University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

The French Camp.
Enter Constable, attended by Nobles, Officers and Soldiers.
Const.
[Trumpets.
CHORUS.

A grand March sounding, enter King Pepin, preceded by a large Train of Nobles, Heralds, Cooks, Dancers, Officers, Musicians, and Guards.
Const.
Great Pepin! welcome to this Soil;
May Flanders pay your Royal Toil.

Pep.
O Constable! it joys my Soul
That we shall baffle all Controul.

Const.
The World's Applause—

Pep.
Must crown a Cause
So gen'rous and so just!

Const.
Your Foes will fear—

Pep.
AIR.

Const.
Where shall your Royal Quarters be?

Pep.
In yonder pleasant Nunnery.

Const.
A proper Place.

Pep.
There I'll solace—

Const.
The Nuns will try—

Pep.
Ah, me! I die!—
O Constable, heroic Fire
So scorches that I must retire!
Dispatch, ye Cooks, the Kitchen strait prepare,
I will amuse myself a little there.
[Ex. Cooks.
And then 'Rack-Punch our Ev'ning Joys shall crown,
To-morrow Morning we'll invest the Town.

[Ex. Pepin and Train.
CHORUS of Constable and his Train.
To tell of such a Monarch's Deeds,
Fame double Store of Trumpets needs.

[Exeunt.
Enter Margaret, sola.
Marg.
AIR.

Enter Puff.
Marg.
Who dares intrude?—

Puff.
If I am rude
Your Beauties blame.—
I hither came,
From Passion true,
To follow you.

Marg.
To follow me!—
You're strangely free,
Who know I aim
At Royal Game.

Puff.
Did you not vow?—

Marg.
That I allow.—
But then, a King
Is such a Thing,
As must excuse!—
For who'll refuse?—
Now, as for you, such Schemes have been!—
Suppose you should attempt the Queen?

Puff.
Suits it the Softness of the Fair,
To sport with those that feel Despair?
O wretched Puff! compleatly crost!
Thy Fame destroy'd, thy Mistress lost.
But, Tyrant, you provoke the Strife,
I'll have my Love or lose my Life.
Ah! gentle Maid, in Pity hear;
Melt at this Sigh, this falling Tear:
Some Ease to my Distraction give,
And bid your dying Soldier live.

Marg.
AIR.

[They talk apart.
Enter King Pepin, Constable, and Attendants.
Pep.
What Impulse 'tis I cannot say,
But forc'd I'm back again this Way!
By Spells and Charms I surely move!
Ah! there's th'Attraction!—'tis my Love!
My Margaret! my Joy! my Pride!
My Treasure!—O my more than Bride!
[Embracing her.
Nay, press me closer, gentle Dear—
Yet am I griev'd to see you here.—
Your Beauty to the Rage of Foes,
I dare not, like my Crown, expose.
Who's that I see with low'ring Leer?—
Hah! Puff within the Camp appear!—
Are my Commands regarded so?
With Fetters load him quickly, go.
[They fetter him.
Then let him at his Leisure stray,
And learn henceforward to obey.

Puff.
AIR.

Pep.
Thy Love!—how does my Choler rise?
Audacious Dog!—by Heav'n, he dies!—
Away—nor dare my Rage controul,
But hang him, stab him—tear his Soul.—
His Love! rebellious Villain!—he!—
To dare presume to rival me!—

Marg.
See on her Knees your Handmaid fall,
[Kneels.
To beg that Sentence you'll recal:
Sir, for your Glory, I beseech
You would not mind a Madman's Speech.

Pep.
Rise up—my Rage at length gives Way:—
'Twould dim my Glory, as you say!—
Then, from my Presence, Rebel, go,
And Safety to my Glory owe.
[Ex. Puff.
Come on, my Fair, we'll hence remove,
This is no proper Scene for Love:
While I brave Dangers on the Plain,
Among the Nuns you must remain.

Marg.
What Vigour can my Monarch shield,
If England's King should take the Field!
Whose Sword, with those he led to Fight,
Once put your Troops in dismal Plight:
And would have slain 'em ev'ry one,
But that they very wisely—run.
Then, Sir, the Chace of Fame give o'er,
And go not where the Cannon roar.

Const.
AIR.

Pep.
Yes, yes, 'gainst such a daring Host,
'Tis fit that I should keep my Post.

Marg.
Ah! to my Suit propitious prove.

Pep.
How pow'rful is the Plea of Love!
When Glory calls, I start to go;
But stop when Beauty sighs out, No.
What shall I do? or which Way turn,
While two such equal Passions burn?

Const.
Thus humbly at your Feet I fall,
To urge for Glory—

Pep.
O 'tis all!
To me, a Hero and a King,
Why Glory—Glory's ev'ry Thing:
And I, a Warriour newly made,
Resolve, at once, to top the Trade.

Marg.
Then, I am lost! alas, I go!

[Faints.
Pep.
AIR.

Const.
I've hit upon a lucky Mean,
May finish this perplexing Scene:
Indulge us all the Day in Fight,
And Margaret with Love all Night.

Pep.
Be that agreed?

Marg.
Well, I accede:

Pep.
Then I am happy, blest indeed!
Thy Wisdom, Constable, I prize,
Which two such Claims could compromise;
And Gratitude I feel o'erflow,
That Love will half its Claim forgoe:
Henceforth my Joys will all improve,
From Glory great, and great in Love.

Const.
Such Warmth this Courage must infuse,
That all to fight, nay die, will chuse.

Pep.
What faithful Love!—what Friendship true!
Ah! take this Kiss—this Hug for you.—
Come; for I feel heroic Fire,
Gives Way to languishing Desire.
You, Constable, your Place sustain
Of Second, in this great Campaign:
And, while I'm absent with my Fair,
Exert the great Commander's Care.

DUETTO.
Pep.
Lovely Charmer of a King,
Passion's Banquet, Pleasure's Spring;
Let us wanton, let us play,
Love invites, no longer stay.

Marg.
Where the purple Vi'let blows,
Where the Pink, and where the Rose;
Thro' the blushing Pride of May,
Fann'd with Zephyrs, let us stray.

Pep.
By the Streams where Fishes sport,
There shall Cupid keep his Court!

Marg.
There we'll sport as fast they:

Both.
Come, my Monarch, come away.
Come, my Charmer, come away.

[Ex. Pep. Marg. and Attendants.
Manet Constable, solus.
Const.
With stately Air and solemn Pace,
A grave Reserve and anxious Face,
As Statesmen use, who rule a Land,
I now must dignify Command,
Observance from the Great to draw,
And strike the common Herd with Awe.

[Stalks about.
Enter Puff, in Fetters.
Puff.
Aye, strut and bounce, your Pow'r to boast,
I know, full well, you rule the Roast:
But I, unaw'd by Frowns, or worse,
Must yet complain, nay, still will curse;
Who am, in all Enjoyments, crost;
My Love betray'd, my Honour lost;
Thus shackled, and in woeful State—
O ruthless King! O cruel Fate!

Const.
Hold, Sir, nor dare exclaim so fast;
Or, by my Pow'r, you rave your last.
My Royal Master does ordain,
His Office here that I sustain:
So, while the ruling Rod I hold,
Presumption, Sir,shall be controul'd.

Puff.
You was my Friend!—

Const.
You'd then a Place:
Who looks on Courtiers in Disgrace?

Puff.
AIR.

Const.
Hah! what reproach the King and Me?
Your Error, Sir, you soon shall see:
A Guard— [Enter Soldiers.]
Confine that Rebel strait,
'Till I and Pepin fix his Fate.

AIR.
Puff.
Fate here is most welcome, since Honour is crost,
To die I am ready, now Beauty is lost:
Kind Charon conduct to a happier Shore,
Where Honour and Love may disturb me no more.

[Ex. guarded.
Manet Constable, solus.
Const.
AIR.

[Ex.