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Clothe me with thy own righteousness,
And in thy likeness, Lord array.

HYMN to PEACE.

HAIL, facred Peace, who claim'st thy bright abode.
Mid circling faints that grace the throne of God.
Before his arm, around this fhapeless earth,
Stretch'd the wide heavens and gave to nature birth;
Ere morning stars his glowing chambers hung,
Or fongs of gladnefs woke an angel's tongue;
Veil'd in the brightnefs of th' Almighty's mind,
In bleft repofe thy placid form reclin'd;
Borne thro' the Heaven with his creating voice,
Thy prefence bade the unfolding worlds rejoice,
Gave to feraphic harps their founding lays,
Their joy to angels, and to men their praise.

From fcenes of blood thefe beauteous fhores that flain,
From gafping friends that prefs the fanguin'd plain,
From fields, long taugh in vain thy flight to mourn,
1 rife, delightful power, and greet thy glad return.
Too long the groans of death and battle's bray
Have rung, difcordant thro' th' unpleafing lay
Let pity's tear its balmy fragrance shed,
O'er herces wounds, and patriot warriors dead.
Accept, departed fhades, these grateful fighs,
Your fond attendants to th' approving skies.
But now the untuneful trump fhall grate no more,
Ye filver ftreams, no longer fwell with gore;
Bear from your beauteous banks the crimson stain,
With yon retiring navies to the main :
While other views unfolding on my eyes,
And happier themes bid bolder numbers rise.
Bring, bounteous peace, in thy celestial throng,
Life to my foul, and rapture to my fong;
Give me to trace, with pure unclouded ray,
The arts and virtues that attend thy fway;
To fee thy blifsful charms that here defcend,
Thro diftant realms and endless years extend.

Scene between CECILIA BEVERLY and HENRIETTA BELFIELD.

Cesilia. My dear Henrietta, your feem to be overjoyed. May I know the caufe?

Henrietta. My dear, dear Mifs Beverly, I have fuch a thing to tell you-you would never guess it-I don't know how to believe it myself-Mr. Delvill has written to me! he has indeed! here is the note! [holding out a letter.]

Gec. Indeed I long to know the contents. Pray read it, Hen. [reads it.]

"To Mifs BELFIELD.

Mr. Delvill presents his compliment to Mifs Belfield, and begs to be permitted to wait on her for a few minutes, at any time in the afternoon fhe will please to appoint."

Only think it is me, poor fimple me, of all people; that he wants to speak with. But what can he want! My dearest Cecilia tell me what you think he can have to say to me? Cec. Indeed it is impoffible for me to conjecture.

Hen. If you can't, I am fure there is no wonder I can't. I have thought of a million things in a minute. It can't be about business-It can't be about my brother-It can't be about my dear Mifs Beverly-I fufpect-[4 fervant enters with a message.]

Ser. A gentleman in the parlor defires to speak with Mifs Belfield. [Servant goes out.] Hen. My dear Mifs Beverly, what fhall I fay to him? Pray advise me. 1 am fo confufed I can't fay a fingle word. Cec. I can't advise you, Mifs Belfield, for I don't know what he will fay to you.

Hen. But I can guefs, I can guefs! And I fhan't know what in the world to answer, I shall behave like a fimpleton and difgrace myself.

[Cecelia leaves her and Mr. Delvill enters the room.]

Delville. Good,morrow, Mifs Belfield. I hope I have the pleasure to see you well to-day. Is Mifs Beverly at home? I have a meffage for her from my mother.

Hen. [With a look of disappointment.] Yes, fir, fhe is at home. I will call her.

[Cecelia enters.]

[goes out.]

Delv. Good-morrow, Madam, 1 have prefumed to wait on you this morning, by permiffion of my mother. But I am afraid that permiflion is fo late, that the influence I hoped from it is paft.

Cec. I had no means, Sir, of knowing you came from her, otherwife I fhould have received her commands without hefitation.

Delv. I would thank you for the honor you do her, was it lefs pointedly exclufive. Yet I have no right to reproach you, Let me afk, Madam, could you, after my folemn promise at our last parting, to renounce all future claim upon you, in obedience to my mother's will, could you think me fo difhonorable as to obtrude myself into your prefence, while that promise was in force?

Cec. I find I have been too hafty. I did indeed believe Mrs. Delvill would never authorize fuch a vifit; but as I was much furprized, I hope I may be pardoned for a little doubt,

Delv. There fpoke Mifs Beverly! the fame, the unaltered Mifs Beverly I hoped to find. Yet is fhe altered? Am I not too bafty? And is the ftory I have heard about Belfield a dream? an error, a falsehood?

Cec. If it was not that fuch a quick fucceffton of quarrels would be endless perplexity, I would be affronted that you can afk me fuch a question.

Delv. Had I thought it a question, I should not have asked it. But never for a moment did I credit it, till the rigor of your repulfe alarmed me. But as you are good enough to account for that, I am encouraged to make known the defign of my prefent vifit. Yet with confidence I cannot speak; hardly

with hope.

Gec. One thing, Sir, let me fay before you proceed; if your purpose has not the fanction of Mrs. Delvill, as well as your vifit, I would be excufed from hearing it, for I shall most certainly refuse it.

Delv. I would mention nothing without her concurrence, fhe has given it; and my father has alfo confented to my pref ent application,

Cec. (Clafping her hands in joy.) Is it poffible?

Delo. Is it pofible! With what emotions do I hear these words? Ah, Mifs Beverly! Once my own Cecelia! do you, can you wish it poffible?

Cec. No, no, I wish nothing about it. Yet tell me how it has happened I am curious (miling) though not interested

in it.

Delu. What hope would this sweetness give me, was my fcheme any other than it is! But you cannot-no, it would be unreasonable it would be madness to expect your compli ance! It is next to madness in me to wifh it! But how hal a man who is defperate be prudent and circumfpect.

Cec. Spare yourfelf, Sir, this unneceffary pain. You will find in me no unneceffary fcruples.

Delv. You know not what you fay, Madam. All noble as you are, the facrifice I have to propofe.

Cec. Name it, Sir, with confidence. I will not difguifebut frankly own that I will agree to any facrifice you will men. tion, provided it has Mrs. Delvill's approbation.

Delv. What words are thefe? Is it Mifs Beverly that fpeaks?

Gec. What can I fay more? Must I offer this pledge too! (holding out her hand.)

Delv. My dear Cecelia, how happy this makes me? (laking her hand) for my life I would not refign it. Yet how foon will you withdraw it, when you know that the only terms on which I can hold it, are that this band muft fign away your inheritance.

Cec. I do not comprehend this, Sir.

Delv. Can you for my fake, make fuch a facrifice as this? I am not permitted to give up my name for yours; can you renounce your uncle's fortune, as you must, if you renounce your name; and confent to fuch fettlements as I can make upon you? Will these and your own paternal inheritance of ten thousand pounds, fatisfy your expectations of living?

Cec. (Turning pale and drawing back her hand) O, Mr. Delvill, your words pierce me to the foul.

Delv. Have I offended you, Madam? Pardon me then for indulging a romantic whim which your better judgment difapproves. My prefumption deferves this mortification.

Cec. You know not then my inability to comply?

Delv. Your ability or inability I prefume depends on your

Own will.

Cec. No, Sir, by no means, my power is loft-My fortune, alas is gone.

Delv. impoffible! utterly impoffible !

Cec. Would to heaven it was otherways! But it is too true; and your father knows it.

Delv. My father!

Cec. Did he never hint it to you?

Delv. Distraction! what horrible confirmation is coming! (paufing) you only, Mifs Beverly could have made this credible!

Cec. Had you then actually heard it?

Delv. I had indeed heard it, as the most infamous falfe. bood. My heart fwelled with indignation at such slander. Cec. Oh, Sir, the fact is undeniable; tho' the circumftances you may have heard with it may be exaggerated.

Delv. That indeed must have been the cafe. I was told that your parental fortune was totally exhausted, and that during your minority, you had been a dealer with Jews! all this I was told from my father, or I could not have been made to hear it.

Gec. Thus far he told you nothing but truth.

Delv. Truth! (ftarting) never then was truth fo fcandalously wronged! I denied the whole report! I difbelieved every fyllable! I pledged my own honor to prove every affer, tion falfe.

Cec. Generous Delvill, this is what I might expect from you (werping.)

Delv. Why does Mifs Beverly weep? Why has she given me this alarm? These things must at least have been misrep. refented. Will you condefcend to unravel to me this myfterious affair?

Cec. Alas, Sir, the unfortunate Mr. Harrel! He has been the cause of my loffes. You know his love of gaming, a paffion which led him to his fatal end. In his embarraffments he came to me for affiftance. He was my guardian; what could I do? I yielded to his entreaties; and repeatedly took up money of a jew, upon the credit of my estate, until the whole was pledged. If it was a fault, I know you will af cribe it to the real motive and pardon it.

Delv. My dear Cecelia, I thank you fincerely for this account of your misfortunes; altho it fills my heart with anguish. How will my mother be fhocked to hear a confirmation of the report fhe had heard! How irritated at your injuries from Harrel! How grieved that your generofity fhould bring upon your character fo many vile afperfions!

Cec. I have been of too eafy a difpofition-too unguarded -yet always, at the moment, I feemed guided by common humanity. But I thought myself fecure of wealth; and while the revenue of my uncle enfured me profperity I thought little of my own fortune. Could I have foreseen this moment→ Delv. Would you then have liftened to my romantic pro pofal?

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