your Sterlings, your Heidelbergs, and Devilbergs-If she goes, I'll positively go too. Cant. In de same posh-chay, mi lor? you have no object to dat I believe, nor mademoiselle neider too-ha, ha, ha. L Ogle. Prithee hold thy foolish tongue, Cant. Does thy Swiss stupidity imagine that I can see and talk with a fine girl without desires?-My eyes are involuntarily attracted by beautiful objects-I fly as naturally to a fine girlCant. As de fine girl to you, my lor, ha, ha, ha; you alway fly togedre like un pair de pigeons. LOgle. Like un pair de pigeons-[mocks bim.]-Vous etes un sot, Mons Canton-Thou art always dreaming of my intrigues, and never seest me badiner, but you suspect mischief, you old fool, you. Cant. I am fool, I confess; but not always fool in dat, my lor, he he, he. L Ogle. He, he, he.-Thou art incorrigible, but thy absurdities amuse one-Thou art like my rappee here, [Takes out his box.] a most ridiculous superflaity, but a pinch of thee now and then is a most delicious treat. Cant. You do me great honeur, my lor. L Ogle. Tis fact, upon my soul,-Thou art properly my cephalic snuff, and art no bad medicine against megrims, vertigoes, and profound thinking-ha, ha, ha. Cant. Your flatterie, my lor, vil make me too prode.. L Ogle. The girl has some little partiality for me, to be sure but prithee, Cant, is not that Miss Fanny yonder? Cant. Elooking with a glass.] En verite, 'tis she, my lor, 'tis one of de pigeons,-de pigions d'amour. L Ogle. Don't be ridiculous, you old monkey, [smiling. Cant. I am monkee, I am ole; but I have eye, I have ear, and a little understand, now and den L Ogle. Taisez vous bete! Cant. Elle vous attend, my lord.-She vill make a love to you. L Ogle. Will she? Have at her then! A fine girl can't oblige me more- -Egad, I find myself a little enjoueecome along, Cant! she is but in the next walk-but there is such a dale of this damn'd crinkum-crancum, as Sterling calls it, that one sees people for half an hour before one can get to them-Allons, Mons Canton, allons donc ! [Exit singing in French. Another Another part of the Garden. LOVEWELL and FANNY. Love. My dear Fanny, I cannot bear your distress it overcomes all my resolutions, and I am prepared for the discovery. Fan. But how can it be effected before my departure: Love. I'll tell you.-Lord Ogleby seems to entertain a visible partiality for you; and notwithstanding the peculiarities of his behaviour, I am sure that he is humane at the bottom. He is vain to an excess; but withal extremely good-natured, and would do any thing to recommend himself to a lady.-Do you open the whole affair of our marriage to him immediately. It will come with more irresistible persuasion from you than from myself; and I doubt not but you'll gain his friendship and protection at once. His influence and authority will put an end to Sir John's solicitations, remove your aunt's and sister's unkindness and suspicions, and, I hope, reconcile your father and the whole family to our marriage. Fan. Heaven grant it! Where is my lord? Love. I have heard him and Canton since dinner singing French songs under the great walnut-tree by the parlour door. If you meet with him in the garden, you may disclose the whole immediately. Fan. Dreadful as the task is, I'll do it.-Any thing is better than this continual anxiety. Love. By that time the discovery is made, I will appear to second you. Ha! here comes my lord.-Now, my dear Fanny, summon up all your spirits, plead our cause powerfully, and be sure of success.[going. Fan. Ah, don't leave me l Love. Nay, you must let me. Fan. Well; since it must be so, I'll obey you, if I have the power. Oh Lovewell! Love, Consider, our situation is very critical. To-morrow morning is fixt for your departure, and if we lose this opportunity, we may wish in vain for another.. -He ap proaches I must retire.-Speak, my dear Fanny; Speak, and make us happy. C 2 [Exit. FANNY FANNY alone. Good Heaven, what a situation I am in! what shall I do? what shall I say to him? I am all confusion. Enter Lord OGLEBY and CANTON. L Ogle. To see so much beauty so solitary, Madam, is a satire upon mankind, and 'tis fortunate that one man has broke in upon your reverie for the credit of our sex. I say one, Madam, for poor Canton here, from age and in-firmities, stands for nothing. Cant. Noting at all, inteed. Fan. Your lordship does me great honour. -I had a favour to request, my lord! "L'Ogle. A favour, madam !-To be honoured with your commands, is an inexpressible favour done to me, Madam. Fan. If your lordship could indulge me with the honour of a moment's-What is the matter with me? [Aside. L Ogle. The girl's confus'd-he!-here's something in the wind, faith-I'll have a tete-a-tete with her-allez vous en ! [to Canton. Cant. I go-ah, pauvre Mademoiselle! my lor, have pitie upon de poor pigeone! nient. L. Ogle. I'll knock you down, Cant, if you're imperti[smiling. Cant. Den i mus avay-[sbuffles along.]-You are mosh please, for all dat. Aside and exit. Fan. I shall sink with apprehension. [Aside. L Ogle. What a sweet girl!-she's a civiliz'd being, and atones for the barbarism of the rest of the family. Fan. My lord! I— [she courtsies, and blushes. L Ogle. [addressing her.] I look upon it, madam, to be one of the luckiest circumstances of my life, that I have this moment the honour of receiving your commands, and the satisfaction of confirming with my tongue, what my eyes perhaps have but too weakly expressed-that I am literally-the humblest of your servants. Fan. I think myself greatly honoured, by your lordship's partiality to me; but it distresses me that I am obli ged in my present situation to apply to it for protection. L Ogle. I am happy in your distress, Madam, because it gives me an opportunity to shew my zeal. Beauty to me, is is a religion, in which I was born and bred a bigot, and would die a martyr. I'm in tolerable spirits, faith! [Aside. Fun. There is not perhaps at this moment a more distressed creature than myself. Affection, duty, hope, despair, and a thousand different sentiments, are struggling in my bosom; and even the presence of your lordship, to whom I have flown for protection, adds to my perplexity. LOgle. Does it, Madam Venus forbid !--My old fault; the devil's in me, I think, for perplexing young women. (aside and smiling.) Take courage, Madam! dear Miss Fanny, explain. You have a powerful advocate in my breast, I assure you-my heart, Madam-I am attached to you by all the laws of sympathy, and delicacy. By my honour, I am. Fan. Then I will venture to unburthen my mind.Sir John Melvil, my lord, by the most misplaced, and mistimed d. claration of affection for me, has made me the unhappiest of women. LOgle. How, Madam has Sir John made his addresses to you? Fun. He has, my lord, in the strongest terms. But I hope it is needless to say, that my duty to my father, love to my sister, and regard to the whole family, as well as the great respect I entertain for your lordship, [curtsying.] made me shudder at his addresses. AA 3L Ogle. Charming girl!-Proceed, my dear Miss Fanny, proceed! 3 Fan. In a moment-give me kave, my lord!—But if what I have to disclose should be received with anger or displeasure L Ogle Impossible, by all the tender powers!-Speak, I beseech you, or I shall divine the cause before you utter Faw. Then, my lord, Sir John's addresses are not only shocking to me in themselves, but are more particularly disagreeable to me at this time, as-as--- [besitating. L Ogle. As what, Madam? Fan. As-pardon my confusion-I am entirely devoted to another. LOgle. If this is not plain, the devil's in it- Aside.]— But tell me, my dear Miss Fauny, for I must know; tell me the how, the when, and the where-Tell me-- Enter CANTON bastily. Cant. My lor, my lor, my lor! LOgle. Damn your Swiss impertinence! how durst you interrupt me in the most critical melting moment that ever love and beauty honoured me with? Cant. I demande pardonne, my lor! Sir John Melvil, my lor, sent me to beg you to do him the honour to speak a little to your lordship. L Ogle. I'm not at leisure-I am busy-Get away, you stupid old dog, you Swiss rascal, or I'll Cant. For bien, my lor. [Cant. goes out tiptoe. L Ogle. By the laws of gallantry, Madam, this interrup-. tion should be death; but as no punishment ought to disturb the triumph of the softer passions, the criminal is pardoned and dismissed-Let us return, Madam, to the highest luxury of exalted minds-a declaration of love from the lips of beauty. Fan. The entrance of a third person has a little relieved me, but I cannot go through with it-and yet I must. open my heart with a discovery, or it will break with its burden, L Ogle. What passion in her eyes! I am alarmed to agiation. [Aside. I presume, madam, (and as you have • flattered me, by making me a party concerned, I hope, you'll excuse the presumption) that Fan. Do you excuse my making you a party concerned, my lord, and let me interest your heart, in my behalf, as my future happiness or misery in a great measure depend L Ogle. Upon me, Madam ? [sighs. L Ogle. There's no standing this: I have caught the infection her tenderness dissolves me. [sighs. Fan. And should you too severely judge of a rash action which passion prompted, and modesty has long concealed L Ogle. (taking her band.) Thou amiable creature -command my heart, for it is vanquished-Speak but thy virtuous wishes, and enjoy them. Fan. I cannot, my lord-indeed, I cannot-Mr Love well |