 | Merlin in Love |  |
ACT I.
SCENE, an apartment in the Doctor's house: A table with a bottle, and two glasses.—Harlequin, in amorous grimace with Columbine, the Doctor's daughter.
They represent, in silent action, the gradual advance of a courtship; in which she appears, first, coy and reserved; then softened and satisfied; and, at length, tender and passionate.
They then break a piece of gold, and, exchanging the two halves, embrace, kiss; and plight a formal and solemn promise in dumb show.
Here they are interrupted, by the entrance of the Doctor; who brings Merlin with him, dress'd like a conjurer, with his wand, long beard, and trailing robe.
Mock-Recitativo.
Doct.
Call all things, here, your own,
Most sage magician!
Merl.
Wou'd—you excepted none!
O learn'd physician!—
All—All—I freely grant.
Merl.
Since long I've sought her:
Includes the Doctor's grant
The Doctor's Daughter?
Doct.
How bless'd my Columbine,
That you approve her!
Come hither, Romp of mine;
Receive this Lover.
Harlequin, during this last Scene, appears surpriz'd, uneasy, jealous.—Merlin, amorous, joyful, courtly.—Columbine, averse, scornful, angry—making signs of dislike, to his beard, his age, and pretensions.
Air I.
Merl.
Why do those killing eyes,
No longer languish?
Why, thro' my bosom, flies,
This hopeless anguish?
Air II.
Col.
mocking in the same tune and manner.
Pray, let my eyes alone;
Old men see double:
Cou'd you, but clear your own,
'Twou'd ease all trouble.
During the time that these two airs are singing, the Doctor follows Harlequin with action of contempt, to turn him out of the apartment; which he avoids by a mixture of respectful compliments, dexterous turns, shrugs, airs, and evasions.
Merl.
Sighing age can none create;
Why are old men fools of fashion?
Youth alone, in love has weight.
Come, and charm her heart to love.
If the fair one dares withstand thee!
Age, and Magic join'd, may move.
At the end of the air, Cupid descends, singing; and being descended, continues the following song, in action of courtship, in favour of Merlin.
Air IV.
Cupid.
Charm'd to his aid, see! from above,
Descend, the powerful god of love!
Let thy pityless breast
Consent to be blest:
Nor be blind to a truth that thy passion shou'd move.
Youth and folly oft are one.
Light consenting
Brings repenting:
Will you run
To be undone?
Ah! look back, and here, be won.
Rule, and wealth, and fame invite you:
Be but willing—and, 'tis done.
Recitativo.
Merl.
Try—since Love can plead, and moves not,
Try, if Fortune she approves not:
Fortune, pow'rful Empress! rise—
And court her eyes.
[Strikes the stage with his wand, and the figure of Fortune rises, and makes court, in dumb action, which Columbine rejects.
Merl.
In vain, even Fortune tries!
Wisdom!—sometimes, woman loves thee,
Wisdom, see! if she approves thee.
[Calls up the figure of Wisdom, which she rejects, as before.
Merl.
No—no—no—
Alas! what stubborn lengths the cruel go!
Honour is their idol passion:
Honour! stronger, ev'n than Fashion!
Honour, rise, and force compassion.
[Honour ascends, courts, and is also rejected.
Merl.
Still, still—it will not be!
She slights, even thee.
Last, then, rise Pow'r!—the sex's darling joy,
Rise, rise, O Pow'r, and all thy arts employ;
This scornful rigour to destroy.
[Power rises, addresses, and is rejected.
After having severally, in vain, pointed out Merlin to Columbine's choice, they join in a grand dance, keeping Cupid for the middle figure.
After the Dance. Air V.
Col.
In vain, deluded Pow'rs! in vain,
You tempt the constant heart:
True love is the same, both in pleasure, and pain;
And proof, against reason, and art.
Fickle Fortune!—I defy thee:
Blind, and wanton, ever turning!
[Fortune sinks.
Honour! all, who press too nigh thee.
Feel their restless bosoms burning.
[Honour sinks.
To our ruin, Power deceives us:
[Power sinks.
Wisdom, oft, of joy bereaves us:
[Wisdom sinks.
Love, alone, is worth our care,
All is hope, and sunshine, there!
Love, alone, is worth our care.
During Columbine's song, Fortune, Honour, Power, and Wisdom, severally, vanish, as she rejects them, in singing, with a motion of her hand, and stamp of her foot;—and Fortune, when about to disappear, catching Cupid in her arms, carries him down, along with her.
Air VI.
Doct.
And, why do you look like an ass?
And, why do you sigh, like a ninny?
Come, cast out your devil, the lass;
And raise a new spirit within ye.
[The bottle.
What! tho' she's as cross, as her mother!
Two glasses will wash her away.
Then, cease to be making a pother:
Here's that, will re-moisten your clay!
'Twill make us as brisk, and as gay.
Look!—it smiles, like the day!
Send the girl to her play:
And, like men of sound sense, let us drink her away.
They sit down, at the table, and drink: Merlin continuing melancholy; sighing, folding his arms, looking down, and shaking his head: and the Doctor expressing, in dumb action, a discourse of comfort, and persuasion.
Harlequin, in the interim, observing, that Merlin, when he sat down, to drink, had deposited his wand against the side of the scene, makes dumb intimation to Columbine, of his purpose to steal it.
She catches the hint, with delight; and, to favour the attempt, by screening him from observation, pretends, officiously, to fill wine for her father.
Merlin, at approach of his mistress, rises, complaisantly, to offer her his chair, which she declines; and her father pushes her away, in high indignation: during which bustle, Harlequin steals the wand, and returns, unobserv'd, to his station.
The old gentlemen re-assume their chairs, and their glasses: and Harlequin, beckoning Columbine, takes hold of her hand; and, waving the wand, a triumphal chariot, drawn by two doves, whose reins are held by a Cupid, arises under their feet, and carries them up into the air.—As they ascend, it thunders, and lightens: at the noise of which Merlin starts up, frighted; misses his wand, and bursts into great agony.
Recitativo.
Merl.
Alas! alas! I'm lost!
Doct.
starting up suddenly.
Why?—What's the matter?
Merl.
Fool, that I was!—Ah!—Post!
following Merl. who traverses the stage in a great heat.
Why came you at her?
However—since she's parted,
Why, let her be forgotten:
Be not thus broken-hearted;
Love's hopes were always rotten.
Merl.
turning hastily upon him.
Go,—go,—nor interpose,
'Twixt me, and anger.
Is this the duty, that a daughter owes!
Doct.
Ah!—Gipsy!—hang her!
Merl.
Had I not lost my wand,
All dangers over-ruling;
Ere this, my powerful hand—
Doct.
Had spoil'd their fooling.
Merl.
Away—I'll, yet, recover
A new one, to supply me:
Then, woe to this bold lover,
Who dar'd defy me.
[Merlin, taking a book out of his pocket, describes a circle, with it, on the stage.
Doct.
You've business with the devil!
I hate all intervening.
My stay might be uncivil,
Since that's your meaning.
[Runs out.
Merlin, mutters in his book, the following incantation, in Recitativo.
Merl.
Swinswang hopandthumpo lethale farcificando!
Grande tastexalto, quadrill et ombretilmorno!
Tossalong stradlingo, beautilosto masculinando!
Air VII.
Not sung, but spoken.
Merl.
'Tis done the powerful charm is heard!
Belov'd, by realms below:
Hell's empire, at the sound, is chear'd!
And joyful Furies glow!
Air VIII.
Merl.
Rise, from your frightful caverns, rise,
Ye winds, that drive the deep!
Roar, in your race, along the skies;
And the seas in surges sweep.
Trace the world from West to East;
And again, from Pole to Pole;
Let the waves in moving mountains, roll!
Let meeting winds to winds impart
Sound, fury, swiftness, dread;
Then, whirling, every way, at once, depart,
And o'er each region spread.
Find him, bring him, sweep him back!
Or, blow,—till the rooted mountains shake:
And their iron intrails crack!
Go—sweep him back.
At the end of the air, Merlin striking the table, it falls together, in form of clouds, at the touch of the wand, and is turned into four Spirits, in figure of the four Winds, who first, forming a short, swift, and violent dance, separate, and rush out, four different ways.—Merlin, then, goes off, with revengeful and threatening action.
| Merlin in Love | |