 | The Invisible Prince ; or, The Island of Tranquil Delights |  |
142
Scene Seventh.
—Furibond's Pavilion.Flourish—Enter Furibound, Marquis, Nobles, armed Indians, &c.
Furi.
Here have I pitched my tent—tho' not for long;
'Tis my intent elsewhere to pitch it strong.
This haughty Princess—of my heart a scorner,
Knows she a longer range than Captain Warner,
That thus she dare reject my fond addresses?
Mar.
I do not know, my lord; but as I guesses—
Furi.
Well, as you guesses?
Mar.
Unknown to her mother,
Perhaps she loves another.
Furi.
You're another.
Is there another like me, stupid pup?
Mar.
No, sire.
Furi.
Then guess again.
Mar.
I give it up.
Furi.
But so won't I—the lady or her dibs!
My cash is low. I long to count my ribs.
Who has descried the number of our foes?
Mar.
Some twenty little women without bows.
Furi.
We'll find 'em beaux, I warrant, to their taste,
Mar.
A score of Amazons run up in haste.
Children in arms of course we didn't count.
Furi.
Why, our battalia trebles that amount.
Besides of Cat's-Paw Indians we've a lot,
Which on the adverse party they have not.
Who's seen the sun to-day?
Mar.
It's not yet out,
But here's the Globe.
(gives paper)
Furi.
Holloa! what's this about!
“One pound reward to any one who'll carry
“The head of Furibond to her he'd marry.
“No greater offer will be made the bearer—
“The head being of no use, e'en to the wearer.”
A weak invention of some penny-a-liner.
No more upon that head—shew me a finer.
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What says the Princess? Does she yield?
Count.
She don't;
She'll see you further first, and then she won't.
Furi.
Off with her crown! and on my head quick set it.
Count.
Permit us, sire, to wait until we get it.
Furi.
Well, be it so, but I won't give my scheme up,
I'm panting like an engine with its steam up.
A thousand boilers bubble in my bosom!
Advance, my Cat's-Paws, risk your lives, and lose'em.
Screw up your courage, drub these young Moll Flagons,
Blaze on 'em like blue fiery snap dragons.
Upon them! forward! charge like Trojans!—go!
And when you've won the battle—let me know.
(Exeunt Guards, &c.)
I'm panting like an engine with its steam up.
A thousand boilers bubble in my bosom!
Advance, my Cat's-Paws, risk your lives, and lose'em.
Screw up your courage, drub these young Moll Flagons,
Blaze on 'em like blue fiery snap dragons.
Upon them! forward! charge like Trojans!—go!
And when you've won the battle—let me know.
Song—“The dashing white Sergeant.”
He's a donkey, I know,
For a soldier who'll go.
Do you think I'll do so—oh, no, no, no,
No, no, not I—
Whilst there lives a cat's-paw,
Not a sword will I draw,
But I'll take the éclat
Of the victory.
With the cash and the glory I'll march away,
As others have done before to-day,
March away, &c.
For a soldier who'll go.
Do you think I'll do so—oh, no, no, no,
No, no, not I—
Whilst there lives a cat's-paw,
Not a sword will I draw,
But I'll take the éclat
Of the victory.
With the cash and the glory I'll march away,
As others have done before to-day,
March away, &c.
Trumpet—Enter Don Moustachez.
Mous.
My liege—a lady, with a flag of truce.
Furi.
A flag of truce!—then shew her in, you goose.
(Exit Don Moustachez)
A dashing white sergeant from o'er the water,
As if the very tune I sang had brought her.
Re-enter Don Moustachez, with Leander as an Amazon.
Mous.
The New Belle's Messenger.
144
By Jove, a strapper!
A belle, no doubt, with a prodigious clapper.
Lean.
Thus speaks my Sovereign to—
Furi.
I've seen that phiz.
Lean.
The borrowed majesty of Allaquiz.
Furi.
The borrowed majesty!
Lean.
If that don't suit you,
The stolen majesty, you ugly brute, you.
Furi.
Good words!
Lean.
Good cabbage!—that's more in your way.
Furi.
Odds bobs!
Lean.
Be quiet—hear what I've to say:—
The Princess of the Isle of Calm Delights,
Who hates all monsters, and ne'er goes to fights,
Thinking a war in these enlightened times
The worst of follies, as the worst of crimes,
Is willing to pay any sum you mention,
If to her hand you'll give up all pretension.
Furi.
Humph! ha! a very business-like proceeding,
And a much more agreeable mode of bleeding,
To those who can afford expensive pleasures.
Lean.
She knows you are attached but to her treasures,
And therefore begs you won't be over nice;
She'll think the riddance cheap at any price.
Furi.
Are you her steward or her banker?
Lean.
Both.
Furi.
I've seen that face before, I'll take my oath.
Lean.
Most probably—I always wore it so.
Furi.
How?
Lean.
Why, before.
Furi.
You are facetious.
Lean.
Oh!
But come, to business.
Furi.
Well, upon my honour,
I really set so high a value on her,
Suppose we say a hundred—thousand—millions.
Lean.
'Twere tedious counting. Say, of yon pavilions,
How many filled with gold.
Furi.
What, great or small?
Lean.
Yes.
Furi.
Well, as you're so kind, just fill 'em all.
Lean.
Agreed: you'll sign the bond on these conditions?
145
I will, (aside)
My mind is full of strange suspicions!
She's got no baggage—I begin to doubt her,
She can't have got so much small change about her.
Leander draws the yellow rose from his bosom.
Lean.
(aside)
Now by your golden leaf, good Rose, I trust
You'll come down pretty freely with the dust.
Music; as he shakes rose, the tents fill with gold.
Count.
Look, look, my liege—tent after tent she's filling.
Mar.
From some strange flower she is gold distilling.
Mous.
Rose nobles out of a gold rose she's shaking.
Furi.
Holloa! a fool of me this girl's been making!
Before she goes I'll better terms by far gain—
I'll have that precious rose into the bargain.
Lean.
There—I have settled, sir, your small account,
So give me your receipt for the amount.
Furi.
Not quite so fast, there's something else to settle.
Lean.
What do you mean?
Furi.
Yourself, my lass of mettle.
I may say bell metal, for we suppose
You've uttered base coin, there, under the rose.
Lean.
You've uttered a base lie—but don't be rasher,
Or in one sense you may find I'm a smasher!
Furi.
No bullying!—you'll hand that little rose over,
Or with the next tide to the isle we goes over.
Lean.
What! break a treaty—forfeit a king's word?
Furi.
That's nothing now-a-days—it's quite absurd
To think of keeping anything but what
Will get you something more than you have got;
So give the rose, and you are free to go, ma'am.
Lean.
You're a freebooter!
Furi.
Oh, oh! am I so, ma'am?
Then seize that baggage!
Lean.
Yes, I think I sees you.
(puts on his cap)
But you can't me.
Mous.
My liege, she's gone, so please you.
Furi.
Pursue her! drag her back—alive or dead!
A thousand ducats for the vixen's head.
(Exeunt Nobles, Officers, &c.)
Lean.
Traitor!
146
Ha here—come back—I heard her speak;
She's playing somewhere here at hide and seek.
Re-enter Marquis and Count.
Lean.
(seizes him by the throat)
Silence!
Furi.
Oh, what's this?
Mar.
Nothing, sire, I see.
Furi.
Then stick at nothing—here.
(points to where Leander stands—As the Noblemen strike, Leander changes places with Furibound, who receives the blow—Exit Leander)
Oh, you've stuck me!
Air—Furibond—“Sally, come up.”
(points to where Leander stands—As the Noblemen strike, Leander changes places with Furibound, who receives the blow—Exit Leander)
Oh, you've stuck me!
He's let the daylight through me clear;
Go fetch a surgeon, rogues, d'ye hear?
I feel particularly queer!
I may say very badly;
That bouncing belle
Had he pink'd as well!
But she cut off, how, none can tell,
And I'm cut up most sadly.
Sadly cut up! sadly cut down!
Traitors! I'll twist your necks all round!
D'ye call this nothing, you stupid hound?
You've run me right through the middle.
Go fetch a surgeon, rogues, d'ye hear?
I feel particularly queer!
I may say very badly;
That bouncing belle
Had he pink'd as well!
But she cut off, how, none can tell,
And I'm cut up most sadly.
Sadly cut up! sadly cut down!
Traitors! I'll twist your necks all round!
D'ye call this nothing, you stupid hound?
You've run me right through the middle.
(falls and dies)
Count.
Well, I just have! Of all the awkward jobs!
Mar.
What's to be done?—I tremble for our nobs!
Count.
There's but one way to save 'em left, you gander,
The tyrant's dead—let us proclaim Leander!
The true Prince.
Mar.
Where to find him?
Re-enter Leander.
Lean.
Here he is.
Re-enter Guards and Nobles, one bearing crown and sceptre on a cushion.
Both.
Long live Leander, King of Allaquiz!
Lean.
Elected thus, by general acclamation,
147
Take that bad sovereign up.
(they raise and bear out Furibond)
As I'm your debtor,
I'll do my best to change him for a better.
I go to seek a queen to share my crown with,
And leave you all the dust I have come down with.
Fairy Gentilla appears.
Fairy.
Stop—there's no need to use your cap and feather;
I'll take up and transport you all together.
(waves her wand—change to
| The Invisible Prince ; or, The Island of Tranquil Delights | |