(Comes forward.) Let them despatch, and send me to my husband: (All rise.) I've liv'd too long with falschood and deceit. Mayor. What says the lady? Mos. Oh! sir, heed her not: Her husband has not been at home to-night, Mayor. Scarce an hour Since I beheld him enter here with you. It was a stranger, since departed hence. Mayor. That's most surprising. No man knows him better. Frank. (Without.) Within there! ho! bar up your gates with care, And set a watch. Let not a man go by! Enter FRANKLIN and others, with lights. Mayor. Murder'd! Green. How? Mos. By whom? Frank. How shall I utter what my eyes have seen! Horrid, with many a gaping wound, he lies Mayor. Justly art thou mov'd. Passion is reason in a cause like this. Frank. Eternal Providence, to whose bright eye Mayor. Here scize them all-this instant: (Alicia faints.) (Knocking at the gate.)Look to the lady. This may be but feign'd. A. Fowl. What noise is that? [Exit Michael. Your charge but goes along with my suspicions. Brad. Pray heaven, that all be right. Mos. Bar all the doors. Brad. And mine. A. Fowl. And mine. Frank. First hear me, and then judge, Not to be trusted to the faithless memory: These are presumptions he was murder'd here, And that th' assassins having borne his corse Into the fields, hither return'd again. Mos. Are these your proofs? Green. These are but circumstances, And only prove thy malice. Frank. And this scarf, Known to be Arden's, in the court was found, All blood. Magor. Search 'em. Aich. I thought I'd thrown it down the well. (Aside) Mayor. (Toan Officer.) Enter that room, and search the lady there; We may, perhaps, discover more. (Officer goes out and re-enters; in the mean- 1 Officer. On Arden's wife I found this letter. Well may'st thou hang thy head, detested villain; I saw it on his hand. Mos. I freely yield me to my fate. Enter another Officer. Officer. We've seiz'd two men behind some stacks of wood. Mayor. Well, bring 'em in. BLACK WILL and SHAKEBAG brought in. (Having read the letter.) B. Will. Since we're sure to die, though I could wish it were in better company, (for I hate that fawning rascal, Mosby,) I'll tell the truth for once. He has been long engaged in an affair with Arden's wife there; but fearing a discovery, and hoping to get into his estate, hired us to hide him. That's all. Mayor. And you the horrid deed perform'd? Shake. We did, with his assistance, and Green's and Michael's May suffer in bad fellowship. And Bradshaw, My honest neighbour, Bradshaw, too: I read it With grief and wonder. Brad. Madam, I appeal To you, as you are shortly to appear Ali. You brought the letter, But well I hope, you knew not the contents. Mayor. Hence with them all, till time and further light Shall clear these mysteries. A. Fowl. If I'm condemn'd, So shall the growth of such enormous crimes, [Excunt. A COMIC OPERA, IN THREE ACTS.-BY JAMES COBB. ACT I. SCENE I-The Village of Servia, with the Danube; CHORUS.-TURKISH SOLDIERS. Wave our prophet's fam'd standard of glory high, Till the envious moon die away in the sky; ISMAEL. Enter USEPH. LILLA. GHITA. FATIMA. "Sir Useph. Be silent, you soldiers: his highness the Seraskier is coming; he has just arrived with the Turkish army under his command to relieve Belgrade. I have been conversing with him; I told him your loyalty to the sublime Porte. your highness-my dear highness," says I; for we talked it very familiarly: "I am the chief magistrate of this village; I know the Ottoman Porte has not more loyal subjects in all the province of on Servia; and as for your highness-always talking of your highness-your highness's name is never out of our mouths." By-the-by, remember his name And, like the pale Christians, leave Danube's fair is Mohamed Aboubeker Ben Abdallah Ben Ali; 1 stream To reflect our victorious crescent's bright beam. dare say you never heard it before. So, says the Seraskier to me, "My dear Useph Ben Yacomb Ben Mustapha " at the same time graciously laughing atine with great condescension. (Flourish.) Oh! here he comes: now you shall see how his highness is pleased to honour me; I shall certainly be created a pacha of three tails. Enter SERASKIER, ISMAEL, and Attendants. Seras. Useph, come hither. Useph. Yes, your highness. (Apart to the Peasants.) Now he is going to consult me on some great military operation. Seras. Are there many pretty girls in this neighbourhood? Lilla. I am but a poor country girl, sir; my name is Lilla; but I love Leopold, and Leopold loves me; yet my cross, ill-natured brother wants me to refuse Leopold, to marry that ugly old miser, Useph, a justice of peace in our village. Seras. Useph! Oh! the old poacher! (Aside.) Does your brother object to Leopold? Lilla. He says, and please your highness, that Leopold is too passionate to make a good husband; now, I owe he is rather violent, but I don't like him a bit the worse for that. Seras. Where is Leopold? Lilla. Ah! my lord, my mind misgives me that some mischief has happened to him; but they locked me up to prevent my going in search of him. Seras. Then how came you here? Lilla. Please your highness, I jumped out of the window. Seras. What a pleasing sample of rustic simplicity; how handsome she is! (To Ismael.) Ismael. What, my lord, do you forget your Austrian captive? Seras. Forget her; no: but why should I confine myself to a single rose, when I can form a bouquet of them. Well, charming Lilla, within this halfhour I promise you redress. Conduct her to my tent, and attend her well. Lilla. A thousand thanks, your highness. [Exit. Seras. Is she not beautiful, Ismael? Ismael. I own, my lord, she is beautiful; but Seras. But what? Ismael. I beg your highness' pardon; but while I see the black eagle soar upon the walls of Belgrade, I cannot forget that I am a soldier. Seras. Nor I, Ismael; but I have room in my heart for love and valour at the same time; I never fight better than when I am in love; Mars never smiles so propitiously upon me as when I am paying my adoration to Venus; so, if you wish me to conquer the Austrians, you must get me this girl. [Exit Ismael.] She is a charming creature, and shall be mine. Peter. Indeed, sir! Ghita. Hear me, sir. Useph. No, I'll not hear you: am I to be talked to by you? I, who have conversed with his highness the Seraskier?-besides, I hate to hear both sides of the question; it perplexes me so, that I never know how to make a decision. Peter. Why, then, sir, how can you decide? Useph. Why, I decide that you are both in the wrong. I fancy that decision will hold good in most quarrels; my friend, his highness the Seraskier, could not make a better decision. But whereis your sister? where is my dear Lilla? 1 (To Peter.) Ghita. Why, Peter has locked her up, to keep her from your rival, Leopold. Useph. Ah! that's a desperate dog: he is always in a desperate passion, and always pretending to keep his temper; he is the very torch of sedition, and always in a blaze. (Leopold singing without.) Eh! why, that's his voice. I-I-I don't much wish for meeting-Here he comes. Useph. It was rather cloudy when I was talking to his highness the Seraskier just now. But I believe I can answer your inquiries: in the first place- Leop. What do you mean by that? I'd have you know that I won't take an insult from any man living. Useph. Why, there is no talking to you: I can't reason with you. gistrate and a cou.tier: do you respect my authoity? (Marching up to Leopold, who draws back.) Leop. (Marching up to Useph, who draws back.) No, I do not: that for your authority. (Snaps his fingers.) A magistrate, indeed! Ha, ha, ha! Look at the magistrate. What have you to say now, magistrate? Useph. Nothing: if you don't respect authority, there's an end of the matter. Leop. (To Peter.) Give me the key. Peter. Why, to say the truth, Leopold, I have lost it. Leop. Lost it! Oh! very well. But it's no matter: I believe this right shoulder of mine will force any lock. I'll break open the door; and I'll do it without any violence, only to shew how I can keep my temper; now 1 defy any of you to say that I put myself in a passion. D-e! stand out of the way, or I'll knock you down, you old goat. me. (Going.) [Pushes violently against Useph, and exit. Ghita. What do you think now, sir? Useph. 'Faith! I don't know; my thoughts are rather confused;-I-I-I (Noise without.) There, there, he has broke the door all to smash. Good morning to you: perhaps his highness waits for Peter. Consider, sir, you had better not leave us. Useph. Indeed, I beg your pardon; our good hubrains very coolly; only to shew what he can do moured friend may come back and knock out my without being in a passion. [Exit, with Peter. Ghita. Poor Lilla! I hope Leopold will carry her off. I am sure she loves him, and that he loves her; the whole village will rejoice at their wedding. SCENE III.- Outside of Peter's house; a garden wall round it. Leop. It's false; you-I say, you are mistaken. I insist upon your reasoning with me; d-e! you shall reason with me; ay, and coolly, too, though I LEOPOLD discovered at the window, out of which is know you are my rival. a veil hanging. Leop. Poor Lilla! nowhere to be found: she's window, in a fit of despair. I'll after her. (Jumps gone; and, by her veil hanging here out of the out and comes out of the door of the garden wall with the veil.) This relic of my beloved Lilla shall servo to keep my resentment alive. But where's that cruel villain, Peter? d-e! I'll maul him. [Retires into the garden, Enter PETER. Peter. Ha! the window open! nay, then |