 | High, Low, Jack, and the Game ; or, The Card Party |  |
Scene Six.
—Interior of Prison, as before.The Queen of Hearts discovered.
Q. of H.
Was ever card so kept upon the rack
As I am? How long must I here remain
To play at Patience by myself? Alack!
The King of Clubs! Where sticks he by the way?
Sure time has grown club-footed, it doth limp
So tardily along. He said he'd call
At eight; and see, the turret clock is just
About to score it. Strike, O clock! strike hard;
Knock down the spades by which I'm double guarded,
And lead up to the Queen.
Air—Queen—“Gavotte de Vestris.”
As I am? How long must I here remain
To play at Patience by myself? Alack!
The King of Clubs! Where sticks he by the way?
Sure time has grown club-footed, it doth limp
So tardily along. He said he'd call
At eight; and see, the turret clock is just
About to score it. Strike, O clock! strike hard;
Knock down the spades by which I'm double guarded,
And lead up to the Queen.
“I can't get out.”
(I quote the words of Yorick's starling.)
“I can't get out,”
So Sterne-ly here I sing.
King of Spades is cruel,
Keeps me without fuel,
Gives me water gruel:
Kill him in a duel,
King of Clubs, do—there's a jewel.
“I can't get out.”
Strike, strike, O clock;
As yet you've only struck three quarters;
Strike, strike, O clock;
One more will make a WHOLE.
Soon that King, provoking,
His nose here'll be poking,
If I cry out “Woah! King,”
He'll pretend I'm joking.
To protect me now I've no King.
Strike, strike, O clock.
(1st verse repeated)
(To the slow part)
Unless he his promise breaks,
He'll come in a brace of skakes.
(I quote the words of Yorick's starling.)
“I can't get out,”
So Sterne-ly here I sing.
137
Keeps me without fuel,
Gives me water gruel:
Kill him in a duel,
King of Clubs, do—there's a jewel.
“I can't get out.”
Strike, strike, O clock;
As yet you've only struck three quarters;
Strike, strike, O clock;
One more will make a WHOLE.
Soon that King, provoking,
His nose here'll be poking,
If I cry out “Woah! King,”
He'll pretend I'm joking.
To protect me now I've no King.
Strike, strike, O clock.
(1st verse repeated)
(To the slow part)
Unless he his promise breaks,
He'll come in a brace of skakes.
(Clock strikes to “Haydn's” (and the Queen's) “surprise”—Flourish without—The wall of the Prison is knocked in—Enter the King of Clubs.
Q. of H.
Methought I heard a noise.
K. of C.
(advancing)
If you did not,
Sweetheart, you must be very deaf indeed.
Q. of H.
What do I see? Ah, liberty; I'm out!
K. of C.
You shall be by a hole. The enemy
Give in at my first show. The King and Queen
Of Spades are prisoners. Clubs are trumps this round,
And Hearts shall be the next! What news with you?
(To Pam, who enters hastily)
Pam.
My liege, the Knave of Hearts defies your Majesty
To single combat and at single stick.
K. of C.
We do accept his challenge. Tell the Knave
We'll beat him out of doors!
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Clubs shall the trump be! The scamp O, shall decamp O,
Off he shall tramp O—While laughter roars.
Be not afraid O! I've quelled the spade O.
I'm not. He's quelled the spade O.
And soon this rebel I'll/he'll beat out o'doors.
The saucy knave, he
Shall cry peccavi!
And on his marrow bones play at all fours.
He! He!
Shall on his marrow bones play at all fours.
(Exeunt)
| High, Low, Jack, and the Game ; or, The Card Party | |