MR. MANLY _discovered at his writing-desk--a Servant attending_.
MANLY.
Who do you say wants to speak with me?
SERVANT.
Mr. Lucre, sir.
MANLY.
And who else?
SERVANT.
A person who says his name is Willford, he looks as if he came from
the country, and seems in mean circumstances.
MANLY.
Show him to me directly. And take Mr. Lucre, or any other person of
fashion that may call, to my clerks. [_Exit Servant._] But for the
poor, let them be under _my_ protection.
_Enter_ WILLFORD _and_ ELEANOR.
MANLY.
Come in--walk in, and let me know what I can do to serve you.
WILLFORD.
I deposited, sir, in your clerk's hands, a sum of money to set me free
from confinement for debt.--On his word, I was discharged--he owns he
has not yet paid away this money, still he refuses to restore it to
me, though in return I again render up my person.
MANLY.
And why would you do this?
WILLFORD.
Because my honour--I mean my conscience--for that's the poor man's
honour--is concerned.
MANLY.
Explain yourself.
WILLFORD.
A son of mine, received this sum I speak of, and thought it _given_
him; while it was only meant as a purchase--a purchase of what we had
no right to sell--and therefore it must be restored to the owner.
MANLY.
And who is he?
WILLFORD.
Sir George Splendorville--I suppose you have heard of him?
MANLY.
He, you mean, who by the desire of his father's will, lately changed
his name from Blandford?
WILLFORD.
Sir!
MANLY.
The name, which some part of the family, while reduced, had taken.
WILLFORD.
Good Heaven! Is there such a circumstance in his story?
MANLY.
Why do you ask with such emotion?
WILLFORD.
Because he is the man, in search of whom I left my habitation in
the country, to present before him a destitute young woman, a near
relation.
MANLY.
What relation?--Be particular in your answer.
WILLFORD.
A sister.
MANLY.
I thank you for your intelligence. You have named a person who for
these three years past, I have in vain endeavoured to find.--But did
you say she was in poverty?
WILLFORD.
I did.
MANLY.
I give you joy then--for I have in my possession a deed which conveys
to a lost daughter of Sir George's father, the other half of the
fortune he bequeathed his son--but as yet, all my endeavours have been
in vain to find where she, and an uncle, to whose care she was
entrusted in her infancy, are retired.
WILLFORD. [_Turning to_ ELEANOR.
Now, Eleanor, arm yourself with fortitude--with fortitude to bear not
the frowns, but the smiles of fortune. Be humble, collected, and the
same you have ever been, while I for the first time inform you--you
are not my daughter.--And from this gentleman's intelligence add, you
are rich--you are the deceased Blandford's child, and Splendorville's
sister.
ELEANOR.
Oh! Heavens! Do I lose a father such as you, to gain a brother such as
he is?
MANLY. [_To_ WILLFORD.
There can be no mistake on this occasion--And you, if I am not
deceived, are the brother of the late Mr. Blandford. Your looks, your
person, your very voice confirms it.
WILLFORD.
I have writings in my care, shall prove it beyond a doubt; with the
whole narrative of our separation when he with his son, then a youth,
embarked for India; where I suppose, riches, soon succeeded poverty.
_Enter_ SERVANT.
SERVANT.
Lady Caroline Seymour, sir, is at the door in her carriage, and will
not be denied admittance. She says she must see you upon some very
urgent business.
MANLY. [_To_ WILLFORD _and_ ELEANOR.
Will you do me the favour to step for a moment into this room? Lady
Caroline will not stay long. I'll not detain you.
[_Exit_ WILLFORD _and_ ELEANOR.
_Enter_ LADY CAROLINE.
LADY CAROLINE.
Dear Mr. Manly, I have a thousand apologies to make--And yet I am sure
you will excuse the subject of my visit, when you consider----
MANLY.
Your ladyship will please to sit down.
[_He draws chairs and they sit._
LADY CAROLINE.
You cannot be ignorant, Mr. Manly--you must know, the terms of
acquaintance on which Sir George Splendorville and I have been, for
some time past?--you were his father's agent; his chief solicitor; and
although you are not employed by Sir George, yet the state of his
affairs cannot be concealed from you--Has he, or has he not, any
inheritance yet to come?
MANLY.
Pardon me, madam--though not entrusted by Sir George, I will,
nevertheless, keep his secrets.
LADY CAROLINE.
That is plainly telling me he is worth nothing.
MANLY.
By no means--Sir George, in spite of his profusion, must still be
rich. He has preserved his large estate in Wales; and as to money, I
do not doubt but he has a considerable sum.
LADY CAROLINE.
Not a guinea. I won it all from him last night.
MANLY.
You? You, who are to become his wife?
LADY CAROLINE.
I might, had I not been thus fortunate. But why should I marry him,
when his riches are mine, without that ceremony.
MANLY.
Inconsiderate man!--what will be the end of his imprudence! Yet,
Heaven be praised! he has still that fine estate, I just now
mentioned.
LADY CAROLINE.
Indeed he has not--that has belonged to me these three months.
MANLY.
To you!
LADY CAROLINE.
Yes--Bought for me under another name by agents; and for half its
value.
MANLY.
Madman!--Yet your ladyship must excuse me. I know your income stinted,
and till the death of the Earl, your father, where could you raise
sufficient to make even half the purchase.
LADY CAROLINE.
From Splendorville's own prodigality--from lavish presents made to me
by him.
_Enter_ SERVANT.
SERVANT.
Sir George Splendorville, sir, desires to speak with you--he is at the
door with Mr. Blackman.
LADY CAROLINE.
Oh Heavens! do not let him see me here.
[_She is hastening to the room where_ WILLFORD _and his
daughter are._
MANLY.
I have company there--walk in here, if you Please.
[_Shows her another door and she enters._
MANLY. [_To the servant._
Desire Sir George to walk in.
_Enter_ SIR GEORGE _and_ BLACKMAN.
MANLY.
Sir George, do me the favour to sit down.
[_He looks coolly on_ BLACKMAN, _and pointing to a chair
says_ Good morning. _They sit._
SIR GEORGE.
Mr. Manly, my attorney will let you know the business on which I am
come.
BLACKMAN.
Why yes, Mr. Manly, it is extremely hard that Sir George has for so
long a time been kept out of a very large part of his fortune;
particularly, as he has had occasion for it.
SIR GEORGE.
I have had occasion for it I assure you Mr. Manly; and I have occasion
for it at this very time.
MR. MANLY.
But so may the person, sir, from whom you would take it. In a word,
Sir George, neither your lawyer nor you, shall prevail on me to give
up the trust reposed in me by your father, without certain evidence,
that your sister will never come to make her claim.
BLACKMAN.
You are not afraid of ghosts, are you?
MANLY.
No, nor of robbers either:----you cannot frighten me, Mr. Blackman.
BLACKMAN.
Then depend upon it, the sister of Sir George can never appear in any
other manner than as a spirit. For, here, sir, (_taking from his
pocket a parcel of papers_) here are authentic letters to prove her
death. (SIR GEORGE _looks confused_.)
MANLY.
Her death!
BLACKMAN.
Yes, her death. Here is a certificate from the curate of the parish in
which she was buried.
MANLY.
Buried too!
BLACKMAN.
Yes, sir, buried. Here is also an affidavit from the sexton of the
said village, signed by the overseer and churchwardens, testifying the
same.--You see, (_shewing him the paper, and reading at the fame
time_) "Died Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine,
the seventeenth of June----"
[_Mr._ MANLY _takes the paper, and while he is reading_,
SIR GEORGE _says apart_----
SIR GEORGE.
How near to the brink of infamy has my imprudence led me! And s'death,
my confusion takes from me the power to explain, and expose the
scoundrel.
Mr. Manly, I will leave you for the present; but you shall hear from me
shortly,--when this matter shall be accounted for clearly--perfectly
to your satisfaction, you may depend upon it.--(_Going._)
MANLY.
Stay, Sir George, and----
BLACKMAN.
Aye, Sir George, stay and see Mr. Manly's objections wholly removed.
He seems to doubt the evidence of paper; I must, therefore, beg leave
to produce a living witness--the gentleman whom I appointed to meet me
here.
MANLY.
And who is he?
BLACKMAN.
The apothecary, who attended Sir George's sister in her dying illness.
[SIR GEORGE _starts_.
MANLY.
Desire him to walk in by all means. What is the matter, Sir George,
you look discomposed?
BLACKMAN.
Sir George is something nervous, Mr. Manly; and you know the very name
of a medical gentleman, will affect the nerves of some people.
[BLACKMAN _goes to the door, and leads on_ BLUNTLY,
_dressed in mourning_.
SIR GEORGE. [_Aside._
Bluntly!--But I will see the end of this.
MANLY.
(_Bowing to him_). You are an apothecary, I think, sir?
[BLUNTLY _looks at_ BLACKMAN]
BLACKMAN.
Yes, sir.
BLUNTLY.
(_After seeming inclined to say_, No). Yes, sir.
MANLY.
Pray sir, what disorder took the young lady, on whose account you have
been brought hither, out of the world?
[BLUNTLY _looks at_ BLACKMAN.]
BLACKMAN.
Oh! the old disorder, I suppose.
BLUNTLY.
The old disorder.
MANLY.
And pray what may that be, sir? (BLACKMAN _offers to reply_). Mr.
Blackman, Please to let this gentleman speak for himself.--What is it
you mean, pray sir, by the old disorder?
BLUNTLY.
I--I--mean--Love, sir.
MANLY.
You will not pretend to say, that love, was the cause of her death?
BLUNTLY. (_Confused and hesitating_).
That--and a few fits of the gout.
MANLY.
I fear, sir, you are not in perfect health yourself--you tremble and
look very pale.
BLACKMAN.
That is because the subject affects him.
MANLY.
Do you then never mention the young lady without being affected?
BLUNTLY.
Never, sir--for had you seen her as I did--um--Had you seen
her.----She was in very great danger from the first; but after I
attended her, she was in greater danger still.--I advised a physician
to be called in; on which she grew worse.--We had next a consultation
of physicians; and then it was all over with her.
SIR GEORGE.
(_Rising from his chair_). Blackman, this is too much--all my
calamities are inferior to this--Desist, therefore, or----
BLACKMAN.
(_To_ BLUNTLY.) Desist--He cannot bear to hear the pathetic
description. Consider the lady was his sister--and though he had not
the pleasure of knowing her--yet, poor thing--(_affecting to
weep_)--poor young woman! he cannot help lamenting her loss.
BLUNTLY.
No more can I--for though she was not my relation--yet she was my
Patient. (_pretending to weep also_).
SIR GEORGE.
I can bear no more.--Mr. Manly, you are imposed upon. But think not,
however appearances may be against me, that I came here as the tool of
so infamous a deceit.--Thoughtlessness, Mr. Manly, has embarrassed my
circumstances; and thoughtlessness alone, has made me employ a villain
to retrieve them.
BLACKMAN.
Mighty fine!
SIR GEORGE.
I have no authority, sir, to affirm, that my sister is not alive; and
I am confident the account you have just now heard, of her death, is
but an artifice. My indiscretions have reduced me nearly to beggary;
but I will perish in confinement--cheerfully perish--rather than owe
my affluence to one dishonourable action.
BLACKMAN.
Grief has turned his brain.
MANLY.
Sir George, I honour your feelings; and as for the feelings of these
gentlemen, I am extremely happy, that it is in my power to dry up
their tears, and calm all their sorrows.
SIR GEORGE.
Sir!
BLACKMAN.
How? In what way?
MANLY.
(_Going to the door where_ WILLFORD _and his niece are_.) Come forth,
young lady, to the arms of a brother, and relieve the anguish of
these mourners, who are lamenting your decease. (ELEANOR _and_
WILLFORD _enter_)--Yes, Sir George, here is that sister, whom those
gentlemen assure us, is dead;--and this is the brother of your
father.--These are proofs, as convincing, I hope, as any Mr. Blackman
can produce.
SIR GEORGE.
She, my sister! Her pretended father my uncle too! (_Aside_) Blackman,
you would have plunged me into an anguish I never knew before; you
would have plunged me into shame.
BLUNTLY.
And so you _have_ me.
BLACKMAN.
Pshaw.--Mr. Manly, notwithstanding you are these people's voucher,
this appears but a scheme.--These persons are but adventurers, and may
possibly have about them forgeries, such as an honest man, like
myself, would shudder at.
MANLY. [_Going to the door._
Who's there? [_Enter Servant._] Shew that--that Mr. Blackman, out of
my house instantly; and take care you never admit him again.
BLACKMAN.
Sir George, will you suffer this?
SIR GEORGE.
Aye, and a great deal more.
BLUNTLY.
Look'ee Blackman.--If you don't fall down upon your knees, and beg my
pardon at the street door, for the trick you have put upon me, in
assuring me my master's sister was really dead, and that I could do
her no injury, by doing him a service--if you don't beg my pardon for
this, I'll give you such an assault and battery as you never had to do
with in your life.
BLACKMAN.
Beat me--do, beat me--I'll thank you for beating me--I'd be beat every
hour of the day, to recover damages. [_Exit with_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
My sister--with the sincerest joy I call you by that name--and while I
thus embrace you, offer you a heart, that beats with all the pure and
tender affection, which our kindred to each other claims.--In you
(_embracing his uncle_) I behold my father; and experience an awful
fear, mingled with my regard.
WILLFORD.
Continue still that regard, and even that fear--these filial
sentiments may prove important; and they shall ever be repaid with my
paternal watchings, friendship, and love.
ELEANOR.
My brother----
SIR GEORGE.
I have been unworthy of you--I will be so no more, but imitate your
excellence. Yet, when I reflect----
[LADY CAROLINE _comes softly from the inner apartment, and
attends to the discourse_.
ELEANOR.
My brother, do not imagine----
SIR GEORGE.
Leave me, leave me to all the agonies of my misconduct.--Where is my
fortune? Now _all_ irrecoverably gone--My last, my only resource is
now to be paid to another--I have lost every thing.
LADY CAROLINE. [_Coming forward._
No, Sir George, _nothing_--since I possess all that was yours.
SIR GEORGE.
How!
LADY CAROLINE.
Behold a friend in your necessities--a mistress whom your misfortunes
cannot drive away--but who, experiencing much of your unkindness,
still loves you; and knowing your every folly, will still submit to
honour, and obey you.
I received your lavish presents, but to hoard them for you--made
myself mistress of your fortune, but to return it to you--and with it,
all my own.
SIR GEORGE.
Can this be real? Can I be raised in one moment, from the depths of
misery to unbounded happiness?
_Enter_ SERVANT.
SERVANT.
A young man, who says he is Mr. Willford's son, is called to enquire
for him.
MANLY.
Shew him in.
[SIR GEORGE _and_ LADY CAROLINE _retire to the back part of
the stage_.
_Enter_ HENRY.
WILLFORD.
Come, Henry, and take leave of your sister for ever.
HENRY.
How so, sir?--What do you mean? To be parted from her, would be the
utmost rigour of fortune.
MANLY.
The affection with which you speak, young gentleman, seems to convey
something beyond mere brotherly love.
WILLFORD.
I some years since revealed to him she was _not_ his sister.
ELEANOR.
And he, some years since, implied it to me. Yet, in such doubtful
terms, I knew not which of us had the sorrow not to be your child.--I
now find it is myself--and I aver it to be a sorrow, for which, all
the fortune I am going to possess will not repay me.
SIR GEORGE.
Then, my dearest sister, indulge the hope you may yet be his daughter.
This young man's merit deserves a reward, and in _time_ he may learn
to love you by a still nearer tie than that, you have so long known to
exist between you; nay, even by a nearer tie than that of brother.
HENRY.
I am in doubt of what I hear--Eleanor, since our short separation,
there cannot surely have been any important discovery--
MANLY.
Be not surprised--great discoveries, which we labour in vain for years
to make, are frequently brought about in one lucky moment, without any
labour at all.
SIR GEORGE.
True--for till this day arose, I had passed every hour since my birth,
without making one discovery to my advantage--while this short, but
propitious morning, has discovered to me all my former folly--and
discovered to me--how to be in future happy.
THE END.
EPILOGUE,
BY T. VAUGHAN, ESQ.
SPOKEN BY MRS. KEMBLE.
"Long before the beginning of this Play,"
I heard some DEEP ones in the Green-Room, say,
They had their fears and doubts--whilst some did quake--
And others wish'd it bed-time for her sake.
Do you, our best Physicians, ever kind, }
Prescribe our true Cephalic for the Mind, }
Of these our Neighbours, and _kind Friends_--behind, }
And with it, give a cordial of the best,
To one, with deepest Gratitude imprest.
For some there are--I have them in my eye--
Will sicken and turn pale with jealousy,
Whene'er we scribbling Women wield the Pen,
Or dare invade the Rights of scribbling Men;
And fir'd with zeal, in dread array appear--
With Tenets from the _learned_ Hemisphere;
Thence cry (_kind Souls_) "Invention is the only Art,
And mere Translation but a second Part;
Besides--_we Men of Taste_--can ne'er withstand
E'en Nature's GARRICK thus at second Hand!
Then why do Comic Writers live on Theft,
When such Ragouts and Dainties still are left?
Not richer were, in CONGREVE'S days or BEHN,
For now, the Males are Females--Women, Men--
Nay some so _manly_, and so orthodox,
Will drive you four in Hand--or hold the Box;
And if perchance the fatal Die is thrown,
Will storm and swear, like any Lord in Town."
But might I whisper in this Censor's ear,
I'd prove his observations too severe--
And urge--"Translation to hit off with skill,
Is not the province of each common Quill;
But by improving what was writ before,
Tho' Genius may be less, our Judgment's more;
And whilst we paint with energy from Life,
The gallant Husband, or _more gallant Wife_,
With Tints from living Portraits from the Spot,
It matters not by whom related--or begot;
And thus, much surer shall we reach the Heart,
Than all the _lifeless_ pomp of _boasted_ Art."
As such, deny her not--at least the merit
Of giving _Gallic Froth_--true BRITISH SPIRIT.
And as for you, ye Fair, how blooms the Cheek,
How sweet the Temper which those eyes bespeak?
No Midnight Oil has e'er destroy'd a Grace,
Or Gaming's Horrors found with you a place;
But Cupid lent you all those winning Arts,
Which at a glance--can warm the coldest Hearts.
Check then with me these Censors as unjust,
Who form their judgments--_as they live_--on Trust.
Nor ever credit what they dare to say,
Unless with you they join, and like our Play.
Use for a signal then--your Magic Fan,
And all the House will follow to a Man;
Or should there be a disaffected few--
_A Counter Revolution_--rests with you.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Contemporary spellings and hyphenation have been retained even where
inconsistent. Two obvious spelling errors were corrected (reception
for receptiou; demand for emand).
A single misspelling of WILLFORD as WILLORD was corrected.
In ACT 2, Scene 1, "then" was changed to "than" in Henry's sentence:
I know no other way to shew my humility, than to accept your
present
In ACT 3, Scene 1, "your" was changed to "you" in Sir George's sentence:
Still an object I adore; but I now perceive you are one to my
ruin devoted.
On two occasions where the same word appeared at the end of one line
and the beginning of the next, the superfluous word was deleted. They
were: