The Nephews: A Play, in Five Acts. Part 12

Enter Mr. ROSE.

_Mr. R._ Forgive me, dear Drave, if I interrupt----

_Mr. D._ Do not take it amiss, Rose; but indeed you have come at a wrong time----

_Mr. R._ 'Tis too true; I _have_ come at a wrong time; would to G.o.d there had been no necessity! yet hear me.

_Mr. D._ I cannot; my heart is distracted--

_Mr. R._ For heaven's sake, hear an unfortunate man.

_Mr. D._ If your misfortune is greater than mine, I will hear you.

_Mr. R._ You knew me once as a rich, as a wealthy man.

_Mr. D._ Yes.

_Mr. R._ I am so no longer.

_Mr. D._ Impossible!

_Mr. R._ By a bankruptcy in Amsterdam, I am entirely ruined.

_Mr. D._ Can I a.s.sist, support you, dear Rose? I am at your service.

_Mr. R._ Merciful heaven! can you forget--

_Mr. D._ What?

_Mr. R._ Your ward's property.

_Mr. D._ Almighty G.o.d!

_Mr. R._ Unhappy man! you gave security.

_Mr. D._ Oh my family, my child!'

_Mr. R._ Can you forgive me?

_Mr. D._ [lost in thought]. Insulted first; then reduced to beggary.

_Mr. R._ I have been seeking in vain for you, and for Brook: now the seals are put on every thing, and I have undone my best friend.

_Mr. D._ [as before]. The trial is hard.--Oh heaven! from wealth to poverty, in a single day! [Rose sits down, quite dejected].

_Mr. D._ [with emotion]. G.o.d's will be done!

_Mr. R._ [rises hastily and takes Drave's hand]. Hard is your fate; yet G.o.d knows, mine is still more so. I am reduced to nothing.

_Mr. D._ [softly]. I also shall have little remaining.

_Mr. R._ My helpless children!

_Mr. D._ And my poor daughter!

_Mr. R._ Here our fate is the same. Yet you are only unfortunate; and I--shall be regarded as a villain. You are a sufferer, and I the cause: I cannot bear this thought. Hear me--Brook is still rich.--The preservation of a worthy family, is a duty, and will excuse it--Let us deny the security----you can then pay him half, and he may lose the rest.

_Mr. D._ No!

_Mr. R._ Do it while there is yet time.--I will bear my lot in patience; but let not the thought of having ruined you imbitter my wretched existence. Do it.

_Mr. D._ Never!

_Mr. R._ For G.o.d's sake, do it. The Chancellor is your enemy; I know it too well: this makes him now so busy about my affairs.

_Mr. D._ I will not, cannot.--Have I risked my ward's property too inconsiderately, I must bear the consequences.

_Mr. R._ Who can blame you? Where was there a safer house than mine?

_Mr. D._ They can seize all my fortune, and undoubtedly will; I hope it is sufficient.

_Mr. R._ You cannot avoid blaming me.

_Mr. D._ Do not be uneasy on my account. I have still strength and activity. I may prosper again: if not, G.o.d will support my wife and daughter, and in the grave at least I shall find repose.

_Mr. R._ I look at you with awful repentance. Father in heaven, I thank thee for this man!--I sought comfort from my friends, and met reproaches--I fled to my daughter--Oh, my daughter!

_Mr. D._ Go to her now; she will cheer the remainder of your days.

_Mr. R._ No, no, never!

_Mr. D._ Why not?

_Mr. R._ I went to her.--She was my darling--a kind look from her was my greatest delight--I gave her a large portion. I came from the Chancellor's--my agitation--my anxiety--I was overheated.--I threw myself into her arms--Nancy, said I, give me something to drink--I sought for consolation from her, and she----she upbraided me for my careless management.

_Mr. D._ Horror!

_Mr. R._ She went away--her children felt in my pockets, and asked what I had brought them. I had nothing.--A servant brought me a gla.s.s of water, and took the children.

_Mr. D._ Come to my arms, most injured sufferer! my Augusta will not desert you.----Oh, I am happy--I am rich; highly blessed----Come--we will bear our misfortunes together--will share our sufferings and our comforts, even to the last morsel of bread.

_Mr. R._ All deserted me. You only, whom I have ruined, remain my friend. Oh, hear and tremble--you prevented----suicide----

_Mr. D._ How!

_Mr. R._ Yes. My unfeeling child brought me to despair--G.o.d bless you!

_Mr. D._ Unhappy father!