SCENE. A Road. In the back Ground, large Gates opening to a Park-the Trees at a distance are feen illuminated-an Orchestra also—all marking a Sylvan fête.-Stage partly darken'd.

Enter Sir EDWARD DELAUNY and SERVANT through the Gates.

Sir Edw. Difcover'd, fay you!-go on-repeat the joyful welcome tidings.

Servant. Yes, Sir, we faw her ftealing out of yonder wood: and fo whilft William ftaid to watch and to obferve her, I came to afk your further orders.

Sir Edw. And you are fure it is Lauretta St. Orme.

Servant. Quite, Sir; we recolle&t her on the fa tal morning and fee! she comes this way.

Sir Edw. With'd for, enchanting fight ;-goinform my folicitor-bid him come inftantly, and bring the process that fecures her-I'll ftay myself, and guard her. [Exit Servant through the gates.

Enter LAURETTA ST. ORME.

Lauretta. Oh, thanks to that sheltering wood, that hitherto has thus preferv'd me; and if I reach again my lone retreat, none but a father's voice— ha!-What lights are thofe? furely I hav'n't loft

oh yes-fear, and the darkness of the night, have quite mifled me- Heavens !-let me flySir Edw. (Advancing before her.) Stay-pafs not, I command you.

Lauretta. Oh, for mercy!

Sir Edw. Mercy! from whom?-from him who reprefents Sir Frederick; (LAURETTA fhews violent agitation.)-Aye: behold your mortal, deadly foe; who long has fought, but now will never lofe

you.

Laurette.

Lauretta. (Trying to cross him.) You cannotyou will let me pafs;-confider, by detaining me, you make me guilty of the very crime of which you charge my father.-He gave me life:-will you compel me to deftroy his?

Sir Edw. Peace!-I'm refolv'd.

Lauretta. (Falling at his feet.) Look at me-'tis faid I bear a strong resemblance to my mothermy poor ill-fated mother!-and shall my rafhnefs rob her of a tender husband's care?-Look-do I not remind you?

Sir Edw. You do-and therefore is your prefence ftill more hateful.-Yes:-fhe first debased our noble houfe's name, by marrying with this outcast.

Lauretta. (Still kneeling.) She !-do you cenfure her!

Sir Edw. I do;-and to complete the degradation, did fhe not abroad expofe her daughter on a public ftage?

Lauretta. How!

Sir Edw. Train her difgracefully in that low, mimic fchool

Lauretta. (Rifing.) No, Sir—that fault was mine -I faw her perishing for want-my father helpless and infirm-and though, as a woman, moft profef fions are denied me, the ftage was ftill before me! -and I fhall ever blefs thofe kind approving hearts that fanction'd my attempts; nor call that path difgraceful, that leads a daughter to support her parents.

Sir Edw. Have a care-dare not to vindicate-

Lauretta. Sir!-the flage requires not vindication Is it a crime to labour to inftruct and entertain? Is there in Shakespear's hallow'd lines fuch ignorance and vice, that 'tis degrading to re

peat

peat them?-No, Sir,-the day of prejudice is paft -in public life, let there be private virtue, and the poor player will be more refpected, than thofe who cenfure and defpife her!

Enter HENRY SAPLING.

Henry. So fhe is-and every body should refpect actors-because they always pay fuch handsome compliments to us British failors.

Lauretta. Heavens, Mr. Henry!

Sir Edw. Aye, Sir-what brings you here? Henry. I came to claim your promile, Sir Edward -as vifitor at your houfe, by my uncle's introduction, you bade me afk for what I like-now I don't afk fuch ferious favours of you, as fhooting or fishing on the beft part of the manor-becaufe, I've heard, it only puts you country gentlemen to the trouble of whispering your game-keeper, to take one to your neighbour's grounds-no-in the way of fport, I fimply beg leave to carry off this bird of paffage! (Taking Lauretta's band.)

Sir Edw. 'Sdeath, Sir-I infift-(going to part them).

Henry. And I infift, Sir,-I knew her in a country where there are fome favages; but none bad enough to wish her to convict her father-or if there were, do you think I'd fuffer it ?-no-I'm afraid of only one human being, and as he's at an agreeable diftance, I wish you good night, Sir Edward.

Sir Edw. Hold, Sir,—defist !—(Noise of stamping with feet without, Sir EDWARD looks round.) Ha! I defy you now-for here comes one vefted with legal power to fecure her!-Dare you contend against the law?

Henry. No-but I dare run from it-and I'm fure you ought to thank me, Sir Edward: for now

you

you may enjoy your evening's fête-but if I hadn's reliev'd you from this little burthen, (pointing to LAURETTA,) all the mufic of the spheres cou'dn't have cheer'd you-come, Lauretta, this is the first time I ever fled from an enemy; but if by my retreating you escape, 'twill be the proudeft victory I ever gain'd! [Exit with LAURETTA. Enter immediately from the Park Gate PAUL POSTPONE, the MS. Mufic in bis Hand.

Sir Edw. Now, fir-are you completely ready? Paul. Quite, fir," To arms, to arms, (Humming tune, and then recollecting himself.)—Oh, I beg pardon, I thought it was Mr. but I perceive now, you want the fubpoena-here it is. all prepar'd you fee.

Sir Edw. I do and look, yonder goes Lau, retta-follow her-make fure of her; and, left her champion should moleft you, and my appearance may be thought vindictive, I'll feek and fend affiftance. Away-lofe not a moment-my happinefs, my reputation-nay, my life depends on your fuccefs. [Exit.

Paul. I'll do it I'll ferve the process in spite of her and all her champions.-(As he is going, a flourish of grand martial mufic is heard.)-Blefs my foul! it's beginning! the mufic is beginning! and now at the moment, when I fhould have cut fuch a figure. Was there ever fuch an infernal laborious profeffion? (looks out.)-Yes; there they are all feated—all the fweet beautiful ladies, waiting to applaud my vocal and inftrumental powersdear! dear! Wou'dn't it be time enough to ferve the fubpoena early to-morrow morning? I've often put it off till the laft moment; and no man living has ever loft-I mean, gain'd, more caufes than I have done.-But then, Sir Edward and his réputation!-Oh-I must go after her.

Enter

Enter SAPLING through the Park Gates, baftily.

Sapling. Oh, Lord! I'm fo glad I've found you. Come along-(taking bis arm.) The fweet creatures are all on the tip-toe of expectation.

Paul. I know it. So am I-but look, look at that tormenting witness.

Sapling. Witnefs !-Where?-I fee nobody. Paul. Don't you !-faith !—no more do I.

Sapling. No: whoever they are, they're fafely out of fight for this night.-So-nonsense ! stuff! put it off till day-light; and now it's the affizes, récollect you've a right to enjoy yourself!-Isn't it a part of the bufinefs to have balls-concerts

Paul. So it is; and if barrifters partake of them, why not attornies?-damme, I won't be the flave I have been!-I'll let my genius take its bent; and if it ordains me músical, it's a better trade than mine-more profit-lefs trouble

Sapling. Aye: and as a reward for your labours, applause and repetition; but in law !-now I only afk, Who ever claps a declaration?

Paul. No: or who ever encores a bill in Chancery?-come along.-"To arms! to arms! we heroes cry.-Huzza! to victory!" [Exeunt finging to grand martial mufic, which continues after the dropping of the curtain.

END OF THE SECOND ACT.