 | The Portrait |  |
19
3. PART THE THIRD.
SCENE continues.A Table with Supper.
PANTALOON
alone.
RECITATIVE.
Out at one door, and in at t'other—
'Tis thus my purposes I smother.
This sudden fondness was a trick:
I smoak'd the shrewd young elves!
But I shall catch them in the nick,
And turn their roguery on themselves.
[Sees the table.
Supper prepar'd! choice meat and drink!
But not for me
I plainly see,
For I am out of town, they think.
Ah! 'tis a melancholy truth,
That youth hates age, and age fears youth.
'Tis thus my purposes I smother.
This sudden fondness was a trick:
I smoak'd the shrewd young elves!
But I shall catch them in the nick,
And turn their roguery on themselves.
[Sees the table.
Supper prepar'd! choice meat and drink!
But not for me
I plainly see,
For I am out of town, they think.
Ah! 'tis a melancholy truth,
That youth hates age, and age fears youth.
20
Tho' not in the bloom of my youth,
Yet still I have left a colt's tooth;
And when I can get a fine chicken,
I love to be mumbling and picking:
But they laugh at my mumbling,
Declare 'tis but fumbling,
And cry, there's a lover forsooth!
RECITATIVE.Yet still I have left a colt's tooth;
And when I can get a fine chicken,
I love to be mumbling and picking:
But they laugh at my mumbling,
Declare 'tis but fumbling,
And cry, there's a lover forsooth!
My portrait here! this very picture
Shall be an engine to convict her;
The canvass I'll behead this minute,
And thrust my living noddle in it.
[Cuts off the head of the picture.
No copy shall my portrait be,
But an original you see!
[Puts his head thro' the hole:
I'll watch your motions, ma'am—but mum!
Me thinks I hear and see her come.
Shall be an engine to convict her;
The canvass I'll behead this minute,
And thrust my living noddle in it.
[Cuts off the head of the picture.
No copy shall my portrait be,
But an original you see!
[Puts his head thro' the hole:
I'll watch your motions, ma'am—but mum!
Me thinks I hear and see her come.
21
LEANDER.
And was I thus to lose my bride!
PANTALOON,
from the picture.
My nephew here!
ISABELLA.
It cannot be denied.
COLOMBINE.
Prithee have done your idle prate,
Nor let a tempting supper wait!
LEANDER.
Since Columbine's advice is good,
Such counsel cannot be withstood.
AIR.Such counsel cannot be withstood.
Hang care and drive sorrow
Away till to-morrow,
To-morrow, and after to-morrow!
We'll sing and we'll laugh,
We'll kiss and we'll quaff,
And if night's too short, from the morning we'll borrow.
Away till to-morrow,
To-morrow, and after to-morrow!
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We'll kiss and we'll quaff,
And if night's too short, from the morning we'll borrow.
[They sit down to supper.
RECITATIVE.
PANTALOON.
Well said, Leander!
COLOMBINE.
Mirth can be no crime,
But, troth, Leander came in pudding-time.
ISABELLA.
In happy hour: but always welcome here.
LEANDER.
Happy the hour that brought me to my dear!
COLOMBINE.
Leander, Hob or Nob! I'm very thirsty.
PANTALOON.
My wine! a saucy gipsey!—wou'd 'twou'd burst ye!
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Fill up the glasses.—Very well;
Another still, for madam Bell!
The glasses shall together ring,
While all three drink, and all three sing.
TRIO.Another still, for madam Bell!
The glasses shall together ring,
While all three drink, and all three sing.
Away with all strife!
To friendship and love
Let's gingle our glasses!
What joys are above
Those of friendship and love!
What pleasure in life,
Love and friendship surpasses?
To friendship and love
Let's gingle our glasses!
What joys are above
Those of friendship and love!
What pleasure in life,
Love and friendship surpasses?
RECITATIVE.
LEANDER.
Bravissimo!—
[They drink.
PANTALOON.
Oh, curse your squawling!
Was ever heard such caterwauling?
LEANDER.
What wou'd my uncle say if he were here?
24
I'll tell you presently.
COLOMBINE.
Come, never fear;
He loves my mistress, cannot contradict her;
He's not ill-natured neither.—See his picture!
He looks good-humour'd.—Cou'd he thwart her liking?
Is't not a strong resemblance?
LEANDER.
Very striking!
ISABELLA.
That's but his portrait.—If himself were here,
You'd find him jealous, rigid, and severe.
AIR.You'd find him jealous, rigid, and severe.
When lovers are old
They wrangle and scold;
Run rusty,
Grow crusty
And quarrelsome elves:
How wretched the lives
Of their sweet-hearts and wives!
Men can't please the ladies, who can't please themselves.
RECITATIVE.They wrangle and scold;
Run rusty,
Grow crusty
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How wretched the lives
Of their sweet-hearts and wives!
Men can't please the ladies, who can't please themselves.
He to our union never wou'd consent.
LEANDER.
Suppose we ask him but for merriment.
Fancy the picture him, and fall before it;
Ask his consent, obtain, and thank him for it.
ISABELLA.
Talk to a picture? what an idle notion!
LEANDER.
I swear it seems endued with breath and motion.
For the life's sake the copy's worth addressing;
Down on your knees with me, and ask his blessing!
[Leander and Isabella, kneel to the picture.
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ISABELLA.
Low at your feet
We thus intreat,
And thus put up our pray'r.
LEANDER.
Kind Pantaloon,
Oh grant our boon,
And bless a happy pair!
COLOMBINE
Your suit he approves:
See, he smiles on your loves,
With a favouring eye.
PANTALOON.
'Tis a damnable lie.
[From the picture, then comes forward.
ISABELLA.
Confusion!
LEANDER.
Undone!
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Ah! where shall I run?
PANTALOON.
Confusion! Undone!
But I watch'd them,
And catch'd them,
And know what they've done.
LEANDER, ISABELLA, COLOMBINE.
He has watch'd us,
And catch'd us,
And knows what we've done.
RECITATIVE.
PANTALOON.
Well, madam, not a word?
ISABELLA.
I faint, I'm weak,
I'm quite confounded, sir—I cannot speak.
LEANDER.
Believe me, sir—
PANTALOON.
Peace, sirrah; get you hence!
I'll make you suffer for your impudence.
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My worthy master, have a little patience!
Tho' Isabella cou'd not well return
The flame with which she saw your bosom burn,
'Tis plain she's very fond of your relations.—
Nephew or uncle if she takes, you know
Out of the family she does not go.
PANTALOON.
'Tis mighty fine! extremely well!
But you shall suffer, Madam Bell!
RECITATIVO accompanied.
But you shall suffer, Madam Bell!
“All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven;
'Tis gone?”—and now, fair lady, we are even.—
RECITATIVE.'Tis gone?”—and now, fair lady, we are even.—
Leander, you shall suffer too
The punishment so much your due.
Be Isabel your bride elect,
And take the damsel I reject.
The punishment so much your due.
Be Isabel your bride elect,
And take the damsel I reject.
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“Look to her, boy! If thou hast eyes to see!
“She has deceived her guardian,—and may thee.”
“She has deceived her guardian,—and may thee.”
LEANDER.
“My life upon her faith!”—I tread on sky,
I am so blest!
ISABELLA.
And I.
COLOMBINE.
And I.
PANTALOON.
And I.
AIR.
COLOMBINE.
If a father or guardian's too strict,
Young maidens are apt to be froward;
But if he shou'd chance to be trick'd,
He should not call virgins untoward.
Young maidens are apt to be froward;
But if he shou'd chance to be trick'd,
He should not call virgins untoward.
Can the young e'er agree with the old
To form a ridiculous pair;
Or ladies endure to be sold
Like the cattle expos'd at a fair?
To form a ridiculous pair;
Or ladies endure to be sold
Like the cattle expos'd at a fair?
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Can the young e'er agree with the old,
To form a ridiculous pair;
Or ladies endure to be sold
Like the cattle expos'd at a fair?
To form a ridiculous pair;
Or ladies endure to be sold
Like the cattle expos'd at a fair?
LEANDER.
When Hymen inclines to a joke,
He scorns the dull dictates of reason;
Youth and age he together will yoke,
And clap up a match out of season.
He scorns the dull dictates of reason;
Youth and age he together will yoke,
And clap up a match out of season.
The poor couple pull different ways,
And lead a most wearisome life;
While wrangling and jangling displays
A sad picture of husband and wife.
CHORUS.And lead a most wearisome life;
While wrangling and jangling displays
A sad picture of husband and wife.
The poor couple pull different ways,
And lead a most wearisome life;
While wrangling and jangling displays
A sad picture of husband and wife.
And lead a most wearisome life;
While wrangling and jangling displays
A sad picture of husband and wife.
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When Cupid at mortals takes aim,
On youth let him empty his quiver;
In age let him kindle no flame,
Nor pierce an old gentleman's liver!
On youth let him empty his quiver;
In age let him kindle no flame,
Nor pierce an old gentleman's liver!
In the winter of years left alone,
Old bachelors, seek not for wives,
Nor envy the joys that are flown
With the April and May of your lives!
CHORUS.Old bachelors, seek not for wives,
Nor envy the joys that are flown
With the April and May of your lives!
In the winter of years left alone,
Old bachelors, seek not for wives,
Nor envy the joys that are flown
With the April and May of your lives!
Old bachelors, seek not for wives,
Nor envy the joys that are flown
With the April and May of your lives!
ISABELLA.
Here Cupid and Hymen agree
To smile on our mutual caressing,
While Guardy, as happy as we,
Throws in his consent and his blessing.
To smile on our mutual caressing,
While Guardy, as happy as we,
Throws in his consent and his blessing.
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But if You on our union should frown,
Our happiness quickly departs!
The height of our wishes to crown,
Oh, allow us your hands and your hearts!
[To the audience.
Our happiness quickly departs!
The height of our wishes to crown,
Oh, allow us your hands and your hearts!
CHORUS.
But if You on our union should frown,
Our happiness quickly departs;
The height of our wishes to crown,
Oh, allow us your hands and your hearts!
Our happiness quickly departs;
The height of our wishes to crown,
Oh, allow us your hands and your hearts!
| The Portrait | |