fairer friend, for that favour,-to Miss Richland. Would she complete our joy, and make the man she has honoured by her friendship happy in her love, I should then forget all, and be as blest as the welfare of my dearest kinsman can make me. Miss Richland. After what is past, it would be but affectation to pretend to indifference. Yes, I will own an attachment, which I find was more than friendship. And if my entreaties cannot alter his resolution to quit the country, I will even try my hand has not power to detain him. [Giving her hand. Honeywood. Heavens! how can I have deserved all this? How express my happiness-my gratitude? A moment like this overpays an age of apprehension. if Croaker. Well, now I see content in every face; but Heaven send we be all better this day three months! Sir William. Henceforth, nephew, learn to respect yourself. He who seeks only for applause from without, has all his happiness in another's keeping. Honeywood. Yes, sir, I now too plainly perceive my errors: my vanity, in attempting to please all by fearing to offend any: my meanness, in approving folly lest fools should disapprove. Henceforth, therefore, it shall be my study to reserve my pity for real distress; my friendship for true merit; and my love for her who first taught me what it is to be happy. [Exeunt omnes. EPILOGUE.* SPOKEN BY MRS BULKLEY. As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure The author, in expectation of an Epilogue from a friend at Oxford, deferred writing one himself till the very last hour. What is here offered, owes all its success to the graceful manner of the actress who spoke it. An epilogue! things can't go on without it! While oft, with many a smile, and many a shrug, He nods, they nod; he cringes, they grimace ; SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER; OR, THE MISTAKES OF A NIGHT. A COMEDY. She Stoops to Conquer was represented for the first time, March 15, 1773. It was very successful, and became a stock play. The author's friends had some difficulty in fixing upon a name for it: Goldsmith himself originally entitled it The Old House a New Inn.-B. DEDICATION. TO SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL. D. DEAR SIR,- By inscribing this slight performance to you, I do not mean so much to compliment you as myself. It may do me some honour to inform the public, that I have lived many years in intimacy with you. It may serve the interests of mankind also to inform them, that the greatest wit may be found in a character, without impairing the most unaffected piety. I have, particularly, reason to thank you for your partiality to this performance. The undertaking a comedy, not merely sentimental, was very dangerous; and Mr Colman, who saw this piece in its various stages, always thought it so. However, I ventured to trust it to the public; and, though it was necessarily delayed till late in the season, I have every reason to be grateful. I am, dear Sir, Your most sincere friend and admirer, OLIVER GOLDSMITH. Enter Mr. Woodward, dressed in black, and holding a handkerchief to his eyes. EXCUSE me, sirs, I pray-I can't yet speak- |