 | The Bee and the Orange Tree ; or, The Four Wishes |  |
52
Scene Second.
—The Sea Shore with Cavern—Tempest—A vessel is seen in distress—When it is out of sight, enter from Cavern, Princess Amy; she is dressed in a tiger's skin, her arms and legs bare, sandals on her feet, her hair flowing down her shoulders and surmounted by a fillet of sea weed and coral; a quiver with arrows at her back, and a bow in her hand.Air—Amy—“By the sad sea waves.”
By the sad sea waves I listen while they moan,
And lament I've but this bow to call my own:
I am young, I am fair,
I'm of that quite aware,
But there's not a single man to make me “bone of his bone.”
I'm a fierce Ogre's slave,
By the sad sea wave,
And an old maid soon I feel I shall be grown!
And lament I've but this bow to call my own:
I am young, I am fair,
I'm of that quite aware,
But there's not a single man to make me “bone of his bone.”
I'm a fierce Ogre's slave,
By the sad sea wave,
And an old maid soon I feel I shall be grown!
In my dreams last night, by downy sleep beguiled,
In the fair dream light, a youth upon me smiled.
His eyes they were blue,
And he said “How d'ye do?”
In a tone just as if he had known me from a child.
Oh, I wish I could see
Such a nice young man as he!
Come again, dear sir! and with joy I shall go wild!
In the fair dream light, a youth upon me smiled.
His eyes they were blue,
And he said “How d'ye do?”
In a tone just as if he had known me from a child.
Oh, I wish I could see
Such a nice young man as he!
Come again, dear sir! and with joy I shall go wild!
Amy.
'Twas but a dream—but dreams sometimes come true,
And this storm might cast up a man or two,
One such as smiled on me in that sweet nap,
Were quite sufficient—such a handsome chap.
I, who ne'er saw but Ogres, fierce and frightful,
Could scarce imagine creature so delightful.
And shall I ne'er again that form behold,
But as a maid of all work here grow old!
Against my will, O must I wear the willow?
O mercy! what's that floating on the billow?
Something alive and swimming—can it be?
A fish! a bird! a beast? or all the three?
Some huge sea monster! It has arms and legs!
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A suit of clothes! and a man in 'em too!
(Prince Amiable is cast ashore by the waves)
The being of my dream!
(Prince comes down)
Prince.
(looking at her)
Ha! How d'ye do?
Amy.
The words! the tone! the look—the eyes—the hair!
Prince.
A very fine young woman, I declare!
Air distingué! and costumed à ravir,
En femme sauvage—don't be afraid, my dear,
But to one question give me answer true.
Pray, has your mother any more of you?
Amy.
If you please, sir, I never had a mother.
Prince.
Nor father?
Amy.
No, sir.
Prince.
Neither one nor t'other!
An interesting fact in natural history,
Which clears up what to me was quite a mystery.
I've seen so many people in high stations
Who came of nobody—had no relations—
At least that they would own—and never knew,
Until this moment, how or where they grew.
Permit me to prolong the conversation,
By asking your baptismal appellation?
Amy.
Sir?
Prince.
Tho' not born, of course you have been christen'd?
Amy.
Not that I know of, sir.
Prince.
I never listened
To any tale more singularly wild.
So you'd not e'en a godmother? poor child!
Perhaps, then, you've no name?
Amy.
They call me slave.
Prince.
They—who?
Amy.
The owners of that dreary cave.
Prince.
Ah! Then you have “a local habitation?”
And who may own this charming excavation?
Amy.
A wicked Ogre, and his wife as cruel,
For whom I make the beds, and fetch in fuel.
Prince.
An Ogre!—what!—a cannibal accurst!
My good girl, why not mention this at first?
I wish you, most respectfully—good-bye—
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Stir not, for mercy's sake—where would you fly?
Prince.
I'm not at all particular, provided,
It's out of reach of monsters so decided!
Amy.
You rush but to your fate—bewitching stranger,
Stay here, and I will shelter you from danger!
I'll hide you where the Ogres shall not find,
And do for you myself—
Prince.
You're very kind—
But room still further on I may find one for,
Where young men are not taken in and done for!
Amy.
You cannot on this coast—
Prince.
I own the case
Would be a rare one at a watering place;
But I prefer to seek for other lodgings.
Amy.
None would conceal you from their artful dodgings!
Oh, trust to me! your confidence I'd win!
I've nothing of the tiger but the skin!
Master and mistress are both out—
Prince.
Thank heaven!
Amy.
And won't be home again till half-past seven,
To dinner.
Prince.
Dinner! Then they'll dine on me.
Amy.
I will be dished myself ere that shall be.
Prince.
Sweet aboriginal!
Amy.
Pray walk indoors.
They're gone for a day's sport upon the moors.
Prince.
Grouse shooting?
Amy.
No!
Prince.
What other game is found there?
Amy.
Railway surveyors—just now, they abound there.
Master, I'm told, caught six last week at least.
Prince.
And ate them—
Amy.
On the spot.
Prince.
The nasty beast!
Amy.
But come—for you I'll find more fitting food,
What say you to a parrot nicely stewed?
Or a baked squirrel, with sweet sauce?
Prince.
Most vile!
Have you no shell-fish?
Amy.
There's a crocodile,
In famous cut—but cold. Now I remember,
We pickled some fine monkeys last November,
55
Master eats monkeys, when he can't catch men!
Prince.
I'd sooner starve than rob him of a bit!
But do you down to pickled monkeys sit?
Amy.
Oh no—I give him all the game I shoot,
I live upon spring water and wild fruit,
Chestnuts and blackberries.
Prince.
Much better fare!
Amy.
All that I have with you I'll freely share,
So you will love the poor unfriended slave.
Prince.
Love you! By what's most beautiful and brave—
And that's myself—I'll love you to distraction,
And wed you, if that's any satisfaction.
Air—Prince—“Oh, smile as thou wert wont to smile.”
And that's myself—I'll love you to distraction,
And wed you, if that's any satisfaction.
You smile as girls are wont to smile
When men propose in joke,
But I was serious all the while,
And meant just what I spoke.
You've led till now a dismal life,
And Fortune's in your debt;
But if you live to be my wife,
You may be happy yet.
When men propose in joke,
But I was serious all the while,
And meant just what I spoke.
You've led till now a dismal life,
And Fortune's in your debt;
But if you live to be my wife,
You may be happy yet.
'Tis true we're rather in a scrape,
And from the Ogre's den
There seems no prospect of escape,
Or getting home again.
But something may at last turn up,
To free us from his net;
And if on us he should not sup,
We may be happy yet.
And from the Ogre's den
There seems no prospect of escape,
Or getting home again.
But something may at last turn up,
To free us from his net;
And if on us he should not sup,
We may be happy yet.
Amy.
Oh joy! a sweeter spouse could fate allot one?
But I can't change my name for I've not got one.
Prince.
You shall take mine—a Prince's.
Amy.
Goodness gracious!
Then I shall be a Princess! That's splendacious!
Prince.
Lo, with this ring my troth to thee I plight—
(puts a ring on her finger)
Amy.
I mine, with this—
(takes a chain from her neck, to which is appended a turquoise with characters engraven on it)
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How! may I trust my sight!
What means this trinket—quickly, love, explain?
Amy.
It is a turquoise hanging by a chain.
Prince.
But thereby hangs a tale as well, no doubt.
Amy.
A tale?
Prince.
Will tell us where you first hung out.
For here some written characters I trace.
Amy.
A character I had from my last place.
Prince.
Look on these letters—
Amy.
Vainly should I look,
For I don't know my letters in a book.
Prince.
Not read a word?
Amy.
Upon my word I can't.
Prince.
You had a mother! you came of my aunt!
Amy.
Your aunt!
Prince.
'Tis she!
Amy.
Me!
Prince.
You!
Amy.
Who?
Prince.
Bless my soul!
The Princess Amy—daughter of King Cole.
(embrace)
Amy.
A Princess!
Prince.
In your own right!
Amy.
Can it be!
Prince.
My little cousin who was drowned at sea!
Duet—Prince and Amy—“What fairy-like music.”
Amy.
Prince.
Amy.
Prince.
Together.
(Exeunt into cave)
Amy.
How very like music his words seem to me,
By such a sweet cousin I can't cozened be;
'Twas the voice sure of nature, that thrilled through each vein,
When he said “How d'ye do?” in that exquisite strain.
By such a sweet cousin I can't cozened be;
'Twas the voice sure of nature, that thrilled through each vein,
When he said “How d'ye do?” in that exquisite strain.
Prince.
'Tis very like you, love, came over the sea,
With the same smile by which you so came over me;
A distant relation you must not remain,
To my uncle we'll go and be both pledged again.
With the same smile by which you so came over me;
A distant relation you must not remain,
To my uncle we'll go and be both pledged again.
57
The family's out, so pray walk in and rest
There is no one below but the cat, I protest,
I'll lodge you and board you in yonder rude cave,
But as I'm alone, sir, I hope you'll behave.
There is no one below but the cat, I protest,
I'll lodge you and board you in yonder rude cave,
But as I'm alone, sir, I hope you'll behave.
Prince.
The family's out, so I'll walk in and rest
And have only to hope I'm for dinner not drest;
When I think of the Ogre who owns this rude cave,
I feel if once smoked I my bacon can't save.
And have only to hope I'm for dinner not drest;
When I think of the Ogre who owns this rude cave,
I feel if once smoked I my bacon can't save.
Together.
| The Bee and the Orange Tree ; or, The Four Wishes | |