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Leo. Feel! why, I feel composed, quite composed. Most men would be provoked to fury.

Pet. For my part, I can bear it no longer. I own myself in a passion!

Leo. In a passion! that's wrong, very wrong!

Pet. My passions are not easily roused-but now Leo. Be calm, be calm, my dear friend; death and damnation! why will you give way to passion? Pet. I cannot dissemble.

Leo. But I tell you you must-damme, but you shall. Pet. Must! I-will-I will, then; you know I am naturally very peaceable.

Leo. Peaceable! Here's a fellow will stand quietly to have his horns fitted on.-By my faith, if I must wear mine, I'll butt with them like a mad bull.

[Crosses and exit, R. Pet. (c.) There, now, I put myself in a passion merely in compliment to him; then he tells me to be cool, and flies into a rage because I follow his advice.

Re-enter LEOPOLD, R.

Leo. Peter, Peter--Ghita's coming.-Let me question her-don't you say a word-you know I understand these things

Enter GHITA, R.

Ghita, my dear, your husband and I have been laughing over the whimsical affair which happened just now. Ghi. Yes, it was whimsical enough. All's safe, then. [Aside.

Leo. Ha, ha, ha! [All laugh.] Ha, ha, ha! Ridiculous -a-a-they were countrymen going home; their day's labour, I think you say-yes, yes-though, curse me, if I believe one word of the matter.

Pet. (L.) Leopold, you

Leo. [To Peter.] Psha! be quiet-keep yourself cool, can't you? [To Ghita. And you don't know who these countrymen were?

Ghi. I know no more of the matter than Lilla does. Pet. Here she comes-let's ask her.

Enter LILLA, R.-Leopold crosses to her.-Ghita goes down, L.-Peter saunters behind, R.

Leo. Lilla, you know I never put myself out of hu

mour.

Lil. Never! never!

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Leo. But a lie provokes me. Now mind you speak

truth-I have discovered the whole affair.

Lil. Indeed!

Leo. Ghita has confessed.

Lil. Has she confessed?

[Ghita makes signs-no!

Leo. Oh! now the truth is coming out-well—

Lil. Ay! well, my dear.

[Makes signs to Ghita. Leo. What are you both at? Well, these country

men

Lil. Who are they? for I'm sure you know?

Leo. I know! here's a pretty piece of business. Her assurance confounds me!

Lil. Nay, won't you tell me, then? Well, then, if you won't, Ghita will. [Crosses to Ghita, L., laughing. Leo. Look you, Lilla-I am convinced you are in fault. So all you have to do is, confess the matter honestly, I insist on it. [Peter goes down, R

Lil. You will have my confession? Leo. Yes, I will-so recollect yourself. [Aside to Peter.] This is the way to manage them. [To Lilla.] Well, why don't you answer me?

AIR-LILLA.

La ra lal la!

What can mean that thoughtful frown?
Why those eyes to earth cast down?
Tell me what amiss they see;
Let them kindly look on me.

La ra lal la !

[Dances round Leopold and Feter.

What, then, would my dearest have?

Come, indeed, I will be grave,

And, with melancholy face,
Calmly hear the piteous case.
La ra lal la!

[Dancing as before, then goes to L.

Pet. [Aside to Leopold, R. c.] Leopold, this is the way to manage a wife.

Leo. [Aside to Peter.] Why, faith, I don't know how it is, but she has danced me into a good humour; I can't find in my heart to be angry with her. What think you of this?

Pet. It looks like innocence.

Leo. So it does-I-I

Lil. How can you make a joke of one so? you have been laughing at her, too.

Ghita says

Leo. Why, I don't know. I believe I am in a merry humour.

[All laugh. Lil. I won't believe you are merry, my dear Leopold. I think you are a little grumpy.

Leo. I tell you, I am not grumpy.

Ghi. You don't deserve the supper we have prepared for you. But we'll forgive them, Lilla, shall we?

[Lilla and Ghita move the table and stools forward, c. Leo. "Tis best to laugh it off-but we'll watch them: you see, Peter, the advantage of coolness. [They sit down at the table, Leopold L, Peter R., Lilla and Ghita next their husbands.] Come, come, some wine round. [He fills the glasses.] What shall we say?

Lil. Come, I'll give you the toast-May our happiness ever continue.

Leo. May our happiness ever continue-let's hob or nob. [All drink.] I say, Peter, so good a toast deserves another bumper-[Drinks again.] And now away with suspicion for ever.

Pet. Now I'll give you a toast-May the man who is blind of one eye, never see the distress of his country with the other. [Seraskier without, L., sings to guitar "Charming Lilla.”

Leo. What's that?

Pet. It sounds like music.

Ghi. What delightful harmony.

Leo. Curse harmony! don't tell me of harmony.

[Rises.

Lil. Psha, my dear Leopold! 'tis some of the villagers amusing themselves-come, sit down.

Leo. I won't.

Lil. Don't be cross; here's a merry thought for you. Leo. Curse your merrythought.

Lil. Poch, pooh; sit down! people of quality often have music at supper.

SERENADE-SERASKIER [without, L.]

To-night, love-the trembling strings as pressing,
Sacred to him they praise, their sweet employ.

Pet. Ah, Leopold! there's danger in that voice; how melodious it is.

Leo. Horribly melodious-cuckledom in every note

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of it. [Goes to the back, snatches down two swords, and advances with them to Peter, R.] Hark'ye, Peter, are you courageous?

Pet. Tolerably so.

Leo. Take this, then, and follow me. [Gives him a sword.] We'll join the concert; and, if I don't put these gallants out of tune, I'll be 'Tis astonishing how I manage to keep my temper.

Lil. Oh, Ghita !

[Exeunt Peter and Leopold, L.

Ghi. What are we to do?

Lil. Follow our husbands instantly.-I'm sure Leopold is very desperate, by his boasting that he keeps his temper. [Exeunt, L.

Enter Yuseph, R. D. F.

Yus. [Comes down, c.] All quiet! then I'm sure Leopold can't be here, and I have such a dread of that fellow! Eh! oh! Lord-Oh, dear! what's here? a good supper and nobody to eat it.-Egad! I think my appetite returns as my fright goes off. [Goes to the table.] I'll pick a bit. [Sits down, c.] There's nobody likes a good supper better than I do; [Eats.] especially when any body else pays for it. [Eats.] Eh, what! [Sees the plate of ham, sticks his fork into a bit, and holds it up.] Oh, the Christian dogs! what, they eat pork, do they [Stuffs it into his mouth.] Bless me, [Sees the wine.] what have we got here? [Smells it.] Oh, Lord-a-mercy! oh, dear! why, it's wine.-Well, I believe a Mahometan may take a cup of wine when nobody sees him. [Drinks.] Egad! I may as well empty the bottle. Here's to the founder of the feast! [Drinks.] Oh, dear, if I could but meet with my dear Lilla now,-good cheer puts one in such excellent spirits-and a cup of wine makes one so loving. [Pistols fired without, L.] Oh, Lord! what will become of me? they are firing guns through the air. [Runs to the door he entered at.] Oh, Lord have mercy! this door is fastened-they have surrounded the house! oh, Lord, I shall be murdered!

[Conceals himself under the table.

Enter LEOPOLD, L., with his sword broken.

Leo. They have carried off my Lilla! Oh, a plague on this sword, to fail me just at the moment when I might have rescued her!-I'll rouse the neighbourhood.

-I'll find out that scoundrel, Yuseph. [Yuseph sneezes.— Leopold discovers him, and drags him out.] What brought you here?

Enter PETER, L., who goes up to the table.

Yus. Why, I heard a riot-I came here to quell the riot, and defend your house; and, besides, I came to wish you joy on your marriage, my dear fellow.

Leo. And which way did you get into this house? Yus. I came through the garden, and in at the back door, quietly and peaceably, as a magistrate should do, and agreeable to my function.

Pet. And you have been eating some of our supper,

too?

Leo. Ay-who asked you to supper?

Yus. I only eat a little bit.

Pet. Is that agreeable to your function?

Leo [Collars Yuseph.] Look ye, sirrah: my dear little Lilla is run away with, and I am sure you are concerned in the plot. Don't answer me-if I find you guilty, you swing upon the next tree, that's all.

[Exeunt, L.,dragging Yuseph off.

SCENE V.-Inside of a Turkish Fort and Guard-House. Ramparts, R.-a Gate-a Soldier marching on the Rampart, R.-a Flag-Staff erected, R. C., with the Turkish colours hoisted.

Enter, through the Gate, C., a Corporal, and twelve Turkish Soldiers, following two and two-they come down, L., cross, C., up R., and exeunt.

Enter SERASKIER, ISMAEL, and four Officers, through the Gate, c.

Ser. (c.) Well, Ismael, so far we have proceeded successfully, and Lilla is safe within my power. The villagers fought manfully.

Ism. I fear, my lord, we shall experience other proofs of their valour.

Ser. To what am I to attribute these unusual apprehensions, Ismael ?

Ism. My lord, I never yet fought in a cause I was ashamed of.

Ser. No more. It is time to think of Cohenberg; are the executioners prepared?

Ism. They are, my lord.

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