Craven, Elizabeth. The Georgian Princess. Ed. with an Introduction by John Franceschina. British Women Playwrights around 1800. 15 January 2001.
Act II
Scene 1
[In Armenia. A street at the End of the Port, an Old Tower. Enter Giobar and Morad in disguise. Giobar looks uneasy.]
Morad
Well—now that I have left the Plains, my Hawkes, my Greyhounds, and all my merry friends, to meet you here in a shabby Cloak, hired of an old Jew, and a Ladder of Ropes hid under it, and am arrived here at a Minute's Warning, you will perhaps have the goodness to give me your reasons for making me do all this.Giobar
I have hardly time, Morad, but know that our Prince, our Honor'd friend Daracardin—Morad
He is not dead sure—Giobar
Dead? No not dead, but worse!Morad
Worse! that cannot be. Death is the only Misfortune I know of to which there is no remedy.Giobar
He is shut up in that Tower.Morad
Is that all? Patience, Vinegar, and rubbing will sever Iron bars, and with these he may get out.Giobar
Yes, but this is not all. He is desperately in Love—Morad
That is rather Extraordinary; surrounded as he is by Beautiful Slaves; but he'll get out of this love con[dition] (1) for you know he is to be Married; and Marriage you know is a Certain cure for Love.Giobar
Psha! Can't you be serious for a Moment?Morad
I am serious, always serious when I think of Marriage for I've been Married these five years.Giobar
Will you hear me and be dumb for a few Moments?Morad
Of that you may be sure, for Marriage puts me in mind of my Wife, and of her talking which Strikes me dumb for some time.Giobar
You know our Prince Daracardin is promised in Marriage. [Morad nods.] The Ambassadors are gone to fetch his Bride. This morning the Prince told the Sultan his Father, that no power on Earth shou'd make him marry any person, but a fair Creature that he saw last night, and with whom he exchang'd rings. The Sultan in vain represented to him the Consequence of his refusal—a Long and bloody War, between two neighbouring kingdoms. The Prince remaining inflexible to all his Entreaties, he has shut him up till he choses to change his mind. But he charged me to be here at this Hour, under that Window through which he intends to escape. The Night draws on apace. I believe we may venture to give him the Signal that we are ready.Morad
Signal! what Signal? If you fling a Stone against the Tower, some of the Guards may hear us. If you Hollow the Watchman will come.Giobar
Guards? The Sultan knew no Guard wou'd resist the Intreaties, nay the Winning looks of his son. He has no Guards and I have brought a Guitar. If we sing he will know our Voices—Morad
Sing! Why all the Harmonious Musicmen will come and knock us o'er the Head for Screech owls: for I am frightened I shall sing horribly out of tune.Giobar
Fear not, Morad. None of the Sultan's people will come this way. Tho' our beloved Prince is the Sultan's Eldest Son, a Prince who offends so good a Father is treated by his people as a rebellious Subject, and avoided by every one.Morad
Come, come, sing. Your Poetry is fiction and may be pleasing [to] your prose truth and of course dull— (2)Giobar
You may sing as low as you please.Morad
Most basely I assure you—Giobar
What shall I play?Morad
Play that old Moorish air you are so fond of. Set it to some Words of my own. Such an occasion exactly suits my Genius for Extempore Poetry.Song.
On the high Top of an Old Mould'ring Tow'r,
An angry Eagle, perch'd his fav'rite Son;
Then frowning said—"there pass each lonesome hour
Nor till I give you leave can you come down—
Duet.
Can you come down.
Can you come down."
The youthful Eagle lov'd in woods to play
With Birds of Feather bright or softest down;
So much abash'd, he to himself did say
"Unhappy royal Bird, you must come down——
You must come down.
You must come down.
Your own determin'd will must set you free
Inactive, here you cannot sit and moan,
Courage Secures to man his Liberty
And youth, Courageous youth, may venture down.
May venture down.
May venture down."
Then opening quick the rusty shutter wide,
He hail'd the friendly Lustre of the Moon,
With royal Fortitude and manly pride,
For Love of Freedom, soon he ventures down—
He ventures down.
He ventures down.[They throw Daracardin the ladder; he descends and Embraces them. They are going when Nainda disguised as an Old Woman Enters and stops them.]
Nainda
Pity! Charity! Charity good Young Man—Old—Sick—Your Charity.[Morad pushes her, she falls and faints. The Prince supports her.]
Morad
Don't Stay to assist her, Sir. We shall certainly be taken.Daracardin
So old, so hideous, so helpless. Who will assist her if I do not. Run, my Friends, fetch some Cordials.[Soft Music. Morad and Giobar go out. The Old Woman raises herself and sings.]
Old Woman
I'll tell you your Fortune away from all Art,
Plain Truth ever flows from my Tongue
Yet I carry like Bees, the kind Honey at Heart
To heal where my words may have Stung.
My Power's unbounded, whate'er I may seem
My Dwelling is in the blue Sky,
Tho' oft on the Back of a tranquil Moon-beam
On Earth for Diversion I fly.
Let other good Fairies use Circles and Wands
A future Event to foretell;
Trace lines in the Palm of a True Lovers Hand
Exhaust all the Powers of Spell.
'Tis alone thro' the Eyes I descry Fortunes sight
See only to rectify Fate,
Like the Sun I dispel the Black Vapors of night
Then listen before 'tis too late.Giobar and Morad
Oh! give us leave to go with you
It is our Wish and Duty too.Old Woman
No no! No no! it cannot be;
He is secure, who flies with me.Giobar
With you! Ha! ha! ha! He go with you.Morad
Oh, oh, oh, oh! This is quite new.Old Woman
It may be Strange, it may be new
But still believe me it is true
That what my Will is, that must be
And he's Secure that flies with me.Daracardin
Those Melodious Sounds—the Sense Conveyed in them, strikes powerfully on my afflicted mind. Speak—what wou'd you?Nainda
Accompany your flight—lead your Steps to Happiness, to love. But do you feel no remorse at the thoughts of the despair your flight will Occasion in the breast of your father and Sovereign—Daracardin
When a Father only employs his power to make his Son perjured and wretched, then is that Son justified before Heaven to fly from it. Yesterday my heart at Liberty was devoted to my father's Commands—but now—my hand—my Life—my whole Soul is promised, and shall I lead one Woman to the Altar, and there pronounce words, sacred and Inviolable, while all my ideals (3) are bound by Adamantine ties to another—forbid it, honor, Constancy and truth. Impossible! Impossible!Nainda
But that unfortunate Princess, who comes to be your Bride, what Disappointment—Daracardin
She knows me not, and therefore cannot Love. I have Brothers, and my Father may give her hand and his Kingdom to one of them.Nainda
And are you sure you will not request either?Daracardin
Quite sure. Alas! can sovereignty be desirable? Evil Spirits possess the minds of Men. They reject alike the Power of a Tyrant, and that of a Father of his people.Nainda
What! in your Royal Education learnt you aught cou'd make you prefer Obedience to Command?Daracardin
I had a Virtuous Mother, Good Woman, who from our sacred Koran taught me, the Principles which guide my thoughts. I wou'd always obey—if to Command is not to make others happy.Nainda
But your birth—your long train of Royal ancestors—Did she teach you to forget them?Daracardin
Oh no! but she held them up before me, only as the sacred claims, Mankind and Posterity have upon my Care for their Welfare. But why this delay? If you can lead me to her I love—Nainda
A little Patience yet. Supposing she is of low birth—Daracardin
Thank Heaven! that matters not. By our Asiatic Customs, it is the Husband enobles the Wife, and we are not like European Princes obliged to entail on our descendants the deformities of human Nature, with the Pedigree of a Princess—Nainda
But Supposing she is poor—you have no Wealth—Daracardin
Golconda's treasures are found in Youth, health, and Liberty. I have Strength to earn my Subsistence. I have these too—these Arms to weild in the defence of my Country when her injuries shall call me, into the field. Good Woman—think not because I was brought up in an Asiatic Harem's Soft delights, that I am Effeminate. No. My Mother taught me that to fill a throne with justice, and propriety, I must first learn to be a Man—and she made me feel all the hardships and Labour attached to human Life—that I might understand the duties attached to humanity.Nainda
You have bestowed them on me, you shall be rewarded and happy.
Daracardin
To be happy is to be free. See the Winds Propitious Court the Unfurling Sails—[Enter Giobar and Morad with bottle and glass.]
Nainda
Thank you, young Men. Your friend's care has restored me to life, and I will restore him to Love.Giobar and Morad
To Love!Nainda
Yes, he goes with me—Giobar
With you!!Morad
I am not at all Surprised that a Young Man's Attention shou'd bring an Old Woman out of a fit—but that—Giobar
Gracious Prophet, will you leave us and go alone with her?Daracardin
I will.[Exeunt Daracardin and Nainda. Giobar and Morad remain Petrified.]
Morad
What are we to do?Giobar
Follow our friend certainly.Morad
Yes certainly—and first there goes one Witness to what we have done. [Flings the Ladder into the Sea. They pull of their rags.]Giobar
These wou'd create Suspicion—Morad
That Old Hag, did you hear her? Leads him to love—and with her. [Laughs.] Well, she thinks she has made a conquest, I suppose. Well—Wrinkles don't always give a Woman Experience! Hoa! a Boat!Giobar
But time, in giving Wrinkles, often gives that Wisdom and Eloquence to Women which the mind of Man listens to with Complacency and often rewards with affection.Morad
Poo! Pugh! Ah! was you ever in love with an Old Woman? A Boat!Giobar
Did you ever think of Age when a Woman Smiled at you? Hoa! A Boat—Morad
I never look'd in any Woman's face for a Smile, that was not Young. Hoa! A Boat—[Scene Closes.]
Scene 2
[Scene Changes to the Interior of the Georgian Harem. Acba unlocks the doors.]
Acba
This day, my fair Prisoners may all have their Liberty—that is to go as far as the Audience Chamber—and then to go back again.[Enter Zara.]
Zara
Acba, you may as well lock all these doors again and keep these flowers for Yourself for the Princess swears she will not stir out.Acba
What! does she persist in this Idle tale? And in wanting to persuade us all that she saw a young man and talk'd to him.Zara
She does.Acba
Good little Zara, go in and tell the Princess that if she persists in telling her Father of this young Man, he'll believe it at last, and as no one can Enter her Apartment unless I let them in, poor old Acba will be hung—yes—my life answers for it. What a dream—Alas!Zara
Perhaps some Evil Genius Unlock'd those doors while you Slept.Acba
What, you believe in Spirits do you?Zara
I believe there are good Genii to take care of us and Evil Genii that torment us—Acba
Nonsense. The good Genii that care about pretty Women are honest Men, and the only Evil Genii I know of, are cross old troublesome Women, or Black young ones—Zara
Black indeed! Why I was chosen out of Eleven Children because I was the fairest of the Family.Song.
When I am Marry'd, Mercies! how I'll talk.
And rule at home like any Potent queen
Fair Creatures like myself shou'd never walk
I'll have a Gold and Silver Palanquin.
The Men shall all adore my angel's face
The Women fall before me as I pass
I'll ogle, I'll sigh, I'll smoke and I'll spit;
Tell many a Lie, now and then have a Fit
And Study my Charms in a Glass.
I'll have a thousand fancies in a day
And change 'em every hour with the Wind
I'll never work at all but always play
To chase dull fare and sorrow from my mind.
But I'll go in and get the Princess to save your life—for if you are hung up—we may get a Worse in your place. [Exit.][A Knocking. Acba opens the door. Enter Morab and Giobar.]
Acba
What wou'd you Strangers?Giobar
We are just Arrived and Straying about the Courts of the Palace. We have found ourselves here by Chance—hearing the Ambassadors from Armenia are deliv'ring (4) their presents this day, we want to know if we cou'd be in the Audience Chamber to see the procession.Acba
You may.Morad
But Concealed as we know these Amenian Ambassadors.Acba [Aside.]
These are Spies of the Court sent by the Ministers to know how the Ambassadors behave, and how they are received. [Aloud.] (5) Well, good Sirs, I will hide you behind the throne—but why shou'd you wish to be conceal'd?Morad
Because we have followed a Master of ours, who has run away from his father, and he will not like to see us. The same Wind blew us all hither—and a Strange breeze it was—twenty miles in an hour—that is good Sailing. Our boat follow'd his—we saw him land. We pursued him into this town and then lost sight of him.Giobar [Aside.]
Ill fated friend! That Old Hag has certainly betrayed him.Morad
Well, we shall see. At all events, shou'd he appear in the Audience Chamber and require assistance, we have Swords and hearts to assist him, and the Devil is in it if we shou'd not be more than a Match for an Old Woman.Giobar
Hush! we must dissemble. [To Acba.] Say, is the Princess of Georgia handsome?Acba
Beautiful—Morad
Umph! Friend—our young friend ran away with an Ugly Woman.Song.
She is ugly and Old.
And looks like a scold (6)
Her nose like a Spout to her head;
Her Robe ragged and black
Not a Shift to her back
And must beg all the way to have Bread.
Well, if I go astray
Or, like him, run away
It shall be with a Girl like a Roe;
With a Cheek like a Rose
A small cock'd-up nose
With arms and a Bosom of Snow.Acba
I am no Judge. Had I my will—I wou'd run away—not with—but from the Whole Sex. Stand aside.[Enter Zara.]
Zara
Good Acba, the Princess says she will not mention this Young Man any More but go herself to the audience, and save your life and her peace of Mind, which your Death it seems wou'd mightily disturb. [Aside.] I do not know why I'm sure—such old nasty Black things might all be hung for me.Acba
Tell the Princess then it is time she shou'd go—Zara
I will. [Exit.]Acba
Now I will place you in that Corner. You will see the Princess and her Attendants pass. [Places them.][Enter the Princess with Attendants. She stops with a rejected Countenance and looks at her Dress.]
Illidia
Horrid Magnificence—Ill fated Illidia! Support me Allah! and if I am forc'd to pronounce Vows that give me to another—Grant Allah, that at the foot of thy Altar, I may breathe my last Sigh—sad Victim of Obedience, and Disappointed Love—[Exeunt.]
Scene 3
[Scene changes to the Audience. A Throne on one side. Guards and People.]
Iskouriah
Thus far Nainda's wishes have succeeded, and my Services are rewarded by only a return of half my Power. I am invisible to all Mankind, but not to the piercing Eyes of that all powerful Female. Perhaps she intends to restore all she has Wrested from me, when the Young people are united, and if she does not, by Degaval, I swear a Vengeance equal to my wrongs shall be Executed. I saw the beautiful Daracardin disguised like an old Hermit, accompanied by a decrepit Woman hard by. I will watch his progress and if he is made blessed before I am restor'd to the fulness of my Power—Oh what shall I here do to be revenged? He is only Mortal—and this Dagger—shall pierce him to the Heart. Nainda is not here to stop my hand—I'll away to the Harem and never leave the Princess till she gives her hand to Daracardin.Song.
The Shipwreck'd Sailor cast from off the Strand
Labours for life, and thinks it almost gone;
More Welcome to his Sight appears the Land—
More Cheering than the brightest Morning Sun.
But oh, to me, who can no lower fall,
Revenge is sweeter far—Revenge is all! [Retires.][Nainda and Daracardin come forward disguised.]
Nainda
Now Prince—contain your joy—you will here see your beloved in the Princess of Georgia.Daracardin
Heavens! what do I hear?Nainda
Stay! you shall hear her confess her Passion for you without knowing you are present. Like a lovely Flower she is drooping under the Weight of Affliction. Affliction to a Female Heart—like a rude Hail Storm that falls on the opening rose—beats down her beauties to the Earth. But your presence, like the rays of the Sun, shall raise her blustering Head to hail each future day—with newer and more fragrant perfume. Moderate your Impatience. By degrees you must let her know who you are or the Sudden transition from despair to joy, might like the Soldier's Instantaneous Wound cause suddent death—Daracardin
Who are you? All wise and good—oh, tell me how shall I reward you?Nainda
Reward! the sight of human bliss is my only joy, my only reward. Let us retire—I will instruct you further—mix with the Crowd.[The Sultan and his Suit enter then the Princess. She kneels to her Father, he kisses her forehead. She sits on a Cushion at his feet.]
Sultan
Illidia, I hope you think no more of your dream. This day all past care must be erased from our Minds—this day you are to give your hand by Proxy to the Prince of Armenia.[The Ambassadors enter with Presents. Then a Young Turk with Jewels for the Princess Kneels and Sings:]
Oh! fairest of the Fair! whose spotless Charms
Must Bless a lovely Prince's youthful Arms
Receive those Gems; that will but dim appear
When Eyes so bright—Illidia's Eyes—are near.Acba
Very Courtly Verse truly; made by the Poet Laureate I wou'd say—Sultan
Illidia—why this Indifferent Look?[The Ambassador gives a Litter; he rises and the Iman advances with the Koran. The Ambassador places his hands upon the Book.The Sultan leads his daughter to it.]
Ambassador
I Swear, in the name of our holy Prophet that Daracardin, Son and Heir to the Sultan of Armenia plights his faith to—Illidia
Oh, Hold! Oh, Swear not—for—[Illidia faints. The Sultan supports her. Nainda and Daracardin come forward.]
Nainda [With a Smelling Bottle.]
This Elixir mighty Prince will restore her to life—Sultan
To Life! Alas, I fear her senses are disorder'd and who can restore them to her?Nainda
This holy Hermit, Sir, with a few Magic Words can bring peace to her disorder'd mind.Sultan
Indeed.[Illidia recovers and turns to her Father.]
Illidia
Oh, dearest Father—hear me—I cannot pronounce those fatal Vows. My hand, my Heart, is devoted to another.Sultan
She is mad—some fever of the Brain. Acba—wretch—Speak! What is the occasion of all this?[Acba prostrate.]
Acba
Your Majesty's wisdom has pronounced it a fever of the Brain. The Princess has been feverish these four and twenty hours—Sultan
And knew you this—Acba
Oh,, She has not spoken one word to me these two days. When Females are Speechless they must be ill Indeed, as your Majesty well knows.Sultan
Why was not I appraised of this? The Ceremony must be Postponed.Illidia
Oh glad I am that in the presence of this holy Man, and before these Ambassadors I can declare that I am a lost Creature—lost Alas! to Pomp, to Life! to all but him, whom my heart has Chosen.Sultan
Peace! foolish Girl.Nainda
Let me, Sir, speak one word, aside to the Princess. [She leads her aside with Daracardin; he takes her hand.]Daracardin
See this ring.Illidia
Ah! the ring I gave my Love.Nainda
Yes, and he is near to Claim you his for ever.Illidia
Oh, do not deceive me. Who is this holy Hermit?Nainda
See! See! who it is—Illidia [Sees him.]
'Tis he! 'Tis he![They fly into each other's arms. The Sultan angry puts his hand to his Sabre. The Ambassadors surround the Prince calling out: "tis the Prince of Armenia."]
Sultan
Is it possible? How comes this to pass?Daracardin
Oh Gracious Sovereign, I know not—but where is she my Guardian Angel who conducted me hither?Giobar
What? The Old Woman.Sultan
Prince, You are most welcome—and since you are the object of my Daughter's (7) choice, let us not delay these oaths that are to united our Families and Kingdoms in bonds indisoluble for ever.[Sultan, Prince and Princess go up to the Iman. Everybody kneel except Sultan and the Iman. Enter Iskouriah.]
Iskouriah
This sight I cannot bear. Mortals bless'd by mutual Love, the poor, the friendless Mortals' only joy, to be bestowed on Princes who, having every other earthly Blessing, from the Want of that alone are wretched—he the first shall be the last to taste of perfect bliss—Thus my revenge.[Draws out a Dagger to stop the Prince. Nainda rushes out and Seizes his Wrist.]
Nainda
Infernal Genii, this is thy boasted repentance! Go, Monster, and drag on in [an] Eternity of Misery Chain'd down below these Regions for ever.[He descends in flames.]
Nainda
Illidia, I brought this Prince to thee. Sultan, Acba is honest to his Charge. Prince, I was that Old decrepit Woman that Conducted your Steps. And may your Love for Illidia, like holy fire, purify your heart, that it may resist all bad impressions. A Violent Passion in Youth is the only Soil from which can Spring the fair Blossoms of every Virtue. This for you, Illidia, will strew your path through life with Roses, and may your future Conduct teach you to avoid the dull, uninteresting path, (8) or the pointed thorn of Inconstancy.
Chorus
O drive from hence remorse and fell despair,
Be Love and constancy your only care.[Nainda]
To improve, to save mankind, our only toil
Ours be the task to pity and reclaim!
Our only recompense a heavenly Smile,
Disdaining Earthly Tributes is our Fame.Chorus
O drive from hence remorse and fell despair,
Be Love and constancy your only care.END OF THE SECOND ACT
Notes
1. The manuscript is illegible at this point. (back)
2. The manuscript does not complete the line. (back)
3. The manuscript is illegible at this point. (back)
4. The manuscript is illegible. (back)
5. No stage direction is indicated in the manuscript. (back)
6. The manuscript is illegible at this point. (back)
7. "Joys" is crossed out in the manuscript. (back)
8. The manuscript is illegible at this point. (back)