P. Coun. Is it my fault, if

Clar. Your faults are many and great; your native town knows them, and despises you. I cannot see you lowered thus, Jack. It has not been in my power to make a great man of you, but I have educated you to be an honest man. I have taken care of the tree, while young, and now it is grown up, one branch decays after the other. And if it must be so, that no green sprig shall henceforth flourish, then I will turn my eyes from it, visit it no more, nor live on the spot where the withered stem, that I am so fond of, shall fall.

P. Coun. Father!

Clar. I cannot weep; but I feel myself very ill on your account.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. The company is waiting for the Privy Counsellor.

P. Coun. I am coming.

you may still

[Exit Servant. Clar. Dear son, do not let me go without you. Behold! go with me as half a good man; we will all strive to mend the other bad half.-Have pity on yourself and me; you stand, upon my word, on the spot where the road divides,-the bad people in there, and here your old father. They hold out to you good and high life; I offer you peace and happiness. For God's sake, Jack, follow me! P. Coun. (embraces him.) I cannot do that; but I vow to you I will yet do much,

Clar. That is a good word, and no more. Farewell, I will set off. I shall not see you again. Once more give me your hand,

P. Coun. No, I shall not do that. I will not part with you in this manner.

Clar. It is best so;-it shakes my whole frame,—and my daughter has likewise a claim on my life! Come then once more to this heart, that once delighted in you.-(Embraces him.) P. Coun, Father!

Clar. You weep over yourself! God! that it should come to this!-Now farewell; I forgive thee, and so does thy sister. May God take thy wealth from thee, that thou mayest amend, and sometime leave this world in peace!-Farewell! (Attempts to go.)

SCENE XI.

Enter Aulic Counsellor REISSMAN.
Reiss. Well, we are waiting,

Clar. (pulling his son towards him.) You would take him away from me,-tear him out of my arms, drag him away!-he is my son, and no father will tamely suffer his son to precipitate himself into perdition, Jack, I will not leave thee, I will not yield thee up!-Thou art mine, nature and thy heart have closely interwoven us together; wilt thou, of thy own accord, leave me?

P. Coun. (throws his arms round him.) No, I cannot ;-I will follow you hence!

Clar. God be praised, my son is saved! [Exeunt arm in arm.-Reissman follows them a few steps, sets his arms a-kembow, and looks after them.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Aulic Counsellor Reissman's, the same rooom as in the preceding act.

Aulic Counsellor REISSMAN enters in a passion; SOPHIA follows.

Reiss. Not a word, not a word more, not a single syllable of that silly fool! What, to leave me and you, as if we were infected with the plague and breathed contagion? I cannot bear the affront, it shall not go unavenged. I had rather die a thousand deaths.

Soph. Was it not his father that desired him to go with him? and you know he ought to obey him.

Reiss. Who am I, and what is his father? Do not name him any more in my hearing; you must not see him any more, nor even think of him. That petty Privy Counsellor is now dead and buried to me.

Soph. By your advice I listened to his addresses.

Reiss. Forget him then by my command,

SCENE II.

Enter Servant.

Serv. Grobman, the ironmonger.

Reiss. Very well, very well; shew him in.

[Exit Servant.

Reiss. (to Sophia.) You may retire, go!
Soph. Your commands.

[Exit.

Reiss. Fie upon him! a creature that I raised from obscurity!-a fellow, who eight years ago was a petty fogger, whom I have raised to the rank of a Privy Counseller!-I was a fool when I did so;-such a fellow soar over my head! (Stamps with his foot.) I would sooner see the whole frame of nature dissolve. I will not lose sight of my object; I will proceed with spirit and caution. I have raised the useless pile, I will pull it down again.

SCENE III.

Enter GROBMAN.

Reiss. (calm and friendly.) What is your pleasure, dear Mr.?

Grob. Benniger has obtained the monopoly.
Reiss. You do not say so, do you?

Grob. The Privy Counsellor is to procure it for 2300 dollars, which sum is to be paid this

afternoon.

Reiss. Impossible!

Grob. It is but too true. The money be paid to Counsellor Selling.

is to

Reiss. (confidentially.) I must tell you that Selling has already mentioned something to me about it. The young man's conscience is alarmed. He does not like to lend a hand in those sort of things. But I would not believe it.

Grob. It is but too certain.

Reiss, O Lord! who could think any thing

like it of such a man? that is mean, that isthat must not be permitted. Ay, ay! and the minister prefers such a man, reposes confidence in him, because men, like me, take him by the hand. They think, because such a man is of a low extraction, he must have the interest of the lower class at heart. And then he will betray and sell the state!

Grob. As an inhabitant, I ought to have the preference to a stranger.

Reiss. Most undoubtedly.

Grob. I am very willing to go to some expence too, only

Reiss. Not a single penny; God forbid I should be guilty of such a sin! That contract with Benniger must be annulled.

Grob. If that were possible, I would with all my heart

Reiss. Ay, it must be so. I am very intimate with the Privy Counsellor. He was to have my daughter; but I will never give her to a man like him. You must furnish me immediately with a plea, in which you must develope the whole transaction.

Grob. Good God! the Privy Counsellor!

Reiss. I give you my word and hand, as an honest man, I will run all the consequences. In such a case one is in conscience bound; only let me have the declaration immediately. I will manage in such a manner that the Privy Counsellor shall come off with tolerable good credit.

Grob. If you will do that