University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

—THE LAKE OF THE LILIES.
Music.—The Fairies enter.
1st Fairy.
Come, Mother Bunch, we here await your leisure;
Why are we summoned? let me know your pleasure.

Mother B.
I knew, of course, your readiness to serve us,
But must confess, I felt a little nervous.
I wasn't sure, when I invoked you here,
Exactly in what form you might appear.
You have come out pretty handsomely, however.

Mother S.
Handsome—and look at me! oh, did you ever?
I prophesy, no face, however fair it is—

Mother B.
Excuse my friend's absurd peculiarities;
She has a weakness for the oratorical.

Mother S.
However—well, you'll find it in my oracle.

Mother B.
Ye nymphs, whose charms his gift of wit provided,
You knew Prince Riquet quite as well as I did;
Say, is there one, now he's of age and bigger,
Who loves him, notwithstanding his odd figure?

1st Fairy.
There is.

Mother B.
Her name?

1st Fairy.
The Princess Amouretta.

Mother S.
Why, that's the very party I would bet a—

Mother B.
There, I have won—the stakes, I claim them all.

Mother S.
Stakes! The mistakes, ma'am, such things you should call.
That's my Princess, so beautiful, and yet
So silly. Loved he first, I win my bet.

Mother B.
An upright wager always should be paid.

Mother S.
No wager's upright—every wager's laid.

Mother B.
Well, here's the umpire; tell us which began
To love the first, the woman or the man?

Mother S.
Stop! here's the point: which was it loved the other?
Did t'other this love, or did this love t'other?

1st Fairy.
Cease your dispute; Prince Riquet will confess
He loves the lady; and the fair Princess
Will equally admit she loves the Prince,
Though one she has never seen before nor since.

Mother S.
What! never seen him?

1st Fairy.
Never; but, last week,
Wandering within his woods, she heard him speak;
And what he said, so soon her heart ensnared,
That her affections swiftly were declared.

Mother S.
Why, then, it seems, if both—no, stop! if he—
That is to say, if neither—let me see—
I prophesy, that this will be a query
No fellow can make out, but Lord Dundreary.

1st Fairy.
Till they're affianced, I, your referee,
Declare the wager can't decided be.

Mother B.
I'll hasten on the Prince's wedding-day.

Mother S.
I'll make the Princess all her charms display.

Mother B.
[Aside.]
Poor Mother Shipton! won't she make a stir?

Mother S.
[Aside.]
Poor Mother Bunch! I steal a march on her.

1st Fairy.
When Prince and Princess fairly plight their troth,
I will be near, to settle with you both.

Mother B.
We meet again, then; till we do, good bye!

[Exit.
Mother S.
Adoo! adoo!—a do I mean to try.

[Exit.
1st Fairy.
Now let your fairy forms, ere separation,
In poses form a tasteful combination;
Whilst we, as fairy-books all say we do,
Protect the good, and well reward the true.

GRAND BALLET.
[Tableau, on which the scene closes.