 | The Queen of the Frogs |  |
Scene Third.
—The Brazen Caverns of the Enchantress in the centre of the earth.Leo.
Here for your lives you shall remain my slaves!
Queen.
Such conduct is more brazen than your caves.
Leo.
Ha! you are bold indeed, to break a jest,
At such a moment—none, too, of the best,
But you'll have time a better here to make;
Behold the monsters guarding yonder lake
Of quicksilver.
Queen.
And guard it well they may,
Or from such frights 'twould quickly run away!
Leo.
They were all mortals once, with forms like thine,
Kings, queens, and princes—enemies of mine,
Besides a score or two of dames of fashion
Who had for lion hunting such a passion,
To any foreign brute they'd go their knees on,
Provided he was newly caught that season;
Nay, any donkey could their favour win,
Who wore by accident a lion's skin.
Just Fate the Fairy Lioness enables,
To turn upon them their own supper tables,
And make them grin and tumble, bray and roar,
As they made other monsters do before.
Queen.
I never lionised a creature.
Leo.
No!
Therefore no change of form you'll undergo,
But dress my dinner, and your daughter there
Shall be my lady's maid, and dress my hair.
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I dress your dinner! I ne'er learned to cook.
Leo.
But you will soon. I'll lend you Soyer's book.
Prin.
I dress your hair!
Leo.
I wear it very plain,
And when a lioness I have no mane.
Queen.
But—
Leo.
But! no buts! or I'll make butts of you,
And with these arrows pierce you through and through,
And yet not kill! Go you, cook, to your kitchen,
And you, (to Princess)
come make a witch look more bewitching!
Trio—Leona, Queen, and Princess—“We met.”
Leo.
We met, 'twas in a wood,
And you strove both to shun me.
Queen.
I felt I couldn't move,
For your eye was upon me!
Prin.
You spoke, my blood ran cold,
As your deep-toned voice uttered—
Leo.
Come, come, you don't perceive,
On which side your bread's buttered.
If well you dress my hair,
(to Princess)
I may not often beat you.
Improve my bill of fare
(to Queen)
And perhaps I mayn't eat you.
To work yourselves betake,
And without any pother,
Or your bones I will break
(to Princess)
And pick those of your mother.
Queen & Prin.
All hope we must forsake,
And our feelings must smother,
Or your/my bones she will break,
And pick those of your/my mother!
(Exeunt Leona and Princess)
Queen.
From bad to worse! when will my misery end,
Since fate forbids e'en death to be my friend?
Cook to a lioness! what degradation!
Without the power to change my situation.
No wages either! nothing but the run
Of that black kitchen, wherein hope is done
To rags, and leaps with desperation dire
Out of the frying-pan into the fire!
Air—Queen—“My lodging is on the cold ground.”
Since fate forbids e'en death to be my friend?
Cook to a lioness! what degradation!
Without the power to change my situation.
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Of that black kitchen, wherein hope is done
To rags, and leaps with desperation dire
Out of the frying-pan into the fire!
My lodging is all under ground,
Where I can't get a peep at the sky,
And there's no one to help, I'll be bound,
“Help” ever so loud should I cry.
In a mess on a railway as vainly might shout,
Some poor, pent-up, desolate elf,
For, whatever the danger, he couldn't get out,
Or alarm any one—but himself.
(the croak of a raven is heard)
Where I can't get a peep at the sky,
And there's no one to help, I'll be bound,
“Help” ever so loud should I cry.
In a mess on a railway as vainly might shout,
Some poor, pent-up, desolate elf,
For, whatever the danger, he couldn't get out,
Or alarm any one—but himself.
Sure, 'twas a raven's boding croak I heard,
(Raven appears on rock)
Yes, yonder perches the ill-omened bird!
What has he in his talons? a poor frog,
Which he has evidently prigged for prog!
I'll strive to save it from the ravenous raven!
(takes up a stone and flings at Bird)
Drop that! you great black, ugly, croaking craven!
(music—The Raven drops the Frog and flies off)
He has! but it came down with such a flop,
I fear, poor frog, you've taken your last hop.
(Raven appears on rock)
Yes, yonder perches the ill-omened bird!
What has he in his talons? a poor frog,
Which he has evidently prigged for prog!
I'll strive to save it from the ravenous raven!
(takes up a stone and flings at Bird)
Drop that! you great black, ugly, croaking craven!
(music—The Raven drops the Frog and flies off)
He has! but it came down with such a flop,
I fear, poor frog, you've taken your last hop.
Frog.
No, I'm all right! a thousand thanks to you.
Queen.
It speaks!
Frog.
Of course when I am spoken to.
Queen.
Did you come out of Æsop's Fables?
Frog.
No!
Queen.
Are you the frog that would a wooing go?
Frog.
Nay, I'm a lady frog, and mustn't woo,
Save in Leap Year.
Queen.
They're all leap years with you.
Excuse me, heaven knows I've no heart for joking.
Frog.
Well, though a frog, I'm not much given to croaking,
And would assist you, as I feel your debtor.
I'm a half fairy, my name's Grenouilletta.
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Half fairy! Well, when hope's so nearly dead,
E'en half a fairy's better than no bread.
Frog.
My power has limits.
Queen.
Like Don Ferdinando,
Perhaps you can do no more than you can do?
Frog.
Exactly, but in what I can you may
Command me, for your generous act to-day.
Queen.
Oh, then restore to my dear husband's arms
Me and my child!
Frog.
I fear Leona's charms
Are yet too potent, but I'll go and find
The magic wreath, which I have left behind
In an unlucky moment, or that raven
Could not have borne me from my peaceful haven.
(Exit Frog)
Enter Princess.
Prin.
Oh, mother, we are in a pretty pickle!
Our dreadful mistress would her palate tickle
With some new dish, and fancies—ope your eyes!—
Naught but a vol au vent of butterflies!
I am to catch 'em. Where, 'tis hard to say;
For not a butterfly e'er flew this way.
And you're to cook them, which will be still harder
To do if there be not one in the larder.
Queen.
And if not done?
Prin.
She threatens torments fearful!
Our cup of woe, she hints, is not yet near full.
Queen.
I've not a word left to throw at a dog,
My only hope is in my friend the frog!
Prin.
Your friend the frog! wonders will never end,
Where did you pick up such a funny friend?
Queen.
A raven picked her up. I made him drop her.
Grenouilletta re-appears in a female form, but preserving the colour of the frog in her dress; she has a wreath of roses on her head.
Gre.
It was for luck you gave that bird a topper.
Queen.
Grenouilletta!
Gre.
I've my crown on now.
Queen.
And much more like a fairy look, I vow!
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Behold, I bring you what will glad your eyes,
A swarm of beautiful fat butterflies.
(butterflies appear)
Attracted by my wreath of magic roses,
Have hither followed their unhappy noses;
Fling over them your veil,
(to Princess, who flings the veil over them, then places butterflies on rocky bank)
Now with a song,
We'll see if we can make a vol au vent.
Concerted Piece—To its own Air.
A swarm of beautiful fat butterflies.
(butterflies appear)
Attracted by my wreath of magic roses,
Have hither followed their unhappy noses;
Fling over them your veil,
(to Princess, who flings the veil over them, then places butterflies on rocky bank)
Now with a song,
We'll see if we can make a vol au vent.
Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man,
Make me a patty as fast as you can,
Make it, and bake it, and serve it up clean,
And there'll be a vol au vent fit for a queen.
(during the song the Princess withdraws the veil, and the vol au vent appears on a handsome dish)
Make me a patty as fast as you can,
Make it, and bake it, and serve it up clean,
And there'll be a vol au vent fit for a queen.
Gre.
Promises are like pie-crust, made to break,
But I to keep my promise, pie-crust make.
Prin.
A patty made in pity of our plight!
Queen.
My heart still pit-a-patty goes with fright!
Leo.
(within)
What ho! my slaves.
Gre.
Leona comes this way!
At hop and hide 'twere prudent I should play.
(Exit)
Enter Leona.
Leo.
Well! is my dinner ready?
Queen.
As you wish;
I was just going to bring up the dish.
(takes it off bank)
Leo.
(taking it)
As I'm a Fairy Lioness of taste,
Delicious butterflies, and fine puff paste!
And you professed you naught of cooking knew!
Why, I declare you're quite a Cordon bleu!
While dainties such as these you can produce,
To eat you I should be indeed a goose.
Its savour makes me hungry, I declare!
I'll in and take the Lioness's share.
Delicious butterflies, and fine puff paste!
And you professed you naught of cooking knew!
Why, I declare you're quite a Cordon bleu!
While dainties such as these you can produce,
To eat you I should be indeed a goose.
Its savour makes me hungry, I declare!
I'll in and take the Lioness's share.
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O what pleasure will be mine,
On this dainty dish to dine!
There's no richer pie,
Than a butterfly,
Made of Emperors fat and fine.
On this dainty dish to dine!
There's no richer pie,
Than a butterfly,
Made of Emperors fat and fine.
(Exit with dish)
Queen.
Saved for the present—but she soon will learn,
I'm scarcely cook enough a spit to turn.
Prin.
We can't expect a frog so kind and clever,
To stay and do the cooking here for ever.
Enter Grenouilletta.
Gre.
No, but I'll tell you what the Frog will do,
Hop off the brave King Fulminoso to,
Whom by this time his foes have ceased besieging.
Queen.
Would you be so excessively obleeging?
Gre.
I will, and all your story to him tell;
'Tis he alone, I find, can break the spell;
If he love you enough the deed to dare.
Queen.
If he do not, then I don't wish him—there!
Gre.
Scratch him a line upon this leaf, to shew
(gives leaf)
I've your authority—your hand he'll know.
Queen.
(writes)
'Tis done! Oh! most beneficent of Frogs
I fear upon you we're a pair of clogs.
Gre.
Not in the least; such work to me is play.
'Twill be a game of leap frog all the way.
(Grenouilletta descends through stage)
Prin.
If she should change her mind upon the road!
Queen.
She wouldn't be such an ungrateful toad!
Duo—Princess and Queen—“A frog he would.”
Prin.
This Frog she would the journey go,
Heigho, says Rowley,
Whether my mother would let her or no,
With her rowley, poley,
Gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley.
Heigho, says Rowley,
Whether my mother would let her or no,
With her rowley, poley,
Gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley.
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Off she set with her opera wreath,
Heigho, says Rowley,
Which she look'd remarkably well beneath.
With her roley, poley, &c.
Heigho, says Rowley,
Which she look'd remarkably well beneath.
With her roley, poley, &c.
Prin.
If she finds my pa at home,
Heigho, says Rowley,
Through fire and water to us he'll come,
With his rowley, poley, &c.
Heigho, says Rowley,
Through fire and water to us he'll come,
With his rowley, poley, &c.
Queen.
But oh, if inclined on a sovereign to sup,
Heigho, says Rowley,
The Lioness sees him and gobbles him up!
With his rowley, poley, &c.
Heigho, says Rowley,
The Lioness sees him and gobbles him up!
With his rowley, poley, &c.
Prin.
Then there'll be an end soon to you, ma, and me.
Heigho, says Rowley,
And I wouldn't give much for the little Frogee,
With her rowley, poley, &c.
Heigho, says Rowley,
And I wouldn't give much for the little Frogee,
With her rowley, poley, &c.
(Exeunt)
| The Queen of the Frogs | |