University of Virginia Library

Scene Fifth.

—A splendid Chamber with large folding doors. An alcove, with curtains drawn up by golden cords, L. U. E.; a large window and balcony, to which the ascent is by a double flight of steps, with a gilt balustrade, R.; window open, R., and moon seen through it; numerous lamps are burning; vases with flowers; door, L. 2 E.
Zorilda, with her hair dishevelled, is reclining on a pile of cushions—Liska near her as an attendant.
Liska.
(R. C.)
Cheer up, sweet lady, never say despair,
And just allow me, do, to smooth your hair;
And why not change your dress? When one's in grief
The duties of one's toilette bring relief.
Grieve not so much, I say—now—draw it mild!

Zoril.
(L. C.)
Grief fills the room up of my absent child!
Dog's ears his book—commits some prank absurd;
Or hurts my feelings with some naughty word.
Puts on his pinafore and trousers brief,
Thus have I reason to be fond of grief.
Upon my head this thing I will not wear!

Liska.
Stop, madam, that cost money—pray take care.

Zoril.
My boy! my boy! my Agib—my fair son!
My breakfast, lunch, and dinner—all in one.

Liska.
Indeed, I pity you.

Zoril.
And then your father,
That great old do!

Liska.
Yes, it was shabby—rather.

Enter Oglou at folding doors, L. 2 E.
Zoril.
He to betray me!—O, 'twas very base!

Oglou.
Ma'am!

Zoril.
Yes; I wonder you can shew your face.

Oglou.
If I had acted differently, I know,
By this time I had had no face to shew:
Timour in choler would as soon, I swear,
Cut down a Pa as he'd cut up a Pére.

Liska.
No, no!—fie, fie!—you ought to be ashamed!

Oglou.
Indeed I'm not, Miss Liska, to be blamed:
'Twas through expediency the truth I uttered.

Zoril.
Yes; knowing on which side your bread was buttered.
Expediency!—that's the term to use
When some low shuffling trick we would excuse—
If honour's path should prove the longer way,
And into some dark passage we would stray
Which seems the shorter cut, we first declare
The step expedient, and then all seems fair.

Oglou.
A noble speech; but, madam, you forget,
Tartars have not invented Vestries yet?

Liska.
Nor Boards of Work, who nothing ever do,
But work the pocket—if report speaks true.

Oglou.
And therefore that indignant outburst is 'm—
What's classically called—Anachronism.

Liska.
It ill becomes you, pa, to stand and mock
A lady suffering under such a shock.

Oglou.
(to Liska)
You hold your tongue. (to Zorilda)
When Octar had come back,
There was no use in swearing white was black!
I saw him ready with his news to burst,
So from the bag let out my cat the first.

Liska.
Papa's a deep 'un.

Zoril.
Yet, I do not see—

Oglou.
Look! Timour still has confidence in me.

Zoril.
Then Timour and I differ.

Oglou.
As before,
I open and I shut yon prison door;
What if I brought you, for five minutes' chat,
(he goes to door and brings in Agib, muffled, L. 2 E.)
A visitor. (the cloak falls)
Yes, what d'ye say to that?

Agib.
Mamma!

Zoril.
My child! Kind Oglou!

Oglou.
I deceive you.

Liska.
Papa!

Oglou.
My child!

Liska.
How touching! I forgive you!

Zoril.
In your abode, dear sir, I plainly see,
My prince has found an Agapemone.

Oglou.
Listen to me. You must escape to-night;
A band of Georgians will attend your flight.
We've squared all that, they're waiting down below.
You, Liska, you to yonder passage go;
Don't let my son come on her unawares,
Remember, Timour's life you spare.

Agib.
She spares!

Oglou.
I'll see all right below, and you keep steady;
And when the bell sounds midnight—then be ready.

Exeunt Oglou, L. 2 E., and Liska at back, R.
Duet.—Zorilda and Agib, “Lurline.”

Zoril.
You're looking ill.

Agib.
I've plenty of excuse,
For that dull place would kill the very deuce.

Zoril.
You mind your book?

Agib.
Well, yes, mamma, sometimes;
But I've learned all my hymns and nursery rhymes;
And chewed my primer into balls, to shy
Upon the sentinels as they walk by.

Zoril.
My playful pet!

Re-enter Liska from back, R.
Liska.
Hush!—stop thy loving prattle!
This is no time for idle tittle-tattle—
Timour is coming.

Zoril.
All my hopes have shrunk!

Liska.
He's very touchy, and he's rather—

Zoril.
Sunk
Into the earth I'd be!—each way is blocked!
Stop, here's a cupboard!—hang the thing—it's locked!

(Liska hides Agib on the couch)
Liska.
Beneath these cushions he will be secure:
You, madam, feign to sleep to make all sure.

(Zorilda reclines on couch)
Enter Timour at folding doors, followed by Bermeddin, L. 2 E.
Timour.
This door unlocked! Bless me!—how very heedless!

Berm.
You gave no orders—

Timour.
Thinking they were needless.
Summon the proper guard.
Exit Bermeddin, L. D.
Now, madam—ho!

Liska.
Hush, hush!—you'll wake her if you bellow so.

Timour.
(viciously)
I mean to wake her!

Zoril.
(rising)
Rash intruder, hence!

Timour.
Madam, your words betray a want of sense.
This place is mine. I can't be an intruder.
Can anything be plainer?

Zoril.
No, nor ruder,
Than thus to take advantage.

Timour.
Bear in mind
That Timour takes whatever he can find.
Madam, I'm come to shew myself a fool
For once, exceptions always prove the rule,
And if I should boil over, think upon
The policy that put the kettle on.
You've proved a vile impostor, come to cheat me,
You snub me, scold me, seem inclined to beat me.
Spite of this, I'm here, upon my life,
To beg (O fool!) you'll deign to be my wife!

Zoril.
You kill'd my husband, sir,

Timour.
That's very true,
But then the crime was caused by love for you.

Zoril.
Oh, monstrous flam! You had not seen me then.

Timour.
But I had heard of you from many men
Who had seen your photograph. Pray ask no more,
But just be satisfied that I adore.
Your husband was a brute.

Zoril.
(aside)
Well, that's a fact.

Timour.
Fitted for six month's lodging by the Act.
Another swain will beat less, and will sigh more
At those dear feet.

Zoril.
Name him!

Timour.
His name is Timour.
Your eyes dart fury, while your cheek is red.

Zoril.
Would they were basilisks to strike thee dead.

Timour.
I would they were, that I might die at once,
And not keep whimpering here—a dolt—a dunce.
You'd kill me; well—I'll take you at your word—
Be quick about it, madam—here's my sword.

Zoril.
I've a good mind.

Timour.
Your lord by me was slain.

Zoril.
That's not sufficient reason—try again.

Timour.
Agib, by me, in prison was confined;
Now stick, fair lady; but, please to bear in mind,
That if my guards come in and find me dead,
They'll take off your's—and likewise Agib's head.

Zoril.
Too soft persuader—'twill not do, I see.

Timour.
Take up the sword again, or take up me;
Refuse—and when the sky with morn is red,
Young Agib will be shortened by a head!

Zoril.
The axe! Behead my child—my only joy?

Timour.
A chop is wholesome for a growing boy.

Zoril.
Monster! wouldst dare so foul a thing to do,
As kill my Agib?

Timour.
Kill him!—I? 'Tis you!

Zoril.
I kill him?

Timour.
Yes, I tell you, aggravation;
What needs this d--- I mean this iteration.
I'd be his step-father. If you're averse,
He'll just go one step farther, and fare worse.
Do you refuse?

Zoril.
A short time for reflection.

Timour.
Humph! thinking might increase your disaffection.

Liska.
The signal!

(clock strikes midnight)
Zoril.
Ah! if Oglou—

Oglou.
(without)
As a trivet,
I'm right! (Liska takes Agib from couch to alcove, L.)


Timour.
The marriage chain I cannot rivet
Ere midnight hour, because that hour has struck;
I'll wait an hour, and hope for better luck.

(approaches couch, and about to sit)
Zoril.
Not there!

Timour.
Why not? Explain! I'm quickly nettled.

Zoril.
Not there!

Timour.
Some rascal hidden! (stabs couch)
So! that's settled!

Zoril.
Lost!—lost!

Timour.
You may be lost, but naught is found.

Liska.
(whispers)
He is in the alcove.

Zoril.
Ha!

(a loud knocking heard)
Timour.
Sure I heard a sound—
Some spirit rapping.

Zoril.
Oglou, I'll be bound.

Oglou.
(without, L.)
Come—come! All's ready!

Timour.
Is it? I'm delighted!

Zoril.
I faint!

Liska.
I die!

Timour.
You need not be affrighted,
I take it easy. (Liska tries to approach door)
No, no! You stay here;
Don't stop our friend.

Enter Oglou, L. door, not seeing Timour.
Oglou.
Come, my little dear.

Timour.
Father!

Oglou.
My son!

Zoril.
Oh, gemini!

Liska.
Oh my!

Timour.
Whom look you for?

Oglou.
You! You!

Timour.
Humph! That's a—Why?

Oglou.
Why, that of course you must perceive is clear.

Timour.
Gammon! you said just now, “Come, little dear.”
Who was it that you thus accosted?

Oglou.
You!

Timour.
Some veneration to one's sire is due.
But when he says the thing that's not correct,
What kind of filial love does he expect.
So coolly too, me, “little dear” to call.

Oglou.
Why not? You are my dear son, and far from tall.

Timour.
Kind, good papa. (aside)
Old humbug! not so flat
Am I, that I don't sniff some sort of rat.

Oglou.
(aside)
I wonder where the boy is?

Timour.
Fair Princess,
About that couch (to Liska, who approaches Oglou)

No whispering! I'll confess,
I have my doubts.

Zoril.
All—all I will explain.

Timour.
I'm charmed! (aside)
Now for a bouncing fib again!

Zoril.
A small green parrot long my pet has been.

Timour.
The only thing about her that is green.

Zoril.
Upon yon couch 'twas perched. Now, had you sat
Down on it, heedlessly—

Timour.
Don't talk of that,
Madam, I trust that I have pluck enough—
A candle, with my fingers, I can snuff—
But sitting on a parrot—

Zoril.
While you raved
I saved my pet.

Timour.
(rubbing his leg)
You know not what you saved!

Zoril.
The faithful bird to yonder alcove fled.

Oglou.
(aside)
Aha! I see it all!

Timour.
Let's hope it's dead.
We'll drop the subject; of these vain alarms
I ease my heart, while gazing on your charms.

Song—Zorilda. Air, “Some one to love me.” (Buckley.) (during which the escape of Agib is effected by Oglou and Liska through window, R.)
You bad man, I never can love you;
In vain you make all this ado,
For I feel that my station's above you—
Your morals are second-rate, too.
Indeed, sir, the man who would love me
Should be the contrary of you.
You smile, but you never will move me
To tell a—the thing that's not true:
You're not so bad-looking, I grant it,
Although you're not much of a beau;
Your heart, sir—indeed I don't want it—
Bad man, do not worry me so.

Timour.
Oh, joy!—oh, rapture!

Zoril.
Nay; I own the song
Was not so bad, but this is rather strong.
You'll make me vain.

Agib.
(without, R.)
Oh, crikey! (chord)


Oglou.
(at window, R.)
Oh, my eye!

Zoril.
What is't?

Oglou.
The cord has broken!

Zoril.
He will die!

Timour.
Eh? Loose again is some infernal screw;
Madam, upon my word this will not do.

Zoril.
Don't bother!

Liska.
Hush!

Oglou.
Just hold your tongue! Fear naught,
The loyal Georgians have the urchin caught,
And raise him in their arms!

(shouts without, R.)
All Three.
Hooray! Hooray!

Zoril.
My boy is safe!

Timour.
Young Agib slipped away?
And Georgians at the gate—I feel distracted!
My honour'd father—nobly you have acted?
You, sister, too! You, madam! I'll be shot,
If I can pick the worst out of the lot.
Quick!—ho, my guards! (Enter Guard, L.)
Though countless foes attack,
Ass as I am—I've harness on my back!

Alarums, &c., and all exeunt, R.