 | Young and Handsome |  |
Scene Fourth.
—The Castle of Flowers—It is in the centre of a lake, and composed entirely of flowers.Cupid.
Here dwells your love.
Ali.
Oh, what a lovely scene!
Cupid.
Of all this fair domain she is the Queen.
Ali.
The Queen! What! is she not a shepherdess?
Cupid.
No—half a fairy—wholly a Princess.
Ali.
A Princess! fairy! Why then—
Cupid.
Yes—you're right—
She changed your dress and lodgings.
Ali.
Oh! delight!
But whose then was that portrait of a lady?
Cupid.
A sort of Mrs. Harris—very shady.
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There's no such person!
Cupid.
No—but the old wretch
Who took that likeness from a fancy sketch,
Will try some other dodge your heart to sever—
Ali.
From Young and Handsome? Then she must be clever!
Cupid.
She is a witch—I warn you—and a cunning one
You run a risk.
Ali.
Where's he who would fear running one
For such a prize?
Cupid.
Then run it.
(Exit Cupid—Music)
Ali.
(looking off)
Powers above!
It is my lady—Oh, it is my love!
Music—Enter Princess in regal attire, and attended.
Prin.
Well—you see I am not a shepherdess.
Ali.
No—but I love you not a bit the less.
Prin.
To rank and riches, then you've no objection?
Ali.
None in the least—enriched by your affection.
Prin.
I feared a swain so sweetly sentimental,
Might scorn a crown, and deprecate a rental.
Ali.
Dismiss your fears! Although I never had one,
I'd not refuse a crown, unless a bad one.
“Love in a cottage” has a special charm in it;
But say “a palace,” I can see no harm in it.
And as I'm told my father was a king,
I soon shall get accustomed to the thing.
Prin.
How sensible! My heart you quite relieve.
Ali.
Sweet Princess, I entreat you to believe.
There is no wealth a Rothschild ever knew
That I should not rejoice to share with you.
Prin.
Accept then, with my heart, my hand and throne.
Ali.
Enchanted so to do—with all my own.
Prin.
Away! (to her Attendants)
And for our wedding celebration,
Let all my court make instant preparation.
(Exeunt Attendants)
Ali.
One foolish doubt arises in my breast;
I'm quite ashamed to own it, I protest.
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You're not the Lady of Camellias?
Prin.
No.
Duet-Princess and Alidor.—“Parigi o cara.” La Traviata.
Prin.
From Paris I brought not my Castle of Flowers.
Not one camellia you'll find in my bowers,
Though florid my taste, and my manners not haughty,
Sound are my lungs and my principles too.
Only the music of that very naughty
“La Traviata” I ever knew.
Ali.
From Paris she brought not her Castle of Flowers.
Not one camellia appears in her bowers,
Though florid her tastes and her manners not haughty,
Sound are her lungs and her principles too!
Only the music of that very naughty
“La Traviata” she ever knew!
(Exeunt Alidor and Princess)
Enter Mordicanta and Jealousy.
Mor.
What! orders given for the wedding feast,
And Jealousy has no chance—
Jeal.
Not the least;
They love too truly—stop till they are married.
Mor.
Talk not to me of stopping! I have tarried
Too long. I have discovered by my art
A secret, which gives vengeance a fresh start.
My foe, Pastora, gave her precious daughter
Some power on earth, but none upon the water:
Just let me catch her loving swain afloat,
And see if I don't row in the same boat.
Quick! a new element I'll try my luck in;
I am a witch, and not afraid of ducking.
(sinks into lake)
Enter Zephyr, limping.
Jeal.
What, my friend, Zephyr! Why, whence did you spring?
Zeph.
From where that brutish boor chose me to fling.
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I had been broken all to little bits;
E'en as it is, I am all over bruises,
Hear that, Apollo! Hear it, ye nine Muses!
Your own sweet Zephyr—Zephyr, black and blue
In sundry places! Sprained my ankle too!
Can you imagine conduct more improper. Ah?
Jeal.
I have heard of such cases at the opera,
But never saw one, save in a certificate.
Zeph.
Well, on this contretemps not to amplificate,
I mean to jump out of my mortal skin,
And if you like it, friend, you may jump in.
Jeal.
What! Be again an airy spirit?
Zeph.
Yes!
I'm tired of my body—and my dress.
To be the “glass of fashion's” well enough;
But of this “mould of form,” I've quantum suff.
Off it shall brush—Shake me again no man shall!
I am “too flattering sweet to be substantial.”
Jeal.
Then, Young and Handsome you give up completely?
Zeph.
No, I will flutter round her still more sweetly,
Invisible to ev'ry other eye,
And on her white hand breathe my softest sigh.
Jeal.
But Alidor won't care for that, you sappy.
Zeph.
Well, what's the odds, so long as I am happy?
For now I feel quite down upon my luck,
And since I've had a heart, I've got no pluck!
Air—Zephyr—“If a body meet a body.”
For now I feel quite down upon my luck,
And since I've had a heart, I've got no pluck!
If a body love a body,
As somebody I,
If a body snub a body,
It makes a body cry.
Every lass has got her lad,
To kiss one if I try,
Up comes a hulking chap, half mad,
And says—“I'll punch your eye!”
As somebody I,
If a body snub a body,
It makes a body cry.
Every lass has got her lad,
To kiss one if I try,
Up comes a hulking chap, half mad,
And says—“I'll punch your eye!”
With a body unencumbered,
Flirting night and morn,
In a rose's bed I slumbered,
Reckless of a thorn;
But I've got in horrid pickles
Since I've had a heart,
And I feel all over prickles
In my tenderest part!
Flirting night and morn,
In a rose's bed I slumbered,
Reckless of a thorn;
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Since I've had a heart,
And I feel all over prickles
In my tenderest part!
Bother bodies! let Tom Noddies,
Wear them if they please,
In lighter things, with gauzy wings,
I feel much more at ease.
Jealousy, you don't suit me,
Grim sorcerer, good-bye;
However keen—there's something green
In your great saucer-eye!
Wear them if they please,
In lighter things, with gauzy wings,
I feel much more at ease.
Jealousy, you don't suit me,
Grim sorcerer, good-bye;
However keen—there's something green
In your great saucer-eye!
And when a body's served a body,
Whether low or high,
Off a body throws a body,
And, blow me; so will I.
Whether low or high,
Off a body throws a body,
And, blow me; so will I.
Jeal.
They're coming! I hate sport I cannot spoil!
Zeph.
You cut! I'll shuffle off this mortal coil!
(Exeunt separately)
Re-enter Alidor and Princess, preceded and followed by Dancing Nymphs.
Prin.
(presenting Alidor)
Be kind, my Nymphs, to this young gentleman,
Make the best curtseys to him that you can,
Hop in his paths and gambol in his eyes,
In the most graceful way you can devise,
(sits on bank)
Music—Dance of Nymphs—in the midst of which, re-enter Zephyr, in his first dress; he mingles in the dance, and every now and then flutters round Princess.
Prin.
(to Nymphs)
Break off!
Ali.
What is the matter?
Prin.
Never mind!
(aside)
I can see there is something in the wind.
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Suppose we on the water have a sail?
Prin.
(aside)
I shall be followed by that wanton gale;
Yet sure there's nothing to be frightened at,
In such a very trifling breeze as that.
Ali.
Something has ruffled you!
Prin.
A whisper, silly.
Women, my fairy yacht, the Water Lily!
(Music—The Nymphs make a movement, and four go off)
Ali.
I'll bring your fairy ship round to the landing,
And in it soon, your fairyship, be handing.
(Exit Alidor)
Prin.
Nay, Alidor! pray look before you leap,
Remember that you can't drive ships like a sheep;
The wind is freshening and blows off the shore,
They can't beat up against it! What a bore!
Music—The vessel, formed of a water lily, appears, with Nymphs and Alidor on board.
Prin.
(stopping as she is about to go)
There's music on the water!
(three Tritons and three Syrens appear in the lake, and approach the boat)
Ali.
What are these?
Prin.
Tritons and syrens from the outer seas!
This is some masque invented to surprise us.
Ali.
(to Tritons, who are catching hold of boat)
What are you at? Hold hard! or you'll capsize us.
Prin.
Alas! they've thrown the mask off to my cost,—
They'll drown my husband! Alidor!—he's lost!
(the vessel goes to pieces—the centre part with Alidor sinks, surrounded by the Tritons and Syrens—the rest floats away with the Nymphs)
Re-enter Zephyr.
Prin.
Help, help!
(faints on bank)
Zeph.
My rival sinking! This is glorious!
She's fainting!—she wants air! I am victorious!
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