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[Illustration: CASTLE OF ANDALUSIA
PEDRILLO--OH! YOU MOST BEAUTIFUL GODDESS.
ACT II. SCENE I.
PAINTED BY SINGLETON. PUBLISH'D BY LONGMAN & CO. ENGRAVED BY C. WARREN.
1807.]
THE CASTLE OF ANDALUSIA;
A COMIC OPERA, IN THREE ACTS;
By JOHN O'KEEFFE, Esq.
AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN.
PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS FROM THE PROMPT BOOK.
WITH REMARKS BY MRS. INCHBALD.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN,
PATERNOSTER-ROW.
EDINBURGH:
Printed by James Ballantyne & Co.
REMARKS.
A reader must be acquainted with O'Keeffe on the stage to admire him in
the closet. Yet he is entitled to more praise, in being the original
author of a certain species of drama, made up of whim and frolic than
numberless retailers of wit and sentiment with whom that class of
readers are charmed, who are not in the habit of detecting plagiarism.
From Operas, since the Beggar's Opera, little has been required by the
town except music and broad humour. The first delights the elegant, the
second the inelegant part of an audience; by which means all parties
are gratified.
Had O'Keeffe written less, his reputation would have stood higher with
the public; and so would that of many an author beside himself: but
when a man makes writing his only profession--industry, and prudent
forecast for the morrow, will often stimulate him to produce, with
heavy heart, that composition which his own judgment condemns. Yet
is he compelled to bear the critic's censure, as one whom vanity has
incited to send forth crude thoughts with his entire good will, and
perfect security as to the high value they will have with the world.
Let it be known to the world, that more than half the authors who come
before them thus apparently bold and self-approved, are perhaps sinking
under the shame of their puerile works, and discerning in them more
faults, from closer attention and laudable timidity, than the most
severe of their censurers can point out.
These observations might be some apology for this Opera, if it required
any. But it has pleased so well in representation, that its deserts as
an exhibition are acknowledged; and if in reading there should appear
something of too much intricacy in the plot, or of improbability in the
events, the author must be supposed to have seen those faults himself;
though want of time, or, most likely, greater reliance upon the power
of music than upon his own labour, impelled him gladly to spare the
one, in reverence to the other.
The songs have great comic effect on the stage; particularly those by
some of the male characters: and the mistakes which arise from the
impositions of Spado are highly risible.
As the reader, to form a just judgment on "The Castle of Andalusia,"
should see it acted; so the auditor, to be equally just, must read it.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
DON FERNANDO _Mr. Johnstone._
SPADO _Mr. Munden._
PEDRILLO _Mr. Fawcett._
DON CAESAR _Mr. Townsend._
DON SCIPIO _Mr. Emery._
PHILIPPO _Mr. King._
RAPINO _Mr. Abbot._
CALVETTE _Mr. Atkins._
VASQUEZ _Mr. Klanert._
DON JUAN _Mr. Davenport._
DON ALPHONSO _Mr. Braham._
VICTORIA _Mrs. Atkins._
CATILINA _Mrs. Mills._
ISABELLA _Mrs. Powell._
LORENZA _Signora Storace._
BANDITTI, SERVANTS, _&c._
_SCENE,--Spain._
THE CASTLE OF ANDALUSIA.
* * * * *
ACT THE FIRST.
SCENE I.
_A Cavern with winding Stairs, and recesses cut in the Rock; a
large Lamp hanging in the Centre; a Table, Wine, Fruits, &c. in
disorder.--At the Head DON CAESAR; on each Side SPADO, SANGUINO,
RAPINO, and others of the Banditti._
AIR I. AND CHORUS.
Don Caesar. _Here we sons of freedom dwell,_
_In our friendly, rock-hewn cell;_
_Pleasure's dictates we obey,_
_Nature points us out the way,_
_Ever social, great and free,_
_Valour guards our liberty._
AIR.
Don Caesar. _Of severe and partial laws,_
_Venal judges, Alguazils;_
_Dreary dungeons' iron jaws,_
_Oar and gibbet--whips or wheels,_
_Let's never think_
_While thus me drink_
_Sweet Muscadine_!
_O life divine!_
Chorus.--_Here we sons of freedom dwell_, &c.
_Don Caesar._ Come, cavaliers, our carbines are loaded, our hearts are
light: charge your glasses, Bacchus gives the word, and a volley makes
us immortal as the rosy god.--Fire!
_Spado._ Ay, captain, this is noble firing--Oh, I love a volley of
grape-shot.--Are we to have any sky-light in our cave?
[_Looking at SANGUINO's Glass._
_Don Caesar._ Oh, no! a brimmer round.--Come, a good booty to us
to-night.
[_All drink._
_Spado._ Booty! Oh, I love to rob a fat priest.--Stand, says I, and
then I knock him down.
_Sang._ My nose bleeds. [_Looks at his Handkerchief._] I wonder what
colour is a coward's blood?
_Spado._ Don't you see it's red?
_Sang._ Ha! call me coward, [_Rises in fury._] sirrah? Captain!
cavaliers!--But this scar on my forehead contradicts the miscreant.
_Spado._ Scar on your forehead!--Ay, you will look behind you, when you
run away.
_Sang._ I'll stab the villain--[_Draws Stilletto._]--I will, by Heaven.
_Don Caesar._ Pho, Sanguino! you know when a jest offers, Spado regards
neither time, place, nor person.
_All._ [_Interposing._] Don't hurt little Spado.
_Spado._ [_Hiding behind._] No, don't hurt little Spado.
_Sang._ Run away! Armies have confessed my valour: the time has
been--but no matter.
[_Sits._
_Don Caesar._ Come, away with reflection on the past, or care for the
future; the present is the golden moment of possession.--Let us enjoy
it.
_All._ Ay, ay, let us enjoy it.
_Don Caesar._ You know, cavaliers, when I entered into this noble
fraternity, I boasted only of a little courage sharpened by necessity,
the result of my youthful follies, a father's severity, and the malice
of a good-natured dame.
_Spado._ Captain, here's a speedy walk-off to old women.
_All._ [_Drink_] Ha! ha! ha! ha!
_Don Caesar._ When you did me the honour to elect me your captain, two
conditions I stipulated:----Though at war with the world abroad, unity
and social mirth should preside over our little commonwealth at home.
_Spado._ Yes, but Sanguino's for no head--he'll have ours a commonwealth
of fists and elbows.
_Don Caesar._ The other, unless to preserve your own lives, never
commit a murder.
_Spado._ I murdered since that----a bishop's coach-horse.
_All._ Ha! ha! ha!
_Don Caesar._ Hand me that red wine.
AIR II.--DON CAESAR.
_Flow, thou regal purple stream,_
_Tinctur'd by the solar beam,_
_In my goblet sparkling rise,_
_Cheer my heart and glad my eyes._
_My brain ascend on fancy's wing,_
_'Noint me, wine, a jovial king._
_While I live, I'll lave my clay,_
_When I'm dead and gone away,_
_Let my thirsty subjects say,_
_A month he reign'd, but that was May._
[_Thunder._]
_Don Caesar._ Hark, how distinct we hear the thunder through this vast
body of earth and rock.--Rapino, is Calvette above, upon his post?
_Rap._ Yes.
_Don Caesar._ Spado, 'tis your business to relieve the centinel.
_Spado._ Relieve! what's the matter with him?
_Don Caesar._ Come, come, no jesting with duty--'tis your watch.
_Spado._ Let the wolves watch for me--my duty is to get supper
ready.--[_Thunder._]--Go up! Od's fire, do you think I'm a
Salamander?--D'ye hear?
_Sang._ No sport, I fear.
_Don Caesar._ Then call Calvette, lock down the trap-door, and get us
some more wine from the cistern.
_Spado._ Wine! Ay, captain; and this being a night of peace, we'll have
a dish of olives.
_Sang._ No, peace! we'll up and scour the forest presently. But well
thought on; a rich old fellow, one Don Scipio, has lately come to
reside in the castle on the skirts of the forest--what say you to
plunder there?
_Don Caesar._ Not to-night--I know my time--I have my reasons--I shall
give command on that business. But where's the stranger we brought in
at our last excursion?
_Rap._ He reposes in yonder recess.
_Spado._ Ay, egad, there he lies, with a face as innocent--[_Aside._]--If
my fellow-rooks would but fly off, I'd have the pigeon here within all
to myself.
_Cal._ [_Appears at the Top of the winding Stairs, with a Lanthorn._]
A booty.
_Sang._ Good news, cavaliers; here comes Calvette.
_Cal._ A booty!
_Sang._ What! where?
_Cal._ Soft--but one man!
_Sang._ But one man! Is he alone?
_Cal._ Quite.
_Spado._ One man, and alone--that's odd!
_Cal._ He seems in years, but his habit, as well as I could
distinguish, speaks him noble.
[_Descends._
_Don Caesar._ Then he'll fight.--My arms!
_Spado._ Oh, he'll fight--get my arms; no, my legs will do for me.
[_Aside._
_Sang._ Come, my carbine--quick!
_Don Caesar._ To the attack of one man--paltry! Only you, Calvette,
Sanguino, Rapino, and Spado go; the rest prepare for our general
excursion.
_Spado._ Captain, don't send me; indeed I'm too rash!
_Don Caesar._ Come, come, leave buffoonery, and to your duty.
[_CALVETTE and RAPINO ascend; the rest go in at several
Recesses; SPADO, the last, ascends up slowly._
_Enter DON ALPHONSO._
_Don Alph._ I find myself somewhat refreshed by my slumber; at such a
time to fall into the hands of these ruffians, how unlucky! I'm pent up
here; my rival, Fernando, once my friend, reaches Don Scipio's castle,
weds my charming Victoria, and I lose her for ever; but if I could
secure an interview, love should plead my cause.
AIR III.--DON ALPHONSO.
_The hardy sailor braves the ocean,_
_Fearless of the roaring wind;_
_Yet his heart, with soft emotion,_
_Throbs to leave his love behind._
_To dread of foreign foes a stranger,_
_Tho' the youth can dauntless roam,_
_Alarming fears paint every danger_
_In a rival, left at home._
_SPADO returns down the Stairs._
_Spado._ [_Aside._] Now for some talk with our prisoner here--Stay, are
they all out of ear-shot? How the poor bird sings in its cage! I know
more of his affairs than he thinks of, by overhearing his conversation
at the inn at Lorca.
_Don Alph._ How shall I escape from these rascals? Oh, here is one of
the gentlemen. Pray, sir, may I take the liberty--
_Spado._ No liberty for you.--Yet upon certain conditions, indeed--give
me your hand.
_Don Alph._ [_Aside._] Impudent scoundrel!
_Spado._ Signor, I wish to serve you--and serve you I will; but I must
know the channel, before I make for the coast; therefore, to examine
you with the pious severity of an holy inquisitor, who the devil are
you?
_Don Alph._ A pious adjuration truly!--[_Aside._]--Sir, my name is
Alphonso, and I am son of a banker at Madrid.
_Spado._ Banker! Oh! I thought he sung like a young goldfinch.
_Don Alph._ Perhaps, by trusting this fellow, I may make my escape.
[_Aside._
_Spado._ I'll convince him I know his secrets, and then I hold his
purse-strings.
_Don Alph._ You won't betray me?
_Spado._ Honour among thieves.
_Don Alph._ Then you must know, when your gang attacked me yesterday
evening--
_Spado._ You were posting full gallop to Don Scipio's castle, on the
confines of the forest here.
_Don Alph._ Hey! then perhaps you know my passion for--
_Spado._ Donna Victoria, his daughter.
_Don Alph._ Then you know that she's contracted--
_Spado._ To your friend Don Fernando de Zelva, who is now on his
journey to the castle, and, to the destruction of your hopes, weds the
lady on his arrival.
_Don Alph._ True, while I am pent up in this cursed cavern; but how you
got my story, I----
_Spado._ No matter! I could let you out of this cursed cavern.
_Don Alph._ And will you?
_Spado._ Ah, our trap-door above requires a golden key.
_Don Alph._ Your comrades have not left me a piastre.
_Spado._ Will you give me an order on your father's bank for fifty
pieces, and I'll let you out?
_Don Alph._ You shall have it.
_Spado._ A bargain. I'll secure your escape.
_Enter DON CAESAR, behind._
_Don Caesar._ How's this?
_Spado._ Zounds, the captain Ramirez! [_Aside._]--Ay, you dog, I'll
secure you for an escape! Do you think I'd set you at liberty without
the captain's orders? Betray my trust for a bribe! What the devil do
you take me for? [_In a seeming rage._] Oh, captain, I did not see you.
_Don Caesar._ What's the matter?
_Spado._ Nothing, only our prisoner here was mistaken in his man--that's
all. Let you escape, indeed!
_Don Alph._ Here's a rascal!
_Spado._ Rascal! D'ye hear him? He has been abusing me this half hour,
because I would not convey him out without your knowledge. Oh, what
offers he did make me! but my integrity is proof against Gallions,
Escurials, Perus, and Mexicos.
_Don Caesar._ Begone instantly to your comrades. [_SPADO ascends._]
Signor, no occasion to tamper with my companions; you shall owe your
liberty to none but me. I'll convey you to the cottage of the vines,
belonging to the peasant Philippo, not far from Don Scipio's castle;
there you may rest in safety to-night, and--
_Don Alph._ Ah, captain! no rest for me.
_Don Caesar._ Look ye, signor, I am a ruffian, perhaps worse, but venture
to trust me.--A picklock may be used to get to a treasure--don't wish
to know more of me than I now chuse to tell you; but, if your mistress
loves you as well as you seem to love her, to-morrow night she's yours.
_Don Alph._ My good friend!
_Don Caesar._ Now for Philippo--I don't suppose you wish to see any of
our work above--ha! ha! ha!--Well, well, I was once a lover, but now--
AIR IV.--DON CAESAR.
_On by the spur of valour goaded,_
_Pistols primed, and carbines loaded,_
_Courage strikes on hearts of steel;_
_While each spark,_
_Through the dark_
_Gloom of night,_
_Lends a clear and cheering light,_
_Who a fear or doubt can feel?_
_Like serpents now, through thickets creeping,_
_Then on our prey, like lions, leaping!_
_Calvette to the onset leads us,_
_Let the wand'ring trav'ler dread us!_
_Struck with terror and amaze,_
_While our swords with lightning blaze._
[Thunder.
_Thunder to our carbines roaring,_
_Bursting clouds in torrents pouring,_
_Each a free and roving blade,_
_Ours a free and roving trade,_
_To the onset let's away,_
_Valour calls, and we obey._
[Exeunt.