Valentine and Orson, a Romantic Melo-Drame, as Performed at the Theatre-Royal Covent-Garden

Thomas Frognall Dibdin

Valentine and Orson, a Romantic Melo-Drame, as Performed at the Theatre-Royal Covent-Garden

To CHARLES FARLEY

AS A FEEBLE, THOUGH SINCERE, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS PROFESSIONAL EXERTIONS, UNREMITTING ZEAL, ATTENTION, AND ASSIDUITY, IN THE STAGE-ARRANGEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING BAGATELLE, ITS PAGES ARE MOST CORDIALLY INSCRIBED BY

T. DIBDIN.

The Ladies and Gentlemen, who have so eminently distinguished themselves in the Performance, are also respectfully desired to accept, as they most amply merit, the Author's best Thanks.

⁂The Lines marked by inverted Commas, are omitted in Representation.

CHARACTERS

FRENCH

SARACENS

ACT I

SCENE I.—A long Perspective of the Suburbs of Orleans, terminating with the ancient City Gates – On one Side a Convent, the Windows of which are illuminated from within – The Stage is at first dark, which gives Effect to the Transparency of the Windows – As the Curtain rises slowly, the following choral Chaunt, accompanied by the Organ, is heard from the Interior of the Monastery

Hear, while our choral numbers flow,Hear! and avert the awful doom,Which human frailty fears below,When summon'd to the insatiate tomb.

The Monastery Gates open, and the Friars and Nuns enter in Procession, singing the following

CHORUSNow bolder raise the hallow'd strain,While living worth we haste to meet,Our King, victorious comes again,Again our foes sustain defeat.

They cross to the opposite Side, and exeunt while singing. – As they go off, the Stage becomes lighter (descriptive Music) The Dawn reddens, and the Sun rises over the City; the Gates of which are thrown open, Hugo, with a Mob of Citizens, Soldiers, and Peasantry, come shouting down to the Front of the Stage, the Music ceases and Hugo speaks.

Hugo

Stop! stop! stop! now don't be in such a plaguy hurry. The holy brethren and sisters are just before us, and you, with your noise, would interrupt their merry solemnity.

First Citizen

Merry solemnity, do you call it?

Hugo

Ay, truly – they have just chaunted a solemn requiem in annual memory of the king's departed sister – and now, a merry occasion calls them forth to meet our good old king himself, who has been fighting for his people, conquered his foes, and deserves the thanks of all his friends.

Second Citizen

Then why stand we here?

Hugo

Why not? The king will pass through that gate, for the opening of which we have so long waited – and instead of going to the show, if we tarry a few moments, the show will come to us.

Third Citizen

They say the king's favourite, young Valentine, hath gained great honour in these wars.

Hugo

That he hath: – and humble though I seem, I have helped him to no small part of it.

All

You!

Hugo

To be sure – I made the very sword with which he slew the Saracens; and I defy any man to be killed with a better tempered weapon. Oh! I'll be bound he laid about him. – He had 'em here, and he had 'em there. (Flourishing his stick to the annoyance of the mob.)

Second Citizen

But, friend Hugo, why shou'd the king lavish so much favour on a foundling?

Old Woman

Aye, aye, he was found in a forest – Well, well, when great men go a-hunting, and find children in the woods, it's time for the fair sex to look about 'em.

Third Citizen

And mark the end of it – In that very spot where Valentine was found, there has suddenly appeared a strange wild man, some say he is fourteen feet high.

Second Citizen

No, no; thirteen feet and a half.

Third Citizen

Who, to feed an old weather-beaten she-bear, bears down all before him.

First Citizen

Nay, but Valentine is well-beloved among us too: the old men admire him, and his courtesy has gained him the hearts of all the young women.

Old Woman

He never said a civil thing to me in all his life.

Hugo

There it is – his honesty has made him enemies. There's Henry and Haufray, the cousins of the king, have determined to destroy him, because one is said to want to be heir to the throne, by marrying the king's daughter, the Princess Eglantine; and the other conceits himself to be the only man in the kingdom, fit for the office of captain general over all our victorious armies. Stand aside! – Here come all our noble peers to meet the king.

GRAND MARCH

The Peers of France advance from the Gate to meet the king, who enters with the following

ORDER OF PROCESSIONAn OfficerBanner of FranceMen at Arms, two and twoOfficerBannerSoldiers with Spears and ShieldsChoristers, two and twoGrand CrossLady AbbessChoristersGrand CrozierNuns and Friars, two and twoBlack MusiciansOfficer bearing the OriflammePeers of France, two and twoThe KingPages and Armour bearersHenry and HaufrayOfficerRed BannerMen at ArmsOfficerBannerSoldiersPage with Valentine's StandardValentineSaracen General and Officers in ChainsThe Chorus forms an Accompaniment to the MarchCHORUSWith the gladsome notes of victory,Let the merry cymbals ring,Till earth resounds a people's cry,Whose hearts proclaim —Long live the King!

During the Chorus the Characters are so arranged that the King is in the centre, and when the Music stops, he speaks:

King

This genuine welcome from my people is the most brilliant trophy I have gained: – but thank not me, my friends – to this young warrior's arm we owe success. (pointing to Valentine) The giant chieftain of yon pagan host measures his length on earth, subdued by valour and by Valentine.

Valentine

My gracious liege; the child of chance, the creature of your bounty can never atchieve a thousandth part of what he owes to you, his sovereign, and his father.

King

Yet, in requital of that sense of honour, take from thy king the Earldom of Auvergne.

Henry

(Apart to the King.) Auvergne! a royal title! – He'll next obtain the crown – Sure, my liege, a man unknown —

King

It is my best prerogative to rescue unknown merit from obscurity.

Haufray

(Aside.) If this goes on, he will aspire to gain the princess. (apart to the king) Men of birth, great sir —

King

Will be most proud of him, whose zeal, at once, supports my crown, their honours, and the people's cause.

Officer

Dread sir, your daughter, beauteous Eglantine, impatient waits you at the royal palace.

King

Tell her, we long to clasp her to a father's bosom. Captives, your lives were spared on the condition that you receive our faith (the Saracens bow). Be preparation made, and let Religion's triumph grace our feast. Auvergne, my daughter's lips, again, shall speak her father's thanks – Our citizens of Orleans ope' their gates with loyal welcome to receive their sovereign. Thus ever may the king and people of this happy land, endeared by firm affection to each other, own the dear ties of father and of children! and, woe to those, who, with a traitor's hand, would tear the bond asunder! – Lead on.

Exeunt in procession. The King and Attendants go off thro' the city gates – The Captives, accompanied by the Friars and Nuns, enter the Monastery.

SCENE II. —Interior of the Convent

Enter Blandiman and BelisantaBelisanta

Have all retired? Are we observed, my friend?

Blandiman

The fathers seek their cells to offer prayers for the new converts.

Belisanta

Alas! 'tis now the twentieth year since I have sought the mournful consolation of recounting how much a wretched woman owes thy friendship.

Blandiman

Away with sorrow, and in this moment of rejoicing, demand an audience of the king, your brother.

Belisanta

He thinks his sister guilty. Was I not banished by my husband the Emperor of Greece, fatally wrought on by traiterous slander, when, you, alone, accompanied a weak, defenceless woman?

Blandiman

Never shall I forget when, wearied with anguish and fatigue, you sat beneath a blasted oak; the wind with mournful sound scattered the falling leaves – meanwhile your groans were echoed by the distant murmur of nightly prowling wolves.

Belisanta

When, at my request you left me, in the hope of finding human aid, two babes, the offspring of my unkind husband, first saw the light. Starting with agony, these eyes beheld one of my children in the savage gripe of a most hideous bear. One desperate effort, short as furious, impelled me to attempt pursuit. I fell, and knew no more of sense, till from a peasant's wife I learned that she had found and borne me to her humble dwelling.

Blandiman

I wandered far, till the sound of horns led me to where I met the king, who with a frown at hearing of your name, on pain of death, warned me to leave his presence.

Belisanta

Vainly I sought my infant left behind – reason a second time forsook her seat. – The sisters of this convent poured balm into my bosom, and religion, cloathed in the garb of patience, brought me peace.

Blandiman

Have you ne'er yet disclosed your name and rank?

Belisanta

Accounted dead, and masses for my soul's health yearly ordered, I vowed that as my children were for ever lost to me, my husband and my brother unconvinced of the cruel treacheries employed against me, ne'er to be known but as a sister of this order.

Blandiman

Yet may you hope that providence will watch o'er piety and innocence, and but to-day, I learned that Valentine, a favourite of the king's was found —

Enter a FriarFriar

The duties of our order require your presence to join the Pagan captives in preparation for the sacred change they are about to make.

Belisanta

We attend you, father. – (To Blandiman) The ceremony past, I wait your leisure – and for your friendly deeds, they'll meet reward from where I hope my prayers have long since registered them.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.—The Palace

(Descriptive Music.)

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