Yar. My mind has been so busy, that I almost forgot even you. I wish you had staid with me,~~you would have seen such sights! Inkle. (L.) Those sights are now grown familiar to me, Yarico. Yar. (R.) And yet I wish they were not-You might partake my pleasures-but now again, methinks I will not wish so-for, with too much gazing, you might neglect poor Yarico. Inkle. Nay, nay, my care is still for you : Yar. I'm sure it is and if I thought it was not, I'd tell you tales about our poor old grot-bid you remember our palm tree near the brook, where in the shade you often stretched yourself, while I would take your head upon my lap, and sing my love to sleep. I know you'll love me then. SONG. Our grotto was the sweetest place! The bending bows, with fragrance blowing, "Twas then my bosom first knew fear, Ah! think on this, and love me still. [Exeunt, L. S. E. SCENE II-An Apartment in the house of Sir Christopher Curry. Enter SIR CHRISTOPHER and MEDIUM, R. Sir Chr. I tell you, old Medium, you are all wrong. Plague on your doubts! Inkle shall have my Narcissa. Poor fellow! I dare say he's finely chagrined at this temporary parting-Eat up with the blue devils, I warrant. Med. (R.) Eat up by the black devils, I warrant; for I left him in hellish hungry company. Sir C. (L.) Pshaw! he'll arrive with the next vessel, depend on't-besides, have not I had this in view ever since they were children? I must and will have it so, I tell you. not it, as it were, a marriage made above? They shall et, I'm positive. Med. Shall they? Then they must meet where the marriage was made; for hang me, if I think it will ever happen below. Sir C. Ha! and if that is the case-hang me, if I think you'll ever be at the celebration of it. Med. Yet, let me tell you, Sir Christopher Curry, my character is as unsullied as a sheet of white paper. Sir C. Well said, old fool's-cap! and it's as mere a blank as a sheet of white paper. You are honest, old Medium, by comparison, just as a fellow sentenced to transportation is happier than his companion condemned to the gallows. Very worthy, because you are no rogue; tenderhearted, because you never go to fires and executions; and an affectionate father and husband, because you never pinch your children, or kick your wife out of bed. Med. And that, as the world goes, is more than every man can say for himself. Yet, since you force me to speak my positive qualities-but, no matter,-you remember me in London; and didn't I, as Member of the Humane Society, bring a man out of the New River, who, it was afterwards found, had done me an injury? Sir C. And, dam'me, If I would not kick any man into the New River that had done me an injury. There's the difference of our honesty. Oons! if you want to be an honest fellow, act from the impulse of nature. Why, you have no more gall than a pigeon. Med. Ha! You're always so hasty; among the hodgepodge of your foibles, passion is always predominant. Sir C. So much the better.--Foibles, quotha? foibles are foils that give additional lustre to the gems of virtue. You have not so many foils as I, perhaps. Med. And, what's more, I don't want 'em, Sir Christopher, I thank you. Sir C. Very true; for the devil a gem have you to set off with 'em. Med. Well, well; I never mention errors; that, 1 flatter myself, is no disagreeable quality.-It don't become me to say you are hot. Sir C. 'Sblood! but it does become you: it becomes every man, especially an Englishman, to speak the dictates of his heart. Enter SERVANT, L. Serv. An English vessel, sir, just arrived in the harbour. Sir C. A vessel! Od's my life!-Now for the news-If it is but as I hope-Any dispatches? Serv. This letter, sir, brought by a sailor from the quay. [Exit, L. Sir C. Now for it! If Inkle is but amongst 'emZounds! I'm all in a flutter. Med. Well, read, Sir Christopher. Sir C. [Opening the letter.] Huzza! here it is. safe-safe and sound at Barbadoes. "Sir, He's [Reading. "My master, Mr. Inkle, is just arrived in your harbour.” Here, read, read! old Medium-[ Gives the letter to Medium. Med. Um' [Reading.]—" Your harbour; we were taken up by an English vessel on the 14th ult. He only waits till I have puff'd his hair, to pay his respects to you, and Miss Narcissa. In the mean time, he has ordered me to brush up this letter for your honour from "Your humble Servant, to command, Sir C. Hey-day! Here's a style! the voyage has jumbled the fellow's brains out of their places; the water has made his head turn round. But no matter; mine turns round, too. I'll go and prepare Narcissa directly: they shall be married, slap-dash, as soon as he comes from the quay. From Neptune to Hymen; from the hammock to the bridal bed-Ha! old boy! Med. Well, well ;-don't flurry yourself you're so hot! Sir C. Hot! blood, arn't I in the West Indies? Arn't I Governor of Barbadoes? He shall have her as soon as he sets his foot on shore. "But, plague on't, he's so slow." -She shall rise to him like Venus out of the sea. His hair puff'd! He ought to have been puffing, here, out of breath, by this time. Med. Very true; but Venus's husband is always supposed to be lame, you know, Sir Christopher. Sir C. Well, now do, my good fellow, run down to the shore, and see what detains him. [Hurrying him off. [Exit, L. Med. Well, well; I will, I will. Sir C. In the mean time, I'll get ready Narcissa, and all shall be concluded in a second. My heart's set upon it.— Poor fellow! after all his rumbles, and tumbles, and jumbles, and fits of despair-I shall be rejoiced to see him. I have not seen him since he was that high.-But, zounds! he's so tardy! Enter SERVANT, L. Serv. A strange gentleman, sir, from the quay, desires to see you. Sir C. From the quay? Od's my life.-"Tis he Inkle! Show him up directly. [Exit Servant, L.] The rogue is expeditious, after all.—I'm so happy. Enter CAMPLEY, L. My dear fellow! [Embracing him—shakes hands.] I'm rejoiced to see you. Welcome! welcome here, with all my soul ! Camp. (L.) This reception, Sir Christopher, is beyond my warmest wishes-Unknown to you———— Sir C. (R.) Aye, aye; we shall be better acquainted by and by. Well, and how, eh! tell me!—but old Medium and I have talked over your affair a hundred times a day, ever since Narcissa arrived. Camp. You surprise me! Are you then really acquainted with the whole affair? Sir C. Every tittle. Camp. And, can you, sir, pardon what is past? Sir C. Poh! how could you help it? Camp. Very true-sailing in the same ship--and Sir C. Aye, aye; but we have had a hundred conjectures about you. Your despair and distress, and all thatYour's must have been a damn'd situation, to say the truth. Camp. Cruel, indeed, Sir Christopher! and I flatter myself will move your compassion. I have been almost inclined to despair, indeed, as you say; but when you consider the past state of my mind the black prospect before me. Sir C. Ha! ha! black enough, I dare say. Camp. The difficulty I have felt in bringing myself face to face to you. Sir C. That I am convinced of-but I knew you would come the first opportunity. Camp. Very true: yet the distance between the Governor of Barbadoes and myself. [Bowing. Sir C. Yes-a devilish way asunder. Camp. Granted, sir: which has distressed me with the cruellest doubts as to our meeting. Sir C. It was a toss up. Camp. The old gentleman seems devilish kind-Now to soften him. Aside.] Perhaps, sir, in your younger days you may have been in the same situation yourself. Sir C. Who? I! 'Sblood! no, never in my life. you. [Bowing. Camp. As what I now mention might have greater weight with you. Sir C. Poh! pr'ythee! I tell you, I pitied you from the bottom of my heart. Camp. Indeed! If, with your leave, I may still venture to mention Miss Narcissa Sir C. An impatient, sensible young dog! like me to a hair! Set your heart at rest, my boy. She's your's; your's before to-morrow morning. Camp. Amazement! I can scarce believe my senses. Sir C. Zounds! you ought to be out of your senses: but dispatch--make short work of it, ever while you live, my boy. Enter NARCISSA, R. Here girl here's your swain. [To Narcissa. Camp. (L.) I just parted with my Narcissa on the quay, sir. Sir C. (c.) Did you! Ah, sly dog-had a meeting before you came to the old gentleman.-But here [Putting her across to c.]-Take him, and make much of him—and, for fear of further separations, you shall e'en be tacked together directly. What say you, girl? Camp. (L.) Will my Narcissa consent to my happiness? Nar. (c.) I always obey my father's commands, with pleasure, sir. Sir C. (R.) Od! I'm so happy, I hardly know which way to turn; but we'll have the carriage directly; drive down to the quay; trundle old Spintext into church; and hey for matrimony! [Crosses, L Camp. With all my heart, Sir Christopher; the sooner the better. Camp. SIR CHRISTOPHER, Campley, Narcissa. Your Colinettes, and Arriettes, Who like fallals, and pastorals, Waste years in love! But modern folks know better jokes, And courting once begun, To church they hop at once-and pop-- Nar. When at our feet, so trim and neat He vows he dies, the lady sighs |