University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—Great Hall in Manfred's Castle, where Manfred, Hippolita, Matilda, with Guests, are met, to celebrate the marriage of Isabella with the youthful Conrad.
OPENING CHORUS.
Air—“The Bridal Polka.”
Bid them merrily the bells to ring—the bells to ring,
And learn some chorus of joy to sing—joy to sing,
Give us trifles, cake, et cetera—cakes, et cetera—cakes, &c.
Nothing really could be betterer—could be, &c.—could be, &c.

Man.
My friends, my guests, my visitors, and vassals!
Your rich attire, adorned with gold and tassels,
Tells me you wish your very best to wear,
To grace the marriage of my son and heir—
My youthful Conrad!

Hip.
Oh, my lord, I dread—
He's not yet sixteen summers o'er his head—
He's far too young for marriage!

Man.
Don't talk stuff!
I say that sixteen summers are enough;
Time flies, you know; thro' life one quickly flings
One's sixteen summersets, after sixteen springs.

Hip.
'Tis my maternal tenderness that speaks:
As yet no whiskery down adorn his cheeks.

Man.
I'll hear no more! talk not of down to me—
The boy's as downy as a boy need be.
I hate to see a face with hair all rough—
It makes the owner look a regular muff.
You shall not, madam, beard me to my face—
You know I must perpetuate my race;
My hopes are centred in an only son:
I expect from you no heirs—so let's have none.

Hip.
This is unkind indeed!

Mat.
My dear papa,
You've regularly flurried poor mamma:
See how she weeps.

Man.
If she's no kerchief, get her one.
Tears! nonsense! let her dry her eyes, the wetter-un.
Madam, this leakiness dislikes me! stop it!

Hip.
My Lord, this tear must fall!

Man.
Be quick, and drop it.
Where's the fair bride, the Lady Isabella?
Is she aware I wait?—did no one tell her?

Enter Isabella, L.
Isa.
(comes forward.)
Your lordship's pleasure I attend.

Man.
That's right.
Two noble families we shall unite:
You represent Vincenza's famous line;
Otranto's principality is mine;—
This wedding blends the two. You're looking well—
'Pon honor! Isabella is-a-belle!
(Aside.)
That joke's the very holdest of the hold ones:
But women, somehow, don't detect the old ones;
They fancy, p'r'aps, 'gainst their own age 'twould tell,
If an old joke they seem'd to know too well—
I'll try— (aloud to Isa.)
That jeu-de-mot was stale, tho' clever—
You've heard it?

Isa.
No I never— (to Hip.)
Did you ever?

Man.
Of course she has, with flattery don't fill her,
By Jove! she's a contemporary of Miller.

Isa.
My Lord, you're too severe, away she'll pine.

Man.
(sarcastically.)
Oh no, her tears keep her preserved in brine.
But where's young Conrad? This delay is idle—
His horse this morn was saddled for the bridal.
Has no one seen him?
[Music.
Enter Odonto, L., in great haste, panting furiously.
How now, sirrah! 'sdeath!
If you don't quickly find use for your breath
I'll rid you of it; if your life you'd save,
Raise your exhausted wind, asthmatic slave!

Odo.
The court-yard—oh!

(pointing off.)
Man.
Are the times out of joint?
Of all that pointing, tell me, what's the point?
Say on! Those motions of the hand imply
You've had a finger in some fearful pie!

Odo.
The court-yard!—oh! the court-yard!

Man.
What's the matter?
You cannot speak a word, tho' your teeth chatter.
My friends, to treat you thus seems rather hard,
But there's a row in the adjacent yard:
Now is the time for every rank and station,
To join in a tremendous demonstration!
I must away! those who would follow me
As special constables, sworn in may be.

[During the chorus Manfred marshals the Visitors and Vassals, as Special Constables, and, at the end of the chorus, exeunt omnes.