University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

—China.—Gardens of the Imperial Palace. Chinese music.—Enter a Procession of Guards, Mandarins, &c. They form a group on one side; then enter the Emperor.
Man.
Long live the Emperor!

Emp.
Silence, villains! stow it!
We'll not live long, unless we like—you know it.
'Tis not for your plebeian throats to give
Orders to us how long you'd have us live.
[They all prostrate themselves before him.
Sons of burnt fathers! what means that position?
How dare you tumble down without permission?
[They rise abruptly, and stand bolt upright, in a line.
Now, by my pigtail! by my father's nails!
By the imperial dragon's sacred scales!
My mind's so tossed about, so hurried, flurried,
Bothered, perplexed, annoyed, insulted, worried,
That soon I feel, with passion and disgust,
Within my bosom there will be a bust—
One universal smash my senses scatter—
[Mildly to audience.
Yet, stay, I'd best first tell you what's the matter.

SONG.
Tune—“Lord Lovel.”
[Emp.]
Lord love ye, now list, while my tale I relate,
And to my sad story give heed,
'Tis by my own daughter I'm brought to this state,
And I'm very unhappy indeed!

Chorus.
Deed—deed,
He's very unhappy in-deed!

[Emp.]
'Tother day, “'tis my wish you should marry,” I said;
“Indeed though I won't,” says she—
And of all the young princes I've wished her to wed,
Not one will my lady fan-cy.

Chorus.
Cy—cy,
Not one will his lady fan-cy.

[Emp.]
For she's vowed, and she's vowed, and she's vowed, and she's vowed,
And she's vowed, and she's vowed ev'ry day,
That she never will marry—her spirit so proud,
No husband will ever obey.

Chorus.
Bey—bey,
No husband will ever o-bey.

[Emp.]
But no longer I'll beg; I've been gentle enough,
I'll insist on her marriage to-morrow;
I'll be savage, despotic, ferocious, and gruff,
Though to be so 'twill plunge me in sorrow.

Chorus.
Orrow—orrow,
To be so will plunge him in sor-row.

[Trumpet.
Enter an Usher, introducing Jin Sling.
Ush.
His Highness Prince Jin Sling, Prince of Japan,
Heir to the Isles of—

Jap.
(entering, and pushing him backwards.)
That'll do, my man.

Emp.
How fares our guest this morning?

Jap.
Oh! tol-ol-ish.

Emp.
(aside.)
Japan is not remarkable for polish.

Jap.
But, now to business: come, what says your daughter
To the fine eloquence with which I've sought her?
Is she resolved still to oppose her fate, sir,
And miss the splendid match that here awaits her?

Emp.
Great prince! altho' I grieve to find it so,
Emphatically speaking, it's no go!
I pressed your suit—she swore she'd ne'er espouse—
She'd not be saddled with the bridal vows;
The sex's dignity forbad such thraldom
To men—inferior beings, as she called 'em—

Jap.
Infatuated female! did you tell her
That I'm considered a good-looking fellow;
That I have talent, courage, name, and rank,
Fame in the field, and money in the Bank?

Emp.
It's no use telling her such things as these,
Such pleas don't suit her, and such suits don't please;
The way she treated me, sure, in a daughter was
Conduct which, to a father, didn't ought to was;
She's thrown off all the show of love she shammed first,
And, rather than obey, she'll see me—

[Crash. Loud noise of slamming doors, &c.
[Badoura rushes in through door, L. her hair hanging loose down her back. Women, &c., following.
Duet.—(“Lucia di Lammermoor.”)
Recitative.
Bad.
Oh, my father! my best friend, oh!
Some pity show, pray,
Unto poor me, oh!
Or in two my heart you'll rend, oh!
So my husband
Now let me see, oh!

[Kneels to Emperor.
Emp.
How, your husband? you surely have been dreaming,
I suppose, oh?

Bad.
Nay; I've seen him.

Emp.
Gammon!

Bad.
'Tis you know so;
I saw him but last night.

Emp.
Come, come, let's have no nonsense.

[Crosses to L.
Bad.
I say last night, sir.

Emp.
Come, come, no nonsense.

Bad.
What?

Emp.
No nonsense!

Aria.
Emp.
If you teaze me, you'll repent, oh!
You must be mad for to talk so to me, oh!
Cease, or I my wrath give vent to,
Which will teach ye civil to be;
Mad you are. A commission shall attend, oh!
De Lunatico Inquirendo.

Bad.
You may rave and rant to me, oh!
Say I am mad, and exhaust all your threats, oh!
Still I fear no ill to see, oh!
But for that sweet youth my heart still frets.
Give him to me, or mind what you are arter,
For you in me will find you've caught a Tartar!

[Bad. and Emp. together.]
Bad.
Yes, you'll find you've caught a Tartar,
Caught a Tartar, sir, in me!

Emp.
Oh, my darter! oh, my darter!
You're as mad as mad can be!

[... together.]
Emp.
She's mad!

Bad.
I'm not!

Emp.
What can you know about it?
We've said you're mad, and so how dare you doubt it?

Bad.
Nay, best of parents—once more glad my sight
With that fair form that I beheld last night.

Jap.
Sweet maid, dismiss that mockery unreal,
Cut not your true beau for that beau ideal.

Emp.
'Tis clear as mud! she's mad; 'tis as I said,
[Firmly
Girl, there stands he whom I command you wed;
My words are law, mind!

Bad.
Then your law's a spooney 'un—
A poor law, that would drive me to that Union.

Emp.
Rash girl! no more; was ever heard such daring?
This madness must be cured; 'tis past all bearing.
Away, slaves! scour the country till ye find
A doctor, who'll restore her to her mind;
She shall be cured!
[Exeunt Mandarins, R., hastily.
(To Badoura.)
How dare you lose your senses?
Get well at once, or take the consequences.

[Exeunt tragically, followed by Usher and Guards.
Jap.
(Kneeling to Badoura, and holding her dress.)
Oh! sweetest princess, whose bright charms unfold
Such wondrous beauties, at thy feet behold
A prince of ancient line and noble blood,
In his best trowsers, kneeling in the mud.

Bad.
I may be handsome, but I'll now be plain,
So, I'll not have you, sir—you kneel in vain.

Jap.
Can one so fair speak thus to her adorer?
Your form a Venus, but your words a Floorer;
Think better of it—no harsh lord I'd be,
A model husband you should find in me;
I'd ask no latch-key, ne'er from home would stray,
Would eat cold mutton on a washing-day.

Bad.
No more, sir—leave me: 'tis in vain to sue
Where no effects can possibly accrue.

Jap.
Nay, but my suit—your father does abet it.

Bad.
“Methinks, I see my father” going to get it.

DUET.
Tune—“My pretty Page.”
Bad.
A pretty rage, no doubt, papa
Is in; but threats quite useless are.

Jap.
Oh, fairest lady, hear me still,
I'll love you true, indeed I will.

Bad.
Once more, I say, get out again,
You do not suit me now, that's plain.

Jap.
My loving wife I'm sure you'll be;
I know you can't say no to me.

Bad.
Leave me, I pray—

Jap.
Don't send me away,
You'll repent, if you do;
For you love me as well
As I love you.

Bad.
The deuce I do!

Jap.
Indeed you do

Bad.
What, I?

Jap.
Yes, you.

Bad.
I?

Jap.
You.

Bad.
Not I—get away.

Jap.
Not I—here I'll stay.

[Exeunt, L.