George Colman - The Younger, Dispense di Cultura Inglese I

Scarica George Colman - The Younger e più Dispense in PDF di Cultura Inglese I solo su Docsity! George Colman the Younger (1762-1836) Inkle and Yarico: An Opera (1787) Source Text: F. Dellarosa, Slavery on Stage: Representations of Slavery in British Theatre, 1760s-1830s. Bari: Edizioni dal Sud, 2009. Extracts: Act I, Scene 1 (pp. 185-191) Act I, Sc. 2-3 (pp. 198-204) Act II, Sc. 1 (pp. 208-209; 219-223) Act III, Sc. 3 (pp. 246-258) PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 185 Dramatis Personae THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT GARDENi Inkle Mr. Johnstone. Sir Christopher Curry Mr. Quick. Campley Mr. Davies. Medium Mr. Wewitzer. Trudge Mr. Edwin. Mate Mr. Darley. W O M E N Yarico Mrs. Billington. Narcissa Mrs. Mountain. Wowski Mrs. Martyr. Patty Mrs. Rock i The Covent Garden production was staged in the wake of the extraordinary success of the Haymarket first production. The transfer from one theatre to the other was an absolutely unusual practice at the time, and is a further testimony of the sensation the play had. See Frank Felsenstein, English Trader, Indian Maid: Representing Gender, Race and Slavery in the New World. An Inkle and Yarico Reader (London and Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999), pp. 167-168. In the leading roles at Covent Garden, premiered on 26 January 1789, Mr. Johnstone and Mrs Billington. John Henry Johnstone (1749-1828), an Irish actor and tenor, was engaged at Covent Garden from 1783 to 1803, where he made his debut on 2 October 1783 as Lionel in Bickerstaff’s comic opera The School for Fathers; or, Lionel and Clarissa. He held a later engagement at Drury Lane from 1808, where he acted for the remaining seventeen years of his public life. Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel) (1765-1818), one of the greatest sopranos of all time, came from a musical family. She established her reputation as a singer in Dublin, then became an extraordinarily popular performer in London and made various triumphal tours through England, Scotland and Ireland. For the Covent Garden production of Inkle and Yarico new songs were added, including Handel’s song “Sweet Bird”, which “was received with unbounded applause”. W. T. Parke, Musical Memoirs ; Comprising an Account of the General State of Music in England: from the First Commemoration of Handel , in the Year 1784, to the Year 1830 (London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830), I vol., p. 114. 188 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage Med. This it is to have to do with a schemer! a fellow who risks his life, for a chance of advancing his interest. – Always advantage in view! Trying, here, to make discoveries that may promote his profit in England. Another Botany Bay scheme2, mayhap. Nothing else could induce him to quit our foraging party, from the ship; when he knows every inhabitant here is not only as black as a pepper-corn, but as hot into the bargain – and I, like a fool, to follow him! and then to let him loiter behind. – Why, Nephew! – Why, Inkle. – [calling.] Trudge. Why, Inkle – Well! only to see the difference of men! he’d have thought it very hard, now, if I had let him call so often after me. Ah! I wish he was calling after me now, in the old jog-trot way, again. What a fool was I to leave London for foreign parts! – That ever I should leave Threadneedle-Street3, to thread an American forest, where a man’s as soon lost as a needle in a bottle of hay! Med. Patience, Trudge! Patience! If we once recover the ship – Trudge. Lord, sir, I shall never recover what I have lost in coming abroad. When my master and I were in London, I had such a mortal snug birth of it! Why, I was factotum. Med. Factotum to a young merchant is no such sinecure, neither. Trudge. But then the honour of it. Think of that, sir; to be clerk as well as own man. Only consider. You find very few city clerks made out of a man, nowadays. To be king of the counting-house as well as lord of the bed chamber. Ah! if I had him but now in the little dressing-room behind the office; tying his hair, with a bit of red tape, as usual. Med. Yes, or writing an invoice in lampblack and shining his shoes with an ink-bottle, as usual, you blundering blockhead! 2 Botany Bay scheme The bay, an inlet along the New South Wales coast (Australia), was the site of Captain James Cook’s first landing in Australia. Plans were made to establish a convict settlement there; when Captain Arthur Phillip, of the Royal Navy, arrived in 1788, he found the area unsuitable for habitation and moved the settlement 5 miles north to Port Jackson (Sydney). 3 Threadneedle Street One of the main roads in the City of London’s commercial and financial area, and the location of the Bank of England since 1734. PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 189 Trudge. Oh, if I was but brushing the accounts, or casting up the coats! mercy on us! What’s that? Med. That! What? Trudge. Didn’t you hear a noise? Med. Y – es – but – hush! Oh, heaven be praised! Here he is at last. Enter INKLE. Now, nephew! Inkle. So, Mr. Medium. Med. Zounds, one would think, by your confounded composure, that you were walking in St James’s Park4, instead of an American forest: and that all the beasts were nothing but good company. The hollow trees, here, sentry boxes, and the lions in ’em, soldiers; the jackals, courtiers; the crocodiles, fine women; and the baboons, beaux. What the plague made you loiter so long? Inkle. Reflection. Med. So I should think; reflection generally comes lagging behind. What, scheming, I suppose? never quiet. At it again, eh? What a happy trader is your father, to have so prudent a son for a partner! Why, you are the carefullest Co.5 in the whole city. Never losing sight of the main chance; and that’s the reason, perhaps, you lost sight of us, here, on the main of America. Inkle. Right, Mr Medium. Arithmetic, I own, has been the means of our parting at present. Trudge. Ha! A sum in division, I reckon. [Aside] Med. And pray, if I may be so bold, what mighty scheme has just tempted you to employ your head, when you ought to make use of your heels? 4 St James’s Park The oldest royal park in London, located in Westminster and skirted by three royal palaces. 5 Co. Company. 190 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage Inkle. My heels! Here’s a pretty doctrine! Do you think I travel merely for motion? A fine expensive plan for a trade, truly. What, would you have a man of business come abroad, scamper extravagantly here and there and everywhere, then return home, and have nothing to tell, but that he has been here and there and everywhere? ’Sdeath6, sir, would you have me travel like a lord? Med. No, the Lord forbid! Inkle. Travelling, Uncle, was always intended for improvement; and improvement is an advantage; and advantage is profit, and profit is gain. Which, in the travelling translation of a trader, means, that you should gain every advantage of improving your profit. Med. How – gain, and advantage, and profit? Zounds, I’m quite at a loss. Inkle. You’ve hit it, Uncle! So am I. I have lost my clue by your conversation: you have knocked all my meditations on the head. Med. It’s very lucky for you nobody has done it before me. Inkle. I have been comparing the land, here, with that of our own country. Med. And you find it like a good deal of the land of our own country – cursedly encumbered with black legs7, I take it. Inkle. And calculating how much it might be made to produce by the acre. Med. You were? Inkle. Yes; I was proceeding algebraically upon the subject. Med. Indeed! Inkle. And just about extracting the square root. Med. Hum! 6 ’Sdeath Euphemistic abbreviation of “God’s death”. 7 black legs Swindlers, sharpers. PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 199 they seem to have killed all the wild beasts in the country. Now, pray, do, my good Master, take my advice and run away. Inkle. Rascal! Talk again of going out and I’ll flay you alive! Trudge. That’s just what I expect for coming in. – All that enter here appear to have had their skins stripped over their ears; and ours will be kept for curiosities – We shall stand here, stuffed, for a couple of white wonders. Inkle. This curtain seems to lead to another apartment: I’ll draw it. Trudge. No, no, no; don’t; don’t. We may be called to account for disturbing the company: you may get a curtain-lecture14, perhaps, sir. Inkle. Peace, booby, and stand on your guard. Trudge. Oh! what will become of us! Some grim, seven-foot fellow ready to scalp us. Inkle. By heaven! a woman! [As the curtain draws, YARICO and WOWSKI discovered asleep.] Trudge. A woman! [Aside.] – [Loud.] But let him come on, I’m ready – dam’me, I don’t fear facing the devil himself. – Faith, it is a woman – fast asleep too. Inkle. And beautiful as an angel! Trudge. And, egad! there seems to be a nice, little, plump bit in the corner; only she’s an angel of a rather darker sort. Inkle. Hush! keep back – she wakes. [YARICO comes forward – INKLE and TRUDGE retire to opposite sides of the scene.] 14 curtain-lecture “A reproof given by a wife to her husband in bed” (Dr Johnson, Dictionary, 1755). 200 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage S O N G – YARICO. When the chace of day is done, And the shaggy lion’s skin, Which, for us, our warriors win, Decks our cells at set of sun; Worn with toil, with sleep opprest, I press my mossy bed, and sink to rest. Then, once more, I see our train, With all our chace renew’d again: Once more, ’tis day, Once more, our prey Gnashes his angry teeth, and foams in vain. Again, in sullen haste, he flies, Ta’en in the toil, again he lies, Again he roars – and, in my slumbers, dies. Inkle. Our language! Trudge. Zounds, she has thrown me into a cold sweat. Yarico. Hark! I heard a noise! Wowski, awake! Whence can it proceed! [She wakes WOWSKI, and they both come forward – YARICO towards INKLE; Wowski towards TRUDGE.] Trudge. Madam, your very humble servant. [To WOWSKI.] Yarico. Ah! what form is this? – are you a man? Inkle. True flesh and blood, my charming heathen, I promise you. Yarico. What harmony in his voice! What a shape! How fair his skin, too! – [gazing.] Trudge. This must be a lady of quality, by her staring. Yarico. Say, stranger, whence come you? Inkle. From a far distant island; driven on this coast by distress and deserted by my companions. Yarico. And do you know the danger that surrounds you here? Our woods are filled with beasts of prey. My countrymen too – (yet, I think they couldn’t find the heart) – might kill you. – It would be a pity if you fell in their way. I think I should weep if you came to any harm. PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 201 Trudge. Oho! It’s time, I see, to begin making interest with the chambermaid. [Takes WOWSKI apart.] Inkle. How wild and beautiful! sure there is magic in her shape and she has riveted me to the place. But where shall I look for safety? Let me fly and avoid my death! Yarico. Oh, no – But – [As if puzzled] well then, die stranger, but don’t depart. – But I will try to preserve you; and, if you are killed, Yarico must die too! Yet, ’tis I alone can save you: your death is certain without my assistance; and indeed, indeed, you shall not want it. Inkle. My kind Yarico! What means, then, must be used for my safety? Yarico. My cave must conceal you: none enter it, since my father was slain in battle. I will bring you food, by day, then lead you to our unfrequented groves, by moonlight, to listen to the nightingale. If you should sleep, I’ll watch you, and wake you when there’s danger. Inkle. Generous maid! Then to you I will owe my life; and, whilst it lasts, nothing shall part us. Yarico. And shan’t it, shan’t it indeed? Inkle. No, my Yarico! For when an opportunity offers to return to my country, you shall be my companion. Yarico. What! Cross the seas! Inkle. Yes. Help me to discover a vessel, and you shall enjoy wonders. You shall be decked in silks, my brave maid, and have a house drawn with horses to carry you. Yarico. Nay, do not laugh at me – but is it so? Inkle. It is indeed! Yarico. Oh wonder! I wish my countrywomen could see me. – But won’t your warriors kill us? Inkle.No, our only danger, on land, is here. Yarico. Then let us retire further into the cave. Come your safety is in my keeping. Inkle. I follow you – Yet, can you run some risk in following me? 204 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage Trudge. Then, what the devil made ’em so surprised at seeing us! Was he like me? [Wowski shakes her head.] Not so smart a body, mayhap. Was his face, now, round, and comely, and – eh? [Stroking his chin.] Was it like mine? Wowski. Like dead leaf – brown and shrivel. Trudge. Oh, oh, an old shipwrecked sailor, I warrant. With white and grey hair, eh, my pretty beauty spot? Wowski. Iss; all white. When night come, he put it in pocket. Trudge. Oh! wore a wig! But the old boy taught you something more than English, I believe. Wowski. Iss. Trudge. The devil he did! What was it? Wowski. Teach me put dry grass, red hot, in hollow white stick. Trudge. Aye? What was that for? Trudge. Put in my mouth. Go poff-poff! Trudge. Zounds! did he teach you to smoke? Wowski. Iss. Trudge. And what became of him at last? What did your countrymen do for the poor fellow? Wowski. Eat him one day – Our chief kill him. Trudge. Mercy on us! what damned stomachs, to swallow a tough old tar! Though, for the matter of that, there’s many of our Captains would eat all they kill I believe! Ah, poor Trudge! your killing comes next. Wowski. No, no – not you – no – [Running to him anxiously.] Trudge. No? Why, what shall I do if I get in their paws? Wowski. I fight for you! Trudge. Will you? Ecod she’s a brave, good-natured wench! She’ll be worth a hundred of your English wives – whenever they fight on their husband’s account, it’s with him instead of for him, I fancy. But how the plague am I to live here? Wowski. I feed you – bring you kid. 208 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage ACT II. SCENE I. The Quay at BARBADOES, with an Inn upon it. People employed in unlading Vessels, carrying bales of Goods, &c. Enter several PLANTERS. 1st Plant. I saw her this morning, gentlemen, you may depend on’t. My telescope never fails me. I popped upon her as I was taking a peep from my balcony. A brave tight ship, I tell you, bearing down directly for Barbadoes here. 2nd Plant. Ods my life! rare news! We have not had a vessel arrive in our harbour these six weeks. 3rd Plant. And the last brought only madam Narcissa, our Governor’s daughter, from England; with a parcel of lazy, idle, white folks about her. Such cargoes will never do for our trade, neighbour. 4th Plant. No, no: we want slaves. A terrible dearth of ’em in Barbadoes, lately! But your dingy passengers for my money. Give me a vessel like a collier, where all the lading tumbles out as black as my hat. But are you sure, now, you aren’t mistaken? [To 1st Planter.] 1st Plant. Mistaken! ’Sbud23, do you doubt my glass? I can discover a gull by it six leagues off: I could see everything as plain as if I was on board. 2nd Plant. Indeed! And what were her colours? 1st Plant. Um! – why English – or Dutch – or French – I don’t exactly remember. 3rd Plant. What were the sailors aboard? 1st Plant. Eh! why they were English too – or Dutch – or French – I can’t perfectly recollect. 23 sbud Obs. for ‘sbodikins. See The Padlock, note 21. PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 209 4th Plant. Your glass, neighbour, is a little like a glass too much: it makes you forget everything you ought to remember. [Cry without, ‘A sail, A sail!’] 1st Plant. Egad, but I’m right, though! Now, gentlemen! All. Aye, aye; the devil take the hindmost! [Exeunt hastily.] Enter NARCISSA and PATTY. S O N G 24. Freshly now the breeze is blowing; As yon ship at anchor rides, Sullen waves incessant flowing, Rudely dash against the sides: So my heart, its course impeded, Beats in my perturbed breast; Doubts, like waves by waves succeeded, Rise, and still deny it rest. Patty. Well, Ma’am, as I was saying – Nar. Well, say no more of what you were saying – Sure, Patty, you forget where you are: a little caution will be necessary now, I think. Patty. Lord, Madam, how is it possible to help talking? We are in Barbadoes here to be sure – but then, Ma’am, one may let out a little in a private morning’s walk by ourselves. Nar. Nay, it’s the same thing with you indoors. Patty. Why, to say the truth, Ma’am, tho’ we do live in your father’s house – sir Christopher Curry, the grand Governor that governs all Barbadoes – and a terrible positive governor he is to be sure – yet, he’ll find it a difficult matter to govern a chambermaid’s tongue, I believe. 24 Song As Fiske notes, the song “has an accompaniment intended to suggest waves”. English Theatre Music in the Eighteenth Century, p. 479. PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 221 Christian drovers, charming trade! Who so careful cattle drive; And the tender Christian maid, Sweetly skinning eels alive. Tender tonish dames, who take Whip in hand, and drive like males, Have their ponies nick’d – to make The pretty creatures cock their tails! Christian boys will shy at cocks, Worry dogs, hunt cats, kill flies; Christian Lords will learn to box, And give their noble friend black eyes. Oh, here he is, at last. Enter INKLE and a second PLANTER. Inkle. Nay, sir, I understand your customs well: your Indian markets are not unknown to me. 2 nd Plant. And, as you seem to understand business, I need not tell you that dispatch is the soul of it. Her name you say is – Inkle. Yarico: but urge this no more, I beg you. I must not listen to it: for to speak freely, her anxious care of me demands that here, – though here it may seem strange, – I should avow my love for her. Plant. Lord help you for a merchant! – “What a pretty figure you would cut upon Change” – It’s the first time I ever heard a trader talk of love; except, indeed, the love of trade – and the love of the Sweet Molly, my ship. Inkle. Then, sir, you cannot feel my situation. Plant. Oh yes, I can! We have a hundred such cases just after a voyage; cruelties here mentioned, are certainly contrary to the spirit of Christianity [...] as they now stand, they certainly appear to be represented as a part of the Christian character, and tauntingly to censure it”. Four Discourses on Subjects Relating to the Amusement of the Stage (Cambridge: Francis Hodson, 1809), pp. 134-135. 222 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage but they never last long on land. It’s amazing how constant a young man is in a ship! But, in two words, will you dispose of her or no? Inkle. In two words then, meet me here at noon, and we’ll speak further on this subject: and lest you think I trifle with your business, hear why I wish this pause. Chance threw me, on my passage to your island, among a savage people. Deserted, – defenceless, – cut off from my companions, – my life at stake – to this young creature I owe my preservation; – she found me, like a dying bough, torn from its kindred branches; which, as it drooped, she moistened with her tears. Plant. Nay, nay, talk like a man of this world. Inkle. Your patience. – And yet your interruption goes to my present feelings; for, on our sail to this your island – the thoughts of time misspent – doubt – fears – for call it what you will – have much perplexed me; and as your spires arose, reflections still rose with them; for here, sir, lie my interests, great connections, and other weighty matters – which now I need not mention – Plant. But which her presence here will mar. Inkle. Even so – And yet the gratitude I owe her! Plant. Pshaw! So, because she preserved your life, your gratitude is to make you give up all you have to live upon. Inkle. Why in that light, indeed – This never struck me yet. I’ll think on’t. Plant. Aye, aye, do so – Why what return can the wench wish more than taking her from a wild, idle, savage people and providing for her, here, with reputable hard work, in a genteel, polished, tender, Christian country? Inkle. Well, sir, at noon – Plant. I’ll meet you – but remember, young gentleman, you must get her off your hands – you must indeed. – I shall have her a bargain, I see that – your servant! – Zounds, how late it is – but never be put out of your way for a woman – I must run – my wife will play the devil with me for keeping breakfast. [Exit.] PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 223 Inkle. Trudge. Trudge. Sir! Inkle. Have you provided a proper apartment? Trudge. Yes, sir, at the Crown, here; a neat, spruce room, they tell me. You have not seen such a convenient lodging this good while, I believe. Inkle. Are there no better inns in the town? Trudge. Um – Why there’s the Lion, I hear, and the Bear and the Boar – but we saw them at the door of all our late lodgings, and found but bad accommodations within, sir. Inkle. Well, run to the end of the quay, and conduct Yarico hither. The road is straight before you: you can’t miss it. Trudge. Very well, sir. What a fine thing it is to turn one’s back on a master, without running into a wolf’s belly! One can follow one’s nose on a message here, and be sure it won’t be bit off by the way. [Exit.] Inkle. Let me reflect a little. This honest planter counsels well. Part with her – What is there in it which cannot easily be justified? Justified! – Pshaw – My interest, honour, engagements to Narcissa: all demand it. My father’s precepts, too – I can remember when I was a boy, what pains he took to mould me! – Schooled me from morn to night – and still the burden of his song was – Prudence! Prudence, Thomas, and you’ll rise. – Early he taught me numbers; which he said – and he said rightly – would give me a quick view of loss and profit; and banish from my mind those idle impulses of passion which mark young thoughtless spendthrifts. His maxims rooted in my heart, and as I grew – they grew; till I was reckoned, among our friends, a steady, sober, solid, good young man; and all the neighbours called me the prudent Mr Thomas. And shall I now, at once, kick down the character which I have raised so warily? – Part with her, – sell her, – The thought once struck me in our cabin as she lay sleeping by me; but, in her slumbers, she passed her arm around me, murmured a blessing on my name, and broke my meditations. 248 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage house, that I never saw before in my life. [Aside.] I fancy, young gentleman, as you are such a bosom friend of the Governor’s, you can hardly do any thing to alter your situation with him? I shouldn’t imagine any thing could bring him to think a bit worse of you than he does at present. Inkle. Oh! pardon me; but you’ll find that hereafter – besides, you, doubtless know his character? Sir Chr. Oh, as well as I do my own. But let’s understand one another. You may trust me, now you’ve gone so far. You are acquainted with his character, no doubt, to a hair? Inkle. I am – I see we shall understand each other. You know him too, I see, as well as I. – A very touchy, testy, hot old fellow. Sir Chr. Here’s a scoundrel! I hot and touchy! Zounds! I can hardly contain my passion! – But I won’t discover myself. I’ll see the bottom of this. [Aside.] Well now, as we seem to have come to a tolerable explanation – Let’s proceed to business – Bring me the woman. Inkle. No; there you must excuse me. I rather would avoid seeing her more; and wish it to be settled without my seeming interference. My presence might distress her. – You conceive me? Sir Chr. Zounds! what an unfeeling rascal! – The poor girl’s in love with him, I suppose. No, no, fair and open. My dealing is with you, and you only. I see her now or I declare off. Inkle. Well then, you must be satisfied: yonder’s my servant – ha – a thought has struck me. Come here, sir. Enter TRUDGE. I’ll write my purpose and send it her by him. – It’s lucky that I taught her to decipher characters; my labour now is paid. [Takes out his pocket- book and writes.] – This is somewhat less abrupt; ’twill soften matters. [To himself.] Give this to Yarico; then bring her hither with you. Trudge. I shall, sir. [Going.] Inkle. Stay; come back. This soft fool, if uninstructed, may add to her distress: his drivelling sympathy may feed her grief instead of soothing PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 249 it. – When she has read this paper, seem to make light of it; tell her it is a thing of course, done purely for her good. I here inform her that I must part with her. D’ye understand your lesson? Trudge. Pa–part with Ma–madam Ya–ric–o! Inkle. Why does the blockhead stammer! – I have my reasons. No muttering – and let me tell you, sir, if your rare bargain were gone too, ’twould be the better: she may babble our story of the forest, and spoil my fortune. Trudge. I’m sorry for it, sir; I have lived with you a long while; I’ve half a year’s wages too due the 25th ult. due for dressing your hair and scribbling your parchments; but take my scribbling; take my frizzing; take my wages; and I, and Wows, will take ourselves off together – she saved my life, and rot me, sir, if anything but death shall part us. Inkle. Impertinent! Go, and deliver your message! Trudge. I’m gone, sir. Lord, Lord! I never carried a letter with such ill will in all my born days. [Exit.] Sir Chr. Well – shall I see the girl? Inkle. She’ll be here presently. One thing I had forgot: when she is yours, I need not caution you, after the hints I’ve given, to keep her from the Castle. If sir Christopher should see her, ’twould lead, you know, to a discovery of what I wish concealed. Sir Chr. Depend upon me – sir Christopher will know no more of our meeting, than he does at this moment. Inkle. Your secrecy shall not be unrewarded: I’ll recommend you, particularly, to his good graces. Sir Chr. Thank ye, thank ye; but I’m pretty much in his good graces, as it is; I don’t know anybody he has a greater respect for. – Re-enter TRUDGE. Inkle. Now, sir, have you performed your message? 250 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage Trudge. Yes, I gave her the letter. Inkle. And where is Yarico? did she say she’d come? didn’t you do as you were ordered? didn’t you speak to her? Trudge. I couldn’t, sir, I couldn’t – I intended to say what you bid me – but I felt such a pain in my throat, I couldn’t speak a word, for the soul of me. And so, sir, I fell a crying. Inkle. Blockhead! Sir Chr. ’Sblood, but he’s a very honest blockhead. Tell me, my good fellow – what said the wench? Trudge. Nothing at all, sir. She sat down with her two hands clasped on her knees and looked so pitifully in my face I could not stand it. Oh, here she comes. I’ll go and find Wows: if I must be melancholy, she shall keep me company. [Exit.] Sir Chr. Ods my life, as comely a wench, as I ever saw! Enter YARICO, who looks for some time in INKLE’s face, bursts into tears, and falls on his neck. Inkle. In tears! nay, Yarico! why this? Yar. Oh do not – do not leave me! Inkle. Why, simple girl! I’m labouring for your good. My interest, here, is nothing: I can do nothing from myself; – you are ignorant of our country’s customs. I must give way to men more powerful, who will not have me with you. But see, my Yarico, ever anxious for your welfare, I’ve found a kind, good person who will protect you. Yar. Ah! why not you protect me? Inkle. I have no means – how can I? Yar. Just as I sheltered you. Take me to yonder mountain, where I see no smoke from tall, high houses, filled with your cruel countrymen. None of your princes, there, will come to take me from you. And should they stray that way, we’ll find a lurking place, just like my own poor cave; where many a day I sat beside you, and blessed the chance that brought you to it – that I might save your life. PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 253 [Enters from the inn.] Oh, here you are at last – Ah, sir Christopher! What are you there! too impatient to wait at home. But here’s one that will make you easy, I fancy. [Clapping INKLE on the shoulder.] Sir Chr. How came you to know him? Med. Ha! ha! Well that’s curious enough, too. So you have been talking, here, without finding out each other. Sir Chr. No, no; I have found him out with a vengeance. Med. Not you. Why this is the dear boy. It’s my nephew – that is, your son-in-law, that is to be. It’s Inkle! Sir Chr. It’s a lie; and you’re a purblind old booby – and this dear boy is a damned scoundrel. Med. Hey-day! what’s the meaning of this? One was mad before, and he has bit the other, I suppose. Sir Chr. But here comes the dear boy – the true boy – the jolly boy, piping hot from church, with my daughter. Enter CAMPLEY, NARCISSA, and PATTY. Med. Campley! Sir Chr. Who? Campley; – It’s no such thing. Camp. That’s my name, indeed, sir Christopher. Sir Chr. The devil it is! And, how came you, sir, to impose upon me and assume the name of Inkle? A name which every man of honesty ought to be ashamed of. Camp. I never did, sir. – Since I sailed from England with your daughter, my affection has daily increased: and when I came to explain myself to you, by a number of concurring circumstances, which I am now partly acquainted with, you mistook me for that gentleman. Yet had I even then been aware of your mistake, I must confess, the regard for my own happiness would have tempted me to let you remain undeceived. Sir Chr. And did you, Narcissa, join in – 254 FRANCA DELLAROSA Slavery on Stage Nar. How could I, my dear sir, disobey you? Patty. Lord, your honour, what young lady could refuse a captain? Camp. I am a soldier, sir Christopher. Love and War is the soldier’s motto; though my income is trifling to your intended son-in-law’s, still the chance of war has enabled me to support the object of my love above indigence. Her fortune, sir Christopher, I do not consider myself by any means entitled to. Sir Chr. ’Sblood! but you must though. Give me your hand, my young Mars, and bless you both together! – Thank you, thank you for cheating an old fellow into giving his daughter to a lad of spirit, when he was going to throw her away upon one, in whose breast the mean passion of avarice smothers the smallest spark of affection or humanity. Inkle. Confusion! Nar. I have this moment heard a story of a transaction in the forest, which, I own, would have rendered compliance with your former commands very disagreeable. Patty. Yes, sir, I told my mistress he had brought over a Hotty-pot gentlewoman. Sir Chr. Yes, but he would have left her for you; [To NARCISSA.] and you for his interest; and sold you, perhaps, as he has this poor girl to me, as a requital for preserving his life. Nar. How!56 Enter TRUDGE and WOWSKI. Trudge. Come along, Wows! take a long last leave of your poor mistress: throw your pretty, ebony arms about her neck. Wowski. No, no; – she not go. You not leave poor Wowski. [Throwing her arms about YARICO.] Sir Chr. Poor girl! A companion, I take it! 56 From this point Colman altered the original ending, of which a fragment is extant in the Larpent manuscript. See Sutcliffe, “Introduction”, pp. 23-24; Felsenstein, English Trader, Indian Maid, p. 25. See above, pp. 91-94. PART II – Colman: Inkle and Yarico 255 Trudge. A thing of my own, sir. I couldn’t help following my master’s example in the woods – Like master, like man, sir. Sir Chr. But you would not sell her, and be hanged to you, you dog, would you? Trudge. Hang me, like a dog, if I would, sir. Sir Chr. So say I to every fellow that breaks an obligation due to the feelings of a man. But, old Medium, what have you to say for your hopeful nephew? Med. I never speak ill of my friends, sir Christopher. Sir Chr. Pshaw! Inkle. Then let me speak: hear me defend a conduct — Sir Chr. Defend! Zounds! plead guilty at once – it’s the only hope left of obtaining mercy. Inkle. Suppose, old gentleman, you had a son? Sir Chr. ’Sblood! then I’d make him an honest fellow; and teach him that the feeling heart never knows greater pride than when it’s employed in giving succour to the unfortunate. I’d teach him to be his father’s own son to a hair. Inkle. Even so my father tutored me: from infancy, bending my tender mind, like a young sapling, to his will – Interest was the grand prop round which he twined my pliant, green affections: taught me in childhood to repeat old sayings – all tending to his own fixed principles – and the first sentence that I ever lisped, was Charity begins at home. Sir Chr. I shall never like a proverb again, as long as I live. Inkle. As I grew up, he’d prove – and by example – were I in want, I might e’en starve, for what the world cared for their neighbours; why then should I care for the world? Men now lived for themselves. These were his doctrines: then, sir, what would you say, should I, in spite of habit, precept, education, fly in my father’s face, and spurn his counsels? Sir Chr. Say! why, that you were a damned honest, undutiful fellow. O curse such principles! Principles, which destroy all confidence