STAGE DIRECTIONS.

The Conductors of this work print no Plays but those which they have seen acted. The Stage Directions are given from their own personal observations, during the most recent performances.

EXITS and ENTRANCES.

R. means Right; L. Left; D. F. Door in Flat; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door.

RELATIVE POSITIONS.

R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right of Centre; L C. Left of Centre.

R.

RC.

C.

LC.

L

The Reader is supposed to be on the Stage, facing the Audience.

THE CHILD OF NATURE.

ACT I

SCENE I.-A Saloon.

Enter SEVILLE, L., followed by COUNT VALANTIA and GRANADA.

Sev. My lord, it was very fortunate the accident happened so near this house. Please to rest yourself in this apartment, while I give the necessary orders about mending your carriage. But I am afraid it cannot be refitted before to-morrow.

Count. No matter; besides, I shall be extremely happy in seeing your lord, the Marquis Almanza. Did not you say, you expected him home some time to-day? Sev. Yes, we expect him every hour. Has your lordship any further commands?

Count. No; only be so kind as to see to the repairing my chaise.

Sev. I shall. [Bows, and exit Count. Well, here I am in the castle of Almanza, and so far success has crowned my adventure.

Gran. And what the design of that adventure can be, I am at a loss to guess. All this stratagem and mystery looks very much like some scheme contrived by love; and, if not directed by love, is something like madness.

Count. I have for many years tried thy fidelity, and will now confide in it. Love is the source of all my schemes.

Gran. Do you then not love your intended bride, the beautiful Marchioness?

Count. The Marchioness Merida is a charming crea

ture, and I loved her passionately !—to distraction! till I found she loved me, and that satiate my desires at

once.

Gran. Indeed!

Count. I do not say, I shall not marry the Marchioness; perhaps I may-yes, I may take her fortune; for you know, Granada, I have none of my own.

Gran. I have known it for these six years, my lord, ever since I have been in your service.

Count. Yes, I once loved, I doted upon Merida; but the first time she kindly condescended to declare her passion for me, I fell asleep. [Yawns.

Gran. But who can be this new object?

Count. Have not you heard of the young orphan Amanthis, of whom so many wonderful conjectures have been formed?

Gran. The young lady, whom the Marquis Almanza has brought up from her infancy, and keeps confined in a part of this castle, and has never suffered any living creature to behold?

Count. The same. But I have beheld her-I have written to her-I have spoken to her.

Gran. And would you, my lord, for a poor orphan, of whose birth and fortune all the world are ignorant, resign the noble and beautiful Marchioness?

Count. Yes; for I tell you she loves me, and it is very troublesome to be beloved. And although curiosity and envy were my sole motives for seeking to behold Amanthis, yet after such a sight, in which perfect beauty and enchanting grace, timid innocence with matchless sensibility, were all united, never can I forego the pleasing contemplation, or the hope, which has allured me to this enterprise.

Gran. But it is by some supposed, that the Marquis, notwithstanding his rank and fortune, means to marry Amanthis. Now, as he is your friend

Count. You mistake, Granada; the Marquis is no friend of mine. He is, to be sure, very obliging and civil when we meet; but no friendship, that should deter a man of gallantry from making him miserable, subsists between us.

Gran. But, my lord, pray satisfy my curiosity, how you found means to see her.

Count. By mounting that wall, the prodigious height of which attracted your attention as we passed by at a

distance. That wall surrounds the garden appropriated to Amanthis.

Gran. But how was it possible for you to ascend it? Count. Every thing is to be effected by perseverance, and by money; and prove your skill, as have proved [Exeunt, R.

mine.

Enter DUKE MURCIA and SEVILLE, L.

Duke. Seville, you know, every body, knows, how fond I am of my nephew. Have not I, from his child hood, acted as a father to him? Then why are the secret motives of this wonderful behaviour, which has surprised all the court, all his friends, and all his acquaintance, why not (though concealed from them,) revealed to me?

Sev. I can, my lord, give you but little light upon the subject; every thing relative to this young lady has ever been held by the Marquis a most profound secret from every part of his family. I have only entrusted to me the key of a chamber adjoining to her apartments, where I go daily to receive her orders, and take to her all those things she commands, except one, and that the Marquis has positively prohibited.

Duke. And what can that one be? I am all impatience to know.

Sev. Books of every kind.

Duke. Poor thing! Poor thing! Why how, in such solitude, can she pass her time without reading?

Sev. She reads a great deal, sir. The Marquis, while he is in town, sends her books frequently; but they are all of his own hand-writing.

Duke. A man write books to a young woman? Why, you simpleton, they are love-letters.

Sev. No, indeed, my lord; some are on morality, some on divinity, and some history.

Duke. Write history! My nephew write books! And pray, when you wait upon her, what kind of conversation does she hold on the other side of the wainscot?

Sev. I never heard her speak.

Duke. Did not you say you received her commands? Sev. In writing. Every morning I find a paper, on which she or the duenna has written her orders. Would you like to see what she has ordered for to-day?

Duke. Very much-certainly—I am much obliged to you.

Sev. [Takes out a paper.] This is written by Amanthis herself.

Duke. And pray, how do you know her hand from the duenna's?

Sev. By the number of letters she writes to my lord, and of which I have the charge.

[He gives the paper to the Duke. Duke. And what can they be but love-letters? Seville, your account is a very suspicious one. [Reads.] 'Bring me some pens, some paper, and some pencils, for drawing' and who has taught her to write and to draw?

Sev. Your nephew, I have no doubt, sir; and many other accomplishments besides.

Duke. I am out of all patience! [Reads again.] 'Dinner and supper at the usual hours; and coffee at six o'clock.' [Returning the paper.] Why, sir, your whole time is employed in fetching and carrying.

Enter SERVANT, L.

Serv. My lord is arrived, and now entering the

avenue.

Duke. He is alone? He has brought no company with him, I suppose?

Serv. Yes, sir; there are two ladies in the carriage. [Exit, L. Sev. Ladies! It is a long time since I have seen a lady in this house.

Duke. He has brought them to shut up, I suppose; more employment for you, Mr Seville. [Looks out.] Oh, no! I see who it is, a relation, a distant relation; the Marchioness Merida.

Enter MARQUIS ALMANZA, MARCHIONESS MERIDA, and a Female Attendant.

Duke. So, nephew, you see I have made free in your absence. Did you expect to find me here?

Mar. No, sir; but it gives me great pleasure, and I regret I did not come sooner on that account.

Duke. My dear Marchioness, by what strange good fortune do I meet you at the castle?

March. By my complying with the request of the Marquis. [To the MARQUIS.] But, my lord, did not one of your servants acquaint you Count Valantia was here? Duke. You see what your ladyship's attractions are ; he heard you were coming, and so he contrived to be