1 IT T will be acceptable to the reader to know something of the history of the circumnavigator LA PEYROUSE, which has given rise to this dramatic piece. Count DE LA PEYROUSE sailed from Brest harbour on the 26th of June 1785, with the frigates Astrolable and Bousole; touched at the Island of St. Catharine, on the coast of Brazil, and sailed round Cape Horn, and along the coasts of Chili and California. Afterwards he touched at Easter Island, Nootka-sound, Cooks River, Kamschatka, Manilla, the Isles des Navigateurs, the Sandwich, the friendly Islands, and Norfolk Island, and arrived in Botany Bay on the 26th of January 1788; from whence he transmitted home by Governor Phillips at Port Jackson, all his papers, journals, maps, plans, views, &c. and sailed from thence on the 10th of March following.Since which time he has not been heard of, but is supposed to have lost both his ships among the Ice Islands, in his run towards the South Pole, on discovery. His journal from 1785 to 1788, has since been published at Paris by order of the Directory, and lately translated in London. The Corvettes La Recherche, and L'Esperance, sailed from France in 1790, under the command of Captain Entrecasteux, and returned in 1793, without having gained their object; which was, to search for the unfortunate Count DE LA PEYROUSE. - The Amer. Translator. LA PEYROUSE. ACT I. SCENE I. [The Scene is on an uninhabited island in the South Sea. In the back ground the sea coast, sidewards a high rock.] LA PEYROUSE standing on the top of the rock, looking at a distance. THE fog clears away—still combating with the sun-still darkening the surface of the sea- -thus calumny covers virtue, creates romantic appearances, and is finally swallowed up by the force of truth. -Ah! what a spectacle! already the peak of a mountain on the nearest island raises itself out of the vapours-thin clouds only are seen to hover yet around it. -Now the fog forms itself into balls on the deep, the beautiful surface of the sea becomes visible the circle expands every moment- -my breast becomes fullerthe view brighter-and the Creator forces from me a tear of high affliction as my morning pray ́ers!——Do I not see at a distance some white point?A small cloud- -no-a sea bird- a swan-no God! Poor forsaken! do not rejoice too soon! your dream juggles hope before your eyes. -What deception!- -A sail! A ship! it moves- -it proceeds—not so the course of cloudsthe flight of birds-away from my eyes you clouds of fog! down to the sea shore !Here I stand strengthlesscan tremble only-and wish every vital in my eyes→→→ yes! yes!the mast becomes unveiled (with the strongest emotions of joy) it is a ship!(he kneels down and folds his hands) After eight years the first time! God! you send me a vessel!(rises hastily, takes a white handkerchief from his pocket, and swings it in the air) Ah! they do not perceive me ! -they will pass by-not hear my anxious cries-Oh! now my fate perhaps depends on the eye of a single manGod! throw but one glance this way! May but one glance of the sailor on the top be fastened to this rock, that he may call to the helmsman: halt! there lives an unfortunate man! -In vain !I will light a fire- --a thick smoke shall rise to the clouds- -(a cannon shot is heard far in the sea) Ah! What can that mean? Was it an answer to my signal? Was it a promise to save me?Yes! yes! triumph! the ship alters its course-it steers towards me!-Away! away! down to the bay! (With joyful emotion he leaps down the rock and will run off. SCENE II. MALVINA (meeting him.) Whither, dear friend? Peyr. A ship! A ship! Malv. Where? Peyr. There! There! (he hastens away) Malv. (alone) A ship? What have I to care for that? What can a ship bring to me? I have every thing, and I love my friendfriend Where is my boy? my lively Charles, as his father calls him. I would rather call him Tomai, for that's his grandfather's name. Oh! if the old man would but come from his island! if he could but see this boy, how If he climbs up the highest trees, and lets the dart fly from his little bow; I am sure he would not be angry any more. he could hear how much I have learned of my friend, if he could know the goodness of the God he has given me; if he could see how we love each other, how we continue in love, and always are contented in storm and sun shine- -I don't know what this ship can have to do here? we don't want it. -But my friend seemed to rejoice so much, then I must rejoice too; neither of us has ever rejoiced alone. SCENE III. CHALES (comes in leaping.) Mother, I have seen something! Malu. Where have you been? Charles. At the sea shore, I looked for shells. Malu. Well, and what have you seen then? Charles. A great mountain in the sea, but far, far off, but it comes nearer and nearer; but it can't be a mountain. Malv. I know it already, it is a ship. Charles. No, it an't a ship either, but a ship has entered the bay, just like our ships, only much larger. Male. That is called a boat-have people been in it? Charles. Yes, many people, such as my father; they came on shore and called out, then I ran off. There was a woman among them, who wanted to catch me, but I ran faster than she. It was not a woman like you, mother, it was a woman like my father. Malv. Have you then not met your father? Charles. No, I crept into the thicket, and the strange woman always after me. Sometimes I turned; and then she winked, and showed me pretty things, but I laughed and ran away. |