University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—An oasis in the Desert. The foreground representing a deliciously fertile spot. The back of the scene an immense expanse of sand lighted by a hot Eastern Sun. A rock piece (R.) running to the top of the scene, giving the idea of a lotty cliff overrun with gourds, melons, &c. Another rock (L.) with clumps of palms, &c.
Epitimarus the Great, King of the Ebony Isles.— Gulnare, his daughter—Al Kutitphat, and the entire Court, Guards, &c., seated about the stage forming a pic-nic party. Guards armed in the back ground, and the heads of two or three camels seen above the bushes. A kettle boiling over an extempore fire, as usual in such cases. The scene opens to a great noise of laughter and chattering. Epitimarus has a napkin under his chin, and is picking the drumstick of a turkey.
SONG. (Epitimarus and Chorus.)

Epi.
Put up the camels—round the bottle hand, boys
Here we, at least, can be jolly as sand-boys;
Open all hampers, eatable and vinous.
[Holding up champagne to Al Kutitphat.
Do me the pleasure.

Al K.
(Accepting the challenge.)
Thank you.

Epi.
(To another Guest.)
P'raps you'll jine us.
[They take wine.
Now! Where's that salad?

Attendant.
Here!

Epi.
We'd not be pressing;
But if you don't look sharp you'll get the dressing.
Is that hot water coming?

Servant.
(At fire.)
In a minute.

Epi.
Mind what you're at with it, or you'll be in it.
I call this jolly.

Gul.
(Screams.)
Ah!

Epi.
What ails my pet?

Gul.
Here's such a spider drop't in my sherbet.

Al Kut.
(Drawing his scimitar melodramatically.)
He dies!

[Guards draw their swords and rush to the rescue.
Epi.
(Interposing.)
Desist! Your sovereign forgives
E'en Treason on a day like this.

Al K.
(Sheathing his scimitar.)
He lives!

[Guards full back into their places.
Epi.
Would'st have our pleasures marr'd by blood and sorrow?
[An attendant lets a dish fall on his head.
Holloa! My friend, your head comes off to-morrow.
There, clear away!

[Attendants clear away with alacrity, interrupting the guests in the middle of their meal. Much chagrin expressed on the assembled countenances.
Gul.
Law, Pa! We have'nt done.

Epi.
The King has—so has every mother's son.
“Give ev'ry man his dessert”—
[An Attendant (L.) carrying fruit, stumbles over his legs.
Repeat that tripping,
And you're not he “who shall escape a whipping.”
[Attendants pass with fruit.
Dates! Here we'll take the dish, as some one states,
“I like to be particular in dates”—
Friends, isn't this delightful?

Al K.
What can match it?

[All affect the greatest pleasure.
Epi.
Be more extatic, please, or else you'll catch it.
Here, free from pomp and state, at ease delightful,
We lounge— (starts)
Holloa! I've sat on something frightful—
And gazing upon Nature's charms, may scoff
At envy's stings—
[A large Mosquito (from R.) settles on his nose.
Here! Murder! Keep him off!
[Attendants drive Mosquito away.
Yes; Here we throw all ceremony by,
As now I throw this date stone—

[He jerks a date stone violently over his shoulder. A fearful voice is immediately heard (through trumpet) exclaiming—“Oh! my eye.” Thunder! The stage is darkened. All express the greatest terror.
Epi.
What's that?

Al K.
Sire, some one call'd—

Epi.
Tell him we're out;

Gul.
We're in for something dreadful, past a doubt.

[Thunder repeated.
CONCERTED. (“Guy Fawkes”.)
Epi.
We smell a doleful tragedy; some fiendish prince of sinisters
Means mischief to th'assembled Lords, the King, and all his ministers.

Gul.
That is, he means, but as for me, a large amount I'll bet him—
He don't do what he means, for I don't mean to stay and let him.

Voice.
(Repeats.)
Oh! my eye!

Chorus.
(In a phrenzy of terror.)
Ri tol de riddle iddle!

[The Genie Jarjarhees appears on rock L., brandishing an enormous scimitar. He has a cotton pocket handkerchief bound over one eye. The Chorus yell out “Oh, my eye!” finishing the tune, and all rush out screaming, except Epitimarus, who is too frightened.
Jar.
Who pitch'd that date stone?

Epi.
Mercy!

Jar.
Hah! I knew it!

Epi.
But, mighty Sir, I didn't go to do it.

Jar.
You pitch'd it rather strong, for which you die.

Epi.
Die—pray, explain it all?

Jar
(In agony, putting his hand to his face.)
SONG. (Jarjarhees.)

Epi.
One word.

Jar.
What is it?

Epi.
If I really blinded it
Great Spirit! I don't you think you should have minded it?

Jar.
Gammon! (Going to strike.)


Epi.
Another word—

Jar.
Speak on, we'll let you.

Epi.
P'raps into the Ophthalmic we could get you?

Jar.
An optical delusion.

Epi.
Stay a minute—
A pot of Golden Ointment?

Jar.
Nothing in it!

Epi.
We'll levy an eye water rate?

Jar.
All stuff.

Epi.
Purchase all Grimstone's stock?

Jar.
Not worth a snuff!
Down with the dust, or rather with the sand.

(Forcing him to his knees, and about to strike.)
Epi.
Have mercy!

[The Genie is about finishing him, when Gulnare rushes in and seizes his arm.
Gul.
Monster! Stay thy murd'rous hand!
[Tableau.
I've triumph'd over fear and circumspection,
To save, from cutting, such a dear connection.

[Jarjarhees lets his scimitar fall, and gazes on Gulnark with admiration.
Jar.
What brilliant vision dazzles thus my eye,
My eye! first person singular—Oh, cry!
A pretty visage this, to charm a maid,
Unless she's not partic'lar to a shade.
(To Epi.)
Your daughter?

Epi.
(Presenting her.)
Yes; my fireside's chief adorning;
(Aside to Gulnare.)
He wants to speak to you, my dear. Good morning.

[Pushing Gulnare towards Genie, and offering to run away.
Jar.
Here, stop!
[Epitimarus stops frightened.
I'll let you go—

Epi.
(Going again.)
Oh! thank you!

Jar.
Stay!
On one condition only—

Epi.
Name it, pray.

Jar.
(Looking smirkingly at Gulnare.)
That what I ask of you is fair, you'll grant—

Epi.
No doubt. Well, what?

Jar.
Your daughter—

Gul.
That he sha'n't.

Epi.
Pooh, pooh! he shall. Yes, Sir, this priceless treasure
I yield without regret—nay, e'en with pleasure.
Take her—be happy!—bless you!—and may she
Never desert—you—as—she—now—does—me!

[In a broken voice, joining their hands after the manner of Comedy fathers.
Gul.
What! is't for this, so fondly, me you've rear'd,
And, on my schooling, no expenses spar'd,
To be a low, coarse, one-eyed Genie's bride?

Epi.
(Aside to her.)
Pooh, pooh! You'll manage—get on his blind side.

Gul.
A thing of shades and patches—

Epi.
He'll be blind
To half your faults.

Gul.
One sided views you'll find
He'll take—

Jar.
Consent or not?

Epi.
Of course, we'll make her.

Gul.
It is the one-eyed monster—

Epi.
Pooh! Deuce!—take her.
[Pushing her over to Jarjarhees.
She's under age and must.

Jar.
My prize I grab!

Gul.
Mercy!

Epi.
Good bye, dear—write home often.

Jar.
Cab!

[A small demoniac Cabman, with badge and whip rises through vampire trap.
Cabby.
Here y'are, sir!

Jar.
Hansom?

Cabby.
Werry!

Jar.
Look alive!

[Cabby goes to wing, 3 E. L., and leads in a Hansom cab drawn by a griffin. Jarjarhees hands Gulrane in. Cabby mounts perch.
Gul.
Pity!

Epi.
Needs must, dear, when such devils drive.

CONCERTED.
“Cab! cab! cab!”
Jar.
Now, drive along, good cabby!

Cabby.
Where to, sir?

Jar.
Down below!

Epi.
Good bye, dear!

Gul.
Pa! it's shabby!
To serve your daughter so!

Epi.
Pooh! nonsense! drive along.

Jar.
All right!

Gul.
No, no! all wrong!

Jar.
Cab! cab! cab! cab! what are you at?
Why don't you drive along?

Chorus.
Cab, cab, &c.

Epi.
When settled nice and snugly,
You'll think of poor papa!

Gul.
To wed a Genie ugly—

Epi.
There, that'll do, tah—tah!

[Waving his hand.
Gul.
One moment—hear me pray?

Epi.
No, thank'ee, not to day!

Jar.
Cab! cab! cab! cab! what are you at!
Drive on, you know the way!

Chorus.
Cab, cab, &c.

[The Cab drives off R. Epitimarus looks after it and then runs away L.

SCENE II.

—An impenetrable forest. Flats in 2nd grooves enclose the first scene; at the same time the rock piece R. is moved out, and discovers a large tree, to which Prince Agib is bound by strong ropes, and is struggling violently.
Agib.
Help! Murder! Thieves! Come, somebody Holloa!
Police! That cry's but little use, I know;
Help! Murder! Thieves! Holloa! It seems I should
Holloa some time before I'm out o'th'wood.
Holloa!

Enter Codja, L., the woodcutter, with axe and bill-hook.
Codja.
Now, then!—What shindy, may I ask,
Summons the child of labour from his task?

Agib.
(Struggling violently.)
Cut.

Codja.
(Going.)
Certainly.

Agib.
No! Cut away, fool!

Codja.
(Going.)
Good!
Exactly what I came for—cut my wood.

Agib.
Ass! Cut away these cords and let me go,
You shall be handsomely rewarded.

Codja.
Oh!
In that case could an honest heart do less
Than help a fellow-creature in distress;
Know that the peasant's heart as nobly throbs
As those beneath the broider'd vests of nobs,
And proudly as the silk-clad sons of Lucre
Stands the poor woodman in his lowly Blucher.

(Thumps his breast à la stage countryman.)
Agib.
I recognize you by your moral clamour,
The virtuous peasant of domestic drama.

Codja.
The toil-worn cottager—

(Thumping his breast and not heeding Agib.)
Agib.
Well, that's enough—

Codja.
Though humbly clad—

Agib.
All fustian and mere stuff!
SONG. (Agib.)

GRAND SCENA. (Codja.)
Air, with variations, “In my Cottage.”
In my cottage near a wood,
Just as I sat down to dine,
There's a cove, said I, with good
Lungs a kicking up a shine;
In distress he seems, and we
May come in for something good;
This was what occurred to me
In my cottage near a wood.

[Codja cuts the cords and releases Agib.
Agib.
(Shaking himself.)
Thanks!

Codja.
Is that all?

Agib.
Not half. I'll pay my debts!
[Feeling his pockets.
Alas! how stupid of me—no assets!
My friend, I owe you much, would I could pay
Your services with gold—

Codja.
Don't name it, pray;
Think you the lowly woodman had in view
The filthy dross named gold!—No!—Silver 'll do.

Agib.
Alas! my friend, who steals my purse steals trash:
'Twas mine—'tis his—had he but left the cash!
But he who filches from me all my tin—
In short, you understand the mess I'm in:
Robb'd by a set of good-for-nothing tramps,
Who tied me to that tree—

Codja.
I know the scamps;
The long reports of whose burglarious crimes
Fill, ev'ry morning, pages of the Times;
Who keep our wives awake all night with fear—
Disturbing drowsy husbands with “My dear!
Get up and take the poker—Hark! what's that?”
And won't believe that anything's the cat;
At whose dread name each rustic spirit flutters,
And goes to the expense of iron shutters;
Who're suffered recklessly to break the peace,
Because the county won't pay for police.

Agib.
For what they took from me they've dearly paid,
Sixteen low ruffians lower still I laid,
Sliced their thick heads off, which you'll own was good cutting.

Codja.
Their heads! You must have served your time to wood cutting.

Agib.
Zooks! p'rhaps at that I might some skill employ;
I must do something! (to Codja.)
Please d'you want a boy?
'Cause if you do just speak, and I'm your man.

Codja.
What can you do?

Agib.
I drove a caravan
This morning.

Codja.
Pickford's?

Agib.
Nothing half so low.
Slaves, camels, horses, elephants, you know—
All which were from me by the robbers riven,
And now to seek a livelihood I'm driven.

Codja.
Ah! you won't suit.

Agib.
I'd serve you well—sincerely;
I ask no wages—food and lodging merely.

Codja.
(Suddenly changing his tone.)
When did a tale of sorrow fail to touch
The humble peasant's heart? (Aside.)
He can't eat much.
Agreed! begin at once.

Agib.
With right good will.

Codja.
(Giving him a bill hook.)
Just put your hand please to this little bill,
And this (giving him a hatchet)
; and now, about your business caper,
While the poor woodman goes to read the paper.

[Exit 2 E. L.
Agib.
This, for a sovereign, is no small change,
“But now a king—now thus,” 'tis passing strange;
Too far away from home and friends to write,
Stripp'd of my ev'ry sous—a pretty plight!
And in a foeman's land, where, if found out,
Our royal hash is settled, past a doubt.
Well! at Dame Fortune let's not make wry faces,
'Twere p'raps as well if more folks in high places,
Just now and then, were sentenced to endure
A taste or two of Labour and the Poor!
SONG. (Agib.)

[As he finishes his song he strikes the tree a violent blow, breaking in the trunk, and disclosing a large hollow space. The axe slips out of his hand and disappears into the tree.
Agib.
Well, come! privations serve to show us kings
The rottenness and hollowness of things;
Why, where's the axe? (looking into tree.)

If that's gone, I shall catch it;
Peace won't ensue from burying the hatchet.
[Looking down the tree.
Why, I declare! I can't see to the bottom,
Such trees as these, all I can say is, rot 'em;
Here, master! governor! this is a bore!

Enter Codja, yawning.
Codja.
Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!”
I dreamt the malt-tax banish'd, beer was cheap;
“If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep.”

Agib.
(Rousing him.)
Oh, master! such remarkable adventures!
Just look at your apprentice's indentures.
[Pointing to the hole in the tree.
The hatchet's gone—lost!

Codja.
Where?

Agib.
Down there!

Codja.
Come, own it;
You haven't lost it, boy—you've been and thrown it.

Agib.
Not so—it's tumbled down that dark and fell pit;
But, if you please, I really couldn't help it.
But see, a winding staircase circles round
This gloomy well—I'll find it, I'll be bound.

[Going to descend.
Codja.
Let well alone, or else by some ill luck it
Might chance that, in that well, you'd kick the bucket.
Listen to me, boy. In such spots as these,
Made beautiful by streamlets, rocks, and trees,
The headstrong tourist, ravish'd and delighted
By nature's charms, oft feels himself invited
To enter some enchanting glen or pass,
Thinking it free to all men, when, alas!
Breathing out flames of bitterness and wrath,
Some very scaly dragon stops his path,
By whom all claims to “Right of Way” are jilted,
Nor can you hurt the snake, though “Scotch'd and kilted.”

Agib
(brandishing the billhook).
Death to such monsters!
Thou my mettle piercest,
I'll run a tilt—aye, Glen Tilt—with the fiercest.
SONG.

[He descends the tree.
SONG.—Codja.
“The brave old oak.”
[Approaching the tree valiantly.

[The orchestra supplies the rest. Codja approaches the tree, exhibiting, in pantomime, alternately great courage and great trepidation, ultimately going down, and finishing the tune by singing “I'm gone!” as he disappears.

SCENE III.

—The Genie's Subterranean Palace.
Jarjarhees standing in centre of stage, with a large black patch over his eye; Zubeydeh brushing his wings.
Zub.
There, now you'll do.

Jar.
All right—I'm off to sup;
I'll take the key with me, so don't sit up.
Stay—show a light.
[He produces a demoniac pipe, which he lights at a candle held by Zubeydeh, sending out immense volumes of smoke.
There, now—you needn't wait.
Tell your young missis that I shan't be late.

Zub
(aside.)
Wuss luck!

Jar.
And upon pain of death—d'ye hear—
See that she wants for nothing.

Zub.
(Aside.)
Never fear!
You're going out—that's all that she requires.
Yes, sir!

Jar.
And, mind, be careful of the fires;
And see the doors all right—for there's no knowing,
Just now, so many burglaries are going.
Remind me, by the bye, to re-insure
That forest entrance—we must be secure:
The charm's expired, and mortals may assail.
Let no one in.

Zub.
Of course not!

Jar.
If you fail
To mind your P's and Q's and eyes, you know,
I'll rack your bones with aches. D. I. O.
[Going.
Stop! If that imp of darkness calls about
Last year's Poor Devil Rates, just say I'm out.

[Strikes the scene, C., and disappears through it.
Zub.
SONG. (Zubeydeh.)

Enter Gulnare, 1 E. R.
Gul.
My good Zubeydeh—

Zub.
Pray, ma'am, don't take on so.

Gul.
Once taken off from hence, I ne'er had done so.
Each day his hated suit he presses stronger;
I fear he won't be trifled with much longer.
This morn he told me that the wedding day
To-morrow must be named.

Zub.
Don't name it, pray.

Gul.
But how to put him off?

Zub.
How?—Very easy.
Order your dresses, which, of course, won't please ye;
Have them refitted, alter'd, pull'd about,
Lengthen'd and shorten'd, taken in, let out.
Ne'er mind his magic!—In affairs like those,
A woman, if to work she rightly goes,
I'll back, in spite of whole demoniac legions,
To bother the entire infernal regions.

Gul.
But to what end put all these plans in force?

Zub.
The end of time, if requisite, of course.

Gul.
Good creature! though you on a demon wait,
“Thou art a spirit all too delicate
To act his earthy and abhorr'd commands.”
If I should e'er escape his dirty hands—

Zub.
Well, if you should, of my poor claims observant,
P'raps you'll remember “summut for the servant.”
Still we've small hope in these enchanted walls,
Shut from the world, where no one ever calls.

Agib.
(Outside.)
Holloa!

Gul.
What's that?

Zub.
What's what?

Gul.
Nay, that you know
Better than I—listen again!

Agib.
(Nearer.)
Holloa!

Gul.
There's somebody—at all events their voices.

Zub.
“Be not afeard—the isle is full of noises
That give delight and hurt not.”

[A noise is heard as of some one falling down stairs, accompanied by a yell of pain from Codja.
Gul.
Harmless dins!

Codja.
(Outside.)
Why don't they light the gas? I've broke my shins.

[A tapping at the door in back.
Zub.
Who's there?

Agib.
(Outside.)
A man.

Codja.
(Ditto)
And fragments of another.

Zub.
We keep a blunderbuss; go home! don't bother!

Gul.
Do let them in.

Zub.
I daren't for all the earth.
'Twere more by ten times than my place is worth.

[Agib continues knocking.
CONCERTED
“You'd better stop dat knockin'.”
Zub.
Oh, stop that row, you'll wake the dead
Your bus'ness go about;
We're all undress'd and gone to bed,
The lights are all put out.

Agib.
(Through key-hole.)
No, no, a light the keyhole through
Has shot, and flames of joy
Has kindled in my heart, which no
Cold water can destroy.

Zub.
But who's there?—Who's there?
Oh, you'd better stop that knocking at the door.

Agib., Gul.
Let me in./Let them in.

Zub.
Stop that knocking, &c.
Well, I mustn't keep 'em knocking at the door.

[Zubeydeh opens door and admits Agib and Codja.
Agib.
(Looking at Gulnare.)
Beautiful!

Gul.
(Ditto at him.)
Overpow'ring!

Zub.
Vexing!

Codja.
(Looking round.)
Plummy.

Agib.
Rare though inexplicable!

Codja.
(Looking at Zubeydeh.)
Nice, though crummy!

Agib.
I hope we don't intrude.

Zub.
Indeed you do.
If master only catches you—

Codja.
Eh—who?

Zub.
A Genie!

Codja.
(Frightened.)
Oh! we'd better not remain:
Just leave a card, and say we'll call again.

[Trying to pull Agib away.
Gul.
Stay, I implore you!

Agib.
Do you? That'll do.
Hang up my turban, please—and chairs for two.

Zub.
You'll get us into trouble—Go! like good men.

Gul.
Stay! if ye be not stones.

Codja.
We're simply woodmen.

Agib.
Now do be quiet, please.

Codja.
I only spoke;
The humble woodman tried a lowly joke,
To keep his spirits up, which fast were sinking,
To use a low-born simile, like “winking.”

Gul.
(To Zubeydeh' L.)
Do let them stay, one sees a human face
So seldom in this lone and dreary place.
No matter how they gained admission—do?

Zub.
I'm undecided—Master's out, it's true.

Codja.
Eh! for how long?

Zub.
We're sure to have fair warning—
Hearing him shout—“We won't go home till morning!”
As he's brought home on an enchanted shutter,
By imps who found him in some magic gutter.

Codja.
The woodman breathes!

Zub.
Well, p'raps, as they are here
They'd better stop to supper.

Gul.
There's a dear!

Agib.
I'll stay till morning's earliest azure hue
Streaks the dull clouds.

Codja.
I'll stay till all is blue.
For though of course the sumptuous banquet must
Be far less toothsome than the hard-earned crust;
Labour's the finest sauce that could exist,
And the hard-working woodman has a twist.

[Zubeydeh appears with a supper tray, L.
Zub.
(Aside.)
Doubts and misgivings dark my bosom chafe,
They're strangers quite—I hope the spoons are safe.

Agib.
(Looking at supper)
Huzza! three cheers for such luxurious store!

[Agib, Gulnare, and Zubeydeh seat themselves.
Codja
(Looking round for a seat.)
Three cheers! I'll trouble you for one cheer more.

[Finds a chair and sits down.
Agib.
It's a delicious dream— (to Codja)
, I say, don't shake,
I wouldn't for the world be wide awake.

Codja.
Thus does the lowly but contented heart
Resignedly pitch into ven'son tart,
And without envy or repinings vain,
Wet his hard-working whistle with champagne.

Agib.
(To Gul.)
Allow me.

Gul.
Thanks!—but now your candour taxing,
Inform me how you found your way?—

Agib.
By axing.
For once—not guessing how it would have ended,
To dark and crooked ways I had descended.
Through passages we came, which 'spite their mystery,
Prove the most interesting in my history.
[Bowing.
But may I ask some trifling explanation,
Of finding you in such a situation?

Gul.
Alas! I am engaged—

Agib.
Pray, don't say so.

Gul.
Against my will—to wed a Genie.

Agib.
Oh!
If that's all we'll soon settle him.

Gul.
(Terrified.)
He'd kill you.

Agib.
(To Zubeydeh—smiling contemptuously.)
Just ring the bell, and have him brought in, will you?

Zub.
Would'nt on no account!

Agib.
There is a bell.
He answers—then?

Zub.
Why—there's what does as well.
Whene'er we want him, which we seldom do,
We hit that talisman a stroke or two.

[Pointing to a gong hanging up.
Agib.
That!

Zub.
Yes; you know the things they advertise,
Useful for dinners, fires, or burglaries.

Agib.
That brings him, does it?

Zub.
Yes, ere you can say
“Jack Robinson.”

Agib.
Oh, p'raps he'll step this way.

[Taking the hammer of gong in his hand, and about to strike.
Zub.
Don't!

Gul.
On your life!

Agib.
Your freedom to encompass!
What's life?—

Zub.
You've no idea—the frightful rumpus!—

Agib.
(Pushing her away.)
For all my hurts leave me to find a plaster;
One! two! three!—bang!

[He strikes the Talisman fiercely; it is shivered to atoms, making a frightful crash. At the same instant Jarjarhees appears, C.
Zub.
(Staggering with horror.)
Oh! gracious goodness, master!

[She attempts to conceal Agib behind her.
Gul.
We're lost!

Jar.
Now then! explain this strange hubbub;
Bringing me hence thus early from my club.
My magic gong in atoms!—death!

Zub.
Why—that—
You see—an accident—in short—the cat!

Jar.
I smell a rat; no cat can be about—

Agib.
(Aside.)
I've been and done it, that's beyond a doubt;
'Twas that champagne—I thought to stand a dozen.

Jar.
(Discovering Agib.)
A man! Die, catiff!

[Rushing at Agib, Zubeydeh throws himself between them.
Zub.
Mercy! He's my cousin!

[Jarjarhees steps back, and trips over Codja, who has fallen drunk under the table.
Codja.
All right!

Jar.
Another 'neath my table sunk!

[Shaking him by the shoulder.
Codja.
Don't! the hard-working woodcutter is drunk!

Jar.
A woodman here! this insult is immense;
No doubt to take a chop at my expense,
Sneak'd here his timber duties to evade—

Codja.
(Falling very flat.)
Shocking depression in the timber trade!

Jar.
Who dared, within this magic-guarded place,
Suffer this log to show his hatchet face?

Codja.
(Drowsily)
Some green young faggots—

Jar.
What! my words d'ye mock?
With thine own weapon—

[Snatching the bill-hook which Agib has laid on the table, and aiming at Codja's head.
Codja.
Chip of the old block.

[Agib stays his arm as he is about to strike.
Agib.
Stop! If there's any one to blame, 'tis I.

Jar.
Then I repeat my observation—die!

Agib.
Die! who's afraid, thou dark and fiendish elf?
Say “die!”—it's what I never say myself.

Gul.
(Interposing.)
No, pray say nothing of the sort at present!

Jar.
Thou lovest him?

Gul.
I own it.

Jar.
Come—that's pleasant.
[He appears deeply affected.
Be firm, Jarjarhees; certainly I will.
(To Gul.)
“Live you, the marble-breasted tyrant still;”
But for your minion, whom I see you love—
Whom into next week's central point I'll shove—
Him will I change out of that cruel shape,
Which you prefer to mine. (To Agib.)
Become an ape!
[Music. Agib disappears, and an Ape appears in his place. He runs about the stage in the deepest distress.
Behold your love—a monster, dumb and grimy

Zub.
(Screams as the Ape approaches her.)
I never could abide 'em! Don't come nigh me!

Gul.
Oh! horrid prospect!

Jar.
Eh! I call it prime;
In that disguise, I hope he'll run some time.

Gul.
Monster! (The Ape appears distressed.)

Not you, poor brute, would I be rude to;
You're not the nasty beast that I allude to.

[Looking pointedly at Jarjarhees.
Jar.
Ma'am?

Gul.
Hence! nor dare again to press your suit;
I'd love him were he never such a brute,
[The Ape kneels gratefully to her, taking her handkerchief from her, and kissing it.
Hog, hippopotamus, or terrier-pup;
Away! I spurn thee! To Ape.)
Rise!
[Raising him, and standing proudly by him.
My monkey's up!

Jar.
(Furiously.)
This is too much—to stop it we'll endeavour;
Thus, loud-mouth'd girl, we shut you up for ever!

[Music. A Rock, R. C., encloses Gulnare. The Ape runs towards it, and knocks his head against it.
Jar.
Breakers a-head! upon that fatal rock
We both have split—recover from this shock
I never shall; but as becomes my station,
I'll try; by plunging into dissipation,
The world shall feel, since by despair I'm druv,
The terrors of a Genie cross'd in love.
Thieves, burglars, swindlers, murderers, marauders,
Who want an evil Genius, give your orders!
First, of this scene of pleasures once so dear,
Let ev'ry trace and relic disappear.

[He sinks, and the scene disappears, changing to a sea shore view, giving the appearance of a desolate island. Rocks in the foreground—calm blue sea in the back. (L.) A bluff, similar to that in the “Green Bushes.” Codja remains on his back. (R.)
Zub.
Oh! day of horror! here's a transformation,
To leave my place for such a situation;
Fiend! Genie! demon! all thy terrors scorning,
Where are my boxes and my monthly warning?
Is't thus with thee a trusting maid engages?
My luggage! oh, my notice, and my wages!
[Running up to Codja, and shaking him.
I say, look up to me—consider you
Are all that's left for me to look up to.
[The Ape touches her reproachfully on the shoulder.
Paws off, you brute! and don't my shoulders maul,
Your nasty monkey tricks have caused it all;
[The Ape withdraws sorrowfully, and ascends a tree, R. waving Gulnare's handkerchief as if for help.
We're on a desert island. Come, I say,
Let's seek for some assistance?

Codja.
(Drunkenly.)
What's to pay?

Zub.
To gather wool his little wits are going for.

Codja.
Some trifling breakages I think are owing for.

Zub.
I'll give up the attempt, though loth to do so;
An unprotected Female Rob'son Crusoe.
Here I must stay, though storms and tempests brewing.
[The Ape breaks two branches from tree with a crash.
Drat that mischievous monkey!—What's he doing?

[The Ape descends tree hastily, seizes a dry log of wood, and leaps with that and the two branches into the sea (R.) disappearing. Zubeydeh looks after him.
Zub.
Why, the young jackanapes! he's got astride
That log of wood! and paddles through the tide,
With those two sticks showing a perfect knowledge
Of both the branches of the Naval College;
He guides his bark like any old sea-dog,
And see how carefully he keeps his log!
[Music—“The Jolly Young Waterman.” The Ape appears (R.) rowing in the manner described by Zubeydeh from R. to L.
SONG.—Zebeydeh.

Runs to top of cliff L., and leaps over. A galley appears L., manned with sailors, merchants &c. The Ape on the rigging. He leaps into the water and rescues Zubeydeh, handing her up to the sailors. While they are taking her on board, he leaps ashore, seizes Codja on his back, and swims to the vessel with him. He is taken on board, and the Act closes to the music of the “Green Bushes.”