Punch (8.1845)

66

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

Set the JftrSt.

Scene I.

A dark Room in Downing Street; Peel discovered with pen, ink, and
paper before him, endeavouring to write the Royal Speech.

'Recitative.

Oh ! Zamiel, if your ears my voice could reach
I'd ask you how to write this horrid speech.

Adagio.

Humbug, bring thy fairest flowers ;

Gammon, lend me all thine aid ;
1 've been sitting here for hours,

Mor the smallest progress made.
Blarney, wherefore dost thou fail me ?

Whither shall I turn for aid ?
Ha ! What bu?y fiends assail me ?

Zamiel, come ! I'm not afraid.
[A gonjj is heard, and Zamiel enters throwjh the inkstand.

Duett. Zamiel and the Premier,
Zamiel.

Thou hast called me—I am here now.

Peel (aside).
Ha ! my breast is filled with fear now.
But although I shake and tremble,
1 my feelings must dissemble.

Zamiel (aside).
Yes, although he shakes and trembles,
He his feelings still dissembles.

Together.

The Premier. Zamiel.

Oh, how frightful, To him 'tis frightful,

Yet how delightful ; And yet delightful;

For nothing caring, For nothing caring,

The speech preparing. His speech preparing.

The task is done. My task is done.

To me what gladness, This seeming gladness

Although as madness. May turn to madness.

If others knew it, If others knew it,

Perchance they'd view it; They dared not do it;

Yes, ten to one. No, ten to one.

The Premier.
Yes, yes, yes,—ten to one !

Zamiel.
No. no, no,—ten to one !

Both.

Ten, ten, ten,—to one !

[At the end of the duett, Zamiel disappears, and several of his agentt
rush on with various articles, which they throw into trie inkstand,
while they sing the following wild

Chorus.
Here's flummery,
Here's mummery,
Stir it, stir it round,

An ounce of truth, of falsehood a pound ;

Now, of chaff a pound and a quarter,

Mix it, mix it, with milk-and-water ;

Drain it off as dry as a bone,

'Twill make a capital speech from the throne.

[Zamiel's agents dance round the Premier, flashing flambeaux in
his face. He falls senseless on the floor in the midst of them,
and the room, with everything in it, sinks, discovering

Scene II.

The Stage represeJits the Park, with Buckingham Palace painted on the
flat, and a practicable Archway in front of it. The Stage is filled
with Citizens, and some Horseguards are keeping the line by prancing
with their horses over the toes of the populace.

Grand Chorus of Citizens.
She comes ; she comes—
I hear the drums.

Solo. Commissioner Mayne.
She comes ; she comes—
They hear the drums.

Quarleit. Commissioner Mayne, Sentinel, Policeman, and 1st Bystander.
Commissioner Mayne and Sentinel.
Keep back, I charge you, within the liue.

Policeman.
To make him do so the task be mine.

Commissioner Mayne.
Keep back, I charge you.

Sentinel.

Within the line !

First Bystander.
Who '11 make me do so ?

Policeman (rushing forward).

That task be mine.

Grand laughing Chorus of Citizens.
Ha, ha, ha ! he, he, he !
Ho, ho, ho ! oh dear me !

Duett. Sentinel and Boy.
Sentinel
Down, down I say, from yonder lamp :
How came you there, you little scamp 1

Boy (on the lamp-post).
No harm I thought of doing ;
The sight intent on viewing,

The friendly lamp I sought.

Sentinel.
Your hopes for ever blighting,
Down from the post alighting,

Descend as quick as thought.

Together.

Yes, by-j^^1 j-our Gracious Queen,

From tlu t lamp must ne'er be seen ;
Though to see the gorgeous sight

You are "I wejcome ^0 a—jjorht.
I am J °

[Drums are heard at a distance, guns are fired from the 7Ww, Heb
Majesty drives through the Arch, the shouting of the populace
reaches the highest point, and the act-drop descends while the
people sing the following—

Grand Chorus.
Now's the day, and now's the hour j
Hark, the signal from the Tower !
Ste how every body runs,
Ah ! the guns ! the guns ! the guns I