Part 15 (1/2)

Sir Christ_.

And me! [_Kneels.]”

_Puff_. Now pray altogether.

”_All_.

Behold thy votaries submissive beg, That thou wilt deign to grant them all they ask; a.s.sist them to accomplish all their ends, And sanctify whatever means they use To gain them!”

_Sneer_. A very orthodox quintetto!

_Puff_. Vastly well, gentlemen!--Is that well managed or not? Have you such a prayer as that on the stage?

_Sneer_. Not exactly.

_Leic._ [_To_ PUFF.] But, sir, you haven't settled how we are to get off here.

_Puff_. You could not go off kneeling, could you?

_Sir Walt._ [_To_ PUFF.] O no, sir; impossible!

_Puff_. It would have a good effect i'faith, if you could exeunt praying!--Yes, and would vary the established mode of springing off with a glance at the pit.

_Sneer_. Oh, never mind, so as you get them off!--I'll answer for it, the audience won't care how.

_Puff_. Well, then, repeat the last line standing, and go off the old way.

”_All_. And sanctify whatever means we use To gain them.

[_Exeunt_.]”

_Dang_. Bravo! a fine exit.

_Sneer_. Well, really, Mr. Puff-- _Puff_. Stay a moment!

”_The_ SENTINELS _get up.

_1 Sent_. All this shall to Lord Burleigh's ear.

_2 Sent_. 'Tis meet it should. [_Exeunt_.]”

_Dang_. Hey!--why, I thought those fellows had been asleep?

_Puff_. Only a pretence; there's the art of it: they were spies of Lord Burleigh's.

_Sneer_. But isn't it odd they never were taken notice of, not even by the commander-in-chief?

_Puff_. O Lud, sir! if people who want to listen, or overhear, were not always connived at in a tragedy, there would be no carrying on any plot in the world.

_Dang_. That's certain.

_Puff_. But take care, my dear Dangle! the morning gun is going to fire. [_Cannon fires_.]

_Dang_. Well, that will have a fine effect!

_Puff_. I think so, and helps to realize the scene.-- [_Cannon twice_.] What the plague! three morning guns! there never is but one!--Ay, this is always the way at the theatre: give these fellows a good thing, and they never know when to have done with it.--You have no more cannon to fire?

_Und. Promp_. [_Within_.] No, sir.

_Puff_. Now, then, for soft music.

_Sneer_. Pray, what's that for?

_Puff_. It shows that Tilburina is coming!--nothing introduces you a heroine like soft music. Here she comes!

_Dang_. And her confidant, I suppose?

_Puff_. To be sure! Here they are--inconsolable to the minuet in Ariadne! [Soft music.]

”_Enter_ TILNURINA _and_ CONFIDANT.

_Tilb_.

Now has the whispering breath of gentle morn Bid Nature's voice and Nature's beauty rise; While orient Phoebus, with unborrow'd hues, Clothes the waked loveliness which all night slept In heavenly drapery I Darkness is fled.

Now flowers unfold their beauties to the sun, And, blus.h.i.+ng, kiss the beam he sends to wake them-- The striped carnation, and the guarded rose, The vulgar wallflower, and smart gillyflower, The polyanthus mean--the dapper daisy, Sweet-William, and sweet marjoram--and all The tribe of single and of double pinks!

Now, too, the feather'd warblers tune their notes Around, and charm the listening grove. The lark!

The linnet! chaffinch! bullfinch! goldfinch! greenfinch!

But O, to me no joy can they afford!

Nor rose, nor wallflower, nor smart gillyflower, Nor polyanthus mean, nor dapper daisy, Nor William sweet, nor marjoram--nor lark, Linnet nor all the finches of the grove!”

_Puff_. Your white handkerchief, madam!-- _Tilb_. I thought, sir, I wasn't to use that till _heart-rending woe_.

_Puff_. O yes, madam, at _the finches of the grove_, if you please.