University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

—HOME OF GAFFER AND GAMMER GRAY.
Laundry-Women, washing.—Gaffer and Gammer wake them up with big sticks.—Large practicable chimney in wing.—Laundry-Women and Gaffer and Gammer eventually go off.
Enter Satana, followed by Demonio.
Satana.
They're coming here, if I foresee their drift,
To put in operation Fresh Air's gift!
This time, my Little Maid and Little Man,
I think we may embarrass Fresh Air's plan!
The Little Man and Maid, I heard them say,
Will give the magic ring to Gammer Gray!
And she will exercise the right of wishing!
Now for some smart ingenious plan I'm fishing,
By which to nullify it—Oh! quite clear.
[To Demonio.
You whisper foolish wishes in her ear!
Wishes which would, if realized, distress them;
And she, the fool, will certainly express them.

[Demonio expresses acquiescence, and conceals himself.—Satana vanishes.
Re-enter Gaffer and Gammer Gray.
Gaffer.
No people ever were so poor as we!
I am as hungry as I well can be.

Gammer.
The larder's empty, and the cask is dry!
Our daughter to assist us doesn't try!
The hussy never comes to see her mother;
If this goes on, we must devour each other!

Enter Little Maid.
Lit. Maid.
Oh, mother, here's good luck—a ring!

Gammer.
Oh, bless her!

Lit. Maid.
Which gives three wishes to its proud possessor!
We didn't know what kind of fish to fish for,
And thought you'd tell us what we ought to wish for.

Gaffer.
[Snatching ring.]
Good child! good child! good child!—now let me see!—

Gammer.
[Snatching it.]
Why, Gaffer, give it up—the ring's for me!
To use it well my anxious bosom burns.

Lit. Maid.
Suppose you take your right to it by turns!

[Demonio whispers into Gammer's ear.—Business.
Gammer.
Well, then—I wish we had—it's such a treat—
A nice black-pudding, ready dressed, to eat.

[Black-pudding tumbles down chimney.
Gaffer.
That stupid wish your abject folly shows!
[Demonio whispers into his ear.
I'd like to see it sticking to your nose!

[Pudding sticks to Gammer's nose.—Little Maid very much distressed.
Gammer.
There—oh! oh! oh! whatever shall I do?
Of our three wishes, we have wasted two!
With this appendage I shall look quite plain!
[Demonio whispers into her ear.
I wish—I wish—the thing was off again!

[Black-pudding drops off.—Old people run off with it, quarrelling for it.
Enter Little Man.
Lit. Man.
Well, have they wished? And are we rich as Crœsus?

Lit. Maid.
Of all our wishes they've contrived to fleece us!

Lit. Man.
Oh, it's too bad! we are ruined and undone—
We've nothing left—no hope—no money—none!

[They weep.
The Fairy Health rises, with Wheel.
Health.
Not so: all hope of wealth don't yet resign;
Another chance of happiness is thine.
The fairy Fresh Air's counsels you forgot:
This was your enemy Satana's plot.
Enter Satana.
If you'll take my advice, you'll stop her plotting.

Satana.
If you'll take my advice, you'll send her trotting.
Fortunes both good and bad exist, you know.
There's Fortune's weal, and also Fortune's woe.

Health.
Here are three gifts, and careful of them be!
A sword that gives invincibility!
A purse that ever will with gold o'erflow!
A cap that takes you where you want to go.
[Gives him these things.
Take these, O Little Maid, and Little Man,
And use these presents wisely, if you can!

Lit. Man.
Joy!

Lit. Maid.
Rapture!

Lit. Man.
Gentle spirit, many thanks!
Now I may take my place in any ranks!
[Gives purse to Little Maid.
Here, take this purse—one thing alone I lack—
Longevity—I'll get that in a crack;
I go—to soon return—my little wife,
To find the Water of Unceasing Life.

Health.
Do so: to leave your wife don't be afraid;
The fairy Health shall wait on Little Maid.

CONCERTED PIECE, Little Man, Little Maid, and Satana.
Air, ‘Voici le Sabre.’
Lit. Maid.
Take now the sabre you admire,
The Magic Purse and Wishing-Cap.

Lit. Man.
To use it well my heart's on fire:
I am a fortunate young chap.

Health.
Take now the sabre, &c.

All.
Take now the sabre, &c.

[Little Man puts on cap, and scene changes to