edium between the French and English taste would be preferable either; and yet this medium, if hit with the greatest nicety, would l of success on our theatre, and that for a very obvious reason. ctors (I speak of the troop collectively) must all learn to speak as ell as act, in order to do justice to such a drama.

let me hasten to give the reader what little insight I can into Mr. ray's plan, as I find, and select it from two detached papers. The Title and Dramatis Personæ are as follow:

AGRIPPINA,

A TRAGEDY.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

Agrippina, the Empress mother.

Nero, the Emperor.

Poppaa, believed to be in love with Otho.

Otho, a young man of quality, in love with Poppaa.
Seneca, the Emperor's preceptor.

Anicetus, Captain of the Guards.

Demetrius, the Cynic, friend to Seneca.

Aceronia, Confidant to Agrippina.

SCENE, the Emperor's villa at Baiæ.

The argument drawn out by him, in these two papers, under the idea "of a plot and under-plot, I shall here unite; as it will tend to show "that the action itself was possest of sufficient unity.

"whom he takes to be his friend, and in whose age h "he may safely confide. Nero is not yet come to B "Seneca, whom he sends before him, informs Agrippina o "cusation concerning Rubellius Plancus, and desires her "herself, which she does briefly; but demands to see her s "on his arrival, acquits her of all suspicion, and restores h "honours. In the mean while Anicetus, to whose care Poj "been entrusted by Otho, contrives the following plot to ru "pina: He betrays his trust to Otho, and brings Nero, as i "chance, to the sight of the beautiful Poppæa; the Emper "mediately struck with her charms, and she, by a feigned r "increases his passion; though, in reality, she is from the "zled with the prospect of empire, and forgets Otho: She "joins with Anicetus in his design of ruining Agrippina, s "ceiving that it will be for her interest. Otho hearing tha "peror had seen Poppæa, is much enraged; but not kno "this interview was obtained through the treachery of Ar "readily persuaded by him to see Agrippina in secret, and "her with his fears that her son Nero would marry Poppæ "pina, to support her own power, and to wean the Emp "the love of Poppæa, gives Otho encouragement, and pr "support him. Anicetus secretly introduces Nero to hear "course; who resolves immediately on his mother's death "Anicetus's means, to destroy her by drowning. A solem "honour of their reconciliation, is to be made; after v "being to go by sea to Bauli, the ship is so contrived as "crush her; she escapes by accident, and returns to Baix "interval, Otho has an interview with Poppaa; and being "second time by Anicetus and her, determines to fly wit "Greece, by means of a vessel which is to be furnished by "but he, pretending to remove Poppæa on board in the n

at exp

e commits her to the

ACT I. SCENE

AGRIPPINA, ACE

AGRIPPINA.

'TIS well, begone! your err

e his friend, and in whose are be de. Nero is not yet come to B s before him, informs App Rubelinus Plances, and desires ber es briety; but demands to see her sa er of all suspicion, and restores bett while Anicetas, to whose care Pipp contrives the following plot to trust to Otho, and brings Nero, the beautiful Poppes; the Emper her charms, and she, by a feigned res though, in reality, she is from the of empire, and forgets Otho: She the his design of runing Agrippina, soca p For her interest. Otho bearing that the 3, is much enraged; but not know Sined through the treachery of Acts m to see Agrippina in secret, and er son Nero would marry Poppa A n power, and to wean the Empers Eves Otho encouragement, and promess secretly introduces Nero to hear their mmediately on his mother's death, a stroy her by drowning. A solemn feas iliation, is to be made; after which st Bauli, the ship is so contrived as to sink by accident, and returns to Baie lat erview with Poppaa; and being duped s and her, determines to fir with her essel which is to be furnished by A nove Poppea on board in the night,

[Speaks as to

The message needs no comment
His mother shall obey him. S
Yielding due reverence to his b
Alone, unguarded, and withou
As fits the daughter of Germa
Say, she retired to Antium; th
Her household cares, a woman
What if you add, how she tur
bled;

You think, you spied a tear st

Yet walks on earth: at least there are who
Without a spell to raise, and bid it fire
A thousand haughty hearts, unus'd to shake
When a boy frowns, nor to be lur'd with s
To taste of hollow kindness, or partake
His hospitable board: They are aware
Of the unpledg'd bowl, they love not Acon

ACERONIA.

He's gone; and much I hope these walls ald And the mute air are privy to your passion. Forgive your servant's fears, who sees the d Which fierce resentment cannot fail to raise In haughty youth, and irritated power.

AGRIPPINA.

And dost thou talk to me, to me, of danger, Of haughty youth and irritated power,