4599 Ai a; Oi CM 0: 01 7i 9i 1 ! 2; 4 The Young Fussnr, or T.ove By 11am Dimond THE FOUJVG HUSSJLM, OR LOVE AND MERCY, AN OPERATIC PIECE, IN TWO ACTS. BY THE AUTHOR OF ADRIAN AND ORRILA, 8cc. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LA2IF-, WITH DISTINGUISHED SUCCESS, LONDON PRINTED and PUBLISHED by BARKER and SON, Dramatic Repository, GREAT RUSSEL STREET, COVENT GARDEN* [Price One Shilling and Sixpence."} J 807. Whoever Reprints the Songs in this Piece will le prosecuted. ' A Fact which occurred about the middle of the French Revolution, has furnished the main incident in the young Hussar ; and some accessary matter in the first Act, ha3 been pilfered from an Italian Opera. As a mere bagatelle this Piece is presented to the World. In representation it only pretends to afford an idle hour's i amusement to the Public, and in production it has been little more than an idle hour's amusement to the author. To praise it highly, is impossible, but to censure it severely would be ill-natured. I will not encumber a trifle with prefatory words, but I have one imperious duty to perform, in publicly expressing my thanks to Mr. Elliston, who accepted a character every way unworthy of his talent, but who still contrived to make his superiority of genius perceptible, and created beauties out of mere barrenness and waste. To every person engaged in the Drama, I also request that I may offer my sincere acknowledgment. WILLIAM DIMOND T»npte 3 March 15, l8o». DRAMATIS PERSONS. Bertrand de Valencourt, . Mr. Eyre. Floriau his Son, a Young Iiussar Mr. Klliston. Larole, a Tradesman. . . Mr. Cherry. Bmicour, a Merchant, . . Mr. Gibbon. Officer of the Guard, , . Mr. Diunum. Madame Larole, . . . Mrs. Harlowe. Carime, her Daughter, . . Mrs. Mountain. Ninette, . . . Mrs. Bland. Chorus of Soldiers. Chorus of Male and 1'emale Citizens. SCENE. — At Nancy, a Capital Town of Loraine. The Music by Mr. KELLY. THE YOUNG HUSSAR, ACT I. SCENE I. — A Chamber on the second-floor of La* role's house, at the bottom a large windoiv which opens to the street; on the one side a door from the stair- case, on the other a dark closet. Enter Carline from the stair-case — she advances timidly and on tiptoe. DUETTO. Car. j\ O one sees me! No one hears ! May T venture? Ma\ 1 dare? A thousand doubts — a thousand fears, My steps restrain — mv bosom tear ! At every ercuking board I .-hake! (She crosses to tuc closet door and taps.) Hist ! Florian! Flojian! Don thou wake ? THE YOUNG HUSSAR, Flor. (from within.) Di6poil'd of light and liberty, Still Fiorian wakes to love and thee! Together. The' Cupid's fair and flowery chain Disastrous late with tears may stain, And blight with sighs of woej Yet never shall the faithful rose A canker at its heal: disclose. Ah! no — ah, never! noi Car. My poor prisoner! my dear Fiorian! what have you not suffered since last night. Flor. Ah, Carline! I faint for want of air. For Heaven's sake open the door. Car. I cannot. I have lost the key. Flor. What then will become of me ? Car. I know not. I have been crying all day., and now the approach of evening adds to my uneash ess. To know that you suffer, yet be unable to release vou is distraction. Then, if by any chance,. the key which 1 have dropped should be found by any one in the house, and the door be unlocked — O, Fiorian! the very thought terrifies me to death. Flor. Can't we force the lock ? Car. Ah! no — the least noise would occasion your discovery ; the whole family are in the room just under us. ^Madame harole {calls from below) Carline! Car. Hark! my mother calls me. I must go. Flor. Ah, Carline! will you leave rn.e then to perish ? Car. No. Fiorian no! be but patient for a few minutes, and — Mad I, (below). Carline! Car. i am called again. Adieu! Dor. Carline! only one word. Cat. Chi speak it then — c-uick, quick! AN OPERATIC PIECE. 1 Ninette {calls from below). Miss Carline! Mist Carline! Car. Again; surely the house is bewitched. Hark! I hear Ninette upon the stair-case. vShe's coining here — silence, dear Florian, silence for your life ! Enter Ninette, AIR — Ninette. Why, how now, Miss! Is't come to this, That folks must call, And hoop and bawl, An hour before you'll answer? In search I go, Above, below, And here, and there, And every where, Pfaith, a weary dancer. Your father waits, Your mother prates, Come down, I say, If here you stay, They'll rarely rate and scold you. Don't pout and frown, You must come down, Or else I'll stake, Madame will make The house too hot to hold you. Car. I tell you, Ninette, I don't like to come down stairs. Nin. You won't come, and you don't like to come ^—pretty answers .truly. Your father will be satisfied 8 THE YOUNG HUSSAft, with them, won't he ? And Madame, your mama shall be contented too? Aha! my little mam'selle, you'll be scolded rarely. As for me, I shan't take your part ; so don't reckon upon me -, no, don't reckon upon me. Car. Why must I comedown stairs— what ami wanted for ? Nin. Faith, for something that should make you brisk of step ; to meet your sweetheart — your hus- band that is to be. There's Mr. Boncou*" waiting to see you in the parlour. Mr. Bcaoour,, the prettiest young man in the town. A gen rlemah, a person of decorum and politeness. He never passes me in the street without taking off hk hat and making a respect- ful bow. Then it is always " Mam'selle Ninette this, and Mam'selle Ninette that" — Oj he's the very rose of good breeding, and feels a proper veneration for the fair sex. Car. He shall never be my husband for all that. I had rather continue a maid all my life. Nin. Ay, child, that's vtr\ pretty talking at your age — but at my time of life you'd think otherwise. You don't know half the horrors of such a situation. But — come, come, I promised Mr. Boncour to bring you down. Car. Do you go first, and say I'll come presently — I'm busy here — I'm searching for something* Nin. Ay, you search, but I find. Car. Ah ! what did you say, Ninette I Nin. I say that you are a careless, heedless, slat- ternly child ; and if it wasn't for a tidy person, like me, always looking after you— Car. Nay, but I can't see. Nin. No, truly, I am obliged to see- for you ; isn't it a key you have lost ? Car. Yes, yes j have you found it ? AN OPERATIC PIECE. g A7/?. Do you know this ? (holds up a key at arm's length.) Car. (eagerly) Oh! give it me! my dear Ni- nette ! Nin. Forsooth ! you must have the charge of the store-closet, of all the thread and the cotton, and all the laces and ribbons. — Oh ! this key was in precious keeping, wasn't it ? Car. Nay, pr'ythee now, give it me. Nin. Suppose any of our quality customers had called, would it not have been, Miss Carline, go to the closet and fetch me down the newest " ar- ticles ?" — Ay ! but then Miss Carline has lost the key, and the door must be broke open. Car. Broke open ! Oh ! Ninette how can you frighten me so ? Nin. Oh ! these young girls ! But Mr. Boncour waits. Come, come ! Car. Yes ; but the key, Ninette. Nin. No, no ; you are not to be trusted with it : I shall give it to your mama. Car. Heaven forbid ! Now, be good-natured, my dear, pretty, little, Ninette. Nin. Will you come to Mr. Boncour ? Car. Yes, in a minute ; but the key ! Nin. Well, I can't stay any longer. Car. (following.) But the key, Ninette, the key ! DUETTO.— Carline and Ninette. Car. Give me the key, before you leave me, Give me the key, Ninette, I pray ; Nin, No, no, again, you sha'nt deceive me, This key with me more sate shall stay B 10 THE YOUNG HUSSAR, Car. Nay, nay, I'm sure you can't refuse it, But trust me with it, this once more I Nin. In half an hour again you'll lose it, I know your heedless tricks before. Car. Nay, but Ninette, before you leave me, Tira, tira lira, tira lira, la. Nin. No, no, Ffaith, you can't deceive me, With tira, lira, and lira lira, la ! II. Nin, Come, Miss Carline, your faithful lover Breathes out your name in sighs below ; Car. Nay, not till I the key recover, Beyond this chamber will I go. Nin. I tell you, miss, in safer keeping, The key you ask for must remain ; Car. See, see, a spider darkly creeping, (snatches the Aha ! the prize is mine again. hey. J Nin. Fye ! wicked hussey, to deceive me, With tira lira, tira lira la. Car. Now, if she please, Ninette, may leave me, Tira lira, tira lira, la. \_Exit Ninette. Car. Precious moment i now to give liberty to him I love. (She opens the door, Florian appears.) Flo. Oh ! my Carline ! Car. Speak low! Ninette has scarcely reached the bottom of the stairs. Flo. Thank Heaven ! I can once more move and breathe at freedom ! Once more I am blessed with the sight of all 1 love ! of my benefactress — of her who ha^ preserved my life. AN OPERATIC PIECE. 11 Car. Ah ! say rather it is my own life I have pre- served ; for has not Carline vowed to die with FJorian ? Flo. Kind ! faithful girl ! Yet, alas ! my death is only deferred, not prevented. Car. Oh ! do not say so ! Have you not escaped your guards ? and are you not in safety here. Flo. But I cannot remain here always. Too soon my retreat must be discovered, and then as a de- serter — Car. Hold ! I cannot bear the thought ! Have cou- rage ! have patience ! Flo. 1 have ; Yes, I have every thing when I look upon Carline. When I see her, when I press her to my bosom, sorrow flies, and danger seems no more. Lav. (without.) Allons! Mr. Boncour ? Car. Peace ! Voices sound upon the stair-case. 'Tis my father and Boncour. Fly ! fly ! 1 will not lock the closet again ; there is an inward spring, which, when closely pressed, secures the door, and may be withdrawn by yourself at pleasure. Away ! Flo. Are they coining here ? Car. Yes, yes; away this instant ! (Florian retires.) Enter La role and Boncour. Lar. Allons! Mr. Boncour! Allons! she's here. — Why do you hang back ? Courage, man ! courage! never be frightened at a woman. Aha! Carline, I've brought him to you. There he is ! the happy lover — full of unutterable thoughts, and inexpressible desires. He's come to plead his passion. Allons! Mr. Boncour, allons ! (Strikes Boncour on t/ie hack.) Bon. Dear sir, — if you think my importr.niiy will not offend — 1V2 12 the Young hussar, Lar. Importunity offend a woman ! Pooh ! it al- ways pleases them, they like to be pressed — Besides, if you don't put the question, how can you expect an answer; the girl can't make love to you — Zounds ! you look as dismal as an English fog in November ! Brighten up your looks ! be brisk ! be bold ! be spruce ! be debonairc ! Copy my features, always smiling and agreeable ! Bon. 1 will, sir! — hem! — Miss Cai line, you see that I am come — Car. Yes, sir — I see that you are come. Bon. Theie, how she's laughing at me — Ah ! it's always so. Lar. Pooh! never mind her laughing — The smile of a mistress is always esreemed a mark of favor; then surely, when she laughs at us, the obli- gation must be increased. Aha! Carline, what say you? Car. You may perceive, sir, that I say nothing. Lar. Just the case with your mama, my dear Madame Larole, when I popp'd the critical cuestion to her j she said nothing, but then she look'd — Oh ! Venus and Adonis, ho v she look'd ! Car. W?s my mama so' vcty silent, before she married. Sir ? Lar. ^cs child ; remarkable for silence before marriage, but she lost that singula! ity very soon af- terwards. Aha! Ivlr. Boncour, 1 wish you could have seen me, in my days of courtship; 'twould have been a lessen for you ; so passionate, yet so respectful — replete with insinuation — brimful of sen- timent — a very Proteus in complaisance — varying my manners with all the caprices of my charmer — Madame Larole, dear creature! was always fond of music to distraction, and I contrived to prosecute my amour after the rules of her favourite science. AN OPERATIC PIECE. 13 Bon. How so, sir ? Lar. First, I ogled her at a distance, con expression —•on nearer approach, made my bow ajfetuoso — whispered love in a minor key — proposed marriage by an criminal ove't lire — carried her to church allegro agitato — and wenc thru' all the ceremonies con spirit o and perfectly in time. Bon. And did your attention to the laws of har- mony last beyond the honey-mo;>n? Lnr. Ye?, faith 1 to he sure; Madame Larole now and then rattles over the sharps a I libitum, but I al- ways avoid discord, by dropping a note. Btn. Ah ! Sir, you h soon. Mad. Lnr. (below) Mr. 1 .arole, 1 say — Jjar. I'm coming, my angel, I'm c< ming. — (Exit hastily. ) Bon. Well, Miss Carline, von may goes? the busi- ness that brings me here; will von accept an honest man for your husband? you demanded ih.ee months to consider of my < roposali, and cnose months have expired. 14 THE YOUNG HUSSAR, Car. Yes, sir, they have expired — heigho. Bon. And is heigho the only encouragement you can give me ? Ah ! Carline, how have I deserved this scorn? Car. Indeed, Mr. Boncour, I have a great respect for you, but I can't love you — that is, I can't love any body. Ben. Nay, miss, you arc not so insensible either, for I am certain that Florian, that young soldier who used to come here so often.- — Car, Ah ! what of poor FJoi ian, have you heard any news of him ? Bon, Only that he will be shot whenever he is taken j a silly boy \ to sell his regimentals, refuse to assign any reason, and afterwards to desert, yes, he'll certainly be shot. Car, Poor Florian! Bon. Come now, confess that you had some liking for that young man, not that I am jealous of him now, for, poor fellow, he's far enough off by this time, and never will shew his face in this country. (Florian opens the closet a little ■, looks out and listens) Besides, I am a much fitter husband for you, I who am your townsman, and your neighbour. C a k l i n e -perceives Florian, and motions him to close the door, in evident alarm. Car. Let us go down stairs, Mr. Boncour, we can converse upon the subject better there. Bon. No — some goods have just arrived, and the warehouse and the parlour are both in confusion with them. Car. Some goods have just arrived, did you say, sir? oh, then I am wanted to assist in unpacking them. Bon. No, no, Carline, you are not wanted, let mc request you to be serious. Car. Hark ! I am called, indeed I must go. AN OPERATIC PIECE. 15 Ron. I heard no call. Car. Yes indeed there was — I must leave you. Bon. Nay Carline — but one word — Car. Some other time then ; indeed, I can't stay to hear you now. Ben. Nay, you shall hear me. Car. Shall ! Ah' constraint is death to love. AIR.- Carline. The tuneful Bird from freedom torn, With silent throat, and crest forlorn, Meets each return of glorious day. Tho' wires of gold its wings confine, And round enticing splendours shine, Ah ! still content is faraway. 2. Let generous hands unclose the grate, Again with song and crest elate, Aloft the merry warbler flies ; And as thro' yielding air it soars. New strains of grateful rapture pours, A hymn to freedom and the skies. ( Breaks fr cm him and exit.) Bon. It's filw.n-s tliu^, how provoking she is, but then how beautiful ; •she certainly docs not love me, and what's more, I fear >he never wili. Yet, chat's strange, tor I've always been reckon'd the smarter \oung man in town, and I am su:e there are plenty of girls, aye, and with l" a tunes too, whom I might mar- ry to morrow— I have a great mind to give her up, bur. then her shape is so graces.!, her bl.e^es '•ofall 15 THE YOUNG HUSSAR, of tenderness, lips so red, teeth so white, and then such a hand. Oh ! how I wish she would give m- that hand. Enter Ninette. Nin. What all alone, Mr. Boncour ? dear heart, I protest yon look quite sorrowful. Bon. Ah ! Ninette, I have no great reason to be in spirits. Nin. Aye! I guess how ic is 8 Miss Carline has been flouting you again, but don't take it to heart, Sir, consider 'tis but a child, that does not know as yet what's good for her — marriage — the vcvy idea of marriage to a young girl is always terrible, when first proposed, and the name of a husband frightens her worse than that of a hobgoblin. It's very dif- ferent with females of a more discreet time of life; Ah! sir, I wish for your sake, that any body would offer marriage to me; just that I might set the child a proper example of fortitude. Ben. Faith, my good Ninette ! I begin to despair of success. Nin. What ! a young, a rich, ay, and a handsome man, talk of despair with a girl! — lor shame, sir! only pluck up a spirit, and I'll ensure you the prize! But you must not expect to gain her by sighing and dvinrjf-. and dan yding after her ! No, no! faint heart never won fair lady ! — Now, fancy yourself an officer, sir, going to reduce some little fortress ; if you only blockade the place at a distance it may hold out for a wearisome while : but march boldly up to the walls at once ; give the word of attack, and mount the rampart, sword in hand — odds my life ! but the day's your own, and the garrison surrenders at discre- tion. AN OPERATIC PIECE. 17 DUETTO.— Ninette and Boncoun iVw. With fife and drum Bold Captains come, And swear to conquer or die ; So brave they show, They scare the foe, And warn them soon to fly. Bon. I fain would try, But spirits fly, And ever at the moment fall; So faith, Ninette, My love I'll forget, For ah 1 'twill ne'er avail. Nln. Fye, ye, for shame, Honour and fame, Forbid a young man to despair; A smart address, And a bold caress, Will always vanquish the fair. Beth. With fife, Sec. I fain, &c. Nin. Allons with a grace, To the right about face, The ladies all sigh and admire ; Filing so merrily, Drumming so cheerily, March, salute, and fire. Both. Filing, Sec. {Exeunt. Florian opens the closet cautiously, listens for a mo- ment, and advances, leaving the door juit a-ja r . Flor. At last, the room is clear, and for a short interval I mav again snatch the blessings of air and C 18 THE YOUNG HUSSAR, space. *Tis almost dusk, and in a few hours all the family will be buried in repose. — Then, under the cover of the darkness, I may venture into the street, and attempt an escape. — Oh ! Fortune ! Fortune ! thou art a malignant witch, and thy wheel inflicts mere subtle torments than all the racks of an inquisi- tor. But two days since, and how bright were my prospects ! Elate in the career of glory, the pride of an honest father's heart, noticed by my commander, respected by my comrades, and beloved by the pret- tiest girl in all Loraine — What am I now ? A fugitive ; disgraced, condemned ; every one blames, every one abandons me ! Yet, no — one heart still accepts me. Thou. Carline ! thou alone art mine ! — de- prived of thee, poor Florian were indeed a wretch ! but, assured of thy affection, his heart sits lightly, and Hope's warm impulse revels in his veins. Hark ! I hear somebody at the foot of the stairs.— 'Tis the old housekeeper again ; 1 must to my covert. (Runs hastily against the closet-door — it closes.) 'Sdeath ! the door has fastened — the inward spring has caught ! — Undone! Ican't force it open — she's coming; what will become of me ? Ah! this table ! Oh! Cupid ! if thou art not indeed quite blind, look down in pity and preserve me. (He conceals himself under citable, which is covered ?cith a green cloth, reaching nearlu to the ground on each side.) Enter Ninette (with a candle.) ]\in. Oh ! blessed St. Ursula ! strengthen my back! If I pass up and clown this stair-case once, I do a hundred times in the course of the day ! Now, for- sooth, Madame must take her coffee in this room, because the parlour is filled with the fresh goods. Then it's " Ninette, run up stairs, close the win- " dows, light the candles, and place every thing in '* order directly." — Aye. aye, such is the way from AN OPERATIC PIECE. 19 morning till night. — Poor old Ninette must fly here and there and every where ; waking or sleeping-*at meals or at prayers, there is no peace for her. Madame L. (from below J Ninette ! Nin. There again ! — nobody cares how my old bones ache ! — well ! well ! needs must when the devil drives. [Ninette passes to the window, and drojxs the cur- tain, meanwhile Florian lifts the cloth in front, and expresses anxiety. J Now let me see — Aye ! I must draw the table more in the middle of the room. — {she pushes the table for- ward from behind — Ilorian advances with it on his* hands and knees — she places four chairs round the table talking all the time) — I do verily believe, there is some witchcraft in the house to day 1 for my pantry has been ransacked of all the cold fowl and jelly, that I laid by last night after supper. — Now, nobody has borrowed my key, except ML w s Carline, and her ap- petite, poor child, is very tiny. I have heard that the fairies are sad thieves in a pantry — but then, a fairy is a very little creature, and never could devour such an unconscionable quantity of victuals at one meal. — No! no! it can't be a fairy ! Enter ~LA.ROLF.with a candle, followed- by Boncour, leading Madame La role, and Carline. Lav. (officiously) Take care, my angel — mind the corner of the bannister. Mad. L. Ha ! ha ! I protest Mr. Boncour, you are the most complaisant person in existence, and your little delicate assiduities are the bravura passages in good breeding. Lar. Aha ! spouse., and what do you say to my assiduities ? Mad. L. Your's, Mr. Larole, your's ! the drone of a bag-pipe, and the twang of Jew's-harp ! no, no, C 2 30 THE YOUNG HUSSAR. Sir ! positively you have no refinement ! — no suscepti- bility !— no taste ! Lar. Nay, pardon me there ! my taste must b& acknowledged from my choice of a wife, (bowing fantastically.) Mad. Jj. Well, that's pretty, I protest! infinitely prerty ! — isn't i;, Boncour ? — unexpected too — like an allegro change, after aduil adagio. — Ninette ! Ni- nette ! where's our coffee ? Nin. (pettishly) Bl*ss the king and all his nobles! where should it be, bur on the fire below ? Mad L Fly rhen, and bring it here — rapid as the tolaro of a first soprano — fly ' Nin. Fly, quotha ! — do you take me for a race- horse, to gallop a mile in a minute ? I am going as fast as I can. (She takes one of the candles) Mad. L. What ! are we to be left with only one candle ? Nin. Would you have me break my neck down that dark stair-case? Aye, I warrant me, nobody would care for what might happen to poor old Ninette — odds my life ! how I am driven from post to pillar ! I lead a worse life than a galley slave ! [ Exit, (During this dialogue, Carlike has drawn near the closet, and betrays continual anxiety) Mad. L. Carline ! my dear child, you look ab- solutel) penscroso — your spirits are a key too low ; for heaven's sake, get more in alt ! Car. Nay, mama, lam very ch earful, I'm sure! Mad. L. Come, child, you shall give us some music, v hile Ninette prepares our coffee — fetch the last new piece of music — Mr. Boncour I know will yield to my entreaties, and accompany you with his voice. JBon. To please any part of this family, is my pride, my pleasure ! AN OPERATIC PIECE- 21 Mad. L, Exquisitely gallant ! Music, I confess it, Is my foible — I delight in the enchanting science to enthusiasm — a full chorus transports me to the spheres — a plaintive solo melts my very soul into sentiment, and then a passionate duetto Lor. Aye, that's my favourite — twenty years ago, Madame Larole and I used to practise the passionate duetto perpetually. Mad. L. You, Mr. Larole ! you practise a duetto with me ? — lmpossioie ! you never had sufficient powers. Lar. I grant, my love, that your voice alwavs overpowered mine — but here and there I could fling in a wild note. Mad. L. Well, Carline! why don't you fetch the music ? Car. Indeed, I — I — I don't know where I left it. Mad. L. It's in the closet, child ! — fetch it in- stantly. Car. I can't open that closet — indeed \ can't. Mad. L. How now, Miss, you can't ? — but £ insist. Car. Oh ! heavens we are lost ! — (the learn againsVthe table for support} M<(d. L. — Give me the key directly, fhiss! Car. — Oh ! mama ! pray forgive me, and — •J^lorian just lifts the cloth in front so as to bt perceived by Carline, and not bij the other*.) Car. {struggling with agitation) Oh ! yes, yes ; here's the key, mama. — {she presents the key to Mad. L.) Mad. L. Why, chikl ! are you going into hysterics ? you render yourself inordinately ridiculous, and you know that of all terraqueous vies, affectation is my antipathy ! — [she posses to the closet with Boncour.) l.ar. (aside to Car.) Aha! I guess how it is, you have lost something out of that closet — eh ! Miss : 22 THE YOUNG HUSSAR, Car. I had lost something, sir ! — but indeed I have found it again. (Boncgur and Mad. L, bring forward the music— Carline is on the left of the table, the rest on the contrary side.) Mad. L. Now, Mr. Boncour, this is the new piece of music ; " The blindness of Cupid ?" — ah ! music ! music ! ravishing, soul- subduing science ! the voice is the chief medium through which we captivate the heart — remember that Boncour ! Bon. Yes, madam, and it is the heart that directs the hand. Car. (passes her hand to Flori an.J True, Mr. Boncour, that is sometimes the case. Bon. Ah ! may I hope it is the case at present ? Car, Nay, you question too closely — that is my secret. Mad. L. Come, Carline, begin ; Car. {aside) What shall I do ?— if by any means he could return to the closet unperceived — Mad. L. Carline ! 1 say ! Car. (Mailing signals to Flori anJ I am ready I (Boncour holds the music-hook and candle before Carline for her to sing. — All the characters art directly in front of the cable.) FINALE. AIR. — Carline. Car. — Old poets picture Cupid blind, And o'er his eves a bandage draw, But Love thro' worlds his way can find, And give both prince and peasant law. For tho' no sight, poor child, has he, Love leads at pleasure those who see. Fal tie ral lal la ! AN OPERATIC PIECE. as As menials ape their betters oft. So lovers, like their god, delight In darkness veil'd* to- whisper soft, And snatch their dearest joys from night. Unseeing and unseen they bend, For darkness is the Lover's friend. Fal de ral lal la ! (L a r o le and Wife -j^in in the burden, while C a r l i nte affects to snuff the candle and ly a rapid motion, as by accident, extinguishes the light ; -$'. the same instant the Stage becomes totally darkened. Lor. Zounds, daughter, zounds ! what the devil have you done, Quick, hussy, quick, for a candle quickly run! (he goes towards the stair-case.) Lights! lights ! Ninette ! Docs the woman hear me call? Ninette, Ninette! Nin. (from below) I have let the coffee fall. Car. (to Flo.) Now, Florian, now, the moment seize, You'll reach the closet now with ease. (Conxour's hand meets that ofCARLlNE.) Bon. Faith, Miss Carline, your song was true, For darkness is the lover's friend, (kisses her hand.) Car. (withdrawing) . Yes, Sir, indeed, I think with you, That darkness is the lover'-- friend. Flor. (advancing). Oh! god of love; thv vot'ry view. Now to his need thy impulse lend. (Concour, pursuing Carlinf.'s havd,metts Flop.ja.n's.) Bon. Why, charming creature, why this fear! Why shun a passion so sincere? (Florian extendi;;* Ids other hand encounters that qj ? / ta- dame L.'s, lie dr. net her toward* Boxco« : it, and [do* rig their hand* in each rJhcr, extricate* hiui^elf.) 54 THE YOUNG HUSSAR, Lar. fat the stairs stamping), Ninette, Ninette! Flor. (crvcping to the closet) \ Ah! which way, fly? [He ?ne