Chapter 103
I go to meet my own In trembling fear!
If o'er us aught of ill Should cast a shade, It was my darling's will, And I obeyed!
(As Aline is going off, she meets Dr. Daly, entering pensively. He is playing on a flageolet. Under the influence of the spell she at once becomes strangely fascinated by him, and exhibits every symptom of being hopelessly in love with him.)
SONG--DR. DALY
Oh, my voice is sad and low And with timid step I go-- For with load of love o'er laden I enquire of every maiden, "Will you wed me, little lady?
Will you share my cottage shady?"
Little lady answers "No!
Thank you for your kindly proffer-- Good your heart, and full your coffer; Yet I must decline your offer-- I'm engaged to So-and-so!"
So-and-so!
So-and-so! (flageolet solo) She's engaged to So-and-so!
What a rogue young hearts to pillage; What a worker on Love's tillage!
Every maiden in the village Is engage to So-and-so!
So-and-so!
So-and-so! (flageolet solo) All engaged to So-and-so!
(At the end of the song Dr. Daly sees Aline, and, under the influence of the potion, falls in love with her.)
ENSEMBLE--ALINE and DR. DALY.
Oh, joyous boon! oh, mad delight; Oh, sun and moon! oh, day and night!
Rejoice, rejoice with me!
Proclaim our joy, ye birds above-- Yet brooklets, murmur forth our love, In choral ecstasy: ALINE. Oh, joyous boon!
DR. D. Oh, mad delight!
ALINE. Oh, sun and moon!
DR. D. Oh, day and night!
BOTH. Ye birds, and brooks, and fruitful trees, With choral joy, delight the breeze-- Rejoice, rejoice with me!
Enter Alexis
ALEXIS (with rapture). Aline my only love, my happiness!
The philtre--you have tasted it?
ALINE (with confusion). Yes! Yes!
ALEXIS Oh, joy, mine, mine for ever, and for aye!
(Embraces her.) ALINE Alexis, don't do that--you must not!
(Dr. Daly interposes between them)
ALEXIS (amazed). Why?
DUET--ALINE and DR. DALY
ALINE. Alas! that lovers thus should meet: Oh, pity, pity me!
Oh, charge me not with cold deceit; Oh, pity, pity me!
You bade me drink--with trembling awe I drank, and, by the potion's law, I loved
Oh, pity, pity, me!
DR. D. My dear young friend, consoled be-- We pity, pity you.
In this I'm not an agent free-- We pity, pity you.
Some most extraordinary spell O'er us has cast its magic fell-- The consequence I need not tell.
We pity, pit you.
ENSEMBLE
Some most extraordinary spell O'er (us/them) has cast its magic fell-- The consequence (we/they) need not tell.
(We/They) pity, pity (thee!/me).
ALEXIS (furiously) False one, begone--I spurn thee, To thy new lover turn thee!
Thy perfidy all men shall know, ALINE. (wildly) I could not help it!
ALEXIS (calling off) Come one, come all!
DR. D. We could not help it!
ALEXIS (calling off) Obey my call!
ALINE (wildly) I could not help it!
ALEXIS (calling off) Come hither, run!
DR. D. We could not help it!
ALEXIS (calling off) Come, every one!
Enter all the characters except Lady Sangazure and Mr. Wells
CHORUS
Oh, what is the matter, and what is the clatter?
He's glowering at her, and threatens a blow!
Oh, why does he batter the girl he did flatter?
And why does the latter recoil from him so?
RECITATIVE--ALEXIS
Prepare for sad surprises-- My love Aline despises!
No thought of sorrow shames her-- Another lover claims her!
Be his, false girl, for better or for worse-- But, ere you leave me, may a lover's curse--
DR. D. (coming forward) Hold! Be just. This poor child drank the philtre at your instance. She hurried off to meet you--but, most unhappily, she met me instead. As you had administered the potion to both of us, the result was inevitable.
But fear nothing from me--I will be no man's rival. I shall quit the country at once--and bury my sorrow in the congenial gloom of a Colonial Bishopric.
ALEXIS My excellent old friend! (Taking his hand--then turning to Mr. Wells, who has entered with Lady Sangazure.) Oh, Mr.
Wells, what, what is to be done?
WELLS I do not know--and yet--there is one means by which this spell may be removed.
ALEXIS Name it--oh, name it!
WELLS Or you or I must yield up his life to Ahrimanes. I would rather it were you. I should have no hesitation in sacrificing my own life to spare yours, but we take stock next week, and it would not be fair on the Co.
ALEXIS True. Well, I am ready!
ALINE No, no--Alexis--it must not be! Mr. Wells, if he must die that all may be restored to their old loves, what is to become of me? I should be left out in the cold, with no love to be restored to!
WELLS True--I did not think of that. (To the others) My friends, I appeal to you, and I will leave the decision in your hands.
FINALE
MR. W. Or I or he Must die!
Which shall it be?