops concealing lighted torches under their helmets, shrouded by their gabardines. Carrol's men, alarmed, fall victims to the bravery of Ofcar's troops. Malvina is dragged over the bridge by Carrol, who, enraged and defpairing, prepares with his fword to difpatch her, which is wrefted from him by Morven : at the fame inftant Malvina plunges a dagger in his breaft, and he expires. Ofcar affectionately embraces Malvina, and the Bards, &c. joyfully celebrate their union.

:

This Entertainment is at once fuperb and interefting, and exhibits the united powers of painting and music. The scenery is picturesque and splendid; the mufic plea

fing;

lay

Oft won applaufe in Latium's elder day, Ere yet the Mufe, by fage experience taught,

PROLOGUE

TO THE

AULULARIA,

WHEN PERFORMED

ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, BY THE GENTLEMEN OF READING SCHOOL.

YE Friends and Patrons! whofe enliv'ning
fight

Infpires the anxious bofom with delight,
I come your wonted favour to implore
To fubjects new, and themes untried before.
No tale of modern life, by nicer laws,

Her mimic art to full perfection brought:
His is the tale, that, now restor❜d to light,
Here courts your favour on this feftal night.
With purer verfe tho' courtly Terence fhine,
And rival chafte Menander's claffic line,
With force fuperior PLAUTUS wins the
heart,

And wakes our laughter with refiftless art.
When Euclio's watchful terrors you behold,
Alarm'd, who trembles for his buried gold,
Sees, in each face he meets, a thief, and
fears

Detection's whisper in each word he hears; When now, in frantic mood, with angry eyes,

All wild he rages for his ravish'd prize; When the fond youth before the father bends,

plaufe;

No actors here with rival wit engage

To lafh the living follies of the age:

Our fcene, more learned grown, this night difplays

The manners, drefs, and fpeech, of ancient days

Of time remote the fading fight renews,
And wakes to life the long-neglected Mufe;
As erft, in warlike ages lefs refin'd,
She chaim'd with ruder wit th' unpolifh'd
mind,

What time long wafted by invading foes,
In prouder triumph Rome majestic rofe-
From Punic legions freed her captive plain,
And view'd her walls in fafety back again.
Then, 'mid the public joy, the Poet trove,
With tales of mirth, each kindred breaft to

move

Employ'd each effort of his newer art, And won with readieft force the obedient heart.

Miftakes the charge, by inward fears be

tray'd,

The plunder'd treasure for the ftolen maid; And while one crime infefts his aching view, That guilt confeffes which he never knew; Admire his fkill the wond'rous fcene who

writ,

His paffion, humour, genius, ftrength, and wit;

With candid voice decide in merit's caufe, And crown the favour'd piece with juft applaufe,

And you, ye Fair! whofe fmiles before have charm'd

Our youthful bofoms, and whose praise has warm'd!

When HAMLET here, at duty's awful call, Gave up his joys, his love, his life, and all, And, with his father's wrongs alone poffeft, Nurs'd his dire vengeance in his lab'ring breast,

And died the base ufurper to subdue-
When poor Ophelia bade her forrows flow,
Sunk with the burden of oppreffive woe,
And piteous wept, in wild diforder'd ftrain,
A frantic lover and a parent flain—
With kind indulgence hear our ancient play,
Whofe verfe falutes you with unwonted
lay.

Tho' ftrange the inharmonious speech appear,
Form'd to delight alone the claffic ear;
Tho' vain th' untafted dialogue be found,
And cheat the baffled fenfe with useless
found;

Haply, the action of our busy scene,
The Actor's gesture, habit, voice, and mien,

May