As Played at Bellegarde, in the April of 1750  
"This passion is in honest minds the strongest incentive that can move the soul of man to laudable accomplishments. Is a man just? Let him fall in love and grow generous. It immediately makes the good which is in him shine forth in new excellencies, and the ill vanish away without the pain of contrition, but with a sudden amendment of heart."
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
DUKE OF ORMSKISK.
 
DUC DE PUYSANGE, a true Frenchman, a pert, railing fribble, but at bottom a man of parts.
 
MARQUIS DE SOYECOURT, a brisk, conceited rake, and distant cousin to de
Puysange.
 
CAZAIO, captain of brigands.
 
DOM MICHEL FRÉGOSE, a lewd, rascally friar.
 
GUITON, steward to de Puysange.
 
PAWSEY, Ormskirk's man.
 
ACHON, a knave.
 
MICHAULT, another knave.
DUCHESSE DE PUYSANGE.
 
CLAIRE, sister to de Puysange, a woman of beauty and resolution, of a literal humor.
 
ATTENDANTS, BRIGANDS, and DRAGOONS; and, in the Proem, LORD HUMPHREY DEGGE and LADY MARIAN HELEIGH.
SCENE
 
First at Dover, thence shifting to Bellegarde-en-Poictesme and the adjacent country.
IN THE SECOND APRIL
 
PROEM:—More Properly an Apologue, and Treats of the Fallibility of Soap
 
The Duke of Ormskirk left Halvergate on the following day, after participation in two dialogues, which I abridge.
 
Said the Duke to Lord Humphrey Degge:
 
"You have been favored, sir, vastly beyond your deserts. I acquiesce, since Fate is proverbially a lady, and to dissent were in consequence ungallant. Shortly I shall find you more employment, at Dover, whither I am now going to gull my old opponent and dear friend, Gaston de Puysange, in the matter of this new compact between France and England. I shall look for you at Dover, then, in three days' time."
 
"And in vain, my Lord Duke," said the other.
 
Now Ormskirk raised one eyebrow, after a fashion that he had.
 
"Because I love Marian," said Lord Humphrey, "and because I mean to be less unworthy of Marian than I have been heretofore. So that I can no longer be your spy. Besides, in nature I lack aptitude for the trade. Eh, my Lord Duke, have you already forgotten how I bungled the affair of Captain Audaine and his associates?"
 
"But that was a maiden effort. And as I find—at alas! the cost of decrepitude,—the one thing life teaches us is that many truisms are true. 'Practice makes perfect' is one of them. And faith, when you come to my age, Lord Humphrey, you will not grumble at having to............