University of Virginia Library

Scene Seven.

—The Court Yard of the Palace—Grand March from “Faust.”—Entree of Clubs, Hearts, &c., with the King and Queen of Spades, and others of their suite, prisoners; Pam, the Queen and Knave of Hearts.
Kn. of H.
What says the oracle? We sent to ask
Which party should prevail.

Pam.
Sir Knave, the oracle
Has answered, “Cherry colour.”

Kn. of H.
Cherry colour!
Victoria! That's our own! I do remember
The Ghost did also say that red should win!
I'll take the Ghost's word for a thousand pounds.
Courage, my heart! Trump out!
(trumpet sounds)
Again! again!

(trumpet is answered)
Enter the King of Clubs.
K. of C.
Of one or both of us the time is come.

Kn. of H.
With all my heart; but 'tis your suit will fail;
I bear a charmed life! The oracle
Has said that cherry colour shall prevail.

K. of C.
Despair thy charm!
And let the demon thou so long hast served
Tell thee, false knave, that there are cherries black
As well as cherries red!

Kn. of H.
Accursed be the tongue that tells me so,
And ditto ditto to the juggling fiends
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope. Lay on, great Club!

K. of C.
My crown and sceptre both upon the rub.

(flourish—they fight)
K. of C.
(hitting him on the head)
One for his nob! (trips him up)
Two for his heels!

Kn. of H.
I'm low!

K. of C.
I'm high!

Kn. of H.
I'm Jack!

K. of C.
And I the game!
Laugh and lay down your cares, fair Queen of Hearts,
The pool is yours!

Q. of H.
It looks a rich one!—Have you all put in?
And are you all content that I should win?
I dressed the board in trembling and in fear,
For even Pope might fail to save me here.
Mine is a ticklish game of speculation,
And I but play to gain your approbation.
Oh! on this point pray let it be decided:
I trust your honours will not be divided.
Come, let me see your hands—I hope you're strong
In hearts for me, and mean to hold them long.
Ye, who subscribe to all the clubs in town,
Will scarce club up to put my poor club down:
Ye, who have left your counters for my shop,
Say, will ye make the Queen of Hearts a stop?
Don't put out hastily a pair of Bards,
But deal with them and me for “Playing Cards.”
(to the Orchestra)
Our new Olympic Game, thus safe from ill,
We'll draw for partners and have one quadrille,
The Beaten Knave shall on the fiddle play,
And call the figure which we cut to-day.

The Ace of Spades produces a violin and bow from

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his Chancellor's bag, and hands them to the Knave of Hearts.
Kn. of H.
(mounting a seat)

“En place!” Hart's New Set!

The King of Clubs leads out the Queen of Hearts—the King of Spades, his own royal partner—the Knave of Spades, a Maid of Honour—and Pam, the Deuce.
Quadrille.
Kn. of H.
(calling the figures in the following order:)

“Matrimony,”—“Intrigue,”—“Pam Seul,”—
“Pool,”—“Game.”

(and the curtain falls on a general shuffle by the whole pack)