 | Graciosa & Percinet |  |
Scene Third.
—A Chamber in the Palace.Enter Grognon and Attendants, bringing a chair.
Grog.
Now drag the traitress here, before me, haste!
Of Grognon's vengeance she shall have a taste.
Graciosa is brought in by Attendants, with whips.
Gra.
Madam, for mercy at your feet I kneel,
I'm taxed with treason: surcharged, I appeal!
Grog.
Appeal, forsooth! your case is quickly stated—
Your charms alone have been too highly rated;
You shall no longer, child, be taxed for beauty,
But to ourself you shall pay treble duty!
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And now I seize on you for all arrears!
For special purposes, see my Commissioners.
(points to Attendants)
Gra.
Appeal to them! Heaven help the poor petitioners.
Grog.
To execution! Ply your cat o' nine tails.
Gra.
(aside)
O Percinet! What use were all your fine tales!
(the scourges change to plumes of feathers—the Attendants beat her)
Grog.
Harder, yet harder. On her pangs I feast.
Gra.
(aside)
How strange—they do not hurt me in the least!
Sweet Percinet has heard me, I declare!
Grog.
The stubborn jade pretends she doesn't care.
Make her cry out, I long to hear her groan!
Gra.
(aside)
I'll sham a little. (aloud)
Oh! let me alone!
Grag.
Ha, ah! at last my rods begin to tickle!
They've been for you a precious time in pickle!
Lash on! lash on! Until I bid you stop.
1st Woman.
Madam, our arms are ready off to drop;
Yet, on the culprit we make no impression!
(trumpets without)
Grog.
What means that flourish?
Enter Nimroddy.
Nim.
Madam, the procession
Is passing to the lists, and 'tis my duty
To marshall to her throne the Queen of Beauty.
Grog.
Ecstatic sound! New life it quite infuses!
'Tis opodeldoc to my bumps and bruises!
You minion! (to Graciosa)
follow humbly in my train
And mark, these whips will cut and come again.
Enter the King, Heralds, Nobles, and Ladies of the Court, and six Knights, viz.—Sir Regent Circus, Knight of the Bull and Mouth; Sir Lad Lane, Knight of the Swan with Two Necks; Sir Snow Hill, Knight of
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Chorus
—“To the gay Tournament.”
To the gay tournament
The Queen of Beauty goes,
He shall gain a prize from her
Who most his courage shows;
Singing, singing—“Though others fair may be,
Nobody, nobody, can be compared to thee.”
The Queen of Beauty goes,
He shall gain a prize from her
Who most his courage shows;
Singing, singing—“Though others fair may be,
Nobody, nobody, can be compared to thee.”
Grog.
Soon will the conqueror,
With trophy and with wreath,
Kneel on his bended knee,
My throne low beneath;
Singing, singing,—“Though others fair may be,
Nobody, nobody can be compared with me.”
With trophy and with wreath,
Kneel on his bended knee,
My throne low beneath;
Singing, singing,—“Though others fair may be,
Nobody, nobody can be compared with me.”
King, Lord Nimroddy, and Graciosa
(aside)
Bold must the champion be
Who can that boast maintain;
He, for audacity,
The prize must surely gain.
Swinging, hanging on the highest tree,
For such a lie, such a lie, he deserves to be.
Who can that boast maintain;
He, for audacity,
The prize must surely gain.
Swinging, hanging on the highest tree,
For such a lie, such a lie, he deserves to be.
Chorus.
To the gay tournament, &c.
(Exeunt)
| Graciosa & Percinet | |