University of Virginia Library

Scene Fourth.

—Black Gang Chine.
Enter Nigretta and Black Slaves.
Nig.
Within a mile of Happy Land's gay borders,
I come by mighty Carabossa's orders,
To cross my hated rival's path to bliss,
And make that mile to her good as a miss!
I may not with this knife cut her to bits,
But in the carriage curtains make some slits,
Through which the light of day may on her shine,
What then will happen is Fate's work, not mine.
But this at least I know—there is no doubt of her
Having the shine completely taken out of her!
Approach, you slaves!
(Blacks advance)
Now mind what you've to do.
The caravan will soon appear in view;
Salute the envoy as you've heard me mention,
And by your melody attract the attention
Of all the suite—whilst I prepare the bitter,
By letting light into the lady's litter;
Rattle your bones, and on your banjos thrum
Bravely!—
(march heard without faintly)
A drum! a drum! the bride doth come!

March louder—Nigretta and Blacks retire as the caravan enters, with the Ambassador, Floretta, and the Princess—The latter in a covered litter, closely curtained.
Amb.
Command they make a halt upon this spot.

Officers,
Halt! halt! halt!

Amb.
Halt! zounds! will you halt or not?

Flor.
How far is't called to Happy Land?

Amb.
If clear,
Its rosy mountains you might see from here.

(Black Slaves advance with their instruments)
Flor.
Mercy upon me!—what on earth are these
In toggery like those black bands one sees
In town, called Ethiopian Serenaders?
And yet, perhaps, they're only masqueraders!
Sing you?—or are you taught to play the bones
And banjos?—Are you blacks from Torrid Zones?
Or only lamp black'd blacks? you should be niggers,
And yet I've known fools make themselves such figures,
That were not so—

Amb.
Speak if you can, you ninny!

Black.
Ees, massa, we come here from Old Virginny.
We sing you lilly song, or play you tune—
Dan Tucker, Lucy Neal, or Old Zib Coon!

Flor.
(to Ambassador)
Whilst here we rest and take a little snack,
Suppose we hear these gentlemen in black.
It may amuse her Highness. (going to carriage)
Madam!

Desi.
(in the carriage)
Well?

Flor.
Are you asleep?

Desi.
It's so dark I can't tell.

Flor.
Are you disposed to listen to a song?

Desi.
Yes, if it's very good and not too long.

Nigger Melody.
During which Floretta the Ambassador, and all the Attendants and Escort gather round the singers.
(Nigretta advances to carriage)
Nig.
Now is the time!

(cuts with her knife a large piece out of the side of the curtain, and the Princess Desiderata is seen seated within)
Desi.
What do I see—the sun!

Flor.
Oh criminy, we're ruined and undone!

Music—Storm—The Fairy Carabossa appears.
Nig.
Victory!

Cara.
Vengeance! Change thy form—begone!
(to Princess)
And live for ever hunted as a Fawn!

Music—The Princess vanishes, and a White Fawn bounds out of the carriage, and disappears amongst the rocks— Carabossa departs with Nigretta—Storm increases to a hurricane—Ambassador and Escort are swept off by the tempest—Floretta sinks swooning with terror on a bank— On a sudden the storm subsides, the music changes its

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character, the rocks open in all directions, and discover glittering Arcades and Alleys, planted with fruit trees and flowering shrubs of the most beautiful description, down which advance troops of Fairies, and lastly the Fairy Pine-Apple.
Pine.
Music—The bank on which Floretta has fallen changes to a couch of flowers, on which she is borne off by the Fairies.
Song—Fairy Pine-Apple—Air, “Come with me to Fairy Land.”

BALLET.