The corsair; or, the little fairy at the bottom of the sea A new Christmas burlesque and pantomime, founded upon the ballet of "Le corsair"

_Alone_ without the least _security_. _Conrad._ Enough! it shall be so--your words prevail. The best security is _power of sail_; So, to set sail at once must be our plan, The crew may follow the best way they can. _Song._--CONRAD.--_Air, “My Skiff is by the Shore.”_ My skiff is on the shore, she manned must be, By one little boy, yourself, and me; Can I call it manned, though, when of the three, One is a small boy, and another a she. Fa, la, la, &c. My skiff is on the shore--then come with me, Since here with you ’twould be all U P. [_MEDORA dances to chorus--exeunt, L._ _SERENA rises from trap, R. C._ _Serena._ So far, so good! my plans are working nicely; That’s just the sort of girl he wants precisely, Modest, sportive, happy, kind, affectionate; With heart as light as a cheap grocer’s weight. He’s half in love as ’tis--but to make sure, All sorts of dangers they shall first endure; For true love’s course, in palace, cottage, booth, Like omnibuses, never yet ran smooth; And of all plans to win a man’s affection, The surest is, to trust him for protection. To aid my plans, first, shipwrecked he shall be; When the ship sinks, all must go swimmingly-- To raise the wind, at once the seas I’ll cross, And set the waves all playing pitch and toss. _Song._--SERENA.--_Air, “Over the Sea.”_ Over the sea!--now will I flee-- Mind, it’s a secret between you and me; Soon you will see--don’t say ’twas me-- Somebody coming it strong! Even March! March! March! With his winds and rough weather, Such storm ne’er could gather: Old March! March! March! Shall confess himself beaten ere long. It’s over the sea! Over the sea! Like Mother Carey’s bird now will I flee-- Over the sea! Over the sea! Raising the wind pretty strong. [_Exit R._ SCENE III.--_A Storm at Sea, with the wreck of the Golden Mary._ _CONRAD’S vessel discovered, surrounded by the raging waters._ _CONRAD, MEDORA and SAILOR, discovered on the deck._ _Conrad._ Courage, Medora, all will yet be well; I s’pose you ne’er saw such a heavy swell? Cheer up! you’re pale--you must be ill, I’m thinking? _Medora._ No, no! I only feel a little sinking. [_Noise of ship striking._ Hark! the ship’s striking--we are lost! _Conrad._ Pooh! pooh! Who cares, if the effect is striking too, If with the public we go down to-night! _Medora._ She sinks! we’re _going down_! _Conrad._ We are? All right! [_Ship sinks. Scene closes._ SCENE IV.--_The Pirate’s Home._--_A large arch in C., with curtains closed. Music._ _Enter BIRBANTO and YUSSUF, stealthily, L._ _Yussuf._ [L.] Say, stranger. _Birb._ [R.] Hush! don’t speak,--don’t breathe--don’t wink! _Yussuf._ All slick, old coon, we see’d the critter sink In last night’s storm. _Birb._ He’s saved tho’, I’ll be bound; Men born for his fate, never can be drowned. _Yussuf._ How was it we escaped? _Birb._ Because, you see, We were not born for drowning more than he. But come, to business! where’s the cash? fork out! _Yussuf._ I’d rather have the gal back, first. _Birb._ No doubt. _Yussuf._ I’ll liquidate, safe as the bank. _Birb._ Just so; But then banks are not always safe, you know. No trust. _Yussuf._ [_Gives money._] Well, there. Now, how d’ye mean to fix him? _Birb._ A sleeping draught I’ll go at once and mix him, So strong, that if his food in it you steep, You’d even catch a weasel fast asleep. _Yussuf._ I see. So then, when he this potion drinking, Goes off like nodding, we go off like winking, And take the gal. _Birb._ [_Aside._] A rash step, p’raps, I’ve taken; I’d take a rasher, could I save my bacon, And settle him at once, clean out of hand, But that I fear the vengeance of the band. No matter, time will come. Hah! hah! _Yussuf._ I say. _Birb._ I beg your pardon. Come--away! away! [_Exit melo-dramatically, followed by YUSSUF, R._ _Music._--_The curtains in the arch, C., are raised, and discover CONRAD reclining on a couch of tiger skins, smoking a chibouque, MEDORA seated at his feet._ _Conrad._ And so your uncle sold you into slavery? The monster! _Medora._ Had it not been for your bravery---- _Conrad._ There, that’s enough; these fervent thanks withhold. _Medora._ Say, are you sure you haven’t caught a cold, Last night when struggling with the waves so cruel? Do let me make you just one drop of gruel. [_Rises._ _Conrad._ A pirate taking gruel! doubtless you Would like my feet put in hot water, too? _Medora._ I should, ’twould do you good. _Conrad._ And I suppose You’d further counsel tallowing my nose? _Medora._ ’Twould be as well. Nay, come, from laughing cease; Were you a patriot, you’d stick up for _grease_. _Conrad._ Her care for me is really charming! Come, Sit down, Medora--make yourself at home. _Medora._ Nay, I’m your slave. _Conrad._ [_Aside._] My love for her gets stronger. _Medora._ Your waiting maid. _Conrad._ Nay, you shall wait no longer. [_He rises; she dances away coquettishly, he following_--_CONRAD sings to music of dance._ _Air.--“The Fan Dance.” (Spanish.)_ Sweetest, your charms have restored me, All once bored me--_ennui_ floored me. Oh, my heart now you’ve fill’d with gladness, Away have you chased its sadness! Medora, oh! don’t say me no. Say you’ll be mine--then pray do, love! For ’tis you, love, are my true love; Oh! don’t turn away your face, dear, But do grant me one embrace, dear, You will not refuse me, I know. Come, sweet Medora--say that you’ll be mine! _BIRBANTO crawls on from R._ _Birb._ Now, how to do it--hah, the wine! the wine! [_Pours liquid from vial into CONRAD’S glass, and exit at back. MEDORA sinks into CONRAD’S arms; he kisses her._ _Conrad._ No more a slave--this liberty affords you; Your lover, not your master, looks towards you. [_Drinks_--_chord._ How’s this? a sudden drowsiness, methinks; Would you excuse me just for forty winks? [_Sleeps._ _Medora._ Sleep--I’ll hold watch, so shall no harm befall him. Holding the watch, I shall know when to call him. _Soft music.--Enter YUSSUF and BIRBANTO, stealthily, R._ _Birb._ There lies the man of mystery, dark and deep, So slow when waking--yet how fast asleep! Now is your time--quick to your task allotted. [_Gives him scarf._ _Yussuf._ Slick as greased light’ning. [_Throws scarf over MEDORA’S head._ _Birb._ Cleverly garrotted. _Medora._ [_Struggling_:] Help! Murder! _Birb._ Silence her--choke--muzzle--gag her. Or, stay--let me assist you with a dagger. _Yussuf._ No. No. _Medora._ Help! Conrad! _Yussuf._ Silence--come along! [_Drags her out, R._ _Medora._ Help! _Birb._ [_Calling after him._] Get a pitch-plaster and pitch it strong. _Enter CORSAIRS, L._ _1st Cors._ What noise was that? A cry for help we heard-- _Birb._ [_Aside._] So just in time--[_aloud_]--a cry--pooh! pooh! absurd! _2d Cors._ I’m sure I heard a voice for aid imploring-- _Birb._ Pshaw! you’re mistaken--’twas our captain snoring. _1st Cors._ [_Seeing CONRAD._] Conrad asleep! _Birb._ Yes, that’s a pretty way For a great pirate chief to pass the day! Hear me, my friends--our captain is a do. _1st Cors._ How? _Birb._ Not the leader for brave men like you. _1st Cors._ Nay, have a care how Conrad you abuse-- _Birb._ A spooney humbug--always in the blues-- Pining and sighing-- _2d Cors._ Well, that’s true enough-- He is too sentimental. _Birb._ He’s a muff! Not fit to be our leader. _1st Cors._ P’raps you’re right. _Birb._ Didn’t he leave us all on shore, last night, To get home as we could? _2d Cors._ That was a fault. _Birb._ Let’s give him pepper--he’s not worth his salt. _Corsairs._ We will--we will. _Birb._ Said like brave men and true! You mean, though, what you say? _Corsairs._ We do--we do. _Birb._ One blow and we are free--we then can take Another leader--come-- [_Music._--_They approach CONRAD, with daggers raised. The Scene opens and SERENA appears behind._ _Serena._ Wake, Conrad, wake. _Conrad._ [_Starts up._] Methought I heard a voice cry, sleep no more-- [_Sees CORSAIRS._ Halloa! [_They slink away._] Here, stop! don’t go. Ho! guard the door. This looks like a rebellion, eh, my men? [_CORSAIRS kneel._ _1st Cors._ [L.] Pardon us, mighty Conrad. _Birb._ [_Aside, R._] Sold again! _2d Cors._ It was Birbanto, here, that drove us to it. _Birb._ Pardon, great chief, I didn’t go to do it. _Conrad._ Kneel, traitor! _Birb._ [_Kneeling._] Can you, then, forgive? _Conrad._ Ne’er doubt it. [_Throws money amongst them._ Go drink my health, and say no more about it. _All._ Long live great Conrad. Hip! hip! hip! hurrah! [_Exeunt CORSAIRS, L._