Scene V

SCENE V.—The Harem, with the Gardens of the Pasha’s Palace.

Odalisques dancing. Enter Gulnare, L., and Zuliema, R.; the Odalisques dance round Gulnare.

Enter Pasha, L. U. E.Zuliema runs to him and seizes him by the arm.

Trio.Irish Air.
Zuli.Mighty Pasha, grant your slave

 
Vengeance on this beauty bold.

Gul.Mighty Pasha, I would crave

 
Safety from this vixen old.

Pasha.Will you hold this dreadful row, now?

Zuli.Will you put this upstart down, now?

Gul.Her conceit has grown so big, sir—

Zuli.She declares I wear a wig, sir—

Pasha.How, now, now—will you hold your row?

 
I’m by no means in good humor—not just now.

Pasha.Leave me.

Zuli.Leave me.Alas! your love for me, then, cools.
[Embracing him.

Pasha.Oh, be off—old fools are the worst of fools!

 
Come here, Gulnare—the cause of this explain:

Zuli. [R., Mincingly.]

 
It was my face.

Gul. [L.]It was my face.You see the cause is plain—

 
She boasted that she was your wife to be,

 
When you remember, sire, you promised me.

Pasha. [Aside.]

 
I know, to both of them I’ve pledged my word—

 
It’s very awkward, for I love a third.

Zuli.Great Pasha, say, shall I not be your bride?

Gul.I’ll leave it to your taste, sire, to decide.

Song.Pasha.—“Beggar’s Opera.
 
How happy could I be with neither;

Now t’other dear charmer’s away,

 
I don’t care a button for either;

And so what the deuce can I say,

 
Except tol de rol, oh, my Medora—

Tol de rol, rol de rol lay—

 
You’ve deserted your ardent adorer,

And left him to misery a prey.

[A loud single knock.

Enter Syng Smaul, L. 1 E.

Pasha.How now, slave?

Syng.How now, slave?Sire, a man is at the door,

 
He’s got a slave to sell.

Pasha.He’s got a slave to sell.I’ll buy no more.
[Exit Syng Smaul.

 
I’m plagued to death as ’tis, with those I’ve got.

Re-enter Syng Smaul, L. 1 E.

 
What now?

Syng.What now?He says you have bought this one.

Pasha.What now?He says you have bought this one.What?

Syng.And though to you such message may sound funny;

 
He said he would’nt leave without the money.

Pasha.Insolent caitiff! show him in—and stay—

 
Request our headsman, too, to step this way.
[Exit Syng Smaul.

Gul. [Aside.]

 
Who is this madman, rushing on to slaughter?

 

Enter Yussuf with Medora, veiled, L. 1 E.

Enter Syng Smaul, L.

 
Somebody stop these women’s tongues.How now?

Syng.A wandering dervise, by fatigue oppressed,

 
Begs you’ll allow him to come in and rest.

Pasha.Admit him.

Syng Smaul goes off, and returns with Conrad, L., disguised as a dervise; he bows to Pasha.

 
Admit him.Sir, come in, your boon we grant.

An Attendant brings wine.

 
Drink, sir; this maid will dance meanwhile.

Medora.Drink, sir; this maid will dance meanwhile.I shan’t.

Pasha.No sulks, young woman; we’ve an ugly knack

 
Of giving ladies who rebel—the sack.

Syng.Into the river, tied in bags, they’re shied.

Medora.Tied in a bag? I care not what betide.

Conrad. [Aside to her.]

 
Fear naught.

Medora.Fear naught.That voice!

Conrad.Fear naught.That voice!Take heed—don’t shout like that out.

Medora. [Aside.]

 
Talking of bags, I’d nearly let the cat out.

Pasha.Once for all—will you dance at my command?

Conrad.Stay, you’ve no music; let me call my band.

 
[Blows horn.] My followers, ho!

Pasha.[Blows horn.] My followers, ho!What mean these rude alarms?

Medora.The trumpet calls, and thus we fly to arms.
[They embrace.

Pasha.Tear them asunder!

[Music.Syng Smaul seizes Medorastruggle, in which Conrad’s cloak falls off.

 
Tear them asunder!Ho! the Corsair! murder!

[Ladies screamall rush off, carrying Medora, struggling, R.

Conrad. [Blows horn.]

 
My followers, ho!

Enter Birbanto, L.

Tableauscene closes.