PROLOGUE.

AS when some peasant, who to treat his lord,
Brings out his little stocks, and decks his board,
With what his ill stor'd cupboard will afford,
With aukward bows, and ill plac'd rustic airs,
To make excuses for his feast, prepares;
So we, with tremor, mix'd with vast delight,
View the bright audience which appear to-night;
And conscious of its meanness, hardly dare
To bid you welcome to our homely fare.
Should your applause a confidence impart,
To calin the fears that press the timid heart,
Some hopes Icherish, in your smiles I read 'em,
Whate'er our faults your candor can exceed 'em.

ADDITIONAL DIALOGUES.

SCENE BETWEEN CECILIA BEVERLY AND HENRIETTA BEL

Cecilia. MY

FIELD.

Y dear Henrietta, you seem to be overjoyed--
May I know the cause?

Henrietta. My dear, dear Miss Beverly, I have such a thing to tell you-you would never guess it-I don't know how to believe it myself-Mr. Belvill has written to me? he has indeed! here is the note!

(holding out a letter.) Pray read it.

Gec. Indeed I long to know the contents.

Hen. (reads it.)

"To Miss Belfield.

"Mr. Delvill presents his compliments to Miss Belfield and begs to be permitted to wait on her for a few minutes, at any time in the afternoon she will please to appoint."

Only think it is me, poor simple me, of all people, that he wants to speak with. But what can he want! My dearest Cecilia, tell me what you think he can have to say to me?

Cec. Indeed it is impossible for me to conjecture.

Hen. If you can't I ani sure there is no wonder I can't. I have thought of a million of things in a minute. It can't be about business-It can't be about my brother-It can't be about my dear Miss Beverly-I suspect-(A servant enter's with a message.)

Servt. A gentleman in the parlor desires to speak with Miss Belfield. (Servant go

Hen. My dear Miss Beverly, what shall I say to him? Pray advise me. I am so confused I can't say a single word.

Cec. I can't advise you, Miss Belfield, for I don't know what

he will say to you.

Hen. But I can guess, I can guess! And I shan't know what in the world to answer. I shall behave like a simpleton

and disgrace myself.

(C-cila leaves her, and Mr Delvill enters the room.) Detvill. Good-morrow, Miss Belfield. I hope I have the pleasure to see you well to day. Is Miss Beverly at home? i have a message for her from my mother.

(goes out)

Hen. (With a look of disappointment) Yes, sir, she is at home. I will call her. (Cecilia enters.) Delv. Good-morrow, Madam. I have presumed to wait en you this morning, by permission of my mother. But I am afraid that permission is so late, that the influence I hoped from its past.

Cc. I had no means, Sir, of knowing you came from her. Otherwise I should have received her commands without hesitation.

Delv. I would thank you for the honor you do her, was it Jess pointedly exclusive. Yet I have no right to reproach you. Let me ask, Madam, could you, after my solemn promise at our last parting, to renounce all future claim upon you, in obedience to my mother's will, could you think me so dishonorable as to obtrude myself into your presence, while that promise was in force?

Cc. I find I have been too hasty. I did indeed believe Mrs. Deivill would never authorise such a visit; but as I was much surprised, I hope I may be pardoned for a little doubt.

Delv. There spoke Miss Beverly! the same, the unaltered Miss Beverly I hoped to find.· Yet is she unaltered? Am I not too hasty? And is the story I have heard about Belfield a dream? an error? a falsehood?

Cec. If it was not that such a quick succession of quarrels would be endless perplexity, I would be affronted that you can ask me such a question.

Delv. Had I thought it a question, I should not have asked it. But never for a moment did I credit it, till the rigor of your repulse alarmed me. But as you are good enough to account for that, I am encouraged to make known the design of my present visit. Yet with confidence I cannot speak; hardly th hope.

Cec. One thing, Sir, let me say before you proceed; if your purpose has not the sanction of Mrs. Delvill, as well as your visit, I would be excused from hearing it, for I shall most certainly refuse it.

Delv. I would mention nothing without her concurrence, she has given it; and my father has also consented to my present application.

Cec. (clasping her hands in joy.) Is it possible?

Delv. Is it possible? With what emotions do I hear these words? Ah, Miss Beverly! once my own Cecilia! do you, can you wish it possible?

Gec. No, no, I wish nothing about it. Yet tell me how it has happened-I am curious (smiling) tho not interested in it. Delv. What hope would this sweetness give me, was my scheme any other than it is! But you cannot-no, it would be unreasonable--it would be madness to expect your compli. ance! It is next to madness in me to wish it! But how shall a man who is desperate be prudent and circumspect?

Cec. Spare yourself, Sir, this unnecessary pain. You will find in me no unnecessary scruples.

Delv. You know not what you say, Madam. All noble as you are, the sacrifice I have to propose

Cec. Name it, Sir, with confidence, I will not disguise-but frankly own that I will agree to any sacrifice you will mention, provided it has Mrs. Delvill's approbation.

Delv. What words are these? Is it Miss Beverly that speaks? Cee. What can I say more? Must I offer this pledge too? (holding out her hand.)

Dely. My dear Cecilia, how happy this makes me (taking her hand) for iny life I would not resign it. Yet how soon will you withdraw it, when you know that the only terms on which I can hold it are, that this hand must sign away your inheritance.

Cec. I do not comprehend this, Sir.

Delv. Can you for my sake make such a sacrifice as this? I am not permitted to give up my name for yours; can you renounce your uncle's fortune, as you must if you renounce your name, and consent to such settlements as I can make upon you? Will these, and your own paternal inheritance of ten thousand pounds, satisfy your expectations of living?

G.c. (Turning pale and drening back her hand) O, Mr. Delvill, your words pierce me the soul.

Delv. Have I offended you, Madam? Pardon me, then, for indulging a romantic whim which your better judgment disapproves. My presumption deserves this mortification. Cec. You know not then my inability to comply?

Delv. Your ability or inability, I presume, depends on your own will.

Cec. No, Sir, by no means, my power is lost-my fortune alas, is gone.

Delv. Impossible! utterly impossible!

Cec. Would to heaven it were otherwise! But it is too true, and your father knows it!

Delv. My father!

Cec. Did he never hint it to you?

Delo. Distraction! what horrible confirmation is coming! (pausing) You only, Miss Beverly, could have made this credible!

Cec. Had you then actually heard it!

Delv. I had indeed heard it, as the most infamous falsehood. My heart swelled with indignation at such slander.

Cec. Oh, Sir, the fact is undeniable; though the circumstances you may have heard with it may be exaggerated.

Delv. That indeed must have been the case. I was told that your parental fortune was totally exhausted, and that duwing your minority you had been a dealer with Jews? All this I was told from my father, or I could not have been made to hear it.

Cec. Thus far he told you nothing but truth.

Delv. Truth! (starting) Never then was truth so scandalously wronged! I denied the whole report! I disbelieved every syllable! pledged my own honor to prove every assertion false. Gec. Generous Delvill; this is what I might expect from you. (Heeping)

Debe. Why does Miss Beverly weep? Why has she given me this alarm? These things must at least have been misrepresented. Will you condescend to unravel to me this mysterious affair?

Cec. Alas. Sir, the unfortunate Mr. Harrel! He has been the cause of my losses. You know his love of gaming, a pasTon which led him to his fatal end. In his embarrassments came to me for assistance. He was my guardian; what id I do? I yielded to his entreaties, and repeatedly took up. Ly of a Jew, upon the credit of my estate, until the whole

was pledged. If it was a fault, I know you will ascribe it to the real motive and pardon it.

Delv. My dear Cecilia, I thank you sincerely for this account of your misfortunes; altho' it fills my heart with anguish. How will my mother be shocked to hear a confirmation of the the report she had heard! how irritated at your injuries from Harrel! how grieved that your generosity should bring upon your character so many vile aspersions!

Cec. I have been of too easy a lisposition-too unguarded -yet always, at the moment, I seemed guided by common humanity. But I thought myself secure of wealth; and while the revenue of my uncle ensured me prosperity, I thought little of my own fortune. Could I have foreseen this momentDelv. Would you then have listened to my romantic proposal? Cec. Could I have hesitated?

Delv. Most generous of beings, still then be mine! By our economy, we will make savings to pay off our mortgages, and clear our estates. I will still keep my name, to which my family is bigoted, and my gratitude for your compliance shall make you forget what you lose by the change of yours.

SCENE BETWEEN CECILIA BEVERLY AND A GENTLEMAN. Gent.

PRESUME, Madam, you are the lady of this house.
May I take the liberty to ask your name?

Cec. My name, Sir?

Gent. You will de me a favor by telling it me.

Cec. Is it possible, Sir, you are come hither, without already knowing it?

Gent. I know it only by common report, Madam.

Cec. Common report, Sir, I believe is seldom wrong in a matter where it is so easy to be right.

Gent. Have you any objection, Madam, to telling me your name?

Cec. No, Sir, but your business can hardly be very important, if you are yet to learn whom you are to address. It will be time enough, therefore, for us to meet, when you have elsewhere learnt my name.

(going) Gent. I beg, Madam, you will have patience! It is necessary, before I can open my business, that I should hear your name from yourself.

Cec. Why, Sir, I think you can scarcely have come to this house, without knowing that its owner is Cecilia Beverly. Gent. That, Madam, is your maiden name.