er ANSELM, PETER, LEOPOLD, &c.-ANSELM gives the Colonel a sword. Slaves go off. ANSELM. PETER, and LEOPOLD go into the tower. SERAS<IER re-enters with his sword drawn; the Colonel Eghts with him, and drives him off. The Turks are driven from the tower; the Turkish flag is taken down, and the Austrian colours hoisted. A party of Austrians enter from the tower, with PETER, LEOPOLD, ANSELM, and Peasants. Col. COHENBERG enters. Drums and trumpets. Col. The villain has escaped me in the throng. at, oh! Catherine is no where to be found. Peter. A Turkish soldier told me, even now, some rsemen bore her over yonder plain. Col. Ha! over yonder plain! FINALE. Now victory has, like a mistress kind, In a brimming cup our joys we'll find, From the vine we'll pluck our quarrels. Let us drink as we fight; with loud huzzas, We'll charge, and scorn all shrinking; Till our wine, like the foe, retreats apace, And we shew our valour in drinking. ACT III. [Erit. [Ereunt. Fat. Then you are resolved to leave us, Lilla? Lilla. Yes, your ladyship, that I will as soon as I can. Fat. And are you not sorry to part with your fine clothes, and quit the pleasures of the seraglio? Lilla. Pleasures, madam, what are they? Fat. Why, 'tis our pleasure to obey his highness, the Seraskier, who is our lord and husband. Lilla. And have you no other husband? Fat. Why, that's a very odd question. Lilla. Nay, I beg your ladyship's pardon; but I understand there are five-and-twenty; if so, what a pity you should only have one husband amongst you. Fat. Nay, nay; I ought not to be sorry at your going, or for the beautiful stranger leaving us. I have, hitherto, been the Seraskier's favourite; and you are two dangerous rivals,-Oh! here she comes. Enter CATHERINE from the tent. Cath. This intelligence of Cohenberg's safety, gives me new life. Now let fortune do her worst. Well, Fatima, are the sentinels bribed to let us pass? Fat. I gave Selim the gold, as you desired; who, aoubtless, has obeyed your orders. Cath. So, Lilla, I find you are to be my guide to the castle. Are you sure you know the way? Lilla. Yes, my lady; 'tis by the private path, which leads directly to it. I dare say we shall be safe. [Trembling. Cath. Why do you tremble, Lilla ? Lilla. No, my lady-yes-yes-yes, I believe I am a little afraid. Cath. Oh, for shame! You a lover! Consider. Lilla. No, I won't consider. Now, pray, madam. talk finely to me, as you did a little while ago, and don't let me think of difficulties. Cath. Difficulties! they are the test of virtue, the spur to courage: the noble mind would lose half its splendour, were it not for the pleasure of surmounting difficulties [Exeunt. Peter. Without.] The enemy's camp's on fire. Plunder's the word. Enter PETER, LEOPOLD, ANSELM, Peasants, and Austrian Soldiers, who cut down the SERASKIER'S tent, and carry it off in pieces. The Turkish camp is seen on fire, at a distance. Drums and trumpets are heard. Re-enter LEOPOLD and PETER. Leop. Lilla not to be found! Oh! she is in the plot; I am sure she is; she has done it on purpose. knew she would run away when I married her: I was certain. Peter. 'Tis a pity, indeed. Leop. 'Tis false! 'tis not a pity. Peter. Well, then, 'tis not a pity. What a plague, mustn't I be sorry for you? Leop. Rot your sorrow! No. Peter. Well, I won't be sorry, then Leop. But are you really sorry for me, Peter? Peter. To be sure I am you know the friendship I have had for you, ever since we were boys together. Leop. Give me your hand, then. I ask your pardon. But why will you provoke me? Peter. Why was you provoked then? Leop. No, I was not; but I mean that I say I mean-Zounds! I don't know what I mean. SONG.-LEOPOLD. How provoking your doubts! Do you think I'm a fivi? In the heat of the batile you know I was cool; 4 E 2 ! Enter an Austrian Soldier, conducting in USEPH and MICHAEL. USEPH dressed as an Austrian officer. Useph. Ay, that was my Turkish title; but it I Enter an Austrian Soldier. Sold. [To LILLA.] Our Colonel is a madam; but I shall be happy to attend re ship. Useph. [To the Soldier.] Harkye! mywho is this pretty piece of camp farature e Sold. Hush! 'tis our Colonel's lady. I first who saw her here, and expect to be corporal for it. Useph. [Aside to MICHAEL] Oh ba know my cue.-Leave us, Michael (En Ma -USEPH bows to LILLA.] How happy are wea see your ladyship returned! The Coated amiable creature; he does me the hoo my house: it was mine yesterday. Indeni got to ask my leave; but true politenesstrifles. He must have a number of ver things at his disposal. Oh! if ever I be appointed a commissary-and if yur would but stand my friend-Pray, is re fond of jewels? Lilla. Aside.] If I speak to him, he'l now r Enter two Soldiers. Lilla. Turn him out. Useph. I won't go without my pear's. * * peril, detain them. Lookye! my ads a Mich. Yes; and as you never had a good name before, I hope you will keep it, now you have got it. Useph. Ha, ha! Very well; you are a sharp fellow, Michael; I'll recommend you to the Colonel, when I am appointed to some post of great emolu-gistrate; I see you are well-disposed persons ment under him: you shall be my deputy, and do so I'll explain to you the nature of justice as t all the business for me,-[Aside.] and I'll take all vate property. For instance: my par my pearls[Soldiers pa the money. Michael. Mich. So I will. I have often wondered where Lilla. Ha, ha, ha! I think I shall be en AIR.-LILLA The dearest bliss fate could bestos, CENE III-Outside of Colonel Cohenberg's House. --EPH discovered being pushed out of the house by two Soldiers. Useph. Well, but hear me: I say, that-there! y have turned me out, and won't hear me. Noly will attend to me. What a miserable dog I F. Never was there so unhappy a magistrate! Enter LEOPOLD. Leop. Cruel, cruel, Lilla! Leop. She has robbed me of my peace for ever? Useph. She has robbed me, too; however, I am ady to make the matter up, if you'll pay me for e pearls. Leop. What does the fellow mean? Useph. Hear me patiently, and I'll tell you all. Useph. I intended those pearls as a present to a ertain person. Leop. And you gave them to Lilla? Useph. Yes, in my house-Colonel Cohenberg's, mean; for there she is. Leop. What, Lilla there! Oh, ho! [Knocks. Sold. Within.] What, you won't go along!— Comes out, and sees LEOPOLD.] Ha! brother sollier, how are you? Leop. Very well, thankye. Well, and so you are bere. And how are you? Isn't there a young woman-I'm glad to see you-I say a young woman -How long have you been here ?-Called Lilla, at this house? Sold. Yes, she's within. Come with me. [Ersunt LEOPOLD and Soldier. USEPH attempts to follow; but is pushed back, and the door shuts. Useph. What, shut the door in my face! I see there is no chance of getting the pearls; and I shall be ruined if I stay here; so, I'll e'en pack up my remaining treasure, and go over to the Turks. I got all my money by changing sides, and I'll change sides to keep it. Honest at last, Tir'd of the past, Perhaps, as a change, I may try it at last. [Exit. SCENE IV-A Room at Colonel Cohenberg's. Enter LEOPOLD and LILLA. Lilla. My dear Leopold, how glad I am to see you! Was it not lucky that I heard Useph say where his riches were? Leop. Yes, very lucky. [Aside.] Not a word of the pearls yet.-Well, but, Lilla,-I say this fine dress of yours-Zounds! I can't bear to look at it. Lilla. What, more suspicions, Leopold? Leop. No, my suspicions are vanished. Lilla. I am glad of it. Leop. Yes, I am convinced of your falsehood.Where are the pearls that Useph gave you? I suppose you can explain that to me. Lilla. I'll explain nothing, Leopold. Your want of confidence in me vexes me to the heart. I am sure we shall never be happy, if this be the case. [Cries. Leop. Oh! very well. I see what-you wish to part-Oh! with all my heart. Lilla. And with all mine. Lilla. DUET.-LEOPOLD and LILLA. By the cheerful drum and fife. Love's all nonsense, freedom's sweet; Lilla. I don't want, sir, to allure you ; Lilla. Lilla. Never more? Leop. Never more. Both. Never more my love shall leave me ; Never part-no, never more. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-A Turkish Burial-ground. Enter PETER, followed by LEOPOLD, with a small cane. Peter. How fortunate that Lilla should overhear Useph discover where his treasures are hidden. But you say we are to carry this money to Colonel Co henberg, who will deliver it to the lawful owners. Leop. Yes; we are to commit a robbery for the public good. So, follow me, Peter. In we go. Enter MICHAEL with a sack, and USEPH disguised in a long cloak. Useph. Come along, Michael. But make no noise, that we may make our escape, undiscovered, to Belgrade. This is the spot where I buried my poor, dear wife, two years ago. Mich. I recollect it. Useph. Ah! many a time, in the dead of the night, have I visited this place. Mich. What the plague, did you want to steal your wife? Useph. No, no; I ran away with her once, when she was alive; and repented it ever afterwards. She was a good soul, but rather turbulent; never quiet, till she arrived here; and, now she is at rest, I should be sorry to disturb her. There, Michael; that tomb is my banking-house; and, perhaps, it is not the first banking-house where a fortune has been buried. However, this is an old established shop, and all the parties in it quiet, safe people. Mich. Then we come to remove the treasure? Useph. Even so, my boy: I shall take away my money, and leave my wife. Many a husband would think that no had bargain. [Going in, meets PETER and LEOPOLD. Oh, terrible! What do I see! my riches! Oh! you audacious robbers! Oh! you sacrilegious villains! Leop. Now, don't make a noise; you must be cool. Useph. Why, you impudent varlet! Do you plunder me, and preach to me at the same time? Zounds! I'll never be cool again. Leop. Yes, you will. [Strikes him with a cane.] How do you find yourself, now? [Strikes him again. Useph. Oh! good, kind Leopold, I am cool-indeed, I am quiet. Leop. Now, then, let's hear what you have to say. Useph. May I, then, without offence, ask what right you have to take my money? I don't ask this in anger; I am quite cool. Leop. Your money! Why, your name is Heroon Joseph Wolfgang Baumbork Blaudenkerstoon Schwertzenbergen. Peter. And this money belongs to one Ben Yacomb Ben Ali Ben Mustapha. Leop. An old, roguish magistrate of this village, who used to cheat people of their property. Come, honest Michael, you shall carry this treasure for us to Colonel Cohenberg's. Useph. To Colonel Cohenberg's! Why, what the devil Leop. What, you want the other dose? Ism. Pray, my lord, return. frontiers of the Austrians. You are Seras. Not till I recover Catherine. T Hark! I am called to arms. Begone, arr LE crescent to the wars. AIR. SERASKIEK Love and honour now conspire The lover-soldier's armi, SCENE VII.-Castle and view of Belgrade.—Te siege commences. Guns firing baits of fire, ravaau to be thrown to fire the citadel A party of Io * are repulsed by a party of Austrians. An aeria Soldier fights some time sword in hand a 2 a Turkish Soldier: but, ing his sourd, raves a pistol from his belt, and fires at ham; the Turk falls, and is thrown into the ditch that surroun La the Castle.-Enter the SERASKIED and C. C.The SERASKIES HENBERG fighting. PETER, LEOPOLD, ANSELM, &c. fight ma de Turkish Soldiers. USEPH enter, and faste his sword on the side of the Turks; bus tune are sure to be conquered, joins the fulani Drums and trumpets heard all the time. Col. [To the SERASKIER, who is down.] Rar, un! learn Christian revenge. Enter CATHERINE. FINALE.-In the course of which, ester Ganta and LILLA. Loud let the song of triumph rist Cho. Leop. Well, then, assist Peter in loading Michael. Cath. Useph. This is d-d hard to make a man accessary to robbing himself. [They put several bags, which PETER and LEOPOLD brought from the tomb, into the sack, then place it on MICHAEL's back, who carries it off USEPH puts one of the bags into his pocket, unseen by PETER or LEOPOLD.Exeunt. Seras. Cho. Cho. Bless'd triumph o'er oppremia's no Bless'd triumph o'er oppressica's many; DUET.-LILLA and GHITA. Now while music her strains mort inribing, Leop. All ill-humour thus vented in fighting, DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. LORD TOUCHWOOD LORD FROTH SIR PAUL PLIANT MASKWELL MELLEFONT CARELESS BRISK SAYGRACE THOMAS LADY TOUCHWOOD ACT I. SCENE I.—A Gallery in Lord Touchwood's house, with chambers adjoining. Enter CARELESS, crossing the stage, as just risen from Care. Where are the women? I'm weary of drinking, and begin to think them the better company. Mel. Then thy reason staggers, and thou'rt almost tipsy. Care. No, 'faith! but your fools grow noisy; and if a man must endure the noise of words without sense, I think the women have more musical voices, and become nonsense better. Mel. Why, they are at the end of the gallery, retired to their tea and scandal. But I made a pretence to follow you, because I had something to say to you in private, and I am not likely to have many opportunities this evening. Brisk. [Without.] Careless, Careless! Care. And here's this coxcomb, most critically come to interrupt you. Enter BRISK. Brisk. Boys, boys, lads, where are you? What, do you give ground? Mortgage for a bottle, eh? Careless, this is your trick; you're always spoiling company by leaving it. Care. And thou art always spoiling company by coming into it. Brisk. Pooh! Ha, ha, ha! I know you envy me. Spite, proud spite, by the gods, and burning envy. takes raillery better, you or I. Psha! man, when I'll be judged by Meliefont here, who gives and I say you spoil company by leaving it, I mean you leave nobody for the company to laugh at. I think there I was with you: eh! Mellefont? |