 | The Invisible Prince ; or, The Island of Tranquil Delights |  |
Scene suddenly changes to Throne Room in the Palace of Pleasure—Rare birds on golden perches on each side of the stage.
The Princess is discovered on her throne, surrounded by her Court—Leander stands as if wonder-stricken, whilst the Ladies of the Court dance and sing, evidently unconscious of his presence.
Chorus—“Cellarius.”
[Chorus.]
Of all the pleasures here so various,
The one that never seems to weary us,
Is dancing this divine Cellarius,
Surpassing polka, waltz, or gay quadrille.
Prin.
Since the million
Cut cotillon.
And the minuet so serious,
Ne'er from France,
Has come a dance,
So calculated hearts to steal.
Lean.
(aside)
Wonder roots me!
Cupid shoots me
With delight almost delirious!
Dazzled—raptured,
Wounded—captured,
I'm a lost young man, I feel.
Chorus.
Of all the pleasures, &c.
Prin.
Is there no news yet of Abricotina?
Lady.
No, madam, none of us have lately seen her.
Prin.
She'll have some difficulty, after dark,
To make the port with her Peruvian bark:
To leave the island what could e'er possess her?
Lean.
(aside)
Without alarming, how can I address her!
What if this parrot I pretend to be?
(pointing to one)
Yes, there's no doubt, that's pretty poll-i-cy.
Prin.
Should she be lost, whatever shall I do?
Lean.
(speaks from behind the Parrot's perch)
Abricotina's coming.
Prin.
Who spoke—you?
1st Lady.
No, madam, it was yonder scarlet lory!
2nd Lady.
No, 'twas this cockatoo!
Lean.
(as before)
Oh, what a story!
Prin.
Why, I declare! it must have been this bird,
That I could never get to speak a word.
Of all my parrots the most dull and stupid!
Who taught thee, Poll, to use thy tongue, pray?
Lean.
Cupid.
Prin.
Cupid! Who's he?
Lean.
The God of Love.
Prin.
For shame!
Within these halls that's a forbidden name!
Ladies, I'm sure I hope you didn't hear it.
This bird is dangerous, pray don't go near it.
If it should be bewitched!
Lean.
I am, I am—
Prin.
By whom?
Lean.
By you.
Prin.
Now, Polly, that's a flam!
Stand farther off, young ladies! He'd cajole
A convent.
Lean.
Kiss poor Polly—scratch a poll.
Duet—“Beggar's Opera.”
Lean.
“Pretty Polly,” say:
With him kiss and play.
Why should you such fear betray
Of a feathered lover?
Prin.
What great surprise!
His singing vies
With aught that flies,
For aught I can discover.
Fondly, fondly see him loll.
Lean.
Say, “pretty, pretty Poll.”
Prin.
Sure to love such a bird can't be a sin!
1st Lady.
Madam, Abricotina's just come in.
Enter Abricotina.
Prin.
Wherever have you been to all this while?
Abri.
Oh, madam, I have wandered many a mile
In search of your lost favourite, but in vain;
And I myself had ne'er seen home again,
But for a gentleman's extreme politeness.
Prin.
A gentleman's?
Abri.
A gentleman's, your mightiness.
And such a gentleman! oh, goodness me, ma'am!
If such a gentleman you were to see, ma'am—
Prin.
Abricotina!
Abri.
Such a darling!
Prin.
Hush!
Lean.
(aside)
Although invisible, I'm bound to blush.
Prin.
Talk of a man in such a rapturous tone
Before our Court.—Ladies, we'd be alone.
(Exeunt Ladies, Guards, &c.)
Now, if you've aught particular to say
About the hideous creature—
Abri.
Hideous, nay;
The creature, ma'am, was anything but hideous,
Quite an exception to his sex perfidious.
His smile so sweet, his eyes such roguish glisteners.
Lean.
(aside)
Come, this belies the proverb about listeners.
Prin.
What was he like? not that I care to know.
Lean.
(aside)
Upon my word I think I ought to go,
And yet—
Abri.
Like nothing that you ever saw,
And then so brave and so gallant, ma'am!
Prin.
Pshaw!
The girl's in love with him!
Abri.
So would you be
If you could see him.
Prin.
I! fiddle-de-dee!
I love a man!
Lean.
(forgetting himself)
Why not, if he loved you?
Abri.
Oh, mercy, sure that was his voice!
Prin.
Poo! poo!
That stranger runs so in your head—what folly!
It was this parrot spoke, this saucy Polly,
Who has been saying things downright audacious
During your absence.
Abri.
That one?—goodness gracious!
But really, madam, now to speak the truth,
Shouldnt' you like to see the stranger youth?
He's dying at your feet to fall.
Prin.
Absurd!
Lean.
(as Parrot)
It's true.
Prin.
Hush, hush! you naughty little bird;
How dare you talk to me about young men?
I'll have you whipped if you do so again!
To see one here is quite against the law!
What would mamma say?
Lean.
(as Parrot)
Never mind mamma.
Prin.
Not mind mamma! you wicked little wretch!
Where could the parrot up such language catch?
Do you know?
Lean.
(as Parrot)
What's o'clock?
Prin.
Ah, by-the-bye,
What is o'clock? I'm hungy.
Lean.
(aside)
So am I!
For notwithstanding I'm an airy sprite
I've got a very earthly appetite.
Prin.
It must be supper time, go fetch the cat.
(Exit Abricotina)
Lean.
(aside)
The cat! she's never going to eat that.
Re-enter Ladies, Guards, &c.
Chorus—“Old Dan Tucker.”
Prin.
In my blue cat I take a pride,
He bears the bell from all beside—
There's many a cat they call “a blue,”
My Tom would blush to be likened to.
Chorus.
Oh, come along—oh, come along,
Hot boiled beans, and very good butter:
Won't you please to come to supper.
Music—Banquet is brought in—Abricotina re-enters with Cat (Bluet) in a basket.
Abri.
Here's Bluet, madam.
Prin.
Place the darling's chair.
Lean.
(aside)
A blue Cat! Well, that is a strange affair;
And shall at supper that blue devil sit,
While I stand here, and never pick a bit?
No, master blue-skin, I'm not such a goose,
Of your cat's paw I'll shew you the true use.
Two Attendants have brought a large arm-chair—Leander seats himself in it, and Abricotina, not seeing him, places the Cat in his lap.
Prin.
(helping the Cat)
There, pussy dear, I know you're fond of leveret.
Lean.
(taking the piece by the Cat's paw and eating it)
And one more tender, certainly, I never ate!
(aside)
Cat.
Mow, wow!
Lean.
(aside)
Poor puss don't find it quite so pleasant!
Prin.
That gone already!—here's a bit of pheasant.
(Leander eats it as before)
Cat.
Mow, wow!
Abri.
Tom, don't make such a noise; for shame.
Lean.
(aside)
We're playing cribbage and he's lost the game.
Prin.
He seems quite famished. Twice he's cleared his platter.
(helps him again—Leander eats as before)
Cat.
Miou—wow—wow—wow!
Abri.
Why, what can be the matter?
Prin.
Perhaps he's thirsty, fill his saucer, haste!
Abri.
He like milk punch.
(pouring it out)
Lean.
(aside)
I quite approve his taste.
(drinks it)
Cat.
Mow—wow!
Abri.
He's lapp'd it up and mews for more!
Lean.
(aside)
He'd ne'er so much cause to look blue before.
Cat.
Miou—wow!
Prin.
No, no; more punch would make you reel;
Here's a delicious crême à la Vanille.
(Leander eats it as before)
Cat.
Miou—wow!
Prin.
Not satisfied with that! why surely,
Abricotina, he is very poorly.
Abri.
I thought this morning he looked rather sickly.
Prin.
Take him and put him in his basket quickly,
Abri.
A little nap will cure him beyond question.
Lean.
(aside)
He won't be kept awake by indigestion.
(Exit Abricotina, with Cat—Music—The banquet is cleared)
Prin.
How silent Polly has been all this while;
Some tell us after supper walk a mile,
But we say, after supper dance a measure.
Will you pipe for us, pretty Poll?
Lean.
(as Parrot)
With pleasure.
Re-enter Abricotina.
Air and Chorus—“Buffalo Galls.”
Lean.
Chorus.
Beautiful girls, &c.
Prin.
Chorus.
Come along, girls, we will, &c.
Abri.
(aside)
Chorus.
Beautiful girls, &c.
(Exeunt, Leander following)
The Princess is discovered on her throne, surrounded by her Court—Leander stands as if wonder-stricken, whilst the Ladies of the Court dance and sing, evidently unconscious of his presence.
131
[Chorus.]
Of all the pleasures here so various,
The one that never seems to weary us,
Is dancing this divine Cellarius,
Surpassing polka, waltz, or gay quadrille.
Prin.
Since the million
Cut cotillon.
And the minuet so serious,
Ne'er from France,
Has come a dance,
So calculated hearts to steal.
Lean.
(aside)
Wonder roots me!
Cupid shoots me
With delight almost delirious!
Dazzled—raptured,
Wounded—captured,
I'm a lost young man, I feel.
Chorus.
Of all the pleasures, &c.
Is there no news yet of Abricotina?
Lady.
No, madam, none of us have lately seen her.
Prin.
She'll have some difficulty, after dark,
To make the port with her Peruvian bark:
To leave the island what could e'er possess her?
Lean.
(aside)
Without alarming, how can I address her!
What if this parrot I pretend to be?
(pointing to one)
Yes, there's no doubt, that's pretty poll-i-cy.
Prin.
Should she be lost, whatever shall I do?
Lean.
(speaks from behind the Parrot's perch)
Abricotina's coming.
Prin.
Who spoke—you?
1st Lady.
No, madam, it was yonder scarlet lory!
2nd Lady.
No, 'twas this cockatoo!
Lean.
(as before)
Oh, what a story!
Prin.
Why, I declare! it must have been this bird,
That I could never get to speak a word.
Of all my parrots the most dull and stupid!
Who taught thee, Poll, to use thy tongue, pray?
Lean.
Cupid.
Prin.
Cupid! Who's he?
132
The God of Love.
Prin.
For shame!
Within these halls that's a forbidden name!
Ladies, I'm sure I hope you didn't hear it.
This bird is dangerous, pray don't go near it.
If it should be bewitched!
Lean.
I am, I am—
Prin.
By whom?
Lean.
By you.
Prin.
Now, Polly, that's a flam!
Stand farther off, young ladies! He'd cajole
A convent.
Lean.
Kiss poor Polly—scratch a poll.
Duet—“Beggar's Opera.”
Lean.
“Pretty Polly,” say:
With him kiss and play.
Why should you such fear betray
Of a feathered lover?
Prin.
What great surprise!
His singing vies
With aught that flies,
For aught I can discover.
Fondly, fondly see him loll.
Lean.
Say, “pretty, pretty Poll.”
Prin.
Sure to love such a bird can't be a sin!
1st Lady.
Madam, Abricotina's just come in.
Enter Abricotina.
Prin.
Wherever have you been to all this while?
Abri.
Oh, madam, I have wandered many a mile
In search of your lost favourite, but in vain;
And I myself had ne'er seen home again,
But for a gentleman's extreme politeness.
Prin.
A gentleman's?
Abri.
A gentleman's, your mightiness.
And such a gentleman! oh, goodness me, ma'am!
If such a gentleman you were to see, ma'am—
Prin.
Abricotina!
Abri.
Such a darling!
133
Hush!
Lean.
(aside)
Although invisible, I'm bound to blush.
Prin.
Talk of a man in such a rapturous tone
Before our Court.—Ladies, we'd be alone.
(Exeunt Ladies, Guards, &c.)
Now, if you've aught particular to say
About the hideous creature—
Abri.
Hideous, nay;
The creature, ma'am, was anything but hideous,
Quite an exception to his sex perfidious.
His smile so sweet, his eyes such roguish glisteners.
Lean.
(aside)
Come, this belies the proverb about listeners.
Prin.
What was he like? not that I care to know.
Lean.
(aside)
Upon my word I think I ought to go,
And yet—
Abri.
Like nothing that you ever saw,
And then so brave and so gallant, ma'am!
Prin.
Pshaw!
The girl's in love with him!
Abri.
So would you be
If you could see him.
Prin.
I! fiddle-de-dee!
I love a man!
Lean.
(forgetting himself)
Why not, if he loved you?
Abri.
Oh, mercy, sure that was his voice!
Prin.
Poo! poo!
That stranger runs so in your head—what folly!
It was this parrot spoke, this saucy Polly,
Who has been saying things downright audacious
During your absence.
Abri.
That one?—goodness gracious!
But really, madam, now to speak the truth,
Shouldnt' you like to see the stranger youth?
He's dying at your feet to fall.
Prin.
Absurd!
Lean.
(as Parrot)
It's true.
Prin.
Hush, hush! you naughty little bird;
How dare you talk to me about young men?
I'll have you whipped if you do so again!
To see one here is quite against the law!
What would mamma say?
134
(as Parrot)
Never mind mamma.
Prin.
Not mind mamma! you wicked little wretch!
Where could the parrot up such language catch?
Do you know?
Lean.
(as Parrot)
What's o'clock?
Prin.
Ah, by-the-bye,
What is o'clock? I'm hungy.
Lean.
(aside)
So am I!
For notwithstanding I'm an airy sprite
I've got a very earthly appetite.
Prin.
It must be supper time, go fetch the cat.
(Exit Abricotina)
Lean.
(aside)
The cat! she's never going to eat that.
Re-enter Ladies, Guards, &c.
Chorus—“Old Dan Tucker.”
Prin.
In my blue cat I take a pride,
He bears the bell from all beside—
There's many a cat they call “a blue,”
My Tom would blush to be likened to.
Chorus.
Oh, come along—oh, come along,
Hot boiled beans, and very good butter:
Won't you please to come to supper.
Music—Banquet is brought in—Abricotina re-enters with Cat (Bluet) in a basket.
Abri.
Here's Bluet, madam.
Prin.
Place the darling's chair.
Lean.
(aside)
A blue Cat! Well, that is a strange affair;
And shall at supper that blue devil sit,
While I stand here, and never pick a bit?
No, master blue-skin, I'm not such a goose,
Of your cat's paw I'll shew you the true use.
Two Attendants have brought a large arm-chair—Leander seats himself in it, and Abricotina, not seeing him, places the Cat in his lap.
Prin.
(helping the Cat)
There, pussy dear, I know you're fond of leveret.
135
(taking the piece by the Cat's paw and eating it)
And one more tender, certainly, I never ate!
(aside)
Cat.
Mow, wow!
Lean.
(aside)
Poor puss don't find it quite so pleasant!
Prin.
That gone already!—here's a bit of pheasant.
(Leander eats it as before)
Cat.
Mow, wow!
Abri.
Tom, don't make such a noise; for shame.
Lean.
(aside)
We're playing cribbage and he's lost the game.
Prin.
He seems quite famished. Twice he's cleared his platter.
(helps him again—Leander eats as before)
Cat.
Miou—wow—wow—wow!
Abri.
Why, what can be the matter?
Prin.
Perhaps he's thirsty, fill his saucer, haste!
Abri.
He like milk punch.
(pouring it out)
Lean.
(aside)
I quite approve his taste.
(drinks it)
Cat.
Mow—wow!
Abri.
He's lapp'd it up and mews for more!
Lean.
(aside)
He'd ne'er so much cause to look blue before.
Cat.
Miou—wow!
Prin.
No, no; more punch would make you reel;
Here's a delicious crême à la Vanille.
(Leander eats it as before)
Cat.
Miou—wow!
Prin.
Not satisfied with that! why surely,
Abricotina, he is very poorly.
Abri.
I thought this morning he looked rather sickly.
Prin.
Take him and put him in his basket quickly,
Abri.
A little nap will cure him beyond question.
Lean.
(aside)
He won't be kept awake by indigestion.
(Exit Abricotina, with Cat—Music—The banquet is cleared)
Prin.
How silent Polly has been all this while;
Some tell us after supper walk a mile,
But we say, after supper dance a measure.
Will you pipe for us, pretty Poll?
Lean.
(as Parrot)
With pleasure.
136
Air and Chorus—“Buffalo Galls.”
Lean.
As I was flying down the street,
A Yankee Poll I chanced to meet,
Who taught me this sweet tune:
“Beautiful girls can't you come out to-night,
And dance by the light of the moon.”
A Yankee Poll I chanced to meet,
Who taught me this sweet tune:
“Beautiful girls can't you come out to-night,
And dance by the light of the moon.”
Chorus.
Beautiful girls, &c.
Prin.
O Polly, this is naughty talk,
I shall go and take a walk
Where I can't hear this tune.
So follow me, girls, we will go out to-night,
And walk by the light of the moon.
I shall go and take a walk
Where I can't hear this tune.
So follow me, girls, we will go out to-night,
And walk by the light of the moon.
Chorus.
Come along, girls, we will, &c.
Abri.
(aside)
Oh, I could hear it all my life,
And he who'd have me for a wife
Has but to sing that tune.
And say, “Beautiful girl, can't you come out to-night,
And dance by the light of the moon.”
And he who'd have me for a wife
Has but to sing that tune.
And say, “Beautiful girl, can't you come out to-night,
And dance by the light of the moon.”
Chorus.
Beautiful girls, &c.
(Exeunt, Leander following)
| The Invisible Prince ; or, The Island of Tranquil Delights | |