صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

tious Baker, on the subject of the Army Bread ;" and ་་ 'a Detester of visible Brick-work, in favour of the newinvented Stucco;" both in the style of Junius, and promised for to-morrow. The Thames Navigation too is at a stand. Misomud, or Anti-shoal, must go to work again directly. Here too are some political memorandums, I see; ay-To take Paul Jones, and get the Indiamen out of the Shannon-reinforce Byron -compel the Dutch to-so! I must do that in the evening papers, or reserve it for the Morning Herald, for I know that I have undertaken to-morrow, besides, to establish the unanimity of the fleet in the Public Advertiser, and to shoot Charles Fox in the Morning Post. So, gad, I haven't a moment to lose! Dang. Well! we'll meet in the green-room. [Exeunt severally.

ACT II.

SCENE I. The Theatre.

Enter DANGLE, PUFF, and SNEER, as before
the Curtain.

Puff. No, no, sir; what Shakspeare says of actors may be better applied to the purpose of plays; they ought to be "the abstract and brief chronicles of the times." Therefore when history, and particularly the history of our own country, furnishes any thing like a case in point to the time in which an author writes, if he knows his own interest, he will take the advantage of it; so, sir, I call my tragedy "The Spanish Armada;" and have laid the scene before Tilbury Fort.

Sneer, A most happy thought, certainly!

Dang. Egad it was-I told you so. But pray now, I dont understand how you have contrived to introduce any love into it.

Love!

Puff. Oh, nothing so easy: for it is a received point among poets, that where history gives you a good heroic outline for a play, you may fill up with a little love at your own discretion; in doing which, nine times out of ten, you only make up a deficiency in the private history of the times. Now I rather think I have done this with some success.

Sneer. No scandal about Queen Elizabeth, I hope? Puff. Oh, lud! no, no. I only suppose the governor of Tilbury Fort's daughter to be in love with the son of the Spanish admiral.

Sneer.

Oh, is that all?

Dang. Excellent, i'faith! I see it at once. But wont this appear rather improbable?

Puff. To be sure it will-but what the plague! a play is not to show occurrences that happen every day, but things just so strange, that though they never did, they might happen.

Sneer. Certainly nothing is unnatural that is not physically impossible.

Puff. Very true, and for that matter Don Ferolo Whiskerandos, for that's the lover's name, might have been over here in the train of the Spanish ambassador; or Tilburina, for that is the lady's name, might have been in love with him, from having heard his character, or seen his picture; or from knowing that he was the last man in the world she ought to be in love with, or for any other good female reason. However, sir, the fact is, that though she is but a knight's daughter, egad she is in love like any princess! her poor susceptible heart is swayed to and fro by contending passions, like

Enter UNDEr Prompter.

Under Prom. Sir, the scene is set, and everything is ready to begin, if you please.

Puff. Egad, then we'll lose no time.

Under Prom. Though I believe, sir, you will find it very short, for all the performers have profited by the kind permission you granted them.

Puff. Eh! what!

Under Prom. You know, sir, you gave them leave to cut out or omit whatever they found heavy or unnecessary to the plot; and I must own they have taken very liberal advantage of your indulgence.

Puff. Well, well. They are in general very good judges; and I know I am luxuriant. Now, Mr. Hopkins, as soon as you please.

Under Prom. [To Orchestra.] Gentlemen, will you play a few bars of something, just to

Puff. Ay, that's right, for as we have the scenes and dresses, egad, we'll go to 't, as if it was the first night's performance. [Exit Under Prompter. Orchestra play. Then the bell rings.] Soh! stand clear, gentleNow you know there will be a cry of "Down! down! hats off! silence!" Then up curtain, and let us see what our painters have done for us.

men.

SCENE II. The Curtain rises, and discovers
Tilbury Fort.

Two SENTINELS asleep.

Dang. Tilbury Fort! very fine indeed!

Puff. Now, what do you think I open with?
Sneer. Faith, I cant guess-

Puff. A clock

Sneer. A clock!

Puff. Hark! [Clock strikes.] I open with a clock striking, to beget an awful attention in the audience; it also marks the time, which is four o'clock in the morning, and saves a description of the rising sun, and a great deal about gilding the eastern hemisphere.

Dang. But, pray, are the sentinels to be asleep?
Puff. Fast as watchmen.

Sneer. Isn't that odd though, at such an alarming crisis?

Puff. To be sure it is, but smaller things must give way to a striking scene at the opening; that's a rule. And the case is, that two great men are coming to this very spot to begin the piece; now, it is not to be supposed they would open their lips if these fellows were watching them; so, egad, I must either have sent them off their posts, or set them asleep.

Sneer. Oh, that accounts for it! But tell us, who are these coming?

Puff. These are they-Sir Walter Raleigh, and Sir Christopher Hatton. You'll know Sir Christopher, by his turning out his toes-famous you know for his dancing. I like to preserve all the little traits of character. Now attend.

Enter SIR WALTER RALEIGH and SIR CHRISTOPHER HATTON.

Sir C.

True, gallant Raleigh!

Dang. What, they had been talking before?

Puff. Oh, yes; all the way as they came along. I beg pardon, gentlemen [to the Actors], but these are particular friends of mine, whose remarks may be of great service to us. Dont mind interrupting them whenever anything strikes you. [To Sneer and Dangle.

Sir C.

True, gallant Raleigh!
But, oh, thou champion of thy country's fame,
There is a question which I yet must ask;
A question which I never asked before-
What mean these mighty armaments?

This general muster? and this throng of chiefs?

Sneer. Pray, Mr. Puff, how came Sir Christopher Hatton never to ask that question before?

Puff. What, before the play began? How the plague could he?

Dang. That's true, i'faith!

Puff. But you will hear what he thinks of the

matter.

Sir C. Alas, my noble friend

Puff. Sir Christopher, pray turn out your toes. Sir Christopher Hatton was famous for dancing well.

Sir C.

When I behold
Yon tented plains in martial symmetry

Arrayed. When I count o'er yon glittering lines
Of crested warriors,

When briefly all I hear or see, bears stamp

Of martial vigilance and stern defence,

I cannot but surmise. Forgive me, friend,
If the conjecture's rash, I cannot but
Surmise. The state some danger apprehends!

Sneer. A very cautious conjecture that.

Puff. Yes, that's his character! not to give an opinion but on secure grounds-now then.

Sir W. Oh, most accomplished Christopher.

Puff. He calls him by his Christian name, to show that they are on the most familiar terms.

Sir W. Oh, most accomplished Christopher, I find thy fears are just.

Sir C. But where? whence? when? and what The danger is, methinks I fain would learn?

Sir W.

You know, my friend, scarce two revolving suns,

And three revolving moons have closed their course,

« السابقةمتابعة »