The Sun.
London, England, 1817-07-28 00:00:00

THE FABLE.

,The scene of action lies, of course, on the Scottish Borders,
and the chief agents are the ElHots and Ellieslaws, who are
supposed to have existed about the beginning of the last
century. Bobbie Elliot (Mr. Bartley) is represented as
plodding his way homeward from deer-chasing, in the gloons
of au 'Autumnal evening, when he is sought after by a Pea-
sant, Davy (Mr. Hockel), at the instigation of his grand.
mother, Dame Elliot (Mrs. Grove), and . intended Bride,
Grace Armstrong (Miss M. H. ttuggins;, to hasten his steps;
when they are encoantered on a I, icly moor by a Strange
Being (Mr. H. Johnston), who reset is their proferred courtesy.
in a nine of insane misanthropy, and I:aves Hobble and Uaiue
perfectly persuaded that he is nut of mortal lineage, but is
goblin of no amicable disposition. Although he shuns all so-,
ciety, lie has acquired a certain awful reputation in the
neigti-
bourliood of being a heaven-taught Wizard. He is con-
sulted in secret by Isabel Vert (Miss Kelly), who is distressed
by her father's threa,s to solemnize a forced marriage bet weeei
her and Sir Frederick Langley (Mr. T. Short), when ho
promises to appear and deliver her from the impending,
rue, which Ore:dens her. In the mean blue, Hobble's
Cosktage is destroyed by fire, and his cattle and Bride ear-
-1 ieil off by the Reivers, instigated chiefly by the Laird of El-.
lieslaw
,(Mr. Wheatley), be whose daughter and
young F.'airoscliffe (also Mr. H. Johnston) there is an at-
tachment, which the old Laird disapproves. Grree Arm-
strong being missing during the fire at the Cottage, Hobbie
is plunged in the deepest despair, and seeks information of the
\V said, for the recovery of his destined Bride. By an oraco-
lar hint given to hire by Elshia, the Wizard, he seeks his lost
mistress in the Towers of Wesburn Flat, kept by Grime
Mr. Isaacs), a plunderer, or one of the border foragers, wilts
after capitulation leads forth to the astonishment of the be-,
singers, not Grace Armstrong hat. Isabel Vere, who bad been
entrusted by the old Laird, her father, to the temporary care
of the Moss Troopers. Holebie in the end, however. finds his
Bride happily restored to him. The ei.tasirol,h, is brought
about by the appearance of the Wizard, who when they are all
ranged for the sacrifice made on the part of Miss Vert., irk"
order to have her father's life, and at the nismient of the so-
lemnization before the altar, io the Castle Chapel, suddenly
appears from the interior of a monitnwnt, and is soon re-
cognised by the guilty Ellieslaw to he uo other than young,.
Earnsclac, the Liiii•d's vital enemy. The inveter;lte
lit-
licslaw at first th;nhs of having recourse to fence, when he
is suddenly arres:ed in his pro;,re.s, by the di:-eiivei v that
the supposed Earnsclilre is in, other thari the rightful heir
to the estate, who had been stolen limn his cradle, and was
be:ieved to have died in infiincy ; but who, in fart, wai
teat to a distant country, wnere, as he adyinici-d tsj
manhood, be hail been persecuted by his unnatural
uncle, and confined, on his return to England, as a Ili,.
Mae. FrOlll this oppression and di estrous sithat.ein
bad here resent d by a young friend, who had ~...ciderwiliy•
been his companion in childhood. 'Phis it ho appears
in the Drama under the assumed name oi fliOiert
Wrench), but who is the real Earnwhite; has intro-
duced himself, icy a kit ss'hs'ctue of Diieslaw's fatal secret,
hen) his family, and is iarge!y instrumental to veleipe-
'tient of the plot. It apiwars, in ti:lat explanation,
to enable the defrauded heir successfully to assert his rights,
Earnselirie had lent his naiiie to his friend, in order its
be constantly near the mistirbs of his affection (:safe; Vere),
ttlurst life he lets saved,insimmes the strange disguise of the
Wizard—a character well suited Cu, the misanthropic turn or
wind which hissotki-i..6„ and injuries have oceasionalli
caused.

Upon the whole, this piece has been adapted to
the stage with considerably skill, but it tegn.res,
and will admit of, great retrenchment, part ieuhrly
in the misanthropic tifasions of :he Wizard, wthicla
tire, and almost disgo,t, with repetition.. The
ing was ll,roughout exact and animated. 11.Jotill-
sToN, BARTLry, and Miss KELLY were quite at
home, and deservedly excitea the warm applluse
of an audience which completely filed the Thert-b
tre.—The music composed to accompany the pan-
tomimic part of the acting does cred:t to Mr.
HORN. It is appropriate and effective.
HAY-MARKET.--!'he Comic Opera of The Castle
of Andalusia, reduced to an ntterpiece, was re-
presented on Saturday at this Theatre. It con-
stitutes a diverting Luce. ;MATHEWS was the
Pedrillo; !ie, as well as the farce itself, was
well received by a mimerouS audience.