The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor Part 9

"Some faults ... performances."

[_the original has opening quotes at the beginning of the second paragraph only; opening and closing quotes were added conjecturally in the final paragraph_]

_none but a poet should edit a poet_," [missing open quote]

"What! has this _thing_ appeared again to night?"

[missing close quote]

"You spirits oft _walk_." [missing close quote]

And faction's whirlwind cease to roar [missing punctuation]

preserves its course, its name, [missing ,]

"a _complete list_ ... in the English language,"

[missing close quote]

springs in each human breast [missing .]

"si quid loquar audiendum." [missing open quote]

similar to a triple shake. [extraneous close quote]

"The maid with the mildly flowing hair," [missing close quote]

Many a crown was cracked and many a heavy blow [invisible "and"]

_Index_:

Missing or inconsistent punctuation has been silently regularized.

_Poetry_ Soldier to his horse, 499 [tohis]

Zengis, so unintelligible audience not understand it [word missing in original]

VENONI,

OR THE NOVICE OF ST. MARK'S.

A DRAMA, IN THREE ACTS.

By M. G. LEWIS.

Printed for Bradford and Inskeep, No. 4, South Third-Street, Philadelphia; Inskeep and Bradford, New-York; and William M'Ilhenny, Boston,

by Smith And Maxwell.

VENONI; OR, THE NOVICE OF ST. MARK'S.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

The Viceroy of Sicily.

The Marquis Caprara.

Father Clestino, prior of St. Mark's.

Venoni.

Lodovico.

Jeronymo, } Michael, } Anastasio, } _gray friars_.

Nicolo, } Benedetto.

Carlo, } Pietro, } _servants_.

Giovanni, } Fishermen.

Hortensia, marchioness Caprara.

Veronica.

Josepha.

Teresa.

Sister Lucia.

_The scene lies in Sicily._

ACT I.

SCENE I.-- _The port of Messina-- on one side the viceroy's palace._

_Benedetto_, _Teresa_, _Carlo_, _Pietro_, _Giovanni_, and servants are discovered.

_Ben._ Bless my heart! bless my heart! no signs of them yet! tis past mid-day, and yet not coming? surely some misfortune has happened, or they must have been in sight ere this.

_Teresa._ Your impatience makes the time seem long, Benedetto; else you'd know, that on these great occasions it wouldn't be for the viceroy's dignity to move with more expedition. Besides, all the grandees of Messina are gone out to receive and conduct him to his palace; and with such a crowd of gallies and gondolas, take what care they may, I'm sure, twill be a mercy, if half the good company dont get tumbled into the water.

_Ben._ Well, well, Teresa, perhaps you're in the right; but no wonder, that every minute appears an age, till I once more embrace the knees of my excellent master. However, I'll be calm, Teresa, I'll be calm; I'll wait quietly for the arrival of the gondolas without uttering a single impatient word. Only, my good Carlo, do just run up the leads of the palace, and try whether you can't see the gallies coming at a distance.

_Carlo._ That I'll do with all my heart, master steward, and I'll make what speed I can.

_Ben._ Oh, I'm not at all impatient; I a.s.sure you, I can wait very contentedly for your return: so pray dont hurry yourself; only my dear good fellow, do just make as much haste as you can.

[Exit _Carlo_.

_Ben._ Bless my heart! what an agitation I am in! oh, how happy will Sicily be under this good man's government! how happy too will it make the poor marchioness, when after an absence of four long years she again embraces her invaluable brother.

_Teresa._ The poor marchioness indeed! well, Benedetto, for my part I feel no pity for misfortunes which people bring upon themselves. Why did not the marchioness take her daughter with her to the court of Naples?

why did a mother ever consent to trust her daughter out of her sight!

but forsooth she must be left behind in a convent, where soon afterwards an epidemic complaint attacks the sisterhood, and Josepha, abandoned to the care of strangers, sinks into an untimely grave, the victim of her mother's neglect and imprudence.

_Ben._ But the dangers of the voyage-- Her confessor had so often a.s.sured her that Josepha would be more safe in the convent--