Oberon (1826)

Act II


Scene I	A magnificent banqueting-hall in the palace of Haroun. ~ On a divan, at the back of the scene, the caliph is discovered seated. On his left hand is prince Babekan. ~ On each side of the divan hangs a rich veil, behind which are supposed to be the apartments of the females. ~ Embroidered carpets are spread before the caliph and the prince, and on them gilt trays are seen, filled with fruit, coffee, sherbets, etc. ~ The great officers of the caliph's court, black and white eunuchs, etc. form a line on each side of the stage.	Q Caliph, Babekan, Great officers, Eunuchs

[N. 7 - Chorus]		N

CHORUS	Glory to the caliph! to Haroun the just! Bow, ye true believers, before him to the dust. Woe betide the infidel who dares the caliph's might, when on the breeze he floating sees «the shadow and the night!» *
	* Two black banners, so called, of the caliph of the house of Abbas.

CALIPH	(to attendants) Peace. Prince, (to Babekan) the hour is arrived, which, my astrologers have assured me, is marked upon the table of light as the one destined by Allah for the marriage of our daughter Reiza.
BABEKAN	Commander of the faithful! The impatience of Babekan is at its height. May it please you to give for the instant solemnization of our nuptials?
CALIPH	Bring forth the bride. ~

Music. ~ The veil on the right of the caliph is withdrawn, and a train of dancing girls enter, preceding the princess, who, veiled, and richly attired for the ceremony, advances, supported by Fatima, and followed by the female slaves of the haram.		<- Dancing girls, Reiza, Fatima, Slaves of the haram

[N. 8 - Allegretto grazioso]		N

REIZA (aside to Fatima)	He is not here! Should he desert me now ~ (Gazes round her in great agitation, and grasps the hilt of her dagger.)
FATIMA (alarmed)	Lady, he will not. Be of good cheer, sweet mistress ~
CALIPH	Daughter, approach! (Clashing of swords without. L.) Hah! the clash of swords! Head of my father! What desperate slaves are these?

Enter sir Huon and Sherasmin, L. sword in hand.		<- Sir Huon, Sherasmin

SIR HUON	Where is my love, my bride?
REIZA	Ah! 'tis he! save me! save me!

Rushes into sir Huon's arms, C.		<- Sir Huon's arms

SIR HUON (kissing her)	Thus, thus thy Huon claims thee for his own!
CALIPH	Am I awake? Slaves! Dogs! Hew him in pieces!
BABEKAN (to the guards)	Hold! might caliph! be mine that task! (Drawing his scimitar, and rushing on sir Huon.)
SIR HUON	(disengaging himself from Reiza) Ha! Is it thou that sittest upon the caliph's left? Fortune, I thank thee! Die, unbelieving traitor! (Cuts him down.)
CALIPH (stamping with fury)	Allah il Allah! Tear out his heart!

	(The slaves, who have stood as if thunderstruck by the temerity of sir Huon, at this command rush towards him.)

SHERASMIN (to sir Huon quickly)	Master! the horn! the horn!

	(Sir Huon winds the horn: all exept himself and Sherasmin stand motionless in their various attitudes.)

SIR HUON	Thanks, Oberon! Cæsar, I have fulfilled my promise! ~ Haste, Sherasmin, ~ the power of the spell extends throughout the palace! While it lasts, let us secure the princess.
	(Exit, bearing out Reiza, L.)	Sir Huon, Reiza ->

SHERASMIN	And the waiting maid into the bargain. ~ Up and away, my pretty pagan! Like master, like man, say I ~ and a nicer little armful never fell to the lot of a Frank. ~ Don't stir, my good friends, I entreat ~ I couldn't think of troubling you.
	(Exit, bearing out Fatima, L.)	Sherasmin, Fatima ->



Scene II	The palace gardens. Enter four Saracens (the same as in the first act).	Q <- First Saracen, Second Saracen, Third Saracen, Fourth Saracen

FIRST SARACEN	Prithee, no more of thy foolery, Amrou; ~ the blows thou didst take from those christian dogs last night, have left such a singing in thine ears, that thou art incapable of understanding a plain tale, and dost confound accounts most vilely. ~ What possible relation can exist between those miserable infidels, and the daughter of the commander of the faithful?
SECOND SARACEN	That I know not. All I say is, that there is a rumour throughout the city, of a Frankish enchanter who has cast a spell upon the princess, and has vowed to carry her off on a fiery dragon, and ~
FIRST SARACEN	Peace ~ look yonder ~ what be they, hurrying hitherward, with each a woman in his arms?
SECOND SARACEN	The two infidels, by the beard of the prophet!
FIRST SARACEN	Amrou! Ali! let us behind these bushes. Be he Eblis himself, I'll be revenged on that foremost dog for the panic he put me in yesterday ~
SECOND SARACEN	Quick! Quick! We are four to two, and the guard within call. They cannot escape ~ unless they be devils indeed.
	(They retire.)	First Saracen, Second Saracen, Third Saracen, Fourth Saracen ->

Enter sir Huon and Sherasmin hastily ~ bearing Reiza and Fatima, L.		<- Sir Huon, Sherasmin, Reiza, Fatima

SIR HUON (stopping)	We have taken the wrong path. This leads us back to the palace.
SHERASMIN	No, no, sir. We are right enough ~ forward! forward!

	(The Saracens rush from their hiding-place, and seize sir Huon and Sherasmin.)	<- First Saracen, Second Saracen, Third Saracen, Fourth Saracen

FIRST SARACEN	We have the slaves! What ho! there ~ a guard! a guard!
SECOND SARACEN	Hold him fast. ~ (Snatching the magic horn.) There's that shall bring assistance. (Blows a furious blast.)

Violent thunder and lightning ~ the Saracens fly in terror ~ the stage fills with clouds, which open in the centre, and Oberon appears ~ Reiza and Fatima start from their trance.		First Saracen, Second Saracen, Third Saracen, Fourth Saracen -> <- Oberon

OBERON (to sir Huon)	Huon, thou hast redeem'd thy knightly pledge, and I am well content. The maid is thine! Yet ere thou waft her from her native shore, ~ speak, Reiza! Dost thou willingly forego pomp, riches, pow'r, thy native court and throne to be the bride of a young wand'ring knight, to love but him alone, and with him share each stern vicissitude his fate may know? Reflect, ere yet too late. If this alarm thee, bid love's delusive visions melt away, and at my word, the past no longer known, the caliph shall again his child embrace, and Reiza, great and glorious as before, shall reign the queen of Fars and Araby.
REIZA L.	King of the genii! for sure thou art no less! thy piercing eye can read my heart, and witness to the truth of my tongue. Come weal, come woe, Reiza will love and follow this valiant knight throughout the world, so he will prove as true!
SIR HUON L.	Else may all good desert me.
OBERON	Enough! (Waves his wand.)



Scene III	The clouds disperse, and discover the sea-shore, with the port of Ascalon: a vessel lying at anchor.	Q

OBERON	Behold the port of Ascalon! Yon bark is bound for Greece. Hie thee on board. Whate'er may hap, remember Oberon befriends ye, whilst his friendship you deserve. Farewell! Be true, and triumph! (Oberon vanishes through floor.) R. C.	Oberon ->

	(Exeunt sir Huon and Reiza.)	Sir Huon, Reiza ->

SHERASMIN (to Fatima)	Don't be frightened, my little unbeliever. He's an old friend, bless you. He didn't ask you if you'll love me; but there's little doubt of that when we come to be better acquainted. I'll make thee a marvellous fond husband, I warrant thee.
FATIMA C.	I must needs trust thee, for I have no other hope to follow my lady, and I would rather thou shouldst prove a bad one than part me from her.
SHERASMIN C.	Why then, most faithful of infidels! thou christian-hearted little mohammedan! thou shalt have me by this light, for thou deserv'st me; and I am not for every woman's market, I promise thee.
FATIMA	But canst thou love one of another faith?
SHERASMIN	'Faith can I, if she can love me; love is of all faiths.
FATIMA	And sometimes of none, in Araby. I know not if the men be truer in Frangistan ~
SHERASMIN	Frangi ~ O ~ ah ~ I know ~ you mean my country. Why, my dear, for the matter of that, a ~ a man's a man, you know, all the world over, except when he betrays an affectionate woman; and then, curse him, he's no man.
FATIMA	Ay, that's the way you all talk at the beginning. None of you ever dream of betraying an affectionate woman, till you find the woman is affectionate, and then an excuse is easily found for the action. But what will your other wives sav when you bring a stranger amongst them?
SHERASMIN	My other wives! O, never trouble your head about that, my love. We Franks find one wife at a time enough in all conscience.
FATIMA	One wife! how odd!
SHERASMIN	Odd! Ay, according to your matrimonial arithmetic, perhaps; but in my country we should call two wives the odd number; besides, we couldn't so easily get rid of a refractory spouse as your eastern husbands.
FATIMA	Do you Franks then never tie your wives up in sacks, and fling them into the river?
SHERASMIN	No; nor send them bow-strings with their husband's compliments, and beg they'll be so good as to be strangled immediately. But many in my country would be happy, I dare say, if you could introduce either of the customs.
FATIMA	Not I, for the world: I shall be too glad to live in a country where I need not be every moment putting my hand to my head, to feel if it be still on my shoulders.
SHERASMIN	Well, well, my little pagan, you have nothing to fear on that score; I have lived a stout bachelor these five-and-thirty years in despite of all the simpers and ogles of all the girls in Gascony. But there's something in those little heathen twinklers of thine which makes me fancy I shall love thee most furiously.
FATIMA	And shall I pay visits, and make feasts, as the married women do in Bagdad?
SHERASMIN	You shall walk till you're tired, and eat as long as you're able; you shall go to court, and see the emperor; you shall go to Rome, and see the pope; bid adieu to locks, bolts and bars, palaces that are prisons, and husbands that are gaolers. We'll be contracted here by a cadi, and married at home by a monk. In less than a year you'll drink wine, and abjure the koran; and then you and your first boy may be christened together. What sayest thou, my girl; dost think thou canst love me? Wilt thou follow me? And wilt thou follow nobody else afterwards? For such things do happen in France, once in a century or so.
FATIMA	Bless me, what a many questions you ask at a time; I hardly know how to answer you. But, I think I may promise.

[N. 9 - Aria]		N

	A lonely Arab maid, the desert's simple child, unskill'd in arts by which, 'tis said, men's love may be beguil'd. Like some uprooted flow'r am I, upon a river a little hour, then die, unheeded as I sprung. But if thy friendly hand should lift me from the tide, and bear me to some distant land, to bloom thy bosom's pride, o, sooner from his darling rose the nightingale shall roam, than I disturb that heart's repose, which love hath made my home.

SHERASMIN	Enough, my little warbler, thou art mine. This kiss to seal the bargain. By my faith, thou art the rose and the nightingale blended that thou sing'st of. An' my master be as well pleased as I am, there are not two happier fellows in christendom.

Re-enter sir Huon and Reiza, R. S. E. with the captain of the vessel.		<- Sir Huon, Reiza, Captain

SIR HUON	Now, Sherasmin, to the port. The wind is fair for Greece. The captain stays for us. Dear Reiza, I burn to kneel with thee before the throne of Charlesmagne! That sweet revenge is all I ask of heaven!

[N. 10 - Quartetto]		N

	SIR HUON, CAPTAIN Over the dark blue waters, over the wide, wide sea, fairest of Araby's daughters, say, wilt thou sail with me?

	REIZA, FATIMA Were there no bounds to the water, no shore to the wide, wide sea, still fearless would Araby's daughters sail on through life with thee.

	ALL On board then, on board, while the skies are light, and friendly blows the gale; our hearts are as true as our bark, and bright our hopes as its sun-lit sail.
	(Exeunt.) L. S. E.	Sir Huon, Reiza, Sherasmin, Fatima, Captain ->



Scene IV	Rocks.	Q <- Puck

Enter Puck, R.

[N. 11 - Air and Chorus]		N

PUCK C.	Here, by Oberon's command, have I flown from fairy land, ere to earth a dewy gem could drop from a rose's diadem gifted with his power to call those whose art may raise a squall, which shall make old ocean roll, foaming in his rocky bowl, till in wrath he piecemeal tear the bark which beareth yonder pair, and fling them on the island nigh; first trial of their constancy. Spirits of air, and earth, and sea, spirits of fire, which holy be, all that have pow'r o'er wind and wave, come hither, come hither, my spirits so brave.

	Whether ye be in the caverns dark lighted alone by the diamond spark, or beneath the waters deep, where the prison'd pearl doth sleep, or in skies beyond the one mortal eyes do lock upon, or in the womb of some groaning hill, where the lava streams is boiling still, ~ spirits, wherever you chance to be, come hither, come hither, come hither to me; I charge ye by the magic ring of your faithful friend, the fairy king.

	(Spirits appear in various parts of the stage.)	<- Spirits

SPIRITS	We are here! we are here! Say, what must be done? Must we cleave the moon's sphere? Must we darken the sun? Must we empty the ocean upon its own shore? Speak! speak! we heave pow'r to do this and more!
PUCK	Nay, nay, your task will be, at most, to wreck a bark upon this coast, which simple fairy may not do, and, therefore have I summon'd you!
SPIRITS	Nought but that? Ho, ho, ho, ho! Lighter labour none we know. Winds and waves obey the spell: hark! 'tis done! Farewell! farewell!

	(Thunder and lightning. Puck and spirits vanish.) R.	Puck, Spirits ->



Scene V	Cavern on the sea-beach. The ocean seen through the mouth of it. Other perforations lead through the rock to the interior of the island. Storm continued. Stage wery dark: fragments of wreck are thrown upon the stage. Enter sir Huon, supporting Reiza, who is nearly exhausted.	Q <- Sir Huon, Reiza

SIR HUON	Look up, my love! my wife! O heaven, she dies! my Reiza dies! And I ~ I am her murderer! ~ 'Twas for my sake she gave up every thing ~ a throne! ~ a father! ~ O spare her, gracious heaven!

	(Reiza falls on a rock.) C.

[N. 12 - Air]		N

	C. Ruler of this awful hour, spare! oh, spare you tender flow'r! If thou must strike, oh let thy thunder fall on me! on me! the wretched cause of all!	S

REIZA (recovering)	Huon!
SIR HUON	Ah! she speaks! she speaks! But wretch that I am! where shall I find food and shelter for her on this frightful shore? O my sweet bride! to see thee thus forlorn and desolate, and know myself the cause drives me to madness!
REIZA	Dearest Huon, do not speak thus. If I must die, it is enough that I breathe my last upon thy bosom.
SIR HUON	My fond, true girl! ~ This kindness but augments my agony! That such should be the fate of love like thine! O Oberon! is this thy friendship? Cruel spirit! no help! No. ~ (The waves cast the magic cup on shore.) Hah! can it be? (Snatching it up, and putting it to his lips.) It is! It is the magic cup! Forgive me, fairy! Drink, drink, sweet Reiza; for thee its richest stream will surely flow.
REIZA (rising, after having drank)	O cheering draught! thy power is great indeed; I feel new strength; new hope thrill through my veins. Dear Huon, a wonder chained our hearts together, and wonders still surround us. Yes, these are but trials surely, and though severe they be, will end in happiness.
SIR HUON	I must needs think so, but alas! this cup! where is its faithful bearer? My poor varlet! my trusty Sherasmin! drowned! drowned!
REIZA	And Fatima, the kind devoted Fatima, she too, I fear, hath perished. Thou and I alone have 'scaped the general wreck!
SIR HUON	Not so. The heartless captain and his crew took to the boats. Despairing then, I plunged with thee into the waves, followed by Sherasmin with Fatima; and from that moment I saw them no more.
REIZA	Unfortunates!
SIR HUON	But what must mow be done? The storm is abating, as if satisfied with the destruction it hath made: this cavern is dry and overgrown with moss. What if thou should'st rest thee here while I ascend the cliffs, and look around to see if aught like human aid be near us?
REIZA	Be it so. But stay not long from me.
SIR HUON	I will not sweetest. Ah! where is now the ivory horn that would have brought us succour instantly?
	(Exit sir Huon, R.)	Sir Huon ->

[N. 13 - Recitative and Aria]		N

REIZA	Ocean! thou mighty monster that liest curled like a green serpent, round about the world! To musing eye thou art an awful sight, when calmly sleeping in the morning light, but when thou risest in thy wrath, as now, and fling'st thy folds around some fated prow, crushing the strong-ribb'd bark as 'twere a reed, then, ocean, art thou terrible indeed!	S

	Still I see thy billows flashing, through the gloom their white foaming flinging, and the breaker's sullen dashing, in mine ear hope's knell is ringing! But lo! methinks a light is breaking slowly o'er the distant deep, like a second morn awaking, pale and feeble from its sleep! Brighter now, behold, 'tis beaming on the storm whose misty train, like some shatter'd flag is streaming, or a wild steed's flying mane!

	And now the sun bursts forth! the wind is lulling fast, and the broad wave but pants from fury past!

	Cloudless o'er the blushing water, now the setting sun is burning! Like a victor red with slaughter, to his tent in triumph turning! Ah! perchance these eyes may never look upon its light again! Fare thee well, bright orb, forever! Thou for me wilt rise in vain! But what gleams so white and fair, heaving with the heaving billow? 'Tis a seabird wheeling there o'er some wretch's wat'ry pillow! No! it is no bird I mark. Joy! It is a boat! a sail and yonder rides a gallant bark uninjur'd by the gale!

	O transport! my Huon! haste down to the shore! Quick, quick, for a signal, this scarf shall be waved! they see me! they answer! they ply the strong oar! my husband, my love! we are saved! we are saved!

	(During this scene, the storm clears off as described; the setting sun breaks forth in full splendour; a small boat is seen, and immediately afterwards a large vessel. Towards the conclusion of the scena the boat disappears as making in for the shore.)

	Huon! Huon! why tarriest thou? Se, they near the beach! they leap into the surf ~ they come.

Enter Abdallah and pirates, L.		<- Abdallah, Pirates

ABDALLAH	Hah! a fair prize, by Mahomet! Seize her, my lads, and away to sea again: she's worth a fortune to us!

	(They seize her.)

REIZA	What mean ye, strangers? I cannot go alone! One dear to me as life is ranging o'er the cliffs; but he will return speedily. Huon! Huon!
ABDALLAH	He will return! It's a man then. No, no, my Peri! we have neither time to wait his return, nor wish for his company. The market's overstocked with male rubbish. Thou art just the bale of goods we were looking for. To the boat with her!
REIZA	Ah! Huon! Huon! save me! help! help!

Sir Huon rushes in, R.		<- Sir Huon

SIR HUON	Madness and misery! villains, release her!
ABDALLAH	(aising his sword to plunge into his bosom) Down with the dog.

	(Sir Huon is struck to the ground senseless.) R.

REIZA	(breaking from the grasp of the pirates, and flinging herself before sir Huon) Mercy! Mercy!
ABDALLAH	Dost thou plead for him? Well, 'twere almost a pity to stain a good Damascus blade with the blood of so sorry a slave as this. So I'll be merciful for once. Bind him and leave him to his fate. He'll starve and rot; and there's an ablution saved. Away with her to the boat.
REIZA	O horrible! Leave him not to perish here alone! If ye be men, have pity on us both: sell us for slaves, but do not separate us!
ABDALLAH	To the boat I say!

	(They drag off Reiza) L. (while another party bind the arms of sir Huon, who remains insensible) R.	Abdallah, Reiza, Pirates ->

As soon as they have quitted the stage, a symphony is heard. Oberon descends in a car drawn by swans.		<- Oberon

OBERON	Alas! poor mortal! Oberon deplores the cruel fate which bids him to the quick probe the hurt spirit of a child of clay, so free from all the leaven of his race! But keep thou true; and once thy trials o'er, the fairy friend, released from his rash vow, shall pay thee, for each moment past of pain, years of high honour and unfading love! (stamping) Puck! my brave spirit!

PUCK (appearing) L.	Here, great Oberon!	<- Puck
OBERON	Servant, here is more to do; thou must guard this child of clay from the night's unwholesome dew, from the scorching beams of day, 'till yon sun, about to set, hath seven times the waters met; for, when seven days have past, the pirate shall his anchor cast in Tunis' bay. Then through the air, as quick as light this mortal bear, and lay him gently down before old Ibrahim the gard'ner's door. Lo! upon his lids I shed sleep like that which binds the dead. Sound nor shock the spell shall brake, 'till thou in Tunis bid him wake.
PUCK C.	Mighty king of fairy land, be it as thou dost command, him to shield from sun and shower, Puck will build a fairy bow'r here upon this desert shore, where never flow'ret bloomed before.



Waves his wand; a pavilion of flowers rises and encloses sir Huon. The sun sets and the stars appear.		Q Sir Huon ->

PUCK	See ~ 'tis done; nor noxious dew nor scorching ray shall pierce it through, though ev'ry gentle beam and air may freely find an entrance there. But, master! mark where in the sky the night star opes its silver eye, the herald of the lady moon, whose light will gladden the waters soon! And, hark! ~ the mermaids' witching strain steals o'er the lull'd and list'ning main!

[N. 14 - Finale]		N

FIRST MERMAID (within)	O! 'tis pleasant to float on the sea, when the wearied waves in a deep sleep be, and the last faint light of the sun hath fled, and the stars are must'ring over head, and the night-breeze comes with its breath so bland, laden with sweets from a distant land! O! 'tis pleasant to float and sing, while ever our dripping locks we wring.	S (♦) (♦)
SECOND MERMAID	O! 'tis pleasant to float on the sea, when nothing stirs on its breast but we! The warder leans at the twilight hour, over the wall of his time-worn tow'r and signs himself and mutters a pray'r, then listens again to the 'witching air! O! 'tis pleasant to float and sing, while ever our dripping locks we wring!

PUCK	Master! say ~ our toil is o'er, may we dance upon this shore? And a merry burden bear to the mermaids' ditty rare?
OBERON	Better boon thy zeal hath won I will stay and see it done.

OBERON, PUCK	Hither! hither! ye elfin throng, come dance on the sands to the mermaids' song; hasten and prove to the nymphs of the sea, that the spirits of earth can as jocund be; come as lightly, and look as fair, as blossoms that sail on the summer air. Hither! hither! ye elfin throng, come dance on the sands to the mermaids' song.

During the duo the stage becomes illuminated by the light of the moon. Mermaids and water nymphs appear on the sea, and fairies enter, and sing the following chorus.		<- Mermaids, Water nymphs, Fairies

	CHORUS Who would stay in her coral cave, when the moon shines o'er the quiet wave, and the stars are studding the dark blue arch, through which she speeds on her nightly march. Merrily, merrily, let us sail over the sea by her light so pale!

	OBERON, PUCK, FAIRIES Who would sleep in the lily's bell, when the moon shines over each wood and dell, and the stars are studding the dark blue arch, through which she speeds on her nightly march. Merrily, merrily, dance we here over the sands by her light so clear.

The end (Act II)

Act I Act II Act III