University of Virginia Library

Scene Second.

—Exterior of the Round Tower.
Music—Workmen enter, and employ themselves in fixing a crane and pulleys (to which are attached a rope and basket) to Tower—Stone-masons enter with materials for walling up the door, Grand Chamberlain superintending.
Air and Chorus—Grand Chamberlain and Workmen—“Bartlemy Fair.”

Flourish—Enter Peasants, preceding Guards, Pages, Ladies of Honour , then enter the three Princesses, with their Pages, and the King, attended by his Minister and Councillors.
King.
The hour is come, when from my dearest daughters
I must depart for foreign country quarters,
But first secure 'gainst Cupid's artful dodgings,
I'll place you in genteelly furnished lodgings;
You'll find in them your own linen and plate,
And as upon yourselves you'll have to wait,
There'll be no extra charges for attendance.

Idel.
And upon what, sir, can we place dependence,
For board, as well as lodging, pray?

Babil.
I hope
You'd not have us depend upon a rope!

King.
No, not without a basket at the end on't.
But by these simple means you may depend on't,
You'll be provided with three meals a day,
“Provided always,” as the lawyers say,
You turn a button you'll find in the wall,
As you would have the basket rise or fall.
I've given strict orders to my Major Domo,
And he alone, of all the genus homo,
Will have with you intercommunication—
All persons else by Royal Proclamation,
Are warned from coming even near this spot,
On pain of being sent to instant pot.

Babil.
Only the Major Domo! Cruel whim!
But I may say whate'er I please to him?

King.
Whate'er you please, without the slightest fear,
For he's as deaf as the door post.

Babil.
Oh dear!
But shan't we be allowed to take the air?

King.
Upon the top you'll find a garden fair,
Laid out in plots, where you may walking go.
And laugh to scorn plots laid for you below.
Thus, armed at all points, do I take my leave.

Fin.
'Tis too late to prevent you, I perceive,
You've ta'en your place already in the mail,
And fate alone has power to turn the scale.

King.
True! But although I've steel'd this manly breast,
To which, for the last time, perhaps, thou'rt pressed,
While all the father in my bosom warms,
I feel myself again a child in arms!
(weeps)
Snivelling! O shame! A Gander and in tears!
Brush off fond drops, and you, my pretty dears,
Brush in.

Three Princesses.
Good-bye, papa!

(the King embraces them as they pass—then all Three Princesses enter the tower)
King.
Farewell! Once more!
They've entered! Men of stone, block up the door!
(Masons busy themselves in building up door)
Adieu, my people! When I'm far away,
Remember me, and punctually pay
Your taxes. You'll be gratified to learn
They will be doubled until I return—
Which, though of parting it increase the pain,
Ensures you joy to see me back again.
Strike up, my drums, and let my trumpets bray!
Like a good knight, I wish you all good day!

(March—Exeunt King, followed by Minister, Councillors, Guards, Pages, Ladies, Peasants and Workmen)
Babillarda appears at window of tower.
Babil.
Heigho! What will become of me now! There
Is Idelfonza sunk in an arm-chair
And half asleep already—sister Fin
In her own room has gone to sit and spin,
No mortal creature, not e'en a poor bird,
With whom I can exchange a single word.
Well, I must talk then to myself until
Somebody passes, but nobody will!
The horse patrol would stop 'em on the high road,
And this bye-road is not a passing-by-road.
Yet sure there's something moving on it now!
Is it a man, a donkey, or a cow?
It's an old beggar woman, I declare!
Who looks as if just come out of Rag Fair.

Music—Enter Richcraft, as an old woman, with basket and long string of ballads.
Babil.
Here, here! Good woman! What have you to sell?

Rich.
Ballads, my pretty mistress.

Babil.
Ballads! Well
I love a ballad in print. Have you many?

Rich.
Three yards of songs, miss—forty for a penny—
Here's “Old Dan Tucker,” “Will Watch,” “Nelly Bly,”
“Love Not,” “Hot Codlings,” “Coming' thro' the Rye.”
“Long ago,” “Mary, I believe thee true,”
“I'd be a Butterfly,” “Red, White, and Blue,”
“Pop goes the Weasel,” “Far upon the Sea,”
“When the wind blows,” “Then you'll remember me,”
“Cheer, boys, Cheer,” “On the Banks of Allan Water,”
“Gentle Zitella,” “The Ratcatcher's Daughter.”

Babil.
Oh! the Ratcatcher's Daughter! How I should
Like to hear that. Pray sing it.

Rich.
That I would,
But I'm afeard to stop so long, my dear,
I'm told they'll hang me if they catch me here—
Couldn't you let me in? I'm old and poor—
Order your porter, pray, to ope the door.

Babil.
Order our porter! We've no porter here,
To order—if we wanted it—our beer;
No door to open, if we had a porter,
They've gone and blocked it up with stones and mortar.

Rich.
Oh! dear! To take me in, find some way, do,
I'd try to find some way to take in you.
If you've no servant, you'll want one, no doubt—
And if you'll let me in, I'll serve you (aside)
out.

Babil.
How can I let you in, when—

Rich.
What's to hinder
Your winding me up safely to the winder?
The basket I see hanging to that pulley,
I'm pretty sure would hold me beautifully!

Babil.
I never thought of that! The very thing!
What fun to trick papa! But where's the spring?
Oh! this must be it—yes; down goes the basket;
My explanation's ready if they ask it—
I've but obeyed his Majesty's commands,
To take up any one found on these lands.
Say when you're ready.

(Richcraft steps into the basket which has descended)
Rich.
Now then—that will do,
Haul up! (aside)
And 'twill be soon all up with you.

(Music—The basket ascends with Richcraft— when it is level with the window, Babillarda helps him in, and the scene changes to