Alfred the Great ; or, The Minstrel King An Historical Extravaganza |
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Scene Fifth.
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 | Alfred the Great ; or, The Minstrel King |  |
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Scene Fifth.
—The Royal Property, and “Great Anglo-Saxon Circus” illuminated for the Peace rejoicings. A semi-circle walled in like an Astley's ring down to the first entrance; at the back of the ring a small waterfall, C., with rocks on each side.Guthrum seated on a throne, R., forward—Ina at his side—Haldane, Otho, &c., in attendance. The fight between Oswith and Edric just over—Oswith, R., triumphant, bowing to the applause of spectators—Edric, L., prostrate—Ceolwulf applying restoratives—Dunulf and Headred mingling with the Crowd unobserved—Maude seated in ridiculous state, L. The Scene opens to a loud shout and flourish—Oswith bows modestly all round.
Guth.
Saxon! the palm is yours. Come, take the spoil.
(rises and gives Ina's hand to him—they embrace)
(to Edric)
My injured friend, the palm you want's palm oil!
Edric.
(aside)
Gall! Wormwood! Hemlock! Strychnine! Bitter cup!
Vinegar and brown paper! Pick me up.
I'll be avenged!
He is carried out, L. 1 E.
Guth.
So! freed from strife's enmeshment,
Let us proceed to music and refreshment.
Enter Alfred, L. U. E., and comes forward.
Guth.
(to Alfred)
My farinaceous friend, from you to-night
We shall expect great things; I know we're right.
About you there's a free and easy air
Which proves you've been accustomed to the chair;
We're quite impatient for your banjo's tones,
While as a baker you must know the bones.
Oblige us with a song.
Alfred.
(L.)
Ahem! of course,
I scarcely need inform you I'm dead hoarse?
Guth.
'Tis needless—quite!
Alfred.
(L.)
Or that I am out of practice?
Guth.
(R.)
A superfluity!
Alfred.
Or that the fact is
I haven't brought my music?
Guth.
We'll dispense
With such formalities.
Alfred.
Then I'll commence.
What's it to be?
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Of choice we'll make no fuss,
So that it's complimentary to us.
So that it's complimentary to us.
(Alfred commences after much affectation of preludizing)
Song.—Alfred.—Air, “The tight little island.”
Mother Europe one day
Unto Freedom did say
There's not much room for you upon my land,
If a corner you'd hit on,
Secure little Britain.—
Said Freedom, “Why, that's my own island!”
For—oh! it's a nice little island!
And whatever foe touches the island,
Be he fierce—be he strong,
He won't stop very long,
Or do very much harm to the island.
Guth.
and Danes. (rise angrily)
Hah!
Alfred.
Prefer an older and a thinner whine?
Something in the Lachrymæ Christy line,
Or say a gem picked up in the last scramble
Out of the Caledonian stores of Campbell?
Song.—Alfred.—Air, “Whar do you come from?”
Something in the Lachrymæ Christy line,
Or say a gem picked up in the last scramble
Out of the Caledonian stores of Campbell?
It's a berry lubly night, and the stars are shining bright,
And de critters from de north am a coming into sight.
De wolves dey come to howl, and the bears dey come to dance;
And de frogs dey want to come, but dey couldn't get a chance.
I ask him whar he comes from?
Who does he belong to?
Wonder whar he's going to?
Faddly um ti day!
Oh! Mr. Dane, you have crossed de main,
For the gallant sea achievement of returning back again.
And de critters from de north am a coming into sight.
De wolves dey come to howl, and the bears dey come to dance;
And de frogs dey want to come, but dey couldn't get a chance.
I ask him whar he comes from?
Who does he belong to?
Wonder whar he's going to?
Faddly um ti day!
Oh! Mr. Dane, you have crossed de main,
For the gallant sea achievement of returning back again.
Dere's a bull-dog on a bank, and a bull-frog in a pool;
De frog he get excited, but de dog him berry cool.
De frog he want to quarrel, but de bull-dog lift him paw;
And so de matter ended in a quantity of jaw.
But I ask him whar he come from, &c.
De frog he get excited, but de dog him berry cool.
De frog he want to quarrel, but de bull-dog lift him paw;
And so de matter ended in a quantity of jaw.
But I ask him whar he come from, &c.
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Elswith.
(agitated)
Who sang that air?
Guth.
(up R. angrily)
This ere!
Elswith.
(aside)
It is not he!
And yet—who else could sound that upper G?
(looks enquiringly at Alfred)
Alfred.
(L. aside)
Be still my heart! it is my queen elect!
(Edric comes down to his elbow, L., Alfred bursts out into refrain of song)
Edric.
(C. aside)
The looseness of a screw I here suspect! (to Elswith
Young woman!
Elswith.
(R. timidly)
Sir!
Edric.
You know this man?
Elswith.
(who has recognized Alfred)
Yes!—No!
He served our family some time ago.
Edric.
(searchingly)
Your family?
Elswith.
(nervously correcting herself)
That—of—the habitation,
Where I last held a menial situation.
Edric.
(aside)
A servant girl had said in such a case—
“The folks as kep' the 'ouse of my last place!”
You were attached to them?
(Alfred makes signs to her, she does not comprehend)
Elswith.
(R., crying)
Respect my grief!
(wipes her eyes)
Edric.
(R. C.)
Just let me see that pocket handkerchief!
(snatches it from her, and hastily inspects the corner)
“Elswith”—a coronet! (aloud to Guthrum)
Chief! bless this hour!
King Alfred's bride elect is in your power!
(all rise in astonishment)
Guth.
(R. C.)
Lock up the postern gates and count the spoons!
Alfred.
(R. aside, hurriedly to Elswith)
Swear that you're not, or we're departed coons!
Guth.
(looking at Elswith)
As a mere servant she was barely handsome,
But through the medium of a queenly ransom,
In our mind's eye—her charms become divine.
(to Elswith)
Bewitching captive! Port or sherry wine?
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Ho! let the sports proceed!
(Alfred and Oswith have been talking apart earnestly up, L. C., they come down, C.)
Alfred.
(L.)
Thou hast no fear?
Oswith.
(R. C.)
Your majesty!
Alfred.
(seizing his hand)
Agreed!
'Tis our sole chance! once safe o'er yonder torrent,
We can defy arrest—writ—capias—warrant.
Return in force—this ill-watched camp besiege;
Rescue our brides in no time—
Oswith.
But, my liege,
Think of your precious life!
Alfred.
A trifling matter!
Enough! I'll go and change! tip 'em the patter!
Exit Alfred, L. 1 E., Oswith goes up.
(a ballet takes place, at end of which Oswith comes forward in the manner of a street conjuror, and clears a ring)
Oswith.
(à la showman)
Ladies and Gentlemen, with your permission,
I beg to introduce for exhibition,
One whose appearance here will prove a staggerer—
The celebrated Blondin, from Niagara,
Has been engaged at an expense prodigious.
Yon waterfall! with the tight rope to bridge us,
'Twill do your eyes good, open them, in fact,
His operation for the cataract.
Which in this hope, brings folks from every distance,
To see a man a-bridging his existence.
Music.—Enter Alfred, L., in a tight acrobat suit, bowing. In the meantime Dunulf and another stretch a thick rope across the torrent.
Oswith.
Professor Blondin, from the States!
Omnes.
Bravo!
Oswith.
(C.)
The eyes of Europe are upon you,
Alfred.
(L. aside to him)
Oh!
Of Eur-ope—eh?
Oswith.
Yes, they've been waiting long enough.
Alfred.
How about my rope, though—I hope it's strong enough!
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(L.)
The strongest hemp!
Alfred.
It should be something coarser,
My line is that of Hengist and of Horse-hair!
Oswith.
The sports can now proceed—the little man
Will walk three times around the Cairawan!
Music.—Alfred walks round, then prepares for his ascent; a balance pole is given to him by Dunulf, and he goes up the rocks, R., and then crosses cautiously to L.—murmurs of applause—he then returns and performs a tight-rope dance; Maude and Dunulf let off each a squib on each side of him, he bows, and withdraws behind rock, R.—shouts of applause.
Oswith.
That was his first—now he'll go through his latter act,
Professor Blondin next will cross the cataract.
Encumbered by a second person's weight,
The wond'rous feat that proves him truly great.
In fact—the greatest ass of any quorum,
That e'er attempted the pons asinorum.
On this occasion, I—more bold than wary,
Will act as the professor's secretary.
Alfred comes down, they both bow and retire up rocks, R. Shouts of “Bravo! bravo!”
Edric.
(L. aside)
The bridge! the torrent! he shall get a floorer,
'Tis not for nothing that I've seen Dinorah!
A rocket! ha!
Exit, L. 1 E.
Oswith.
(behind rock piece, R.)
Don't spill us, mind!
(Alfred.)
(ditto)
Hold tight!
Don't be afraid! now then—
Oswith.
Drive on! all right!
Alfred appears on bridge, R., slowly wheeling Oswith over in a wheelbarrow—Edric re-enters, L. 1 E.
Concerted piece.—“Fra Diavolo.”
Ina.
From yonder rock a riding,
That rash and daring youth behold,
Fast his hands the sides unfold,
'Tis his best plan to hold!
That rash and daring youth behold,
Fast his hands the sides unfold,
'Tis his best plan to hold!
Alfred.
This way, all fear deriding,
All acrobats in shade I throw,
Of Astley's—or the famed Anglo-
Saxony Circus Co.
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Of Astley's—or the famed Anglo-
Saxony Circus Co.
(the barrow appears to slip—a movement of terror)
Ina, Elswith, Maude, & Ceolwulf.
Tremble!
Edric.
(aside, L.)
Yes! Tremble!
A firework-scheme's completing,
Il Joel's efforts beating,
Diavolo! Diavolo! Diavolo!
At the last “Diavolo!” a rocket comes down and appears to strike Oswith—a crash heard, and the rope breaks; Alfred and Oswith disappear into the abyss—great consternation, and the scene closes to hurried music.
| Alfred the Great ; or, The Minstrel King | |