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 BA. Tush! tush! Nadastis, take me with you. Is he 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 B Those sounds that flow betwixt the uttering For all fame cries Count Rodna's character, Cits. (Enter COUNT RODNA, BALASSI, and Citizens.) Make way there! Ro. Noble Lord Bankban fairly met-will you 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. To worship at her fane were no idolatry, NA. The Lady Beatrice is divine, or was so Ro. Three days gone by, ere she declined your troth. Ay, that's all the fault, |