The corsair; or, the little fairy at the bottom of the sea

Chapter 5: Scene III

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About This Book

A comic Christmas burlesque pantomime stages a fantastic maritime world of mermaids, sprites, tritons, and a brooding corsair whose depredations threaten sea life. The sea spirits debate punishment and dispatch a small fairy to reform him by love rather than wreckage; she descends to a bustling shore bazaar where comic misunderstandings, romantic entanglements, and eccentric officers play out. The action alternates satirical dialogue with dances, tableaux, and explicit stage business, blending parody of swashbuckling romance with theatrical spectacle, visual humor, and costume-driven pantomime conventions.

Scene III

SCENE III.—A Storm at Sea, with the wreck of the Golden Mary.

Conrad’s vessel discovered, surrounded by the raging waters. Conrad, Medora and Sailor, discovered on the deck.

Conrad.Courage, Medora, all will yet be well;

I s’pose you ne’er saw such a heavy swell?

Cheer up! you’re pale—you must be ill, I’m thinking?

Medora.No, no! I only feel a little sinking.

[Noise of ship striking.

Hark! the ship’s striking—we are lost!

Conrad.Hark! the ship’s striking—we are lost!Pooh! pooh!

Who cares, if the effect is striking too,

If with the public we go down to-night!

Medora.She sinks! we’re going down!

Conrad.She sinks! we’re going down!We are? All right!

[Ship sinks. Scene closes.