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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"

William Brough

Wine for ten thousand--music for the million. [_Exeunt SYNG SMAUL and GUARDS, L._ _Pasha._ And you, dear, go remove your veil. _Gul._ I will! Come, girls. [_Exeunt GULNARE and LADIES, R._ _Pasha._ Now, how the weary time to kill? She’ll be at least an hour and a quarter. She comes! _Enter MEDORA, R._ Holloa! it strikes me she’s grown shorter! _Medora._ What! wonder if my head less high is carried? Folks always _settle down_ when they get married. _Pasha._ Come to my arms. [_MEDORA runs towards him and stops, frightened._ You shun them? _Medora._ Nay, my fright Was at your weapons--not your arms. [_Takes pistols from his belt._ That’s right. Say, are they loaded? _Pasha._ Powdered, balled, and capped. _Medora._ Good gracious! [_Lays them down at window._--_Aside._ Now, I think you’re nicely trapped. [_She dances playfully round him, he follows with his hands raised supplicatingly._ _Medora._ Oh, what an attitude! stay, keep them so. [_Takes a scarf from her waist and ties them, he laughing._ Beautiful, charming! Hah! he’s there! [_CONRAD appears at window, L._ _Pasha._ Holloa! Guards! treason! _Medora._ [_Catching up pistols._] Peace! another word, you die! _Conrad._ Medora! quick! come, by this window fly! Say, can you squeeze these narrow bars between? _Medora._ I can. _Conrad._ Oh, joy! she wears no crinoline. [_MEDORA gets through window._ _Pasha._ One word, one question! _Medora._ Well? _Pasha._ That pistol, drop it. _Medora._ Is that the question? peace, then, or I’ll pop it. [_They disappear._--_The PASHA goes to the window._--_A pistol is discharged without._ _Pasha._ Gone!--treason!--murder!--help! My guards, what ho! _GUARDS rush in, L. 1 E., GULNARE and LADIES, R._ _Gul._ What means this cry? _Pasha._ My bride has fled. _Gul._ Not so; Here stands your bride. _Pasha._ ’Tis false! _Gul._ This ring behold! Ladies, salute your queen. _Pasha._ Done! swindled! sold! [_Falls into the arms of SYNG SMAUL._--_LADIES kneel to_ GULNARE. _Tableau_--_closed in._ SCENE VII.--_A Wood._ _SERENA and SUBMARINA rise through traps, R. and L._ _Sub._ Good night, Serena, how d’ye do? _Serena._ Why who On earth would ever dream of seeing you? _Sub._ Why not? _Serena._ I mean the sea’s your proper berth. So ask who’d dream of seeing you on earth? _Sub._ I’ve come to seek you. _Serena._ What for, may I ask? _Sub._ To know how you’re progressing with your task. Have you cured Conrad yet? _Serena._ Well, very nearly. _Sub._ Your month expires to-morrow. _Serena._ Does it, really? To-night then must decide--but see--he’s here! Let us retire. _Music._--_Enter CONRAD, supporting MEDORA, L._ _Conrad._ Come, come, Medora dear; Rest here, I’ll call for help. _Medora._ ’Twould be no good, To holloa, till we’re quite out of the wood. _Conrad._ Could I but find the path, we’d soon get home; The way to Greece, should be our way to _roam_. Had I a compass, we’d know how to steer. _Medora._ Without the needle, we’re sewed up, that’s clear; But still, I always thought you roving tars, To find your way, oft had to thank your stars. _Conrad._ In this thick wood, my science is at fault, I cannot see them! Come, let’s on, though. _Enter BIRBANTO, with CORSAIRS, R._ _Birb._ Halt! So, then, we’ve met; at last my turn arrives. _Medora._ [_Kneeling._] Mercy! Take all we have, but spare our lives. _Conrad._ Medora, rise! Speak, friends--why this hostility? _Birb._ You are accused---- _Medora._ Of what? _Birb._ Respectability! _Conrad._ You’ve heard of it, then? _Birb._ Yes, and they have picked out Another leader, _vice_ Conrad, kicked out. _Conrad._ And may I ask, who my late post now fills? _Birb._ His name’s Birbanto, on the Grampian Hills---- _Conrad._ Indeed! I wish you joy.--Come. [_Taking MEDORA’S arm_ _Birb._ Not so fast! Secure them. _Conrad._ How? _Medora._ Help! help! _Enter SYNG SMAUL and GUARDS, L._ _Syng._ So caught at last. Yield, all of you. _Birb._ Come, my lads, ho! strike for freedom! You won’t? _Conrad._ [_Laughing._] Not they, they’ve not got me to lead ’em. _1st Cors._ Resume your post, and save us, we implore. _2d Cors._ Do, sir; we’ll never disobey you more. _Birb._ Cowards! _Conrad._ Resume my post--’tis a temptation. _Medora._ Oh, no! think of your vows of reformation, For my sake! _SERENA appears, watching him with anxiety._ _Conrad._ True! I’ll keep them, love, with pleasure, Sirs, my reform must be a final measure. _Serena._ He’s saved! _Syng._ No more discussion. March--yet stay-- What’s that? Another prisoner comes this way _Enter YUSSUF chained_--_two GUARDS following, L._ _Yussuf._ [_Sings._] Why did Medora sell me? Through her these woes befel me. Why did Medora sell me, And bolt on her wedding day? _Medora._ My uncle, and in chains! _Yussuf._ False critter, see These fixins. You ’twas forged these bonds for me. _Medora._ I am no forger, sir. _Conrad._ Cease this debate-- We’ve heard too much of _forging bonds_ of late. _Syng._ Now, guards, conduct your prisoners to their gaol. _Serena._ [_Advances._] Hold! for this couple, sir, I put in bail. _Conrad._ Halloa! my friend, the fairy. _Serena._ Yes, the friend Of all who, like you, strive their ways to mend. You’ve kept your word--with freedom I requite you. And to the Peri’s home to sup, invite you. _Medora._ Oh, joy. [_CONRAD and MEDORA embrace._ _Serena._ The rest must undergo their sentence. _Birb._ Hold on! I see there’s nothing like repentance-- So I’ll turn steady, too. _Serena._ You settle down? _Birb._ I’ll start a public company in town; Turn a strict man of business--try stock-jobbery On the Exchange! My cry--exchange no robbery. _Song and Chorus._--_AIR, “One Bumper at Parting._” _Birb._ A company starting, though many Have tried it and found it no go; I’ll endeavor at turning a penny, We won’t say if honest, or no. _Yussuf._ Guess I’m mortal sick of slave driving, Respectable dodges pay best; So if this here company’s thriving. I’m there like a shot, with the rest. _Conrad._ A real model husband I mean to be; All my used-up-ishness past, I forswear, since the world I have seen to be Not quite so worthless at last, One favor I’d ask, do not spurn it, your Aid, I’m quite strange to it yet-- Do you know a good place to buy furniture. Or a snug cottage to let? _Enter PASHA and GULNARE, R._ _Pasha._ Here, stop, I intend, by the wig o’ me, In this improvement to share, Henceforward renouncing polygamy, Stick to my own dear Gulnare. _Gul._ New hopes in my breast do you kindle; I’ll make you the happiest of men; Having gained all I wished by one swindle, I’ll never deceive you again. _Serena._ Kind friends, in this great reform movement, No share for yourselves will you find, In your case there’s no room for improvement; But be--as you ever were--kind. And now for the home of the Peri-- Bright scenes, where we’re bidden to sup; But, remember, the brightest look dreary, Unless by your smiles lighted up. [_Repeat last verse in chorus._ _The scene opens and discovers_ SCENE VIII.--_The Home of the Peri and Golden Gates of the Gardens of Perennial Spring._ _SUBMARINA appears, and the usual transformation of the characters takes place--Two Clowns, Harlequin, Pantaloon, three whalebone sprites, and two Columbines._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Largest, Cheapest, and Best Magazine in the World! THE New York Journal OF ROMANCE, LITERATURE AND ART. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. Having purchased the well known NEW YORK JOURNAL, the present proprietor will CONTINUE IT PERMANENTLY, and will hereafter issue it with such a liberal regard to its improvement in every branch of LITERATURE and ILLUSTRATION, as shall make it unsurpassed, in point of ATTRACTIVENESS and REAL VALUE, by any other Journal or Magazine. The NEW YORK JOURNAL WILL APPEAR PUNCTUALLY! In size, a large quarto, each number will contain sixty-four pages, three columns wide. 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