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Mrs. INCHBALD.

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SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:
Printed for G. G. J. and J. ROBINSON, Pater-noster Row.
MDCCLXXXVIII.

ADVERTISEMENT.

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The travels of an Englishman throughout Europe, and even in some parts of Asia, to soften the sorrows of the Prisoner, excited in the mind of the Author the subject of the following pages, which, formed into a dramatic story, have produced from the Theatre a profit far exceeding the usual pecuniary advantages arising from a successful Comedy.

The uncertainty in what part of the East the hero of the present piece was (at the time it was written) dispensing his benevolence, caused the Writer, after many researches and objections, to fix the scene on the island of Sumatra, where the English settlement, the system of government, and every description of the manners of the people, reconcile the incidents of the Play to the strictest degree of probability.

PROLOGUE,

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Written by THOMAS VAUGHAN, Esq.


Spoken by Mr. HOLMAN.

How say you, critic Gods1, and you below2;
Are you all friends?—or here—and there—a foe?
Come to protect your literary trade,
Which Mrs. Scribble dares again invade—
But know you not—in all the fair ones do,
'Tis not to please themselves alone—but you.
Then who so churlish, or so cynic grown,
Would wish to change a simper for a frown?
Or who so jealous of their own dear quill,
Would point the paragraph her fame to kill?
Yet such there are, in this all-scribbling town, }
And men of letters too—of some renown,
Who sicken at all merit but their own.
But sure 'twere more for Wit's—for Honour's sake,
To make the Drama's race—the give and take.
[Looking round the house.
My hint I see's approv'd—so pray begin it,
And praise us—roundly for the good things in it,
Nor let severity our faults expose,
When godlike Homer's self was known to doze.
But of the piece—Methinks I hear you hint,
Some dozen lines or more should give the tint—
"Tell how Sir John with Lady Betty's maid
Is caught intriguing at a masquerade;
Which Lady Betty, in a jealous fit,
Resents by flirting with Sir Ben—the cit.
Whose three-feet spouse, to modish follies bent,
Mistakes a six-feet Valet—for a Gent.
Whilst Miss, repugnant to her Guardian's plan,
Elopes in Breeches with her fav'rite man."
Such are the hints we read in Roscius' days,
By way of Prologue ushered in their plays.
But we, like Ministers and cautious spies,
In secret measures think—the merit lies.
Yet shall the Muse thus far unveil the plot—
This play was tragi-comically got,
Those sympathetic sorrows to impart
Which harmonize the feelings of the heart;
And may at least this humble merit boast,
A structure founded on fair Fancy's coast.
With you it rests that judgement to proclaim,
Which in the world must raise or sink it's fame.
Yet ere her judges sign their last report,
'Tis you [to the boxes] must recommend her to the Court;
Whose smiles, like Cynthia, in a winter's night,
Will cheer our wand'rer with a gleam of light.
1 Galleries.
2 Pit.

ACT I.

SCENE, The Island of Sumatra, in East India.

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CHARACTERS.

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M E N.
Sultan, Mr. Farren,
Lord Flint, Mr. Davies,
Sir Luke Tremor, Mr. Quick,
Mr. Twineall, Mr. Lewis,
Mr. Haswell, Mr. Pope,
Elvirus, Mr. Holman,
Mr. Meanright, Mr. Macready,
Zedan, Mr. Fearon,
First Keeper, Mr. Thompson,
Second Keeper, Mr. Cubitt,
First Prisoner, Mr. Helme,
Second Prisoner, Mr. Gardener.
Guard, Mr. Blurton,
Messenger, Mr. Ledger.
W O M E N.
Lady Tremor, Mrs. Mattocks,
Aurelia, Miss Wilkinson,
Female Prisoner, Mrs. Pope.
Time of Representation, Twelve Hours.
Such Things Are

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