A. You'll find the Undertaking difficult;
The Surgeon, who already has attempted it,
Has much tormented me.

W. I'll aid him with a gentler Hand,

If you will give me leave..

A. How foft foe'er the Hand may be,
There ftill is Terror in the Operation.

W. Some few Preparatives would make it easy, could I perfuade you to apply 'em. Make home reflections, Madam, on your flighted love; weigh well the strength and beauty of your charms; rouze up the fpirit, women ought to bear, and flight your God, if he neglects his Angel. With arms of ice receive his cold embraces, and keep your fire from thofe who come in flames. Behold a burning lover at your feet, his fever raging in his veins. See how he trembles, how he pants! See how he glows, how he confumes! Extend the arms of mercy to his aid; his zeal may give him Title to your pity, altho' his Merit cannot claim your love.

A. Of all my feeble Sex, fince I must be the weakeft, fhou'd I again presume to think on love? (fighing) Alas! my heart has been too roughly treated! W. Twill find the greater Blifs in fofter Ufage. A. But where's that Ufage to be found?

W. Tis here, within this faithful breaft; which, if you doubt, I'll rip it up before your eyes, lay all its Secrets open to your view; and then, you'll fee, 'twas found.

A. With juft fuch honeft words as thefe, the worft of Men deceiv'd me.

W. He therefore merits all, Revenge can do; his fault is fuch, the extent and stretch of Vengeance cannot reach it. O make me but your Instrument of

justice; you'll find me execute it with fuch zeal, as fhall convince you, I abhor the crime.

A. The rigour of an Executioner has more the face of cruelty than justice; and he who puts the Cord about the Wretch's neck, is seldom known to exceed him in his morals.

W. What proof: then can I give you of my

A. It is; and one that wou'd fo thoroughly con vince me, I shou'd be apt to rate your heart so high, I possibly might purchase it with a part of mine.

W. Then Heav'n, thou art my friend, and I am bleft; for if 'tis in my power, my Will, I'm fure, will reach it. No matter, what the Terms may be, when fuch a Recompence is offer'd. O tell me quickly, what this Proof muft be! What is it, will convince you of my love?

A. I shall believe you love me as you ought, if from this moment you forbear to ask whatever is unfit for me to grant -You paufe upon it, Sir? I doubt, on fuch hard terms, a Woman's heart is fcarcely worth the having.

W. A Heart, like yours, at any Terms is worth it; 'twas not on that I paus'd: but I was thinking (drawing nearer to her) whether fome things there may not be, which Women cannot grant without a Blush, and yet which Men may take without offence. (Taking her hand) Your Hand, I fancy, may be of the number. O pardon me, if I commit a Rape upon it, (kiffing it eagerly) and thus devour it with my kifles.

A. O Heavens! let me go.

Never, whilft I have Strength to hold you here. (Forcing her to fit down on a Couch.) My Live, my Soul, my Goddess - O forgive me.

A. O whither am I going? Help, Heaven, or I am loft.

W. Stand neuter, Gods, this once, I do in voke you!

thine.

A. Then fave me, Virtue, and the Glory

W. Nay, never strive.

A. I will; and conquer too. My forces rally bravely to my Aid; (breaking from him) and thus I gain the Day,

W. Then mine as bravely double their Attack; (feizing her again.) And thus I wreft it from you. Nay, struggle not; for all's in vain. Or Death or Victory; I'm determin’d.

A. And fo, am I. (rufhing from hin.) Now keep your distance, or we part for ever.

W. (offering again.) For Heaven's fake

A. (going.) Nay, then farewell.

¡ W. (kneeling and holding her by her clothes.) O stay, and fee the magick force of love. Behold this raging Lion at your feet, ftruck dead with fear, and tame as Charms can make him. What muft I do to be forgiven by you?

A. Repent, and never more offend.

W. Repentance for past crimes is just and easy; but fin no more 's a Task too hard for Mortals.

4. Yet those who hope for Heaven, muft ufe their best endeavours to perform it.

W. Endeavours we may use; but Flefh and Blood are got in th'other Scale; and they are pond'rous things.

4. Whate'er they are, there is a weight in Resolution fufficient for their Ballance. The Soul, I do confefs, is ufually fo careless of its Charge, so soft, and fo indulgent to Defire, it leaves the Reins in the wild Hand of Nature, who like a Phaeton, drives the fiery Chariot, and fets the World on flame. Yet ftill the Sovereignty is in the Mind, whene'er it pleases to exert its force, Perhaps you may not think it worth your while, to take fuch mighty pains for my Esteem; but that I leave to you.

You fee the Price I fet upon my Heart;

Perhaps 'tis dear; but fpite of all your Art,
You'll find, on cheaper terms we ne'er shall part,
(Exit Amanda.)

XI..

Cibber.

Sehr ausgezeichnete Verdienste um die englische Bühne, nicht bloß als Schauspieldichter, sondern auch als Unterneh mer, Schauspieler und Geschichtschreiber derselben, hatte Colley Cibber. Er durchlebte eine lange Periode von 1671 bis 1757, und war während derselben nicht bloß Zeuge, sons dern thätiger Theilnehmer an mancherlei Veränderungen und Verbesserungen des brittischen Theaters. Er selbst hat sein Leben umständlich beschrieben in der Apology for his Life, with an hiftorical View of the Stage during his own Time; Lond. 1740. 8. Schon im I. 1689 ward er Schauspieler, und 1711 Theilhaber an der Direktion des Theaters in Drurylane. Als Schriftsteller war er zwar nur allzu oft ein Gegenstand des bittersten Tabels; vornehmlich suchte ihn Pope auf alle Weise herabzuwürdigen, und stellte thn in seiner Dunciade an die Spike der Dunse, Unstreis tig aber waren diese Ausfälle wider ihn sehr übertrieben uud partheis

partheiisch; denn weder sein moralischer, noch sein "schrift stellerischer Charakter war solch einer Verrufung werth. Ciba ber war freilich kein sehr hervorleuchtendes Originalgente; aber doch gewiß ein Mann von Talenten; und seine Schaus spiele verdienten den Beifall, den ihnen das Publikum exs theilte, und so lange zu ertheilen fortfuhr. Aus der Ber nußung fremder Erfindungen machte man ihm ein zu großes Verbrechen; und in einigen seiner Stücke, vorzüglich in seinem Fool in Fafhion und Careless Husband gehört ihm doch auch Vieles ganz eigen. Manche ältere Stücke wurden von ihm umgeändert, und überarbeitet; aber auch hier verfuhr er nicht ohne Geschmack, wenn er gleich manche Schöna heiten der Rücksicht auf Regelmäßigkeit und Theaterwirkung aufopferte. Auch dadurch unterschied er sich von vielen seis ner Mitwerber, daß er Sittlichkeit und Belehrung nicht leicht aus den Augen verlor, und von dieser Seite einen eben so großen Borzug vor Congreve und Vanbrugh behauptete, als er ihnen, im Ganzen genommen, an Wig und Lebhafs tigkeit nachstand. Auch sind die Erfindungen und Verwickes lungen nicht immer neu und glücklich genug. Er war ein fruchtbarer Schriftsteller, und in Luftspielen weit vorzüglic cher, als in der tragischen Gattung. Jene heiffen: Love's Laft Shift-Woman's Wit Love make a Man →→ She wou'd and She wou'd not. The Careless Husband The School Boy -2 The Comical Lovers Double Gallant - Lady's laft Stake

The

The Rival Fools

The Non-Juror, The Refufal The Provoked Husband (gemeinschaftlich mit Vanbrugh) — Love in a Riddle Auch sein Sohn, Theophilus Cibber, war Schauspieler und dramatischer Schriftsteller; beides aber mit geringerm Glücke,

Da des åltern Cibber's Lustspiele auch unter uns noch, ziemlich gangbar sind, und eins derselben, der Non-Juror,