"He has not peached so far," said the Jew as he pursued his occupation. "If he means to blab us among his new friends, we may stop his windpipe yet." WHAT THOUGH WE WERE RIVALS OF YORE. A ROMANCE. BY HAYNES BAYLY. I. "What though we were rivals of yore, It seems you the victor have proved, Henceforth we are rivals no more, For I must forget I have loved. You tell me you wed her to-day, I thank you for telling the worst; Adieu then! to horse, and away!-- But, hold!--let us drink her health first! II. "Alas! I confess I was wrong To cope with so charming a knight; Excelling in dance, and in song, Well-dress'd, _debonnaire_, and polite! So, putting all envy aside, I take a new flask from the shelf; Another full glass to the bride, And now a full glass to yourself. III. "You'll drink a full bumper to me, So well I have borne my defeat? To the nymphs who the bridemaids will be, And to each of the friends you will meet. You are weary?--one glass to renew; You are dozing?--one glass to restore; You are sleeping?--proud rival, adieu! Excuse me for locking the door." IV. There's a fee in the hand of the priest! There's a kiss on the cheek of the bride! And the guest she expected the least Is He who now sits by her side! Oh, well may the loiterer fail, _His_ love is the grape of the Rhine; And the spirit most sure to prevail Was never the spirit of wine. LOVE IN THE CITY. TO THE PUBLIC. In the prefatory observations I thought advisable to make when placing "Love in the City" before the world, I stated that my chief aim was the restoration of the drama to its pristine purity by avoiding those unnatural and superhuman agencies which modern writers have so extensively indulged in. Opposing myself thus, to innovation, I have ventured on one of the boldest changes in dramatic arrangement, by postponing the performance of the overture until the commencement of the second act. Having thus admitted my offending, I trust that, when the reasons which induced it are explained and understood, I shall have justified this daring step, and obtained a verdict of public acquittal. Is there a frequenter of our theatres on a first night whose musical sensibilities have not been lacerated by the noise and tumult incidental to a crowded house? Let him achieve by desperate exertion a favourable place in the undress circle,--suppose the theatre crammed to the pigeon-holes, the orchestra already tuned, and every eye bent upon the leader, awaiting his premonitory tap;--then, when the nervous system should be quiescent, the ear open to receive delicious sounds, the heart ready to expand itself into harmonious ecstacy,--at that very moment of rapturous expectation has not his tranquillity been annihilated by