and that the incidents are too frequent. He may, however, be mistaken; for (partly owing to his recluse habits) he has not the happiness of owning in this world one single literary acquaintance or friend to whom he might submit his manuscript.

He is moreover so imbued with, and has such a thorough relish of the immortal works of Milton . . Jonson, Ford, Massenger, &c., . . not to instance him, 66 Above the rest proudly eminent,"

whose name the writer will not in this slight Preface take in vain, that he can with difficulty, find much to admire in most subsequent productions of the Dramatic Muse.

It may, therefore, readily be supposed, (" the fumes" of conception that "mantled his clearer reason" being chased away,) how flat any composition, having its source in his own modicum of talent, must appear to him. It is indeed the apprehension, whether well or ill-founded, of the slight worth of his Tragedy, that has induced the Author to put so unusually low a price upon it as one shilling and sixpence.

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA.

WARADIN, otherwise Prince Andreas, son of the late King Ladislaus: supposed dead.

COUNT BANKBAN, an Octogenarian.

COUNT RODNA.

COUNT RAGOTSKI, attached to Waradin.

COUNT NADASTIS.

BALASSI, follower of Count Rodna.

HASSAN, the Moor.

GERTRUDE, Queen of Hungary and Moravia: Niece of the late King of Hungary.

BEATRICE, Lady Bankban: Sister of the Queen.

Jailor, Officers, Messengers, Attendants, &c.

SCENE; Buda.

TIME; the commencement of the Thirteenth Century.

GERTRUDE AND BEATRICE.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-A Public Place.-Architectural View of Buda.-Enter LORDS BANKBAN and NADASTIS.

BA. I tell you,

There's not a day but by his bold devices Rodna gains fresh advantage o'er the crown. NA. Still he cries out upon abuses, shedding A deal of rheum over Hungary's wrongs. BA. Ay, there it is! The tongue o' the base rabble From whence he sprung. But still opinion sticks On Rodna's honesty.

NA.

He ever wins

Those people's hearts he angles for withal
By tears, and

BA. Tush! tush! Nadastis, take me with you. Is he
Whom men might clasp in friendship; and in love
Weak woman to the end?

ΝΑ.

Ahem! The Princess Not two days past preferred espousing you. BA. Whose years approach fourscore!

that?

But what of

The breathing of a loveliness may stir

In me no more the fine discoursing chords
That yield the tongue's rare music; I may fail
In the prevailing harmony of lovers,.

B

Those sounds that flow betwixt the uttering
And list'ning heart to live in this for ever,..
But what of that? I poised an open heart
Against his prime of life, and that besides
To fill his scale that made him light indeed!
So his chance kicked the beam! Look ye, my'
Lord,

For all fame cries Count Rodna's character,
He is self-loving and a braggart; trust me
He'd ruin as soon his country as his passion.
I know by sure intelligence that the city
Swarms with his sworn adherents... ruffians,
Who only wait his word to cut our throats.
They hold their nightly council in the grove
That skirts the palace wall, but if the army...
NA. Lo! where he comes before the stream of the
people.

Cits.

(Enter COUNT RODNA, BALASSI, and Citizens.)

Make way there!
Hark, for Lord Rodna! Hungary and freedom!
Ro. Beseech you, fellow citizens, a word;
Have I your leave to speak? I've tidings for
Cits. Let's hear his Lordship. Make him our orator-
mark him!

Ro. Noble Lord Bankban fairly met-will you
Unfold unto the crowd, or shall .

BA.

Not I.

you.

I have no voice to gloze and prate of wrongs; And for aught else the people are spoiled. Your [Exit BANKBAN.

servant.

BAL. He prefers keeping house with his new countess.
Ro. I'faith the lady warrants his devotion.

To worship at her fane were no idolatry,
More than to lift the eye, and bend the knee,
In adoration of the saints in heaven.

NA. The Lady Beatrice is divine, or was so

Ro.

Three days gone by, ere she declined your troth.
Pity she's honest!

Ay, that's all the fault,
Since she... the minx! her honesty reward her!