His confidence amazes me-Perhaps It is not what he says-I'm strongly tempted How immense the worth of these fair jewels? At our approach, and once more bend before us.- The bright temptation, and I see it yet- Why am I thrill'd with horror?-'Tis not choice, Enter OLD WILMOT. O. Wil. The mind contented, with how little pains The wand'ring senses yield to soft repose, What art thou gazing on ?-Fie, 'tis not well- Ag. And who shall know it? O. Wil. There is a kind of pride, a decent dignity, Due to ourselves; which, spite of our misfor Howe'er we may deceive ourselves or others, For our own preservation. O. Wil. Rest contented: Agn. Then nought remains, To put thy life and fortune in the hands Agn. By what means O. Wil. Why, what a fiend!- Agn. Barbarous man! Whose wasteful riots ruin'd our estates, Thou most remorseless, most ungrateful man! O. Wil. Dry thy tears: I ought not to reproach thee. I confess That thou hast suffer'd much: so have we both. [Exit AGNES. Or I'm deceived, or he pronounc'd himself The happiest of mankind. Deluded wretch! Thy thoughts are perishing, thy youthful joys, Touch'd by the icy hand of grisly death, Are with'ring in their bloom. But, thought extinguish'd, He'll never know the loss, nor feel the bitter His slumbers seem, they can't continue long. O. Wil. O, Agnes! Agnes! if there be a hell, 'tis just Stop, hold thy hand!—Inconstant, wretched wo man! What! doth my heart recoil?-O, Wilmot! Wil mot ! What power shall I invoke to aid thee, Wilmot [Scene closes SCENE III-Another Room. Enter CHARLOTTE, EUSTACE, and RANDAL. Char. What strange neglect! The doors are all unbarr'd, And not a living creature to be seen. Enter OLD WILMOT and AGNES. What prodigy of horror is disclosing, O. Wil. Pr'ythee, peace: The miserable damn'd suspend their howling, And the swift orbs are fix'd in deep attention. Ran. What mean these dreadful words and frantic air! That is the dagger my young master wore. Eus. My mind misgives me. Do not stand to And death and darkness bury in oblivion Mankind and all their deeds, that no posterity May ever rise to hear our horrid tale, ́ Or view the grave of such detested parricides. Goes to take the dagger, lets it fall. O. Wil. Curses and deprecations are in vain. Agn. Shake off this panic, and be more your-The sun will shine and all things have their We should expect it. self. O. Wil. What's to be done? On what had we determin'd? Agn. You're quite dismay'd. course, When we the curse and burden of the earth, [Takes up the dagger. From age to age, to teach desponding mortals, O. Wil. Give me the fatal steel. "Tis but a single murder: Necessity, impatience and despair, The three wide mouths of that true Cerberus, Grim Poverty, demand;-they shall be stopp'd. Ambition, persecution, and revenge, Devour their millions daily and shall I— But follow me, and see how little cause You had to think there was the least remain Of manhood, pity, mercy, or remorse, Left in this savage breast. first. I dare not trust thy weakness. Agn. Ever kind, But most in this! [Stabs AGNES, O. Wil. I will not long survive thee. [Going the wrong way. I'd give them all to speak my penitence, Agn. Where do you go? The street is that way. O. Wil. True, I had forgot. Agn. Quite, quite confounded. O. Wil. Well, I recover. I shall find the way. [Retires towards the bed. Agn. O, softly! softly! The least noise undoes us. What are we doing? Misery and want Say! canst thou show thy hands reeking with | A thousand ages hence, I then should suffer blood, That flow'd, through purer channels, from thy loins? Compute the sands that bound the spacious ocean, Much less than I deserve. Yet let me say, [Dies. Ran. Heaven grant they may! And may thy penitence atone thy crime ! "Tend well the hapless Charlotte, and bear hence These bleeding victims of despair and pride; Toll the death-bell! and follow to the grave The wretched parents and ill-fated son. [Exeunt. THE GUARDIAN: A COMEDY, IN TWO ACTS. BY DAVID GARRICK, Esq. REMARKS. Mr. Garrick, perhaps the best judge of the drama that this or any other nation ever produced, has, in the following ittle piece, presented the theatrical world with a translation of M. Fagan's "Pupille," which was esteemed a very complete little comedy. He has, however, not confined himself to a mere translation, but has, with great judgment, made "such alterations from the original as the difference of the language and manners required.TM The success with which this piece was attended, so far exceeded the hopes of the author, that he availed himself of "an opportunity to return thanks to the public for their kind indulgence, and to the performers, for their great care." Mr. Heartly the guardian, originally performed by Mr. Garrick himself, and Miss Harriot, his ward, by Miau Pritchard, are two finely-drawn characters, which were well supported. SCENE I-A Hall at MR. HEARTLY'S. Enter Sir C. CLACKIT, YOUNG CLACKIT, and SERVANT. Sir C. Tell Mr. Heartly, his friend and neighbour, Sir Charles Clackit, would say three words to him. Serv. I shall, Sir [Exit. Sir C. Now nephew, consider once again, before I open the matter to my neighbour Heartly, what I am going to undertake for you.-Why don't you speak? Young C. Is it proper and decent, uncle? Sir C. Pshaw; don't be a fool-but answer me-don't you flatter yourself What assurance have you that this young lady, my friend's ward, has a liking to you? Young C. First then-Whenever I see her she never looks at me-That's a sign of love.Whenever I speak to her she never answers 16 me-Another sign of love.-And whenever I speak to any body else she seems to be perfectly easy-That's a certain sign of love. Sir C. The devil it is! uncle The business will soon be ended. You) Young C. You'll excuse me, Mr. Heartlywill propose the match, he will give his consent, My uncle does not set up for an orator-a little I shall give mine, miss is sent for, and l'affaire confused or so, Sir-You see what I am--But est fait. [Snapping his fingers. I ought to ask pardon for the young lady and Sir C. And so you think that a young beautiful myself. We are young, Sir.-I must confess we heiress, with forty thousand pounds, is to be had were wrong to conceal it from you—but my uncle, with a scrap of French, and a snap of your fin-1 see is pleased to be angry, and therefore I shall ger?-Pr'ythee, get away, and don't provoke me. say no more at present. Young C. Well, well, I am gone, uncle.When you come to the point, I shall be ready to make my appearance.-Bon voyage! [Exit. Sir C. The devil's in these young fellows, 1 think.-We send 'em abroad to cure their sheepishness, and they get above proof the other way. Enter HEARTLY. Sir C. Why don't you marry, neighbour? A good wife would do well for you. Heart. For me? you are pleased to be merry, Sir Charles. Sir C. No, faith, I am serious, and had I a daughter to recommend to you, you should say me nay, more than once, I assure you, neighbour Heartly, before I would quit you. Heart. I am much obliged to you. Sir C. And now to my business.-You have no objection, I suppose, to tie up your ward, Miss Harriot, though you have slipped the collar yourself.-Ha, ha, ha! Heart. Quite the contrary, Sir; I have taken her some time from the boarding school, and brought her home, in order to dispose of her worthily with her own inclination. Sir C. Her father, I have heard you say, recommended that particular care to you, when she had reached a certain age. Heart. He did so-And I am the more desirous to obey him scrupulously in this circumstance, as she will be a most valuable acquisition to the person who shall gain her-for, not to mention her fortune which is the least consideration, her sentiments are worthy her birth; she is gentle, modest, and obliging. In a word, my friend, I never saw youth more amiable or discreet-but perhaps I am a little partial to her. Sir C. No, no, she is a delicious creature, every body says so.-But I believe, neighbour, something has happened that you little think of. Heart. What, pray, Sir Charles? Re-enter YOUNG CLACKIT. Young C. Here I am at your service, Sir.My uncle is a little unhappy in his manner; but I'll clear the matter in a moment-Miss Harriot, Sir-your ward— Sir C. Get away, you puppy! Young C. Miss Harriot, sir, your ward, a most accomplished young lady, to be sure Sir C. Thou art a most accomplished coxcomb, to be sure. Heart. Pray, Sir Charles, let the young gentleman speak. Sir C. If you don't leave the room this moment, and stay in the garden till I call you— Young C. I am sorry I have displeased youI did not think it was mal-a-propos; but you must have your way, uncle-You command--I submit-Mr. Heartly, yours. [Exit. Sir C. Puppy! [Aside.] My nephew's a little unthinking, Mr. Heartly, as you see, and therefore I have been a little cautious how I have proceeded in this affair: but indeed he has persuaded me, in a manner, that your ward and he are not ill together. Heart. Indeed! This is the first notice I have had of it, and I cannot conceive why Miss Harriot should conceal it from me; for I have often assured her that I would never oppose her inclination, though I might endeavour to direct it. Sir C. You are right, neighbour.-But here she is. Enter HARRIOT and LUCY. Har. He is with company-I'll speak to him another time. [Retires. Lucy. Young, handsome, and afraid of being seen.- -You are very particular, Miss. [Apart to HARRIOT. Heart. Miss Harriot, you must not go.-[HARRIOT returns.] Sir Charles, give me leave to introduce you to this young lady.-[Introduces her.] You know, I suppose, the reason of this gentleman's visit to me? Har. Sir! [Confused. Heart. Don't be disturb'd, I shall not reproach you with any thing but keeping your wishes a secret from me so long. Har. Upon my word, Sir-Lucy! Lucy. Well, and Lucy! I'll lay my life 'tis a treaty of marriage. Is that such a dreadful thing? Oh, for shame, Madam! Young ladies of fashion are not frightened at such things now-a-days. Heart. To SIR CHARLES.] We have gone too far, Sir Charles.-We must excuse her delicacy, and give her time to recover:-I had better talk with her alone; we will leave her now.-Be persuaded that no endeavours shall be wanting on my part to bring this affair to a happy and speedy conclusion. Sir C. I shall be obliged to you, Mr. Heartly.Young lady, your servant.-What grace and modesty! She is a most engaging creature, and I shall be proud to make her one of my family. [TO HEARTLY. Heart. You do us honour, Sir Charles. [Exeunt SIR CHARLES and HEARTLY. Lucy. Indeed, Miss Harriot, you are very particular. You was tired of the boarding school, and yet seem to have no inclination to be married. What can be the meaning of all this? That smirking old gentleman is uncle to Mr. Clackit; and, my life for it, he has made some proposals to your guardian. Har. Pr'ythee, don't plague me about Mr. Clackit. Lucy. But why not, Miss? Though he is a |