University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

—THE FOREST OF ENCHANTMENT.
Enter Fairies, conducting Cherry and Kyd—Fairies vanish.
Cherry.
They have led us here, and strangely disappeared.

Kyd.
Though lost to sight, to memory much endeared.

Cherry.
Look! all is light—the forest seems to kindle.

Kyd.
This bank—that branch—a most transparent swindle.
I'll take no shares in such a speculation.

Cherry.
For our arrival an illumination.
The road's lit up; what glorious lights attend it.

Kyd.
Well, if the road's slit up, leave them to mend it.

Cherry.
But where's the Dancing Water we should bring?
Water can never dance without a spring.

Kyd.
No! and the Dancing Water, if it jumps,
Should be provided with a pair of pumps.

Demon Head appears.
Demon.
Go back, rash youth, the spring cannot be found—
It lies a very long way underground.

[Head disappears.
Cherry.
Oh! that's a bore.

Kyd.
It looks as if it would be;
But bores are never in the place they should be.

Cherry.
What if we dig?

Kyd.
Well, though a part we stole,
I think we should be gainers on the whole.

Foxes, and other animals, pass across the stage.
Cherry.
Look there! behold those foxes, how they rush,
Tally-high-ho! we're just in time for the brush.
Moles, Badgers, &c., pass across.
I see why this selection should occur, O,
Why these are all the members for our burrow.

Kyd.
Already they've thrown out a deal of stuff,
Ah! other members don't do that enough.
There's a deep hole—deep as the Caves of Chedder.

Cherry.
Now, then, to take a most tremendous header.

[Cherry plunges in and disappears.
Kyd.
Ah! I'll leave that alone—I've long suspected
My header-cation's shamefully neglected.

Cherry, reappears, bearing the Golden Vase of Dancing Waters.
Cherry.
I have it—see it dances without stopping!
I hope 'twill keep—

Kyd.
It ought to with that hopping.

Cherry.
[Reading inscription.]
‘Whoever drinks more handsome will become.’

Kyd.
I don't require it—that's of use to some.

Cherry.
One task's achieved: the Singing Apple next—
But which the road—I'm terribly perplexed.

Kyd.
Look, master, look, in what a graceful manner
That vase is dancing the Varsoviana.

Cherry.
I see—it means by motion that it makes,
That we should follow every step it takes.

Kyd.
Then for a reel of three, first set, or Lancers;
For all these questions ballets do find dancers.

[Scene changes to