_Ans._ Mother, to death.
"Tis useless to deceive you. You scarcely found me But I am lost again: "twill soon be over.
(_Faintly_) E"en now the blood"s collecting in my heart For its last rally;--Isidora, I would tell thee What pain it is to part, but my strength fails, And my parch"d tongue cannot perform its duty.
_Isid._ To part, Anselmo? Dost thou say to part?
No, no; thou shalt not die,--we must not part.
What false, already! How could"st thou utter That which, to me, must be the knell of death?
(_Bursts into tears and embraces him._)
_Ans._ Would that your gentle power o"er me was the same In death, as life: then should I live for ever.
But--mother--fare you well--farewell--my Isidora.
[_Groans and falls dead. Donna Inez faints, and is supported by Don Felix and Nina. Isidora, whose face was hidden in Anselmo"s breast, lifts up her head and looks wildly at the body._
_Isid._ Anselmo! (_More loudly_) Anselmo! (_Shrieks. Throws herself on the body. The rest of the characters group round the body, and the curtain falls._)
THE GIPSY;
OR,
"WHOSE SON AM I?"
A COMEDY, IN THREE ACTS.
DRAMATIS PERSONae.
_Men._
SIR GILBERT ETHERIDGE, _An old Admiral._
CAPTAIN ETHERIDGE, _His son; grave._
CAPTAIN MERTOUN; _gay._
OLD BARGROVE.
YOUNG PETER BARGROVE, _His son._
WILLIAM, _The Admiral"s sailor-footman._
BILL,} } _Gipsies._ d.i.c.k,}
_Women._
LADY ETHERIDGE, _The Admiral"s wife._
AGNES, _Her daughter._
LUCY, _The daughter of Bargrove._
MRS BARGROVE.
NELLY, _The gipsy._
The Gipsy
_Scene.--The Hall, the residence of Sir Gilbert, and the vicinity. Time that of acting._
_Act I. Scene I._
_A Room in a respectable country inn.--Enter Captain Etheridge and Captain Mertoun, ushered in by the Landlord._
_Land._ Will you be pleased to take anything, gentlemen?
_Capt. Eth._ I can answer for myself, nothing.
_Capt. Mer._ I agree, and disagree, with you; that is, I coincide with you in--nothing.
_Capt. Eth._ Then I trust, Mr Harness, that you will coincide with us in expediting the greasing of that radical wheel as soon as possible, and let us know when the horses are put to.
_Land._ Most certainly, Captain Etheridge; I will superintend it myself.
[_Exit Landlord._
_Capt. Eth._ An old butler of my father"s, who set up many years ago with a few hundred pounds, and the Etheridge Arms as a sign. He has done well.
_Capt. Mer._ That is to say, the Etheridge Arms have put him on his legs, and drawing corks for your father has enabled him to draw beer for himself and his customers. Of course he married the lady"s maid.
_Capt. Eth._ No, he did more wisely; he married the cook.
_Capt. Mer._ With a good fat portion of kitchen stuff, and a life interest of culinary knowledge. I have no doubt but that he had a further benefit from your liberal father and mother.
_Capt. Eth._ By-the-bye, I have spoken to you of my father repeatedly, Edward; but you have not yet heard any remarks relative to my mother.