Sneer. Oh! but I would n't have told you, only

to divert you.

Sir F. I know it-I am diverted-Ha! ha! ha! -not the least invention !-Ha! ha! ha! very good! Sneer. Yes-no genius! Ha! ha! ha!

Dan. A severe rogue! ha! ha! But you are quite right, Sir Fretful, never to read such nonsense. Sir F. To be sure-for, if there is any thing to one's praise, it is a foolish vanity to be gratified at it; and if it is abuse-why one is always sure to hear of it from one confounded good-natured friend or another! [Enter SERVANT, L.

Serv. Mr. Puff, sir, has sent word that the last rehearsal is to be this morning, and that he'll call on you presently.

Dan. That's true-I shall certainly be at home. [Exit SERVANT, L.] Now, Sir Fretful, if you have a mind to have justice done you in the way of answer-Egad, Mr. Puff's your man.

Sir F. Pshaw! sir, why should I wish to have it answered, when I tell you I am pleased at it?

Dan. True, I had forgot that. But I hope you are not fretted at what Mr. Sneer

Sir F. Zounds! no, Mr. Dangle, do n't I tell you these things never fret me in the least.

Dan. Nay, I only thought

Sir F. And let me tell you, Mr. Dangle, 't is extremely affronting in you to suppose that I am hurt, when I tell you I am not.

Sneer. But why so warm, Sir Fretful?

A. A. 23.

Sir F. Gadslife! Mr. Sneer, you are as absurd as Dangle: how often must I repeat it to you, that nothing can vex me but your supposing it possible for me to mind the confounded ridiculous nonsense you have been repeating to me! And let me tell you, if you continue to believe this, you must mean to insult me, gentlemen-and then your disrespect will affect me no more than the newspaper criticisms -and I shall treat it with exactly the same calm indifference and philosophic contempt-and so, your servant. [Exit, L.

Sneer. Ha! ha! ha! Poor Sir Fretful! Now will he go and vent his philosophy in anonymous abuse of all modern critics and authors. But, Dangle, you must get your friend Puff to take me to the rehearsal of his tragedy.

Dan. I'll answer for it, he'll thank you for desiring it.

[Exeunt, L.

COSTUMES.

MRS. DANGLE.-Plain white muslin morning dress.

DANGLE.-Blue coat; white waistcoat; black pantaloons; black silk stockings; and pumps.

SNEER.-Blue coat, waistcoat, and breeches; silk stockings; pumps; and cocked hat.

SIR FRETFUL PLAGIARY.-Brown coat, with steel buttons; em

broidered satin waistcoat; brown breeches; white silk stockings; shoes; buckles; powdered wig and tail; threecornered hat; lace frill ruffles; and gloves.

THE FATHER'S SACRIFICE.

From Miller's Mahomet.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

MAHOMET, the False Prophet.

ALCANOR, Chief of the Senate of Mecca.

SCENE:-Mecca: A Spacious Grotto. MAHOMET discovered with the Alcoran before him.

Mah. Glorious hypocricy! What fools are they, Who, fraught with lustful or ambitious views, Wear not thy specious mask,-Thou Alcoran ! Hast won more battles, ta'en more cities for me, Than thrice my feeble numbers had achieved, Without the succor of thy sacred impulse.

[Enter ALCANOR.

Why dost thou start, Alcanor? Whence that horror? Is then my sight so baneful to thee?

Alc. Heavens !

Must I then bear this? Must I meet in Mecca,

On terms of peace, this spoiler of the earth :

Mah. Approach, old man, without a blush; since Heaven,

For some high end, decrees our future union.

Alc. I blush not for myself, but thee, thou tyrant!

For thee, bad man! who com'st with serpent guile, To sow dissention in the realms of peace;

Thy very name sets families at variance,

'Twixt son and father bursts the bonds of nature, And scares endearment from the nuptial pillow! Even truce with thee is a new stratagem.

And is it, insolent dissembler! thus

Thou com'st to give the sons of Mecca peace,
And me an unknown god?

Mah. Were I to answer any but Alcanor,
That unknown god should speak in thunder for me;
But here, with thee, I'd parley as a man.

Alc. What canst thou say? what urge in thy defense?

What right hast thou received to plant new faiths, Or lay a claim to loyalty and priesthood?

Mah. The right, that a resolved and towering spirit

Has o'er the groveling instinct of the vulgar.

Alc. Patience, good Heavens! have I not known thee, Mahomet,

When, void of wealth, inheritance, or fame,

Ranked with the lowest of the low at Mecca?

Mah. Dost thou not know, thou haughty, feeble

man,

That the low insect, lurking in the grass,

And the imperial eagle, which aloft
Ploughs the ethereal plain, are both alike
In the eternal eye! Mortals are equal:
It is not birth, magnificence, or power,

But virtue only, makes the difference 'twixt them. Alc. [Aside] What sacred truth from what polluted lips!

Mah. By virtue's ardent pinions borne on high, Heaven met my zeal, gave me, in solemn charge, Its sacred laws, then bade me on and publish.

Alc. And did Heaven bid thee on, and plunder,

too?

Mah. My law is active, and inflames the soul With thirst of glory. What can thy dumb gods? What laurels spring beneath their sooty altars? Thy slothful sect disgrace the human kind, Enervate lifeless images of men!

Mine bear the intrepid soul; my faith makes heroes.
Alc. Go, preach these doctrines at Medina, where,
By prostrate wretches, thou art raised to homage.
Mah. Hear me thy Mecca trembles at my name;
If, therefore, thou wouldst save thyself or city,
Embrace my proffered friendship.-What to-day
I thus solicit, I'll command to-morrow.

Alc. Contract with thee a friendship! frontless man!

Know'st thou a god can work that miracle?

Mah. I do-Necessity-thy interest.
Alc. Interest is thy god, equity is mine.
Propose the tie of this unnatural union;
Say, is it the loss of thy ill-fated son,
Who, in the field, fell victim to my rage,
Or the dear blood of my poor captive children,
Shed by thy butchering hands?