don for ever and ever! You could but lock yourself up, were you as old and ugly as Lady Grizzle at next door. Cec. Had I been fo, I had continued happy. Brid. La, ma'am, don't ye talk fo purphanely!-happy, to be old and ugly? or, I'll tell you what, as you don't much feem to fancy going out, fuppafe you were to come down now and then (you know we have a pure large hall) and take a game of romps with us? If you were once to see our Jacob hunt the Apper, you would die with laughing! Madam Frisk (my last mistress) used, as foon as ever, master was gone, (and indeed he did not trouble her much with his company) to run down, draw up her brocaded niggle-de-gee, and fall to play at some good fun or other:-dear heart! we were as merry then as the day was long; I am fure I have never been half fo happy fince. Сест I cannot poffibly imitate the model you propofe; but, tho I don't chufe o go abroad, you may. Brid. I don't love to go much among the mobility neither. If indeed, madam, next winter you'd give me fome of your tickets, I would fain go to a masquerade (it vexes me to fee um stick in the thingumbobs for months together,) and Mrs. Trim promifes me the lent of a Wenus's drefs, which, fhe fays, I fhall cut a figure in. Now, ma'am, if I had fome diamonds, (for beggars wear diamonds there, they fay) who knows but I might make my fortune, like you? Cec. Mar it, much rather, like me.That is no place for girls of your ftation, which expofes you to fo much infult. Brid. Ah, let me alone, madam, for taking care of number one. I ware never afeard but once in my whole life, and that ware of gradfar's ghoft; for he always hated I, and used to walk (poor foul !) in our barken, for all the world like an afs with a tye-wig on. (Knocking hard.) Cec. Hark! that fure is Woodville's knock! fly, and fee! (Walks eagerly to the door, and returns as eagerly.) Alas, is this my repentance? dare I fin against my judgment.?. Enter Woodville. Wood, My Cecilia !-my foul !—have I at last the happinefs of beholding you? You know me too well to imagine I would punish myself by a moment's voJuntary delay, Cec. Oh, no; it is not that-(both fit down on the Sophz.) Wood. Say, you are glad to fee me? -afford me one kind word to atone for your cold looks are you not well? Cec. Rather fay I am not happy.-My dear Woodville, I am an altered being: why have you reduced me to fhrink thus in your prefence ;-ah, why have you made me unworthy of yourself? (leans against his fhoulder weeping). Wood. Cruel gir!!-is this my welcome?-when did I appear to think you fo Cec. Tell me, when any one else will think me otherwife? Wood. Will you never be above fo narrow a prejudice? are we not the whole world to each other?-nay, dry your tears! allow me to dry them; (kiffes her cheek) what is there, in the reach of love or wealth, I have not fought to make you happy? -- Cec. That which is the effence of all enjoyments, innocence: oh, Woodville, you knew not the value of the heart, whofe peace you have deftroyed.-My fenfibility firft ruined my virtue, and then my repofe.-But, though for you I confented to abandon an humble happy home, to embitter the age of my venerable father, and bear the contempt of the world, I can never fupport my own,My heart revolts against my fituation, and hourly bids me renounce a splendor, which only renders guilt more defpicable. (Rides) I meant to explain this hereafter; but the agitation of my mind obliged me to lighten it immediately. Wood. Is your affection already extin&t? for fure it mult, when you can refolve to torture me thus ? Cec. Were my love extinct, I might fink into a mean content;-oh, no.'Tis to that alone I owe my resolution. Wood. Can you then plunge me into despair?-fo young, fo lovely too!-oh, where could you find fo fafe an asylum aş my heart?-whither could you fly? Cec. I am obliged to you, Sir, for the question; but who is it has made me thus deftitute?—I may retain your protection, indeed, but at what a price! Wood. Give me but a little time, my love! I am equally perplexed between my father and my uncle, each of whom offers me a wife I can never love. Suffer them to defeat each other's fcheme !-let me, if poflible, be happy without a crime; for I muft think it one to grieve a parent hitherto fo indulgent.I will not put any thing in competition with your peace; and long for the hour when the errors of the T 2 lo er lover will be absorb'd in the merits of the husband. Cec. No, Woodville! that was, when innocent, as far above my hopes, as it is now beyond my wishes.-I love you too fincerely to reap any advantage from fo generous an error; yet you at once flatter and wound my heart, in allowing me worthy fuch a diftinction: but love cannot subfift without effeem ; and how should I poflefs your's, when I have loft even my own? Wood. It is impoffible you fhould ever lofe either, while fo deferving both.I shall not be fo eafily denied hereafter, but am bound by the caprices of others at prefent.-I am obliged to return directly, but will haften to you the very first moment ;-when we meet again, it must be with a smile, remember. Cec. It will, when we meet again. Oh, how those words opprefs me! (afide) but do not regulate your conduct by mine, nor make me an argument with yourfelf, for disobeying my Lord; for here I folemnly fwear never to accept you without the joint confent of both our fathers; and that I confider as an eternal abjuration:but may the favour'd woman you are to make happy have all my love without my weakrefs! (Exit in tears. Wood. Difinterefted, exalted girl!why add fuch a needlefs bar? for is it poffible to gain my father's confent? and yet, without her, life would be infupportable: the cenfures of the world,-what is that world to me?-were I weak enough to facrifice her to the erroneous judgment of the malicious and unfeeling, what does it offer to reward me ?-commendations I can never deserve, and riches I can never enjoy. In a fubfequent scene, an apartment in Cecilia's houfe, Captain Harcourt is introduced, endeavouring to put in execution his fcheme of finding out the real character of Woodville's miftrefs. Enter Cecilia, followed officiously by Bridget. Cec. I was inform'd, Sir, you had particular bufiness with me? Har. I took the liberty, Madam,-I fay, Madam I Cec. As I have neither friends or relations in London, (fighs) I am at a loss to guess Har. What I would communicate, Madam, requires fecrecy. Cec. Bridget, go where I order'd you just now. Brid. Yes, Madam;-but if I ant even with you for this. [Exit. Cec. I complied with your request, Sir, without enquiring the motive; because you, I think, can have only one.-My father, if I may truft my heart, has made you his messenger to an unwilling offender. Har. Pardon me, Madam, but I refer you to this. Cec. (Reads) Madam, Being certainly inform'd Mr. Woodville is on the point of marrying a Lady chofen by his friends, when it is prefumed you will be difengaged, a Nobleman of rank, and estate above what He can ever poffefs, is thus early in laying his heart and fortune at your feet, left fome more lucky rival fhould anticipate him.-The bearer is authorised to difclofe all particulars, and offer you a fettlement worthy your acceptance.-Deign, Madam, to liften to him on the fubject, and you will find the unknown lover as generous and not lefs conftant than Woodville. Cec. Good Heavens! to what an infult have I expofed myself! [She bursts into tears, and finks into a chair, without minding Harcourt; who watches her with irrefolution.] Har. What can I think there is an air of injured delicacy in her, which teaches me to reproach myself for a wellmeant deceit.-If, Madam, Cec. I had forgot this wretch. (Rifes) Return, Sir, to your vile employer; tell him, whover he is, I am too fenfible of the infult, though not entitled to refent it tell him, I have a heart above my situation, and that he has only had the barbarous fatisfaction of adding another mifery to those which almott overwhelmed me before. Har. Hear me, Madam!-I conjure you! Cec. Never!-a word would contaminate me.(Struggling to go off.) Har. Nay, you fhall You do not know half the good confequences of this letter; I am the friend, the relation of Woodville, my name Harcourt! Cec. Is it poffible he should be so cruel, so unjust Har. He is neither cruel nor unjust, but only unfortunate.-Hear-he defigns to marry you; this I learnt from himself only this morning. As a proof of my fincerity, I will own I doubted your right to that mark of his efteem, and made this trial in confequence. Pleas'd to find you worthy of this rank, I feel shock'd at at reminding you, ought not to share it. But, Madam, if you truly love him, you cannot wish that, to be just to you, he fhould be unjust to thofe who have a prior right over him.-This fhall pofitively be my laft effort. (Afide.) Cec. A motive like your's, Sir, will excufe any thing. How little my happinefs, honour, or intereft, ever weighed against his, need not be repeated. Far be it now from me to difgrace him; he is apprized of my invincible objections to a match which will never take place. May he form a happier, while I by a voluntary poverty expiate my offence! Har. Ma-Ma-what the devil choaks me fo?--I am ftruck with your fentiments, and must find you a proper afylum. The moment I faw you, I had hopes fuch manners could not veil an immoral heart. I have proved your fincerity, and owe a reparation to your delicacy. The propofed bride of Woodville is every way worthy of that deftination; nor am I without hopes even the will be prevailed on to protect you.-But I must not leave a doubt of my fincerity :-do you know Mifs Mortimer ? Cec. I have feen the Lady, Sir: But dare I credit my fenfes ?-Has Heav'n form'd two fuch hearts, and for me? Har. With her, your ftory will be buried for ever: and, I think, the fooner you difappear, the more eafily will you prevent Woodville's difobedience. I will open the affair to Mifs Mortimer directly, and, if the acquiefces, defire her to call for you in perfon, to prevent the poffibility of any artifice. Cec. He, who infpired fuch fentiments, alone can reward them! Oh, Sir! you have raifed a poor defponding heart; but it fhall be the bufinefs of my future life to deferve those favours I can never half repay. Har. I find, by punishing me with acknowledgments, you are refolved to be obliged to me. The time is too precious to be wafted on fuch trifles. At feven, you fhall have certain intelligence of my fuccefs: employ the interim to the beft advantage, and hope every thing from daring to deferve well. [Exit. Cecilia alone. Aftonishing interpofition of Heav'n !— Hope?-what have I to hope?-But, Jet the consciousness of acting rightly support me in the fad moment of renouncing Woodville; and, in him, all that render'd life defirable. A remarkable STORY of a decayed GENTLEMAN. HE confcioufnefs of being beloved TH foftens our chagrins, and enables the greatest part of mankind to fupport the mifery of existence. The affections muft be exercised on fomething; for not to love is to be miferable. Were I in a defert,' fays Sterne, I would find out wherewith in it to call forth my affections. If I could not do better, I would faften them upon fome fweet myrtle, or feek fome melancholy cyprefs to connect myfelf to. I would court their fhade, and greet them kindly for their protection. I would cut my name upon them, and fwear they were the loveliest trees throughout the defert. If their leaves withered, I would teach myself to mourn, and when they rejoiced, I would rejoice with them.' But a short story will illuftrate this reafoning better than the molt beautiful reflections. A refpectable character, after having long figured in the gay world at Paris, was at length compelled to live in an obfcure retreat in that city, the victim of fevere and unforeseen misfortunes. He was so indigent, that he subsisted only on an allowance from the parifh. Every week a quantity of bread was fent to him fufficient for his fupport; and yet, at length, he demanded more. On this the Curate fent for him. He went. 'Do you live alone?' faid the Curate. With whom, Sir, anfwered the unfortunate man, is it poffible I fhould live? I am wretched. You fee that I am, fince I thus folicit charity, and am abandoned by all the world. But, Sir,' continued the Curate, if you live alone, why do you ask for more bread than is fufficient for yourself?-The other was quite difconcerted, and at laft, with great reluctance, confeffed that he had a dog. The Curate did not drop the fubject. He defired him to observe that he was only the diftributor of the bread that belonged to the poor, and that it was abfolutely neceffary that he fhould difpofe of his dog. Ah, Sir,' exclaimed the poor man weeping, and if I lofe my dog, who is there then to love me? The good Paftor, melting into tears, took his purfe, and giving it to him, Take THIS, 9ir, faid he, this is mine, this I CAN give you.' The The BRITISH MUSE: Containing original POEMS, SONGS, & The PLEASURES of BENEVOLENCE. (From an ODE to JOHN HOWARD, Efq; by Mr. HAYLEY.) SWEET is the joy when fcience hings Her on philofophic thought; Sweet the delight, when the gall'd heart But not the brightest joy, which arts, In floods of mental light, beftow; Nor thofe that love's fweet hours difpenfe Thefe tranfports in no common fate, Supremely pure, fublimely ftrong, Above the reach of envious fate, Bleft Howard thefe to thee belong: While years encreafing o'er thee roll, Long may this funfhine of the foul New vigour to thy frame convey! Its radiance thro' thy noon of life difplay, And with ferenet light adorn thy close of day! And when the Power, who joys to fave, Proclaims the guilt of earth forgiv'n; And calls the prisoners of the grave To all the liberty of Heav'n : In that bright day, where wanders blind The eye of the attonith'd mind; When life's glad angel thall retume His ancient way, announce to death his doom, And from existence drive that tyrant of the tome: * Author of The State of English and Foreign Prifons. APO The fword devours a guilty land, Who calls the furies from the realms profound, And bids Deftruction walk the dreadful round. Though ftranger long to Britain's ifle, With blood and duft, and mountains of From the fair manfions of the fky, Where thou, enthron'd, doft fit on high; Goddefs, defcend! tho' of celeftial birth, Revifit, once again, the fons of earth. For thee, at firft, th' Almighty Power, Call'd forth in the creating hour, Bade jarring elements their difcord ceafe, And anarch chaos yield the throne to peace. Defcend, bright Power, and bring with thee Thy well-belov'd, fair Liberty; train Her flowing treffes decks with golden grain. Thy balm the rankling wounds can heal, Long on the globe thy gifts difpenfe ; That wealth and peace may speak a hap- AN OD E. AN ELEGY. Written by the Rev. Mr. Moore. FAIR Her fails unfurl'd are futt'ring ken The young Alonzo fcales her lofty fides, IIfe's like a flower the gardner plants, The fair Maria, led by conftant love, That's rear'd with coft and care; When gain'd, unless supply'd its wants, Our infant years, like budding flow'rs, Short and uncertain are the hours We have at our command. As nipping frofts, and blighting winds, So pale ey❜d sickness life decays, The faithful partner of her husband's care, |