ll Dibdin
Valentine and Orson, a Romantic Melo-Drame, as Performed at the Theatre-Royal Covent-Garden
AS A FEEBLE, THOUGH SINCERE, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS PROFESSIONAL EXERTIONS, UNREMITTING ZEAL, ATTENTION, AND ASSIDUITY, IN THE STAGE-ARRANGEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING BAGATELLE, ITS PAGES ARE MOST CORDIALLY INSCRIBED BY
The Ladies and Gentlemen, who have so eminently distinguished themselves in the Performance, are also respectfully desired to accept, as they most amply merit, the Author's best Thanks.
⁂The Lines marked by inverted Commas, are omitted in Representation.
CHARACTERS
ACT I
SCENE I.—A long Perspective of the Suburbs of Orleans, terminating with the ancient City Gates – On one Side a Convent, the Windows of which are illuminated from within – The Stage is at first dark, which gives Effect to the Transparency of the Windows – As the Curtain rises slowly, the following choral Chaunt, accompanied by the Organ, is heard from the Interior of the Monastery
Hear, while our choral numbers flow,
Hear! and avert the awful doom,
Which human frailty fears below,
When summon'd to the insatiate tomb.
The Monastery Gates open, and the Friars and Nuns enter in Procession, singing the following
Now bolder raise the hallow'd strain,
While living worth we haste to meet,
Our King, victorious comes again,
Again our foes sustain defeat.
They cross to the opposite Side, and exeunt while singing. – As they go off, the Stage becomes lighter (descriptive Music) The Dawn reddens, and the Sun rises over the City; the Gates of which are thrown open, Hugo, with a Mob of Citizens, Soldiers, and Peasantry, come shouting down to the Front of the Stage, the Music ceases and Hugo speaks.
Stop! stop! stop! now don't be in such a plaguy hurry. The holy brethren and sisters are just before us, and you, with your noise, would interrupt their merry solemnity.
Merry solemnity, do you call it?
Ay, truly – they have just chaunted a solemn requiem in annual memory of the king's departed sister – and now, a merry occasion calls them forth to meet our good old king himself, who has been fighting for his people, conquered his foes, and deserves the thanks of all his friends.
Then why stand we here?
Why not? The king will pass through that gate, for the opening of which we have so long waited – and instead of going to the show, if we tarry a few moments, the show will come to us.
They say the king's favourite, young Valentine, hath gained great honour in these wars.
That he hath: – and humble though I seem, I have helped him to no small part of it.
You!
To be sure – I made the very sword with which he slew the Saracens; and I defy any man to be killed with a better tempered weapon. Oh! I'll be bound he laid about him. – He had 'em here, and he had 'em there. (Flourishing his stick to the annoyance of the mob.)
But, friend Hugo, why shou'd the king lavish so much favour on a foundling?
Aye, aye, he was found in a forest – Well, well, when great men go a-hunting, and find children in the woods, it's time for the fair sex to look about 'em.
And mark the end of it – In that very spot where Valentine was found, there has suddenly appeared a strange wild man, some say he is fourteen feet high.
No, no; thirteen feet and a half.
Who, to feed an old weather-beaten she-bear, bears down all before him.
Nay, but Valentine is well-beloved among us too: the old men admire him, and his courtesy has gained him the hearts of all the young women.
He never said a civil thing to me in all his life.
There it is – his honesty has made him enemies. There's Henry and Haufray, the cousins of the king, have determined to destroy him, because one is said to want to be heir to the throne, by marrying the king's daughter, the Princess Eglantine; and the other conceits himself to be the only man in the kingdom, fit for the office of captain general over all our victorious armies. Stand aside! – Here come all our noble peers to meet the king.
The Peers of France advance from the Gate to meet the king, who enters with the following
With the gladsome notes of victory,
Let the merry cymbals ring,
Till earth resounds a people's cry,
Whose hearts proclaim —Long live the King!
During the Chorus the Characters are so arranged that the King is in the centre, and when the Music stops, he speaks:
This genuine welcome from my people is the most brilliant trophy I have gained: – but thank not me, my friends – to this young warrior's arm we owe success. (pointing to Valentine) The giant chieftain of yon pagan host measures his length on earth, subdued by valour and by Valentine.
My gracious liege; the child of chance, the creature of your bounty can never atchieve a thousandth part of what he owes to you, his sovereign, and his father.
Yet, in requital of that sense of honour, take from thy king the Earldom of Auvergne.
(Apart to the King.) Auvergne! a
