Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

The great Square. At the right corner, in front, GRIPE's house, with a low door on its side to the Square, and over the door a window; some paces backward toward the centre of the Stage, rises a large quadrangular pyramid; at the left corner of the Square, in front, stands HUNKS's house, viewed in profile; in its side facing the audience, are two windows, the lower defended by iron bars, from top to bottom. Other Buildings, as mosques, minarets, dwelling houses, &c. compleat the sides of the Square, to the distant flat scene, which affords a night prospect of the Sea and Harbour, shut out by a stately iron palisade. Near it, on the right hand, a single house projects—having one spa

|

cious and very large window on the second floor. To the left, in front, near HUNKS's house is a draw well, surrounded by a low wall, whereon are fixed two strong posts, with a cross bar at top, to support a large pulley. Two opposite Streets open into the Square. At their entrance are set up large globe lamps, casting a strong light over the whole Scene.

LIVELY, appearing at HUNKS's upper window, hems and coughs repeatedly, as signals to HARRIET.

Lively. Hem! hem !--She does not hear me, sure, I'll sing then.

[blocks in formation]

Try it,
Eye it,
Feel

And kneel,

And deify it.

O what transport to behold,
What delight to chink my gold.
Mahomet's a scurvy prophet,
His fool's paradise, I scoff it-
Think to gull folks with his Houris!
Beggar wenches without dowries!

Had he feign'd his heaven of pelf,
I'd have been a Turk myself.

LIVELY retires, shutting his window. They keep theirs half shut, watching HUNKS's motions. HUNKS enters slowly from the left side, stops now and then, peeping round. Hunks. A murrain seize the inventor of these tell-tale lamps!—the very bane of all clandestine enterprise !—Why, here, 'tis as light as day now—I'fecks, we might as well have no night at all-Then those damn'd Janizaries-everlastingly patrolling-and prying-Vexation upon vexation! However, 'tis luckily rather latish -and, this- -a solitary quarter.Who knows? I may chance to execute my scheme still-Pest seize him! will he never be gone! [Sees GRIPE at a distance.]-Paah! what interloper now?[Steps aside to observe. Jenny. [At the window seeing GRIPE.]-Soh! -here comes t'other squeeze-fist-Gripe himself-away, Miss, away.

Enter GRIPE pleased, draws forth a large bunch of keys.

Gripe. Such a gull-ha! ha! ha!--Bled so freely-but, no tick-no, no, the rooks would not tick-Pise on it! he has had a devilish tumble;-Well, well---speed the plough-his loss, my gain-Twenty per cent premium, and two per cent by the hour- -no bad Tontine.

AIR.

Let the novice depend on his luck,

On his science the gambler profest ;

Lively. [Aside, opening his window softly.]

[Shuts it. Hunks. [Again surveying the Pyramid.] No child's play, to make a breach here must get help,'fecks:[Ponders.] Gripe-yes, the very stick -but he-He'll be for going snacks-well, better give half than lose all-Ay, ay-and here he comes just in the nick.

[GRIPE comes forth, locks his door, and pockets the keys.]

Gripe. [To, himself, while locking the door.} Safe bind- -safe find-Forage abroad, but guard at home-Pise on't-how I loiter

[Hobbling away, HUNKS calls after. Hunks. Gripe! -Gossip Gripe Gripe. [Looking back with a nod.] Good night-Can't stay

Hunks. A moment-Lord, man!—what's your hurry?

Gripe, [Coming back.] Hurry!-whySquander, the young factor-fallen in at hazard yonder, with some knowing ones-is fleeced→

soused-broke down-So, I'm fetching him a supply-Two hundred pieces.

Hunks, [Earnestly.] And at what interest? Gripe. Pise on it—a mere nothing-Two per

cent,

Hunks. [In surprise.] Are you turn'd fool? -Two per cent?

Gripe. Ay-by the hour. Hunks. Oh! cry you mercy-But Gossip! [with a mysterious air.] I- -Observe that Pyramid- -Yesterday, in a vaultbeneath that Pyramid- -was interred the late

Mufti

Gripe. [With indifference.] Well-peace be

with him.

Hunks. Y-e-s-and his rhino with us! for you must know-that, here in Smyrna-when a Mufti dies-they bury all his riches with him ——they do, i'fecks.

Gripe. Indeed?—in that case-'twou'd scarce yex a man to die.

Hunks. It does mitigate to be sure. Gripe. [After a pause.] All his riches buried with him [Eying the Pyramid, then eagerly to HUNKS.] Pise on it, Gossip!-here were a venture now! Eh?

Hunks. [Seeming to hesitate.] And yet I have my scruples- -A'n't it a sin, think you? --so rich a prize!

Gripe. We're to go halves!
Hunks. A sacrilege? eh!
Gripe. Not if we go halves,

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Har.
Lively. In vain they our hearts would dissever.
I love, and will love you for ever;

Har, In vain they our hearts would dissever. Lively. For Harriet I live, and for Harriet would die.

Har, Ah! Lively I swear, and this heart cannot lie,

I will ne'er be but yours.

What! Never ? Nor ever will I be but yours.

-What! Never ?

Lively.
Har.
Lively. No, never will I be but yours.
Har. Though Gripe locks his doors.

[Pointing to the door open. Lively. [Points to the unscrewed bar.] Though his windows Hunks grates.

Har.

Lively.

Har,

Lively.

Love loves to make fools of such

[blocks in formation]

Nor suffer these grubs to divide us. -Oh! Never! Har. Deign love then to guide us for ever. Lively. They shall not divide us; no, Never.

Jenny. [Rejoining them.] Well, my dears, since upright love is your motive, and downright matrimony your end,—I thing, I must e'en beat about to bring you together.

Lively. [Eagerly. But, when, dear Jenny?

when?

Jenny. Sooner, perhaps, than you imagine. | servant, kind Mr. Squander!-will you any more ---Miss has an aunt in Dublin-Lady Mildmay-her heart and house are open to you.

AIR.

Haste, let us fly from this land of oppression, Where beauty is led like a pig in a string; A heart that's divided, to share in succession, My mind (too exalted) I never can bring,

A bird in hand's an old expression,

That two in the bush is not one in possession; We'll bring the proud infidels to a confession,

That women have souls as well as the men.

Quick, then, away to an island of pleasure, Where each happy female may do as they please, Where liberty's reckon'd the choicest of treasure ; Then fly, and the kind opportunity seize.

The bird in hand's an old expression, That two in the bush is not one in possession; We'll bring the proud infidels to a confession, That women have souls as well as the men.

Lively. Why are not we gone then? What stops us?

Jenny. Stops!-What stops many an hopeful project? lack of cash-[Looking archly at him.] Are you flush, Sir? [He shakes his head sorrowfully. -So I thought- -and therefore hold it bad policy to leave all Miss's fortune, all her Mama's effects, in Gripe's clutchesCheer up, however a lucky crisis may come, and trust me for not letting it slip.

Lively. Infernal muck-worms-'Sdeath! I grow wild with resentment; but you, my love, -you seem quite unconcern'd.

Har. Pardon me, dear Lively!-I feel the utmost contempt of their depravity, mixed with a kind of pity for my uncle's foible.-But [Taking his hand, and looking fondly at him.] the

truth is-that

AIR.

At thy presence, vengeful passion,
Envy, hate, and indignation,

From this tranquil bosom fly.
Wealth, by gold, let miscreants measure,
Be but Lively's heart my treasure,
Gripe will be less rich thun I.

Jenny. In, in, get ye in-here's Gripe a-coming.

Har. My uncle! O lud! I shall die in fright. [Runs into the house with Jenny, who locks | the door.

Lively. [Leaping in at his window, and replacing the bar.] Plague welcome him.

Enter GRIPE, walking leisurely, with a parchment bond in his hand.

Rouleaus, at the saine discount? hee, hee, hee, -I ha' totted it up-200 pistoles, at two per cent by the hour, will amount, in six months, (with interest upon interest) to about 20,000/. sterling. Good! good!-Pise on it! I'll have an execution in petto-then, souse-his magazines-his town house-his villa-all mine, all mine.-Come, come,—upon the whole, no dear purchase.

AIR.

If the proverb has truly asserted,
That "a fool and his cash soon are parted,"
Like truth in the contrary it lies;
That, who has it, and keeps it, is wise,
Fools are spouts,whence the rich torrent rushes
We, the cisterns, to save all that gushes ;
And prevent it from running to waste.
While the ninnies

Are melting their guineas,
Some lurking regret still within is,
But we, without a sigh,
Pick up, what they let fly;
Their envy we, and they our jest.

[Pulls out his bunch of keys, and unlocks kis door leaving the key in the lock; then calls JENNY.

Gripe. Jenny! Jenny! I say.
Jenny. [Above at the window.] Sir.
Gripe. Fetch hither my supper, hussy.
Jenny. Your every day, supper, sir?

Gripe. Yes, and the bottle of Cyprus wine. [Exit JENNY. He takes a turn in the square, towards HUNKS's house.] I have made too good a day's work on't, to grudge myself wine at night.

Lively. [Softly opening the window.] What is he muttering there.

window.] A lucky day has this been, both to Gripe. [To himself, coming just under the Hunks and me- -and to-morrow, he'll pin up the basket, by getting that nephew of his confined. Lively. [Aside.] How, how?-the fusty kidnapper! -confined?—I sball give him the slip, though. [Withdraws, shutting the window.

GRIPE, retreating towards his own door, is met by Jenny, carrying a morsel of bread, a phial bottle half full of wine, and a diminutive glass, on a pewter plate.

Jenny. Here, sir

Gripe. [Eating and holding the glass to be fill'd] What's Harriet a doing?

Jenny. Waiting for you-we have not supp'd. Gripe. Well, you may-[Sips.]-go to bed -[To himself.] Mufti

Jenny. Best go in doors, sir.

Gripe. [Walks to and fro, mounching and sipping.] No-[Aside.] warm rogues, your

Gripe. Here's the bond-stamp'd and all-Mufties!-[To her.]—I sha'n't come home, to

night, may-hap-[Holds out the glass to be fill'd.] Jenny. [To Harriet.] Joy! joy!-the deeds! a plumb, at least. Aside.the chattles!I have them all.-Now, my turtles, we take wing- [Recollecting.]hang it!- I forgot Here, these-[Delivers them in a hurry.] Be careful of the contents; I'll be back immediately, [Exit.

Jenny. [Staring at him, but not filling.] Why, sir-'tis wine-[Louder.] wine, sir.

Gripe. Eh?-Pise on't! I wasn't minding.— Here, lock up-[Giving the glass, and remnant of bread] this for to-morrow-O! a mint! a mine!--the Indies!--[In extacy.] I fly, I fly.

Har. O gemini! What a load of finery!Come, Lively! let's sit down and lay them all in order. [They sit on the wall of the draw well, placing apron and basket between them, then range the parcels out of the one into the other.] And first this bundle of-bonds, I suppose, at bottom.

Lively. Next, this band-box in the corner
-So-and here on this side, the casket of

jewels.

[Hurries away, leaving his keys. Jenny. [Looking after him.] Quite frantic, I declare- [Going in] and has forget-nay, as am alive, he has-Runs in with the things, then seizes the keys, and calls aloud]-Mr. Lively! Miss Harriet! [They look out.] Come down. [They disappear as to descend, then turning over the keys.] ay, this is the key of his den-this of the iron door to his closet-and this-[To Lively and Harriet] see here my lambkins! the crisis is come; Gripe has forgot his keys-See! -he said he should not be at home to-night-wear them!—ah! Harriet! how enchanting is But there's no trusting to that-So while I step that look!—while your eyes thus tenderly shoot in, stay you here, and watch-I'll not return into mine. 'tis perfect extacy! empty-handed, I promise you.

[Runs joyfully into the house. Lively. Faith! my dearest Harriet! 'twas high time-do you know -that my vile uncle is plotting to get me confined?

Har. Confined!- -on what pretext?
Live. Madness, I suppose- -But let him

catch me if he can.-The tables are now
turned, and our escape secured past prevention.
Har. I am on thorns to embark-
-My heart
presages we shall be happy in Europe.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Har. Stay, let me just take a peep-Oh! Lively! such noble brilliants

Lively. With what delight shall I see my angel

[Springs to embrace her. Har. [Resentfully.] How now, sir? what liberty? [Takes his hand off the basket to repel him, the basket and apron fall into the well, she screams.] Oh heavens the basket's dropt into the well.

Enter JENNY, who overhears her, and screams.
Jenny. Heavens and earth, into the well!
[He turns away in confusion.
Har. [Whimpering.] A giddy pate—with his
Hoydenish pranks—

Lively. I was sure she had hold on't—So,— in my transport

Jenny. [Provoked.] Transport; nonsense!yes, yes-We're finely on our way now-Lovers! lovers, say I-[Wringing her hands.] wretch!

that I am.

Lively. Patience, Jenny!-Can't I go down for them?

Jenny. [Eagerly.] Egad, that's true-and by my troth, so you shall, [Ironically.] Mr. Transport.

Har. [Alarm'd.] into the well;

[Runs to look down into it.

AIR.

Sure you have lost your senses,
Look down, the depth immense is;
No bottom can I see.

Bless us! how could you think of it,
He sha'n't approach the brink of it,
But, in to plunge! what he;
Oh, no, I'll never agree.

Jenny. La! what are you so afraid of?-'tis really not deep; and besides, has been dry this long while.

Lively. [Looking up at the pulley.] Ay, but there's never a rope.

Jenny. We can take the rope and bucket of Gripe's well.-Come, let's in a bit, for the pre

« PreviousContinue »