 | The Invisible Prince ; or, The Island of Tranquil Delights |  |
128
Scene Four.
—Rocks on the sea shore, an opening in centre, through which is seen the sea, and in the distance the Palace of Pleasure on the Island of Tranquil Delights—A boat is moored to the shore.Enter Leander and Abricotina.
Abri.
Thank you, kind sir, for seeing me so far,
I'm just at home now.
Lean.
Home? the deuce you are!
Abri.
You see that island; well my dwelling there is.
Lean.
That golden palace! 'tis a home for fairies!
Abri.
It is the mansion of a fairy's daughter.
Lean.
Lovely, of course?
Abri.
A gem of the first water.
Lean.
Married?
Abri.
Oh no, a virgin most immaculate!
Ne'er saw a man.
Lean.
How?
Abri.
Thought you would ejaculate!
But it's a fact; not even in a picture—
Her ma won't let her.
Lean.
She is much too strict, sure!
What can have caused so strange an interdiction?
Abri.
A common matrimonial affliction.
Lean.
Tell me the tale, we've time enough before us.
Abri.
Well, in a song then, if you'll sing the chorus.
Song—Abricotina—“The Bold Dragoon.”
There was a fairy queen,
And she lov'd a smart young man,
And marry him she would in spite
Of all her fairy clan.
In vain they warn'd,
Advice she scorn'd,
And Hymen tied this fond young pair up,
But ere waned the honeymoon,
They'd a strong mind both to flare up.
And she lov'd a smart young man,
And marry him she would in spite
Of all her fairy clan.
In vain they warn'd,
Advice she scorn'd,
And Hymen tied this fond young pair up,
But ere waned the honeymoon,
They'd a strong mind both to flare up.
Whack row de dow dow!
Fol lol de riddle iddle, &c.
Fol lol de riddle iddle, &c.
129
The bride was very jealous,
And the bridegroom much too gay,
He flirted with each pretty girl
In quite a shocking way.
Till in a rage
She in a cage
Shut up her spouse a desert crag on,
And flew back to fairy-land
On a long-tailed fiery dragon.
And the bridegroom much too gay,
He flirted with each pretty girl
In quite a shocking way.
Till in a rage
She in a cage
Shut up her spouse a desert crag on,
And flew back to fairy-land
On a long-tailed fiery dragon.
Whack row de dow dow, &c.
A twelvemonth scarce had pass'd.
When she had a little daughter,
Whom she brought up very strictly
In that palace on the water.
No men are we allowed to see
Altho' I'm sure they would adore us,
So my story now is told
In a long song with a chorus,
When she had a little daughter,
Whom she brought up very strictly
In that palace on the water.
No men are we allowed to see
Altho' I'm sure they would adore us,
So my story now is told
In a long song with a chorus,
Of whack row de dow dow, &c.
Lean.
My curiosity your news excites!
Your island there is named—
Abri.
Tranquil Delights,
The palace styled of Pleasure.
Lean.
Without love,
What pleasure can there be this earth above?
Abri.
Oh, sir, I'm quite unused to such expressions,
And sworn to doubt all gentlemen's professions.
Sunset! I ne'er was out so late before.
Lean.
Permit me, pray, to see you to the door.
Abri.
No, sir, indeed I can't—I should be proud,
But 'tis a rule—No followers allowed.
Lean.
Are there no means by which to see your Queen?
Abri.
You would be slain as soon as you were seen,
Our lady lancers keep a sharp look out.
A strong coast-guard the island girds about,
Posted in towers, which they call Martello.
Lean.
Sure you could smuggle in a little fellow
Like me?
130
Impossible to run a mouse.
There are no frauds, sir, in our Custom-house.
Lean.
But do you swim across?
Abri.
No, here's the very boat.
I came in.
Lean.
Ah! a fairy ferry boat?
Well, if it must be so, fair maid, adieu!
“Bon voyage.”
Abri.
Thank you, sir, the same to you.
Duet—“Oh, come to me when daylight sets.”
Abri.
I must be gone ere daylight sets,
And you can't come with me,
So in my gondola I gets,
And off I puts to sea.
Lean.
(aside)
My curiosity begins
With me to run away,
And faint heart ne'er fair lady wins,
I'll venture—come what may!
But she must go ere daylight sets,
And I can't go with she,
So in her gondola I lets
Her go alone to sea.
Abri.
I must be gone, &c.
(at the end Abricotina gets into boat and rows off, to symphony)
Lean.
Aye, pull away, my hearty, my sweet hearty;
But long before you I will join the party.
So with the plume behind I don my cap,
And wish myself in yonder palace, slap!
| The Invisible Prince ; or, The Island of Tranquil Delights | |