University of Virginia Library

SCENE VIII.

—A splendid Banqueting Hall, or, if preferable, a Pavilion, in the Garden belonging to the Castle of Otranto.
Manfred, Hippolita, Guests, &c., assembled at a brilliant entertainment.
Man.
Come, come, pour out the wine, and let's be merry.
(to Hip.)
Toujours cherie—your taste is toujours Sherry.

Hip.
Ah, always Sherry! may I not retort,
Your bearing's such, I cannot like your port.

Man.
I'll not be angry! Let some eggs be flipp'd—
I'm gay, although Hippolita is hipp'd.
No one shall hip Otranto's lord to-day
Except myself—So hip, hip, hip, hurray!

Hip.
This cheerfulness makes you forget, I fear,
That those whom you invited are not here.
Count Frederic of Vincenza—

Man.
Ah! well said!
Where has he got to? Frederic—Freddy—Fred!

Hip.
My Lord, I fear this boisterous hilarity
Your guests may perhaps mistake for sheer vulgarity.

Man.
Be silent, woman! don't be over nice.
See some more dog's-nose put at once in ice.
But, ha! I miss the Lady Isabella!
Enter Vincenza, Theodore, and Isabella.
Oh! here she comes! (to Vin.)
Why you're a pretty fellow,
To think of coming in so very late!
(to Hip.)
Woman! I bid you write the notes for eight.

Hip.
And so I did, my lord, as you could see—
I followed your instructions to a T.

Man.
How! to a T? this is a gorgeous banquet—
And with a paltry T how dare you rank it?

Hip.
I'm weary of my life!

Man.
And so am I—
Of your life, not my own. Why don't you die?

Hip.
This is too much.

Man.
Don't talk such idle stuff
Too much; it seems it is'nt half enough.
My fairest Isabella, here you are,
I've ask'd your hand from your polite papa;
He's clearly such a gentlemanly man,
That he'll, I'm sure, oblige us if he can.

Isa.
Although to you obliging he may be,
He'll never think, sir, of obliging me.

The.
If no one else disturb your nuptial plans,
I hereby formally forbid the banns.

Man.
Forbid the banns, indeed! What right have you,
Young blade, to come and cut our loves in two?

The.
By every right—I heard it from a ghost.

Man.
That's but a shadow of a claim at most.
Besides, I'll not believe it.

[A noise of chains is heard.
The.
By those sounds
I fancy that the ghost is on his rounds.

Man.
Let him approach, I'll show I'm not afraid;
He'll find Im not particular to a shade.

[The back of the Banqueting Hall or Pavillion falls down, and a gigantic figure of Alphonso appears in the centre of the ruins.
Fig.
Behold! Alphonso's heir.

Man.
Phantom away!
Alphonso's hair? He had no hair, I say.
You shall not daunt me, though you look so big:
Alphonso had no hair—he wore a wig.

Vin.
Rash man forbear! I cannot make it out,
But he's Alphonso's heir I do not doubt;
Where my bread's butter'd, I can see the quarter,
So to young Theodore I give my daughter.

Hip.
I'll to a convent.

Man.
Ah! you may as well,
And though you ne'er can be the convent belle,
If there's a bell that's always on the ring,
Your tongue for clapper would be just the thing.
My course is easy—first my ducal crown,
Like other potentates, shall I lay down!
No! I won't imitate the coward host,
But royally continue at my post;
E'en for my sovereignty I need not fear,
For loyalty is universal here.

FINALE.
THEODORE.
Air.—“The Queen, God bless her!”
A bumper of Haymarket fill fill for me,
Give those who prefer't Drury Lane!
I'm always delighted a bumper to see,
Yes a bumper again and again.
And now, when the cares of the night are gone by,
Though in person we cannot address her,
We'll all fill our goblets and join in the cry,
Here's a health to the Queen, God bless her.

Man. & Chor.
With a hip, hip, hip, hurrah!
Come all you jolly good fellows.
(Spoken.)
Gentlemen, I believe you were all charged as you came in.
(Sung.)
A health to the Queen we cry.

Disposition of Characters.