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mouths. By the by, remember his name is Mahammed Aboubeker Ben Abdallah Ben Ali-I dare say you never heard of it before. So, says the Seraskier to me, my dear Yuseph Ben Yacoul Ben Mustapha, at the same time most graciously laughing at me, with great condescension

[Flourish of drums and trumpets without, L. But here he comes. Now you shall see how his highness is pleased to honour me. I shall certainly be created a pacha of three tails. [Flourish. Enter the SERASKIER, ISMAEL, and four Officers, L. Ser. (c.) Yuseph! come here.

Yus. (L. C.) Yes, your Highness! [Aside to Peasants.] Now he is going to consult me on some great military operation.

Ser. (L.) [Leading him forward.] Yuseph! are there any pretty girls in this neighbourhood?

Yus. [Laughs.] He he he! a good joke. Ah! your highness will conquer every where, I see. Your highness is pleased to make me laugh, he! he he! Ser. You presume on my condescension-you are too familiar!-Begone!

[Exit Yuseph and Peasants, R.-The Peasants ridiculing him.

Enter LILLA, R. U. E.

AIR.-LILLA.

Lost, distressed! thus driven from home!
Whither shall poor Lilla go?
Wheresoe'er my steps shall roam,

Tyrant power will prove my foe.

[Kneels to Seraskier, R. C.

Ser. (c.) Ismael, who is this beautiful creature? [To Lilla.] Rise, lovely fair one!

Lil. [Rises.] I beg your lordship's pardon-I'm not used to talk to great folks.

Ser. Speak, charming girl! let me hear the eloquence of nature.

Lil. I am but a poor country girl, sir! my name is Lilla.-But, you must know, I love Leopold dearly, and Leopold loves me.

Ser. Perhaps you love him too well.

Lil. Oh dear, sir, that's not it-there's no harm beN tween us, indeed, sir. He would make me his lawful er wife, but my hard-hearted brother wants me to marry E that rich old miserly Yuseph, the justice of the peace of th: our village.

Ser. [Aside.] Yuseph! Oh, the old poacher! why does your brother object to your choice?

Lil. My brother says Leopold is too passionate to make me a good husband; and, to be sure, he is apt to be a little violent.-But I don't mind that.

Ser. And where is Leopold?

Lil. Ah, sir! my mind misgives me that this wicked Yuseph has made away with him. They locked me up, that I might not search for him.

Ser. And how did you make your escape?

Lil. Please your highness, I jump'd out of the window. Ser. [Aside.] What an enchanting specimen of rustic beauty.

Ism. (L.) What, my lord, do you forget your Austrian capture?

Ser. Forget her! no! But why should I confine myself to a single rose, while I can form a bouquet of beauty? [Ismael goes up, L.-Seraskier crosses to Lilla.] Charming Lilla, within this half-hour you shall have redress. [Hands Lilla to L.] Let her be attended to my [To Officers.

tent.

Lil. Many thanks to your highness-a thousand thanks to your highness.

[Exit, courtesying to Seraskier.—The four officers follow her. The soldiers retire, L.S. E.

Ser. (R.) Ismael! did you ever see any thing so beautiful?

Ism. I own, my lord, she is handsome-but

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Ism. I beg your lordship's pardon-but, while I see the black eagle soar on the walls of Belgrade-forgive me, sir-I speak as a soldier

Ser. So do I, sir; but my heart has room enough for love and valour at the same time! Mars never smiles on me so graciously as when I pay my adoration to Venus. So, if you expect me to conquer the Christians, let me have this girl. [Exit Ismael, L.] She is a oharming creature, and shall be mine.

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AIR-SERASKIER.

The rose and the lily, their beauties combining,
Delight in adorning a form so divine;
Such charms to a peasant consigning,
Ah! must I resign!

Forbid it, ye powers! to love 'tis a treason; Ambition, assuming the semblance of reason, Commands me, with scorn, the mean thought to decline. Wealth and power, whate'er your worth,

To pleasure if you give not birth!

Rich in ambition's gilded toys,

I barter them for real joys!

[Exit, L.

SCENE II-A Room in Peter's Cottage.

Enter GHITA and PETER, R.

DUET.

Ghi. (c.) How the deuce came I to like you,-
I am sure I cannot tell;

Had my face not chanc'd to strike you,
I'd been pleased, sir, just as well.

Pet. (L. c.) Faith, as you say, I too wonder,
Why to like you I'm inclin'd;

Ghi.

Pet.

Ghi.

Pet.
Both.

Pet.
Ghi.

Pet.

Both.

Though, in love, we're apt to blunder.-
Love, you know, they say, is blind.
You are ogling all the lasses,
You are simpering at each lad.
Each hour in falsehood passes,
You flirt it quite as bad.

You had better not provoke me;

Though you think, as you've bespoke me,
I shall let you break my heart.
But I'm ready now to part.
Then, suppose I take my leave.
Do-I'm sure I shall not grieve.
Will you stay, or will you go?
Shall I stay, or shall I go?

As you please-say yes or no.

[They shake hands, and run off, Peter, R., Ghita, L.

Enter YUSEPH, R.

Yus. [Advances to c.] What the deuce, quarrelling before marriage? that is very irregular.-Wait till the

ceremony is performed, and then you will quarrel of

course.

Pet. [Coming down, R.] Indeed, sir

Ghi. (L.) Hear me, sir

Yus. No! I'll not hear you !-am I to be talked to by you? I, who have conversed with his highness the Seras. kier. Besides, I hate to hear both sides of the question,it perplexes me so that I never know how to make a decision.

Pet. Why then, sir, how can you decide?

Yus. Why, I decide that you are both in the wrong. I fancy that decision will hold you good in most quarrels ---I don't believe that my friend, the Seraskier, could make a better.-But, where is your sister-where is my dear Lilla?

Ghi. Why, Peter has locked her up, to keep her from your rival, Leopold.

Yus. Oh, that's a desperate dog. always in a fury, and always pretending to keep his temper! that fellow's the very torch of sedition, and always in a blaze. [Leopold sings without, R.] Faith, that's his voice !-I-Idon't like much to meet him.

Enter LEOPOLd, r.

Leo. [Crosses to L., singing.] Tol de rol dol le rol.Your servant, good folks. [Crosses to Peter, R.] Harkye, sirrah, where's your sister?

Pet. As to that, Leopold-you▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Leo. Ay, I knew that-you are going to say I am in a passion-but I deny it. [Crosses to Yuseph.] Yuseph, how do you do? you see I am quite cool. I ask you a civil question, [To Peter.] and if you don't answer me, I'll break your head. [Crosses to Ghita, L. c.] Ah, Ghita, my dear! how are you? Remarkable fine temperate weather, I think.

Yus. It was rather cloudy-
Leo. What!

[Walks up to him in a passion. Yus. I say it was rather cloudy when I was talking to His Highness the Seraskier, just now-but, I believe, I can answer your inquires.-In the first place

Leo. [L. of Yuseph.] What do you mean by that, sir? I'll not bear an insult from any man living.

Yus. Why, there is no talking to you.--I can't reason with you.

B

Leo. Sir, I say, you-you are mistaken.-Zounds! I will be talked to-I insist on your reasoning with mecurse me, but you shall reason-yes, and coolly, too, though I know you are my rival.

Yus. But you give me leave

Leo. Well, that's true; I know, as you are going to say, there is no reason why people cause they are rivals.

Yus. Granted! and, besides

should quarrel be[Turns to Ghita.

Leo. [Turning upon him.] I know you are going to say that warmth and anger, on these occasions, betray a weakness; from which, I hope, I am free. To be sure, you are as much entitled as I am to court Lilla. I am sure she is locked up in this house. [Crosses to Peter.] Where is Lilla-I'll set fire to-I will

Yus. (L.) Sir-do you remember who I am! a magistrate and a courtier! do you respect my authority?

[Walks up to Leopold, who retires, R. C. Leo. No, I don't respect your authority. [Walking up to Yuseph in the same manner, who retires back to L. C.— Ghita goes down to Peter, R.] That for your authority! [Snaps his fingers at him.] What have you to say now? Yus. Nay, I have nothing to say. If you do not respect authority, there's an end of the matter!

Leo. Well, you are right there-always keep from passion-I like you for not losing your temper. [Crosses to Peter.] If you don't give me the key of Lilla's room, I'll knock you down.

Pet. I-I-I have lost it.

Leo. Lost it? though it don't signify,-I think my shoulders will force any lock in Europe.-I'll burst open the door-but I'll do it without any violence-I defy you all to say that I shall be in a passion. Stand out of the way.

[Pushing, with great violence, against Yuseph, then exit, L.

Ghi. (c.) Well, Yuseph, what do you think now ? Yus. Faith, I don't know-my thoughts are rather confused. I-I-I-[A noise behind, L., of breaking open a door.] Hark! he has broken the door all to smash.Good morning to you. Perhaps his highness is waiting for me. [Crosses to R. Pet. My dear Yuseph, you had better not leave us. Yus. Indeed, I beg your pardon-our good-humoured

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