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_ ACT II - SCENE I
SCENE--By moonlight--a forest--a castle illuminated at a distance.--A group of peasants seated on the ground, each with a knapsack beside him.--One peasant lies stretched on the ground.
1st Peasant.
Why, what I say is, that the wheel of the cart being broken,
and the horse dead lame, and Charles there in that plight
--(points to the sleeping peasant)
--it is a folly to think of getting on further this evening.
2nd Peasant.
And what I say is, it's folly to sleep here, seeing I know the country, and am certain sure we have not above one mile at furthest to go, before we get to the end of our journey.
1st Peasant
(pointing to the sleeper).
He can't walk a mile--he's done for--dog tired--
3rd Peasant.
Are you certain sure we have only one mile further to go?
2nd Peasant.
Certain sure--
All, except the sleeper and the 1st Peasant.
Oh, let us go on, then, and we can carry the
knapsacks on our backs for this one mile.
1st Peasant.
You must carry him, then, knapsack and all.
All together.
So we will.
2nd Peasant.
But first, do you see, let's waken him; for a sleeping man's
twice as heavy as one that's awake--Hollo, friend! waken! waken!
--(he shakes the sleeper, who snores loudly)
--Good Lord, he snores loud enough to waken all the birds in the wood.
[All the peasants shout in the sleeper's ear,
and he starts up, shaking himself.]
Charles.
Am I awake?--(stretching.)
2nd Peasant.
No, not yet, man
--Why, don't you know where you are?
Ay; here's the moon--and these be trees; and
--I be a man, and what do you call this?
(holding up a knapsack.)
Charles.
A knapsack, I say, to be sure:--I'm as broad awake as the best of you.
2nd Peasant.
Come on, then; we've a great way further to go before you sleep again.
Charles.
A great way further! further to-night!--No, no.
2nd Peasant.
Yes, yes; we settled it all while you were fast asleep
--You are to be carried, you and your knapsack.
[They prepare to carry him.]
Charles
(starting up, and struggling with them).
I've legs to walk--I won't be carried!
--I, a Swede, and be carried!--No! No!--
Together.
Yes! Yes!
Charles.
No! No!
--(he struggles for his knapsack, which comes
untied in the struggle, and all the things fall out.)
--There, this comes of playing the fool.
[They help him to pick up the things, and exclaim,]
All.
There's no harm done
--(throwing the knapsack over his shoulder).
Charles.
I'm the first to march, after all.
Peasants.
Ay, in your sleep!
[Exeunt, laughing.]
Enter CATHERINE'S two little Children.
Little Girl.
I am sure I heard some voices this way--suppose it was the fairies!
Little Boy.
It was only the rustling of the leaves.
There are no such things as fairies;
but if there were any such, we have no need to fear them.
Little Boy sings.
I.
Nor elves, nor fays, nor magic charm,
Have pow'r, or will, to work us harm;
For those who dare the truth to tell,
Fays, elves, and fairies, wish them well.
II.
For us they spread their dainty fare,
For us they scent the midnight air;
For us their glow-worm lamps they light,
For us their music cheers the night.
Little Girl sings.
I.
Ye fays and fairies, hasten here,
Robed in glittering gossamere;
With tapers bright, and music sweet,
And frolic dance, and twinkling feet.
II.
And, little Mable, let us view
Your acorn goblets fill'd with dew;
Nor warn us hence till we have seen
The nut-shell chariot of your queen:
III.
In which on nights of yore she sat,
Driven by her gray-coated gnat;
With spider spokes and cobweb traces,
And horses fit for fairy races.
IV.
And bid us join your revel ring,
And see you dance, and hear you sing:
Your fairy dainties let us taste,
And speed us home with fairy haste.
Little Boy.
If there were really fairies,
and if they would give me my wish, I know what I should ask.
Little Girl.
And so do I--I would ask them to send father home before I could count ten.
Little Boy.
And I would ask to hear his general say to him, in the face of the whole army, "This is a brave man!" And father should hold up his head as I do now, and march thus by the side of his general.
[As the little Boy marches, he stumbles.]
Little Girl. Oh! take care!
--come, let us march home:--but stay, I have not found my faggot.
Little Boy.
Never mind your faggot; it was not here you left it.
Little Girl.
Yes, it was somewhere here, I'm sure, and I must find it,
to carry it home to mother, to make a blaze for her before she goes to bed.
Little Boy.
But she will wonder what keeps us up so late.
Little Girl.
But we shall tell her what kept us. Look under those trees, will you, whilst I look here, for my faggot.--When we get home, I shall say, "Mother, do you know there is great news?--there's a great many, many candles in the windows of the great house, and dancing and music in the great house, because the master's come home, and the housekeeper had not time to pay us, and we waited and waited with our faggots; at last the butler--"
Little Boy.
Heyday!--What have we here?--a purse, a purse, a heavy purse.
Little Girl.
Whose can it be? let us carry it home to mother.
Little Boy.
No, no; it can't be mother's: mother has no purse full of money.
It must belong to somebody at the great house.
Little Girl.
Ay, very likely to dame Ulrica, the housekeeper,
for she has more purses and money than any body else in the world.
Little Boy.
Come, let us run back with it to her,
--mother would tell us to do so, I'm sure, if she was here.
Little Girl.
But I'm afraid the housekeeper won't see us to-night.
Little Boy.
Oh, yes; but I'll beg, and pray, and push, till I get into her room.
Little Girl.
Yes; but don't push me, or I shall knock my head against the trees.
Give me your hand, brother.--Oh, my faggot! I shall never find you.
[Exeunt.] _
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