THE

DEFORMED TRANSFORMED;

A DRAMA.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THIS production is founded partly on the story of a Novel, called "The Three Brothers," published many years ago, from which M. G. Lewis's "Wood Demon" was also taken-and partly on the "Faust of the great Goëthe. The present publication contains the first two parts only, and the opening chorus of the third. The rest may perhaps appear hereafter.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

MEN.

STRANGER, afterwards CÆSAR.

ARNOLD.

BOURBON.

PHILIBERT.

CELLINI.

WOMEN.

BERTHA.
OLIMPIA.

Spirits, Soldiers, Citizens of Rome, Priests, Peasants, &c.

Thou incubus! Thou nightmare! Of seven sons
The sole abortion !

Arn.

Would that I had been so,

I would so too!

And never seen the light!

Ber.

But as thou hast—hence, hence—and do thy best.
That back of thine may bear its burthen; 't is

More high, if not so broad as that of others.

Out!

Arn. It bears its burthen;-but, my heart! Will it
Sustain that which you lay upon it, mother?
I love, or at the least, I loved you: nothing,
Save you, in nature, can love aught like me.
You nursed me-do not kill me.

Ber.

Yes-I nursed thee

Because thou wert my first-born, and I knew not
If there would be another unlike thee,

That monstrous sport of nature. But get hence
And gather wood!

Arn.

I will: but when I bring it, Speak to me kindly. Though my brothers are So beautiful and lusty, and as free

As the free chase they follow, do not spurn me: