University of Virginia Library

Scene First.

—A Sequestered Dell.
Enter Florina, in a peasant's dress.
Flor.
(singing as she enters)

Azur.
Save you, royal fair—

Flor.
Royal! How came you of my rank aware?
I thought beneath this garb—

Azur.
Oh, though my eyes
Are old, they quickly saw through your disguise!
You're not accustomed to dissimulation.

Flor.
You seem a person of some penetration,
And may be, as your sight appears so keen,
A fine Blue Bird of Paradise you've seen,
Which I have lost? I'm anything but sordid;
The finder shall be handsomely rewarded.

Azur.
Yes, you would give a crown for him, no doubt,
Now you're a queen.

Flor.
A queen! you've found that out?

Azur.
Why, all the world knows of the revolution,
Occasioned by your stepdame's persecution;
How your weak father signed his abdication,
And how you were made queen by acclamation!
And how you generously saved from slaughter,
The base Tyrana and her ugly daughter;
The people would have torn them into pieces,
But for your presence.

Flor.
Every word increases
My wonder! Surely you must be a witch?

Azur.
You might on something more unlikely pitch,
But which, or whatsoe'er I am, depend,
Whilst you are good and true, I am your friend!

Flor.
Oh, prove it, then, by telling in a word,
Where I may find my sweet blue dicky-bird?

Azur.
Your bird's no more.

Flor.
Dead?

Azur.
No! Don't be alarmed—
They've made a man of him again.

Flor.
I'm charmed
To hear it!

Azur.
But upon a hard condition.
Great Hocus Pocus, a profound magician,
Rescued King Charming from assassination,
And through his well-intended mediation,
The Fairy Soussio her wrath abated,
And on his throne King Charming re-instated,
With this proviso—he Troutina wedded
In six months from this date.

Flor.
Just what I dreaded.
And he consented! Well, I cannot blame him!
He never thought his beak and claws became him.
Fine feathers make fine birds, but don't make happy ones!
They who think otherwise are only sappy ones!
And so may joy be his, beyond all measure—
And I'll go back and break my heart with pleasure.

Azur.
Not so! a generous heart like yours shan't break.
King Charming labours under a mistake;
He made against the bargain a brave struggle,
But Hocus Pocus floored him by a juggle;
He told him you, in secret, loved another,
That you betrayed him to Troutina's mother,
And lent the very knife that struck the blow, too.

Flor.
Oh, where can such a person think he'll go to?
And Charming to believe that thus I'd use him.
Is there no way at once to disabuse him?

Azur.
Yes, but 'tis full of danger!

Flor.
Danger! Fiddle!
I'm not a girl my thumbs to sit and twiddle.
Dangers retreat when boldly they're confronted.

Azur.
(appearing in her own form)
You are the heroine for whom I've hunted.
My aid you have, Florina, ere you ask it.
Here, you will find three swan's eggs in this basket;
Break one of them whenever friends you lack,
And sure as eggs are eggs, you'll find them crack!

Flor.
May I not know to whom I am indebted?

Azur.
Air—Fairy Azurine—“Over the Water to Charley.”

(Exit)
Flor.
The first thing is to reach my love's abode,
And I forgot to ask our friend the road.
What must I do? There's nothing for't i'fegs!
But sacrificing one of my three eggs!
So let us see what this one will produce.
Music—Breaks egg, and a car drawn by Doves, rises.
A handsome carriage, ready made for use!
(she enters car, and sings)

Music—Doves draw off Florina in car.