Scene I.
—A romantic Dell in the Island.—An assemblage
of Fairies with staves in their hands, and bits of ribbons round
their arms, à la Special Constables.
CHORUS.
Tune—“The King of the Cannibal Islands.”
In blithe attendance here we wait
Upon our mighty Lord so great,
That most illustrious potentate,
The King of the Magical Island.
At his command me take up sticks,
And thus in martial phalanx fix,
Prepared to play all sorts of tricks—
As vulgar people say—like bricks!
No matter how soon our tasks begin,
Though we don't know why we've been sworn in;
But what's the odds if the thanks we win
Of the King of the Magical Island?
[Dance to the music of chorus, the Fairies knocking their staves together.
1st F.
I wonder now what this is all about;
They've sworn us in, and also called us out;
But what's it for? Can any one explain
Why we have thus been put in special train?
2nd F.
I can't for one—to me 'tis most mysterious;
This staff appointment, though, looks rather serious.
It scarcely suits my notions of propriety,
Being a member of the Peace Society.
-- 6 --
3rd F.
Nor mine. I rather fear our destined course
Is not consistent with a moral force
Like ours—
4th F.
Have a little patience, pray.
Just wait till Ariel comes, when, I dare say,
He'll tell us everything.
(Music. Ariel appears.)
Well, that is rum;
Talk of the—you know who—he's sure to come.
[Fairies flock round Ariel.
1st F.
Well, Ariel. What's the row?
2nd F.
Ah! what's the matter?
3rd F.
What's up?
4th F.
What's happened?
Ari.
Cease this dreadful clatter.
Silence, I say—attention!
(All drop their staves.)
Stand at ease?
I can't have “cries to question” such as these.
Attend to me!
Fairies.
Order! Hear, hear! Bravo.
Ari.
Can't you be quiet? Listen now, and know
Your duties for the day.—You'll find them various.
You'll have to deal with schemes the most nefarious—
Tasks the most arduous too—but never mind;
Your first job's this—you'll have to raise the wind.
1st F.
And that's no easy job to do, at any rate.
How shall we do it? Add an eighteen-penny rate
Unto the taxes?
Ari.
Silence! you this day
Must rule the weather—make the gulf o-bey;
Make the white surf your slave; seize on the seas—
1st F.
To keep the peace?
Ari.
No; to kick up a breeze.
Blow up the winds; let not a breath be idle;
Hurry the hurricane: the rain unbridle;
Let all the light be shut off from the main,
And o'er the ocean let commotion reign.
Each ship to miss its proper sailing cause,
And so repeal all Navigation Laws.
With waves and waverings assail all sailors,
And play the what's-his-name among the tailors.
2nd F.
But what's it for that restlessly we wrestle
With storms and tempests?
Ari.
Just to sink a vessel;
That's all—some friends our master does expect,
Whose ship must sink, that they may come di-rect.
But now be off—you know your first task,—mind,
Use all your skill—there's much more left behind.
-- 7 --
None must be free from work till this is ended—
“The free list is entirely suspended!”
Come now, away! come storms, come shipwrecks, leaks!
Come, Boreas, come! Blow winds and crack your cheeks!
[Exeunt. Stage becomes gradually dark. Thunder, lightning, rain, wind, &c.
Robert Barnabas Brough [1848], The enchanted isle; or, “Raising the wind” on the most approved principles: a drama without the smallest claim to legitamacy, consistency, probability, or anything else but absurdity; in which will be found much that is unaccountably coincident with Shakspere's “Tempest.” by the brothers Brough. As first performed at the Theatre Royal, Adelphi. Correctly printed from the prompter's copy, with the cast of characters, scenic arrangement, sides of entrance and exit, and relative positions of the dramatis personæ. Splendidly illustrated with an engraving by Mr. Brewer, Taken during the Representation of the Piece (Published at the National Acting Drama Office [etc.], London) [word count] [S40900].
