University of Virginia Library

Scene Second.

—Basaltic Caverns.
Mag.
For seven long years, at least, here must you be
My captive and my slave.

Lai.
Ah, woe is me!
What have I done to merit such a fate?

Mag.
You are the daughter of a queen I hate!

Lai.
Of vengeance have you not had “quantum suff?”
Made me a scarecrow to all mortals.

Mag.
Stuff!
The other fairies with such virtues decked you,
My spell was scarcely able to affect you.
Men's eyes alone obeyed my magic arts,
Your goodness gave you power o'er their hearts;
E'en on a serpent it could make impression,
And but for this most lucky indiscretion,
You and that vile, insinuating viper
Had danced for joy, whilst I had paid the piper.

Lai.
How was your happiness by ours affected?

Mag.
King Emerald with scorn my hand rejected;
And I in you a favoured rival see.

Lai.
I'm sure you're welcome to him quite for me.
He's frightened me almost out of my senses.

Mag.
But he loves you, and that the worst offence is.
I've got you now though, both, beneath my thumb,
And I will work you for seven years to come.
Here, spin this tangled spider's web, and make
A net of it, that's strong enough to take
A salmon with—I want some fish for dinner.

Lai.
Madam, although a spinster, I'm no spinner,
But I will do the best that's in my power.
When will you want it, ma'am?

Mag.
In half an hour.

Air—Laidronetta—“Pray Goody.”
Pray, madam, please to calculate, unless the clock be wrong,
But thirty minutes half an hour supplies,
Remember spiders' webs are weak and fishing nets are strong,
And salmons much larger than flies.
Slimy, grimy work, I can't bear nigh me.
Fun you're making—sure you're taking out of me a rise.
Pray, madam, please to calculate, &c.

Mag.
No matter; for each thread you break, a day
Longer within this cave you'll have to stay.

(Exit)
Lai.
In half an hour? impossible!

The Fairy Benevolentia appears.
Ben.
Nay, try;
To love there's no impossibility!

Lai.
My goodness gracious, who is this fair dame?

Ben.
One of your dozen godmothers—my name
Benevolentia. To my gift you owe
The kindly heart that melts at others' woe.
And as to pity love is near akin,
Pity this wretched snake, and fearless spin.

The Green Serpent is seen.
Lai.
The snake again. Thou guileful monster, hence!

(Serpent retires)
Ben.
Guileful! How so? His love was no pretence.
Each syllable he spoke you've found too true,
For breach of promise he might well sue you.
Your word was pledged to take him upon trust,
For better or for worse.

Lai.
Own that I must.
But he is so much worse than I believed him.

Ben.
He'd have been better had you not deceived him.
Prove by compassion you've your fault repented,
And Magotine may yet be circumvented.

Lai.
If I have wrong'd him, I apologise,
I wouldn't hurt a worm of any size!

Ben.
Enough! Spin web, weave net, in half a minute,
And Magotine herself we may catch in it!
(the web disappears from spindle, and the net is seen hanging on the wall)
Adieu! Remember, love should love be won by,
And the best rule is, “do as you'd be done by.”

(disappears)
Lai.
Well, when the poet wrote “nil admirari,”
He certainly had never known a fairy.
Or else, as but too frequently the fact is,
He preached to others what he couldn't practise.
The web is spun, and a strong net made of it,
And I am to receive the whole net profit!
Such liberality what can surpass?
The poor snake, too, was no snake in the grass.
But though of fearful aspect and dimensions,
A serpent of most praiseworthy intentions!
Under a great mistake he oft may labour
Who from appearances condemns his neighbour.

Enter Fairy Magotine.
Mag.
So, how gets on the work? The time is nigh,
How often have you snapped the thread? reply!

Lai.
Not once—the whole web I found nothing frail in,
And there's a net that you may catch a whale in!

Mag.
A whale! That's very like a whale, forsooth!
(seeing net)
(aside)
Furies and fire! I vow she speaks the truth!
Can she have made these meshes single-fisted,
Or has she been by some sly elf assisted?
(aloud)
Upon my word, you are so vastly clever,
To find some job for you I must endeavour,
Worthy your ingenuity. What ho!
Cast me those iron shoes up from below.
(an Elf rises holding a pair of iron shoes)
Screw her feet into them.
(the Elf obeys—Laidronetta screams)
Oh fie! don't squall
Pride must be pinched; a shoe can't be too small.
Now bring a mill-stone, from the ruins nigh,
And round her neck the pretty bauble tie!
(a mill-stone is brought, and fastened round her neck)
There! for your journey now you are equipped
So take this pitcher by you to be dipped
In the pure water of the silver fountain,
Which plays upon the top of the steel mountain,
Fill with a quart of it this broken jug,
And bring it here, with your own ugly mug.
Hence!

Lai.
But the road?

Mag.
Your iron shoes will shew—
The cunning soles no other way will go!

Duettino—“Macbeth.”
Mag.

Lai.
(looking at the hole in it)

Mag.

Lai.

(Exit Laidronetta)
Mag.
Now! either like the rest, her crown she'll crack,
Or bring the water I so long for, back!
A few drops only o'er my person sprinkled,
I shall no more with age be bent and wrinkled,
But the possessor of a face and form
Which must the stony heart of Emerald warm.
How I shall laugh if my spell prove strongest.

(Exit)
The Fairy Benevolentia appears, and takes down the net.
Ben.
Song—Air—“Farewell to the Mountain.”

(Exit with net)