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A DRAMATIC SKETCH. 



The following Scene is selected from an unpublished Tragedy in 5 Acts, 

 entitled " Francisco," written by Jacob Jones, Esq., Barrister at Law, 

 Author of " Longinus," a Tragedy; "The Anglo-Polish Harp," and 

 various other works. 



ACT I. SCENE III. 



('The Pavilion of Fi'ancisco — his levee crowded by Moorish chiefs and 

 other attendants. — Salutes of martial music, &;c. SfC.J 



Fran. — Bring in this hair-brain'd spark ; this flash of fire ; 



ISome Attendants go out. 

 This raw night-rider, whom his Dotard sent 

 To treat us in our sleep, to taste his steel, 

 And singe our beards, and smoke us in our hive ! 

 I pant to see this pattern — fetch him forth. 



Re-enter Attendants with Claudia, in chains. 



Dissemble we ! (Aside.) Our greetings, stripling sir ! 

 We honour you in this that you are brave. 

 Though on ourselves, you long'd to prove no less. 

 Clau. — Woe was the hour we fail'd, and ye escap'd ! 

 Fran.— Yo\x venture, sir ! — address you to your case,- 

 Think of your bonds, and of your parents lost. 

 Your friends, and your protectors, and your kin. 

 For all your sakes, consider while you may, 

 Can no accommodation be devis'd .* 

 No honourable yielding to our arms ? 

 Start not — but think you of your heaps of slain ! 



Clau. — I am familiar with no heaps of slain. 

 Save the red heaps, unburied, of the camp. 

 When we've roll'd back your spring-tides of assault, 

 Or wrought outrageous sallies to your harm. 



Fran. — Your strongest points are tottering to their fall. 

 Clau. — Each is so strong, we know no strongest there. 

 Not in defence, — hov/ find you in assault ? 



Fran, — We have your secret, boaster ; though your sire 

 Count us so weak to take us by surprise ; — 

 He looks for succours ! — (Abruptly.) 



Clau. Soldiers such as he. 



So wary, so experienc'd, so profound. 

 Trust not in may-be succours, but rely 

 On their own sole resources — so doth he. 



Fran. — Utters he truth ? or has the devil's dam — (Aside) 

 Given him the suck that rear'd the king of lies ? — (Muses.) 



