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._
_Birb._ [_Aside._] Defeated, foiled--no matter--hah! hah! hah!
[_Exit BIRBANTO, L._
_Serena._ [_Advances R._] Bravely done, Conrad, this great generosity.
_Conrad._ Beg pardon! you’ll excuse my curiosity--
But whom have I the honor to address?
_Serena._ [R.] I am a fairy.
_Conrad._ You then saved me?
_Serena._ [C.] Yes.
_Conrad._ Speak! where’s my love--my Venus--my Medora?
_Serena._ Your Venus! nay, prepare to meet a _floorer_!
She’s gone!
_Conrad._ Gone?
_Serena._ Nay, don’t start; yet p’raps you’d better,
And start at once, if back you hope to get her.
_Conrad._ Tell me, where shall I seek my priceless treasure?
_Serena._ Promise me one thing first.
_Conrad._ I do with pleasure.
What is it?
_Serena._ That when you’ve regained this maid,
You will retire from the Corsair trade;
Marry, and live respectably.
_Conrad._ Agreed!
I’ve long been weary of the life I lead--
So I’ll reform.
_Serena._ This is indeed felicity!
_Conrad._ Turn steady, and go in for domesticity:
Stand for churchwarden, and the vestry sit on;
Aye, and pay rates and taxes like a Briton.
_Duet._--_Air, “Home, sweet Home.”_
_Serena._ All pleasures are fallacies for those who roam;
Howe’er folks may grumble, there’s no place like
home.
_Conrad._ Tho’ duns may come daily--tho’ poor’s rates may
call--
Give me them and the butcher’s bill dearer than all.
_Serena._ Home, home, sweet home, }
There’s no place like home; }
Whoever deny it, there’s no place }
like home. }
} [_Together._]
_Conrad._ Home, home, sweet home, }
A slow place is home; }
However, I’ll try it, and go in }
for home. }
_Both._ Farewell! Farewell! [_SERENA sinks, R. C._
_Song._--CONRAD.--_Air, “My Mary Ann.”_
Fare you well, my own Mary Ann,
Or whatever your name may be;
These fairies seldom give their names,
And so I christen she, “Mary Ann.”
Let me once more see my own turtle-dove,
I’ll keep my word with you;
Excuse me if I’ve named you wrong,
And still assist me, do, Mary Ann.
Fare you well, my own Mary Ann, &c.
[_Exit, R._