Craven, Elizabeth. The Georgian Princess. Ed. with an Introduction by John Franceschina. British Women Playwrights around 1800. 15 January 2001.
About the text
The printed edition is a transcription of Larpent Manuscript 1251 in the Huntington Library. Capitalization has been maintained but punctuation and spelling have been regularized. In cases of song lyrics where the manuscript is illegible, I have borrowed the text from Airs and Choruses in The Princess of Georgia published in 1798, but where discrepancies exist, I have retained the manuscript text.
The Georgian Princess
An Opera in Two Acts
by
Elizabeth Craven, Margravine of Anspach
(1799)
Music by
Elizabeth Craven
Sarti
Gugliemi
Paisiello
Saphio
With a Grand Overture, La Chasse, by Reeve (1)
First performed at
Brandenburgh-House Theatre, 28 February, 1798
Covent Garden, 19 April, 1799 (2)
Dramatis Personae
Daracardin, Prince of Armenia (3)
Morad (4)
Giobar (5)
Achmet, Sultan of Georgia (6)
Acba, Black chief of the Harem (7)
Iskouriah, an Evil Genius (8)
Nainda, a Female good Fairy (9)
Illidia, Princess of Georgia (10)
Zara, a Black Slave (11)
Ambassadors and (Suite from Armenia) (12)
Ladies of the Harem (13)
Act I
Scene 1
[ A Storm; at the end of which Nainda descends and makes the Storm cease.]
1st Song.
(14)
Avaunt, ye Storms! nor check the aerial Car.
In other Climes your forky Lightning bear;
In other Regions vent your Clamours loud,
Nor rend the fleecy mantle of this Cloud.
Free from Strife, from Anger free.
Calm, and Concord dwell with me:
Hence for ever! dark brow'd Storm;
Nor Heaven's azure Sky deform.
Blue-eye'd Zephyrs, in thy place,
Breathing soft thro' airy Space,
Hail me, as I peaceful rise,
The Halcyon Genius of those happy Skies.
[Iskouriah enters and prostrates himself at her feet. She turns away. He takes hold of her robe.]
Iskouriah
Oh stay mighty Fairy, nor thus
indignant turn from me those powerful eyes, rather let them fall on thy Slave
with looks mild and Benignant as the Dew of Heaven.
Nainda
Why wilt thou impede my Steps,
wicked Spirit? Hast thou done aught in this night of Horrors, can give thee
a right to stop me thus?
Iskouriah
I have, I have. Deeds worthy of
her, whose power I kneel before have I Executed. Saved from the Lightning's
fury, the Peasants' lonely, only Shed; restored to weeping Mothers, infants,
which the flames might have destroyed; waked from fatal Sleep, whole families,
surrounded by fire and Perdition.
Nainda [Frowning.]
Peace wretch! Boast not of deeds which humanity alone wou'd dictate to Mortals.
Tell me, base Slave, dids't thou in the midst of Charitable acts, dids't thou
feel thyself urged to them by Repentance? Repentance, the only Virtue, which
can tempt me to Exercise any mercy towards thee.
Iskouriah
Oh give me back my power, and my
Liberty, and I Swear—
Nainda
Swear not, Monster of Iniquity.
Say—hast thou yet erased from Earth the Mischief thou alone hast committed?
Say, Arch Fiend, didst thou not bewilder the mind of Man by Horrid spells?
Hast thou not made him value all that he shou'd most despise? Hast thou not
added Tyranny to power, avarice to Wealth—Deceit to Love—Plunder
to War—and held up to all mankind from the King to the Peasant, Licentiousness
under the lovely, but Specious name of Liberty?
Iskouriah
I have, I have, I confess it all,
nay more. The misery of Mankind was all my joy. But now, deprived by you,
of all my Magic power, tho' I can do no ill, I have not the means of fulfilling
all your Commands in doing good.
Nainda
This sprite reasoning will not
do. Like a Snake thou wou'ds't twine thyself about my heart to sting it to
the quick.
Iskouriah
Oh no!—If I cou'd bring thee
all thou dost desire, If [Pauses.Aside.] a Woman may be tempted when
entreaty fails—
Nainda
Why dost thou pause? Speak thy
meaning.
Iskouriah
This night, as I was passing over
a large Garden, within the Walls of the Capital of Armenia, I saw a lovely
youth whose glorious Beauties arrested my hasty flight. How often, and how
vainly, have I sought one for you, whose matchless form and face cou'd match
those of your beloved Pupil—the Princess of Georgia. I now have found
him, and I claim your promise. If Virtue of the Heart lends Beauty to the
Countenance, his must be formed to create perfect bliss for her whose Happiness
is so dear to you—
Nainda [With scorn.]
Much I doubt thy judgement as to personal Charms. Thy Corrupted mind has yet
preferred Vice to Virtue, may'st thou not then mistake Deformity for Loveliness.
Say—what is manly Beauty?
Iskouriah
I will—
2nd Song.
His Limbs may shame th' Arcadians bounding Roe;
His Skin, the fam'd Olympus purest Snow;
His Hair outshines the raven's jetty plume,
His Lips of Roses breathe out their perfume;
And if by dreams his senses are possessed
They sure are those of Angels when at rest!
Smiling, he Sleeps—around his features hang
That joy express'd when Hafis youthful sang;
Each Dimple in his Peach-down cheek, a Cell,
In which Love, Innocence, and Graces dwell.
Nainda
'Tis well. Pray Heaven thy hopes
of reward may not make thee Exaggerate. If this Mortal is worthy of my pupil,
and they are happy—if thou art the cause of their bliss, and can Witness
Felicity on Earth without desiring to disturb it, thy Power shall be restored
to thee. Hasten to bring him to the Royal Georgian Harem. There will we compare
his beauty to that of my Illidia. And to encourage thee in the Pursuit of
Virtue, henceforth thou shall be invisible to every Mortal Eye. But remember
and beware the least Deviation, from the Path of rectitude. The Slightest
Symptom of returning malice Shall betray you to the gaze of trembling Man
and in Horrid Torments shalt thou howl out thy Eternity of misery.
[Song.]
Nainda
Away, and bring that Vermil'
cheek;
Those Winning Looks that softly speak
That melt a spotless Virgin's heart;
Those Graces bring with Master Art,
Those Graces, that—by Angels wove—
Entwine two Souls in Constant Love!
Iskouriah
Away I fly, and softly bear
My precious charge thro' realms of Air.
A Charge shall win thy Virgin heart,
My Task I'll do with Master heart
Those Graces shall, by Angel's wove
Entwine two Souls in Constant Love.
[Both together]
Those Graces shall, by Angel's wove
Entwine two Souls in Constant Love.
Scene 2
[Anti Chamber with Doors. Enter Acba with Matress and Keys.]
Acba [Locking Doors.]
Well, Mahomet be praised, all these Women are asleep and what is better—Under
lock and Key. I wish the Ambassadors from Armenia were come, and my Princess
married. I wish all the Women in the Harem were married, and the Sultan, my
Master wou'd give me my Liberty, and a little Flower Garden for the rest of
my Life. Women they say are like Roses—but by Mahomet like Roses, too,
they have thorns, for them that come too near them—and I am doom'd I
fear to feel their wounds for Life, for when our Princess is gone, there is
some Sister, or favorite to Watch left behind. I wish Princes were oblidged
to be their own Jailors, for the Females they lock up. I'd rather have the
care of Savage bears, for these don't talk, and I cou'd not hear their complaint
nor see their fears. [Groans.] Ah! If I do my duty I must be detested
by all these pretty soft looking animals, who speak so prettily—and look
so fair, that they are made methinks more to fly about and adorn the World
than to be shut up from it. Ah! Ah! [Locks the last door.] There you
are. All like Chickens in a Coop—well fed, plump, and very much tired
of roosting on the same perch. And so Women are Watched in every Country,
I find, because of Love and his tricks. Well, I know nothing of Love for—
Song. (15)
I've read of Love, and all his Tricks,
That he with Gall with honey mix;
But I'm a Bust with Heart of Steel
That can nor Pain nor pleasure feel.
And let me still unmov'd remain;
He wants no joy that feels no pain!
Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!
He wants no joy who feels no pain.
My undisturbed repose I take,
While Cupid keeps all men awake,
While he with Sighs annoys each Breast
I sing and nightly take my rest.
So let me still unmov'd remain,
He wants no joy that feels no pain.
Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!
He wants no joy who feels no pain.
[He lies down on his Matress and hums himself to sleep. A Pause—a Knocking at one of the doors. Zara speaks thro' the door.]
Zara
Acba! Acba! open the door.
Acba [Starts up.]
It is that little Black Devil's
Voice, and I dare not refuse her now. Mahomet Choak thee for waking me. [Opens
the door and salutes bowing.]
Zara
Good Acba—do tell me, now
my young Princess is asleep—what they say of the Prince of Armenia, who
is to be her Husband. Is he Handsome? Is he good natured? Is he generous?
Is he sensible? Is—
Acba [Interrupting.]
He is asleep at this hour most likely, and so shou'd you be. I never saw him,
I know nothing about him and never shall—praised be our Prophet. Go to
your rest and leave me to mine.
Zara
Don't be so Cross, good pretty
Acba. Now do tell me about the Ambassadors, and the Procession tomorrow—
Acba
Tomorrow! Today you mean. It's
almost Morn. You'll wake the Princess with your talk. Go to Sleep I say—or
I'll complain to the Sultan—
Zara
Sleep! I can't Sleep for thinking
of the Show I am to see. I shall go and walk in the Court of Roses 'til I
am called by the Princess—
Acba
This is so like a Woman now—that
can keep nothing to Herself. You can't Sleep, so you will not let me. Go,
do go, now—
Zara
Well, I wish good Acba—but
I—the whole Harem want to know.
Acba
What!?
Zara
Why, what you know about the Ambassodor,
and when I know I can let them and the Princess know—
Acba
No, no, no—I tell you, unless
the Princess herself sent you, I won't say a word. Did she send you?
Zara
No, no, and no, I tell you. Lord bless her Loveliness, she has been asleep these three hours and is likely to be so three more—[Acba leads her to the door.]
Acba
Well then, do you go and sleep
too. If I am disturbed again—none of you shall go into a Kiosk, an arabet,
or a Bath these six weeks. [He pushes her out, draws his Matress to the
side. Doors fly open then Exit.]
Scene 3
[The inside of the Harem. Nainda enters.]
Nainda
Thou lovely Flower committed to
my Care, by a Dying Mother's last request, no interest of State, no royal
policy shall transplant from thy native soil. 'Tis Love alone, and Mutual
Love shall lead thee from a Parent's Care and my Superior Watchfulness.
[Iskouriah Enters with Daracardin in his arms; he lays him facing
the Princess; Nainda observes him and exclaims.] Allah! be praised.
Iskouriah has spoken the truth. [Kneels.] Oh, Mahomet, may the Heart
concealed within that lovely Bosom warm, like the Glorious Sun with Impartial
Benificence, his Admiring Subjects who look up to him for Comfort and delight.
And may the partner of his joys, like a Secondary Planet, defuse her mild
ray thro' the Medium of his reflected Lustre. Thus shall they both be blest
as beautiful.
[She retires, waves her hands over them. They both begin to wake, sit up, and look at each other. Daracardin takes hold of his arms by turns.]
Daracardin
Yes I am awake. [He retires.]
Illidia [Smiling.]
Oh what a Pleasant dream. [Looks at her Slaves.] Yes, they Sleep. Oh,
we will Sleep thus forever.
[Daracardin goes and takes her by the hand and brings her to the front.]
Illidia
I never dream'd of you before.
I wish this dream wou'd last for ever, for when I wake, I shall lose sight
of you, and ‘tis so sweet a sight. [Looks at him.]
Daracardin
Never, Never lose sight of me,
for I shall gaze at thee for ever. [Stares at her.] For comest thou
like the Sapphire from the Entrails of the Earth, or like the Morning Star
from the Chambers of East, thou art more welcome to my sight than the first
rays of the Sun to the Benighted traveller.
Illidia
That is spoken after my own mind.
Yes, you speak Exactly what I feel.
Daracardin
Now let me ratify my words.
Illidia
Are not your words truth? Truth
wants not to be ratified—
Daracardin
What innocence—
Illidia [Laughing.]
Do not mind what I say; I am talking in my sleep—
Daracardin
Oh, no, we are both awake, see
this ring—this hand—it presses thine. [Puts his Hand to his Heart.]
This Heart beats for thee.
Illidia [Puts her hand
to her heart.]
And mine keeps time with yours. This is comical indeed. It never beat so when
I was awake—
Daracardin
Oh! Heavens! How shall I persuade
her this is no dream? Let us Exchange our rings. Then shall we be betrothed
to each other.
Illidia [Going to give
hers, pauses.]
But the Fairy Nainda gave me this, with a Charge not to part with it but to
my Husband.
Daracardin
So much the better, for I swear,
waking, or sleeping, living or dying to have no other Wife but you—
Illidia
Indeed! Oh Charming! this dream
becomes more pleasant every Moment. Well—then—[Gives him her
ring and takes his.] now you are my Husband, that is every night in my
dreams, so tho' my father has promised my hand to another—No matter.
I shall be yours half of my Life for I'll Sleep all night long, and every
night, on purpose to belong to you more than to my other Husband.
Daracardin [Furious.]
Other Husband! How now! What means this terrible Language?
Illidia
Nay, do not frown so young Man!
I am terrified—you will frighten away Sleep and with it this pleasant
Dream. Do not look so stern.
Daracardin
Stern—look Stern at thee?
Impossible, but can I see thee, hear thee, be certain that I can never be
happy without thee, and not tremble with rage to hear thee talk of another?
Come, let us away, and live only for each other.
[He puts his arm round her waist to lift her away, when Nainda waves her hands over them. They both fall back asleep: Illidia into Nainda who lays her down and advances; Daracardin into Iskouriah's arms, who carries him away.]
Nainda
Soon will she wake to disappointment,
but under the semblance of this faithful Zulime, I will be near to give tranquility
to her agitated mind. [Puts on the Governess' Dress, approaches the Princess
who starts up and exclaims.]
Illidia
Zulime, Alyiza, Fatima—[They
all rise and surround her.] Where is he? Zulime—
[Enter Zara.]
Zara
What voices did I hear? It must
have been the Morning Zephyrs whispering thro' the Bowers for they all sleep.
Yet me thought I cou'd distinguish the Princess' Voice—nay, that I heard
her Laugh, but it cannot be. [Looks at her.] Sleep, calm and Undisturbed
as her mind possesses her. [Lays down.]
Illidia [Starts up.]
Zulime, Alyiza, Fatima—[They all rise.] Where is he, Zulime?
Nainda [As Zulime, the Governess.]
Whom? dearest Princess.
Illidia
The young Man I have just seen.
Nainda
Young Man! in your Dreams perhaps.
Illidia [Sits confused.]
Is it true?
[Zulime kneels to her.]
Nainda
Is my dearest Pupil quite awake?
or has some horrid dream disturbed her mind?
[Illidia rises, comes forward with Nainda, makes a sign for the rest to retire.]
Illidia
Not horrid, Zulime—a Charming
dream. Oh Zulime! but soft, it was no dream. See this ring, 'twas his, Zulime,
he gave it me, and I gave him mine.
Nainda (16)
Oh dreadful event! That ring the
Fairy gave you is gone.
Illidia
But you know I cou'd only give
it to my Husband. Yes, 'tis gone, [Looks round.] but he is gone too.
Bring him to my sight instantly, or never see me more. Now I know I was awake.
Why do you stand thus looking like a Petrified Statue? Bring hither my Lord
my Husband! I cannot live without him.
Nainda
Heavens and our holy Prophet what
does she mean? Zaphira let thy melodious voice, like that of the plaintive
Nightengale restore her Soul to Harmony. [Zaphira sings a Plaintive
air. Illidia Weeps.] She is much soften'd. The Chords of the
Harp may Vibrate on her heart, and wake it to reason, and her Natural sprightliness.
[Fatima plays on the Harp. Illidia rises.]
Illidia
Away! Away! Music is Diseas'd to
my Ears. And the rising Sun cannot dispel the Dark Cloud that obscures my
Light till he returns. Where have you concealed him? Why did you let him go?
Answer me, Zulima. Don't you Value my regard?
Nainda
Oh, what can I say to what I cannot
comprehend. Consider that this very Morning, you are to receive the Ambassadors
from your intended Lord.
Illidia
My Lord! I have a heart's Lord
already, and hear one Heaven. [Kneels.] Him whom I have seen this night
is the Life of my Life, and Master of my thoughts. Oh, Gracious Prophet! in
thy Sacred Record, where truth and faith are engraved, receive my first, my
last, my only vow: never shall this Hand be plighted to anyone but him, who
sits enthron'd by Love within this breast. No entreaties shall persuade, no
threats shall terrify me, from keeping this my vow, which if I break may I
live in Wretchedness and die in Torments. [Remains in thought.]
Nainda
Oh, gracious, dearest Princess,
these Words, these dread resolves, who shall bear them to your Father?
Illidia
My Father! you do well to name
him. I know his affection for me. He surely Conveyed this youth into the Harem.
I will fly and thank him directly. Give me my Veils.
[Some fetch the Veils—others Sing:]
Oh, Allah! give us means to bear
Her mind from Love's corroding
care!
Give Peace within this Virgin
breast
Where nought but Peace and
joy shou'd rest
Nor let her thoughts like
tempests move
In wildest Labyrinths of
Love.
END OF THE FIRST ACT
Notes
1. The London Stage attributes the physical production as follows:The Scenery plainted by Philips, Lupino, Hollogan, &c.
The Machinery by Sloper.
The Dresses by Dick and Mrs. Egan. (back)
2. Benefit for
Fawcett. (back)
3. The manuscript
attributes the role to Mr. H. Johnston. The Airs and Choruses in
The Princess of Georgia published in 1798-99 gives Hon. R. K. Craven.
(back)
4. The manuscript
attributes the role to Mr. Munden. Airs gives Angelo. (back)
5. The manuscript
attributes the role to Mr. Incledon. Airs gives Wathen. (back)
6. The manuscript
is blank. Airs gives Capt. Wade. (back)
7. The manuscript
attributes the role to Mr. Fawcett. Airs gives Mr. Simmons. (back)
8. The manuscript
attributes the role to Mr. Townsend. Airs gives Jos. Madockes, Esq.
(back)
9. The manuscript
attributes the role to Mrs. Atkins. Airs gives the Margravine of Anspach.
The London Stage attributes the role to Miss Waters. (back)
10. The
manuscript attributes the role to Mrs. Pope though The London Stage
gives Mrs. H. Johnston. Airs gives Miss Berkeley. (back)
11. The
manuscript attributes the role to Miss Sims. Airs gives Master Chatterly.
(back)
12. The
London Stage gives Dyke, Hawtin, Abbot, Wilde, Blurton, Street, L. Bologna.
(back)
13. The
London Stage gives Mmes Gilbert, Leserve, Norton, Masters, Lloyd, Burnett,
Walcup, Blurton. (back)
14. Music
by Sarti. (back)
15. Music
by the Margravine. (back)
16. The
manuscript cites Zulime rather than Nainda as the speaker for the rest of
the scene. (back)