University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE, Davo's Apartment.
Enter Matilda, conducting Buffalo.
[mysteriously
Matil.
(in a low voice.)
These are the conj'ror's chambers. Here I leave you.

[going.
Buff.
(afraid)
Alone? Leave me alone?

Matil.
He sees but one at once—good stars t'ye!

[Exit.
Davo, behind the Skreen.
Davo.
(aloud, solemnly)
The stars announce Don Buffalo's approach.

Buff.
(aside, aw'd)
Unseen, to know and name me—Strange indeed!

Davo.
(louder)
Open locks,
Ere he knocks.

[The stage is darken'd, and the scene flying open, Davo is seen sitting gravely at the table in a magician's habit, awfully waving his wand, while Buffalo stands silent in terror and amaze.
Davo.
(solemn)
Be Jupiter predominant in Virgo,
Aspect benign! [Thunder]
A gracious omen.—

(Rises and bows.)
Buff.
(quaking as Davo advances towards him)— (Aside)
Save us!

Davo.
In me, Don Buffalo! in me thou seest
The type, the proto-type, the arche-type
O'th' mystic Cabala—Me, the nine planets,
Their Major Domo—Me, th' ecliptic comets,
Their aid-de-camp—Me, the bear's arctic, catarctic,
Saturnus, Urnus, Ops, Hydrops, Libra, Zebra,
(Wi' the rest of the menagerie celestial)
Their warden recognise.

Buff.
(in a tremulous voice, and bowing low)
—Yes, Sir!

Davo.
(continuing)
—All science,
Lucid, abstruse, natural, præter-natural,
Occult, incult, difficult, excult, I fathom;
Chiromance, Stultomance, and Necromance.

Buff.
(bowing)
Sir! I believe it well.

Davo.
(with a nod of approbation)
—Thou'rt wise—confide.
I can erect, deject, detect, direct,
Correct thee, or protect thee.
AIR.

RECITATIVE.
Buff.
(Aside, with uplift hands and eyes)
Fate's Premier!— (bowing with reverend dread, and laying his purse at Davo's feet)

[tremulously]
Sage Dæmogorgon, central point of science!
Deign to accept this offering.

Davo.
(with supercilious condescension)
Buffalo!
Thy liberality hath won our favour.

Buff.
(bowing)
Wise Sir!—there is—

Davo.
(authoritatively interrupting)
Basta! I read thy inmost.
There is—I know't—a maid, thy ward, Cephisa,
Whom thou wouldst wed.

Buff.
(amazed)
O heav'ns!

Davo.
(in a significant half whisper)
Hast forg'd a will
To bind her thine.

Buff.
(in consternation, aside)
Nay then, the Devil's his prompter.

Davo.
(solemnly)
The stars frown on that union—wed her not.

AIR. DUET.
Buff.
Not wed her?

Dav.
No.

Buff.
Not bed her?

Dav.
No.
No, no, no, no.

Buff.
Why so? why so?

Davo.
She hath a spell upon her.

Buff.
Not she, upon my honour.

Davo., Buff.
I say, a spell upon her.
I say no spell, 'pon honour.

Davo.
(angry.)
Audacious! such defiance!
Of Stars! of Arts! of Science!

Buff.
(piqued)
I think my past compliance
Might claim the stars' compliance.

Davo., Buff.
Audacious!
I think my, &c.

Davo.
No, no.

Buff.
Why so?

Davo.
They know full well
She hath a spell.

Buff.
What spell? pray tell.

Davo.
Hear thou the spell;
And mark it well.

Buff., Davo.
What spell?
Now mark. &c.


“The first who tastes her charms,
“Shall perish in her arms.”

Buff.
Once there, I dread no harms,
These are but false alarms.

Davo., Buff.
The first who,
Once there, I, &c.
False, very false alarms.

RECITATIVE.
Davo.
(as in rage)
Rebel! since my 'monitions thou regard'st not,
Dæmons themselves shall speak to thee. Stand clear!

[Waves his wand, and draws a circle on the floor.— Buffalo springs aside, trembling]
INCANTATION.
RECITATIVE, accompanied by Magical Musick.
Davo.
Up from the murky den of night,
Hither Hob nob-gob expedite
Thine instantaneous flight!

[Thunder—a flash, Folatre rises, disguised as a frightful Dæmon.
Fola.
I come—I come—

Buff.
Angels and Ministers of Grace defend us!

Fola.
List, Buffalo, list, Oh list!
But tremble not, and be your fears dismist.
AIR.

RECITATIVE.
Davo.
“'Tis well, a gentle sprite!
“In order, now recite
“The pains, fore doom'd to blight
“That woe-worn wight,
“Whom first, by nuptial rite,
“Hymen to fair Cephisa shall unite.”

Fola.
Within this scroll,
His fate I enroll.

Davo.
(taking the scroll, says to Buffalo)
AIR.

RECITATIVE.
Davo.
(to Buffalo)
Now infidel! still doubt'st thou?

Buff.
(venturing to look up, but trembling)
Pardon!
Pardon! great sage! I am convinc'd—not worlds
Shou'd tempt me wed her.

Davo.
(importantly)
Not first—no—not first.
(touching him with the wand)
Rise, Don! now list the words of inspiration.
In Mars they're character'd.

[Gazing, and pointing.
Buff.
(raising himself on his knees, with up-lighted hands)
Read them, great sage.

Davo.
Thus they—“Thou hast one mortal foe—a count;
“He loves the maid—thou hat'st him.”

Buff.
(aside, more astonish'd)
Intuition!

Davo.
“Instant consent—He wed her; so he dies;
“So is she freed, and so the spell dissolves.”

AIR.
Fola.
Who first ascends her bed,
His bliss shall be his bane;
He'll find the marriage bed
A couch for death and pain.
But the second, Oh Heav'n! the second,
The happiest of men shall be reckon'd;
The second blest spouse she's decreed to,
Shall find her a virgin and widow.

[disappears
RECITATIVE.
Buff.
(bouncing up in transport)
Thanks, thanks, kind Dœmogorgon!—Yes, I do;
I do consent.

[Davo waves his wand, a roll of parchment falls from above: he takes it up and unrolls it.
Davo.
(presenting it to Buffalo)
A deed in form!—down darted
From Mars's orbit—sign thou this.

Buff.
(eargerly)
With joy.
There sage! 'tis sign'd. (delivers it)
Folatre be the first,
And Buffalo, the happy second spouse!
AIR.

[After the Air, Matilda, Cephisa, and Folatre, in his own habit, come from behind the skreen.
RECITATIVE.
Matil.
Yes, Don, we'll witness to your deed and bliss;
When the Count dies, you're sure of Cephisa.

[A general laugh.
Buff.
(staring round in vexation and shame)
Confusion!
Gull'd!

Fola.
(slouchingly)
But an April masque—I play'd the Dæmon!

Davo.
(bowing ludicrously)
The conj'ror I, sage Davo, at your service.

[Buffalo hangs down his head; then, in desperation, runs with his drawn sword at Davo.
Buff.
This pay thy wages, cheat!

Davo.
(presenting a pocket pistol)
This pay my thanks!

Buff.
(on his knees)
Mercy! oh mercy!

[Flings away his sword.
Matil.
(with contemptuous indignation)
Foh! you baited bull!
This day is Folly's festival—You, Signior,
Tho' not the only one, perhaps the chief
Of our examples—from our plot amend!

AIR. QUINTETTO.
Matil.
Now you're pinn'd to the stake,
What a figure you make!

Davo.
Nay, leave me to deal with our sir there.

Buff.
(aside)
I tremble, I quake.

Ceph.
(ironically, to Davo)
Hold, hold, for my sake!
My sweet second spouse would you murther?

Fola.
(scornfully)
On a reptile so weak,
What revenge can one take?

Buff.
(to all, plaintively)
Ye have humbled me—what would ye further?

Matil., Davo., Buff., Ceph., Fola.
Now you're,
Nay, leave,
I tremble,
Hold, hold,
On a, &c.

Buff.
Ye have humbled me—what would ye further.
(embracing Davo)
Thanks kind Davo!

Davo.
(with a ludicrous bow)
Sir! your Schiavo!

Matil.
(applauding)
Bravo! bravo!

Buff.
(again embracing Davo)
Gen'rous Davo!

Ceph., Matil., Fola.
Bravo! bravo!

Davo.
(bowing to all)
Schiavo! Schiavo!