 | The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Gold Mines |  |
Scene Fourth,
—A Field of Nettles and Thistles—Thatched Cottage.Enter Queen.
Queen.
Mercy upon me! whither have I got?
Into this field like rubbish I've been shot
Out of the trunk, in which packed up so neatly
I gave the lions the go-by completely.
Though safe, with terror still my hair all bristles.
What a sad waste of nettles and of thistles!
A wretched hut, beside a muddy ditch,—
On such a place to live in who could pitch?
(Door of cottage opens, and the Yellow Dwarf appears at it)
Ha! here's the owner! Owner? Goodness me!
48
Why, he's a dwarf, I vow—fit for a show!
Dwarf.
Mother-in-law, welcome to my château.
Queen.
Mother-in law! (aside)
Oh, mercy! I'd forgot.
Dwarf.
Aye, you will be so shortly, will you not?
Queen.
Yes, certainly, of course. But did you say
Your château?
Dwarf.
Well, then, my cottage ornée!
Call it whate'er you please—'tis mine; and soon
Your daughter here will pass her honey-moon,
With her devoted husband.
Queen.
(aside)
Husband! monkey!
Dwarf.
Upon these thistles she can keep a donkey
To ride these lovely pleasure grounds about on,
Or go a-hunting, or a-fishing out on;
And in the fens and marshes, swamps, and bogs,
Catch for her dinner some delicious frogs.
But, what will most conduce to her delight,
I shall be near her—morning, noon, and night;
For 'twould distress me should her shadow be
A closer follower than she'll find me.
Air—Dwarf—“Der Freischutz.”
To ride these lovely pleasure grounds about on,
Or go a-hunting, or a-fishing out on;
And in the fens and marshes, swamps, and bogs,
Catch for her dinner some delicious frogs.
But, what will most conduce to her delight,
I shall be near her—morning, noon, and night;
For 'twould distress me should her shadow be
A closer follower than she'll find me.
Mark my words! the day you'll rue
If the Yellow Dwarf unto
You have told a crammer!
Try upon me any trick,
Down upon you I am, quick
As a (yellow) hammer!
If the Yellow Dwarf unto
You have told a crammer!
Try upon me any trick,
Down upon you I am, quick
As a (yellow) hammer!
But your promise keep with me,
And your daughter queen will be
Of this fine empire—O!
Here I sing, and feast, and sport,
Dancing, though my legs are short,
As in Lanky-shire—O!
And your daughter queen will be
Of this fine empire—O!
Here I sing, and feast, and sport,
Dancing, though my legs are short,
As in Lanky-shire—O!
(Lancashire clog hornpipe)
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(aside)
Oh! wretched mother! still more wretched daughter!
Live here a with a vile dwarf on frogs and water.
Horrible thought! who could have had a guess of it?
I've been and gone and made a horrid mess of it!
Dwarf.
Well, madam, you are charmed, I trust?
Queen.
Oh, surely!
But, sir, I feel particularly poorly.
So faint and queer—I—wish—I was safe back again
At home! (sinks on a bank)
Dwarf.
You shall be, madam, in a crack again.
Music—The scene suddenly changes to
| The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Gold Mines | |