 | Young and Handsome |  |
Scene Seventh.
—The Dragon's Den.Alidor is discovered standing in an attitude of astonishment, gazing at Cupid, who is seated on a Dragon, which appears perfectly tame and tractable.
Ali.
Oh prodigy! I wonder and adore!
Cupid.
You've said so about twenty times before;
And stood to manifest your joy and gratitude,
As many minutes in that striking attitude,
Come, for awhile your admiration season;
Nor think, because I'm Love, I won't hear reason.
Ali.
Forgive me, if in such a situation,
My reason suffers some slight alienation.
That man alone, who has been such a hobble in.
And found Love where he looked but for a gobble-in;
Who, doomed to stuff a horrid monster's maw,
Has seen that horrid monster hold his jaw,
And coolly turning tail, just as he met him,
Sit down and pick his teeth, as if he'd eat him;
That man alone—let prejudice not blind him—
And first, remember, you have got to find him—
Could understand the feelings that steal o'er me,
Viewing the interesting group before me.
Cupid.
I grant, the animal which I bestride,
Is more agreeable to behold—outside;
And that you see it from that point of view
Is an advantage that's occurred to few.
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Could whop a dragon; but he couldn't tame one.
But taming monsters is to Love a trifle;
To bring the wildest down he needs no rifle.
Of all the creatures that have hearts to feel with,
Love oft finds man the hardest brute to deal with.
Ali.
But since for this poor little man before you
You've done so much, you'll do a little more—you
Will, I am sure, and set me free instanter.
Cupid.
Softly! this race we can't win in a canter.
The course of true love never did run smooth;
And there's a green-eyed monster yet to soothe,
Who in that course is throwing stumbling-blocks
More hard to get through even than these rocks.
To trip us up he'll stick at no atrocity.
Ali.
Alas! then who shall help us?
Cupid.
Generosity,—
True love's best friend—proof against all temptation,
And at a wish comes its impersonation.
Enter Zephyr.
Zeph.
Where there's a will there is a way. A chink
I found, by good luck, on the very brink
Of desperation, and I've wriggled through it;
Now I've no body, I'm the boy can do it!
And here you are! living on Love, no doubt!
Half-starved, and dying for a good blow out,
And you shall have it in a brace of shakes.
(noise)
Hark! what a row one of my brothers makes
Rumbling down after me!
Ali.
Who is this mighty
Brisk little fellow? he seems rather flighty!
Cupid.
Zephyr! he has been visible to you
Before, and was your rival once.
Ali.
(starts)
Ah, true!
Cupid.
But there is no occasion for that start—
To do much harm he never had the heart;
But here comes one that has. Now for the struggle.
Enter Mordicanta and Jealousy.
Mor.
Hah! what strange phantoms with my senses juggle?
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Cupid.
The light of Love—the most electric spark.
Mor.
Out on thee for a false intriguing knave!
What dost thou here?
Cupid.
I came your love to save.
Behold him, perfect still in form and feature;
And here's your monster, quite another creature:
So tame, a child might play with him at snap-dragon,
Or a young lady make of him a lap-dragon.
Mor.
Alidor, still alive! Jupiter Ammon!
And you preserved him for my sake?
Jeal.
(aside)
Oh, gammon!
Cupid.
Yes, that you might release him without ransom,
And, in the best of senses, do the handsome.
Jeal.
By giving him to Young and Handsome—don't!
Mor.
Oh, never fear me—no! no! that I won't!
I am omnipotent this lake below!
Zeph.
(advancing)
Then I'll blow up the lake, and you also.
Mor.
You! Zephyr! why, you flimsy little wipster,
You couldn't make its tiniest billows tip stir!
Zeph.
Will you, once, twice.
Mor.
Ten thousand times—No, no!
Zeph.
Then enter Messrs. Boreas and Co.
Enter Boreas, Aquilo, Eurus, and Auster.
Blow, winds, until you crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!
I'll help you! Ev'ry little helps, you know.
Jeal.
Even for Jealousy this works too warm!
(Exit Jealousy)
Cupid.
Love rides the whirlwind, and directs the storm!
(a tremendous tempest—wind, thunder, &c.—the rocks are blown away, and discover—
| Young and Handsome | |