"Mar. And I with you to be better acquainted with yourself. You know not half your own good qualities. "Sir G. Ha, ha, ha! My good qualities? Heigho! "Mar. Your fame is gone abroad! Your gallantry, your free humour, your frolics in England and Italy, your-Apropos: I am told, Lady Jane is captivated by the ardour and delicacy of your passion! Is it true? "Sir G. Are you an inquifitor? "Mar. Are you afraid of inquifitors ? "Sir G. Yes. "Mar. I believe you. " Sir G. You may. Keep me no longer in this suspence. Let me know who you are? "Mar. An old acquaintance. "Sir G. Of mine? "Mar. Of one who was formerly your friend. "Sir G. Whom do you mean? "Mar. You must have been a man of uncommon worth; for I have heard him bestow fuch praises upon you, that my heart has palpitated if your name was but mentioned! "Sir G. Of whom are you talking? "Mar. Lord! that you should be so forgetful! That can only have happened since you became a perfon of fashion: for no man once remembered his friends better. It is true, they were then useful to you. "Sir G. Sir, I-Be warned! Pursue this no farther. "Mar. You little suspected at that time you were on the eve of being a wealthy baronet. Oh no! And to fee how kind and grateful you were to those who loved you! No one would have believed you could fo foon have become a perfect man of the mode; and with so polite and easy an indifference so entirely have forgotten all your old acquaintance ! I dare say you scarcely remember the late Colonel Delaval. "Sir G. Sir! "Mar. His daughter too has utterly flipt your memory? " Sir G. I insist on knowing who you are! "Mar. How different it was when, your merit neglected, your spirits depressed, and your poverty despised, you groaned under the oppression of an unjust and selfish world! How did your drooping spirits revive by the fostering smiles of the man who first noticed you, took you to his house and heart, and adopted adopted you as his fon! Poor Maria! Silly girl, to love as the did! Where is the? "Sir G. This is not to be endured! "Mar. What was her offence? You became a baronet! Ay! True, that was her crime. Yet, when your fortunes were low, it was not imputed to you as guilt. "Sir G. (Afide.) Damnation! "Mar. Are your new friends more affectionate than your old? Fortune smiles, and so do they. Poor Maria! Has Lady Jane ever heard her name? Will you invite her to your wedding? (Her voice continually faultering.) Do. She thound have been your bride: then let her be your bride maid-She is greatly altered-She will be less beautiful-now-than her fair rival. Her birth is not quite so high-but-if a-heart-a heart-a heart-(Struggling with her feelings finks into Sir George's arms, and her mask falls off.) "Sir G. Heavens and earth! 'Tis the! Help! 'Tis Maria! Who waits?" "Sir G. He will foon be here-Five minutes-but five minutes and then-(Walks again, throws himself on a fofa, takes up a book, toffes it away and rises) What is man's firít duty? To be happy. Short fighted fool! The happiness of this hour is the misery of the next! (Again walks and looks at his watch) What is life? A tissue of follies! Inconsistencies! Joys that make reason weep, and forrows at which wisdom Imiles. Pshaw! There is not between ape and oyster so ridiculous or so wretched a creature as man. (Walks) Oh Maria! (Again confulting his watch) I want but a few seconds. My watch perhaps is too fast. (Rings) Enter Footman. "Sir G. Has nobody yet been here? "Foot. No, fir. "Sir G. 'Tis the time to a minute. (Loud knocking) Fly! If it be the person I have described, admit him. [Exit Foot. "Sir G. Now let the thunder strike! VOL. IV. I SCENE SCENE IV. Delaval introduced. They falute. "Sir G. Good morning, fir! "Del. You recollect me? "Sir G. Perfectly. "Del. 'Tis well. "Sir G. I have been anxious for your coming. Your menace lives in my memory; and I shall be glad to know the name of him who has threatened fuch mortal enmity. "Del. A little patience will be necessary. I must preface my proceedings with a short story. "Sir G. I shall be all attention. Please to be seated. Wave ceremony, and to the fubject-(They fit) Now, fir. "Del. About fix years ago, a certain youth came up from college; poor and unprotected. He was a scholar, pleasing in manner, warm and generous of temper, of a refpectable family, and seemed to poffefs the germ of every virtue. "Sir G. Well, fir. "Del. Hear me on my praises will not be tedious. Chance made him known to a man who defired to cherish his good qualities; and the purse, the experience, and the power of his benefactor, such as they were, he profited by to the utmoft. Received as a fon, he foon became dear to the family: but most dear to the daughter of his friend; whose tender age and glowing affections made her apt to admire the virtues the heard her father fo ardently praife, and encourage. You are uneafy? "Sir G. Be pleased to continue. "Del. The affiduities of the youth to gain her heart were unabating; and his pretenfions, poor and unknown as he then was, were not rejected. The noble nature of his friend scorned to make his poverty his crime. Why do you bite your lip? Was it not generous? "Sir G. Sir! "Del. (Firmly) Was it not? "Sir G. Certainly! Nothing could-equal the-generofity. "Del. The health of his benefactor was declining faft; and the only thing required of the youth was that he should qualify himself for the cares of life, by some profession. He therefore entered a student in the Temple; and the means were fumished by his protector, till the end was obtained. Was wot this friendship? "Sir G. It was. "Del. The lady, almost a child when first he knew her, increased in grace and beauty faster than in years. Sweetnefs and smiles played upon her countenance. She was the delight of her friends, the admiration of the world, and the coveted of every eye. Lovers of fortune and fashion contended for her hand: but she had bestowed her heart-had bestowed it on a-Sit still, fir; I shall foon have done. I am coming to the point. Five years elapsed; during which the youth received every kindness friendship could afford, and every proof chafte affection had to give. These he returned with promises and protestations that seemed to vast for his heart. I would fay for his tongue-Are you unwell, fir? "Sir G. Go on with your tale. " Del. His benefactor, feeling the hand of death steal on, was anxious to fee the two persons dearest to his heart happy before he expired; and the marriage was determined on, the day fixed, and the friends of the family invited. The intended bridegroom appeared half frantic with his approaching blifs. Now, fir, mark his proceeding. In this short interval, by fudden and unexpected deaths, he becomes the heir to atitle and large eftate. Well! Does he not fly to the arms of his languishing friend? Does he not pour his new treasures and his transports into the lap of love? Coward and monster! "Sir G. (Both starting up) Sir! "Del. Viler than words can paint! Having robbed a family of honour, a friend of peace, and an angel of every human folace, he fled, like a thief, and concealed himself from immediate contempt and vengeance in a foreign country. But contempt and vengeance have at length overtaken him: they beset him: they face him at this instant. The friend he wronged is dead: but the fon of that friend lives, and I am he. "Sir G. 'Tis as I thought! "Del. You are-I will not defile my lips by telling you what you are. "Sir G. I own that what I have done "Del. Forbear to interrupt me, fir. You have nothing to plead, and much to hear. First say, did my sister, by any improper conduct, levity of behaviour, or fault or vice whatever, give you just cause to abandon her? "Sir G. None! None! Her purity is only exceeded by her "Del. 9717: I was vain, is it so strange that I should be overpowered by their dictates, and yield to their intreaties? Your friendship or my death is now the only alternative. Suppose the latter: will it honour you among men? At the man of blood the heart of man revolts! Will it endear you to Maria? Kind forgiving angel, and hateful to myself as her affection makes me, I laft night found that affection still as strong, still as pure, as in the first hour of our infant loves. Lady Jane "Del. Forbear to name her! 'Tis profanation from your lips! No more casuistry! No fubterfuge! the paper! "Sir G. Can no motives "Del. None "Sir G. My future life, my foul, shall be devoted to Maria. "Del. The paper! "Sir G. Obdurate man! (Reflects a moment) You shall have it. (Goes to the table to write, during which Delaval remains deep in thought and much agitated) Here, fir! fince you will not be generous, let me be just. 'Tis proper I remove every taint of fufpicion from the deeply wronged Maria. "Del. (Reads with a faltering voice) " I George Versa"tile, once poor and dependant, fince vaiu, fickle, and faith" less, do under my hand acknowledge I have perfidioufly" broken my pledged promise to the most deserving-lovely -and (Begins in much agitation to tear the paper.) "Sir G. Mr. Delaval? "Del. Damn it-I can't-I can't speak. Here! Here! (Striking his bofom.) "Sir G. Mr. Delaval? "Del. My brother! "Sir G. (Falls on his neck) Can it be? My friend! " Del. This stubborn temper-always in the extremes! The tiger, or the child. "Sir G. Oh no! 'Twas not to be forgiven! Best of men! Del. Well, well: we are friends. "Sir G. Everlastingly! Brothers! Del. Yes; brothers." Sonnets, |