and never differ again, you know, -ha! ha! ha! Well, you are going to be in a passion, I see, and I shall only interrupt you; so, bye, bye.

Sir P. Plagues and tortures!

[Exit.

Can't I make her angry,

O, I am the most miserable fellow! but I'll not

either?

bear her presuming to keep her temper.

[Exit.

VIRGINIUS.

JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES.

Аст І. SCENE II.

CHARACTERS: VIRGINIUS, a Roman Father; VIRGINIA, his daughter; SERVIA, godmother to VIRGINIA; ICILIUS, a young Roman soldier, in love with VIRGINIA; DENTATUS, an old Decemvir.

SCENE: VIRGINIUS' house in Rome.

Enter VIRGINIUS and SERVIA, with some of VIRGINIA's work in her hand.

Vir. And is this all you have observed? I think
There's nothing strange in that. An L and an I,
Twined with a V. Three very innocent letters,
To have bred such mischief in thy brain, good Servia!
Come, read this riddle to me.

Serv.
You may laugh,
Virginius, but I will read the riddle right.
The L doth stand for Lucius; and the I,
Icilius; which, I take it, will compose
Lucius Icilius.

Vir.

So it will, good Servia.

Serv. Then, for the V; why, that is plain Virginia.
Vir. And now what conjuration find you here?

Serv. What should I find but love? The maid's in love,

And it is with Icilius.

Look, the wreath

Is made of roses, that entwines the letters.

Vir. And this is all?

Serv.

And is it not enough?

You'll find this figuring where'er you look:

There's not a piece of dainty work she does,

Embroidery or painting, not a task

She finishes, but on the skirt or border,
In needle-work or pencil, this her secret
The silly wench betrays.

Vir.

Go, send her to me.

Stay! Have you spoken to her of it?

Serv.

Not I, indeed; I left that task to you.

I?

Though once I ask'd her what the letters meant,
She laugh'd, and drew a scratch across them; but
Had scarce done so, ere her fair visage fell,
For grief that she had spoil'd the ciphers; and
A sigh came out, and then almost a tear;
And she did look as piteous on the harm
That she had done, as she had done it to
A thing had sense to feel it. Never after
She let me note her at the work again.
She had good reason!

Vir.

Send her to me, Servia. [Exit SERVIA. There's something here that looks as it would bring me Anticipation of my wish. I think

Icilius loves my daughter, nay, I know it;

And such a man I'd challenge for her husband,
And only waited till her forward Spring
Put on, a little more, the genial likeness
Of colouring into Summer, ere I sought
To nurse a flower, which, blossoming too early,
Too early often dies; but, if it wooes
Our hand to tend and cherish it, the growth
Is natural, and 'twere unkind to check it.
I'll ascertain it shortly: soft! she comes.

[Sits.

Enter VIRGINIA.

Virg. Well, father, what's your will?

And what your masters say of you; what last
You did. I hope you never play the truant?
Virg. The truant! No, indeed, Virginius.
Vir. I'm sure you do not. Kiss me.

Virg.

I am so happy when you're kind to me!

O my father,

Vir. You are so happy when I'm kind to you! Am I not always kind? I never spoke

An angry word to you in all my life,

Virginia! You are happy when I'm kind!

That's strange; and makes me think you have some

Reason to fear I may be otherwise than kind :

And worse! What! when you said your father's kindness

Made you so happy, am I to believe

You were not thinking of him?

The latest task you did. It is enough.

[Greatly confused.

Go, fetch me

[Exit VIRGINIA.

Her artless speech, like crystal, shows the thing "Twould hide, but only covers. 'Tis enough! She loves, and fears her father may condemn.

Of great Achilles parting from Briseis.

Vir. You've done it well: the colouring is good;

The figure's well design'd: 'tis very well!

Whose face is this you've given to Achilles?

Virg. Whose face?

Vir.

I've seen this face!

Tut, tut! I know it

As well as I do my own, yet can't bethink me

Whose face it is!

Virg.

You mean Achilles' face?

'Tis the very face

there's too much youth

Vir. Did I not say so?

Of No, no! not of him:

And comeliness; and too much fire to suit

The face of Siccius Dentatus.

You surely never took it for his face!

Vir. Why, no; for, now I look again, I'd swear
You lost the copy ere you drew the head,
And, to requite Achilles for the want
Of his own face, contrived to borrow one
From Lucius Icilius.

I'm glad to see you!

Den.

Vir. Your news!

My Dentatus,

Enter DENTATUS.

[Rises; VIRGINIA retires.

'Tis not for my news, then.
What news?

Den. More violence and wrong from these new masters of ours, our noble Decemvirs, - these demi-gods of the good people of Rome! No man's property is safe from them. Nay, it appears we hold our wives and daughters but by the tenure of their will. Their liking is the law. The Senators themselves, scared at their audacious rule, withdraw themselves to their villas, and leave us to our fate. rumours, also, of new incursions by the Sabines. Vir. Rome never saw such days.

There are

Den. And she'll see worse, unless I fail in my reckoning. Is that Virginia? [Goes to her.] I saw her not before. How does the fair Virginia?

Why, she is quite a woman.

I was just now wishing for a daughter.

Vir. A plague, you mean.

Den.

I'm sure you should not say so.

Virg. Indeed he should not; and he does not say so,
Dentatus; not that I am not a plague,

But that he does not think me one, for all
I do to weary him. I'm sure, Dentatus,
If to be thought to do well is to do well,
There's nothing I do ill. But it is far
From that! for few things do I as I ought;
Yet every thing is well done with my father,

Dentatus.

Vir. [Goes to them.] That's well done, is it not, my friend? [Aside. But, if you had a daughter, what would you do with her? Den. I'd give her to Icilius. I should have been just now torn to pieces, but for his good offices. The gentle citizens that are driven about by the Decemvirs' Lictors, like a herd of tame oxen, and, with the most beast-like docility, only low applauses to them in return, would have done me the kindness to knock my brains out; but the noble Icilius bearded them singly, and railed them into temper. Had I a daughter worthy of such a husband, he should have such a wife, and a Patrician's dower along with her.

Vir. I wish to speak with you, Dentatus. [They retire.] Icilius is a young man whom I honour, but so far only as his conduct gives me warrant. He has had, as thou knowest, a principal hand in helping us to our Decemvirs. It may be that he is what I would gladly think him; but I must see him clearly, clearly, Dentatus. [Exeunt VIR. and DEN

Virg. How is it with my heart? I feel as one
That has lost every thing, and just before
Had nothing left to wish for! He will cast
Icilius off! — I never told it yet;

But take of me, thou gentle air, the secret,
And ever after breathe more balmy sweet,
I love Icilius! Yes, although to thee
I fear to tell it, that hast neither eye
To scan my looks, nor voice to echo me,