University of Virginia Library

Scene Sixth.

—The Boudoir of the Princess, in the Castle of Flowers—A cloud, on which the Princess extended insensible, is wafted in by Zephyr.
Zeph.
Poor creature! what more for her can I do?
I've brought her home—but cannot bring her to.
It's quite astonishing, that she can be
So very long insensible to me.
And what I comprehend with less facility,
Is that it so affects my sensibility;
A foolish feeling, which however odd, I
Could not quite cast off with my cast-off body;
That touch of nature, which the poets say,
Makes the whole world kin. Proving, by the way,
That it is one touch of their common mother,
Makes all men prone to cousin one another.
But soft! I do believe she is reviving!

Prin.
Help, help! To save him, vainly I am striving;
The vessel parts, and he is sinking, sinking!

Zeph.
Of that confounded shepherd still she's thinking!

Prin.
In some dark fold my precious lamb they pen up.
Here they went down. Oh, I'll dig; dig the den up!
(rises)
Where am I? Hah! who's there! What do I see?

Zeph.
Don't be alarmed—it's nobody but me,
The gentle Zeyphr, who has hither flown,
His aid to render and his love to own.

Prin.
Mock not my grief, thou trifler too etherial,
Thy love, thy aid, alike are immaterial!

Zeph.
You thought not so, when in material togs,
Brocaded coat, and other thingumbobs;
I was your partner at the village hop.

Prin.
Were you, then, that conceited little fop?
I thought I knew your voice, upon my word;
But couldn't fancy you'd be so absurd!

Zeph.
Absurd! there's not a god that you could name,
On Mount Olympus, but has done the same!
Jove as a bull, Europa deigned to woo,
And I—I made myself an ass, for you!
And the sad fact, I'm even now revealing,
That though I've cast the skin, I've kept the feeling!

Prin.
Forgive me, if your feelings I have hurt,
You mustn't fancy me a heartless flirt;
I didn't mean to wound you; I declare
I'd no idea that one could wound the air!
But for a light, inconstant wind like you,
The only lass to turn attention to,
Would be a wind-lass.

Zeph.
That has wound me up!
Oh, for poor Villikin's pison cup!

Prin.
My Villikin's is drowned, or worse—that hag,
Vile Mordicanta, hides him where no drag
Can find—no diver reach to break the spell,
Or I myself would be a diving belle!
Oh, Alidor! my life! my lord! my blessing!

Zeph.
Hem! This is positively quite distressing;
I must evaporate! I can't stand this!
Exquisite wretch! Oh, that I off might kiss
The tears that trickle down her innocent nose,
As oft I've kissed the dew-drops from the rose.
But her cheek—Oh, such purer pearls bedew it,
I feel I haven't got the cheek to do it.

Prin.
You pity me, I see you do, for I
Am half a fairy—and with half an eye,
See more than others could with two or three.
Oh, Zephyr, you are a divinity!
And—

Zeph.
You're another. Swift! to any quarter
Despatch thy slave; and over land and water
He'll fly to serve you.

Prin.
Over will not do,
I need some power that can go under too,
And to restore my husband, means discover.

Zeph.
A cool request to make an ardent lover.

Prin.
But you are not a selfish mortal man;—
Act like a demi-god—you know you can.

Zeph.
(aside)
What eyes she has! that last look was a twister!
One must be more than mortal to resist her—
I can't! The struggle's over—it is past!
To blight such love 'twould take a sterner blast.
(aloud)
Madam, behold the generous friend you seek,
I'm a brave spirit, not an airy sneak;
I'll go through fire and water for your sake,
And if I haven't strength to stir the lake,
I'll call on my big brother winds, to rise,
Wherever I can find them in the skies!
And such a jolly breeze we'll make together,
No land or water witch the storm shall weather.

Prin.
Do that—and I'll in turn be your adorer;
And build a temple here, to you—and Flora.
(Exit Princess)

Zeph.
My wife! That is a floorer! Never mind!
For Young and Handsome still I'll raise the wind;
And as I've so legitimate a view in it,
Even my wife can't blow me up for doing it!
Swift! Let me see which way the wind blows
(runs to window)
Oh!
East and by north it's coming on to blow;
That's not a bad wind, if we get enough of it.
It's getting up! I just caught the first puff of it!
Ho! Aquilo!

Aquilo appears at the window.
Aqui.
Ha! how d'ye do, young fellow?

Zeph.
Step in, I want you.

Aqui.
(jumping in)
Now! what's up?

Zeph.
Don't bellow!
Where's Brother Boreas?

Aqui.
A few points behind.

Zeph.
Just whistle to him then, but gently, mind.
(Aquilo whistles at the window)
And Auster?

Aqui.
He's gone round to blow a cloud
With Eurus.

Zeph.
Hush for heaven's sake, not so loud!
Here's Boreas!

Boreas at the window.
Bore.
What's the row?

(enters)
Zeph.
Hush! don't you make one!
Until I tell you (shakes hands)
Bother! How you shake one!
Whisper!

(Zephyr whispers the two Winds)
Aqui., Bore.
No! you don't say so?

Zeph.
Do be quiet!
You'll blow the roof off, if you make this riot!
Whisper again! (whispers them)
Now what d'ye say?

Aqui.
All right—
I'll do it.

Bore.
If I don't, just blow me tight!

Zeph.
Away, then! Rouse up Africus and Corus;
United we must carry all before us.
But not a breath that may the foe inform—

Bore.
Oh! the old dodge—the lull before a storm.

Trio—Zephyr, Boreas, and Aquilo—“Zitti, Zitti.”
Zeph.
Zitti Zitti! Piano! Piano!
Mind you don't let mamma know;
She'll blush, and let papa know.
He's a Titan, rather slow.

Bor.
He'd order old Æolus
In his round-house up to roll us:
Or leave poor Zephyr solus,
To fall without a blow.

Aqui.
Then away, with Zephyr hieing,
To assist his purpose trying;
Through the window quickly flying,
Like an arrow from a bow.

All.
Piano! Piano!
Soon from every point the wind shall blow.

(Exeunt all by the window, very cautiously)