The return of the grand festival was now at no great distance, when the youngest brother thought it the proper occafion for venturing to give his beloved the third token of his affection. He told her, that he hoped the would now willingly wear the full-blown flower, as the teftimony of her confent; at the fame time prefenting her with an artificial carnation, interfperfed with little flames and hearts. She ftuck the carnation in her bofom, unable to conceal her joy as the received it; at which her lover was so transported, that he determined to demand her of her parents. beautiful cheeks were covered with the veil of death. The father, frantic with agony, held her in his arms, and preffed her to his heart." My dear, my only daughter, live, or I muft die with thee! I know thou art innocent."-Her mother and her fervants were fetched to her relief, and with difficulty reftored her to herfelf. She lifted up her eyes, raifed a deep figh, clofed them again, and faid; "Unhappy Berilla, thou art difhonoured! Thou wert the comfort of thy parents, who loved thee in their hearts, and, as the reward of their tenderness, thou art become the cause of their dif trefs!" On uttering thefe words, fhe burft into a flood of tears. Her father himself, oppreffed with forrow, ftrove to calm her tortured mind by every endearing expreffion, and by giving her repeated affurances that he was com vinced of her innocence. "O my father," faid the, “Am I still worthy of thee?"-"That thou art," he replied, "thy forrow indicates, which His elder brother, who had given her the full-blown flower at the fame time, thought that nothing more was wanting to his happinefs than the approbation and confent of her relations. Chance brought them both on the very fame day to the parents of their beloved. But how great was their aftonishment on their meeting each other! As foon as the father appeared, each addreffed him for his daughter. He at once is thy juftification, and the affured them that he had but one child, of whofe virtue, he was fully convinced, that the never in oppofition to the laws of the land could favour two lovers at once. He however concluded, from the fect likeness that fubfifted between the two brothers, that fome mistake had happened, and fent for his daughter to clear up the matter. She immediately appeared, decorated with the four flowers fhe had received, in the complete conviction, that the two fullblown had been prefented by one and the fame hand. triumph of thy fenfibility. Compofe thy fpirit," added he, with fighs,"I know thy innocence." The two brothers ftood fpeechlefs at this mournful feene; they alternately caft on each other looks of diftruft, of anger, and theu of compallion. In the mean time, the amiable maiden completely revived; at least so far as to be able to reply to fome questions that were made her. She declared, that the first, who led her to the altar, was the perfon that made an impreffion on her heart; that fhe, prefently after, as the believed, accepted from him the first token of his inclination, and at length confented to become his; that thereupon fhe wore the full-blown flower: but he was totally ignorant which of the two brothers it was by whom it was given her. She concluded by saying, that he was ready to abide by the judgment of the elders, and to fubmit to any punishment they should think fit to inflict. Venus herself, attended by the graces, could not have fhone more lovely than Berilla for thus was the damfel called. Her form was noble and majestic, and her complexion furpaffed the blooming rofe. No fooner did the perceive the great resemblance between her lovers, and the tokens they wore of her inclination, than fhe exclaimed: "I am deceived! Thou knoweft my innocence, O Almighty Sun"-She was unable to utter more, As the marriage-engagement is among but fell motionless on the earth. Her the weight eft concerns of the empire, Hib. Mag. March, 1796. LI and ; and as there was no law already provided in regard to fo peculiar a cafe, it was neceffarily left to the decifion of the pophar, or prince of the country. The caufe was propounded in the prefence of him and the elders. The likeneffes of the two brothers was in reality fo great, that they were fcarcely to be diftinguished afunder. The prince afked, which of the two it was that led her to the altar? The eldeft replied that it was he. Berilla confeffed, that, indeed, he pleafed her at firft; but the impreffion he made on her was but flight. Upon this it was afked, who gave the first flower? and it proved to be the youngeft. Berilla faid the loft that; but, ihortly after, her lover returned it to her, though at, this moment he appeared lefs amiable to her than before however, the conftantly thought it had been the fame. The point which moft perplexed the judge was, that the maiden had received the full-blown flower from both the lovers. They looked ftedfaftly on each other, without daring to utter a word. The pophar interrogated the young lady, whether, at the fame time fhe gave her confent, fhe did not believe The was giving it to him who had led her to the altar? She affirmed, that he did, but likewife declared, that her greatest inclination had fallen on him froin whom' fhe received the firft flower. Both the brothers were now fet before her, and the question was put to her, which of the two fhe would chufe, if the election were now freely left to herself; She blushed; and atter a few moments of confideration, replied: "The youngest feems to have the greateft inclination for me;" at the fame time darting him a look, that betrayed the fecret withes of her foul. All men now waited with impatience for the decree of the prince, and eagerly ftrove to read in his eyes the judgment he was going to pronounce: but particularly the two lovers, who feemed expect ing the fentence of life and death. At length the prince addreffed himself to Derilla, with a stern and gloomy counte nance: "Thy misfortune, or rather thy imprudence, prevents thee for ever from poffeffing either of the brothers. Thou haft given to each of them an inconteftible right to thy perfon. One hope alone remains for thee; and that is, if one of them will forego his pretenfions. And now, my fons," continued he, "what have you to fay? Which of you is difpofed to facrifice his own fatisfaction to the happiness of his brother?" They both inade anfwer, that they would fooner lofe their lives. The prince turned again to the damfel, who seemed on the point of finking to the earth, and faid, "Thy cafe excites my compassion ; but, as neither of the two will yield, Í am obliged to condemn thee to a single ftate, till one of thy lovers fhall change his opinion or die." The lot was cruel; for in Mezzorania the ftate of celibacy was a heavy difgrace. The whole affembly was about to feparate, when the younger brother threw himself on his knees before the judge: "I implore your patience for a moment," faid he; I will rather facrifice my right, than fee Berilla fo feverely doomed. Take her, Oh my brother: and may ye live long and happily together! And thou, the delight of my life, forgive the trouble my innocent love has caufed thee. This is the fole request I have to make thee " The affembly rofe up, and the magnanimous lover was about to depart, when the prince commanded him to ftay. " Son, remain where thou art," faid he, "thy magnanimity deferves to be rewarded. The damfel is thine: for, by this facrifice, thou haft merited her love. Give her thy hand, and live happily with her." They were married fhortly after, and the prince acquired great renown by this decree. Lord Laroon, Mr. Barrymore Sir PertinaxPitiful Mr. Palmer Confol, Dorrington, Hairbrain, Curfew, Major Rampart, Hudfon, Robert, Herbert, Lady Taunton, Olivia, Annabel, Maid, Mr. Kemble Mr. Dodd Mr. Suett Mr. R. Palmer Mr. Aickin Mifs Pope The fable is perfectly fimple, may be related in few words. and an excellent heart, induces him to appropriate the produce of a Twenty Thoufand Pound Prize, which most Mr. Bannister, jun. fortunately and opportunely comes up at this juncture, to relieve the diftreffes of his friend, with whofe money the ticket had been purchafed. Herbert is a kind of domeftic to Dorrington, who, by dint of perfeverance, recovers for him an ettate of three hundred pounds a-year, of which he had been defrauded, and the half of which he now refolves to appropriate to the ufe of his ruined mafter. Olivia too, who loves and admires Dorrington, though the deplores and condemns his foibles and his vices, feels her attachment ftrengthened by the diftreffed fituation of her lover. Finding that, by the orders of her guardian (Curfew) her doors had been fhut against him, the determines to vifit him, and to take with her fuch, pecuniary fupplies as the fuppofes to be neceflary in his prefent circumftances. Thefe the obtains through the means of Confol, a rich citizen, who was alfo one of Dorrington's circle, but, like his fafhionable friends, forfook him in the hour of diftrefs. When Olivia fends for Confol, for the purpofe of procuring the money, he imagines the has conceived an affection for him, and this ftrange nifconception produces one of those scenes which appear in almost every modern comedy, where a favoured equivoque is kept up, in this inftance with much difficulty and little effect. The afiltance of Dorrington's real friends is, however, rendered unneceflary, by the reception of intelligence contradicting Hudfon's account, and ftating, that his eftates in Barbadoes had received but very little damage, and, from the deftruction of fo many other plantations in the ifland, are greatly enhanced in value. This news being fpread, his fashionable friends return to his door with as much expedition as if Dorrington had fent cards of invitation for the purpofe of affembling thens; but are, of courfe, refufed admittance. The piece then concludes with the union, as we are left to, fuppofe, for the fact is not mentioned, of Dorrington and Olivia; Dorrington, a rich Weft Indian, falls into all the fashionable follies of high lite, and, as he keeps a fumptuous table, and plays deep, his houfe is frequented by perfons of diftinction in the Beau Monde. Among thefe are Lady Taunton, Lord Laroon, Sir Pertinax Pitiful, Major Rampart, and Curfew, to whose ward (Olivia) Dorrington is betrothed. Thefe perfons are only induced to vifit him by interested motives; and his generofity being boundless, every application to his purfe proves fuccefsful, and he fupplies, with indifcriminate profufion, the cravings of the vicious and the wants of the unfortunate. In the midft of Dorrington's fplendor Hudfon arrives from the Weft-Indies with an account that a dreadful tornado had completely deftroyed his ample poffeffions in Barbadoes, and levelled all his works with the ground. Thus deprived of the fole fource of his wealth, he is immediately forfaken by his fashionable friends, whofe conduct, in this inftance, is contrafted with the fidelity and attachment of Hairbrain and Herbert. The former, a diffipated young man, who has lavish ed his fortune but preferved his integrity, fecks, by grafping at every project which offers itfelf to his mind, to recover the loft favour of the fickle Goddess. He is more indebted, however, to the bounty of Dorrington, than to his own ingenuity, for the means of fubfiftence; and gratitude to his benefactor, joined to a liberal difpofition and LI 2 and of Herbert and Annabel, who is his cousin, and maid to Olivia. One of the characters, Major Rampart, has been generally objected to, and the whole performance has not had the good fortune to be approved. It is not however deftitute of merit, though not equal to fome of this author's former productions. On the fame evening THE WAY TO Mr. Lewis Mr. Quick Mr. Fawcett Dafhall, Mr. Pope Julia Faulkner, Mifs Wallis Lady Sorrel, Mrs. Davenport The following is a Sketch of the Story: Dafhall, a fplashing citizen who thrives by monopoly, having left town on account of his affairs taking an adverse turn, arrives at a country town to vifit his friend Toby Allfpice, a grocer, who is Sheriff of the Corporation. Lady Sorrel alfo arrives there, under a pretence of vifiting her coufin Cauftic, but in reality to meet young Tangent, Cauftic's nephew, of whom fhe is enamoured. Tangent (a castle-builder), who is the victim of his own imagination, arrives at the fame time, and is told by his uncle of the death of an old maiden lady, whofe will he fhares. and by which it is imagined that Allfpice's family will benefit to the amount of near 30,000l. Capt. Faulkner and his daughter refiding in the fame town, in extreme poverty, occafioned by a vexatious law-fuit-his attorney, MacQuery, informs him a non pros has taken place for want of cafh to proceed. Capt. Faulkner opens his circumstances to him, and acquaints him, that while he was in India, a Lieut, Richmond, who was flain there, left to his care 1000l. for Mr. Tangent, and that when he arrived in England diftreffes came upon him, and the hopes of retrieving his eftate- (left him by his father when abfent, and which had been ufurped by a relation) induced him to make use of Tangent's money; but being of high pride he cannot bear the idea of Tangent's knowing it. Tangent, by a freak of his imagination, is brought into the prefence of Faulkner, who denies having received any money from Lieut. Richmond, and determines to leave the town immediately. In this interview Tangent becomes enamoured of Julia Faulkner, which coming to the knowledge of Lady Sorrel, the, in collufion with Mac-Query, orders Faulkner to be arrested for a debt due to Mac-Query. On the opening of the Old Maid's will, it is difcovered that her fortune is left to Cauftic in truft, that he shall give it as a marriage portion to whatever woman he fhall think moft worthy; in confequence of which Clementina Allfpice and Dafhall pay an obfequious court to Cauftic, whom they had before abufed; and Dafhall, to gain the fortune and forward his fchemes, perfuades Toby Allfpice to embark a large fum in a monopoly he is concerned in, and that London is the only place to make a large fortune in. Allfpice is deluded by the flattering anticipations of Dafhall, and determines to become a gay fellow. When Capt. Faulkner is in prifon, Julia comes to her friend Clementina, to beg her affiftance, who receives her with apathy and neglect.Julia accidentally fees Tangent, at a moment when (though without a fhilling in his pocket) he fancies himself worth thoufands. Tangent, without mentioning his defign, leaves her to borrow money of Mac-Query to dif charge Faulkner; and Dafhall, who has overheard the converfation, promifes to meet her at the prifon gate and liberate her father-but in reality intends to carry her off. Cauftic is violently irritated again Tangent, on hearing that he has again borrowed money on ufurions terms; and refolving to try what effect adverfity will have on his hair-brained nephew, determines to barfh treatment that Laura, his young have him arrested; in the doing of miftrefs, the niece of Brummagem, rewhich Tangent wounds the bailiff, and, ceives from her uncle, determines to in his way to prifon, encounters Dafhall, refcue her; and to that purpose forms refcues Julia, and carries her to her fa- a plot with Captain Cheerly, her lover, ther. Faulkner is deeply affected at and Fanny, a female fervant; in conthe conduct of Tangent, and imagines, fequence of which the two latter effect from a hint dropt, that his concealment Laura's efcape, while Ralph amuses the of Tangent's property is difcovered. old man's attention by a story he preThis ftings him to madnefs, and the tends to relate. Cheerly is affifted by dread of famine, together with the pro- Vain, an adventurer, who engages for bable difhonour of his child, determines 100l. to carry off Laura; but being him to propofe mutual fuicide. At this difconcerted by Ralph's fcheme, of moment Tangent, having received the which he was not apprifed, is commoney of Mac-Query, and alfo difco- pletely baffled. Laura and Cheerly are vered his mal-practices with regard to married, and afk Brummagem's forCapt. Faulkner's litigated eftates, re- givenefs, which is granted them. lieves him, who, with due contrition, This fimple story is well managed, implores the pardon of Heaven. Dafh- and the bufinefs enlivened throughout all's name is found in the Gazette, at with a series of comical and laughable the very moment he is about to dupe incidents. Many of the fcenes are inAllfpice, and marry his daughter. deed extremely ludicrous, but they are Cauftic, delighted with the benevolence pleafant, and fully answer the purpose of his nephew, becomes reconciled to for which all productions of this nature him, and gives to Julia the marriage are intended, of keeping the audience portion he is entrusted to bestow. in a continual merry roar. Spirit and character are to be found The overture was by Mr. Parke, jun. in this comedy, which was received and the fongs by Mr. Shields. with great applaufe. The fratagems of female felfifhnefs and intrigue are here ftrongly contrafted with the virtues of filial affection to a parent in distress. The performers, and particularly Mr. Pope and Mifs Wallis, did great juftice to their characters, and the piece has already obtained a firm eftablishment on the theatre. Prologue to the Comedy of the Man of TO whining prone, to fighs and The serious fubject of the comic fcene. Each wind of heaven fome fwift de- And thofe he cannot find he foon creates. fpifed: The toy he cannot get, alone is prized: Give him but wealth, poor churl he frets and frowns! Take it away, poor wretch, he hangs or drowns! Purfued |