CHARLOTTE'S Apartment.
Enter MANLY.
MANLY
WHAT, no one at home? How unfortunate to meet the only lady my heart
was ever moved by, to find her engaged to another, and confessing her
partiality for me! Yet engaged to a man who, by her intimation, and
his libertine conversation with me, I fear, does not merit her. Aye!
there's the sting; for, were I assured that Maria was happy, my heart
is not so selfish but that it would dilate in knowing it, even though
it were with another. But to know she is unhappy!--I must drive these
thoughts from me. Charlotte has some books; and this is what I believe
she calls her little library. [Enters a closet.
Enter DIMPLE leading LETITIA.
LETITIA
And will you pretend to say now, Mr. Dimple, that you propose to break
with Maria? Are not the banns published? Are not the clothes
purchased? Are not the friends invited? In short, is it not a done
affair?
DIMPLE
Believe me, my dear Letitia, I would not marry her.
LETITIA
Why have you not broke with her before this, as you all along deluded
me by saying you would?
DIMPLE
Because I was in hopes she would, ere this, have broke with me.
LETITIA
You could not expect it.
DIMPLE
Nay, but be calm a moment; 'twas from my regard to you that I did not
discard her.
LETITIA
Regard to me!
DIMPLE
Yes; I have done everything in my power to break with her, but the
foolish girl is so fond of me that nothing can accomplish it. Besides,
how can I offer her my hand when my heart is indissolubly engaged to
you?
LETITIA
There may be reason in this; but why so attentive to Miss Manly?
DIMPLE
Attentive to Miss Manly! For heaven's sake, if you have no better
opinion of my constancy, pay not so ill a compliment to my taste.
LETITIA
Did I not see you whisper her to-day?
DIMPLE
Possibly I might--but something of so very trifling a nature that I
have already forgot what it was.
LETITIA
I believe she has not forgot it.
DIMPLE
My dear creature, how can you for a moment suppose I should have any
serious thoughts of that trifling, gay, flighty coquette, that
disagreeable--
Enter CHARLOTTE.
DIMPLE
My dear Miss Manly, I rejoice to see you; there is a charm in your
conversation that always marks your entrance into company as fortunate.
LETITIA
Where have you been, my dear?
CHARLOTTE
Why, I have been about to twenty shops, turning over pretty things, and
so have left twenty visits unpaid. I wish you would step into the
carriage and whisk round, make my apology, and leave my cards where our
friends are not at home; that, you know, will serve as a visit. Come,
do go.
LETITIA
So anxious to get me out! but I'll watch you. [Aside.] Oh! yes, I'll
go; I want a little exercise. Positively [Dimple offering to accompany
her], Mr. Dimple, you shall not go; why, half my visits are cake and
caudle visits; it won't do, you know, for you to go. [Exit, but
returns to the door in the back scene and listens.]
DIMPLE
This attachment of your brother to Maria is fortunate.
CHARLOTTE
How did you come to the knowledge of it?
DIMPLE
I read it in their eyes.
CHARLOTTE
And I had it from her mouth. It would have amused you to have seen
her! She, that thought it so great an impropriety to praise a
gentleman that she could not bring out one word in your favour, found a
redundancy to praise him.
DIMPLE
I have done everything in my power to assist his passion there: your
delicacy, my dearest girl, would be shocked at half the instances of
neglect and misbehaviour.
CHARLOTTE
I don't know how I should bear neglect; but Mr. Dimple must misbehave
himself indeed, to forfeit my good opinion.
DIMPLE
Your good opinion, my angel, is the pride and pleasure of my heart; and
if the most respectful tenderness for you, and an utter indifference
for all your sex besides, can make me worthy of your esteem, I shall
richly merit it.
CHARLOTTE
All my sex besides, Mr. Dimple!--you forgot your tete-a-tete with
Letitia.
DIMPLE
How can you, my lovely angel, cast a thought on that insipid,
wry-mouthed, ugly creature!
CHARLOTTE
But her fortune may have charms?
DIMPLE
Not to a heart like mine. The man, who has been blessed with the good
opinion of my Charlotte, must despise the allurements of fortune.
CHARLOTTE
I am satisfied.
DIMPLE
Let us think no more on the odious subject, but devote the present hour
to happiness.
CHARLOTTE
Can I be happy when I see the man I prefer going to be married to
another?
DIMPLE
Have I not already satisfied my charming angel, that I can never think
of marrying the puling Maria? But, even if it were so, could that be
any bar to our happiness? for, as the poet sings,
"Love, free as air, at sight of human ties,
Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies."
Come, then, my charming angel! why delay our bliss? The present moment
is ours; the next is in the hand of fate. [Kissing her.]
CHARLOTTE
Begone, Sir! By your delusions you had almost lulled my honour asleep.
DIMPLE
Let me lull the demon to sleep again with kisses. [He struggles with
her; she screams.]
Enter MANLY.
MANLY
Turn, villain! and defend yourself.--[Draws.]
[VAN ROUGH enters and beats down their swords.]
VAN ROUGH
Is the devil in you? are you going to murder one another? [Holding
Dimple.]
DIMPLE
Hold him, hold him,--I can command my passion.
Enter JONATHAN.
JONATHAN
What the rattle ails you? Is the old one in you? Let the colonel
alone, can't you? I feel chock-full of fight,--do you want to kill the
colonel?--
MANLY
Be still, Jonathan; the gentleman does not want to hurt me.
JONATHAN
Gor! I--I wish he did; I'd shew him Yankee boys play, pretty
quick.--Don't you see you have frightened the young woman into the
hystrikes?
VAN ROUGH
Pray, some of you explain this; what has been the occasion of all this
racket?
MANLY
That gentleman can explain it to you; it will be a very diverting story
for an intended father-in-law to hear.
VAN ROUGH
How was this matter, Mr. Van Dumpling?
DIMPLE
Sir,--upon my honour,--all I know is, that I was talking to this young
lady, and this gentleman broke in on us in a very extraordinary manner.
VAN ROUGH
Why, all this is nothing to the purpose; can you explain it, Miss? [To
Charlotte.]
Enter LETITIA through the back scene.
LETITIA
I can explain it to that gentleman's confusion. Though long betrothed
to your daughter [to Van Rough], yet, allured by my fortune, it seems
(with shame do I speak it) he has privately paid his addresses to me.
I was drawn in to listen to him by his assuring me that the match was
made by his father without his consent, and that he proposed to break
with Maria, whether he married me or not. But, whatever were his
intentions respecting your daughter, Sir, even to me he was false; for
he has repeated the same story, with some cruel reflections upon my
person, to Miss Manly.
JONATHAN
What a tarnal curse!
LETITIA
Nor is this all, Miss Manly. When he was with me this very morning, he
made the same ungenerous reflections upon the weakness of your mind as
he has so recently done upon the defects of my person.
JONATHAN
What a tarnal curse and damn, too!
DIMPLE
Ha! since I have lost Letitia, I believe I had as good make it up with
Maria. Mr. Van Rough, at present I cannot enter into particulars; but,
I believe, I can explain everything to your satisfaction in private.
VAN ROUGH
There is another matter, Mr. Van Dumpling, which I would have you
explain. Pray, Sir, have Messrs. Van Cash & Co. presented you those
bills for acceptance?
DIMPLE
The deuce! Has he heard of those bills! Nay, then, all's up with
Maria, too; but an affair of this sort can never prejudice me among the
ladies; they will rather long to know what the dear creature possesses
to make him so agreeable. [Aside.] Sir, you'll hear from me. [To
Manly.]
MANLY
And you from me, Sir--
DIMPLE
Sir, you wear a sword--
MANLY
Yes, Sir. This sword was presented to me by that brave Gallic hero,
the Marquis De la Fayette. I have drawn it in the service of my
country, and in private life, on the only occasion where a man is
justified in drawing his sword, in defence of a lady's honour. I have
fought too many battles in the service of my country to dread the
imputation of cowardice. Death from a man of honour would be a glory
you do not merit; you shall live to bear the insult of man and the
contempt of that sex whose general smiles afforded you all your
happiness.
DIMPLE
You won't meet me, Sir? Then I'll post you for a coward.
MANLY I'll venture that, Sir. The reputation of my life does not
depend upon the breath of a Mr. Dimple. I would have you to know,
however, Sir, that I have a cane to chastise the insolence of a
scoundrel, and a sword and the good laws of my country to protect me
from the attempts of an assassin--
DIMPLE
Mighty well! Very fine, indeed! Ladies and gentlemen, I take my
leave; and you will please to observe in the case of my deportment the
contrast between a gentleman who has read Chesterfield and received the
polish of Europe and an unpolished, untravelled American.
[Exit.
Enter MARIA.
MARIA
Is he indeed gone?--
LETITIA
I hope, never to return.
VAN ROUGH
I am glad I heard of those bills; though it's plaguy unlucky; I hoped
to see Mary married before I died.
MANLY
Will you permit a gentleman, Sir, to offer himself as a suitor to your
daughter? Though a stranger to you, he is not altogether so to her, or
unknown in this city. You may find a son-in-law of more fortune, but
you can never meet with one who is richer in love for her, or respect
for you.
VAN ROUGH
Why, Mary, you have not let this gentleman make love to you without my
leave?
MANLY
I did not say, Sir--
MARIA
Say, Sir!--I--the gentleman, to be sure, met me accidentally.
VAN ROUGH
Ha, ha, ha! Mark me, Mary; young folks think old folks to be fools;
but old folks know young folks to be fools. Why, I knew all about this
affair. This was only a cunning way I had to bring it about. Hark ye!
I was in the closet when you and he were at our hours. [Turns to the
company.] I heard that little baggage say she loved her old father,
and would die to make him happy! Oh! how I loved the little baggage!
And you talked very prudently, young man. I have inquired into your
character, and find you to be a man of punctuality and mind the main
chance. And so, as you love Mary and Mary loves you, you shall have my
consent immediately to be married. I'll settle my fortune on you, and
go and live with you the remainder of my life.
MANLY
Sir, I hope--
VAN ROUGH
Come, come, no fine speeches; mind the main chance, young man, and you
and I shall always agree.
LETITIA I sincerely wish you joy [advancing to Maria]; and hope your
pardon for my conduct.
MARIA
I thank you for your congratulations, and hope we shall at once forget
the wretch who has given us so much disquiet, and the trouble that he
has occasioned.
CHARLOTTE
And I, my dear Maria,--how shall I look up to you for forgiveness? I,
who, in the practice of the meanest arts, have violated the most sacred
rights of friendship? I can never forgive myself, or hope charity from
the world; but, I confess, I have much to hope from such a brother; and
I am happy that I may soon say, such a sister.
MARIA
My dear, you distress me; you have all my love.
MANLY
And mine.
CHARLOTTE
If repentance can entitle me to forgiveness, I have already much merit;
for I despise the littleness of my past conduct. I now find that the
heart of any worthy man cannot be gained by invidious attacks upon the
rights and characters of others;--by countenancing the addresses of a
thousand;--or that the finest assemblage of features, the greatest
taste in dress, the genteelest address, or the most brilliant wit,
cannot eventually secure a coquette from contempt and ridicule.
MANLY
And I have learned that probity, virtue, honour, though they should not
have received the polish of Europe, will secure to an honest American
the good graces of his fair countrywomen, and, I hope, the applause of
THE PUBLIC.
THE END.
NOTES.
[1] In addition to the 'Prince of Parthia,' the following plays by
American authors are known to have been printed:
1. 'The Suspected Daughter, or Jealous Father,' a Farce in three
acts, both serious and comic, written by T. T. Boston, 1751.
2. 'The Disappointment, or The Force of Credulity,' a new American
Comic Opera of two acts, by Andrew Barton, Esq. New-York, 1767.
3. 'The Conquest of Canada, or Siege of Quebec, a Historic Tragedy,'
by George Cockings. Philadelphia, 1772.
4. 'The Adulateur,' a tragedy; and
5. 'The Group,' a Political Comedy, 1775; both by Mrs. Mercy Warren.
6. 'The Blockheads, or the Affrighted Officers,' a Farce. Boston,
1776.
7. 'The Battle of Bunker Hill,' a dramatic piece, in five acts.
Philadelphia, 1776; and
8. 'The Death of General Montgomery in storming the City of Quebec,'
a Tragedy. Philadelphia, 1777; both by H. H. Brackenridge.
9. 'The Patriot Chief,' a Drama, by Peter Markoe. Philadelphia, 1783.
10. 'Edwin and Angelina, or The Banditti,' an Opera in three acts, by
Dr. Elihu H. Smith. New-York, 1787.
[2] Dunlap erroneously gives the date of the first performance of the
'Contrast' as in 1786, and writers generally following him make the
same mistake. Ireland in his 'Records' gives the date correctly.
[3] Tyler, in addition to the plays and law reports mentioned, wrote
and published the following works:
1. 'The Algerine Captive, or The Life and Adventures of Doctor Updike
Underhill, six years a prisoner among the Algerines.' 2 vols. Walpole,
N. H., 1797.
2. 'Moral Tales for American Youths.' Boston, 1800.
3. 'The Yankey in London; a series of Letters written by an American
Youth during nine months' residence in the City of London.' New-York,
1809.
He also contributed to a number of newspapers of his period, and a
collection of his contributions (with those of Joseph Dennie) were
published in a volume, at Walpole, in 1801, entitled 'The Spirit of the
Farmers' Museum and Lay Preachers' Gazette.'
[4] On October 16th, 1778, the Continental Congress passed the
following resolution:
"Whereas, frequenting play-houses and theatrical entertainments has a
fatal tendency to divest the minds of the people from a due attention
to the means necessary to the defence of their Country and preservation
of their liberties;
"Resolved, That any person holding an office under the United States
who shall act, promote, encourage or attend such play, shall be deemed
unworthy to hold such office, and shall be accordingly dismissed."
T. J. McK.