 | The Seven Champions of Christendom |  |
Scene Fourth.
—Vault of the Seven Lamps.Music—Enter Ormandine.
Orman.
I have retreated to my last retreat;
My arts can neither terrify nor cheat
The downright champion of the ruby cross.
How even time to gain I'm at a loss!
For upon all my mean wiles fast he stamps;
My only hope is in these spirit lamps;
From which proceed, by ignis fatuii fed,
All the false lights that have the world misled,
Kept in a smoke and smother every nation,
And may eventually burn all creation.
Till every one's extinguished, fraud may juggle,
And against truth continue the old struggle.
358
St. Geo.
Then, as St. Andrew says, “bide but a wee bit,”
“Magna est veritas et prevalebit.”
Guided by truth I've threaded this dark maze,
Tracked your sly steps thro' these intricate ways;
My sword's keen edge I know you cannot feel,
But there's a power sharper edged than steel,
Which can push humbug from his highest stool;
Nothing kills quackery but ridicule;
Its point is fatal to the boldest cheat,
Its aqua fortis bites the counterfeit.
Its scornful fingers snuff out folly's new lights.
And shew up all pretenders in their true lights;
Forward, brave Wag, and with burlesque and whim,
Douse of this artful dodger every glim.
(Exit)
Enter Charley Wag.
Chaunt ad Libitum—“Alteration.”
Well, with which to begin—it don't matter a pin,
For they're all much in the same situation;
But perhaps this of Italy, flaring-up bitterly,
Is the most likely to cause a conflagration.
So out that goes pop—and to Spain next we hop,
Where there's smoke enough to smother the whole nation,
And keeps the poor people in such confusion,
That one day under an extraordinary delusion
They actually kicked out their nearest diplomatic relation
Which might have caused an alteration—an alteration,
A very deplorable alteration.
For they're all much in the same situation;
But perhaps this of Italy, flaring-up bitterly,
Is the most likely to cause a conflagration.
So out that goes pop—and to Spain next we hop,
Where there's smoke enough to smother the whole nation,
And keeps the poor people in such confusion,
That one day under an extraordinary delusion
They actually kicked out their nearest diplomatic relation
Which might have caused an alteration—an alteration,
A very deplorable alteration.
And now we advance to our lively friend France
Who has lately undergone so much transformation
That to say whether she stands on her heels or her hands
Is an answer she really might not be able to give without considerable consideration.
But we've nothing to do with it—and so I'll not trouble you with it—
But extinguish, I hope, in each nation
Every sort of desire to kindle any fire
Except that of a generous emulation,
Which will be an alteration—an alteration—
A very capital alteration!
Who has lately undergone so much transformation
That to say whether she stands on her heels or her hands
Is an answer she really might not be able to give without considerable consideration.
359
But extinguish, I hope, in each nation
Every sort of desire to kindle any fire
Except that of a generous emulation,
Which will be an alteration—an alteration—
A very capital alteration!
As to England, Scotland, and Wales, such very good feeling prevails,
That to put out the little farthing rushlights of fermentation
That left on their shelves would go out of themselves,
Is really almost an act of supererogation.
But there is one more—the spirit lamp at next door,
Which keeps the whole kingdom in such a state of inflammation,
That if I have but the wit to put out that, you'll admit
I am more up to snuff than any former administration;
For it will make an alteration—an alteration—
A most desirable alteration!
That to put out the little farthing rushlights of fermentation
That left on their shelves would go out of themselves,
Is really almost an act of supererogation.
But there is one more—the spirit lamp at next door,
Which keeps the whole kingdom in such a state of inflammation,
That if I have but the wit to put out that, you'll admit
I am more up to snuff than any former administration;
For it will make an alteration—an alteration—
A most desirable alteration!
And hark!—by that token!—the spell is now broken,
So to finish this rather long-winded oration,
I have only to request, as we really have all done our best
To add to your amusement and edification,
That when, as I mean, I change to the last scene,
Which, I think, you will own is a gorgeous decoration,
You'll be kind enough to say, in your usual good-natured way,
That the scenery, by Mr. Beverley,
Has been painted very cleverly,
And that the piece, taken altogether, meets with your full approbation,
So to finish this rather long-winded oration,
I have only to request, as we really have all done our best
To add to your amusement and edification,
That when, as I mean, I change to the last scene,
Which, I think, you will own is a gorgeous decoration,
You'll be kind enough to say, in your usual good-natured way,
That the scenery, by Mr. Beverley,
Has been painted very cleverly,
And that the piece, taken altogether, meets with your full approbation,
For in your favour we don't want any alteration—alteration—
No—not an atom of alteration.
No—not an atom of alteration.
(as he puts out the last lamp thunder and Ormandine sinks)
| The Seven Champions of Christendom | |