Mifs Herbert. Now, Mr. Wingrove, I do not think fo well of your cafe as I did. vish, morofe caviller at birth.

I am, myself, no pee

It is always graceful,

and often ufeful; when it operates as a motive to a kind and honourable emulation with the illuftrious dead; but when thofe who poffefs the advantage, endeavour to make it a substitute for every other excellence, then indeed I think the offender, is entitled to no gentler fentiment than my contempt, or my pity. Fugitive, A. 5. Sc. 3.

PERCY AND MOTLEY.

Matl. Yet furely the bafenefs of her originPercy. Can be to me no objection: in giving her my hand I raise her to my ftation, not debase myself to hers; nor ever, while gazing on the beauty of a rofe, did I think it lefs fair because planted by a peas fant.

* H *

OSMOND AND ANGELA.

Ofm. Hear me, Angela: An English baron loves you, a nobleman than whom our island boasts few more potent. 'Tis to him that your hand is deftined, 'tis on him that your heart must be bestowed, Ang. I cannot difpofe of that which has long been another's- My heart is Edwy's.

Ofm. Edwy's? A peafant's?

Ang. For the obscurity of his birth chance must be

blamed; the merit of his virtues belong wholly to himself.

Ofm. By heaven you feem to think that poverty is a virtue!

Ang. Sir, I think 'tis a misfortune, not a crime: And when in fpite of nature's injuftice, and the frowns of a prejudiced and illiberal world, I fee fome low-born but induftrious fpirit prove itself fuperior to the ftation which it fills, I hail it with pleasure, with admiration, with refpect! Such a fpirit I found in Edwy, and, finding, loved!

Caftle Spectre, A. 1. Sc. 1. A. z. Sc. 1.

CANDOR.

BELCOUR (Solus.)

In the name of all that's mifchievous, why did Stockwell drive me hither in fuch hafte? A pretty figure, truly, I fhall make: an ambassador without credentials. Blockhead that I was to charge myself with her diamonds; officious, meddling puppy! Now they are irretrievably gone: that fufpicious jade Fulmer wouldn't part even with a fight of them, tho' I would have ransom'd 'em at twice their value, Now muft I trust to my poor wits to bring me off: a lamentable dependance. Fortune be my helper: Here comes the girl-If she is noble minded, as she is faid to be, he will forgive me; if not, 'tis a loft

caufe; for I have not thought of one word in my excufe.

CHARLOTTE enters.

Char. Mr. Belcour, I'm proud to fee you: your friend, Mr. Stockwell, prepared me to expect this honour; and I am happy in the opportunity of being known to you.

Bel. A fine girl, by my foul! Now what a curfed hang-dog do I look like! (afide.).

Char. You are newly arrived in this country, Sir?

Bel. Juft landed, Madam; juft fet a fhore, with a large cargo of Mufcavado fugars, rum-puncheons, mahogany-flabs, wet fweet-meats, and green paro

quets.

Char. May I ask you how you like London, Sir?

Bel. To admiration: I think the town and the town's folk are exactly fuited; 'tis a great, rich, overgrown, noify, tumultuous place: the whole morning is a buftle to get money, and the whole afternoon is a hurry to spend it.

Char. Are these all the obfervations you have made?

Bel. No, Madam; I have obferved the women are very captivating, and the men very foon caught. Char. Ay, indeed! Whence do you draw that conclufion?

Bel. From infallible guides; the first remark I collect from what I now fee, the fecond from what I now feel.

Char. Oh, the deuce take you! But to wave this

fubject; I believe, Sir, this was a vifit of bufinefs, not compliment; was it not?

Bel. Ay; now comes on my execution.

Char. You have fome foolish trinkets of mine, Mr. Belcour; hav'nt you?

Bel. No, in truth; they are gone in fearch of a trinket, ftill more foolish than themfelves. (afide.) Char. Some diamonds I mean, Sir; Mr. Stockwell inform'd me you were charg'd with 'em.

Bel. Oh, yes, Madam; but I have the most treacherous memory in life-Here they are! Pray put them up; they're all right; you need not examine 'em. (gives a box.)

Char. Hey-day! right, Sir! Why these are not my diamonds; these are quite different; and, as it should feem, of much greater value.

Bel. Upon my life I'm glad on't; for then I hope you value 'em more than your own.

Char. As a purchaser I fhould, but not as an owner; you mistake; thefe belong to fomebody elfe. Bel. 'Tis yours, I'm afraid, that belong to fomebody else.

Char. What is it you mean? I must insist upon your taking 'em back again.

Bel. Pray, Madam, don't do that; I fhall infallibly lose them; I have the worft luck with diamonds of any man living.

Char. That you might well fay, were you to give me these in the place of mine; but pray, Sir, what

is the reafon of all this? Why have you changed the jewels? And where have you difpofed of mine?

Bel. Mifs Rufport, I cannot invent a lie for my life; and, if it was to save it, I couldn't tell one: I am an idle, diffipated, unthinking fellow, not worth your notice in fhort, I am a Weft Indian, and you must try me according to the charter of my colony, not by a jury of English fpinfters: the truth is, I've given away your jewels; caught with a pair of fparkling eyes, whofe luftre blinded theirs, I ferved your property as I should my own, and lavish'd it away; let me not totally despair of your forgivenefs I frequently do wrong, but never with impunity; if your difpleafure is added to my own; my punishment will be too fevere. When I parted from the jewels, I had not the honour of knowing their

owner.

Char. Mr. Belcour, your fincerity charms me; I enter at once into your character, and I make all the allowances for it you can defire. I take your jewels for the prefent, because I know there is no other way of reconciling you to yourself; but, if I give way to your spirit in one point, you must yield to mine in another remember I will not keep more than the value of my own jewels; there is no need to be pillaged by more than one woman at a time, Sir.

Weft Indian, A. 3. Sc. 6.