do me. Sir Ro. Ay, Sir, Fidelia must be restored. Fid. But not to him. Hear but my story, and, if I deceive you, let your friendship forfake me. He bought me, gentlemen, for the worst of purposes; he bought me of the worst of women. A thousand times has he confeffed it, and as often pleaded his right of purchase to unWhole years have I endured his brutal folicitations; till, tired with entreaties, he had recourse to violence. The scene was laid, and I had been ruined beyond redrefs, had not my cries brought the generous Mr. Belmont to my relief. He was accidentally paffing by, and alarmed, at midnight, with a woman's fhrieks, he forced open the door, and faved me from destruction. Sir Cha. How will you answer this, Sir? [To Vil. Vil. 'Tis falfe, Sir. That woman was her nurfe: these hands delivered her to her care. Fid. Alas, gentlemen, fhe found me a helpless infant at her door! So he has always told me; and at twelve years old, betrayed me to that monfter. Search out the woman, if the be alive, and let me be confronted. [Weeps. Sir Ro. If this be true, Sir Charles, I shall bless myself as long as I live, for getting my boy. Vil. 'Tis falfe, I fay; damn'd contrivance to escape me. I ftand here, Sir, to demand my ward. [To Sir Ro.] Deny her to me at your peril. Bel. He fhall have my life as foon. Vil. Hark you, Sir. [To Sir Ro.] There are things, called laws, to do right to the injured. My appeal fhall be to them. Sir Cha. That woman must be produced, Sir. [To Vil. Vil. And fhall, Sir, in a court of juftice. Our next meeting shall be there. Till then, Madam, you are fe[To Fidelia. Bel. Take care that you are fo, Sir, when we have occafion to call upon you. You fhall have justice. Vil. And will, Sir, in defiance of you. cure. [Exit. Sir Cha. Fear not, Fidelia; we believe, and will pro tect you. Rof. My fweet girl! this afternoon? Bel. 'Twas I that wrote it. But whence came the letter Rof Rof. Oh, monstrous !—And could you be that wretch, brother? Bel. And will atone for it, by the only recompence that's left me. Sir Ro. And what recompence will you make her, ha, rogue? Bel. I have injured her, Sir, and must do her juftice. If you would retrieve my honour, or promote my happinefs, give me your confent, Sir, to make her your daughter. Rof. Why, that's my brother! Now I am fure she's innocent. And fo you will, papa. Sir Ro. But, pofitively, I will not, child. Marry her, indeed! What, without a fhilling! and be ruined by Villiard into the bargain! If your story be true, Fidelia, you fhall be provided for. But no marrying, d'ye hear, child? Fid. You need not doubt me, Sir. Sir Ro. Why, that's well faid, Fidelia. Rof. And deferves reward, Sir. Pray, Sir Charles, let us have your thoughts upon this matter. Sir Cha. Your brother's proposal, Madam, and Fide lia's denial, are as generous, as your father's determination is just. Bel. I expected as much, Sir. Sir Cha. My opinion was asked, Sir. Bel. And you have given it. I thank you, Sir. Sir Cha. Think of Villiard, Mr. Belmont; his claim may be renewed, Sir. Bel. Fidelia has deceived you then. You think otherwife, Sir Charles. Col. My life upon her innocence !-And where the fortune, on one fide, is more than fufficient, how light is all addition to it, compared to the poffeffion of her one loves!-Let me, Sir, be happy in Rofetta, [To Sir Ro.] and give her fortune to Fidelia, to make her an object worthy of your fon. Rof. There's a Colonel for you!What fays my fweet Fidelia? Fid. I intended to be filent, Madam; but 'tis now my duty to speak. You have been my deliverer, Sir, from the worst of evils; [To Bel.] and now would nobly aug ment ment the first obligation, by a generofity, too mighty for acknowledgment. If I had the wealth of worlds, it would be too little to befłow. But poor and friendlefs as I am, my heart may break, but never shall confent to make my benefactor a penitent to his virtues. Sir Cha. 'Tis nobly faid, Fidelia. And now, Mr. Belmont, our difputes will foon be at an end. You have this day, Sir, reproached me often; it remains now that you fhould know me as I am. Bel. If I have erred, Sir Sir Cha. Interrupt me not, but hear me. I have watched your follies with concern; and 'tis with equal pleasure, I congratulate your return to honour. If I have oppofed your generous inclinations, it was only to give them ftrength. I am now a fuppliant to your father, for the happiness you defire. Bel. This is noble, Sir Charles! Sir Cha. And to make Fidelia worthy of his fon, a fortune fhall be added, equal to his warmest expecta tions. Sir Ro. Why ay, Sir Charles, let that be made out, and I shall have no objections. Fid. What mean you, Sir? [To Sir Cha. Sir Cha. A minute more, and my sweet girl fhall be inftructed. You have often told me, Sir, had an intereft in this lovely creature. reft an intereft, that you fhall allow doats upon her! Oh, I can hold no longer! daughter! my daughter! [To Bel.] that I I have an inteme! My heart -My [Running to Fidelia and embracing her. Fid. Your daughter, Sir! Sir Cha. Oh, my fweet child !-Sir Roger, Mr. Belmont, my fon!. -Thefe tears!-thefe tears!--Fidelia is my daughter! Col. Is't poffible? Sir Cha. Let not excefs of wonder over-power you, Fidelia, for I have a tale to tell, that will exceed belief. Fid. Oh, Sir! Sir Cha. Upbraid me not, that I have kept it a moment from your knowledge-'twas a hard trial and while my tongue was taught diffimulation, my heart bled for a child's diftreffes. Bel. Bel. Torture us not, Sir, but explain this wonder! Sir Cha. My tears must have their way first- -O, my child! my child! [Turning to Sir Roger and the reft.]— Know then, that wicked woman, fo often mentioned, was my Fidelia's governante. When my mistaken zeal drove me into banishment, I left her, an infant, to her care-To fecure fome jewels of value, I had lodged with her, she became the woman you have heard. My child was taught to believe the was a foundlingher name of Harriet changed to Fidelia-and to leffen my folicitude for the theft, a letter was difpatched to me in France, that my infant daughter had no longer a being. Thus was the father robbed of his child, and the brother taught to believe he had no fister! Fid. Am I that Sifter, and that daughter? Heavens! Oh, [Kneels. Bel. [Running to her, and raising her.] Be compofed, my life! A moment's attention more, and your tranfports fhall have a loofe. Proceed, Sir ! Sir Cha. Where fhe withdrew herself, I could never learn. At twelve years old, fhe fold her, as you have heard, and never, till yesterday, made enquiry about her. 'Twas then, that a fudden fit of fickness brought her to repentance. She fent for. Villiard, who told her minutely what happened. The knowledge of her deliverance gave her fome confolation. But more was to be done yet. She had information of my pardon and return, and ignorant of my child's deliverer, or the place of her conveyance, she at last determined to unburthen herself to me. A letter was brought to me this afternoon, conjuring me to follow the bearer with the fame haste that I would fhun ruin. I did follow him, and received from this wretched woman the story I have told you. Fid. Oh, my heart! My father! [Kneels.] Have I at last found you! And were all my forrows past, meant only to endear the present transport-'Tis too much for me! Sir Cha. Rife, my child! To find thee thus virtuous, in the midst of temptations, and thus lovely, in the midst of poverty and diftrefs- -after an abfence of eighteen melancholy years, when imaginary death had torn thee from my hopes-to find thee thus unexpected, and thus thus amiable, is happiness that the uninterrupted enjoy. ment of the fairest life never equalled! Fid. What must be mine then! Have I a brother too! [Turning to the Col.] Oh, my kind fortune! Col. My fifter! [Embracing her. Fid. Still there is a dearer claim than all, and now I can acknowledge it. My deliverer! Bel. And husband, Fidelia! Let me receive you, as the richest gift of Fortune! [Catching her in his arms. Ref. My generous girl! The pride of your alliance is my utmost boaft, as it is my brother's happiness. Sir Ro. I have a right in her too, for now you are my daughter, Fidelia. [Kifles ber. Fid. I had forgot, Sir-If you will receive me as fuch, you fhall find my gratitude in my obedience. Sir Cha. Take her, Mr. Belmont, and protect the virtue you have tried. [Joining their bands. Bel. The study of my life, Sir, fhall be to deserve her. Fid. Oh, Rofetta! yet it ftill remains with you, to make this day's happiness compleat-I have a brother that loves you. Ref. I would be Fidelia's fifter every way! So take me, while I am warm, Colonel ! [Giving him her hand. Col. And when we repent, Rofetta, let the next minute end us. Raf. With all my heart! Fid. Now, Rofetta, we are doubly fisters! Sir Cha. And may your lives and your affections know an end together. Bel. [Taking Fidelia by the hand.] And now, Fidelia, what you have made me, take me, a convert to honour! I have at last learnt, that custom can be no authority for vice; and however the mistaken world may judge, he who folicits pleasure, at the expence of innocence, is the vileft of betrayers. Yet favage man, the wildest beaft of prey, END of the FIFTH ACT. [Exeunt |