Page:Hannah More (1887 Charlotte Mary Yonge British).djvu/40

28 at Bath, and to the author's request for an epilogue, Garrick replied, "Write you an epilogue! Give you a pinch of snuff!" And he composed one that delighted her very much. The work had success enough to encourage her in producing a more original one, called Percy, for the London world.

It was founded on an old French tale of Raoul de Coucy, but the catastrophe had so much likeness to that of Sir Eldred as to show very little power of invention, and by the adoption of English and Scotch names the playwright involved herself in inconsistencies that seem to have been regarded as mere trifles in those days.

Elwina, the daughter of Lord Raby, has been betrothed to Percy, but a quarrel between the retainers has led to the match being broken off, and to the lover going with the King to the Crusades. Oblivious of Chevy Chase, and apparently with no Border between them, Lord Raby then bestows the unwilling and sorrowful Elwina on Douglas. Strange to say, the tidings arrive— The King is safe and Palestine subdued; while of Percy it is reported— Beneath the walls of Solyma he fell.

On hearing which Elwina faints. Of course, Percy is alive, returns, and has an interview with Elwina, in