 | Little John And The Giants |  |
7
ACT I.
SCENE I.
A Country Village.John Good met by several Peasants, running from different parts.
1st Peas.
Run, run, run—
2d Peas.
We're all undone!
3d Peas.
Run, run!
Jack.
What, are you mad?—The devil's in the people!
1st Peas.
A Giant, sir, a Giant, like a steeple!
2d Peas.
His eyes two beacons are, three miles asunder.
3d Peas.
His mouth a furnace, and his voice a thunder.
1st Peas.
On Lammas last, the ugly dog, confound him,
He ravished all our maids, nine miles around him.
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The greedy gut, last fair, as I'm a sinner,
Eat up both men and market, at a dinner.
3d Peas.
A goodly farm I had, with kine to stock it;
House, farm, and all, he whips me in his pocket.
All in a chafe, I runs me to the Corum,
And ript the bundle of my griefs, before 'em:
Alack, my masters, 'twas a musty arrant;
The Corum heard—but hold ye there—no warrant!
What should I do, at such a woeful crisis?
I tuck'd my duds, and trudg'd to our assizes;
When, lo sir, as I stood, my wrongs disclosing,
One Judge sat wisely deaf, and 'tother dozing.
Jack.
My friends, your State Physicians, thro' all nations,
Prescribe the Poor their standing dose—of Patience.
The Weak must bend, or break; the Wise be pliant;
Nor vainly look for Justice on a Giant.
AIR I.
Tune. “At the Tree I shall suffer with pleasure.”I.
The Laws they were made for the Little,
The Laws they were made for the Little:
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All the ties, that belong
To Justice and Honour, are brittle.
CHORUS.
In the hands of the Strong, &c.
II.
The Laws they were made for the Little,
The Laws they were made for the Little:
Though Churchmen may preach,
And Philosophers teach,
The Great will not list to a tittle.
CHORUS
Though Churchmen, &c.
III.
The laws they were made for the Little,
The Laws they were made for the Little:
It is not by Right,
But by Wrong-doing Might,
That Giants still scape a Committal.
CHORUS.
It is not by right. &c.
Yet fear not, honest neighbours! come, there may,
A future deed, to mark some future day,
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In single opposition, hand to hand:
Thereafter, 'twill be easy to divine,
Whose hand shall prove the stronger, his or mine.
1st Peas.
May Heaven's high help, our little Hero bless!
2d Peas.
We wish your Honour, mighty good success.
[Exit Jack.
3d Peas.
Soft ye, my neighbours!—what is this I see?
You spoke but of one Giant—here are three!
1st Peas.
Then look ye, friends, there's little more to say,
The hindmost let them catch—
All.
Away, away!
[Exeunt running.
SCENE II.
Rumbo and Blunderbore.Rumb.
'Sfish! what have we got here?
Blund.
Do you want to know,
You hulking slobber-chops?
Rumb.
Bo—o, o, o!
Blund.
Hey day, do you think to fright us? blood and thunder!
Rumb.
O sir! pray sir!—you see, sir, I knock under—
Good sir, may I crave your name?
Blund.
'Tis Blunderbore!
Rumb.
'Tis Blunderbuss, you mean, you thumping son of a whore.
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My blood and breath!
Rumb.
Don't bite its pretty thumbs—
I'll send to buy a bib, and sugar plumbs.
AIR II.
Tune. “A Country Lad I am.”Blund.
Odso, I do begin,
To think the rascal's bamming!
Rumb.
Keep ill words within,
And wisely save a slamming.
Blund.
Why, my Bully Bluff,
Do you think I fear you,
With your cock and huff!
Rumb.
Friend, if I was near you!—
Blund.
Caution guides the Wise,
In the midst of Joking.
Rumb.
Think what Wrath may rise,
If you grow provoking!
Blund.
Your bones I'd mill and fry,
In your greasy marrow!
Rumb.
You lie—
Blund.
You lie—
Rumb.
You lie—
Blund.
Sirrah!
Rumb.
Sirrah!
Blund.
Sirrah!
Rumb.
Nay, then I send all gentleness a jogging.
Have at your loggerhead!—
Blund.
Have at your noggin!—
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SCENE III.
As they engage, enter Galigantus.Galig.
Hold for your lives!—who stirs upon the spot,
By all my brother gods, he goes to pot?
Rumb.
Hey, boys!—who taught our neighbour's calf to bellow?
Friend Blunder, do you know this huffing fellow?
Blund.
Not I upon my conscience—I renounce him!
Rumb.
A word—suppose we both should join—
Blund.
And trounce him!
Rumb.
A match!
Galig.
Come on, you jack-a-dandy elves;
And learn to know your master, and yourselves!
SCENE IV.
Thunder and Lightning.Plutus ascends, a golden rod in his hand, and his robe spangled with gems and medals.
Plut.
Lo! from my secret mansion, in the deep,
Where treasures in their causes sleep;
Of riches the omnific lord,
On earth, above all power that is in Heaven, adored—
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With counsel to assuage, with music to disarm.
AIR III.
Soft Music.Plut.
I.
This scepter'd hand all nations own;All religions hold divine—
I, the king of every throne;
I, the god of every shrine!
II.
Gold is every woman's lust!Gold is every man's desire!
Gold the covert patriot's gust!—
Kneel my sons, and own your sire!
Galig.
Father! your sacred influence I own,
And nature feels, that I am your's alone;
But, for this precious pair, my booby brothers,
I would, good sir, I would—they were another's.
Plut.
Thee, Galigantus, in life's golden tide,
I got upon thy mother, Pride—
Son of my strength, in an auspicious hour;
And call'd thee, Power.
To thee succeeded, ere 'twas long,
These thy two brothers, Violence and Wrong:
If of their kin thou thinkest shame,
Employ their Natures, but suppress their Name.
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But let them share thy grace, and they'll support thy throne.
Galig.
Father! thy Word is sage—be this embrace,
Our bond of brotherhood, our bond of peace!
[Giants embrace.
Plut.
Heir of my might, to thee I give this wand,
To spread thy power, and grace thy hand;
Bright emblem of thy race, proud ensign of command!
Galig.
First, humbly on my knee I bend,
To learn its use, and know its end.
Plut.
When o'er the heads of Senates, Courts, and Kings,
Thine arm doth wave
This golden wand, from whence all influence springs—
Who curtsies, is avow'd thy slave:
Who bendeth not, if such a wight there be,
Thy deadliest foe is he!
Whatever ancient story tells
Of incantations, charms, or spells,
This rod contains—a sage and learned wand;
And is the mightier Merlin, of the land!
Thine arm doth wave
This golden wand, from whence all influence springs—
Who curtsies, is avow'd thy slave:
Who bendeth not, if such a wight there be,
Thy deadliest foe is he!
Whatever ancient story tells
Of incantations, charms, or spells,
This rod contains—a sage and learned wand;
And is the mightier Merlin, of the land!
Beyond the sun's meridian beam,
Its touch unthreads the human frame—
No Virtue may abide the proved essay;
And every worth exhales, like morning mists, away.
Wouldst thou embroil the world in Fight?
Set up this Ensign to their sight—
Around the nations shall engage,
And madding Discord shout, and boundless Havock rage!
Then bid Contention cease—
Down with this kindling rod, and all again is peace.
Wonder-working Gold has done,
All the feats beneath the sun;
Gold was the talisman of every Magus,
And Circe's Witchful Cup was taken from the Tagus.
Its touch unthreads the human frame—
No Virtue may abide the proved essay;
And every worth exhales, like morning mists, away.
Wouldst thou embroil the world in Fight?
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Around the nations shall engage,
And madding Discord shout, and boundless Havock rage!
Then bid Contention cease—
Down with this kindling rod, and all again is peace.
Wonder-working Gold has done,
All the feats beneath the sun;
Gold was the talisman of every Magus,
And Circe's Witchful Cup was taken from the Tagus.
AIR IV.
Tune. “Moll Roe.”I.
Plut.Would you silence a Patriot-committee,
Touch their lips with this Magical Wand;
Through country, and senate, and city,
'Tis the lock and the key of the land.
CHORUS.
Through country and senate, &c.
II.
Take a piece of this same from your coffer,
Display to the Voter your pelf;
And the wretch having nothing to offer,
Will frugally sell you Himself.
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And the wretch having nothing to, &c.
III.
'Tis a shot for the fowl of all feather,
A bait for the gust of all fish;
To this every gudgeon will gather,
And plump, ready drest, in your dish.
CHORUS.
To this every gudgeon, &c.
IV.
If the booby, your Pupil, so dull is,
He scarce can remember his name;
Yet his mouth it shall open like Tully's,
When fed with a Spoon of this same.
CHORUS.
Yet his mouth it shall open, &c.
V.
Though a rascal, a bear, and a blockhead,
Unconscious of mood or of tense,
This plastic receipt in your pocket,
Gives grace, figure, virtue, and sense.
CHORUS.
This plastic receipt in your, &c.
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VI.
'Tis Gold that all women bewitches;
Though wrinkled, and thinner than lawn,
If you get but the pence in your breeches,
You'll want neither beauty nor brawn.
CHORUS.
If you get but the pence in, &c.
VII.
In courts should your cause be disjointed,
Let not that sink your spirits one peg;
With the Oil of this Nostrum anoint it,
'Twill make it as right as my leg.
CHORUS.
With the Oil of this Nostrum anoint it, &c.
VIII.
Old Saints will, for this, sell their manuels;
O'er this, at your sovereign nod,
Old Judges will skip like young spaniels;
And Cardinals kiss you this rod.
CHORUS.
Old judges will skip, &c.
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IX.
To study aught else, is but nonsense;
From hence all Philosophy springs—
'Tis the Crown, Beauty, Cause, and Good Conscience,
Of priests, ladies, lawyers, and kings.
CHORUS.
'Tis the Crown, Beauty, &c.
Thanks, mighty sir! the gift is great; for hence
O'er earth I gain omnipotence.
[Takes the Wand.
Plut.
Take it my son, my rightful heir!
The world is thine—but let thy brothers share.
Power, Violence, and Wrong, are three,
That must immortal be!
Together then o'er mortals reign;
Though captive you may be awhile, you never can be slain.
Galig.
Yet, father, I would gladly know,
If we have any kindred else below?—
Of such bid these thy sons beware,
And let their wrath their own relations spare.
Plut.
List, therefore—to my sage advice attend,
And from your foe discern your friend.
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AIR V.
Tune. “Peggy Benson.”I.
In the Church where your dignified doctors you find,
Such holy men refrain, son;
For uplifted by us and our offices kind,
Their sanctified pride they sustain, son.
CHORUS.
For uplifted by us and our, &c.
II.
Let Governors thrive; and each Prince on his throne,
In peace and plenty reign, son;
Till you find that by talents and virtues alone,
One man shall to honour attain, son.
CHORUS.
Till you find that by talents, &c.
III.
Let Party in turbulent senates debate,
Nor matters it who shall gain, son;
Till you find that one act for the good of the state,
Has enter'd in either's brain, son.
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Till you find that one act, &c.
IV.
Let the Law be your care, nor one tittle retrench,
But support each furr'd robe in its station;
For they, as our substitutes, sit on the bench,
To decide the affairs of the nation.
CHORUS.
For they, as our substitutes, &c.
V.
In Cities, tho' czars of a pitiful sphere,
Would you know who would be our relation?
'Tis the Alderman's Worship, and sudden Lord Mayor
Who struts through his yearly creation.
CHORUS.
'Tis the Alderman's Worship, &c.
VI.
Each fox-hunting justice and landlorded youth,
Are prone to your point, when they may, son;
For these too are little Grand Seigniors forsooth,
And Giants each man in his way, son.
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For these too are little, &c.
Now mark me, son! my latest counsel hear,
And learn the only ill thou hast to fear.
Somewhere, I ween, in Britain's ancient ground,
A maid, call'd Jillian Justice, may be found—
A princess fair, born of a race divine;
A race, as wide as pole and pole from thine!
Her seek, secure; and when a captive led,
By force or flattery win to share thy bed.
Seize her fell sword, the Magic Sword of Law,
Which but one arm, the arm of Truth can draw.
By night, alone, unheard, and unespied,
Deep under ground that hostile weapon hide—
For, woe the day! when all thy glory's sped,
Thine eye shall see it brandish'd o'er thy head.
Enough is said, enough is done!—
The blessings of thy Sire still wait on thee, my son!
[Thunder and lightning—Plutus descends.
Galig.
Come, my brothers, hand in hand,
Let's rule the court, and roam the land;
Or if, in prudence, we should seem to part,
Keep frequent in my eye, and always in my heart!
[Exeunt.
END OF THE FIRST ACT.
| Little John And The Giants | |