forces too are ready to march, and ours grow impatient for your prefence, noble Captain. Mor. I'll be with 'em. Come then, Lieutenant, for death or the world. Jenny. Nay then, if affairs are defperate, nothing fhall part me from you. I'll flare your dangers. Mor. Since I must have an empire, prepare yourself, Jenny, for the cares of royalty. Let us on to battle, to victory. Hark, the trumpet. [Trumpet founds. Vander. AIR XLVI. We've cheated the Parfon. Defpair leads to battle, no courage fo great: No retreat. Mor. They must conquer or die who've no retreat. [Ex. SCENE, a room in a poor cottage. Cawwawkee in chains, Polly. Polly. Unfortunate prince! I cannot blame your difbelief, when I tell you that I admire your virtues, and fhare in your misfortunes. Caw. To be oppreffed by an European implies merit. Yet you are an European. Are you fools? Do you believe one another? Sure fpeech can be of no use among you. Polly. There are conftitutions that can refift a peftilence. 1 Caw. But fure vice muft be inherent in fuch conftitutions. You are afhamed of your hearts, you can lie, How can you bear to look into yourselves? Polly. My fincerity, could even bear your examination. Caw. You have cancelled faith. How can I believe you? You are cowards too, for you are cruel. Polly. Would it were in my power to give you proofs of my compaffion. Caw. You can be avaritious. That is a complication of all vices. It comprehends them all. Heaven guard our country from the infection. Polly. Yet the worst of men allow virtue to be amiable, or there would be no hypocrites. Carv. Caw. Have you then hypocrify still among you? For all that I have experienced of your manners is open violence, and barefaced injustice. Who that had ever felt fatisfaction of virtue would ever part with it? Polly. My heart feels your fentiments, and my tongue longs to join in 'em. Polly. Cheerful even amid diftrefs; Caw. Polly. Nor pain nor croffes, Nor grief nor loffes, Caw. Nor death itself can make it lefs. Polly Caw. Here relying, Suff'ring, dying, Polly. Honeft fouls find all redress. Caw. Having this, I want no other confolation. I am prepared for all misfortune. Polly, Had you means of efcape, you could not refuse it. To preferve your life is your duty. Caw. By difhoneft means, I fcorn it. Polly. But ftratagem is allowed in war; and 'tis law ful to ufe all the weapons employed against you. You may fave your friends from affliction, and be the inftrument of refcuing your country. Carv. Thofe are powerful inducements. I feek not voluntarily to refign my life. While it lafts, I would do my duty. Pally. Polly. I'll talk with our guard. What induces them to rapine and murder, will, induce them to betray. You may offer them what they want; and from no hands, upon no terms, corruption can refift the temptation. Caw. I have no fkill. Thofe who are corrupt themfelves know how to corrupt others. You may do as you pleafe. But whatever you promife for me, contrary to the European custom, I will perform. For, though, a knave may break his word with a knave, an honest tongue knows no fuch diftinctions. Polly. Gentlemen, I defire fome conference with you, that may be for your advantage. Enter Laguerre and Capstern. Polly. Know you that you have the Indian prince in your cuflody. Laguerre. Full well. Polly. Know you the treasures that are in his power? Laguerre. I know too that they shall foon be ours. Polly. In having him in your poffeffion they are yours. Laguerre. As how, friend? Polly. He might well reward you. Laguerre. For what? Polly. For his liberty. Caw. Yes, European, I can and will reward you. Capftern. He's a great man, and I trust no fuch promifes. Car. I have faid it, European: and an Indian's heart is always answerable for his words. Polly. Think of the chance of war, gentlemen; conqueft is not fo fure when you fight against those who fight for their liberties. Laguerre. What think you of the propofal? Capftern. The prince can give us places; he can make us all great men. Such a profpect, I can tell you, Laguerre, would tempt our betters. Laguerre. Befides, if we are beaten, we have no retreat to our fhips. Capftern. If we gain our ends, what matter how we come by it. Laguerre. Every man for himself, fay I. There is no being even with mankind, without that univerfal maxim. Confider, brother, we run no rifque. Cap Capftern. Nay, I have no objections. Laguerre. If we conquered, and the booty were to be divided among the crews, what would it amount to? Perhaps this way we might ge tmore than would come to our fhares. Capftern. Then too, I always liked a place at court. I have a genius to get, keep in, and make the most of an employment. Laguerre. You will confider, prince, our own politicians would have rewarded fuch meritorious fervices: we'll go off with you. Capftern. We want only to be known to be employed. Laguerre. Let us unbind him then. Polly. 'Tis thus one able politician outwits another; and we admire their wifdom. You may rely upon the prince's word as much as if he was a poor man. Capflern. Our fortunes then are made. AIR XLVIII. Down in a Meadow. Polly. The fportmen keep hawks, and their quarry they gain; Thus the woodcock, the partridge, the pheasant is flain. What care and expence for their hounds are employ'd! Thus the fox, and the hare, and the ftag are deftroy'd. The fpaniel they cherish, whofe flattering way Can as well as their masters cringe, fawn and betray. Thus ftaunch politicians, look all the world round, Love the men who can ferve as hawk, fpaniel, or hound. END of the SECOND ACT. ACT INDIAN. IR, a party from the British faory have joined us. Their chief attends for your majesty's orders for their difpofition. Pob. Let them be pofted next my command; for I 'would be witness of their bravery. But first let their officer know I would fee him. [Exit Indian. Enter Ducat. -I Ducat. I would do all in my power to ferve your majefty. I have brought up my men, and now, S.r, would fain give up. I fpeak purely upon your majefty's account. For as to courage and all that-I have been a colonel of the militia thefe ten years. Pob. Sure, you have not fear. Are you aman? Ducat. A married man, Sir, who carries his wife's heart about him, and that indeed is a little timorous. Upon promife to her, I am engaged to quit in cafe of a battle; and her heart hath ever governed me more than my own. Befides, Sir, fighting is not our bufinefs; we pay others for fighting; and yet 'tis well known we had rather part with our lives than our money. Pob. And you have no spirit then to defend it? Your families, your liberties, your properties are at stake. If thefe cannot move you, you must be born without a heart. Ducat. Alas, Sir! we cannot be answerable for human infirmities. 1 AIR XLIX. There was an old man, and he liv'd. What man can on virtue or courage tepofe, Like gold, if intrinfic. fure nobody knows, Pob. How different are your notions from ours! We F think |