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Or scarlet juice left in our veins sufficient
To raise a blush for our own nakedness.

Moonshine. You interrupt me, Mr. Inference.
Inference. (provokingly calm) Continue, Mr. Moon-

shine.

Moonshine. That after having valiantly repell'd A host of footpads, we were forc'd to yield To numbers, and were left in bondage here To this uncivil post-Do you approve? I wish to know if you approve the scheme?Inference. (with feigned indifference) The theory may pass 'tis tolerable.

Moonshine. "Tis admirable, sir, and spite on cavil It may and shall be now reduc'd to practice.

Inference. Good Mr. Moonshine, pray preserve your

temper;

Politeness bids me give the thing a trial.

Moonshine.(aside) You lie, you hang-dog; it is mere convenience:

You can't invent a better (tying Inference and himself to the post).

Inference. (groaning) Oh, do-not pull The cord into such tension !

Moonshine. Pray you, pardon:

Do not suppose I meant to give you pain,

I who'd (drawing the cord still more tightly) relieve you from all earthly woes

(aside) With pressing out your life, you sorry knave! Inference. (still groaning) Oh! not so tight, I say! (catches the cord from Moonshine, and in his turn draws it with great violence).

Moonshine. (groaning) Zounds, man, you'll kill me! Inference. (aside) And of an arrant scoundrel rid the world.

My dear, dear friend, I feel for you; and yet

You have concluded that the knot be tied (tying the rope, while Moonshine again groans.)

Harry Courl. (aside) A very odd contrivance, on my word.

B

Moonshine. Ho, murder!

Inference. Robbers!

Harry Courl. How now, good gentlemen. (approaching them) Moonshine. Oh! Inference. Oh!

Harry Courl. Why in the name of common sense is it You break the peace with this exceeding uproar? Moonshine. Maltreated, sir-we've been, alas, maltreated,

Lash'd to this post like culprits to a stake!

Inference. We've been purloin'd of

Harry Courl. Ay?

-how much?

Inference. One thousand pounds.

Harry Courl. How much?

Moonshine. Ten thousand pounds.

Inference. We have been lingering here

Harry Courl. How long?

Inference. Three hours.

Moonshine. Yes, sir, three days, three tedious livelong days.

Harry Courl. Fellows, you mean three tedious livelong

moments.

But you may pass the livelong tedious night here (fastening them more firmly.)

If you'd kill time with ratiocination,

I leave you free to indulge in every branch
Save that which is call'd pugilistic logic:
You have a tenable position now:

The two extremes (touching Inference and Moonshine, who hang down their heads in confusion) are doubtful, 'tis allow'd;

But as the middle term (touching the post) is not un

sound,

(exit)

There's promise the conclusion will be lawful.
Ha, ha, ha!
[The scene closes on Inference and Moonshine.

ACT II.

SCENE 1. An apartment in Mr. Courland's house.

FREDERIC WORLACE and LOUISA COURLAND.

Fred. Worl. Louisa, you mistake me- -think not I

Can recommend a breach of nature's law;
But surely naught must bind you to a parent
Who has abjur'd all that the name implies,
And, irremorseless, would devote his daughter
To the promotion of a sordid pride,
His motive-

Louisa Courl. Frederic, I can never act
In disobedience to my father's will:

Ere long it must grow pliant to our wishes,
I'm sure it must; and then we shall be happy.
Nay, let us cherish hope, and be so now.

Fred. Worl. Hope!

Louisa Courl. And why not? It plucks the tares from nature,

Meliorates the desert into smiles

Of cultivated life. Hope nerves the mind,
And in the music of the prisoner's voice
It drowns the discord of his jarring chains*.
Then why should we sink into vain despondence?
Until of late my father has been fond,

Until of late he has been all-indulgent.

Fred. Worl. Until of late, Louisa?
Louisa Courl. Yes.

Fred. Worl. You mean

Before we met?

Louisa Courl. I do.

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Spes etiam validâ solatur compede vinctum:
Crura sonant ferro, sed canit inter opus."

Tibulli Eleg. 6. lib. 2.

Fred. Worl. Then for your peace

We ought to part?

Louisa Courl. No, no, I said not, meant not so: My meaning was to vindicate my father.

Fred. Worl. Sweet girl, he has no claim to vindication,

He, who can think his child without a soul,

And deem a charge repos'd in him by Heaven,
An article for sale.

Louisa Courl. Frederic, if you love me say no more.
Fred. Worl. Love you! Oh, I could pant away my

life

Upon the breath that wrongs me with the doubt;
But must I see this fascinating form

Like the faint cheering of a distant ray

Caught through the shadows of a midnight wild,
Only to tremble lest I lose it?

Enter MR. COURLAND.

Mr. Courl. Ha!

Girl, leave the room this instant (Exit Louisa)-
Sir, you gaze-

I have more reason, when my froward daughter-
Fred. Worl. Your daughter!

Mr. Courl. Yes, she is not yours, is she?.
Then why claim her more than my other chattels ?
She is the costliest piece of household stuff

I have in my possession-Mark my words
While in a gentle mood I give you warning:

This watch (winding it up) must half run down, when

if it appear

That you still trespass on the premises,

Some honest rustic for redress shall make

Due application to your intellect.

Fred. Worl. Insolent!(aside) But Louisa calls

him father.

[exit

(offering his hand to Moonshine) Your friend the general, Mr. Scholium ?.

Inference. (apart to Harry) For such he passes. Moonshine. (aside) Thanks to my wits, I am not re

collected

Yes, sir, his horoscope and mine were one:

I know no mortal to himself affin'd

In nearer points of genius and regard,

Than I to Mr. Scholium—(apart to Inference) Idiot, speak,

Return the compliment.

Inference. (apart to Moonshine) I'm silent. Harry Courl. (apart to Inference) Your friend, Perhaps he'd view a specimen of life

At variance with common rule--you'll ask him. Inference. (to Moonshine) Will you, sir, view a curiosity?

Moonshine. (aside) The puppy would indulge at my

expense.

Inference. Will you, sir, view a curiosity?

Moonshine. (looking contemptuously but steadily at Inference) With all my heart, my worthy Mr. Scho

lium.

Harry Courl. Then, general, if you'll ride—-
Moonshine. I thank you, no:

I can view one quite at my leisure here (his eyes still fixed on Inference.)

Inference. Say, general, who is it you're scanning thus?

Harry Courl. Good sirs, each of you does mistake the other,

As Mr. Scholium has mistaken me :

It is my wish to jolt awhile on horseback,
And take a stranger Ambert in our course.
I have not seen him yet; though he has been
Two days, or more, within our neighbourhood.
He is esteemed an original :

His principles of action, 'tis reported,
Are hidden as the elements of matter-

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