 | Little John And The Giants |  |
SCENE IV.
Enter Jack.AIR XXIV.
Tune. “Our Polly is a sad slut.”Jack.
For like to Jacky, young and small,
You could not find another;
They loved him still, in hopes he'd prove
A man before his mother.
You could not find another;
They loved him still, in hopes he'd prove
A man before his mother.
For like to Jacky, &c.
Ha! do I travel then on fairy ground?—
[Sees Jill.
By what enchantment are my footsteps bound?
What magic's this, that, with resistless art,
Through ev'ry sense arrests my yielding heart?
AIR XXV.
Tune. “Delia—by Arne.”Jack.
O form'd of harmony and light,
Too bright for sense to bear!
Art thou, to feeling, as to sight,
Essential as thou art fair?—
Too bright for sense to bear!
Art thou, to feeling, as to sight,
Essential as thou art fair?—
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If some illusion from the skies,
In pity yet delay;
Nor melt, sweet object, from my eyes,
In fleeting notes away!
In pity yet delay;
Nor melt, sweet object, from my eyes,
In fleeting notes away!
Fair youth, by you I'd have it understood,
That I am form'd of kindly flesh and blood.
But say—for joy and wonder strikes me dumb—
Who, whence, and how, and wherefore art thou come?
Speak! art thou of a blessed mother born—
Or, as I fear, some infant of the morn?
Ah me! thou tread'st upon a fearful ground!
Five dreadful Dragons guard this pile around—
Fraud, Favour, Office, Interest, and Law,
Lords of the pass—and keep the world in awe.
Me, Jillian Justice, here their powers confine,
A princess born, and of a race divine!
A maid, immured from ev'ry mother's son;
In spight of Heaven, and her own will, a nun!
Jack.
And art thou, then, that Goddess of the land,
Whose absence many weep, whose presence all demand?
Jill.
Even she—
Who from her native seat by Giants torn,
Too late her country and her kindred mourn.
Jack.
Thee have I sought through many a weary way,
Through many a darksome night and toilsome day;
To find, to free, to lift thy state on high—
Thou my sworn Lady, thy sworn champion I!
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And lay the pride of tall oppression low.
Jill.
Say then, for I am lost 'twixt joy and fear—
Who, and by what new wonder art thou here?
Jack.
A Briton humbly born, unknown to fame,
To camps, or courts; and Johnny Good my name.
Jill.
Joy then to Jillian—for we are near in blood:
Our Grandsire was the same, the First that ere was Good!
To charm the Dragons, say, who taught the art?
Jack.
A Guiltless Conscience, and a Valiant Heart.
Jill.
Ah!—
Jack.
What alarms my Jilly?
Jill.
Look you there!—
The Gi!—the Giants, Jacky!—O beware!
Jack.
Psha! let them come—
Jill.
Fly, fly, or I will hate you—
Fly my dear Jack—indeed, indeed, they'll eat you!
Jack.
Fear not; but mark what little men can do,
Whose powers and prowess are inspired by you!
Jill.
Rash boy, away—on that allegiance, go,
Which all Knights-Errant to their Ladies owe!
Fly, I command, on my imperial will—
And in my Jacky's safety, save his Jill!
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AIR XXVI.
Tune. “For Willy is the Lad the Lad for me.”Jack.
Though painful 'tis to part—and O, how sweet to stay—
And something here would tell me, I cannot live away.
My Princess yet commands me, and who shall say her nay?
The Lady of my life, to death I will obey;
For Jilly is the Queen of maids and May!
Jill.
O haste my Knight, my darling Jack away!
Jack.
For Jilly is the Queen of maids and May!
Jill.
O haste my Knight, my darling Jack away!
| Little John And The Giants | |