第96章
Let us fly to a far-off land, Where peace and plenty dwell--Where the sigh of the silver strand Is echoed in every shell To the joy that land will give, On the wings of Love we'll fly;In innocence, there to live--In innocence there to die!
CHORUS OF SPIRITS.
Too late--too late It may not be!
That happy fate Is not for (me/thee)!
ALEXIS, ALINE, and MR.W.
Too late--too late, That may not be!
That happy fate, Is not for thee!
MR.WELLS
Now shrivelled hags, with poison bags, Discharge your loathsome loads!
Spit flame and fire, unholy choir!
Belch forth your venom, toads!
Ye demons fell, with yelp and yell, Shed curses far afield--Ye fiends of night, your filthy blight In noisome plenty yield!
WELLS (pouring phial into tea-pot--flash)Number One!
CHORUS It is done!
WELLS (same business) Number Two! (flash)CHORUS One too few!
WELLSNumber Three! (flash)CHORUS Set us free!
Set us free-our work is done Ha! ha! ha!
Set us free--our course is run!
Ha! ha! ha!
ALINE AND ALEXIS (aside)
Let us fly to a far-off land, Where peace and plenty dwell--Where the sigh of the silver strand Is echoed in every shell.
CHORUS OF FIENDS.
Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!
(Stage grows light.Mr.Wells beckons villagers.Enter villagers and all the dramatis personae, dancing joyously.Mrs.Partlet and Mr.Wells then distribute tea-cups.)CHORUS.
Now to the banquet we press;
Now for the eggs, the ham;
Now for the mustard and cress, Now for the strawberry jam!
Now for the tea of our host, Now for the rollicking bun, Now for the muffin and toast, Now for the gay Sally Lunn!
WOMEN.The eggs and the ham, and the strawberry jam!
MEN.The rollicking bun, and the gay Sally Lunn!
The rollicking, rollicking bun!
RECITATIVE--SIR MARMADUKE
Be happy all--the feast is spread before ye;Fear nothing, but enjoy yourselves, I pray!
Eat, aye, and drink--be merry, I implore ye, For once let thoughtless Folly rule the day.
TEA-CUP BRINDISI
Eat, drink, and be gay, Banish all worry and sorrow, Laugh gaily to-day, Weep, if you're sorry, to-morrow!
Come, pass the cup around--
I will go bail for the liquor;
It's strong, I'll be bound, For it was brewed by the vicar!
CHORUS.
None so knowing as he At brewing a jorum of tea, Ha! ha!
A pretty stiff jorum of tea.
TRIO--WELLS, ALINE, and ALEXIS.(aside)
See--see--they drink--
All thoughts unheeding, The tea-cups clink, They are exceeding!
Their hearts will melt In half-an-hour--Then will be felt The potions power!
(During this verse Constance has brought a small tea-pot, kettle, caddy, and cosy to Dr.Daly.He makes tea scientifically.)BRINDISI, 2nd Verse--DR.DALY (with the tea-pot)Pain, trouble, and care, Misery, heart-ache, and worry, Quick, out of your lair!
Get you gone in a hurry!
Toil, sorrow, and plot, Fly away quicker and quicker--Three spoons in the pot--That is the brew of your vicar!
CHORUS
None so cunning as he At brewing a jorum of tea, Ha! ha!
A pretty stiff jorum of tea!
ENSEMBLE--ALEXIS and ALINE (aside)
Oh love, true love--unworldly, abiding!
Source of all pleasure--true fountain of joy,--Oh love, true love--divinely confiding, Exquisite treasure that knows no alloy,--Oh love, true love, rich harvest of gladness, Peace-bearing tillage--great garner of bliss,--Oh love, true love, look down on our sadness --Dwell in this village--oh, hear us in this!
(It becomes evident by the strange conduct of the characters that the charm is working.All rub their eyes, and stagger about the stage as if under the influence of a narcotic.)TUTTI (aside) ALEXIS, MR.WELLS and ALINEOh, marvellous illusion! A marvellous illusion!
Oh, terrible surprise! A terrible surprise What is this strange confusion Excites a strange confusion That veils my aching eyes? Within their aching eyes--I must regain my senses, They must regain their senses, Restoring Reason's law,Restoring Reason's law, Or fearful inferences Or fearful inferences Society will draw! Society will draw!
(Those who have partaken of the philtre struggle in vain against its effects, and, at the end of the chorus, fall insensible on the stage.)END OF ACT IACT II
Scene--Exterior of Sir Marmaduke's mansion by moonlight.All the peasantry are discovered asleep on the ground, as at the end of Act I.
Enter Mr.Wells, on tiptoe, followed by Alexis and Aline.Mr.Wells carries a dark lantern.
TRIO--ALEXIS, ALINE, and MR.WELLS
'Tis twelve, I think, And at this mystic hour The magic drink Should manifest its power.
Oh, slumbering forms, How little ye have guessed That fire that warms Each apathetic breast!
ALEX.But stay, my father is not here!
ALINE.And pray where is my mother dear?
MR.WELLS.I did not think it meet to see A dame of lengthy pedigree, A Baronet and K.C.B.
A Doctor of Divinity, And that respectable Q.C., All fast asleep, al-fresco-ly, And so I had them taken home And put to bed respectably!
I trust my conduct meets your approbation.
ALEX.Sir, you have acted with discrimination, And shown more delicate appreciation Than we expect of persons of your station.
MR.WELLS.But stay--they waken one by one --The spell has worked--the deed is done!
I would suggest that we retire While Love, the Housemaid, lights her kitchen fire!
(Exeunt Mr.Wells, Alexis and Aline, on tiptoe, as the villagers stretch their arms, yawn, rub their eyes, and sit up.)MEN.Why, where be oi, and what be oi a doin', A sleepin' out, just when the dews du rise?
GIRLS.Why, that's the very way your health to ruin, And don't seem quite respectable likewise!
MEN.(staring at girls) Eh, that's you!
Only think o' that now!
GIRLS.(coyly) What may you be at, now?
Tell me, du!
MEN.(admiringly)Eh, what a nose, And eh, what eyes, miss!
Lips like a rose, And cheeks likewise, miss!
GIRLS.(coyly) Oi tell you true, Which I've never done, sir, Oi loike you As I never loiked none, sir!
ALL.Eh, but oi du loike you!
MEN.If you'll marry me, I'll dig for you and rake for you!
GIRLS.If you'll marry be, I'll scrub for you and bake for you!
MEN.If you'll marry me, all others I'll forsake for you!