 | Graciosa & Percinet |  |
Scene Ninth.
—A Prison; door with three locks.Enter Attendants with Graciosa, in a poor dress and wooden shoes.
1st Att.
How like you your coarse habits, mistress mine?
Gra.
Your coarser habits make these superfine.
2nd Att.
Cramps it your feet in wooden shoes to shove them?
Gra.
It cannot cramp the soul I've got above them.
327
Grog.
Bring in the skein of worsted and the cask.
(they are brought in and placed in centre)
Gra.
Pray what are these for, madam, may I ask?
Grog.
Those feathers sort, unravel me that skein,
Ere sunset, or ne'er see it rise again.
(Exit, with Attendants, locking door after them)
Gra.
That woman treats me worse than any Turk;
Now here's a pretty job of journey work.
(inspecting cask and skein)
The proverb says that birds of the same feather
Are generally sure to flock together;
Upon me 'twould be taking great compassion,
If the same feathers kept up the same fashion.
And then unravel this; why, I declare,
Sleep, that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care,
Not even in a dream could hope to do it.
It's worsted, too, then who can cotton to it?
Oh, Percinet, had I not you offended,
My troubles now would speedily be ended.
Percinet rises out of the cask, which at the same moment falls in pieces, each piece having a pile of feathers of the same colour on it—He touches the skein of worsted, and it rolls up into a smooth ball.
Gra.
Good gracious! came you through the floor or wall?
Per.
You called on me, and I've returned your call.
Gra.
At such a friendly visit I'm transported.
Per.
Madam, your skein is wound, your feathers sorted.
Have you no more commands?
Gra.
Not just at present.
Per.
Then I may go?
Gra.
You may.
Per.
That's mighty pleasant.
Will you not with me fly to fairyland,
And make me happy with that snow-white hand?
Gra.
Elope? I, Graciosa, run away,
With a young man I've scarcely known a day?
328
Have I not proved the truth of my affection?
Gra.
One cannot act with too much circumspection.
Per.
But fix a term, at least, to my probation.
Gra.
Of all decorum 'twere a violation.
Per.
Say, live in hope—
Gra.
All men, I hope, live so.
Per.
Far from your presence, then, again I go.
But you again may persecuted be,
And then, perchance, you may remember me.
Air—Percinet—“When other lips and other hearts”—(Balfe)
But you again may persecuted be,
And then, perchance, you may remember me.
When other whips, with other smarts,
Their tails of nine cats tell,
In language which not all the parts
Of speech can do so well;
There may, perhaps, in such a scene,
Some recollection be,
Of plumes which scourges might have been,
And you'll remember me.
Their tails of nine cats tell,
In language which not all the parts
Of speech can do so well;
There may, perhaps, in such a scene,
Some recollection be,
Of plumes which scourges might have been,
And you'll remember me.
When to a tree you're tied up tight.
To be some monster's prize,
Or tangled skeins of worsted white
Perplex your hands and eyes;
When here again they bear a cask
'Twill break your heart to see,
Or set you some still harder task,
Then you'll remember me.
To be some monster's prize,
Or tangled skeins of worsted white
Perplex your hands and eyes;
When here again they bear a cask
'Twill break your heart to see,
Or set you some still harder task,
Then you'll remember me.
(Exit)
Gra.
I pity him, but like Tom Thumb of yore,
“I've done my duty and I've done no more.”
Enter Grognon and Attendants, hastily.
Grog.
The sun has set, prepare to die.
Gra.
For what?
My tasks are finished.
Grog.
(amazed)
Well, may I be shot!
329
Amen to that, sweet powers, and quickly fire!
Grog.
How?
Gra.
I but echoed, ma'am, your own desire.
Grog.
So you've arranged these plumes with great facility.
Gra.
And rather plume myself on my ability.
Grog.
And wound the worsted up into a ball?
Gra.
I have; so you are worsted, ma'am, that's all,
Grog.
(aside)
Some magic power must sure protect the jade;
But I will summon magic to my aid.
(to Attendants)
Bring me the box that stands upon my table.
(Exeunt Attendants)
(to Graciosa)
Since you have proved yourself so very able,
I'll trouble you to do but one thing more,
Which done, shall you to liberty restore.
Gra.
Haste me to know it.
Re-enter Attendants, with box.
Grog.
It is but to carry
This box to my old castle; do not tarry.
Here is the key, I trust it to your keeping,
For I am sure you would not think of peeping,
However the contents might interest you.
In my black cabinet, I must request you
To place it safely and return with speed.
Gra.
Well, this appears an easy task, indeed;
It isn't heavy, though it's such a long box.
Grog.
(aside)
Open it, minx, and you are in the wrong box.
(aloud)
I've said to liberty it shall restore you.
Gra.
I fly!
(Exit, followed by Attendants)
Grog.
You may, but I'll be there before you.
(Exit)
| Graciosa & Percinet | |