him, I would prefer Colonel Tamper to the first duke in the kingdom. Bell. Oh, fifter, it is a mighty eafy thing for perfons rolling in affluence and a coach-and-fix, to talk of living on bread and water, and the comforts of love in a“ cottage. Em. The coach-and-fix, Bell, would give little happinefs to those who could not be happy without it. When once the heart has settled its affections, how mean is it to withdraw then for any paltry confiderations of what nature foever! Bell." I think the lady doth protest too much." Enter Servant. Ser. Major Belford, Madam! [Exit. Em. Show him in Oh, Bell, I am ready to drop with apprehenfion!" Enter Major Belford. Bil Ladies, your humble fervant I rejoice to find you so well. Salutes them. Bell. And we congratulate you, major, on your fafe return from the Havannah Colonel Tamper do? How does your friend Bel. He is very well, Madam; but Em. But what, Sir-I am frighted beyond expref from Is he in England? Bel. Yes, Madam. Em. In town? Bel. Yes, Madam. Em. Why have not we the pleasure of seeing him then? Bel. He'll be here immediately, Madam→→→→ En. Oh, well. Bel. But it was thought proper that I fhould wait on you firft, to prepare you for his reception. Em. To prepare me! What does he mean? Bel. Only to prevent your being alarmed at his ap pearance, Madam? Bm. Alarm'd you terrify me more and more What is the matter? Bel. Nay, nothing-A trifle the mere chance of war war-la fortune de la guerre, as the French call it ; that's all, Madam. Em. I'm upon the rack-Dear Sir, explain Bel. The Colonel, you know, Madam, is a man of Spirit Having expofed his perfon very gallantly in the feveral actions before the town of the Havannah, he received many wounds ; one or two of which have been attended with rather difagreeable circumstances. Em. But is the Colonel well at prefent, Sir? Em. Are not the confequences of his wounds likely to endanger his life? Bel. Not in the leaft, Madam. Em. I am fatisfied -Pray go on, Sir. Bel. Do not you be alarmed, Madam. Em. Keep me no longer in fufpence, I beseech you, Sir ! Bell. What can all this mean? Bel. The two principal wounds which the Colonel received, Madam, were, one a little above the knee, and another in his face. In confequence of the firft, he was reduced to the neceflity of faving his life by the lofs of a leg; and the latter has deprived him of the fight of an eye. Em. Oh, heavens ! [Ready to faint. Bell. Poor Emily! How could you be fo abrupt, Sir? The violent agitation of her mind is too much for her fpirits. Bel. Excufe me, Madam- -I was afraid of making you uneafy; and yet it was neceffary you fhould be acquainted with thefe circumftances, previous to your ing the Colonel. fee Em (recovering.) Loft a leg and an arm, did you fay, Sir? Bel. No, not an arm-an eye, Madam. Em. An eye! worfe and worfe --Poor Colonel! Bel. Rather unfortunate, to be fure. But we should confider, Madam, that we have faved his life; and that thefe were facrifices neceffary for its prefervation. Em. Very true. Ay-ay-fo as he has but his life, I am happy. And I ought now to be attached to him, not only from tendernefs, but compaffion. B b VOL. I Bel. Bel. After all, Madam, his appearance is much better than you may imagine. His face, by the help of a black ribband, is very little disfigured; and he has got a falfe leg, made so naturally, that except a fmall hitch in his gait, there is no material alteration in his perfon and deportment-Befides which, in point of health and fpirits, he is particularly well. Em. I am glad of it.- -But, alas! he whose person was fo charming! -And then his eyes, that were fo brilliant!-fo full of fenfibility! Bel. This accident, Madam, on his own account gives him no uneafinefs; to fay the truth, he feems rather vain upon it: I could wish, therefore, when he comes, that you would not seem too deeply affected, but rather affume an air of cheerfulness, left any visible uneafiness you fhould fhock the Colonel. in Em. Poor Colonel! I know his fenfibility. Let me endeavour, therefore, to convince him, that he is as dear to me as ever! Oh, yes, coft me what it will, I muft fhow him, that the preservation of his life is an entire confolation to me. Enter Servant. Ser. Colonel Tamper, Madam. Em. Eh! what? [Disordered. Bell. Defire the Colonel to walk up-Compofe yourself, my dear!--Poor Emily! I am in pain for her, [Afide. Enter Colonel Tamper-Runs up to Emily. Tam. My dearest Emily!-how happy am I to see you once again! I have brought back the honeft heart and hand which I devoted to you: as to the reft of my body, you fee I did not care fixpence what became of it. Mifs Bell, I rejoice to see you fo well.Major, I am your's-But my Emily Em. Oh, Colonel! [Burfts into tears, and leans upon Bell. Tears! Tam. How's this? Bell. You fhould not have followed the Major fo foon, Colonel; fhe had scarce recovered the first shock from his intelligence. Tam, My impatience would fuffer me to delay no longer-Why do you weep fo, Emily?—Are you forry to see me again? Em. Sorry to see you unfortunate. [Weeping Tam. Unfortunate! call me rather fortunate: I am come back alive; alive and merry, Emily. Em. I am glad you have faved your life. [Weeping Tam. I dare say you are. Look on me then. What, not one glance! Won't you deign to look on your poor maimed foldier? [Paufing.]-Is it poffible, then, that any little alteration of my person can occasion a change. in your fentiments? 1 Em. Never, Colonel, never: It is furely no mark of want of affection to be fo much hurt at your misfor tunes. Tam. Misfortunse! no misfortunes, at all-none at all to a foldier-nothing but the ordinary incidents and common cafualties of his life-marks of honour-and tokens of valour-I declare I bear them about with me as the most honourable badges of my profeffion-I am proud of them-I would not part with this wooden leg for the best flesh and blood in Chriftendom. Em. And can you really be fo unconcerned at this accident? Tam. Really; and you fhall be unconcerned too, Emily. You fhall find more in me ftill, than in half the battered rakes and fops about town. It injures me no more than it does a fine tree, to lop my branches. My trunk is heart of oak, and I fhall thrive the better for it. Em. But is there no hope of recovering your eye again? Oh, we must have the best advice- -Is the fight quite loft? Tam. Quite beetle, Emily -blind as a -Blind as a mill-horfeBut what does that fignify? Love is blind, you know; and if I have loft one eye, why, they fay, I fhall fee the clearer with the other. Em. I cannot look at him without fhuddering. [Retires and fits dorun. Bell. What action was it you suffered in, Colonel ? Tam. Before the Moro caftle, Ma'am, before the Moro Hot work, hiffing hot, by fea and land, I affure you, Ma'am. Ah, the Moro, the Moro! -But if men go to run their heads against stone walls, they muft expect to have a sconce or two broken before they make their way through them-Eh, major! Bell. Major Belford was with you? Tam. All the while. The major and I fought fide by fide, cheek by jowl, till I fell, Ma'am! We paid the Dons-didn't we, Major?But Velafco, poor Velafco A fine brave Don, must be owned—l had rather have died like Velafco, than have lived to be Generaliffimo. Bell, (to Emily) How are you, fifter? Tam. Nay, prithee, Emily, be comforted! more than all this might have happened to me at home. I might have thrown away my life in a duel, or broke my neck in a fox-chace: a fit of the gout, or an apoplexy, might have maimed me ten times worse for ever; or a palfy, perhaps, have killed one half of me at a single stroke→→→ You must not take on thus-If you do, I shall be extremely uneafy. Em. Excufe me, I cannot help it but be affured, I efteem you as much as ever, Sir. Tam. Efteem, and Sir!This is cold languageI have not been used to hear you talk in that style, Emily. Em. I don't know what I fay-I am not well-let me retire. Tam. When fhall we name the happy day? I fhall make shift to dance on that occafion-though as Withrington fought-on my ftumps, Emily. Tell me, when fhall we be happy? Em. I grow more and more faint-Lead me to my chamber, Bell. Bell. She is very ill-don't teize her now, Colonel; but let us try to procure her fome repofe. Tam. Ay, ay, a fhort fleep and a little reflection, and all will be well, I dare fay--I will be here again foon, and adminifter confolation, I warrant you. Adieu, my dear Emily. Em. Adien. Oh, Bell! [Exit in tears with Bell. [Manent Major Belford and Col. Tamper. Tam. (affuming his natural air and manner) Ha, ha, ha! |