,5/ s 7 
 
 P"5| 
 
 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE 
 WORDSWORTH COLLECTION 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104104223 
 
4,. 
 
 tnt 
 
 . LAKE U S 
 
 COMIC OPERA^ 
 
 mammmcm^m^ 
 
 [Price as.] 
 
 entmd at ^Miowta i^aU. 
 
THE 
 
 LA 
 
 
 i. 
 
 IN 
 
 THREE ACTS. 
 
 To Nature's pride, 
 
 Sweet Keswick's vale, the Mufe >vill guidej 
 
 The Mufe who trod th'inchanted ground, 
 
 Who fail'd the wond'rous Lake around. 
 
 With you uill hafte once more to hail 
 
 The beauteous brook of Borrowdale. Palton, 
 
 JLontron : 
 
 PRINTED FOR W. CLARKE, NEW EOND STREET 
 
 1798. 
 
If ^/ 
 
TO 
 
 TOURISTS 
 
 IN GENERAL^ 
 
 But mqre particularly to ihofe who have iahji, 
 
 PR 
 JNTEND TO TAKE, 
 
 THE 
 
 TOUR OF THE LAKES, 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 OPERA 
 
 yS MOST HUMBLY INSCRIBED 
 BY 
 THEIR PEVOTED HUMBLp SERVANTj 
 
 THE AUTI-IOH. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A NY one acquainted with the moft popular 
 
 dramas of the prefent day will not accufe 
 
 an author of much vanity, in thinking it no very 
 
 difficult talk to pleafe the public in writing for 
 
 the ftage. 
 
 Tmprefled with this idea^ when the Author of 
 the following drama had an offer made him by a 
 friend of the Deputy Manager of CoVent Garden 
 Theatre to prefent any piece, and infure its being, 
 at leaft, read by him (for pieces are fometimes 
 refufcd wkhout being read), he immediately {et 
 about it ; thinking he fhould be well repaid, if, 
 for a few weeks trouble, he could put a few 
 hundred pounds into his pocket; and that the 
 lofs would not be very great if unfuccefsfuL 
 
 To 
 
till PREFACE. 
 
 To produce a laughable piece^ and give the 
 mufical compofer and fcene painter an oppor- 
 tunity of difplaying their talents, was the object 
 therefore in writing the following fcenes, rather 
 than an attempt at a regular drama. Yet the 
 Author, in firiving to pleafe, did not fo far forget 
 his duty as a moraliil, as to facriiice morality 
 to mirth, and good fenfe to fcenery ; and while 
 he attempted to amufe, he wiihed to expole and 
 lend his feeble aid to corredl fome of the follies 
 of the age. He would have thought it a re- 
 flexion upon the public to have exceeded the 
 bounds of probability for eifedl, at leaft of fuch 
 probability as the prefcription of the ilage allows : 
 he would not have introduced an Otaheitean at 
 the Lord Treafurer Burleigh's, nor have gone fa 
 far as to " make his heroine blue." 
 
 He had flattered himfelf into the perfuafion^ 
 th^t the charader of Veronica was new to the 
 iiage ; and, in able hands, would produce a very 
 laughable effect : it was written purpofely for 
 Mrs. Mattocks; and, if the Author is any judge 
 of the abilities of others, Mrs. Mattocks is the 
 2 only 
 
PREFACE* }X 
 
 bhly perfon who could have performed it. In her 
 line flie is unrhalled ; and in her hands Veronica 
 would have received a thoufand touches, which 
 the pen of an author cduld never fupply ; and 
 upon her powers the author would willingly have 
 rilked his fuccefs* 
 
 Now 5 whether the piece had no merit at all, 
 or whether it had lefs merit than the dramas 
 which have lately been produced at Covent Gar- 
 den Theatre, or whether the Author was too 
 obfcure, and could not fill the boxes on its ap» 
 pearance, certain it is, that the piece, after a 
 Ihort time, was returned with a no ; adding, that 
 where a piece was not accepted, no remarks or 
 fuggeftions were ever made. 
 
 The Authol: was now thrown upon the world* 
 As money was his objedl, he did not apply to 
 the other winter theatre, but prefented it to the 
 Manager of the Haymarket Theatre; thinking 
 it poffible, if he approved it, that he might en- 
 gage Mrs. Mattocks to perform the principal 
 charaaer^ as he had formerly engaged Mr. Kem- 
 
 b Wc 
 
ble for a limilaf purpofe in one of tils 0"vV'H 
 pieces. Bat Mr. Colrnan thought " its repre- 
 '^ fentation would not ierve the intereftS of the 
 ^^ Havmarket Theatre." 
 
 The Ai.thor had now only to reilea upoH 
 what had been before fiiggcfied to him, that the 
 piece was better adapted to the clofet than the 
 flage, as the ciia'ra(3er of Veronica could only 
 have its full force with thofe who underftood 
 botany. This' was very truc^ but it was a cir- 
 eumltance that he was aware ot even trom ttie 
 beginning. He flattered himfelf, that as the fludy 
 of Botany was very fafhionable, and as almoft 
 every body knew fomething of its outlines, the 
 majority of an audience would underfiand it, and 
 the remainder would be pleafed with the comic 
 found of the jargon, when delivered with 
 humour, though unacquainted with its literal 
 meaning. He had heard audiences fet into roars 
 of laughter by Lingo's bad Latin, though per- 
 'haps four-flftiis of the audience were unacquaint- 
 ed with the la.iguage. Moreover, French, Ita- 
 lian, German, and Scotch charadlers are gene- 
 4 rally 
 
PREFACE,. Sa 
 
 rally received with applaufe, though their lan- 
 guage is often perfe6lly unintelligible. 
 
 Unwilling, like a fond parent, that . his child 
 ihoald remain in obfcurity, the Author configns 
 , it to the clofet, at the fame time intreating the 
 Reader to keep in mind, that it was written 
 principally for a ding, and for the lingular man- 
 ner of Mrs. Mattocks, to be.fet off with the 
 farther advantages of mufic, and the moil beauti- 
 ful fcenery that can be imagined. Had it ap- 
 peared on the flage, many parts would have 
 been confiderably curtailed, as too long for effedl 
 m reprefentation, but which the Author hopes 
 will, neverthelefs, prove entertaining in the ■ 
 clofet, if not abfolutely effential to his defign : 
 he wifhed, as much as poffible, to realize to his 
 Reader the fpot where he has laid his fcene, that 
 thofe who have feen it may recall the original to 
 their minds, and to give the beit idea of it in his 
 power to thofe who have not, , 
 
 It only remains to fay a few words upon tlie 
 objefts of the ridicule. The Author affures him- 
 
 b2 felf 
 
ill PREEACE, 
 
 felf he is not iingular iii thinking thp fiudy pf 
 Botany not altogether a prpper amufement for 
 the more poliflied fex ; and the falfe tafte of a 
 licentious age, which is gaining ground, and 
 corrupting the foft and elegant manners of the 
 otherwife loveliefl: part of the creation, requires 
 every difcouragement which can be given. 
 
 Should this Drama fall into any one's hand§ 
 who is neither acquainted with tie Lakes j nor a 
 pBurefque Traveller ^ nor a Botanift, it may be 
 proper to recommend to his perufal, by way of 
 
 A KEY, 
 
 Weft's Guide to the Lakes. 
 
 A Journey made, in the fummer of 1794, 
 ^hrough Holland and the Weftern Frontier of 
 Germany, with a Return down the Rhine: to 
 f hich arc added, Obfervations during a Tour i(x 
 
 thq 
 
PR£FA€£. ^iit 
 
 the Lakes In Lancaflilre, Weftmorland, an4 
 pnmberland. 410. 1795. 
 
 The Botanic Garden : a Poem, ia Two Parts, 
 
 Some of the Tours and Novels of t]io prefent 
 
 PRG^ 
 
PROLOGUE 
 
 TT THERE Cumbria's mountains in the north arlfe^^ 
 ^^ Where cloud-capp'd §KiDDAW fe>;<vi ae azure 
 ikies. 
 Nature hath ihower'd from forth her lavi(h hand 
 Her choiceft beauties o'er the favoured land. 
 There verdant hills the fertile vales divide. 
 And at their bafe pellucid rivers glide ; 
 Or the broad lake, outftretch'd in wide expanfej 
 Difcovers to the trav'ler's wond'ring glance 
 Enchanting fcenes, which captivate the foyl. 
 And rnake therein delightful yifions roll. 
 There the bleak crags their barren bofoms barCi 
 Stupendous catara6ls hideous chafms wear, 
 From rock to rock they force their headlong way^, 
 Stun with their noife, and fill the air with fpray ; 
 The hanging cliff its dreadful fafety yields, 
 Wl^ere Jove's proud bird its annual eyrie builds, 
 
 Thither, attracted from their peaceful home^j 
 The Poet and the Painter love to roam, 
 Feed fancy full, 'till fraught with fire divine. 
 Their beauties on the page and canvafs Ihine; 
 There Cumberland enrich'd his moral mufe. 
 And Farrington /^ produc'd his matqhlefs Views. 
 
 ^ Of all the Views of the Lakes Mr. Farrington's are perhapfi^ 
 the be(^, and the mod faithful reprefentations ; yet he has cer- 
 tainly laken ferae liberties. Had this Prologue been written after 
 the opening of the Exhibition for the urefent year, Mr. W. Tur- 
 ner's name would have been rneniionea as an artift, whofe Views 
 ^i the Lakes do honour tq himfelf and the fcenes they reprefent. 
 
 There 
 
PROLOGufie 
 
 There, too, the botanift, with prying eye^^ 
 Culls the fair flowers in all their thoufand dyes | 
 The teeming waters yield the fcaly race, 
 And the keen fportfman joins the noify chafe | 
 Health, rofy goddefs, there unharm'd refides. 
 And Liberty, the mountain nymph, prefides. 
 Each feafon there delighted myriads throng 
 To pafs their time thefe charming fcenes among s 
 For pleafure, knowledge, many thither hie, 
 For fafhion fome, and fome — they know not why. 
 And thefe fame vifitors, e'en one and all. 
 The Natives by the name of Lakers call. 
 
 There has our Author fix'd his Drama's Scene, 
 Such are his Charadlers, if right I ween : 
 A motley groupe, of various taftes, no doubt. 
 And each purfuing what his tafte points out ; 
 But how together brought, and what befell 
 Thefe Lakers there, the Piece itfelf mufl tell. 
 
 Thus much the Prologue for the Drama fays,—* 
 And now the Author for your patience prays ; 
 Hopes that you'll all your beft of humours wear^ 
 And to exert your candour will prepare ; 
 For I am bid to fay in his behalf, 
 He humbly hopes that he fhall make you laugh, 
 And, as he fows^ fo likewife let him reap. 
 And, if he makes you laugh, give not him caufe to weep. 
 
 DRA- 
 
DRAMATIS PERSO]^.€. 
 
 Sir Charles Portinscale. 
 Bob Kiddy, 
 First Pedestrian. 
 Second Pedestrian. 
 Billy Sample, a Bagman^ 
 Speedwell^ Servant to Sir Charle?- 
 Landlord: 
 Beggak and his Dog, 
 
 Miss Beccabunga Veronica. 
 
 Lydia. 
 
 Anna Katharina, their Maid. 
 
 SCENE*— Keswick and its Environs^ 
 
 THE 
 
ME LAKERS. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 A Room at the ^een's Head. 
 
 ^ir Charles QPEEDWELL, fee the horfes taken care 
 fvjithoutj. O of; and then inquire at the Poft-office 
 whether there are any letters. (Shown in iy Landlord,) 
 
 Landlord, You are welcome to Kefwick again. Sir 
 Charles. 
 
 Sir Charks, Thank you, Landlord. — Again and 
 again, I hope. While Kefwick difplays its wonders, 
 and health and amufement are to be acquired in furvey* 
 ing them, I want nothing but opportunity to bring me 
 here oftener. Have you had much company this feafon ? 
 Many Lakers ? 
 
 Landlord. Sights of 'em, Sir. The houfe is now as 
 full as it can hold; and, if any more fhouid come in, I 
 •don't know what we fhall do. 
 
 Sir Charles. Have you had many people of note ? 
 
 Landlord. No, Sir. Lord Parfimony was here laft 
 week: but then you know. Sir, he travels with only a 
 pair of horfes, and orders only a pint of wine. 
 
 Sir Charles, A good hint, Landlord. Why you inn- 
 keepers in the north had once the character of being civil 
 and contented in your manners, and moderate in your 
 charges. Now, if you retain your civility, you are 
 certain to lofe yoUr moderation. 
 
 Landlord. Why, Sir, travellers ufed to wonder at the 
 reafonablenefs of our charges, and we are not fo dull as 
 not to take a hint when it is given us* '^^^ 
 
 B Sir 
 
i THE LAKERS: 
 
 Sir Charles* Yes, we mufi: thank ourfelves for that. 
 
 Landlord. Sir Incurious Hurry has been here tcK). 
 
 Sir Charles. He never fails. Sir Incurious is fo pai- 
 fionately fond of travelling, and the Lakes, that he 
 drives poft through the country every year, with his car- 
 riage windows up, and never gets out but to eat, drink, 
 and deep. — Who elfe ? But I mud call at Crofthwaite's, 
 and fee the lift. 
 
 Landlord, A gentleman was here laft week, who in- 
 quired after Sir Charles Portinfcale. He is a Cambridge 
 gentleman. Sir, and was here the lad time you was. 
 
 Sir Charles, With his gun and his rod ? 
 
 Landlord, Never a day but he was out either fhooting 
 or fifhing. 
 
 Sir Charles, Ay, Tom Angle. The keencft fportf- 
 man that ever lived. He knows the time of every fly> 
 from the green-drake to the palmer-fly. 
 
 Enter Speedwell, zvith a Letter, 
 
 Speed. Only this letter. Sir. 
 
 Sir Charles, Very well. Landlord, I had an early 
 dinner, fo fhall want fome fupper. — Speedwell, where 
 are the faddle-bags ? I want my pocket-book. 
 
 Landlord, They were carried into the bar, Sir. 
 
 [^Exity zvith Speedw^elu 
 
 Sir Charles, (Opens the letter ^ and reads) 
 
 ** Dear Charles, 
 
 ^* Since we parted at Lancafter, I have gained fome 
 intelligence of your fair partner, which I judge advife- 
 able to communicate to you. The aunt, whom Lydia 
 mentioned, is Mifs Beccabunga Veronica, of Diandria 
 Hall, a great btftanift and pi6lurefque traveller, who, 
 with her nephew Bob Kiddy, are taking the tour of the 
 Lakes. Mifs Beccabunga has a large fortune, part of 
 which is in her own difpofal ; the relt goes to Lydia, at 
 her death. She is, I underftand, very impatient for a 
 hulhand — — " 
 
 Yes, fhe has been ftudying the fyftem of plants, till 
 (he now wiflies to know the fyftem of man. 
 
 " and prefuming upon Lydia's dependance upon 
 
 her, during her life, infifts upon having, the firft attack 
 upon, and refufal of, every perfon who comes in their 
 
 way,. 
 
AN OPERA. 3 
 
 way. A title is her ambition. You mud therefore for- 
 tify your heart and perfon againft her attacks. No 
 doubt you will fee, or hear of, them again, in the courfe 
 of your tour : they mtend being at Kefvvick on the 
 twentieth. Adieu. I wifh you fuccefs. Yours, fin- 
 cerely, though in hafle, H. Friendly." 
 
 The twentieth! That is, to-day. Here then a new 
 campaign opens upon me. I have to take one heart, 
 whilfl: I refifl: the attacks of another. The fervice of 
 Bellona mud, for a fhort time, give way to that of a 
 milder deity. 
 
 ^ AIR. 
 
 Though the Goddefs of PVar is the mijlrcfs [firve^ 
 
 Tet Beauty has Jurely a claim ; 
 From the dilates of Honour my heart will not fwerve^ 
 
 Nor reje^ the bright triumph of Fame : 
 But vain IS all conquefy the triumph how vain^ 
 
 A trifle not Worth our regard^ 
 TJnlefs the dear hlefjing of peace to maintaiuy 
 
 With Beauty the precious rezvard» 
 
 Enter Speedwell, with Saddle-hags, 
 
 Sir Charles. Put down the faddle-bags, and come hi- 
 ther. I took you into my fervice, Speedwell, while 
 you were yet very young and uninformed. Your pa- 
 rents, though they were poor, were honeft, and by their 
 birth deferved better than they received from the hands of 
 fortune. Though fervants, they had been faithful friends 
 to our family; and I promifed them to take care of you. 
 That promife, I think, I haye lulfilled: I have treated 
 you more upon the footing of a friend than a fervant; 
 have taught you myfelf, as tar as circumfiances would 
 permit, and had you infl:ru6led by others, both in your 
 duty as a man, and in what other knowledge might be 
 ufeful to you in pafTmg away your leifure hours in inno- 
 cent amufement. 
 
 Speed. You have never, I hope, Sir, found me want- 
 ing in gratitude for your kindnefs? 
 
 Sir Charles. By no means. I mention not thefe 
 things to remind you of any obligation you may be under 
 to me, but of the duty you owe youifelf in enjoying 
 
 B 2 thefe 
 
4 THELAKERS: 
 
 thefe advantages. You have ferved me faithfully, and 
 I will now put you in a way to better your profpe6ls for 
 life. 
 
 Speed. I defire no other profpe^l, Sir, than that of 
 ferving Sir Charles Portinfcale till my death. 
 
 Sir Charles* You will ferve me alfo in ferving your- 
 felf,— You know the whole circumllance of my meet- 
 ing with a lady at the ball at Lancafter. She has my af- 
 fedions, and, if I can gain hers, I mean to offer her my 
 hand. But there is an impediment in the way of out: 
 union. She has an aunt, upon whom fhe is dependant 
 during her life, and who claims to herfelf the privilege 
 of having the firft refufal of every man they get ac- 
 quainted with. I have reafon to think they will be in 
 Kefwick this day, or foon. And, to fcreen myfelf 
 from the attacks of the aunt, whilft I may have an op- 
 portunity of paying my addreiTes to my Lydia, I fhall 
 change charaders with you. You fhall introduce your- 
 felf as Sir Charles Portinfcale; and if, under that cha- 
 ra6ler, you ihould like the aunt, and gain her confent, 
 marry her. I will undertake to accommodate matters 
 after: if not, it, at any rate, gives m.e an opportunity of 
 furthering my love with Lydia unmolefled. I am not 
 perfonally known to her aunt, as fhe left the aflembly 
 indifpofed early in the evening. You have talents to 
 play the part aligned you; you know all my circum- 
 llances, and have only to order me to attend conftantly 
 upon you, and whilfl, in furveying the profpedls, you 
 engage the aunt, I (hall find opportunities with my 
 Lydia. I will fettle the affair with our landlord. 
 Therefore put on your character immediately. Get out 
 my drelTed coat from the faddle-bags. A red coat has 
 attractions in itfelf. 
 
 Speed, As tar as concerns you, Sir, I will execute the 
 plot to the beft of my ability. But no m.ercenary mo- 
 tives (hall induce me to marry an undeferving woman, or 
 one I cannot love. 
 
 Sir Charles* That is a fentimenf, Speedwell, which 
 would do honour to the heart of a peer. 
 
 [Speedwell undoes the f addle- bags y takes out a co- 
 loured frock with Jurprtfey and feveral brown- 
 paper parcels, with Jlill greater.'] 
 
 Speed. If the lady, Sir, is like the turkey-cock, and 
 flies only at the red coat, and not at the wearer, I fear 
 
 there 
 
AN OPERA. 5 
 
 there will be no attack ; for the coat has changed its co- 
 lour, and, what's more, it has changed its talhion. 
 
 Sir Charles. How ? 
 
 Speed, f Undoing o}7e of the parcels, J Pieces of linen ! I 
 have it, Sir. If you remember, Sir, the landlady at 
 Penrith brought a pair of faddle-bags^into your room, and 
 defired you to let a traveller be there, as the houfe was 
 full ; *' his name was Billy Sample, from Manchefter, 
 and he was a virry nice young man." Now 1 take it. 
 Sir, that either I through miilake, or he through defiga 
 or mi {lake, has changed faddle-bags, and that thefe are 
 the bagman's patterns. 
 
 Sir Charles, How is this ? the bags were padlocked. 
 
 Speed. Yes, Sir, but ours was a lock that opens 
 with a fpring without a key, and, this is the fame. I am 
 confident that I packed them up right, for when you faid 
 that the gig was to be left behind to be repaired, and 
 then follow us, I changed fome things from the feat to 
 the ba^s. 
 
 Sir Charles. How heedlefs! However, inquire for 
 him here, and at the other houfe. If he is not here, 
 you muft go back to Penrith, and fee after them. 
 He may be gone another way. But, when he finds 
 his miftake, he will be as much djfnppointed as I am, 
 and perhaps come after us. 
 
 Speed. He's moil: likely coming this way. Sir ; for he of- 
 fered firft you, and then me, ajide in his gig. 
 
 Sir Charles. Well, go and inquire, and keep a look- 
 out for the ladies. (Exit Speedivelh) Happy man I to 
 have another opportunity of converfing with my Lydia, 
 to hear her charming voice, and again be fafcinated by 
 -her bewitching fmile! 
 
 AIR. 
 
 It was not her formy nor her features fo fair, . 
 Her eloquent eye^ nor her fine f owing hair. 
 
 Nor her wit, her good fenjey nor her grace \ 
 All thefe had their part. 
 But what capturd my heart, 
 
 Was the fmile that beamdfweet on her face, 
 
 T^he form it may fade, and the features may change ^ 
 Qft wit, by its riiaUce, true love will ejirange^ 
 And the heart from its vi^iim will f pur n ; 
 
 But 
 
6 T H E L A K E ?v S: 
 
 But fhe flame I defire 
 Burns like P^ejias pure fire. 
 
 For the f mile of good-temper s eteme* 
 
 Enter Speedwell. 
 
 Speed, Sir, I have found them both, the bagmanj 
 who has got your coat,' and the lady, who has got youi 
 heart. 
 
 Sir Charles, What, my Lydia ? 
 
 Speed, And her aunt, Sir. All three coming in the 
 bagman's gig. I fuppofe they accepted the fide you 
 lefufed. 
 
 Sir Charles. ImpofTible ! 
 
 Speed. It's true, as I live. Sir ; and, what is more, he 
 has got your coat on ; and, flill more than that, your 
 dreffed hat out of the hat-box. Here they come. Sir* 
 
 Sir Charles. Aflonifhing! let us {land afideand obferve 
 them. Take up the cloathes however. 
 
 Rnter Veronica, Lydia, nnd Sample in Regimentals^ 
 fhovjii in by Landlord, bearing Scotch Plaid ^ Boxes ^ ^c^ 
 
 Landlord. The party in the bed room are going away 
 immediately, and you (hall have that, Aiadam. Here is 
 an account of the mufeums. (Gives papers.) 
 
 Ver, How fupremely fortunate ! A guide and botanift, 
 ** well acquainted w^ith the rare indigenous plants of the 
 mountains, rocks, and lakes." I beg you'll defire the 
 guide and botanift to repair hither dire61:ly. 
 
 Sir Charles, ( Jfide to Speed.) That is my cue ; do yoii 
 wait upon the officer. [They retire.^ 
 
 Fer. Pray fee all the things taken out, and bring my 
 drawing-box inftantaneoufly. I would not lofe my 
 {ketches and the manufcript of my tour for the world. 
 I am fure, Sir, we are under an infinitude of obligations 
 to you for this favour. If it had not been for your kind- 
 nefs when the Sociable broke down, I don't know what 
 we could poflibly have done. 
 
 Sample, You are very welcome, Mifs. But bringing 
 your luggage and all was rather too much. The horfe is 
 knocked up. 
 
 Fer, O dear, don't give yourfelf any imeafinefs on his 
 account. If he fliould die, LU write a monody, or ar^ 
 
 epitaph 
 
ANOPERA. 7 
 
 tpitaph, or an elegy upon him, and that will immor- 
 talize him. 
 
 Sa?7iple. But it won't buy me another horfe. 
 
 Ver, But it will. Publifli it on a wire-wove, hot- 
 preffed, cream-coloured paper, with the fac-fimiles on 
 the other fide ; I'll do fome defigns for it, and it will fell 
 for a guinea. 
 
 Sample, But a guinea won't buy me a horfe. 
 
 Ver. If it is an hundred, you Ihall have it. But pray, 
 may I know to whom I am indebted for this kindnefs ? 
 
 Sa7?iple. I always forget my name. It's lucky it's with- 
 infide my hat. (Afide, taking off his hat, artd looking into it,) 
 Sir Charles Pcrt-in-fcale, Mifs. 
 
 Fer, How fortunate! The elegant and accomplifhed 
 Sir Charles Porlinfcale, and a botanifl too. I mull have 
 him. fAfide,) To have received this favour from Sir 
 Charles Portinfcale, of whofe merits the world fo loudly 
 fpeaks, adds weight to the obligation, and makes it in- 
 eftimable. 
 
 Sample. And pray, Mifs, what's your name ? 
 
 Ver. You do me infinite honour. Sir Charles ; my 
 name is Beccabunga Veronica, of Diandria Hall ; rny 
 hybernaculum is in Grofvenor Square. Lydia — 
 
 Sample. Well, Mifs Becky Bungay 
 
 Ver. Why, Lydia, why don't you acknowledge Sir 
 Charles ? You know you danced with him at Lancaller. 
 
 Lydia, I had the honour of dancing with Sir Charles 
 Portinfcale at Lancaller. But it v/as not for me to fpeak 
 firft. What can this mean ? (Afidc) 
 
 Ver. Sir Charles, you don't feem to lecoUetEl your 
 partner ? 
 
 Sample. My partner ! 
 
 Ver. Don't you remember at Lancafler aflize-ball? I 
 unfortunately danced the tv>-o firft dances in a different fet, 
 and was then taken fo ill as to be obliged to go home. 
 
 Sample, I wasn't at Plague on't 1 I forget who I 
 
 am. (Afide*) O ay ; we danced Morgan Ratler. 
 
 Enter Speedwell. 
 
 Speed, I have feen the horfes taken care of, Sir, or- 
 dered your bed, and a bird and bottle for fupper. 
 Sa??iple. Taken care of ! — bird and bottle ! 
 Sped^ I got here juft half an hour before you^ Sir. 
 
 Ver, 
 
n THE LAKERS: 
 
 l^er» Is this your fervant, Sir Charles? 
 
 Speed, I have the honour, Madam, to ferve Sir Charles 
 Portinfcale. 
 
 f^er. You never told us of him. Sir Charles. 1 did 
 ' not know you had a fervant vvrjth you. 
 
 Sample, Nor I neither. fJJide.J 
 
 Ver» It was very unlucky he was gone on when ouf 
 njoiture broke down, or he might have affifled us in our 
 pei'icula. 
 
 Sample, That's ihe name of your carriage, is it ? You 
 called it a Sociable juil now. He might have brought one 
 of you behind him. 
 
 Fer. Ride double I how unpic^urefque ! If you have 
 no obje£lion, Sir Charles, we will join parties, and add 
 fomething to your roaft fowl and bottle. 
 
 Sa7nple. Roaft fowl and bottle! 'twould eat up all my 
 profits. I fliall only have a bit of cold meat and fix* 
 pen'orth of brandy and w ater, 
 
 Enfer Sir Charl-cs, ht Sample'^ Chatheu 
 
 ^Str Charles. Oh 1 the ladies who want me are in this 
 room. (Without,) Does your Ladyfhip want me ? I am 
 
 the guide and botaniil. Ma'am. 1 am the guide and 
 
 botanift. Ma'am, f Significantly^ to Lydia.J Sir Charles 
 Portinfcale, I am the guide and botanid. fTo Sample,) 
 
 Lydia, What, my partner at Lancafter ! Was he an 
 impoftor then, or is he now ? My heart tells me he is 
 true, and I am willing to be guided by him. 
 
 Sample, Why, what can this mean ? This mufl be 
 Sir Charles, and in my cloathes. Well, if he won't know 
 me, I'm fure I don't wifh to know him ; and, if he likes 
 my cloathes better than his own, he fhall have 'cm. I fhall 
 fooner make a fortune hy a red coat, than by riding for 
 Dimity and Co. (A fide.) 
 
 Ver, (Looking through glajjes.) A vaflly pi6lurefque 
 figure, I declare! Extremely interefling ! What, you are 
 the Ciceroni of Derwent-water ? I fee, Mr. Botanift, that 
 you have complete collections of the plants of the 
 country, ready packed to fend off. J defire I may have a 
 collediion. 
 
 Sir Charles. If your Ladyfhip will give me your direc^ 
 tioD; you may depend upon their being fent, 
 
 Ver. 
 
AN OPERA. 9 
 
 P^er. I miift have them now. I defire you'll get them 
 illreilly. 
 
 Sir Charles, I fear I have not a complete colledlion 
 by me. 
 
 Speed. fAfide.) Suppofe, Sir, you give her one of the 
 bagman's parcels. She will not undo it before fhe 
 goes away from hence. 
 
 Sir Charks. I believe here is a colleflion I was juft 
 going to diredl and fend oiF; but your Ladyfliip (hall 
 have them. 
 
 Ver* Very obliging, indeed ! What dothey^come to ? 
 What is the appreriation of them ? 
 
 Sir Charles^ A guinea, if you pleafe. Madam. 
 
 F^er. Sir Charles, may I beg the favour of you to pay 
 for them? Pray untie and let me infpe6l them. 
 
 Sir Charles. I beg they may not be undone before you 
 get home, as it would expofe them to the air, and they 
 might fuffer from it. Your Ladyihip (liali fee another 
 parcel undone before you leave Kefwick. 
 
 Fer, "Vaftly well. Sir Charles, I beg the favour of 
 a guinea ? 
 
 Sajuple. I think, Mlfs Becky, you had better expofe 
 them. Why, you wouldn't give a guinea for a parcel of 
 patterns r 
 
 Fer, Pattern^! We call them fpecimens. Sir Charles. 
 
 Sample, SpzV^men ! Why fhe doesn't think fhe's 
 buying a bale of gingerbread nuts. But I forget myfelf. 
 ( Jlftde — gives a guinea,) There, Sir, if they are not right, 
 
 you give the guinea back again. It's very hard to give 
 
 a guinea for my own goods, when they're not worth it, 
 and not have 'em neither. If he doesn't pay me, I'll 
 melt the gold lace off his coat and pay myfelf. (Afide,) 
 
 Fer. I dare fay they are all right. There are the 
 lichens amongft them, I hope ? 
 
 Sample. Yes, llie's a liVing for my guinea, I fee. (JJide.) 
 
 Fer, Sir Charles, I Ihall reft your debtor. 
 
 Sample. I hope not, Mifs. 
 
 Fer, I (hall beg, Mr. Botanift, to depofit my buft and 
 leg in your mufeum, . 
 
 Sir Charles, Yt)ur Ladyfhip will do me infinite honour, 
 even by fetting your foot in it. 
 
 Fer, Very prettily turned indeed. 
 
 Sample, Your leg, Mifs? 
 
 C Fer. 
 
10 THE LAKERS: 
 
 Ver. I am a bit of a fculptor, and model in plafler. 
 I had fini filed one exquifite buft of myfelf, fo clafllcal, 
 but I fpoiled it in the baking I have, however, fuc- 
 ceeded tolerably well in my fecond attempt : but every 
 body fays my leg is the fineit they ever faw, and it is now 
 in the poiTedion of every lover of vertu. 
 
 Sample. Well, Mifs Becky, 1 don't fee m,uch virtue in 
 it, but I fliould like to fee your legs ; though 1 always 
 thought ladies wifhed to hide 'em. 
 
 Ver, O dear, no! quite the contrary. I played a 
 ])recches-part at my theatricals purpofely to fhow my leg, 
 I have juil perfe£l:ed a highly finifheJ cololTal ftatue of the 
 Poliili dwarf in mriible : I hewed it even from the block,' 
 and prefented it to Lord Taftelefs, -and he has enti-rely 
 fpoiled it bv putting brafs buckles, fword-hilt, and lace 
 to the hat. 
 
 Sample. Why, 'twould ha' been handfomer if he'd gone 
 to the expenfe of filver. 
 
 Ver. We had better take a fhort perambulation before 
 fupper. 
 
 Sir Charles. If your Ladylliip pleafes. An evening 
 profpe6l from Crow Park is reckoned particularly fine. 
 And, if we go now, we fhall have the advantage of both 
 the funfet and the rifing moon, 
 
 Lydia. I beg, Madam, that we may go. I am cramp- 
 ed with fitting in the carriage, and make no doubt 1 fhall 
 be better for the walk. 
 
 Fer. I would not lofe it for the v/orld. What a fine 
 defcription it will make in my tour. Sir Charles, what 
 fay you to a turn? You mufi: take infinite pleafure in 
 viewing the delightful and imprcilive fcenes of this 
 country, as you travel through it ? 
 
 Sample. Why, Mifs, I ufed to flare about me a good 
 deal, when I firft came, from the novelty of the thing. 
 But, now I'm ufed to it, I think no more of 'em than 
 nothing at all : I think of nothing but taking orders. 
 
 Ver- Blefs me, Sir Charles, 1 hope you don't think of 
 leaving the army r 
 
 Sample, Leaving the army, Mifs! — O ay — O no, 
 Mifs. 
 
 Ver. You talked of going Into the church. 
 
 Sample. The church ! 
 
 Ver. You faid you thought of nothing but taUng orders. ^ 
 
 Sample'. 
 
AN OPERA. II 
 
 Sample, O yes, Mifs, for our houfe. I get my living 
 by it. 
 
 Fer. What, you've a family living? 
 
 Sample. I've no family, Mifs, but I don't care how 
 foon 1 have one. 
 
 Ver. O Sir Charles, you might leave that for your 
 fecond fon — particularly if your wife has a fortune. 
 
 Sample. I Ihould not at all mind giving up my travel- 
 ling bufinefsto my fon/ 
 
 Fer. By no means. Sir Charles ; I am a traveller 
 myfelf. 
 
 Sample. Are you, Mifs ? What houfe do you travel 
 for ? Where are your patterns ? 
 
 Fer, You will call them patterns. Sir Charles — 
 Specimens. 
 
 Sajfiple. Sp/r^men ! What, you travel for one of the 
 great Weft India merchants? 
 
 Fer, I hope to travel for all the world. 
 
 Sample. That's too much to hope, Mifs. 
 
 Ftr, Not at all, I hope 1 mean to make athoufand 
 
 pounds by my tour. 
 
 Sample. That's doing buOnefs well. But I don't won- 
 der at it. I am fure I could not refufe giving an order 
 to fuch a nice creature. But I never heard of a woman 
 traveller before, 
 
 Fer, Blefs me. Sir Charles, why they're quite common. 
 
 Sample. Well, if I was married, my wife fhould go 
 one way and I another. 
 
 Fer, That is the modern fafhion to be fure: but I 
 cannot fay I fhould like it. 
 
 Sample. Why then we'd go together. I'd travel in the 
 Manchefter line, and you in the Weft India. 
 
 Fer, Why, that would be travelling the fame way with 
 a witnefs. 
 
 Sample, Yes, yes, we fticuld witnefs each other's 
 dealings. 
 
 Fer. A vaftly fingular man is this Sir Charles. Not 
 very poliihed, nor very accomplilhed. However, I muft 
 have him. His fortune and title are both good, and I 
 fhall have the merit of improving him. ( Afide.) Pray, 
 Sir Charles, could you be contented to h^ 2i monogynia'^ 
 all your life ? 
 
 * Monogyniaj in botanic language, fignifies poffeffing one female. 
 
 C Q, Sample, 
 
12 THE LAiCERSt 
 
 Sample, Be contented to bemoan my guinea here all 
 my life! (Halfaftde.) No, Mifs, I can't fay I ihould. 
 
 Jer» O fie, Sir Charles! I know you captains are 
 great rovers, but you fhould not own it. Well then, a 
 digynia ? 
 
 Sample. Die for my guinea here ! [Half afide.) No, 
 not that neither, Mifs. 
 
 Fer, Horrid! What mufl you be — a frigynia, or a 
 tetragynia, or a pentagynia * P 
 
 Sample. Yes, {Half aftde,) I've fpent my guinea here. 
 
 Ver. An abfolute Turk ! I wonder you fhould fay fo 
 on my account. Why, you would not keep a feraglio ? 
 
 Sample, If it is not on your account, I don't know on 
 
 whofe it is. 1 don't underftand three words fhe fays. 
 
 I never heard fuch lingo before. (Aftde.J Well, Mifs, 
 fuppofe we walk. 
 
 Fer. If you pleafe. Sir Charles, I fhall beg the favour 
 of your arm. Here, Mr. what is your name ? 
 
 Speed. Speedwell, at your fervicc, Madam. 
 
 Ver» A vaftly good name, indeed. — Pray take my 
 glaffes and my drawing- book, and my fifliing- flool. 
 
 Come, Lydia ; why, you look as ftrange Come, I 
 
 wifh you'd ftudy botany. Do, Mr. Botaniit, inftru61: 
 her a little ; fliow her a cryptogamy t or two. 
 
 Sample, What game's that, Mifs ? 
 
 Sir Charles. I'll fhow her one your Ladyfliip never favr. 
 
 Ver, Oh no, I proteft againfl it. I mufl have the 
 firft fight of it myfelf. Is it an ophioglofjum, ^ jungerma^^ 
 niay a lycoperdon, or a polypodium P 
 
 Sir Charles, I think it will prove one of \ht filices (vice 
 
 ^ces \], 
 
 Ver, I muft fee it. Come, let us be walking.— 
 Where is my parafol P 
 
 Sir Charles, You will fcarce have any ufe for it. 
 Madam. 
 
 Fer, O yes, it will give me a more pi6lurefque effeft. 
 
 Lydia (as they go out). Sir Charles, this muft be 
 explained. 
 
 Sir Charles, Be afTured it fliall, and to your fatisfac- 
 tion. \_Exeunt, 
 
 TQIIlc^ 1. 
 
 * Having five females. f Clandefiine marriaf^e. 
 
 X Or un happy one. 
 
 *b^ 
 
 SCENE 
 
AN OPERA. 13 
 
 SCENE 11. 
 
 ^he Market --F lace, 
 A Beggar and his Dog — The Dog Jit ting upon his bind L<gs* 
 
 SONG. 
 
 Beggar. 
 
 Opprejs^d with griefs deprived ofjight^^ 
 A'ly cheerjul day is turned to night, 
 
 For all is dark to me ; 
 'No houfe to Jheher o'er my head. 
 And fore d to beg my daily bread : 
 
 Pray bejhw your charity. 
 
 Your battles I have fought abroad,^ 
 Whiljl you were at your feftive board. 
 
 And all was mirth and glee ; 
 Then, cold and hungered, have I lain 
 Upon the damp and defer t plain : 
 
 Fray be/low your charity, 
 
 A trifle now is all 1 crave 
 
 To refcuefrom the gaping grave 
 
 My faithful dog and me. 
 O give — and for the friendly boon, 
 fufi Heavnfhall fhower its mercies down : 
 
 Fray befiow your charity. 
 
 At the end of the firfi verfe Veronica enters, leaning on. 
 Sample's arm '^ Lydia talking with Sir Charles; and 
 Speedwell following, Veronica lifiens attentively, gives 
 her parafol to Sample to hold, ajtd flands in an attitude. 
 After thefecond verfe, Jhe exclaims, *' How interefting 1" 
 After the third, '' And the little dog too! Dear crea- 
 ture ! What a powerful appeal to a too fufceptible 
 heart ! How happy fhould I be to do any thing for 
 the amelioration of his condition ! — Sir Charles, have 
 you got any l^alfpence?" 
 Sample. What, more money! She'll brazier rne. 
 
 (Afide.) No, Mifs, I have not. 
 Fer, Then a fixpence ? 
 Sample, Not a fixpence, Mifs, 
 
 I Ver, 
 
14 THELAKERS: 
 
 Fer» Then a (hilling, I beg. I faw one when you 
 took out your purfe juft now. 
 
 Sample, I don't like her tricks upon travellers. But as 
 I'm a great man, and her lovier, 1 fuppofe (he muft have 
 it. fJfide.J There^ Mifs, that makes one pound two, 
 
 Ver. Don't difturb thefe amiable feelings of refined 
 fenfibility. (Drops the Jhilling into the beggar s hat — paufes 
 — takes out her handkerchiefs and puts it to her eyes.) 
 
 Beggar, Heaven blefs you ! 
 
 Sample, You need not cry, Mifs ; the lofs is mine, and 
 not yours. 
 
 Ver, Lead me away. Thefe quick vibrations of the 
 fine fibres of my heart are too much for fo flender a frame. 
 
 Sample. Well, but you fee I don't cry. 
 
 Ver. Stop, Sir Charles. I (hall lofe the force of it, 
 if I don't write it down while the imprelFion is warm. 
 (Takes out her booky and writes.) 
 
 Speed, This may be feeling and charity, but I can't 
 cxadly tell. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 If, when the poor ajk charity ^ 
 Without a thought you pajs them hy^ 
 And anfwcr not their claim \ 
 IPljatc'cr cxciife 
 You may produce J 
 It is a burning fhame. 
 
 But when^ to gratify your pride ^ 
 At their re que ft you turn afide^ 
 And in their Jorrovjs pry \ 
 Why then in truth y 
 ^Tis little worthy 
 Tour charity is all my cj'c. 
 
 And if by chajice you freely gizr, 
 According fy as you receive,' 
 And as ihcy urge their clairn^ 
 And thenfbould cry 
 And wipe your eye^ 
 It is a crying (hame. 
 
 Ver, I think I have fucceeded in my Notitium. (Readt 
 from hr book) <' As we were croifmg the market-place, 
 
 ia 
 
AN OPERA; 15 
 
 jn our way from the auherge to Crow Park, my ears 
 were ftruck with fome of the moft interefting founds 
 I ever hear:';, and which irrefiliibly arrefted my footfteps. 
 It was a blind beggar, relating in plaintive numbers his 
 melancholy ftory. By his fide he had a dumb, but 
 an able advocate, who, with mute eloquence, made 
 the moft forcible appeal to one's charity. A little 
 ^og was attached to his fide, who, in a fupplicatory 
 pofture, joined in the eleemofynary claims of his mafter. 
 I dropped a trifle into the maimed mendicant's hat with 
 
 a tear another was about to follow it, but, afhamed of 
 
 the amiable Aveaknefs, I caught the foolifh pearl in my 
 handkerchief, and treafured it up in the faithful repofitory 
 of my bofom/' There, I think that a very happy fen- 
 tence. What is your opinion, Sir Charles ? 
 
 Sample. I think it a tTiiferable one, Mifs. 
 
 Ver. I don't know how I could alter it for the better, 
 unlefs I were to put *' napkin" inftead of '' handker- 
 chief," for the fake of euphony. 
 
 Sample. For whofe lake, Mifs ? You may call it 
 *' muckinder," if you like it better. 
 
 Ver. I really believe he has a mind to laugh at me. I 
 may perhaps introduce a quotation or two. Perhaps, 
 Sir Charles, you can give me a line or two from Horace, 
 
 or Juvenal, or Tacitus, or ; but that will do 
 
 when I come to make it out fuller. I think it is per- 
 fpicuoufly enarrated. Come, Mr. Botanift, pray fhow 
 us the way: the day is getting deciduous. Farewell, my 
 friend ; I fympathize in the fecret of your forrows. 
 (Sir Charles and Lydia give htm money,) 
 
 Speed. I can neither fport with his feelings nor my own. 
 (Gives money.) [^Exeunt, 
 
 AIR, 
 
 Beggar. 
 
 Be gracious, Heaven ! and give reward 
 
 To all who thus the poor regard. 
 
 And grant that they may never know ^ 
 
 fbe beggar's piercing wants and woe! 
 
 SCENi; 
 
,6 THE LAKERS: 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Crow Park. 
 
 The fcene reprefents the view crofs Derwent-water into ths 
 - gorge of Borrowdale^, and Lowdore zvater-fall in the dif- 
 tance. The front of the ftage reprefents Crow Park ; 
 about the middle, towards the right hand fide, is Vicar's 
 illand, with the houfe feen fideways, the church in full 
 view. The warm glow of funfet pervades the landfcape 
 at firfiy and gradually dies away. A Jhort interval of 
 gloQ?n fuccecdsj and the moon then rifes from behind the 
 mountains of Borrowdale. 
 Veronica enters with a bunch of flowers in her hand. Sir 
 Charles on one fide of her ^wi Sample on the other, Lydia 
 follozvingy and Speedwell at a dijlance, carrying Vero- 
 nica's paraphernalia, 
 
 Ver, A vaflly curious plant indeed, Mr. Botanift ! A 
 non-defcript^ you fay ? 
 
 Sample^ You gather herbs, do you ? What, are you 
 any thing of a dodlor ? 
 
 " Fer. It's a tetrandria tetragynia^ I fee. The peduncle 
 is articulated^ membranaceous , umbelliferous y and tomentofe ; 
 as are alfo the petioles* The leaves are cauline, petiolatedy 
 and lanceolate ; the corolla is polypetalous ; the calyx is mono- 
 phyllous ; the pericarpmm is tricoccous, and ihefemen a nux. 
 We muft give it a name, Mr. Botanift. Wait a Ihort 
 timcv and we will call it, from myfelf, the Portinfcalia. 
 [JJide to him,) 
 
 Sir Charles. It will be a long time, if v/e wait till 
 then, fdjidej. 
 
 Sample, fJfde.J What a deal to have to fay to one liale 
 bit of a plant ! Poor woman! I am afraid fhe does not 
 know what (he's talking about. 
 
 Fer. I muft have a fpecimen for my hortus ftccus. 
 Sir Charles, you don't feem to admire it. 
 
 Sample. I don't think much of it indeed, Mifs. The 
 colour's {o dim, and it's got no fmelK 
 
 Ver. Why, what botanift ever thought of colour or 
 fmell in a plant ? Speedwell, give me my botany box. 
 (Puts plants in.) There, take care of it. 
 
 Sample. What, I fuppofe you prefs 'em in books r 
 I've feen a many do fo. But I never could think what 
 they were for, unlefs it was for making patterns for 
 printing cotton. V^y^ 
 
AN OPERA. t) 
 
 Ver, O Sir Charles ! I am no ftranger to your perfedt 
 knowledge of the Linnaean fyftem. 
 
 Sample. \ think, Mifs, I do know a good deal about 
 linens. 
 
 Ver. Intenfely aftonifhing! Praj;, Sir Charles, do yoU 
 underftand German ? 
 
 Sample, No, Mifs not your ]nrgon. fJfde.J 
 
 Ver. Why every body of tafle rea-'C German now. I 
 defign to work up tl;e ftory of the V'iiicnrry Horfeman 
 on Souther- Fell-fide into a ballad in imitation of the , 
 German. 
 
 Sir Charles. This, Madam, is the cclebr^ied la^e of 
 Kefwick, or Dervvent-water \ and the place where we 
 now are. Crow Park, Mr. Weft's fecond ftation. It was 
 iormerly a glade of ancient oaks, but the. wafting hand 
 of avarice has fpoiled it of its beauties, 
 
 Ver, Oh! if one ftngle tree had remained, this vvoulcl 
 have been an unparallelled fpot! Stop a minute, if you 
 pleafe, Mr. Ciceroni, while I get out my pencil to write. 
 (^he writes while he gives his account.) 
 
 Sir Charles. This fpacious amphitheatre of pi^Lurefque 
 mountains, with the pellucid waters lying at their bafe^ 
 variegated with iflands, adorned with wood, or clothed 
 with the fweeteft verdure, prefents a pidure as fine as the 
 imagination can form. You look dire£lly acrofsthe lake-, 
 for three miles, into the gorge of Borrowdale, where 
 Caftle Crag guards the tremendous pafs. To the left is 
 the renowned catara6i: of Lowdore, now feen only as k 
 filvery ftreak on tb.e fide of the mountains. Afhnefs 
 Crag towers to its lett, and Falcon Crag, Wallow Crag, 
 and Caftle Hill, are the mountains which fweep beyond 
 them. The fine range of fells to the right (for every 
 crag of every mountain has its nam.e), are Grange-fells, 
 Goldfcope, Catbells, Newlands, High-ftyle, Red-pike, 
 and Cawfey-pike ; Barrow and Swinfide below it, with 
 the thick woods of Foe-park at their feet. 
 
 This lake is often troubled with what are called '^bot- 
 tom winds :" being a commotion of the water, as if 
 agitated by a fudden gv^^^^ without any real hurricane or 
 apparent caufe. 
 
 The iiland neareft to us is VicarV Ifland ; beyond, to 
 the left. Lord's Ifiand, once the property of the unfor- 
 tunate family of Radcliffs Earls of Derwent-water ; 
 beyond that^ Rampfholm \ and to th« right, beyond 
 
 D Vicar's 
 
iS THE LAKERS: 
 
 Vicar^, is St. Herbert's Ifland, where he had a hermitage, 
 the foundations of which are now vifible. 
 
 Fer, A very happy thought, I declare : quite a beau 
 ida! You muft know, Sir Charles, 1 have always feveral 
 "works in hand at the fame time ; and, as 1 always intro- 
 duce a great deal of dcfcription of fcenery in my ro- 
 mances, 1 keep that in my eye while 1 am travelling, 
 -and u rite a romance at the fame time with my tour. It:, 
 is only putting Geneva for Windermere, and, though I 
 have never been abroad, 1 defcrihe the fcenery exadlly as 
 well as if I had been there. But I think I (hall lay ihc 
 fcenc of my next upon Derwenl-w^ater, make St. Herbert 
 to have murdered a pilgrim, who (liall turn out to be his 
 brother, and I (hall call it *' 1 he Horrors of the Her- 
 mitage/' I can introduce a inyilerious monk of Bor- 
 rowdalc, and [hall have line opportunities of defcribing 
 luxuriant groves and bowery lanes, in all the pomp of 
 foliage of beech, bircli, mountain-a(h, and holly. It 
 (hall be a rom.ance of the fourteenth centurv ; the callle 
 upon Lord's I Hand fhall be haunted by an armed head i 
 and, I believe, Lydia, I (hall draw my heroine from 
 either you or myfelf, and make her pallionately fond oi 
 drawing and botany ; ibe ihall be miftrefs of the Lin- 
 nasan fyilem*, and then, if I Ihould make her (lop, in 
 the midd of her diitrelVes, to admire the fcenery, or gather 
 a plant, it will be perfectly natural. 
 
 Sample, What a villain ! murder his brother ! Why he 
 didn't murder his brother, did he ? 
 
 Vef. Not that I know of. 
 
 Sample, Why, you wouldn't go to tell lies about the 
 dead then, Would yon ? It" his relations were to take 
 it up, they might put you into the pillory for a libel. 
 
 Ver, Sir Charles!^ -But 1 will not be infulted by 
 
 him. I will not fuffcr him to break it off. (Ajide,) 
 
 Vaftly imprcflive fcenery indeed ; and quite accordant 
 with my folemn tone of feeling at this moment. Pray 
 where is Saddleback ? 
 
 Sir Charles. Behind you. Madam, beyond Skiddawv 
 where the fun is now fetting. 
 
 Sainple. She carries her faddle-bags behind her tor*; 
 when Ihs travels. She's a rum one, as ever I met with. 
 
 * Linnr-eus lived in the prefent century. 
 
A N O P E R A^. 19 
 
 Ver. How infinitely fublimc ! Is not It, Sir Charles? 
 
 Sample Yes, Mifs, it's very mountainious. You are 
 in the mountain-fcenerv' line, I fee. 
 
 Ver, Speedwell, give me my glafles. Where's my 
 Gray? (Speedwell gives glajfes. J 0\\\ Clawde and PoufTin 
 are nothing. By the bye, wherc's my Claude-Lorrain ? 
 I mud throw a Gilpin tint over thefe magic fcenes of 
 beauty. (Looks through the glajs.) How gorgeonlly glow- 
 ing ! Nov/ for the darker. (Looks through the glajs,) 
 How gloomily glaring ! Now the blue. {Pretends to 
 Jh'iver with cold.) How frigirliy frozen ! What i^^niions of 
 vifion ! The efFecl is inexprellibly interefting. T e am- 
 phitheatrical perfpedlive of the long landfcape , the 
 peeping points of the manv-colourcd crags of the head- 
 long mountains, looking out n-^o^l interciungly from the 
 pi6lurefque luxuriance of the bovvery foliage,, i^argining 
 their ruggednefs, and feathering the fells ; the delightful 
 differences of the heterogeneous malfes ; the horrific moun- 
 tains, fuch fcenes of ruin and privation ! the turfy hil- 
 locks, the umbrageous and rcpofmg hue of the copfy 
 Jawns, fo touchingly beautiful ; the limpid lapfe of Low- 
 dore, the iflands coroneting the flood ; the water, the 
 foft purple of th^ pigeon's neck, — are fo many circum- 
 flances of imagery, which all together combine a picture, 
 which for its fentimental beauty and affemblages of fub- 
 limity, I never exceeded in the warmed: glow of my fan- 
 cied defcriptions. And then the incomparable verdure of 
 the turfy Hope we are upon \ the water bickering at the 
 bafe ; the fultry low of the cattle, fipping the clear wave, 
 add a fweet pathos to the magical effeft of the furrounding 
 fcenery. And now the effulgence of the funlhine land- 
 fcape is fading away, and the blue diftances, dealing 
 upon the nearer view, foften the fublime feverity. — I 
 
 muft take a fketch. Sir Charles, pray come and ftand 
 
 "by me for the trunk of an old tree in the foreground. 
 And I beg, Mr. Botanilf, you and Lydia and Speedwell 
 will form yourfelves into a pi(!Iurefquc group. 
 
 Sample » What, Mifs, your are a planner, I fee ; and 
 are come to look about you and fpy your fancies, Pray, 
 Mils, what's this you call your Cordovan ? 
 
 Ver. My Claude-Lorrain ! it js a deceptlo vifusy an ar- 
 tifice to give the various tints of the changes of weather 
 and feafon to the landfcape. 
 
 Sample (^looking through.) Well, Mifs, if that's your 
 
 P ^ fancy 
 
 
20 THELAKERS: 
 
 fancy, I fhould think it would be lefs trouble always to, 
 wear a pair of green or yellow fpedacles. 
 
 Fer. Where's my fifhing-flool ? (Sits down.) Your 
 arm up, if you pleafe, Sir Charles, for the branch of 
 the tree. Mr. Botanift, pray mind the group. Suppofe 
 you fing, Mr. Botanift ? Lydia, you, and perhaps Speed- 
 Well, can make up a glee, it will, at leaft, give pic- 
 turefquenefs to my defcription. 
 
 Sir Charles. If the lady will honour us ia joining. 
 
 GLEE. 
 
 From forth her inter lunar cave 
 
 The filver moon, has tipp'd the vjave^ 
 
 And from the dijiant rocky Jhore 
 
 T'he jailing water s Jullen roar^ 
 
 Borne en the gently Iwclling gale^ 
 
 Fraught with the Jweets o^tU fiovJry vale^ 
 
 Steal on the watchful ear of nighty ; 
 
 Dlfiije a folcmn flill delight^ 
 
 Which to ti/'d nature, her fwcct gueft^ 
 
 Impartlngy lulls her to her reft, • > 
 
 Ver. Bravi ! Bravij[]i?nl I mio hotaniji carijfmo ! Yoy 
 have given energy to my humble talents ; your poetry 
 and mufic have given life to their lifter art, and I feel 
 myfelf peculiarly happy in my little Iketch. Pray look 
 at it, Sir Charles, and give me your opinion. 
 
 Sample. Why, it's no more like the thing than— — -z 
 Why, you've made the hills more like fugar-loaves — 
 
 Ver. If it is not like what it /j, it is what it ought tq 
 be. I have only made it pi6lurerque. 
 
 Sir Charles, The painter has always a licence to im- 
 prove upon Nature, where fhe has erred or been de- 
 ficient. 
 
 Fer. Certainly. I have only given the hills an Alpine 
 furm, and put fome wood where it is wanted, and omit- 
 ted it w^here it is not wanted r and who could put that 
 fham church and that houfe into a pidure ? It quite an^ 
 tipathi%es, I don't like fuch meretricious ornaments. 
 
 Sample, Why, that place is a tea-garden, I fuppofe. 
 , Fer. Ha ! ha ! you are vaftly witty, Sir Charles. Not 
 a bad comparifon of yours. 
 
 Sir Charles. Your Ladyfhip forgets the motto to the 
 ifland ; " De gufibus mn cf difputandum, " 
 
AN OPERA: • 21 
 
 Fer, Giiflibiis! — difput ! — Pray, Sir Charles, what 
 does that mean ? 
 
 Sampe What can I fay? fJftdeJ Oh, aye!—" It 
 IS not to be difputed but there are gufts upon the lake.'* 
 
 Fer. Oh! a!luding to the bottom winds, I fuppofe. 
 
 But what has that to do, Mr. Botanifl, with ? Well 
 
 — fo, I have made the church an old abbey, the houfe 
 a caftle, and the battery an hermitage : I have broken 
 the fmooth fiirface of the water with water-lilies, flags, 
 flowering rufhes, water-docks, and other aquatics, making 
 it more of^ plafhy inundation than a bafm of water: then 
 1 have put in for the foreground the fingle tree they 
 Ought to have left ftanding, an ancient tree of remarka- 
 ble fize and venerable beauty ; and have fprinkled fome 
 ferns, and burdocks, and gorfe, and thiltles, over this 
 turfy flope, I mufl:, I think, do this in colours : an 
 orange (ky, yellow water, a blue bank, a green caftle, 
 and brovi^n trees, will give it a very fine efl^e£l. Sir 
 Charles, how do you like it ? 
 
 Sa?nple, I can't make neither head nor tail on*t. Why, 
 Mifs, you rriight as well draw a head with a goggle eye 
 and a hooked nofe, a wide mouth and a double chin, and 
 give it a beard and a wig, and call it my picture. 
 
 Fer. Sir Charles ! — ( A flute is heard at a dijiance playing 
 the air of ^^ A Shepherd onceV Veronica dro-ps her bo^k and 
 her pencil <, and ftands liflening*) What a pifturefque 
 found ! The very tune too of my own XxVCi^ ariette. A 
 fine opportunity for difplaying my vocal powers. (Afide,J 
 
 A R I E T T E. 
 
 yf lady O'ue her lap-dog lofly Bow, wozv, ivoWy tsfc, 
 Aiidjhe knew it to her cojl ; Bow^ wow^ wow, i^ci 
 For all in vain the J ear ch was tried) BoWy wow, ^C. 
 Until his miftrejs had him cried, Bow^ wow, ^c, 
 
 4 
 JVhen at laji was Bompey found, Bow, wow, l^c. 
 All the houfe with grief did founds 
 For, oh ! fome cruel-hearted wight 
 A piece of fponge had made him eat* 
 
 Thl 
 
 IS. 
 
U THE LAKERS: 
 
 This at lengthy in hour accurfi^ BoWy ivovjy i^c» 
 $weird till it did make him bwji ; 
 His mijlrcfs felt with him the fmarty 
 ^nd for him Jhe did break her hearty 
 
 Sample. Well, that's a pretty fong, Mlfs Becky. 
 
 Ver, You do me infinite honour, Sir Cha: es : but I 
 ^m not altogether in voice this evening. —lie\^ not fo ig^ 
 norant and taftelefs as I i.naginid ; bur he's an unac- 
 countable man : he's a himourirt, I beh'eve. {J/ide.} 
 
 $ir Charles. Does your Ladylhip obTerve a pary in a 
 boat making fafl: to the Ihore ? 
 
 Fen And the daftiing c)f the oars breaking the fo- 
 lemn filence of the evening. Valtly fine, indeed. They 
 are going to land here, I declare. How it tieightens the 
 jntereft of the fcene ! 
 
 fA boat makes to the flyore of Crow Park. The company 
 in itftngy Veronica and her puny join the chorus* J 
 
 AIR and Chorus. 
 
 PFith equal Jlrokc, the daJJoing oar 
 Gains upon the moon/.gh Jhon^ 
 jindy with dav's bufy cares oppreji^ 
 Jielcafcs us to joy and reji. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST ACT. 
 
 ACT 
 
AN OPERA. ft^ 
 
 ACT 11. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 A Room at the ^ieens Head* 
 
 Enter Sir Charles and Speedwell. 
 
 Sir Charles, 
 
 TF we go on In this manner, Speedwell, it is inipofli- 
 ble but our fchemes mult fail. That ignorant booby. 
 Sample, has no more idea of perfonating the charadler 
 he has affumed, than — 
 
 Speed. A cow has of dancing a hornpipe, Sir. 
 
 Sir Charles* About as much. How unlike he is to 
 many of his profellion ! I have converfed with fome wh<ji 
 have been men of good fenfe and confiderablb informa- 
 tion ; but he feems to think, that it is only putting oil 
 the drefs, and he becomes the chara6ler without farther 
 trouble. If Veronica were not blinded by vanity, folly^ 
 and botanic nuptials, fhe muft have immediately difco- 
 vered the impofition. 
 
 Speed* Well, Sir, it is but having recourfe, at laft, to 
 your original plan. Suppofe we confefs the impoflure, 
 fay I am the real Sir Charles Portinfcale, who aifumed 
 the difguife of a fervant to contemplate her charms un-^ 
 obferved himfelf, and that Sample is my fervant ? You, 
 Sir, may (till retain your character of guide alnd bo- 
 tanift. 
 
 Sir Charles, Not a bad fcheme, Speedwell : but ho# 
 fhall we get Sample to come into it ? 
 
 Speed, Why, Sir, there is an argument tlvat I have 
 ©ften known to be made ufe- of, and which is fure of 
 prevailing when all others fail— the argumenturti baculinum. 
 You have acquiefced in his impofture fo long as it wa 
 pra6licable ; and, if he will not come into yours, n 
 ioubt the rattan will convince him of the neceffity of it. 6 
 
 ir 
 
24 THELAKERS: 
 
 Sir Charles, But the fellow has not talents to pcrfonat^ 
 even a fervant well. Take him from his profits and his 
 patterns, and he has not three ideas beyond. 
 
 Speed. If he is awkward, Sir, it is only fending him 
 to the ftable or the kitchen. 
 
 Sir Charles, Of your talents I have no doubt : yoii (o 
 well know my circumflances, my manners, and even my 
 acquirements, from copying over, my writings, from 
 books I have recommended to vou, and from our con- 
 verfation on the road, that I queftion whether your 
 knowledge does not exceed Veronica's. I have often 
 explained to you the outlines of Linn2:us's Syftem of Ve- 
 getables ; you therefore can very well 
 
 In Jihny, gawfy^ gojjamery lines, 
 With lucid language and conceal'* d dejignsy 
 Jn fweet monandrian monogynian Jlrains 
 Pajit for your miftrejs in botanic pains. 
 
 Speed, Bating the hard words. Sir, I think I can match 
 Veronica from the marriage of one male and one female 
 to the clandcftine marriages of Gretna Green. I thought, 
 as foon as 1 faw Sample, that it might come to this, and 
 therefore was not idle with my eyes. I think, Sir, fome 
 glances, which I caft upon her, v/ere not thrown away. 
 -Here comes the adventurous knight, Sir : we will difpel 
 "the enchantment which holds him. 
 
 Enter Sample, 
 
 Sample. Here they are both together. I don't know 
 Vhat to fay. [Afide.) Go, Speedwell, and fee the horfes 
 'taken care of. Why don't you go ? 
 
 Speed. I am no fervant of yours, Sir. 
 
 Sample. Why, you faid yourfelf y6u was. 
 
 Speed, When you faid you were Sir Charles Portia- 
 rcale. 
 
 Sa?nple. I hav'n't faid I'm not he. 
 
 Speed. But we do. Sir. Here is the true Sir Charles, 
 ■and you are only an impoftor. 
 
 Sample. I think he's an impoflor. 
 
 Sir Charles. Come, Sir, I will explain matters. By 
 miftake we exchanged luggage ; you got my regimentals, 
 and 1 your frock and patterns. Deprived of "your bufi- 
 
 nefs 
 
AN OPERA. 25 
 
 ' , ' ■'■ 
 
 hefs by the lofs, I fuppofe you wiflied to indemnify 
 Tburfelf, by making your fortune with the red coat. 
 You appeared to be making up to the lady I wifhed td 
 avoid, and I therefore acquiefced in your fcheme till you 
 ruined it yourfelf. You have difgufted the lady ; and^ 
 imlefs the impofl'ure is confefled> fhe muft difcover it 
 herfelf. 
 
 Speed. That is, Sir, you have put on the lion's fkin ; 
 but the long ears, and your braying, have betrayed you. 
 
 Sir Charles. In fhortj Sirj it is impoihble for you to 
 fucceed with her ; and, as I have an intereft to ferve^ 
 you muft come into my fchemes, in return for my ac- 
 ^uiefcence in yours. My afFe6lions are fixed upon the 
 niece, and, were' I to declare myfelf, I fhould lofe her^ 
 and expofe myfelf to the attacks of the aunt. My far- 
 ther difguife is therefore necelTary, and, to countenance 
 that, my fervant muft declare you an impoftor, that he 
 is the true Sir Charles, and you muft confent to pafs for 
 his fervant. 
 
 Sample. No, don't you think it. I won't demean 
 myfelf to be fervant td a fervant. You yourfelf faid 
 I was Sir Charles, and you can't confefs having told a 
 
 lie* 
 
 Sir Charles* Then this. Sir, is the alternative. The 
 
 impofture muft be acknowledged, and you muft relin- 
 quifh your chara£ler. Our luggage muft be le-ex- 
 changed; I have my regimentals, and you your frock 
 and patterns ; for that miftake, we can only be forry for 
 the inconvenience it has occafioned. But, Sir, recoiled 
 my hat was left in the care of the landlord, and by what 
 felonious means you became poflefted of it, I know not ; 
 that you muft explain to the juftice, before whom you 
 ■will be taken to give an account. 
 
 Speed, I beg, Sir, that may be deferred a fhort time. 
 I have received an infult from him; he faid ** he would 
 not de7nea7i himfelf to be fervant to a fervant," meaning 
 me; and I beg that I may firft have an opportunity of 
 fatisfying my honour, by calling him out to fight me 
 with piftols, Or, if he refufes me that fatisfadlicn, 1 
 may kick him through Kefwick. 
 
 Sample. ]ui\ice\ Piftols! Kicked through Kefwick ! 
 Well, but now if I confent ? 
 
 Sir Charles. I Ihall be fatisfied. 
 
2t6 THELAKERS: 
 
 Speed, And io will my honour. It will be a recanta- 
 tion. 
 
 Sample, And I fhall have my patterns back, and you'ir 
 pay me my guinea? 
 
 Sir Charles, And fatisfy you for any other lofs you 
 rhay have been at. 
 
 Speed, And give him an order^ Sir, for a piece of cloth, 
 to make waiftcoats. 
 
 Sample. Ii's a bargain then; and I fliall be glad to get 
 into my own cloathes again ; for I feel a little awkward in 
 thefe. It's harder to be a baronet and a captain than I? 
 thought for ; I find it is not the fcarlet coat and gold lace 
 that makes the officer. 
 
 Sir Charles, Come, then, Speedwell, you and Mr. 
 Sample mufh change cloathes, and the fooner the difcc* 
 very is made the better. 
 
 Speed, I fhall be changed in an inflant^ Sir, 
 
 SONG. 
 
 ^he cameleon, it' s true. 
 Changes fcarlet, green, or blue, 
 
 As the ground that by. chance it Jhall rejl on: 
 In my majter^ s livery 
 Mis humble Jlave am /; 
 If dre/s^d at my own charge, 
 I'm the gentleman at large. 
 
 And my mafier"^ s own felf with his heft on» 
 
 Sample. 
 
 WeJ pleas'^dy now Pve triedy^ 
 Pm to lay my rank afide. 
 
 And to put off the clothes that Pve fept in ;- 
 IS! one e'er, that I could hear. 
 Could make purje of a pig s ear', 
 I^or can waiflqoat and coat 
 Alake the gentleman^ I wot ; 
 
 ISlor the hat and cockade make the captain. 
 
 \Exit with Speedwelt 
 
 Sir 
 
AN OPERA, ■g.j 
 
 Sir Charles* 
 
 ifVhereeer we turn our eyes-, 
 The world is all difguije, 
 
 From thefirft to the loft 'tis deception: 
 ^he gentleman lets down ^ 
 Drejs'^dand manner' d as a clown.;, 
 7he clown hij betters apes. 
 His drefs and manner Jhapes^ 
 
 And appears of the better defer iptioKo 
 
 ^nfer Veronica, her hair partly done up in a ftlk net^ 
 partly hanging looje, a ftraw hat and green veil, her 
 gown fant aft ie ally drawn up. 
 
 Ver, Mr. Botanift, I am infinitely diflrefTed, quite -in 
 •defpair, that we cannot go up Skiddaw this morning. 
 
 Sir Charles, Skiddaw has got his nightcap on, Ma- 
 dam, and, were v/e to go up, we could not fee any thing 
 ■of the furrounding country. 
 
 Ver, Well, I'll wait till to-morrow Tnorning, and then 
 
 I mufl go up whether it is fine or not. My tour would be 
 
 abfolutely incomplete without an account of a ride up 
 
 jSkiddaw. I can alTure you I had dreflfed on purpofe for 
 
 the expedition. 
 
 Sir Charles, You would have found that drefs rather 
 too light and airy for that cold atmofphere. 
 
 Ver* Not at all. You mud have taken my Scotch 
 plaid to ha\'e thrown round me when the air became 
 very thin. A riding-habit v/ould not have done at all in 
 that mountain region; it would have broken in upon the 
 •cofiume. So I have negligently bound up my hair in a filk 
 net, and fufFered fome treffes to efcape to play upon my 
 neck and round my countenance. And then the light 
 drapery of my drefs, my ftraw hat, the veil partially 
 .-concealing my face, my figure and my air, are what 
 might, I think, be copied tor a Grecian nymph. 
 
 Sir Charles. {Afide.) A Grecian nymph in a Scotch 
 ^plaid, upon the mountains of Cumberland! What a 
 >prefervation of the cofume I 
 
 Ver, However, it will equally accord with the fcenery 
 Tound Derwent-water: I (hall appear like the N.iiad of 
 'Lowdore^ or the nymph of Borrowdalcc 
 
 E 2 '6V>- 
 
^ THE LAKERS: 
 
 Sir Charles, Your Ladyfhip is very confiderate. Were 
 an artift to be there at the fame time, he rauft think him- 
 felf fingularly happy in having fo charming a figure to 
 give life to his landscape. 
 
 Fer, You are vaftly obliging, Mr. Botanift. I have 
 fat once to Mr. Daubly for my pi6lure, which is to be 
 finiihed againft the next exhibition. I am depicted as 
 the modern goddefs of botany. I am fitting upon the 
 ftump of a tree, v^hich has been grafted wiih innume- 
 rable different icinds of fhrubs — the various Syringas: 
 foliis dvato-cordatisy foViis lanceolatis^ the Cytijas, the Cef^ 
 irasj the Lycias, Loniceras \ — which branch round and 
 form a bower over my head. Every flower fprings up 
 around me, and a water-fall dafhes by my fide : I have a 
 full-blown mofs-rofe upon my head inftead of a cap, 
 and mofs-rofe buds hanging about my neck andlhoul- 
 ders, inftead of hair. Two wreaths of honey fuckle 
 twine round my neck and my waill, and under my gar- 
 rnent, which is {Tightly drawn up, infteadof a ftocking, 
 appears the bark of a tree. 
 
 Sir Charles, {Aftde.) The goddefs of botany with a 
 "Vt'ooden leg! 
 
 Fer. My feet are covered with the conferva rtvularisy 
 with a large rofe upon each of them. In my hand I 
 hold my poem, in twenty cantos, '^ The Triumph of 
 Botany," while the Arts and Sciences are all paying ho- 
 mage to me. The coup d^osil is exceedingly fine ; and I 
 Bo not recolleft to' have feen any thing like it before. 
 
 Sir Charles. Not exa6lly, Madam— except the owj. 
 
 in the ivy -bulh. [dfide.) 
 
 V^r,'\ mentioned my poem: the fubje6l is, I think, 
 extremely interelVmg, and purely claflical. You know. 
 Sir, that the botanift and the florifl: have long been at va- 
 riance ; the florilf only efleems a few, and thofe chiefly 
 the double flowers, which the botanift cohfiders as mon- 
 llers. ^ Now I fuppofe, that, after repeated hoftilities, 
 which are the'fubje6l of the former part of the poem, 
 Xoniccra fempervirens, or trumpet honeyfnckle, is fent, as 
 a herald, to^ call a parley, and the parries meet on the 
 plain of Erma, fo much celebrated by the poets for its 
 fiovvers and the rape' of Proferpina. Flora enters in a 
 Wheel-'barrbw, the garden carriage, driving Hyacinthusy 
 Cavnatiay AuricidAy Tulippa, Anemoniay JonquiUay Ra- 
 nuncvius, and polyanthus, ■t\g\\i in hand, and is attended 
 
AN OPERA. 2f 
 
 by Cupids, as gardeners, bearing filver cream -pots and all 
 the prizes given atfloriils' feafts. Botania is borne in a tia 
 box, the botanifts* conveyance, by eight of her favour- 
 ites ; and, after debating the matter, as we do at Coach- 
 mal^ers' Hall, which introduces an epifode upon that 
 elegant amufement, it is agreed that they (hall henceforth 
 unite their powers, and live promifcuoufly in fields or 
 gardens: a pageant takes place, in which all their adhe- 
 rents appear two and two, attended by Gnomes and 
 Sylphs : Botania and Flora change their cars, and a tri- 
 limphal fong is chanted to their joint honour. 
 
 Sir Charles, How new and how truly poetic is the 
 idea ! 
 
 Fer. You compliment. — But blefs me! where is Sir 
 Charles? We had better be fetting off. 
 
 sir Charles, Which does your Ladyfhip mean? For 
 one was Sir Charles yeflerday, and the other to-day; 
 like Archer and Aimwell, they take it by turns, I be- 
 lieve, to be mafter and fervant. 
 
 Fer. How ! 
 
 Sir Charles, Here comes the gentleman to fpeak for 
 hlmfelf. With your permidion, I will wait upon the 
 young lady, and give her fome farther infjght into your 
 favourite fcience. 
 
 Fer, By all means. We will overtake you towards 
 Lowdore, [£;f// Sir Charles. 
 
 Enter Speedwell, /;; regimentals. 
 
 Speed, Abafhed with fhame, I am come, moft lovely 
 of women, to implore your pardon, for an impofition 
 which I have pra£lifed upon you. 
 
 Fer. How! Speedwell! 
 
 Speed, I am. Madam, the unhappy and the happy 
 man who would no longer be thought Speedwell, but 
 Sir Charles Portinfcale. Willing to witnefs, unobferved 
 by the lovely Beccabunga Veronica, thofe charms of 
 which the world fpeaks fo highly, but which I believed 
 it impolTible for mortal to be endowed with, I changed 
 charaders with my fervant, and viewed them at humble 
 dirtance. Who could fee, and not love? Have pity 
 upon me then, and, in fealing my doom, remember that 
 my death follows your refufal, and my happinefs your 
 gracious condefcenfion. 
 
 Fer» 
 
30 THE LAKERS: 
 
 Ver. And (o you really think I have fo little penetratios 
 as not to know you? 
 
 Speed. I hope fo. {Aftde,) 
 
 Ver. Is it poflible that the accomplifhments of Sir 
 Charles Portinfcale could really be concealed under the 
 appearance of a menial? 
 
 Speed- She has not difcovercd us, I hope. [Afide.') 
 Ver, No, Sir Charles, I have more penetraiion than 
 that: though you feem to think not^ by attempting to 
 pafs your vulgar, illiterate fejrvant upon me as yourfelf. 
 That chivalric air of yours is not to be imitated. I can 
 allure you 1 was not infenfible to the dear ** fpeechlefs 
 meffages" which I received from your eyes: but you 
 Jsinow, Sir Charles, jf I had not given into it, I fhould 
 have fpoiled one of the beft incidents that could poilibly 
 ©ccur for my tour. It is a moft pi6lurefque incident, 
 and perfe£ily clafhcal. The heathen deities, you know, 
 often changed their forms, to purfue their amours, and 
 your royal namefake travelled, like you, in difguife, fe- 
 cretly to witnefs the charms of his intended. 
 
 Spsed, How amiable is this forgiving kindnefs! Yet, 
 flow fliall 1 apologife for the infults oiFered by my fer- 
 vant ? 
 
 Ver, O dear, don't mention them. His vulgarity and 
 pofitivity were a little diftrelling ; and, as I am not a 
 ,fn^Jemhryanlhenmm cryJiaUinum, I could not forbear now 
 and then fhowing a little fpontaneity of fcintillation: I 
 am certainly phofphorefcent, like the Troposolum ; but 
 your fubmiflion difarms me. 
 
 Speed. Unexampled goodnefs ! Then let me hope that 
 the flame which warms my heart is anfwered by a kin- 
 dred blaze in yours. 
 
 Ver, Well, then, I will be equally frank with your- 
 felf: in fhort. Sir Charles, I am not willing to be folely 
 female all my life, like the caprifica. And what wo- 
 man, when offered the hand of Sir Charles Portinfcale, 
 could refufe it? 
 
 Speed, O fay, when will you complete my happinefs ? 
 
 Were I to lofe you — were you to alter your mind 
 
 Ver, Never, Sir Charles — And to convince you 
 
 But money can be no objed to you Yet, Sir Charles, 
 
 I have a tolerable fortune, and, to convince you of my 
 love, I infift upon your taking a bond for my forfeiting 
 it all, in cafe of a refufaU 
 
 Spee4-> 
 
A N O P E R A. ^i 
 
 Speed, By no means. Recoiled, I have once deceived 
 you. 
 
 Fer. I beg you will not fay fo. Sir Charles \ you 
 have not deceived me. I merely humoured the deception 
 for the fake of the incident. If you refufe to take ity 
 Sir Charles, I Ihall think you are not fmcere. Here is 
 pen, ink, and paper, and you fhall have it immediately. 
 {^Sits down and writes,) 
 
 Speed, Am I to blame for this? She makes love, to 
 her own enfnaring. {Aftde.) But, Madam,^ hov^ do yoi3f 
 knovi^ that 1 am not ftill an impoftor? Are you certain I 
 am Sir Charles Portinfeale ? If hereafter you fhould 
 find I have deceived you 
 
 Fer. Then blame me, and I'll forgive you. [Gives a 
 hond,) Do you think I could,^ even for a moment, have 
 encouraged that vulgar fellow, but out of regard to his 
 charming prototype? I declare, I remind myfelf of 
 CoUinJonia :■■ 
 
 Two hr other fwalns, of Collin's gentle namej 
 The fame their features, and their forms the fame^ 
 JVith rival love for fair Q oXWm'Si Jighy 
 Knit the dark brow, and roll th'' unjleady eye : 
 PFith fweet concern the pitying beauty mourns. 
 And jooths, with ftmpering Jmilesy the pair by turns* 
 
 Speed, Accomplifhed charmer! Hovi^ fhall I repay 
 tliis increafmg debt of love? 
 
 Fer, Let us be walking. Sir Charles. Let me take 
 your arm. From the foft voice of love we muft turn to 
 the fublime and terrible of nature; but. Sir Charles, i 
 fear you do not love me? 
 
 Speed. Ne'er was vegetable love fo conflant to his 
 miftrefs. 
 
 A I R. 
 
 When borne upon the buoyant air^ 
 
 Dioecius feeks his amorous fair. 
 
 O'er woods and wilds he takes his flighty 
 
 From early morn to latefi night. 
 
 Sees thou/and beauties round him rifcy 
 
 Yet fleers, with undiverted eyes, 
 
 Till, having found his fair -one s charms J 
 
 He refts within her peaceful arms, 
 
 2 Vero* 
 
^2 TPIE LAKERS:' 
 
 Veronica, 
 
 Thus Vallifneria patient bi^cs 
 
 T'he fi owing of the welcome tidcSy 
 
 PVhichy as they onward gently move^ 
 
 Bring her glad tidings of her love ; 
 
 Andy as the fragrant zephyrs fweep 
 
 The bofom of the j welling deep) 
 
 Her love appears in blooming charms. 
 
 And hafles to her expe^lng arms, [Exeunt« 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 On the Banks of Derwent- water* 
 E7iter Sir Charles arid hydlz. 
 
 L^dia. Though you have explained your motives, Sir 
 Charles, for this extraordinary condudl, and I, in part; 
 admit the juftice of it ; yet, be affured, I never can bring 
 myfelf to fee my aunt ill treated or eXpofed, notwithftand- 
 ing het (Irange and harfli cdriduil towards me. Believe 
 me, Sir Charles, the time I pafs with her, and the pain- 
 ful obligatioiis which flie confers upon me, are almofl: too 
 much for a mind not ftronger than my own. 
 
 Sir Charles, Then fuffer me to releafe you from y(>ur 
 Qavery, and confer an obligation upon me, by taking 
 your liberty at my hands. 
 
 A I R. 
 
 Thus when J unfhelterdy we expofe 
 ■ To ^vafllngflorms the blufhlng rofcy 
 
 It droops its lovely head : 
 Qpprcfsd by grief and fretting tears ^ 
 By flow degrees its beauty wearSy 
 
 And all its charms are fled. 
 
 Butfhake the wafling tears away^ 
 And let It hail the folar ray, 
 
 No more it meets the ground'^ 
 Again it lifts its lovely head. 
 With nature's cho'iceft beauty fpread^ 
 
 And breathes delight around. 
 
 Lydi 
 
 la^ 
 
AN OPERA. 35 
 
 Lydia, Your generous condud, Sir Charles, demands 
 niy warmed gratitude. You have been pleafed to feled 
 tne from amongft the thoufands you have feen ; and, not 
 to be fenfible of the honour, would betray a heart inca- 
 pable of love or of reafon. To become your wife will be 
 my honour, as well as my happinefs ; yef, in accepting 
 that, I muil not forget, that, though J at times experi- 
 ence harfli treatment from my aunt, under whofe care I 
 am placed, till I become of age to be my own miftrefs, 
 I am under many obligations to her; and, though no 
 authority fhall force me to an engagement againit my 
 own inclination, nor cruelty deprive me of the obje6l of 
 my affedtions, I will not buy my own happinefs at the 
 expenfe of hers, nor fee her expofed without refentingit. 
 
 Sir Charles, How noble, to be thus folicitous for thofe 
 who are unmindful of our welfare ! To fhield myfelf 
 from the vain attacks of your aunt, has been the fole mo- 
 tive for thefe transformjations. To prevent her from ex- 
 poHng herfelf, you yourfelf rnuft well know is impof- 
 fible. BiJt if, in avoiding her attacks, and attempting to 
 forward the great obje6l of m.y happinefs, 1 fliould be 
 guilty of dilLonour or injuflice, may I, as my punifh- 
 ment, bringdown the m.ifery upon my own head^ which 
 I would have brought upon another. 
 
 Lydia, Then what is your defign in thus continuing 
 your difguife, and of the artifice of your fervant r 
 
 Sir Charles^ To gain time to fecure the affections and 
 the hand of my Lydia. But, were my fervant even to 
 prevail uporl your aunt to accept him, my life on it ! the 
 man has worth to afpire to a nobler choice. He is my 
 fervant, and he is my friend. 
 
 Lydia. It is in your honour I confide. 
 Sir Charles, But I fhall take you, Lydia, only from 
 one flrite to another, and from one tyranny to perhaps a 
 greater rellraint. Can you bear the inconvenience and the 
 tumult of a camp, and the uncertainty and hazard of 
 joining your fate with a foldier's r 
 
 Lydia, Yes, when that foldier generoufly joins his fate 
 with mine. 
 
 AIR. 
 
 JVhcn the fife and the driimjhall mufler the bandy 
 
 And ihe troops all j or marching -prepare, 
 I4'hen you, at their head, p-ive the tvord of coramandj 
 
 And the IriimpeCs Jhriil clang rends the car : 
 
 F With 
 
34 THE LAKERS: 
 
 With a heart beating high in refponfe to their notes, 
 fVhi/fl their banners arc flouting the wind, 
 
 Ayid the full tide of war in the atmofphere floats ^ 
 P leas' d r II follow infafety behind. 
 
 Jf the battle Jhould rage, in the midfl of the flrife, 
 ^ To the guardians of Virtue F II cry^ 
 ^ ^0 reft ore you, unharm'd, to the arms of your wife. 
 Or with you be permitted to die. 
 
 Sir Charles. Then will my Lydia confent to entfuft 
 
 herfelf to my honour ? A few hours will remove us to the 
 
 ' place, where there can be no impediment to our union ; 
 
 and we may then return to your aunt without any farther 
 
 apprehenfions. 
 
 Lydia. By no means. Declare yourfelf at once, your 
 title and your intentions. When (lie finds you refolved 
 not to accept her, fhe will be proud in your alliance with 
 me ; and we (hall not find any farther bars to our hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
 DUET. 
 
 When two fond hearts in mutual love 
 
 Their fortunes firm- unite, 
 Dear is the blifs they then approve, 
 
 Unruflled their delight : 
 
 For Reafon then, with fanHion wife, 
 
 Reveres their plighted troth. 
 And Angels, bending from the fkies. 
 
 Are witnefs to their oath. [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 A Room at the ^leens Head. 
 £«/^r Bob Kiddy, Anna Katharina, fl«^ Landlord. 
 
 Bob. Where are aunt and coz, and the captain ? 
 
 Landlord. They are gone to Lowdore water-fall. Sir. 
 There is a party in their room eating a fandwich ; as fooa 
 as they are gone, Sir, I will (how you up. 
 
 Bob. Yup-a-hey, Kate! Put down the things, and go 
 about your bufinefs, my little galloper. I Ihow'd you 
 what good driving is, I think. I rode tlie horfe myfelf, 
 drove pod : rather a crack-thing that. 
 
 Landlord* 
 
AN OPERA. 35 
 
 Lmnilord. A gentleman be his own poft boy! (JJide^) 
 
 Anna. Kate ! my name's Anna Katharina. 
 
 B^b. You are aunt's Anna Katharina, as you call 
 yourfelf, but you are my Kate ; and a fweet cate you 
 are too. 
 
 Landlord, I'll (how the young woman to my wife. 
 
 Anna, Young woman ! Anna Katharina, Sir. 
 
 \_Exlt with Landlord. 
 
 Boh, Gone to fee the water-fall ! that's rum enough. 
 I'll fee a good iiream of wine before the day's out. Muft 
 have a fandwich before dinner. Was rather peckifh at 
 breakfaft — cropfick from lalf n.ght. Here, waiter. 
 (^Enter Landlord.) Muft have a fandwich and a draught 
 of porter. Have you got a tennis-court here ? 
 
 Landlord. No, Sir. 
 
 Bob, Or a billiard-table? 
 
 Landlord, No, Sir. 
 
 Bob. Not a billiard-table ! Why, I never knew fuch 
 a place in my life. Not a billiard-table ! Has any body 
 got a bear, or a badger to bait ? or fighting cocks ? Fa- 
 mous fun that. — Like t0 fee 'em challenge : cock, cock, 
 cock, cock, coo. (^Imitates cocks.) Then they peck the 
 
 ground, and come on in a flyle. Deadly tine fun is a 
 
 Welfh main. 
 
 Landlord, Deadly indeed, Sir ; for it cofls many poor 
 creatures their lives. — No, Sir, we have nothing of that 
 kind here. — This is fome cruel coward. (Afide.J 
 
 Bob, Why, how do people pafs their time here? What 
 have you got to eat r 
 
 Landlord. The lady ordered dinner at four. There is 
 fome of the red trout 
 
 Bob. Plague on't, the bottle of fifh fauce was broken 
 when the Sociable came down. I never travel without 
 fifh fauce. The chow^-chow is all gone too. 
 
 Landlord. A leg of nice mutton, Sir 
 
 Bob. Let's have fome currant-jelly with it. 
 
 Landlord. And a couple of roaft fowls4 
 
 Bob. Broil one of 'em, and pepper it well. Make a 
 devil of it, and let's have the befl: wine in your cellar. 
 
 landlord. And then you'll make a devil of yourfelf. 
 (Afide.J It iliall be as you order, Sir. We've a nice 
 groufe in the pantry, Sir. 
 
 Bob. Does U {link ? 
 
 F 1 Landlord* 
 
36 THE LAKERS: 
 
 Landlord. As fweet ?.s a nnt, Sir. 
 
 Bob. Then keep it till it does, for then aunt and cot, 
 "won't touch it ; and I (hall have it alltomyftlf. Bring 
 me a glafs of cherry brandy, and gel me a fandwich. 
 
 Landlord. Dirediy, Sir. We've fomc nice hung beef 
 m the houfe. [^Esit^ 
 
 SON G. 
 
 Bob. 
 
 Let others travel far and near y 
 
 To view each hill and valley^ 
 To fcC how di^ercnt fcenes appear y 
 
 And wherein ^tis they tally : 
 Afy piirpofe is where I begin 
 
 1.0 Jee each country s produce ^ 
 To tell the merits of each inn, 
 
 jind what 1 find of no iife. 
 
 The mind cajile fome admire.^ 
 
 f^Vhich lets in %vlnd and weather j 
 / like the Jyiug and blazing fire y 
 
 When Jhelter' d altogether. 
 And though a lake is well enough 
 
 9 o 
 
 For Jailing or for rowings 
 
 L better like the right good fluff 
 
 That Jets mc off a xoMing. 
 
 Some ninnies go around the world 
 
 In fearch of fine adventures^ 
 From port to port by weather hurl W, 
 
 Till all their fortune's [pent thus*. 
 From port to port too I will go. 
 
 From Te?icriffe to Lifbon \ 
 And Jo of vjine I get enoWy 
 
 IF hy faith to me it is one* 
 
 Enter Landlord, with Firfi and Second Pedellrian, dreffed 
 in Jailor s jackets and trowferSy knapjacks at their backs, 
 unibrellasy ^c. 
 
 Landlord. Two gentlemen on foot, Sir. Your room 
 "Wil"' be ready immediately. [Exit* 
 
 Bob* Foot ! Poor devils 1 
 
 1 yji Fed. 
 
AN OPERA. 37 
 
 \Ji Ped. We do not interrupt you, I hope, Sir ? 
 
 Bob. No. What you've walked, have you ? Why do 
 you walk as failors ? 
 
 I/? Ped* The drefs is light, and well adapted for tra- 
 velling-. 
 
 Bob, But a'n't you afraid of being taken up ? 
 
 id Ped. No, Sir. We injure no one, why llioulil 
 any one injure us ? 
 
 Bob, You muft be a little tired and foot-fore, I think ? 
 
 iji Ped. Neither, Sir ; we are ufed to it, ajid fufferno 
 inconvenience whatever. 
 
 Bob. Ufed to it ! What, you've come fome way ? 
 
 2d Ped. Some hundreds of miles. Sir. 
 
 Bob. What, going home ? or going to fee your 
 friends ? 
 
 id Ped. Neither, Sir ! Travelling for pleafure. 
 
 Bob. That's a good one 1 Travelling on foot for plea- 
 fure ! 
 
 iji Ped. Yes, Sir. 
 
 Bob. Short of cafh, perhaps ? But then you might have 
 ftaid at home. 
 
 2d P^d. But not have feen the world there. My 
 friend and myfelf, being anxious to fee other places be- 
 fides our own, and other men and other manners than 
 thofe of our own confined circle, travel thus, at a light 
 expenfe, in fearch of knowledge and amufement. 
 
 Bob. Why, they're crack'd. What then, if you had 
 money, you wouldn't walk ? 
 
 2d Ped. Not altogether that. Sir. We might perhaps 
 afford what others might efteem accommodations, but 
 which would be none to us. 
 
 Bob. I wouldn't give a penny to travel without horfes 
 and fervants. 
 
 iji Ped. That involves a great expenfe. But, in not 
 having them, we have fewer troubles, and fecure our 
 independance. A horfe requires care and attendance ; 
 he may knock up, he may tall lame : a fervant will 
 fcarcely live upon lefs than a moderate gentleman ; 
 he will not perhaps fubmit to the fatigue, he may 
 impofe upon you, he may cheat you, he may be imperti- 
 nent. Our own feelings tell us when we fhould reft, and 
 when we fhould go on ; we carry the flight changes we 
 want at our backs ; we ftand in need of no other fervice, 
 ;ind have no trouble nor inconvenience refpeding our con- 
 veyance j 
 
3S THE LAKERS: 
 
 Veyance ; it is always ready when we are, and reft re- 
 pairs any flight injury it may undergo during the day, and 
 ihey which carry ui- are always comfortably lodged when 
 we are. Exercife fecnres appetite and ileep ; the con- 
 templation of the works of nature and of man affords 
 zmufement and exercife to the mind, and health refults 
 from both. 
 
 AIR, 
 FirflPed. 
 
 I}2 Viewing Nature^ s varied fce?ics, 
 
 Sweet h the pleafure they Impart, 
 Foy Reafonfcarce has better means 
 
 'To J^ften anei Improve the heart. 
 
 Second Fed. 
 
 ^rom exercife what fpirits JIow I 
 
 Sweet Is the meal ibat Hunger findsy 
 And jwcet the /lumbers that we know. 
 The calm repofe of tranquil minds. 
 
 Both. 
 
 ^en let us range the vallies flill^ 
 
 And o'er the mountain s fummit wind, 
 
 Trace with delight the gurgling nil. 
 And Jim prejerve the tranquil mind. 
 
 Bob, Qiiizical enough! travel for health and improve- 
 fsient ! Why, I never care about either. Aunt gazes 
 about her, to be fure ; but I never look at any thing but 
 the ftables and the larder. And what have you learnt, 
 pray ? 
 
 id Ped. We have learnt, Sir, that human nature is 
 pretty m'jch the fame in every place and in every condi- 
 tion. All ranks have their pleafures and their pains, 
 their virtues and their vices. • My Lord riflvs his guineas 
 at faro, and the clown his halfpence at chuck. My Lord 
 gets drunk with wine, and murders his friend in a duel ; 
 the clown gets intoxicated with ale, he quarrels with his 
 pot companion, and breaks his rib, or beats out an eye 
 m a boxiag-bout ; if he does not murder him, it is the 
 difference of the weapons, not the fuperior virtue of the 
 
 clown. 
 
AN OPERAv ^ 
 
 elown, which fpares him. Mifs dances at the ball, and 
 the next morning elopes with the captain ; the country 
 lafs dances her jig at the fair with her fweetheart, and the 
 next morning has as little honefty as her fuperior in rank. 
 My Lord profanes his fabbath at the card-table or the 
 concert, the clown at tofling-up, or in the ale-houfe. If 
 the rich do not Jeek opportunities of doing good, \\\t fo^r 
 negle£l them when they occur. It is certain we have all 
 our vices, and I hope we have all fome virtues.' 
 
 Bob, I fhould think now you might pick up fomethin^ 
 as you travel, by preaching from the top of a beer-barrel, 
 or from a hollow tree. Come, I'll treat you with a bottle 
 ot wine a-piece, it you like it, and give you a bit of dinner 
 into the bargain. 
 
 \fi Fed. We thank you, Sir, for your offer, but beg 
 leave to decline it. 
 
 Bch. Well, I don't nnderfland you together. Re- 
 fufe a bottle oi wine! If you'd offer me two, I'd drink 
 'em both. 
 
 \ft Fed. Every thing with \\?> depends upon health, and 
 we mufl not rifk that by intemperance. Nor is it for people 
 in our fituation to pay three and fixpence a bottle for 
 wine. Without wine we can travel better ; and, what 
 is more, we can travel farther. 
 
 Boh. Why, you flarve yourfelves. 
 
 id Fed, That would be as bad, Sir. No, Sir, we 
 live well, but plain: and in a draught of good ale we find 
 more health and nourifhment, than in the liquid fire 
 retailed in bottles at an inn. 
 
 Bob, Well, I find I can make nothing of you, and fo 
 
 good bye. Of all the quizzes I've ever feen, commend 
 
 me to your pedeffrians. (Af^de^ and exit,) 
 
 I/? Fed, Well, Frank, we'll treat our/elves with a bit 
 of dinner, and then for the wonders of Kefwick. 
 
 2d Fed, With all my heart. \_Ex€ur^, 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 The Village of Grange in Borrowdale. — Haymakers making 
 
 hay. 
 
 Enter N^xomcsi, Speedwell, Lydia, <7k^ Sir Charles. 
 
 Ver, What delightful fcenes of paftoral and fylvan fim- 
 plicity, cont rafted with the terrific mountains which fur- 
 round 
 
40 THELAKERS: 
 
 round them ! They remind me of the days of Ai'cadiait 
 innocence. Thefe peaceful cots, fequeftered in the gloom 
 of beech and fycamore, form an umbrageous landfcape, 
 which, fet off by the empurpling and downy hue of the 
 clouds, with occafional interventions of gay gleams of 
 light, are fo many circumftances of imagery, which give 
 a magical effeft to the whole, well according with my 
 folemn tone of feeling at this moment. I am afraid. Sir 
 Charles, I may. be tautologous ; but it is fcarcely poffi- 
 ble, in repeated defcriptions, to avoid it. Pray, Mr. 
 Botanift, have you any of the perficaria fJiquofa^ or nolt 
 me tangere, growing hereabouts? It is one of the few 
 plants 1 am unacquainted with. 
 
 Sir Charles. The touch me not! It is found in great 
 plenty near Windermere. It is a pity that your Ladydiip 
 is fo entirely unacquainted with it, as it is a curious plant, 
 and well worthy your attention. — This, Madam, is the 
 delightful village of Grange, celebrated for its hofpi- 
 tality to Mr. Gray ; and this the gorge of Borrowdale, 
 whofe terrible appearance intimidated him from exploring 
 farther thefe finell of fcenes. 
 
 Ver. Don't fpeak, left the agitation of the air fhould 
 loofen the rocks above, and bring down a mafs that 
 would overwhelm us. 
 
 Speed, Many a perfon. Madam, has brought ruin upon 
 himfelf by fpeaking, when he fliould have held his tongue, 
 
 And, though ruin (hould hang over her head, fooner 
 
 than hold her tongue, a woman e'en lets it have its own 
 way. (Jfxde.) 
 
 Ver* A fine opportunity for a peep into pafloral life, 
 and an incident to fecure Sir Charles's heart for ever. 
 (JJide.) Sir Charles, my heart beats in fond fy mpalhy 
 with the innocence of thefe uncorrupted mountaineers — 
 
 Speed. Their innocence is of a very fmgular nature 
 then. [Aftde.) 
 
 Ver, 1 o eat oat-cake and butter-milk in the peaceful 
 manfion- — I have got fome tongue in my pocket. 
 
 Speed, Yes, fhe always carries a tongue with her. 
 {Aftde.) 
 
 Ver. Give me your arm. 
 
 Speed. You had better not give way to this amiable fen- 
 fibility : let me lead you back to the hotel at Lovvdore, 
 
 Ver* Not for the world — my too fufceptible heart — 
 
 Speed. 
 
AN OPEU A. 41 
 
 Speed. It is fufceptible, I believe, of twice as much as 
 any other. [Aftde.) 
 
 ^tr Charles, Hard by is the habitation of an hofpita- 
 ble herdfman ; his door is ever open to thofe who will 
 pleafe to enter it. 
 
 A I R. 
 
 Beneath the tall beech that grows hard by the tide, ' 
 JVill Hearty^ a plain honeji foul, does reftde \ 
 He s a friend to the rich, he''s a friend to the poor ^ 
 For ne'er on dijirefs hath he yetjhut his door, 
 
 Hes a board that is fpread with his plain wholejomefare^ 
 And a cellar affot ding a jug of good beer \ 
 If themflves Thirfl ©r Hunger bejore him prefenty 
 JVill Hearty will always their wijhes prevent. 
 
 But if by the rich or the mhlc he's fought^ 
 The choicefi of dainties before him are brought^ 
 Andy while they thus honour his plain friendly board^ 
 Will Hearty is happy y and great as a lord, 
 
 Ver, Lead me there. Oh, Sir Charles! thefe over- 
 coming fcenes of the grand and the fublime — 
 
 Speed, Let me draw your veil over your eyes, and you 
 won't fee them — 
 
 Ver. Lead me into the peaceful cot — Oh ! — [Faints.) 
 
 Speed, Mr. Guide, alTift me with the lady. 
 
 Sir Charles, This way, if yon pleafe: here, under 
 the lowly fhed of poverty, we fhall find the princely 
 virtue of compafljon, and get afliftance to recover this 
 amiable abfentee — That fentence muft, I think, be put 
 
 down in the lour. (^JJide.- Madam, may we defire 
 
 your aOldance ? 
 
 Lydia. iNo doubt my aunt will foon recover : a bit of 
 oat-cake and a draught of butter-milk will awaken her 
 from this tranfitory trance. [^Exeunt. 
 
 Haymakers come forward. 
 
 Haymaker, Comie, my lads and laffes, the day is warm, 
 and labour makes us thirfty ; a fraught of beer w ill refrelh 
 us. Bring the keg, and we'll flag a roundel as it cir- 
 culates. 
 
 G AIR 
 
42 THELAKERS 
 
 AIR and Chorus. 
 
 The fouthern breeze that through the dale^ 
 J/PhiU new -mourn meadows jw nets exhale y 
 
 Breathes frag' ance a d delight arcund : 
 While upward joars thejhrill-gorg'd larky 
 V^he village jwams attentive hark^ 
 
 And catch .he cheerful found : 
 With him ti?eyhail the funs bright ray,, 
 And labour cheer ly through the day» 
 
 END OF THE SECOND ACT. 
 
 ACT 
 
An opera. 
 
 ACT 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 A Room at the ^iems Head. 
 
 ^«/^r Sample ^>7<:/ Anna, 
 
 Anna, 
 
 DESIRES, Sir, you won't follow me about fo: 1 
 thougf t ye had been a gentleman ; but, as ye be only 
 a gentleman's gentleman, ye be not for my money, I 
 Can aifiire ye : befides, ye don't underftand botamy. 
 
 Sample. No, how (hould I ? 
 
 Anna, (^h, fuch an enlightened ftudy ! fuch hard 
 names ! Why, do you know I was a whole day laming 
 a fingle word, and forgot it again the next morning. 
 Another word, to be fure, I larnt in an hour ; but then 
 I forgot it the next minute. But my mirtrefs recollefts 
 every thing; fhe is a great fchollard. Such curious truths 
 too contained in it — why, plants are all men and women. 
 
 Sample. Aye, there are fweet-williams ^ I'm a fweet- 
 william. And coxcom.bs, and painted ladies, and lords 
 and ladles, and naked ladies, like your modern fme la- 
 dies, and — 
 
 Anna. No, no, I mean that they drink and fleep, and 
 are like man and wife. 
 
 Sample. What, fleep in the fame bed ? 
 
 Anna. Yes, and in different beds, and live fometimes 
 in different houfes. 
 
 Sample. Efave a feparate malntainance ! They muft be 
 your fafhionable plants then. What, and fome have 
 their miffes, I reckon, as well as their wives? 
 
 Jnna. O yes! a great many: and fome ladies have 
 their eallants too. 
 
 Sample. Upon my word, Mifs, a very pretty (ludy this 
 feems to be that you've learnt : I can't fay I (hould much 
 jike tnf wife to know any thing about it, 
 
 G 7, Annd, 
 
44 THE LAKERS: 
 
 Ajtna, That you'll find a difficult matter to gtt one 
 who's ignorant ot it ; for all ladies that know any thifig 
 ftudy botamy now : and, if 1 hadn't defpifed ye before, 
 I do now for your ignorance. 
 
 Sample. And yet, I don t know, I like her very well ; 
 and if fhe'll make a good wife in other refpeds, I'll take 
 care (he doesn't get to her gallants, and to living in a dif- 
 ferent houfe. [JJide,) Now, if I was to love you, and 
 give you a proof of my love ? 
 
 Anna, I can't like nobody that isn't larned. 
 
 Sample, It feems to be the way to get wives by telling 
 lies: I'm telling a lie by faying I'm a farvant, and one 
 lie isn't worfe than another. (^AJide.) Now fuppofe I 
 was really a gentleman, and only made myfelf a farvant 
 to fee if I liked you ? Suppofe I was a baronet ? 
 
 Anna* A what ! 
 
 Sample, Suppofe I was Sir Charles Portinfcale, and 
 difguifed myfelf to fee how I liked you, and win your 
 heart ? 
 
 Anna, Sir Charles Portinfcale, that danced with my 
 young miftrefs at Lancafter ? 
 
 Samile, And liked you better than file, and fo told her 
 I was a farvant, to get away from her. 
 
 Anna, Why, you don't fay fo r And flie wouldn't have 
 ye, becaufe ye was a farvant ? A proud minx. ! 
 
 Sample, But don't you fay a word about it. 
 
 Anna, And (o you really love me ? — This comes now 
 to my young lady for not knowing the fenfual * fyftem. 
 He likes me beft, though he don't know why. {Afide.) 
 And do you mean to marry me, Sir Charles ? I've got 
 fome money, I can allure you ; I've faved two hundred 
 pounds in farvice. 
 
 Sajnple. Juft ferve to fet me up in a nice little fhop of 
 my own. ' AJide.) To be fure I do. But you mulln't 
 now fay any thing to any body about it. We'll be mar- 
 ried dire<SlIy. 
 
 Anna, And then I (hall really be a lady ? 
 
 Sample^ Yes, you'll be my lady. 
 
 Anna. And you won't be afiiamed of owning me r 
 
 Sample, No, if you leave off your ft range talk about 
 men and women, and miifes and gallants. 
 
 * Called by botanifts fexuaK 
 
 ^nna. 
 
AN OPERA. 45 
 
 Anna, Aye, that I will. — A woman never thinks any 
 promife (he makes at marriage binding. [Aftde.) 
 
 Sample. Well, then let's break a lixpence upon it. 
 Come. 
 
 AIR. 
 
 Sample. 
 
 This Jixpence break 
 For my dear fake ; 
 
 'Twill join our hearts together : 
 As Jure as fate, 
 Tou^re then my Kate, 
 
 In matrlmoyiial tether^ 
 
 Anna. 
 
 / hold it true^ 
 When broke in two. 
 
 Our hearts in oyie combine- a \ 
 But ^tis not fate 
 Cayi make me Kate^ 
 
 Fm Anna Katharina, 
 
 Anna. There, it's a match. {They break a Jixpence,) 
 
 Enter Bob Kiddy. 
 
 Sob. What's a match, my little pufs ? 
 
 Anna, Match ! O dear — why only for me and my fel- 
 low-farvant to play a game at cards. 
 
 Bob. Your iellow-farvant ! Why, it's the officer that 
 brought aunt and coz. What, you're a poacher. Cap- 
 tain ? 
 
 Sample. 1 muftn't tell him who T am. {Aftde to Anna.) 
 I'm no Captain, Sir, but the Captain's man. 
 
 B^b* No ! Why, you'd regimentals on when you took 
 up aunt and coz. 
 
 Sample, Had I ? O aye ! My mailer defired me to wear 
 his clcaches to air them. 
 
 Bob. That's a lie, I believe. 
 
 Sample, Do you give mc the lie, Sir \ 
 
 Bob* No, I don't fay it is a lie ; only that I believe it 
 is one; 
 
 Sample, 
 
45 THE LAKERS: 
 
 Sample. I believe he's only a bully. I'll frighten hini., 
 (Aftdej Why then, you lie, Sir. 
 
 Boh I believe he daresn't fight, though Tie talks fo big. 
 He's no great ihakes, I think. {Jftde,) Do you give me 
 the lie, Sir ? 
 
 ^'cmiple. No ; you take it to yourfelf. If you'd given 
 me the lie, I'd have puU'd you by the nofe. — I fancy I'm 
 as ftrong as he. (Aftdc) 
 
 Bob, You fhould fight tne if you was a gentlenian ^ 
 but, as you are only a fervant, I Jhall cane you. 
 
 Sample. But I am a gentleman. I am the officer. 
 
 Bob. Then you've told a lie, in faying you was his 
 fervant. 
 
 Sample, Do you tell me then that I lie ? 
 
 Bob. Np ; you tell yourfelf fo. But you gave me the 
 lie, and Ihall fght me. 
 
 Sample. I do know fomething of fparring. Come on^ 
 then. 
 
 Boh. Why, you blackguard! You don't think I'll box 
 i\'ith you ? You (hall fight me with piftols. 
 
 Sawiplc, So, now I've got into another fcrape. I don't 
 think he dare fire. (Afide.) Very well, I'm not afraid. 
 
 Boh. He mufl be though, by faying he's not. (^Aftde.) 
 W^ell then, get a fecond, and Til meet you. 
 
 Sample. Why, he's my fecond, for I've efcaped fighting 
 Vi'ith one before. — I'll get Speedwell to go with me, and 
 perhaps he won't let us fight. [^Aftde.) Very well, I'm 
 your man. 
 
 Anna. No — No— you mufln't fight. If you kill him, 
 you'll kill— Oh !— Oh !— Oh ! (Sohh'mg.) 
 
 Sample, Aye, llie'll take care to prevent lis. (Afide.) 
 I'll be with you in a crack. You've infulted my honour, 
 and mufl fatisfy me. \Exit, 
 
 Bob. i'U kill him, if that will be any fatisfadlion to 
 him. But it'll not he any to me to be kill'd. I'd better 
 not have provoked him. For though he may be only a 
 bully, yet he may fight, and he may kill me. — Well! 
 
 that's a good thought. 1 know what I'll do, and then 
 
 I ihall be fure to be fafe. Here come the pedcflrians. 
 ril get one of them to be my fecond, perhaps hell make" 
 il up. 
 
 Enter Pcdeflrians. 
 
 Well, my lads, how are you ? I'm glad to fee you again* 
 
 So 
 
AN OPERA. 47 
 
 Bo you wouldn't crack a bottle with me? Well; now I 
 want you to do me a good turn. 
 
 Anna, Oh I you bloodthiriiy brute! I'll have you 
 bound over to your good behaviour. 
 
 iji Fed, That would be no very eafy matter, I be- 
 lieve. 
 
 Anna, f^^ohhing.) But he fha'n't fight. I'll go and 
 
 I'll He's only a farvant, and he's no right to be killed 
 
 as a gentleman. 
 
 AIR. 
 
 Oh dear^ my heart Vm Jure will break ! 
 If you away his Uje Jhould take, 
 
 Then all my hopes are gone ; 
 For then my days, ah I Fm afraid^ 
 I Jhail be fo Cd to pajs a maid, 
 
 And never ceaje to mourn, \_Exh. 
 
 \fi Fed. What is the caufe of this, Sir ? A woman 
 in tears, and you not attempt to dry them ! 
 
 Bob, Why, I'm going to kill her fweetheart, I believe, ■ 
 and 1 want you to aflifl: me. 
 
 \ft Fed, Kill her fweetheart, and want me to aflifl 
 you ! 
 
 Bob. Yes, I'm going to fight him, and want you to be 
 
 my fecond. 
 
 \ji Fed, Fight a duel, and wiih me to be your fecond I 
 
 No, Sir. 
 
 Bob. Why, you a'n't afraid, are you ? 
 
 I/? Fed. I am. Sir. I am afraid to break the laws of 
 my country and my Maker. 
 
 Bob, But a man of honour doesn't care for either. 
 Befides, if I Oiould kill him, the coroner's inqued will 
 only bring it in *' manflaughter ;" or if they fliould 
 brino- it in '* murder," depend upon it we can manage to 
 have a flaw in the indidment. 
 
 I/? Fed. And, Sir, would you implicate me in a 
 crime, for which I may run the hazard of my own life ? 
 
 Bob. Why, you're only to be my fecond. I don't 
 want to fight you. 
 
 I/? Fed. But he, Sir, who looks on, and calmly 
 beholds h s fellow-crearures commit murder, is accelTary 
 to the crime, and mufl anfwer it to his offended country 
 
 with his life« 3 „ , 
 
 Bob, 
 
4S THE LAKERS: 
 
 Boh, He talks very fine. He's my man. I'm fure^ 
 if I prefs hini, he'll put a flop to it [Aftde.) Well, but 
 you wouldn't mind your life lor a friend ? 
 
 \Ji Ped. A friend ! You offered me a bottle of wine \ 
 Sir, for a true friend, nay, in a good caufe, I would 
 rifle my life for my enemy ; but 1 will not hazard it in 
 being fecond in a duel. 
 
 Bob, But he gave me the lie. 
 
 iji Ped. I would not have accepted the ill language of 
 one, who fo little knew what good- breeding was. 
 
 Bob. But he threatened to pull my nofe. What can I 
 do in that cafe ? 
 
 iji Ped. if yon really fear, go with your nofe foaped. 
 
 Bob, Why, he's laughing at rr|e. I can tell you. Sir, 
 I can always laugh at thofe that laugh at me. 
 
 iJi Ped. Then, Sir, you are the laughing philofopher, 
 and laugh at the whole w^orld. You mud lead a very 
 merry life. 
 
 Bob. Yes, pretty well for that. 1 keep it up. So 
 you won't (land my friend ? 
 
 l/? Ped, What is it you want. Sir ? 
 
 Bob, I want fatisfa<^ion, and you to fee that I have it, 
 
 iji Ped, Will it be any fatisfadion to you to be 
 killed ? 
 
 Bob. No. 
 
 I/? Ped. Or to kill your adverfary ? 
 
 Bob. Yes. 
 
 iji Ped. Malignant fpirit! By being fecond I may 
 prevent extremities. (AJide.) Well, Sir, if you defire it, 
 though 1 do not confider you as having any claim upon 
 me more than another, I v ill accompany you, and fee 
 the matter adjuflcd. Where is your antagonift, and 
 when and where do you meet ? 
 
 Bob. Gone to look for a fecond — in the fields — 
 
 diredly. Perhaps your companion will be fecond to 
 
 the ot' er ? 
 
 id Ped. If he defires it, I will accompany him. 
 
 Bob. Well, that Oiow^ fome pluck. . I'll go tell him, 
 and get the piflnl-, and we'll have it out diredly. \Exit. 
 
 ^d Ped, Well, Ned, we muft ad the part which good 
 feconds Ihould always play, not urge, but compofe the 
 differences of the principals. If I can judge rightly, 
 this Hedor, though he talks big, does not much relifli 
 
 the 
 
AN OPERA. 49 
 
 the biifinefs. But he feems to be a bully, and againft 
 luch we muft ever be upon our guard. 
 
 AIR; 
 
 fVhat a monjier is man ! that hed rather revenge^ 
 Than be great ^ though he's meeky and forgive ; 
 
 His heart from his friend ^ for one word he II eftrange^ 
 And forbid him tofnendfhip to live, 
 
 Firfi Ped. 
 
 Revenge is a damon^ the mijfive of hell ; 
 
 But Forgivenefsy an Angel from heaven^ 
 Teaches befi hovj mankind may in happinefs dwells 
 
 And forgive, as we vjould be forgiven. 
 
 Both. 
 
 Then come^ thou mild Angela by fortitude armd, 
 
 And refifl the proud claims of thyfoe^ 
 And while at the powW of thy might he's alarm' d^ 
 
 Hurl him dovjn to his region belovj, [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 Another Room, 
 
 Enter Lydia, 
 
 Lydia. My fate, I hope, is now drawing towards a crifis. 
 Sir Charles will afTert his caufe and my own, and re- 
 lieve me from the irkfome fituation I am in with my 
 
 AIR. 
 
 aunt. 
 
 Though envy diflrefjes. 
 And pride oft oppreffes, 
 
 And lays all our happinefs wafle ; 
 Yet powerful love 
 EvWy care will remove^ 
 
 And on high rear his banner at lafl. 
 
 Enter Veronica. 
 
 Ver, Well Lydia, my dear. Sir Charles Is obligingly 
 gone with the botanift to look for the Geranium hatra-^ 
 
 H choide^^ 
 
50 THE LAKERS: 
 
 choides flore ekganter variegato ; he has promifed to get me 
 two or three roots to put into pots, for me to take back 
 for the garden at Diandria Hall. A vnftly agree- 
 able man is that Sir Charles. I don't think you ad- 
 mire him fo much as you did. You were quite enrap-^ 
 tured with him at Lancafter, but now you feem quite 
 indifferent. 
 
 Lydia, You accufed me, Madam, of infenfibility to- 
 wards the Sir Charles Portinfcale, who brought us hither 
 in his Carriage. 
 
 Ver, A very pleafant and piclurefque fcheme was that 
 of Sir Charles's. Yes, I had a mind to humour it, to 
 give it effedl. How eafy, how polite, how enlightened 
 is Sir Charles! how rich too in the language of botany ! 
 The foul-expanding delight of an intercommunication of 
 fentiments with Sir Charles, when put in contradiftinc- 
 tion with the obfcuration of intellect in that prominently 
 difagreeable man, that roturier, his fervant, is like the 
 rofa provincialis compared with the allium rojeum, 
 
 Lydia, I have little reafon to be partial to the gentle- 
 man, as he feems to have no partiality to me. His at- 
 tentions are direded to you, Madam. It remains with 
 you, therefore, to encourage or oppofe them. 
 
 Ver, Upon my word! a little jealous or fo ! Sir 
 Charles has difcernment, Mifs ; and, if he prefers an 
 enlightened mind to one not yet emerged from primitive 
 darknefs and prejudice, furely he is to make his own 
 eledion where bethinks proper. 
 
 Lydia, Certainly, Madam. 
 
 Ver, And if Sir Charles would die, were I to be cruel, 
 a truly philanthropic heart will bid him live to love and 
 happinefs. Yes, you will, before very long, be niece to 
 Lady Beccabunga Portinfcale ; when the new plant the 
 botanift has found will be called the Portinfcalia. 
 
 Lydia. If it is Sir Charles's and your wifli, I have 
 neither a right noracanfe to wifli it otherwife. 
 
 V^er. Vaflly obliging indeed! But I have been fo pre- 
 fumptuous as abfolutely toconfent to the hymeneal union, 
 without previoufly afking your permiflion. 
 
 Lydia. You are then engaged, Madam ? 
 
 Ver. Beyond the poflibility of retreating, but with the 
 confent of Sir Charles. 
 
 Lydia, I had no right to expe£l it ; but perhaps, Ma- 
 dam, it had beer? better had vou confulted me. 
 
AN OPERA. 51 
 
 ver.^ Aftonidiing impertinence ! Yes, Mifs, and you 
 in ay, if you like it, for I give you my free leave, go and 
 marry hisfervant; or, perhaps, I may give you leave to 
 marry the botanift. Yes, you may marry him. 
 
 Lydta. I thank you. Madam, for your goodnefs. 
 
 Enter Anna. 
 
 Anna. O dear, Madam, I muft beg your interpofance: 
 there is going to be fuch aconfufion of blood yonder. 
 
 ^er. Blood! Where? 
 
 Anna. At the foot of Skiddaw. 
 
 J'er, They could not have chofen a more pItSlurefque 
 fituation. But who is it ? 
 
 Anna. My young mafter. 
 
 Fer. Bob ! A filly blockhead ! What bufinefs has he to 
 be fighting? How^ever, I'll introduce him in the fore- 
 ground of a fketch by way of a memorandum. 
 
 Lydia. Dear me. Madam, let us go : our prefence, 
 the prefence of women, will prevent their proceeding to 
 extremities. 
 
 Fer, Interfere in a duell It would abfolutely clals 
 us amongfl the arums * : we fliould be ara maculata, 
 
 Lydia, Confider, Madam, that by refufing our inter- 
 ference, where our prefence might prevent a duel, we 
 become parties in it, and (hall have to reproach ourfelves 
 with any accident which may happen to either my coufin 
 Robert or his antagonifl. 
 
 Fer, Methinks, Mifs, you are a little too much gifted 
 with verbiage. Befides, were I to honour their combat 
 with my prefence, it would be, like one of the damfels of 
 former times, to honour the conqueror with my gracious 
 fmiles. 
 
 Lydia. How do you know but his antagonift may be 
 Sir Charles Portinfcale ? 
 
 Fer, Bob dare as foon fight Tippoo Saib. 
 
 Anna. It is, it is Sir Charles Portinfcale. 
 
 Lydia. Heavens ! Sir Charles ! Perhaps it is only— — 
 but the uncertainty is dreadful. (AJide.J O let us hafte 
 this inflant. 
 
 Fer, How, Sir Charles! Lead me to the place. Oh, 
 that I were papilionaceous '\, I run to his protedion, and 
 
 * Mafculine ladies. 
 
 t Flowers are called papilionaceous whofe petals are like the 
 winffs of a butterfly, 
 
 H 2 let 
 
52 THELAKERS: 
 
 let the fate -fraught tube dlfcharge its leaden death into 
 
 my breafl before it lodges in his manly heart. 
 
 Anna. But hadn't you better take a conftable ? 
 
 Ver. Vulgar expedient ! No! I will be the mediator, 
 
 the protestor, and the deliverer : I perceive my love is 
 
 growing acumenate : 
 
 ArnCd in my virgin innocence I fly^ 
 
 My noble lover toproted or die, [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 l^he Foot of Skiddaw, 
 
 Enter Speedwell. 
 
 Speed, I have counterfeited love till I have almoft: per- 
 fuaded myfelf intoa real paflion for this woman, and I now 
 dread the difcovery, left it fhould feparate me from her 
 for ever. But, fuppofe (he Ihould like me, and even 
 confent to marry me, would I have her ? She is rich, 
 Ihe is good tempered: two qualities that will certainly 
 promote happinefs in the married ftate. She does not 
 want fenfe ; but then fhe mifapplies it.. But it is perhaps 
 for want of having it better dire61:ed, and the cares of a 
 family may divert her attention another way. Then fhe 
 is a botanift, and deeply verfed in the myfteries of the 
 loves of the plants ; and fhe, who is bawd to a blolTom, 
 may not be very nice in the intercourfe of her own fpecies, 
 I muft have done with refle^^ion, for the more 1 think 
 the more I am bewildered. 
 
 AIR. 
 
 Like the fa If e light, that o'er the moor 
 
 The ''nighted traveller beguiles^ 
 Woman exerts her artful power 
 
 To lure you with her w ant on f miles. 
 
 A ray of hope firfl faintly gleams^ 
 
 To cheer you on the lonely way^ 
 And leads you on In airy dreams. 
 
 At laji your footjicps to betray. 
 
 Tau 
 
AN OPERA. 53 
 
 ToufoUoiv faj} through hujh and brahe^ 
 And force with pain the tangled brier. 
 
 In hopes at laji, for her dear Jake ^ 
 To gain the haven you dejire. 
 
 But ah! at once In air difpers'dy 
 
 Thefalfe and fickle beauty turns ; 
 And he, each ray of cotnfort loft. 
 
 His haplefs fate defpairing mourns. 
 
 Enter Sir Charles Portlnfcale. 
 
 — *• 
 
 ^Sir Charles* Speedwell, look yonder. Is not that 
 Veronica's nephew coming this way, with a man in a 
 failor's jacket ; and, a little behind, Sample, with another 
 in the fame drefs ? 
 
 ^ Speed, As fare as a gun it is, Sir, and they've got 
 piitols with them. Perhaps they are coming hither to 
 iight a duel. 
 
 Sir Charles, Let us (lep afide and obferve them. (They 
 retire,) 
 
 Enter Bob Kiddy and Firft Pedeftrian. 
 
 Bob, No, I won't hear of an apology. I'll make him 
 fight me. 
 
 I/? Ped, Since you are determined, Sir, recolledl that, 
 as chance may equally go againft you, as in your favour, 
 whether there is any thing you wifh to fay, or any affairs 
 you wifli to be fettled, fhould you fall. 
 
 Bob, Should I fall ! No. 
 
 ift Ped, If you fpeak. Sir, from a confcioufnefs of 
 being prepared for the word, happy is it for you. But 
 the bufinefs you are upon, I fear, precludes any fuch 
 favourable interpretation. 
 
 Bob, Why you don't mean to infult me, do you ? for, 
 if you do, here's a brace of piftols, and ftand your ground. 
 
 ifi Ped. Why you would not fight your fecond. Sir, 
 would you ? The friend vA\o rifles his life with yours! 
 
 Bob, If you rifk it one way, why not another ? But I 
 won't put up with any fuch words. 
 
 I/? Ped. Then, Sir, you muft fwallow them down. 
 
 Enter Sample and Second Pedeflrian. 
 
 Sample, There he is, fpeak to him. 
 
 o.d 
 
5i THELAKERS: 
 
 id Ped. I would fain. Sir, terminate this affair am J- 
 cahly, \i it be poflible. 
 
 Bob. But it's impoirihie. 
 
 id Ped, Then I beg to fpeak a word afide with your 
 fecond* 
 
 Bah, Come, come, nocollufion. 
 
 Sample, I fee they won't let us fight. {The Pedeftrians 
 tjoalk ajide^ Bob and Sample lorjk at each other, ^ 
 
 Bob. Why you don't think I'll let you fight with 
 thofe great horfe-piftol^, do you ? 
 
 Sampk. 1 thought I (hould frighten him. (Jfide.) 
 
 Boh. Here, I've got two pair ^ you fhall take a pair 
 of mine: here* 
 
 Sample, No, I won't. How do I know but you've 
 loaded 'em with fliigs. 
 
 Boh. 1 believe you've done that yourfelf, by fufpe£ling 
 me. ( Pedeftrians come forward.) 
 
 ifi Ped. If there is any difference refpedling the wea- 
 pons, it is our bufinefs to adjuft it. 
 
 Bob. No. Only I won't let him fire with thofe horfe- 
 piftols. We muft both have the fame fort; and fo he 
 fliall take a pair of mine. I've got two pair.— Here. 
 
 id Ped. But this gentleman feems to fufpe6l they 
 niay not be fairly loaded. Let me fee. 
 
 Boh. No, you fha'n't. I believe his are not. Let 
 me fee them. 
 
 Sample. No, you fha'n't. 
 
 ly? Ped. I have aright to infift in behalf of my prin- 
 cipal. 
 
 id Ped. And T of mine. 
 
 ly? Ped. Give me your piflols, Sir, 
 
 Sample, There. Oh, dear! 
 
 iji Ped, Why, there is no ball in either of them. 
 
 Sample. No, 1 thought I would not Ihoot him : I only 
 wanted to frighten him. 
 
 id Ped. And now give me yours, if you pleafe. Sir. 
 (Bob gives cne pair) — Come, gentlemen, I fee you nei- 
 ther of you bore the other any ill-will, for thefe have no 
 ball neiiher. 
 
 Sample. Well, that's very good-natured of you. — > 
 Come, let's (hake hands. 
 
 Bob. With all my heart. 
 
 id Ped. Stop, Sir. Juft for the fatisfadion of all 
 parties, let us examine the other pair* 
 
 Bob, 
 
AN OPERA. 55 
 
 Boh. No, they are juft the fame. 
 
 l/I Ped. Nay, Sir, if you hefitate, we muH: infid 
 iipon it. {Takes them from him.) — Loaded! Thefe are 
 what you would have retained yourfelf, and the unloaded 
 you would have forced upon your antagonift. Infa- 
 mous, treacherous murderer ! 
 
 Bsb^ Why, 'twas the only way of fighting to my ow^ii 
 fatisfadlion : — but Vm off. 
 
 o.d Ped. Not fo foon. Sir. This mud not flop here, 
 
 Fer. [IVithout] Bob! Bob ! Bob ! If you fire, I will 
 difinherit you, O Sir Charles 
 
 Etiters with l.ydJi^ and AnwTi, 
 
 —What, Bob and Speedwell! And has my intenfe 
 folicitude been about my booby of a nephew and this odi- 
 ous bourgeois o^ a fervant? Provoking! — there, you may- 
 fight it out. {Looking about her.) A moft delightful fpot! 
 The road hither was enchanting ; pafling through bowery 
 lanes, luxuriant with beech, birch, mountain-alh, and 
 holly. — That ravine is extremely pidlurefque — that hill, 
 covered with heath, turf, and browfmg fheep — the road 
 ferpentifing under that gnarled oak, with its tinty fo- 
 liage — thole beautiful boles, and that delicious diftant 
 dippy -dell- 
 Sir Charles and Speedwell come forward, 
 
 O my dear Sir Charles! I have had fuch multifarious 
 palpitations on your account. {To Speedwell.) 
 
 Lydia. I was anxious. Sir Charles, for your fafety; 
 though I trufted it was not you who was involved in the 
 duel. {To Sir Charles.) 
 
 Anna. I am all of a trimble, and all on your account. 
 Sir Charles. (To Sample.) 
 
 Bob, How do you do. Sir Charles ? Are you pretty 
 hearty? (21? Sir Charles.) 
 
 Fer, Hey! how is this! Sir Charles! Sir Charles! 
 Sir Charles ! 
 
 Sir Charles, Sir, I haVe witnefled your infamous con- 
 duct, and difclaim your acquaintance. 
 
 Ver. Why, what has he been doing? 
 
 Sir Charles. Was about to fire at his adverfary with 
 balls, when he had given him piftols with only powder 
 jn them. 
 
 Ver, A poltroon! How unlike the pi61urefque virtues 
 
 of 
 
56 THE LAKERS: 
 
 of the ancients ! when they met upon equal terms, 
 ihook hands, and fought for honour and renown. 
 
 Speed. This comes, Sir, of " feeking the bubble re- 
 putation at the piftol's mouth." 
 
 Sir Chaiies. Bubble, indeed! for it is blown upon, 
 and burft in air. 
 
 Ver, Sir Charles, as a military man, tell me what is 
 to be done : for this llory will get abroad, and I muft 
 give a full and perfpicacious account of it in my tour. 
 
 Speed. It is not for me to fpeak in this inflance. I re- 
 fer you to that gentleman. 
 
 Fer. That gentleman! 
 
 Sir Charles, If it were not for the prefence of thefc 
 ladies, I ihould give you the chaflifement due to a cow- 
 ard. 
 
 Fer. I beg that may be no obje6lion. Befides, by be- 
 ing witnefs to it, 1 can give a more authenticated enar- 
 r::tion, and more fully explain the chain of caufe and 
 effecl. Oh, Bob! Bob! He ought to be made to pafs 
 fub jugum. 
 
 Sir Charles, Have you nothing to fay for yourfelf. 
 Sir? 
 
 JBol^. No: 1 am fpiflicated! 
 
 Sir Charles. Withdraw. Your own defpicable cow- 
 ardice, and the prefence of thefe ladies, alone prevent mq 
 from giving you the caning you merit, 
 
 Bob. I am much obliged to the ladies and myfelf. 
 
 Fer* Bob, you don't enter my Sociable again. 
 
 Sample. No ; he's not a fociable man. 
 
 Bob. I've no refource left but to turn tail upon the 
 world, declaim againll its vices, and fet up myfelf as a 
 pattern of every thing that's great and good. \_Exit, 
 
 Fer. Pray, Mr. Speedwell, how came you engaged 
 in a duel with my nephew? Was it a duel prepenfed, or 
 a fortuitous colli fion r 
 
 sir Charles. Matters, Madam, are too much involved 
 at this moment to be but partially adjufted. That gen- 
 tleman's name is not Speedwell, nor is he a fervant. He 
 is a Traveller, with whom I by chance changed 
 cloathes, and who, having his own purfuits interrupted, 
 by my having his articles of trade, aliumed the name and 
 title of Sir Charles Portinfcale, thinking therewith to 
 make his fortune. 
 
 Fer. 
 
AN OPERA. 57 
 
 Ver, What! have I been made love to by a bagman?-— 
 What a heterogeneous impreflion! 
 
 Anna, [Afide.) Then this wretch is no better than a 
 farvant. 
 
 Sir Charles. I am the real Sir Charles Portinfcale, 
 whO;, underflanding you alu^ays infifted upon your niece 
 refigning her claims with any admirer to you, acqui- 
 efced in his fcheme, and parted myfelf upon you as the 
 guide and botanift, to efcape your attacks, and have an 
 opportunity of farthering my intentions with your niece. 
 But, Mr. Sample failing to perfonate the charader, I 
 made him acknowledge the impofture, and farther im- 
 pofed my fervant upon you as myfelf. Your niece has 
 kindly condefcended to be mine ; and, having an oppor- 
 tunity of declaring myfelf, I now claim your forgivenefs 
 and confent. 
 
 Fer. ImpofTible! 
 
 Sample. Now the whole truth's out. 
 
 Speed. It is all very true. 
 
 Ver, Yes, Mr. Botanift, this is a cryptogamyy which 
 I have not feen before, and had no idea of. Sir, you 
 have not my confent, and Lydia will never have one far- 
 thing of mine. 
 
 sir Charles, My Lydia is herfelf a treafure of which 
 no fortune can enhance the value. A few months will 
 make her her own miftrefs; and we need not then be 
 beholden to your confent for our union. 
 
 Ver. Then iny confent is held to be merely adfci- 
 tltlous. But, Sir, there are exacerbations of the mind 
 which 
 
 Speed, I muft again appeal to your atniable forgiving 
 kindnefs for this fecond deceit pradlifed againll: you. 
 But perhaps your Ladyfhip was not deceived in this in- 
 Itance. 
 
 Ver. Not a particle more than I was the firft 
 tim.e. 
 
 Speed, May I hope it was myfelf, and not my affumed 
 title, that gained a heart which monarchs might proudly 
 ligh for? 
 
 Ver. No, Sir, your infiduoi^s flame 
 
 Speed. May I then be permitted to remincj yon of a 
 bond, which lately, with fediicHve fimpcrs, you were 
 pleafed to force upon me ? 
 
 I Fcr. 
 
58 THE LAKERS: 
 
 Fer. Something extremely picturefque in this man 
 and his condu£l; he has roughnefs, fudden variation and 
 intricacy ; and if he were not a fervant — [AJide,) 
 
 Speed. [Reads.) *' I, Beccabunga Veronica, of Dlan- 
 dria Hall, do pledge myfelf to marry the bearer, under 
 forfeiture of all my eftate, my hortus ftccus, fketches and 
 
 writings. Given under my hand this aiftday cf ." 
 
 Ver. But you are not Sir Charles Portinfcale. I iliil 
 abide by the forfeiture, if I refufe to marry Sir Charles 
 Portinfcale. Now what have you to fay ? 
 
 Speed, That the bond is made out to the bearer ; and 
 Sir Charles fhall exa6l it as he thinks bed. (Gives it Sir 
 Charles.) 
 
 Sir Charles* My Lydia (hall difpofe of it at herpleafure. 
 Lydia. I have no wiOi to enforce the penalty. It is 
 yours, Madam. [Gives it to Veronica,) 
 
 Ver, Qiiite a capriccioy 1 declare. And fo^ Sir Charles^ 
 you abfolutely refufe me ? 
 
 Sir Charles. I cannot accept you myfelf, and I dare 
 not recommend you to my (hadow. 
 
 Ver. I fear I fliall never get another offer half fo good, 
 and I'm determined not " to wither on the virgin thorn." 
 (^Jfide.) He's a vaftly clever man, he's a botanift, he's 
 piilurefque — I'll throw a Gilpin tint over him. (^Looks 
 through glafs.) Yes, he's gorgeoully glowing. I mud 
 not view him with the other lights, for a hufl^and fliould 
 not be either glaringly gloomy, or frigidly frozen ; nor 
 fhould I like to be haunted by a blue devil. — Then he's 
 a fervant- — but Lord Level married his daughter to a fer- 
 vant. I think the incident would be pidlurefque ; and it 
 would be perfedlly botanic for Veronica and Speedwell to 
 marry. 
 
 Sir Charles. I will anfwer for his honour, and fhall be 
 happy to ow^n him as a relation. I have proved the con- 
 tidence I place in him, by ailigning him the tafk of being 
 my reprefentative. 
 
 Ver. But fhall not I get laugh — No, a woman in my 
 fituation may a6l as (he pleafes. We authoreffes are 
 privileged people. But how much will my condition be 
 apejorated. Pray, are you really a botanift ? Is it your 
 fpecific chara(9;ers* or was your botanic knowledge merely 
 aifumptuous } 
 
 Speed. What little knowledge I difplayed was really my 
 own, and I hope to better it under your inftrudlions. 
 
 Ver, 
 
A N O P E R A. ^ 59 
 
 fer. A very Iiopeful fcholar, truly ! 
 
 Speed. May I then hope you will marry me ? 
 
 Fer. Marry will I ! We will be connate Wke the twin 
 flowers on the fame peduncle, and I truft our love will be 
 
 fenr^rvirent and perenniaJ, But Mr. What's your 
 
 name ? 
 
 Sample. Sample, Mifs. 
 
 Ver. You are an exceflively bad pradlitioner of the 
 mimetic art, you have no artificiality ; but as we all 
 ictux-iohQ Die hot anions*, I fuppofe you will marry my 
 maid and amanuenfis, Anna Katharina ? 
 
 Sample. Who cau<:ht a moufe, Mifs ? 
 
 Speed, I wonder Ihe has not fometime fmelt a rat. 
 
 Sample. Why, I fhould like her well enough, and;, if 
 flie'U have a fide in my gig, I'll drive her home, and 
 we'll fet up a (hop for ourfelves. 
 
 Anna* Yes, but I'd rather you'd been a baronet. 
 
 Sir Charles. But where are the two gentlemen who 
 came as feconds to you and your adverfary ? 
 
 \Ji Fed. Here, Sir. We but undertook the bufinefs 
 to prevent any mifchief from enfuing. -'We have fuc- 
 ceeded and are fatisfied. 
 
 Sir Charles. May I requefl: to know your names and 
 conditions r Your words do not accord with your out- 
 ward appearance. 
 
 iji Fed. We truft. Sir, that we are gentlemen, though 
 thus habited, and taking our tour on foot to gain a knov^- 
 ledge of our country and of mankind. 
 
 Ver. How fortunate i Pedeftrians ! How pidurefque 
 too their appearance — Another incident for my'tour. I 
 beg, Gentlemen, we may be better acquainted. I have 
 pften heard of the many who travel in this rational way, 
 but v/as never before fo fortunate as to be acquainted with 
 any. Let me entreat you to be aggregated into our party 
 at the inn ; and, if I may be fo bold as to entreat a 
 flight account of your hlftory, to infert in my tour, I 
 fhall be particularly obligated to you.-^i fcarce know. 
 Sir Charles, in what manner we are to be clalTed ; but 
 as we are fo m^iuy Ji of c id es compofing one compoi3nd^(?j, 
 I will pronounce us fyngenecious, of the order polygamia 
 a-qualis, except the Pedeftrians, vs'ho feem to be as a 7?io* 
 fiadelphia t. 
 
 • Branching off in pairs. t One brotherhood. 
 
 I 2 Sir 
 
6o THEL/VKERS: 
 
 Sir Charles. All difguife being thus thrown off, how- 
 ever our follies may be laughed at, I trufl: that the adven- 
 tures of the Lakers at Kefwick will afford an inno- 
 cent amufement to thofe who become acquainted with 
 them, and that none of us will have any caufe to lament 
 their denouement . 
 
 FINALE. 
 
 V Sir Charles. 
 
 Uappy days are noiv before us ; 
 
 Let us raife the tuneful Jlrain^ 
 fo'in the full and lively chorus y 
 
 Antidote to care and pain* 
 
 Lydia. 
 
 'Though the days we^ve pafi were grievous^ 
 
 Tety when prefent joy appears. 
 Mope fiill whijpers to relieve usy 
 
 yind the diftant profpcB cheers. 
 
 Chorus. Happy daysy i^c* 
 
 Speedwell. 
 Though Veronica's Diandria, 
 
 This her clafs will fhe for fw ear % 
 J'Vill fhe love a Jingle wanderer ^ 
 
 Conjlant to an only dear ? 
 
 Veronica. 
 
 Hithertoy like Qavkivica, 
 
 ^« Single wretchednefs" I've known; 
 
 Afy botanic love I like here^ 
 And my man Pll love alone. 
 
 Chorus. Happy daySy i^fc. 
 
 Sample. 
 Will my bonny bale of beauty 
 
 All her ftrange vagaries dropy 
 Aiid with me, in boundcn duty^ 
 if ait upon our retail f/jop ,<* 
 
 Anna, 
 
AN OPERA. 6i 
 
 Anna. 
 
 1 had llk'd a man of laming. 
 
 If with fuch I Could have wed. 
 But an half-loaf Pve dljcarning 
 
 To prefer to lack of bread. 
 
 Chorus. Happy days, l^c, 
 
 Firft Pedeftrian. 
 
 We will fi'illy our aim purfu'ingy 
 
 For improvement travel on, 
 Jlfen and manners ft'ill be viewing^ 
 
 Ala king all we fee our own. 
 
 Second Pedeftrian: 
 
 PVe not envy power nor riches ; 
 
 ffe have pleafure^ we have health \ 
 And experience fully teaches 
 
 Thefe alone are folid wealth. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 Happy days are now before us ; 
 
 Let us raife the tuneful Jiraiuy 
 Join the full and lively chorus^ 
 
 Antidote to care and pain. 
 
 THE end; 
 
Books, &c. printed for and fold hy JV. CLA RKE, 
 No, 385 New Bond Street, 
 
 I. A SURVEY OF THE LAKES of Cumberland, Vv'efimorlaiv], and 
 Lnncafliire, on Thirteen lar^^e Maps and Plans ; with an Accounr, hifton- 
 cal, topographical, and defcriptive, oF the adjacent Country. To which 
 is added, a Sketch of the Border Laws and Cudonjs. By James Clarke, 
 l^nd Surveyor. Li one larce Volume, Folio, Price One Guinea. — Tlic 
 imnc, With Twenty Views, elegantly bound, Pnce 6/. 
 
 II. SIXTEEN VIEV/S OF THE LAKES. Engraved hy S. Aiken, 
 from Drawings by J. Smith and J. Ernes, viz. — Vale of Lonfdale — Conif- 
 ton Lake — Winandermere, Great Illand — Winandcrmere, from Calgarth 
 ' — Elter Water — Stockgill Force — Upper Cafcade, Rydal — Rydal Water — 
 Grafmere Lake — Leathes Water — Derwent Water, from Caftle Crat^ — 1 fer- 
 vent Water, from Ormathwaite — Bnttermere — Lowes Water — Ulles Wa^ 
 ter, Upper End — Ulles Water, towards Goubarrow. Piice One Guinea. 
 
 III. PLANS OF THE LAKES in Cumberland, Weftmorland, &c. 
 With an accurate Survey of the Roads leading to them, from Penrith, Kef- 
 trick, Sec. on a large Scale, and forming a complete Guide tor thofe who 
 make the Tour of the Lakes. By James Clarke, Land Surveyor. In a 
 portable Quarto Volume. Price 12s. in boards, 
 
 IV. WEST'S GUIDE TO THE LAKES in Cumberland, Weftmor- 
 land, and Lancafliire. The Sixth Edition. Piice 53. — The fame, with 
 Sixteen Views, by Smith and Ernes, price il; los. elegantly bound. 
 
 V. SIX ETCHINGS of LANDSCAPE, &c. 
 
 By B. T. PouNCY, after Drawings by T. Hearne, F, S. A. 
 
 1. Wtw III Kcnikvort/j, Vv^arwickfliir^. 
 
 2. An Iron-'^joork at Dozvntojiy Kereforddiire. 
 
 3. Bcctham Force, Weftmoreland. 
 
 4. An Iron Forge at Tint em, Mon mouth ilii re. 
 
 5. The Chefnut Tree at Little IVyiiwndly, Lierts, 
 
 6. An Oak in Moccas Park, Here fordfli ire. 
 
 Size of the Etchings, Ten Inches by Seven and a Half. 
 
 VI. SELECT VIEWS IN ITALY, from Drawings by J. Smith ; ond 
 erjgraved by Byrne, Ernes, Medland, Pouncy, Ur. With topographical 
 a-id hiftorical Defcrij)tions, in Englilh and French. Vol. I. containing 36 
 ?)ates. Price 3/. lis, Alfo Nos. I. II. IIL and IV. of the Second Volume. 
 Fr;ce 2/. 8i. The remaining two Numbers (which will complete the 
 Work) will be publifaed in the Co\irfe of the prtfent Year. 
 
Bmh pubUftjed by IF. CLARKE. 
 
 ti^I't ^-[^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Cities, principal Towns, Mountain Scenery, &c. io 
 l.<bLAND, from original Drawings by T. S. Roberts, engraved io 
 ^-quatinta by S. Alken, &c. Size 17 Inches bv i2|, with Delcriptions- 
 Nos. I, 2, and 3, Price each to Subfcribers ids, 6^^.-18^. tinted, aud 
 i/. 13/, coloured. 
 
 VIII. SIX PICTURESaUE VIEWS from Paintings by Peter Pindar, 
 Efq. Engraved in Aquatinta, by Aiken. To which are annexed Poetical 
 Aliiirions to the different Scenc-s. Folio. Price il. is. 
 
 IX. HISTORY of the COUNTY of CUMBERLAND and Places 
 adjacent, from the earHeft Accounts to the prefent Time. Comprehend- 
 ing its Antiquities, Natural Hillory, Agiiculture ; Ancient and prefent 
 State of Families; with Bioo;raphical Notes, &c. Ilhitlrated with Views of 
 Seats, Antiquities, Plans, &c. By William Hutchinfon, F. A. S. Author 
 ©f the Hiilory of DURHAM, s Vols. 4to. Price 2/. 12s, 6d. in boards. 
 
 X. ETPiniAOT ^innOATTOS STEcI>ANffl^0P05: ; 
 
 Cum Scholiis, Verfione Latina, variis Lectionibus, Valckenari Notis integris, 
 
 ac feledis aliornm V. Y. D. D. quibus fuas adjunxit 
 
 FRANCIS HEN. EGERTON. 
 
 In one Vol. Royal Quarto. Price iL 16s, 
 
 XI. LETTERS FROM PARIS during the Summers of 1791 and 
 1792; defcribing the mofl material Occurrences; and Anecdotes of 
 confiderable Perfons : with a fine Frontifpiece. 2, Vols. Price iis. — A few 
 remaining Copies of Vol. II. may be had feparately, to complete Sets. 
 
 XII. VIAGGIANA : or, Detached Remarks on the Buildings, Pi^lures, 
 Statues, Infcriptions, &c. of Ancient and Modern RoiMe; with Additional 
 Obfervations. Third Edition, Elegantly bound. Price ^i. 
 
 XITI. The RULES and REGULATIONS of the CASTLE EDEN 
 FRlhNDLY SOCIETY; with Extrads from the Proceedings, &c. To 
 which are added, explanatory Notes and Obfervations. By Michael 
 ScARTH, Steward of the Society. Publiflied at the Requeft of the " So- 
 *'ciety for bettering the Condition and increafing the Comforts of the 
 *'• Poor," vvith a View to facilitate fimilar Eilablirtiments. O(ftavo. Pri?« 
 One Shilling- 
 
Books puhlljhed by TV. CLARKt. 
 
 PUBLISHING MONTHLY^ PRICE 6d, 
 
 The Monthly Epitome^ 
 
 AND 
 
 Defcriptlve Catalogue of New Publications ; 
 
 Containing an Analyfis of the moft important Works, with interefting 
 
 Extracts. To which is annexed a con^plete Catalogue of Books 
 
 and Pamphlets ; with Notices of Works in the Prefs, &:c. 
 
 Printed for W. Clarke, No. 38, New Bond Street; and fold by Lee 
 and Hurft, and H. D. Symonds, Paternofterrow ; Sevvell,'Cornhili ; Gard- 
 ner, Strand ; and by all Bookfellers in Town and CounLr3^ 
 
 '^■jfr* This Work gives the earlieft account of ail new Books, and from 
 its execution and impartiality, has in a great degree experienced the ap- 
 probation of the Public ; the price alfo renders it an eafy purchafe to all 
 ranks. 
 
 Volume I. for 1797, »ay be had as above, price 7J. half-bound, or 
 any fingle Numbtrs. 
 
 To be Publijljcd by Subfcription^ 
 
 IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH, 
 
 AN 
 
 Explanatory Pronouncing Dictionary 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FKENCH LANGUAGE; 
 
 Wherein the exa£l Sound and Articulation of every Syllable will 
 
 be diftinflly marked (according to the Method adopted by 
 
 Mr. Walker in his Pronouncing Didionary) ; 
 
 And containing prefatory Dire6lions for ufing the fanic. 
 BY L'ABBK TARDY, 
 
 MASTER OF THE LIBERAL ARTS IN THE UNIVEIISITV OF FAUIS. 
 
 CONDITIONS. 
 
 ^ The Work to be printed on fine paper, and entire nev/ letter (with 
 dlftinguiOiing marks) call: on ptirpofe. The lize, a fmall octavo 
 pocket volume; price to Subfcribers Four Shillings bound, to be 
 paid on the delivery of the book.