think virtue, honour, and courage, as effential to man as his limbs, or fenfes; and in every man we fuppose the qualities of a man, 'till we have found the contrary; but then we regard him only as a brute in disguise. How custom can degrade nature! Ducat. Why fhould I have any more fcruples about myfelf, than about my money? If I can make my courage pafs current, what matter is it to me whether it be true or false? 'Tis time enough to own a man's failings when they are found out. If your majefty then will not difpenfe with my duty to my wife, with permiffion, I'll to my poft. 'Tis wonderful to me that kings ever go to war, who have fo much to lofe, and nothing effential to get. [Exit. Pob. My fon a prifoner! Tortured perhaps and inhumanly butchered! Human nature cannot bear up against fuch afflictions. The war muft fuffer by his abfence. More then is required from me. Grief raises my refolution, and calls me to relieve him, or to a just revenge. What mean those shouts ? Enter Indian. Indian. The prince, Sir, is returned. The troops are animated by his prefence. With fome of the pirates in his retinue, he waits your majefty's commands. Enter Cawwawkee, Polly, Laguerre, Capftern, &c. Pob. Victory then is ours. Let me embrace him. Welcome, my fon. Without thee my heart could not have felt a triumph. Caw. Let this youth then receive your thanks. Το him are owing my life and liberty. And the love of virtue alone gained me his friendship. Pob. This hath convinced me that an European can be generous and honest. Caw. These others, indeed, have the paffion of their country. I owe their fervices to gold, and my promise is engaged to reward them. How it galls honour to have obligations to a dishonourable man! Laguerre. I hope your majefty will not forget our fer vices. Poh. I am bound for my fon's engagements. Caw. For this youth I will be anfwerable. Like a gem found in rubbish, he appears the brighter among these his countrymen. AIR AIR L. Iris la plus charmante. Friendship lafts on the year. Friendship, enjoy'd the longer, Oh, may the flame divine Burn in your breast like mine! Polly. Moft noble pricce, my behaviour shall justify the good opinion you have of me; and my friendship is beyond profeffions. Pob. Let thefe men remain under guard, 'till after the battle. All promises shall then be made good to you. [Exeunt Pirates, guarded. Caro. May this young man be my companion in the war? As a boon I request it of you. He knows our cause is juft, and that is fufficient to engage him in it. Pob. I leave you to appoint him his command. Dif pose of him as you judge convenient. Polly. To fall into their hands is certain torture and death. As far as my youth and strength will permit me, you may rely upon my duty. Enter Indian. Indian. Sir the enemy are advancing towards us. Pob. Victory then is at hand. Juftice protects us, and Courage fhall fupport us. Let us then to our posts. SCENE, the field of battle. Culverin, Hacker, and Pirates. AIR LI. There was a jovial beggar. Pir, When horns, with chearful found, Chorus. Impatience warms the hound, [Exeunt. 2 Pirs 2 Pir. Chorus. How charms the trumpet's breath! Culverin. But yet I don't fee, brother Hacker, why we should be commanded by a neger. 'Tis all along of him that we are led into thefe difficulties. I hate this land fighting. I love to have fea-room. Hacker. We are of the council, brother. If ever we get on board again, my vote fhall be for calling of him to account for thefe pranks. Why fhould we be fuch fools to be ambitious of fatisfying another's ambition ? Culverin. Let us mutiny. I love mutiny as well as my wife. 1 Pir. Let us mutiny. 2 Pir. Ay, let us mutiny. Hacker. Our captain takes too much upon him. I am for no engroffer of power. By our articles he hath no command but in a fight or in a storm.. Look'ee, bro thers, I am for mutiny as much as any of you, when occafion offers. Culverin. Right, brother, all in good feafon. The pafs to our fhips is cut off by the troops of the plantation. We must fight the Indians firft, and we have a mutiny good afterwards. Hacker. Is Morano ftill with his doxy? Culverin. He's yonder on the right, putting his troops in order for the onfet. Hacker. I with this fight of ours were well over. For, to be fure, let foldiers fay what they will, they feel more pleasure after a battle than in it. Culverin. Does not the drum head here, quarter-mafter, tempt you to fling a merry main or two? [Takes dice out of his pocket. Hacker. If I lofe my money, I fhall reimburse myself from the Indians. I have set. [Flings. Culverin. Have at you. A nick. again. "Culverin. I'm at it. Seven or eleven. [Flings.] Eleven. Hacker. Hack. Furies! A manifeft cog! I won't be bubbled, Sir. This would not pafs upon a drunken country gentleman. Death, Sir, I won't be cheated. Culv. The money is mine. D'you take me for a sharper, Sir? Hack. Yes, Sir. Cul. I'll have faisfaction. Hack. With all my heart. Enter Morano, Vanderbluff, &c. [Fighting. Mor. For fhame, gentlemen! [Parting them.] Is this a time for private quarrel? What do I fee! Dice upon the drum-head! If you have not left off thofe cowardly tools, you are unworthy your profeffion. The articles you have fworn to, prohibit gaming for money. Friendship and fociety cannot fubfift where it is practifed. As this is the day of battle, I remit your penalties. But let me hear no more of it. Culv. To be call'd fharper, Captain, is a reproach that no man of honour can put up. Hack. But to be one, is what no man of honour can practise. Mor. If you will not obey orders, quarter-master,. this pistol fhall put an end to the difpute. [Claps it to his head.] The common caufe now requires your agreement. If gaming is fo rife, I don't wonder that treachery ftill fubfifts among you. Hack. Who is treacherous? Mor. Capftern and Laguerre have let the prince and the stripling, you took prifoner, efcape, and are gone off with them to the Indians. Upon your duty, gentlemen, this day, depends our all. Cuv. Rather than have ill-blood-among us I return the money. I value your friendship more. Let all animofities be forgot. Mor. We fhould be Indians among ourselves, and fhew our breeding and parts to every body elfe. If we cannot be true to one another, and falfe to all the world befide, there is an end of every great enterprize. Hack. We have nothing to trust to but death or victory. Mor. Then hey for victory and plunder, my lads! AIR LII. To you, fair ladies. Mor. 1ft Pir. We must advance or be undone. Mor. Chorus. Think thus, and then the battle's won. Mor. You fee your booty, your plunder, gentlemen. The Indians are just upon us. The great muft venture death fome way or other, and the less ceremony about it, in my opinion, the better. But why talk I of death! Thofe only talk of it, who fear it. Let us all live and enjoy our conquefts. Sound the charge. AIR LIII. Prince Eugene's march. When the tyger roams, And the timorous flock is in his view, Fury foams, He thirfts for the blood of the crew. Thirst with the number grows, On he pours, with a wide wafte pursuing, Vander. Let us on, one and all! ft Pir. How they fly, how they fall! Mor. For the war, for the prize I burn. Vander. Were they dragons, my lads, as they fit brooding upon treafure, we would fright them from their nefts. Mor. But fee, the enemy are advancing to clofe engagement. Before the onfet, we'll demand a parley, and, if we can, obtain honourable terms-We are overpower'd by numbers, and our retreat is cut off.. 3 Enter |