their concerns? If so, they are wretched beings indeed, and I am very sorry for my son, that he must first lose the treasures of his heart to hoard

up gold.

SCENE IX.

FREDERICA, GERNAU.

[Exit.

Fred. Tell me immediately, dear Gernau, what is the matter between you and my brother?

Gern. He is not a good man, Frederica.
Fred. Shall I go to him, Gernau?

Gern. Do not embitter my life, good soul; I have trouble enough besides. Your brother will drive me away.

Fred. What?

Gern. He will throw me out of my office.
Fred. Why?

Gern. To put a more accommodating man in my place.

Fred. He does not wish to do that certainly, nor could he even effect it.

Gern. He is all-powerful here; his abilities, his connections at Court, his office, render every thing possible that he wishes to atchieve. Fred. And what does he want of you? what displeases him?

Gern. Under the pretence of promoting agriculture, he wants the best part of the forest for himself, which is of no great use to the commu nity. Ar this pretended plea is a garden, he means to lay out in the English style for his own pleasure.

Fred. And should not an industrious mah be indulged with some pleasure?

Gern. Should he wish to have it at the expence of the public? I must oppose it.

Fred. Does he know it?

Gern. Yes, he behaved so haughtily to me.
Fred. And you-

Gern. I thought on his sister,-and held my tongue.

Fred. (reaches him her hand.) Gernau!
Gern. He threatened me!

Fred. And you?

Gern. I curbed my passion. He bid me be gone, and I shall not trouble him again. Fred. And what do you intend to do as to the forest?

Gern. My duty.

Fred. (draws back her hand.) Oh!

Gern. Yes, yes! It will cost me your hand, I foresee.

Fred. Never!-my affection is fixed, and can never be diverted from the dear object.—Your complaisance

Gern. I have been complaisant, as far as laid in my power. I cannot be so at the expence of my duty.

Fred. I do not insist on that either. But,but

Gern. What would you wish that your own sentiments of equity forbids you to utter? Fred. I only wish-I demand othing-I only wish you to soften your Agid idea of duty, if

you can.

Gern. I know nothing but justice, that will not admit of any by-road. And if I were capable of such a sacrifice, whither would it lead me? It would lead me to see you, Selling's wife, and to laugh at me.

Fred. Must I break with all the world, because our hearts beat in unison? Am I criminal to listen to Selling's nonsense, because he is the only man through whom I can act upon my brother?

Gern. Then I may rely upon you?
Fred. Undoubtedly.

Gern. Pledge me your hand!

Fred. With all my heart!

Gern. Thus love will not forsake me, when I shall fall a victim to my duty.

Fred. I know no deceit, and follow the dictates of my heart.

to

Gern. In the name of heaven then I go discharge my duty; it rewards and strengthens. . Good bye, Frederica!-One more word, you are good; but are you

Fred. I am indeed!

resolute?

Gern. Your brother has plans about you, in which I am most certainly set down for nought. -Frederica, Frederica, let him drive me hence, but not from you!

And no

Fred. He shall not, he cannot. man can render me inconstant to you, but yourself.

Gern. Then you are mine, and I am easy.
Fred. And owe no grudge to my brother?
Gern. Frederica, I am an honest man.

D

Fred. Whom the purest love shall reward,

as far as love can reward!

Gern. Adieu, dear Frederica!

Fred. Adieu, Gernau!

[Exeunt by opposite doors.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

A room in the Privy Counsellor's, furnished in the modern stile.

REISSMAN, LEWIS.

Lew. I shall have the honour to let the Privy Counsellor know, that the Aulic Counsellor Reissman waits. (Steps into a closet, out of which the Privy Counsellor immediately comes, and Lewis sometime after.)

Reiss. I fly to congratulate you on your well-merited elevation.

P. Coun. I thank you with all my heart. I shall never forget that I am indebted to you for

it.

Reiss. I beg,--nay, I entreat

P. Coun. Your advice.

Reiss. Too much modesty.

P. Coun. Your self-denial. For you yourself had the justest claims to all the honours,. with which you permitted me to be invested.

Reiss. Audaces fortuna.-I am too old. Now you should enjoy life, my friend. The

merchant will endeavour to get a hundred per cent. if he can; why should the statesman sell his labour to the state at three? Away with the silly prejudice, and the retail-trade of your conscientious precepts; carry on your business wholesale, on the sacred principle of self-pre

servation.

P. Coun. I partly do So, but my father

Reiss. I have paid the old honest man a visit. P. Coun. Very kind of you! very kind of you indeed!

Reiss. He persists in his determination of setting the will aside.

P. Coun. Ridiculous!

Reiss. He will not suffer the children to go to the hospital, because the institution is intended for old and decayed people.

P. Coun. Mere formalities, attached to old age!

Reiss. As for the rest, he appeared pleased with your proposed union with my daughter. P. Coun. Was he!

Reiss. He said many handsome things of the girl.

P. Coun. Too much cannot be said in her praise. She is an angel.

Reiss. I humbly thank you.-But he will not accept the office of mayor on any account. P. Coun. I thought so;-but he must.

Reiss. Oh, yes! I must request you to carry that point, for

P. Coun. Without doubt.

D 2