 | Once Upon a Time there were Two Kings |  |
Scene Third.
—The Brink of a Precipice—Moonlight—The entrance to a Pine Forest—A large bank.Princess.
(as the scene opens)
The parting walls recede!
“Where there's your will there is a way” indeed.
What may this mean? are you a fairy, nurse?
Or, mercy on me! are you something worse?
Fairy.
(appearing in a brilliant Amazonian costume)
Fear not! I'm not your nurse, fair Carpillona,
But a true friend—the Fairy Amazona.
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On hostile eyes it has such magic powers,
The Prince you fear would not know you from Adam,
Or, more correctly, Eve.
Princess.
But oh, dear madam,
You will not leave me here? for still I think
I stand upon a precipice's brink!
Fairy.
You do, I own; but hold fast that bouquet;
'Twill guard and guide you safely on your way
Through yonder forest to the verdant meads,
In which his flocks the sage Sublimus feeds.
Go, look him up! and tell the dear old codger
You've come to be a boarder and a lodger;
Mention my name and he'll at once believe you,
And with his wife, like their own child receive you.
Air—Amazona—“Cheer, boys, cheer.”
'Twill guard and guide you safely on your way
Through yonder forest to the verdant meads,
In which his flocks the sage Sublimus feeds.
Go, look him up! and tell the dear old codger
You've come to be a boarder and a lodger;
Mention my name and he'll at once believe you,
And with his wife, like their own child receive you.
Cheer, child, cheer! those magic flowers retaining,
Fearless the dark and tangled forest roam;
Cheer, child, cheer! the verdant valley gaining!
There you'll find friends out as well as at home.
Should hostile eyes behold you on your journey,
Press that bouquet, culled by a cunning elf,
Its power will, like a power of attorney,
Save you the trouble of appearing yourself.
Cheer, child, cheer, &c.
(Exit Fairy)
Fearless the dark and tangled forest roam;
Cheer, child, cheer! the verdant valley gaining!
There you'll find friends out as well as at home.
Should hostile eyes behold you on your journey,
Press that bouquet, culled by a cunning elf,
Its power will, like a power of attorney,
Save you the trouble of appearing yourself.
Cheer, child, cheer, &c.
Princess.
So strange does everything around me seem,
I can't help fancying I'm in a dream.
But if my way lie through yon forest deep,
I'd best be walking through it in my sleep.
If fays speak truth I needn't care a rush
For any beast that may be in the bush.
I bear a charm that parry an attack would
Of the most savage article in Blackwood.
Air—Carpillona—“The Heather Bell.”
I can't help fancying I'm in a dream.
But if my way lie through yon forest deep,
I'd best be walking through it in my sleep.
If fays speak truth I needn't care a rush
For any beast that may be in the bush.
I bear a charm that parry an attack would
Of the most savage article in Blackwood.
I'm free to wander o'er the hill,
To pass the forest through I'm free;
To go, in short, just where I will,
I feel myself at liberty.
A cottage home I go to share,
And through the wood my way I'll wind;
I needn't fear a boar or bear,
Or any creature of that kind!
So with a merry mountain lay,
I'll to the verdant valley go;
Like Cockney out for holiday—
Beyond the sound of bells of Bow!
To pass the forest through I'm free;
To go, in short, just where I will,
I feel myself at liberty.
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And through the wood my way I'll wind;
I needn't fear a boar or bear,
Or any creature of that kind!
So with a merry mountain lay,
I'll to the verdant valley go;
Like Cockney out for holiday—
Beyond the sound of bells of Bow!
Happy go lucky! I'll take wing,
E'en while no pinions me can stay;
Nor anxious watch, lest some one spring
On me in some uncivil way.
These flowers were plucked by fairy stream,
And will so change my face and form,
That greater pluck from them I seem
To pluck to face the coming storm!
So with a merry, &c.
E'en while no pinions me can stay;
Nor anxious watch, lest some one spring
On me in some uncivil way.
These flowers were plucked by fairy stream,
And will so change my face and form,
That greater pluck from them I seem
To pluck to face the coming storm!
So with a merry, &c.
Prince.
(without)
This way; I spied a petticoat, I swear!
Princess.
O mercy! worse than any boar or bear,
Fierce Brutus comes! Oh, now or never, gilliflowers,
Save me, and prove you're not a bunch of silly flowers.
Music—Her dress changes to that of a peasant—Part of the bank changes to a Cow—a milking pail and stool rise near her.
Enter Prince Brutus, Perfidius, and Soldiers.
Prince.
Here she is!—no, she isn't! Naught, I vow,
But an old country woman and her cow.
Princess.
(aside)
Old! My kind nosegay, then, has worked a wonder—
I'll take the hint.
Prince.
What a confounded blunder!
Harkye! old Bess of Bedlam! Have you seen
A Princess pass this way?
(she curtsies to him several times but doesn't answer)
Speak! what d'ye mean
By all that bobbing? Find your tongue and wag
That, or I'll find and tear it out, vile hag!
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Good, noble gentleman, your pardon, pray!
But I can't hear a single word you say.
I am stone deaf.
Prince.
Deaf! hang the stupid dunny!
Per.
Yes, let us—on this tree.
Prince.
It would be funny;
But I've no time to stop and see her sprawl.
Per.
Suppose we send her rolling like a ball
Down yonder precipice?
Prince.
Still more amusing,
But in the meantime I should risk the losing
All chance of catching this ungrateful rover.
Per.
'Twon't take a minute, sir, to lift her over
That bit of rock.
Prince.
Then lift her, and be swift.
Princess.
Colly, my cow, just give that calf a lift.
Music—As Perfidius attempts to seize Princess the Cow tosses him over the rock—Thunder and lightning—Prince Brutus and party fly in terror—Princess runs into the wood, Cow sinks, and scene changes to
| Once Upon a Time there were Two Kings | |