o do not admire the winning grace and sensible
conversation of the latter."[T]

DR. SHAW'S POEMS are to be published by Coale and Thomas of Baltimore,
who receive subscriptions for the work.

FOOTNOTES:

[T] See Preface to the American edition of the Life of Pitt.

THE
FREE KNIGHTS,
OR
THE EDICT OF CHARLEMAGNE:

A DRAMA IN THREE ACTS,

INTERSPERSED WITH SONGS.

BY FREDERICK REYNOLDS.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY BRADFORD AND INSKEEP; INSKEEP AND BRADFORD,
NEW-YORK; AND WILLIAM M'ILHENNY, BOSTON.

_Smith & M'Kenzie, printers._
1810.

THE FREE KNIGHTS.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

Prince Palatine,
The Abbot of Corbey,
Baron Ravensburg,
Count Roland,
Ravensburg,
Prisoner,
Bernardo,
St. Clair,
Everard,
Zastrow,
Walbourg,
Christopher,
Oliver,
First Falconer,
Second Falconer,
Free knights, Crusaders, Soldiers, Falconers.

Countess Roland,
Ulrica,
Agnes.

Dancers, Attendants.

_Scene--Westphalia._

ACT I.

SCENE I.--_A spacious cavern, veined with ore, marking the remains of a
sulphur mine. In the back a sheet of water, with a lamp hanging over it;
and cells with iron grating before them. At the right wing a large
brazen door, at the left wing another with steps leading up to it._
Everard _discovered--knocking and trumpets._

_Ever._ Hark! another victim. [_Unbars the door. Enter_ Zastrow,
_leading in a prisoner, whose eyes are bandaged._

_Pri._ Whither, Oh, whither would ye lead me? To pass apparently o'er
rugged rocks, ascend high mountains, and descend to vaults; hear the
close baying of the forest wolf, and the loud cataract's terrific roar;
and now, e'en now, perhaps, to stand upon the verge of some stupendous
precipice----

_Zastrow_ (_removing the prisoner's veil_) Behold! behold the precincts
of that famed tribunal that renders justice to the Christian cause, and
strikes dismay throughout the Christian world.

_Pris._ Merciful Heaven! if justice be the boast of your tribunal, why
all this dark, mysterious--

_Zas._ How! dare but to whisper one invidious word against an
institution that's upheld by----

_Pris._ (_crossing to Everard_) To you, who seem to wear a human form,
to you I make appeal. Some three months past my interest called me from
my native land here to Westphalia; and but last night, when all around
was calm and still as my own thoughts, a loud terri