Enter DICK MILTON.

Dick Mil. My dear friend, be happy, Dorrington has secured the fugitive, and at the very instant she was getting into one of the native boats. Gulnare is now within the house, together with the partner of her flight.

Col. Osw. Ah! the partner, said you? a male companion?

Dick Mil. An Indian, probably of rank; he bears himself most proudly.

Col. Osw. Then I am indeed undone ! but let us meet, though our interview be only to confirm despair. [Exit MILTON.

Lady S. The artful creature! I never suspected her of an amour! I'm quite impatient to see the gallant. Col. Osw. Madam, I beseech you let mine be the only observation this stranger may encounter.

Sir Mat. S. To be sure; come along, my Lady; I'm shocked at you, you want to be throwing out your lures. [Exit SIR MATTHEW and LADY SCRAGGS. Mirza. (Without.)-Bear up, Gulnare, 'tis the oppressor that should tremble, not the injured! (MIRZA enters enfolding GULNARE, who is closely veiled.) European! lo! the object of thy persecution stands before thee (Pause.) How! is the conqueror of India silent? then let his bondman speak. Wherefore am I dragged thus, ignominiously, within the presence of a man I never wronged? answer me, Englishman; wherefore am I here?

Col. Osw. Thou! of thee I think not; the treasure thou would'st rob me of is all my care; I tell thee, stranger

Mirza. Hold! stranger I am not-we have met before! Oswald, regard me well, and then remember that these were the arms from which Gulnare was first rendered into thine.

VOL. IV.-8

Col. Osw. Amazement! thou, indeed, the warrior of that bloody field! Ah! wherefore so long suppress thy claim, and now enforce it with such harsh abruptness? might not the guardian of Gulnare have claimed a kinder parting from his ward?

Gulnare. Save me, my uncle, shield me from that reproach!

Col. Osw. Gulnare, speak; was an aversion to Tancred's addresses, united to a secret attachment to another, the only motive that estranged you from my love? Gulnare. (Trembling, and sheltering herself under her veil, from COLONEL OSWALD's look)-It was!

Col. Osw. And you believed me the heartless wretch who would have enforced a guardian's power to sacrifice the creature confided to his charge? Just heaven how did your suspicion wrong me! away with all reserve! away with all dissimulation! Hlear, Gulnare! your guardian was himself your lover, devotedly as ever man adored that only boon which makes existence worthy of his care.

Gulnare. Ah! what is it I hear? Oh! for mercy

Col. Osu. Nay, I must be heard-through what misconception I believed Tancred to be the object of your affections, now, it matters not-but you do lovefrankly, then, declare to me the favoured man-poverty, at least, shall not oppose your passion-half of my fortune accompanies you as a portion to the altar, and, at my death, you will find yourself appointed heiress to the rest.

Gulnare. (Bursting into tears.)—Exalted, matchless Oswald !

Mirza. Nay, my child, with honest words, not idle tears, reply.

Gulnare. Yes, truth and nature now instruct my speech. (To OSWALD.) Oh! Oswald, that I do love, no false refinement shall affect to hide there is a man for whom my passion is my glory, my triumphant

boast; I dare not name him, but his image now lies closely nestled next my heart. (Draws the miniature from her bosom and presents it to OSWALD timidly.) Oswald, 'tis here!

Col. Osw. Ah! my own portrait ! amazement! Gulnare, behold me at your feet, in wonder, gratitude, and admiration lost!-Nay, nay, avert those eyes no longer-look on me, speak to me, confirm my bliss, or I must think myself deluded still.

Gulnare. (Raising her veil, and smiling.)—Oh, tyrant! must I confess my weakness twice?

Col. Osw. (Taking her hand.)-Yes, I must ever tyrannize, if rapture may be only so procured. (To MIRza)—Kinsman of Gulnare, you from whom the precious boon was first derived, say, will not your approval perfect my felicity?

Mirza. Oswald! the spirit in thee is so truly noble, that though its dwelling be with foreigner and foe, I dare not answer as an Indian would. Children, your own virtues will insure you blessings-(Unites them.) yet Mirza, in his distant home, shall name you ever when to his God he lifts the prayer. Farewell!farewell!-(Crosses behind GULNARE)

Gulnare. No, no, we will not separate.

Col. Osw. No, Mirza, no, that must not be, we both will plead against so stern a purpose—(ŠIR MATTHEW heard without.)

Col. Osw. Ah! some tumult interrupts us; we must retire. Nay, you must be won, Gulnare entreats, and my own heart tells me her lips cannot sue in vain—

(COLONEL OSWALD leads MIRZA and GULNARE of)

Enter SIR MATTHEW, pushing on SALLY SCRAGGS.

Sir Mat. S. Get in there, you baggage, I've caught you, and now I'll keep you!

Sally. I'm not to be kept by any body, I'm a married woman!

Sir Mat. S. The devil you are!

Enter COUNT GLORIEUX, hauling in TOM TAPE; CAPTAIN DORRINGTON and DICK MILTON follow.

Count G. Aha! dere be von traitresse, and here be von grand voleur. I seize de parties in vat you call de de fact and now I come for Sir Matthew de Scrag for my satisfaction.

Sir Mat. S. Oho! you apprehend them; well, I've no objection to satisfy you for your trouble. Hey day! why, if this isn't the old French tailor dizzened out in a new suit; one of his customers' I suppose. Bless me, and yonder chap is the count-(Looking at TOM TAPE.)

Count G. No, monsieur! tout àu contraire, I am de count, and dat be de talleure; he be great villain-he run away vid your niece dat I mean to run away vid myself.

Sir Mat. S. This is a conundrum of the devil's own twisting; Dorrington, will you expound it?

Capt. Dor. There certainly has been some mistake; however, this is the person I recommended for your custom-Pointing to TOM TAPE.)

Sir Mat. S. Then, hussy, you have married a tailor! Sally. If I have, its no disgrace; Ned Rapid was a tailor, yet Jessy Oatland and Miss Vortex loved him at the same time.

Sir Mat. S. I never heard of these women before, 'but they're two rare brazen hussys, I'll warrant. Hark ye, hang dog, hav'n't you a word to say for yourself, or does your modesty keep you silent?

Capt. Dor. (Apart to Toм TAPE.)-Speak, Tom, speak!

Tom T. I will, and if he's made of penetrable stuff, I'll touch his feelings-(Assumes a theatrical attitude.) Most potent, grave, and reverend Indiamen, my very

noble and approved good customers, that I have stolen away this old man's niece, it is most true; true, I have married her; the very head and front of my offending hath this extent no more.

Sir Mat. S. No more, you rascal, is'n't that enough?

Enter LADY SCRAGGS and POPLIN.

Lady S. Hey day! I protest, an absolute assembly. Pray, good people, what's the matter?

Sir Mat. S. Mischief's the matter; Sally has married a tailor!

Lady S. (Screams.)—Ah, Poplin! help me to a chair, I insist upon fainting this instant! (COUNT GLORIEUX places a chair in the centre-LADY SCRAGGS has a mock hysteric fit.)

Capt. Dor. Hold, my good friends; since this affair is now irrevocable, allow me to say a few words by way of mediation. Sir Matthew, I sincerely believe the young man to possess honesty and good intentions, so that, considering Miss Scraggs' peculiar habits, it is possible she might have fallen into worse hands.

Sir Mat. S. Um! the girl is half a lunatic, to be sure, and if I were only assured of the fellow's principles, I've money enough for all; and, as for family, I never regarded that a pen'orth o' pigtail!

Lady S. Speak for yourself, Sir Matthew, but never expect a woman of my blood to be reconciled to so degrading an alliance.

Tom. T. Come, my lady, don't be too hard upon one who risked his neck by jumping out of a window to oblige you.

Sir Mat. S. Eh? what's that?

Lady S. (Significantly to TOM TAPE.)Ahem!

Tom T. Oh, merely a figure of speech; but as to my family, though it's low, it's honest; besides, I have a rich relation in this very town, if I could only find her out, who, perhaps, might lend a helping hand.