University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

Scene First.

—A Market Cross—The House and Garden of Baron Dunover.
Heralds and Populace discovered—Baron Dunover and his three Daughters—Grand flourish.
Herald.
King Alfourite thus maketh proclamation—
Whereas, without the slightest provocation,
The Emperor Matapa, in two battles,
Has drubb'd our troops and stole our goods and chattels,
It is decreed that forthwith every man
Who has got arms shall bear them if he can:
And if he can't, he must produce the stumpy,
And not by no manner of means look grumpy.
Turn out, or fork out—fight or pay you must!
Up with your banners, or down with your dust.
Before the throne your purse or person fling,
Within three days—unless you wish to swing!
A special edict—so “Long live the King!”

Chorus—“Norma.”
People.
Well! if this isn't a precious go,
We should be glad what is to know;
Fight or be fined, unless you've a mind
Just to be hang'd for treason!
Pray, sir, excuse the liberty,
But is not this some joke?

Herald.
No!
Soon you will find it's Hobson's choice
Brave Volunteers—you must enroll!
Or pay your duty to the King—
So settle which you please on.

People.
Well, I'd as soon be hang'd as fall
Fighting for any reason!
So to secure his capital,
We must reduce our own.

(Exeunt Herald and Populace)
Baron.
What's to be done? Alas! the heavy day!
Too old to fight and much too poor to pay.
Bear arms I can't—indeed, opposed to strife,
I never could bear arms in all my life!
A tender youth, the task of drilling bored me—
A carpet knight, the least exertion floored me!
A cripple now, to Court I can't stump down,
And to stump up, I haven't half-a-crown.
I have no son my substitute to be—
My family consists of daughters three,
All grown-up girls, whose fortunes are their charms;
So that I haven't e'en a child in arms!
How to 'scape hanging—hang me if I know!

Myr.
My dearest father, pray don't take on so;
Meet like a man your fortune, good or ill!
Or if you can't, why then your daughter will!

Per.
What! like a man?

Myr.
Aye, sister, like a man;
The only way that help him now I can.
A coat and waistcoat I intend to sport,
And be my father's deputy at Court.

Per.
You?

Flir.
You?

Baron.
With gratitude I'm almost mute!
What, daughter! you become my substitute?

Per.
But should they make you fight?

Myr.
To fight I'm willing.
I've oft been told that I look very killing.

Flir.
You storm a fortress?

Per.
Or besiege a town?

Myr.
Before one I can easily sit down.

Baron.
You mount a breach?

Myr.
Oh, sir, experience teaches,—
I mean at once to mount a pair of breaches!

Per.
(aside)
So, so,—but two can play, miss, at this game.
Why should this forward chit have all the fame?
I'm quite as bold as she is, I'll be bound,
And will shew legs with her for twenty pound!

Flir.
(aside)
In male attire should I not cut a figure?
I'm taller than Myrtina—aye, and bigger!
I don't much fancy handling sword or dagger,
But I'd engage as like a man to swagger!

Per.
(aside)
To get a suit I'll pawn the table spoons!

(Exit into house)
Flir.
(aside)
I'll spout the tea-pot and buy pantaloons!

(Exit into house)
Baron.
(to Myrtina)
Fortune your filial piety will bless,
But what, my darling, will you do for dress?

Myr.
Why, there's your old Court suit, papa, you know,
All the gold lace was stripp'd off long ago,
But still the cloth's not much the worse for wear,
And there's enough of it, and some to spare!
Grant me that suit.

Baron.
Your suit is granted. You
Shall have my sword—that's quite as good as new,
For I have never drawn it since I bought it!
Yes—once by chance—when 'twixt my legs I caught it.

Myr.
Talking of legs—you'll add your boots, of course?

Baron.
Yes, and my spurs—would I could add my horse.

Myr.
So of your wardrobe give me quick the key.

Baron gives key, and Myrtina enters house and returns with the suit, which the Baron examines during his solo.
Baron.
How dull without her this old house will be.

Duet—Air—“Row gently here, my Gondolier.”
Baron.

Myr.

(Exeunt into house)

Scene Second.

—The Fairies' Haunt—A Picturesque Glen —Fairies discovered dancing “Le Danois Quadrille”—A Fairy Band, à la Colinet, seated on a bank, and the Queen of the Fairies attended.
Chorus to the Quadrille, “Le Danois.”

Fairy.
Break off!—my fairy nose a mortal smells!
Creep into acorn-cups and cowslip-bells!
Make yourselves scarce!
Music—Fairies disperse and vanish into flowers, &c.—one sticks fast.
How now, you clumsy lout!
Is that the way you pull a flower about?
A pretty fairy 'pon my word. Pray who
D'ye think's to sleep in that rose after you?
Crumpling the leaves in this untidy way!
(putting them to rights)
Now, get you in, you naughty, naughty fay!
(beating him)
And here—whose wing is this? Pray hold it up!
You can't be cramp'd for room sure in that cup!
I'm quite ashamed of you, I do declare!
You're not a morsel like the elves you were,
But that your dress from common habits varies,
No soul on earth could fancy you were fairies!
As I'm your Queen, by my stop watch, I've reckon'd,
You've ta'en to vanish more than half a second!
Who is't that comes?—a girl in male attire!
She needs my aid—does she deserve't?—I'll try her.

(music—Fairy Queen retires behind trees)
Enter Pertina, in boy's clothes
Per.
Of Miss Myrtina I have got the start—
I feel convinced that I can play my part!
In dress and manner I am quite the beau,
No one would take me for a girl, I know!

Music—Trees open and discover Fairy Queen dressed as an old Shepherdess, bending over some broken ground.
Fairy.
Oh, dear! oh, dear!—what shall I do?—oh, dear!

Per.
Heyday!—why what old beldame have we here

Fairy.
(advances)
Oh, noble sir,—for you can be no less,
Help an old woman who's in great distress.
My lamb has fallen into this ditch, and I
Can't get it out,—help me, or it will die!

Per.
I help to pull a sheep out of a ditch?
D'ye take me for a butcher, you old witch!

Fairy.
I take you for a pert, hard-hearted girl!
Oh, you need not your false moustaches twirl!
You feign to be a man,—why, who with eyes
Could fail to see through such a poor disguise?

Per.
Discover'd!—Shame!—I'll try to bluster. Zoons!

Fairy.
Oh, come—no airs—who pawned her father's spoons?
(Pertina shrieks and runs out)
Ha, ha, ha, ha! I think that was a twister!
Another step—aye—this must be a sister.

(music)
Enter Flirtina.
Flir.
I've stolen out by the back door—what sport!
In this dress I shall cut out all the Court.

Fairy.
Alack-a-day! alack-a-day!

Flir.
How now?
What do you mean by making such a row?

Fairy.
Oh, sir, my lamb has fallen into this pool,
And will be drowned!

Flir.
Well, serve you right, old fool!
Why don't you take more care?

Fairy.
(advances)
Alack, good youth,
Lend me a helping hand.

Flir.
Who, I, forsooth?
Do I look like a clown for such work fit? (looks at her legs)


Fairy.
You look like what you are—a vain young chit,
A silly girl, as any one can see.

Flir.
(aside)
Provoking!—can they really? It can't be!
(aloud)
Harkey, old hag—

Fairy.
Take care what you're about.
Who put her father's tea-pot up the spout?
(Flirtina shrieks and runs out)
Ha, ha, ha, ha! So much for t'other!—stay—
Here comes a third—let's hear what she will say.

Music—Enter Myrtina, as Fortunio.
Myr.
This is the road, I think—I hope to get
Clear of this wood before the sun shall set,
Or wicked wags will sneer, and say delighted,
A would-be knight was in a wood benighted;
So let me speed.

Fairy.
O dear, what shall I do?

Myr.
Hey-day, some poor old soul, in trouble too!
I can't pass on and leave her sobbing so;
What is the matter, Goody, may I know?

Fairy.
Bless thy kind heart, young man; my pretty sheep
Has fallen into the water.

Myr.
Well, don't weep.
'Tis still alive; and I have little doubt,
By hook or crook, that we can get it out.
Here, lend a hand. (a chord)


Fairy.
(appearing in her own shape)
I will, but it shall be
To help you, charming girl, as you would me.
Be not alarmed, I am your friend, sweet maid;
Although discovered, you are not betrayed.
I know your errand, and its motive pure,
And will assist your fortune to secure.
Of many things I see you stand in need:
A better wardrobe, and a gallant steed.
(stamps—music—a leather trunk rises)
Lo! in this Turkey leather trunk you'll find
Cash, jewels, arms, and dresses to your mind;
You've but to stamp, wherever you may be,
And at your feet this trunk you're sure to see.
Now for a horse. (waves her wand—Music—part of the wood opens, and discovers a horse, richly caparisoned)
Behold one in a trice,
Perfect in all his paces, free from vice,
And warranted to carry a lady; never
In fairy land was known a horse so clever.
He knows all things, past, present, and to come,
And eats but once a week!

Myr.
The poor dear dumb—

Fairy.
Dumb!—he can speak; whole sentences can say,
While common steeds can only utter “Nay.”
Taught elocution by a necromancer,
No horse your purpose half so well could answer.

Myr.
Well, I have oft heard mention of a stalking-horse,
But never till this hour of a talking horse.
Pray, may I ask what name he answers to?

Fairy.
Comrade.

Myr.
Dear Comrade, tell me how d'ye do.

Horse.
I'm pretty well, I thank ye; how are you?

Myr.
Charming! delightful! what articulation!
Without the slightest lisp or hesitation!
I should have thought a horse had spoken hoarser.

Fairy.
His language is not course, though he's a courser.
And, apropos of names, your own should be
Fortunio, since you've a friend in me.

For.
Of proper names 'twould be the one most proper;
But who is that man yonder, with a chopper?

Fairy.
A woodman, who cuts down five hundred trees
And carries them upon his back with ease.
You'd better hire him.

For.
Surely, if I can
(music)
Enter Strongback.
Harkye, d'ye want a porter's place, young man?

Strong.
I don't much mind. What wages, sir, give you?

For.
Whate'er you please.

Strong.
Well, I think—that will do.

For.
To carry messages you won't refuse?

Strong.
I'll carry anything on earth you choose.

For.
Your name is—

Strong.
Strongback.

For.
Strongback, you're my man.

Strong.
Your carrier pigeon or your Pickford's van.

Fairy.
Here comes another gifted fellow.

For.
Pray,
Why has he tied his legs in that queer way?

Fairy.
Because his speed is swifter than the wind,
And when he hunts he leaves the game behind,
Unless with ribbons he his legs can fetter.

For.
Shall I engage him?

Fairy.
Yes—you can't do better.

(music)
Enter Lightfoot, his legs tied with ribbons.
For.
Young man, I want a running footman; say—
Will you take service?

Light.
Yes, and bless the day,
For I'm in great distress.

For.
How came you so?

Light.
(whispering)
Outran the constable; lived fast, you know.

For.
Well, you shall have a quarter in advance.

Light.
Oh, sir, to serve you I'd run any chance.

Fairy.
Yonder's a man who may be useful, too.

For.
Why does he bind his eyes?

Fairy.
The less to view.
His name is Marksman, and whene'er he fires,
He kills more game than any one requires;
For objects full five leagues off he can see.

For.
Oh dear, but that may very awkward be;
I'm bound for Court, you know, and who can tell
What mischief he may make who sees so well?

Fairy.
Oh, but he never talks of what he sees;
He's too sharp-sighted.

For.
Then my mind's at ease.
(music)
Enter Marksman, his eyes bandaged.
An archer blindfold—why you must be Cupid!

Marks.
Indeed, sir, I'm not anything so stupid.

For.
(aside to Fairy)
“Sir!” He can't see that I'm a girl, that's clear.

Fairy.
(aside)
He can; but sees you wouldn't one appear.

For.
Well, as your sight's so good, pray can you see
Any objection, friend, to serving me?

Marks.
(taking bandage from eyes)
None in the least.

For.
Then we're agreed. And now,
(to Fairy)
Madam, I'll make you my most grateful bow.

Fairy.
Stay! you have but three servants.

For.
Need I more?

Fairy.
You must have seven; here come the other four.
The first, who on the ground himself is throwing,
Has ears so fine he hears what grass is growing.

For.
He's still more dangerous, unless discreeter;
So good a watch may make a bad repeater.

Fairy.
Oh, you may trust him. There's the second, blowing
To set yon mills, full six miles off, a-going.

For.
A famous fellow he, the wind to raise,
So often done by puffing, now-a-days.

(music)
Enter Fine-ear and Boisterer.
Fairy.
The other two will make your suite complete;
One any given quantity can eat,
The other drink the sea dry, if you please.

For.
Mercy! and ought I to engage both these?

Fairy.
You'll want them.

For.
Well, they'll be expensive pages;
I think I'd better put them on board wages.

(music)
Enter Gormand and Tippler, and are engaged by Fortunio.
Fairy.
For each you'll find a sumptuous livery
Within this trunk.

For.
Indeed; but where's the key?

Fairy.
In Comrade's ear you'll see a ribbon green.

For.
(finding it)
I've got it! (opens trunk—the Servants take out liveries and a rich dress for Fortunio, sword, jewels, &c., during chorus)


Fairy.
Now to Court—see and be seen!

(music—Fairies re-appear in all directions)
Chorus—“Oberon.”
Speed, mortal, speed! Seven soon will chime,
You'll just arrive in pudding time!

(a bank on one side changes to a car, in which the Fairy Queen ascends, and as Fortunio puts his foot in the stirrup to mount the horse, the scene closes on the tableau)

Scene Third.

—Chamber in the Palace of King Alfourite.
Enter King, leading the Princess, attended by his Minister, a Lord-in-Waiting, and Florida, lady's maid to the Princess.
King.
Hang out our banners on the outward walls!
The cry is still they come.

Prin.
Yet no one calls,
Even to say they can't come.

Min.
Not a soul
Has yet appeared who will his name enroll,
Nor who will pay his money; all hang back.

Prin.
They should all hang together, in a crack.

King.
Hang all my subjects! that would be too cruel.
We must have patience.

Prin.
Yes, and water gruel,
For that 'twill come to. Neither men nor money
To carry on the war! A mighty funny
Figure you'll cut! Oh, Minister of State,
How long d'ye think a monarch ought to wait
Before he puts himself into a passion,
When he's fobb'd off in this rebellious fashion?

Min.
Madam, I think his gracious Majesty
Is far too patient.

Prin.
So do I—

Lord.
And I.

Flor.
And I. If I were you, my royal liege,
The very lives out of the rogues I'd squeege!

King.
That would be screwing them a deal too tight.
No, no; you're all four wrong, I'm Al-four-ite!

Prin.
Aye, joke, that's right, whilst ruin's o'er you hovering;
You'll change your note, sir, when they change their sovereign.

King.
Let's change the subject, if not your opinions.

Prin.
I'd hang the rebels up in strings.

Flor.
Like inions!

King.
My people are my children.

Prin.
Yes, and purely
You'll spoil them.

King.
Better than despoil them, surely.
In short, the proclamation was too strong.

Prin.
Too weak, in short, as you will find ere long.

King.
Patience, I say. Still hope I fondly nourish.

Prin.
Nothing within your realm will ever flourish.

(trumpet without)
King.
D'ye call that nothing? Sure, that flourished bravely.
Enter a Page.
Good news, or bad, that thou com'st in so gravely?

Page.
Fortunio, a young and noble knight,
Craves audience of the great King Alfourite.

King.
Desire the gentleman to walk upstairs.

Prin.
“Walk up!”—such jargon showmen use at fairs.
(to Page)
Let him approach.
(Exit Page)
Consider, sir, your state.

King.
I do, and think it very bad of late.

Prin.
You're so undignified! I blush for you.

King.
Sister, you've dignity enough for two.

Enter Fortunio, richly attired.
Flor.
(aside)
Oh, Gemini! Oh, what a nice young man!
(to Princess)
Look, madam.

Prin.
I am, looking through my fan.

For.
(kneeling)
Sire, for my father 'tis my humble wish, a
Substitute, to serve in your militia.

King.
(raising him)
Most sensible of your polite attention.
Do you take snuff? (offering pinch)


For.
(aside)
Amazing condescension!

King.
Fine weather—

For.
(bowing)
Very.

King.
Have you seen the comet?

For.
No, sire. (aside)
But feel as if I'd just dropp'd from it.

Prin.
Oh, Florida, I'm captivated quite!
In all my days I ne'er saw such a knight.

Flor.
(aside)
The finest knight that ever I did see.
If she's in love with him, good night to me.

For.
(aside)
I've lost my heart, as sure as anything!
I never saw a king so good-looking.

King.
(aside)
No age could ever boast a youth so pretty;
That he is not a girl 'tis quite a pity.
If I could find a fair one half so fair,
I'd marry her to-morrow, I declare.

Prin.
Brother, I'm sure you couldn't have the heart
To see this stripling to the wars depart.
He's much too young and handsome. (to Fortunio)
You shall be
Groom of the Bedchamber, Sir Knight, to me.

King.
Nay, he shall office in my household take,
Fortunio Lord Treasurer we make.

For.
Lord Treasurer! for such an office, sure—

Min.
(aside to him)
Fear not, at present 'tis a sinecure.

For.
Ah! then indeed, if there is nought to do,
I may be quite as capable as you.

King.
Your duty you will learn in half a minute;
'Tis but to hold a purse—there's nothing in it.

Prin.
You'll eat your mutton with us, sir, to-day,

King.
And crack a bottle in a friendly way.

For.
I crack a bottle! Sire, I'd venture, but
I fear I couldn't without being cut;
And now-a-days, save at some public spread,
Wine's never suffered to get in one's head.

King.
No, times are changed; I think it quite provoking
That in my reign there is so little soaking!
Song—King—Air—“The days that we went gipsying.”

Exit King, attended by Minister and Lord-in-Waiting —Princess dismisses Florida, and detains Fortunio.
Prin.
Stay, gentle youth, and hear a Princess own
A secret—for her breast too mighty grown!
For ten long tedious minutes have I striven
To quell the pangs by which my heart is riven;
But such prodigious efforts fail at length—
The constant struggle is beyond my strength.
I love! nor care though all the world should know it;
And, in the words of our immortal poet,
Exclaim, “If you love me as I love you,
“No knife shall cut our love in two!”

For.
(aside)
Pooh—pooh!
(aloud)
Madam, respectfully I must decline.

Prin.
D'ye mean to say, then, that you won't be mine?

For.
I am too much beneath your Royal Highness.

Prin.
Madness! Despair! Yet this may be but shyness.

Duo—Air—“Au clair de la Lune.”
Prin.
Sir, you can't refuse me,
Treason it would be!

For.
Madam, pray excuse me,
There we don't agree.
Honour you I can, but
Wed you—there's the rub!
I am not a marrying man, but
I'll name it at the club.

Prin.
(aside)
Yield, O Love, thy crown up,
And thy hearted throne!
In this virgin bosom
Hate now reigns alone!
(together)
If all your hairs were lives,
Young Mr. What-you-call,
You'll find my great revenge
Has stomach for them all!

For.
(aside) (together)
If she don't grow more tender,
I “Police” must call;
That I'm a nice young woman
She don't think at all.

(Exeunt Princess and Fortunio)

Scene Fourth.

—Court-yard of the Palace—In the centre a large basin of water with jet d'eau; the Royal Stables; the Royal Gardens—At back, terrace, with balustrade, beyond which is seen the open country; sunset—Dinner bell rings.
Enter Fortunio.
For.
There's the first dinner-bell, as I'm a sinner;
I scarcely shall have time to dress for dinner.

Enter Citizens and Peasantry, male and female
Chorus—Air—“The Campbells are coming.”
The dragon is coming! oh! oh! oh! oh!
The dragon is coming! oh! oh! oh! oh!
The dragon is coming—we really ar'n't humming,
The dragon is coming! oh! oh! oh! oh!
His mouth is wider than any church door,
And three miles off you may hear him roar!
The terrible glutton eats men like mutton,
And hasn't a notion when he should give o'er!
The dragon is coming! oh! oh! oh! oh!

For.
A dragon coming! Mercy on us! When?

Cit.
Most likely, sir, a little after ten;
That is about the time he likes to sup.

For.
How pleasant! Has he eaten many up?

Cit.
Whole parishes, and lick'd them clean as plates;
And all the toll-men at the turnpike gates.
His monstrous appetite's beyond belief,
Sir, he has eaten even Tariff beef.
If you have any doubts, you've but to stay!
He'll clear them all up if he comes this way.

Enter King and Princess, attended.
King.
One woe doth tread upon another's heel,
Uncommon woe distracts the public weal.
War of my subjects has destroyed the best,
And now a dragon will devour the rest!

Prin.
(aside)
Oh, vengeance! Now's my time! (aloud)

No, brother, no;
Fortunio has volunteered to go
And slay this monster—

For.
I! Well; did you ever?
Upon my word, I never, no I never!

Prin.
He is so modest, it is quite distressing;
Indeed, he only wants a little pressing.

King.
If you would be so kind, upon the nation
You would confer the greatest obligation;
And if, by any chance, I could return—

For.
Sir, that's exactly what I wish to learn.
If I saw any chance of my returning,
I shouldn't so much mind—

Prin.
(aside to King)
For fame he's burning.
(aloud)
We'll go to dinner whilst you do the job,
And keep some hot for you upon the hob.

King.
Thou'lt not say “No,”—thy Sovereign supplicates thee;
Go, be our champion! “Go where glory waits thee!”

(music—Exeunt all but Fortunio)
For.
Fine words, I grant, and easy ones to utter,
But such, the proverb says, “No parsnips butter.”
Now this is all that wicked woman's doing,
Because I wouldn't listen to her wooing.
What's to be done? Why the first thing, of course,
Take an opinion of my learned horse.
Comrade, my friend, just look out of your stable,
And answer me one question, if you're able.

(the horse, Comrade, puts his head out of the stable-door)
Horse.
Is it the Corn Question? Becauce I'm gifted
To speak on one I've seen so often sifted.

For.
No.

Horse.
I but joked, for may I draw a wagon,
If you have not been asked to kill the dragon.

For.
You're right.

Horse.
Well, you must do it.

For.
Cool, I vow.
Will you be kind enough to tell me how?

Horse.
Call Fine-ear.

For.
Fi—

Enter Fine-ear.
Fine.
There is no need to bawl,
I heard, sir, you were just about to call.
What can I do to serve you?

Horse.
Say how near
The dragon is.

Fine.
(listening)
As well as I can hear,
About seven leagues, and, it may be, a quarter.

Horse.
Let Tippler, then, drink up that pond of water,
And Strongback bring as much wine as will fill it,
And when the dragon's dead drunk you can kill it.

For.
Sagacious creature! Tippler, Strongback, speed!

Enter Tippler and Strongback.
Both.
Here, master.

For.
Your assistance much I need.
(to Tippler)
Drink this pond dry.

Tip.
Is that all—in a minute!

(goes to pond and begins to drink)
For.
(to Strongback)
Bring as much wine here as you can put in it.

Strong.
Yes, sir. (going)


For.
You'll want a cart.

Strong.
A cart—for what?
For such a job I'd scorn to use a knot.

(Exit)
Tip.
There, sir—I've mopp'd that up without a wink.

For.
What shall I give you?

Tip.
What you please to drink.

Music—Re-enter Strongback laden with hogsheads of wine.
Strong.
I think I've brought enough to fill the pond;
At all events there's no more wine in bond.

(roar without)
For.
Make haste, make haste, for surely by that roar,
The dragon's nearer by some leagues.

Fine.
Yes—Four.

For.
Then to our posts—he'll do the other three
In a hop, step, and jump, immediately.

Quartette—Fortunio, Strongback, Tippler, and Comrade—Air—“Master Poll,” Midas.
For.
Master Drag,
In spite of his brag,
We'll buffet away from the plain, sir!

Strong.
And I will fight
With all my might,

Horse.
And I with all my mane, sir!

Tip.
And I'll have a rap,
Though he may snap,
And kick up a wounded racket!

For.
I'll hack!

Strong.
I'll whack!

Tip.
I'll crack!

All.
Good lack!
How we'll pepper his scaly old jacket!

For.
In spite of his teeth,
Above and beneath,
I'll make him his jaw to hold, sir!
And teach him to dance
At the end of my lance,
As St. George did the dragon of old, sir!
As soon as he's dead,
I'll cut off his head!

Tip.
Before 'twould be rather rash, sir!

For.
I'll dare!

Tip.
I'll tear!

Strong.
I'll bear!

All.
Oh, rare!
And I warrant we'll settle his hash, sir!

(melo-dramatic music—it has become night, and moonlight—Fortunio and Servants conceal themselves—enter the Dragon—he sniffs the wine and commences drinking immediately, shews symptoms of intoxication, staggers, reels and falls)
Horse.
Now, master, now!

Enter Fortunio and his Servants armed.
For.
(stabbing the Dragon)
“Dead for a ducat, dead.”

Tip.
I'll tell the tale—whilst you cut off the head!

(exit—Fortunio cuts off the Dragon's head, and sticks it on the top of his spear)
Strong.
(taking up the body)
I'll bear his body—it's no load to brag on.

For.
Mind—it's down hill.

Strong.
No fear—I've got the drag-on.

Shouts without—Re-enter Tippler, with the rest of Fortunio's suite—Citizens, Peasantry, &c., the King, the Princess, Nobles, &c., forming a procession à la “Masaniello”)
Chorus
—“Masaniello.”
Come, fill to the brim every flagon,
And dance while a leg's left to wag on!
E'en Warwick's old Guy
But a coward seems nigh,
To the hero who conquer'd the dragon.

(they pass round the stage, and Fortunio comes to a halt before the King)
Prin.
(aside)
Confusion!—conqueror! the dragon slain!

For.
(shewing the head to the King)
“Thus perish all that gives Alonzo pain.”

King.
We can't find words to speak our thanks.

For.
Then don't.

Prin.
(aside)
I cannot bear this triumph—and I won't.

King.
Money I've none; and so may truly say,
“More is thy due than more than all can pay.”
But kings, you know, of honour are the fount,
And therefore freely honours you shall count—
Aye, though you're nine at whist! Yon monster, there,
In your own arms we give you leave to bear;
And, to prove all the gratitude we feel,
We'll pass a patent under our great seal,
Declaring, henceforth, 'tis our royal will,
That none but you shall dare a dragon kill!

Prin.
That is, indeed, a privilege most gracious!
But, brother, on a deed much more audacious
This youth is bent.

King.
Indeed—what—which—when—how?

Prin.
You'll never guess.

For.
(aside)
What is she after now?

Prin.
His great ambition, brother, is to go
Ambassador to our most deadly foe;
He vows, without an army or a navy,
He'll force the Emperor to cry “Peccavi!”

For.
(aside)
Good gracious me! I go their deadly foe to!
Where does that wicked woman think she'll go to?

King.
Since I can give him nothing, 'tis but just
I should refuse him nothing—go he must.

For.
But, sire—

King.
No thanks, we still shall be your debtor.

Prin.
And so the sonner you set off the better!

Finale—“Cruda Sorte.”
For.

King.

Flor.

Chorus.

(Tableau)