Irreverent mockery of the genuflexions Things being in this happy state, the Queen A loud cry from the Pigs. She is innocent! most innocent! Purganax. That is the very thing that I was saying, Gentlemen swine; the Queen Iona being Most innocent, no doubt, returns to Thebes, (I mean those more substantial pigs, who swill Maintain you in to the last drop of A Boar (interrupting him). Does any one accuse her of? Purganax. What Why, no one Makes any positive accusation ;-but There were hints dropped, and so the privy wizards His majesty to investigate their truth ;— The sows especially, and what effect It might produce upon the purity and Of sucking-pigs, if it could be suspected First Boar. Well, go on; we long To hear what she can possibly have done. [A pause Purganax. Why, it is hinted, that a certain bull— Thus much is known :-the milk-white bulls that feed Beside Clitumnus and the crystal lakes Of the Cisalpine mountains, in fresh dews Of lotus-grass and blossoming asphodel, Sleeking their silken hair, and with sweet breath Loading the morning winds until they faint With living fragrance, are so beautiful! Well, I say nothing;-but Europa rode On such a one from Asia into Crete, And the enamoured sea grew calm beneath Purganax. Behold this BAG; a bag Second Boar. Oh! no GREEN BAGS!! Jealousy's eyes are green, Scorpions are green, and water-snakes, and efts, And verdigris, and Purganax. Honourable swine, In piggish souls can prepossessions reign? If innocent, she will turn into an angel, And rain down blessings in the shape of comfits As she flies up to heaven. Now, my proposal Is to convert her sacred majesty Into an angel, (as I am sure we shall do,) By pouring on her head this mystic water. [Showing the Bag. I know that she is innocent; I wish Only to prove her so to all the world. First Boar. Excellent, just, and noble Purganax! Second Boar. How glorious it will be to see her majesty Flying above our heads, her petticoats Streaming like-like-like Third Boar. But like a standard of an admiral's ship, Or like a cloud dyed in the dying day, Unravelled on the blast from a white mountain; Or water-fall from a dizzy precipice Scattered upon the wind. First Boar. Or a cow's tail, Second Boar. Or any thing, as the learned boar observed. Purganax. Gentlemen boars, I move a resolution, That her most sacred majesty should be Invited to attend the feast of Famine, And to receive upon her chaste white body Dews of Apotheosis from this BAG. [A great confusion is heard of the Pigs out of Doors, which communicates itself to those within. During the first Strophe, the doors of the Sty are staved in, and a number of exceedingly lean Pigs and Sows and Boars rush in. SEMICHORUS I. No! Yes! SEMICHORUS II. Yes! No! SEMICHORUS I. A law! SEMICHORUS II. A flaw! SEMICHORUS I. Porkers, we shall lose our wash, FIRST BOAR. Order! order! be not rash! Was there ever such a scene, pigs! I never saw so fine a dash SECOND BOAR (solemnly). The Queen will be an angel time enough. I vote, in form of an amendment, that Upon his face Purganax. [His heart is seen to beat through his waistcoat. Gods! What would ye be at? SEMICHORUS I. Purganax has plainly shown a SEMICHORUS II. I vote Swellfoot and Iona A miserable state is that of pigs, For if their drivers would tear caps and wigs, AN OLD SOW (aside). A wretched lot Jove has assigned to swine, CHORUS. Hog-wash has been ta'en away: If the Bull-Queen is divested, Hunted, stript, exposed, molested; That she shall not be arrested. QUEEN, we entrench you with walls of brawn, Those who sting you, sting us; The oracle is now about to be Fulfilled by circumvolving destiny; Which says: "Thebes, choose reform or civil war, Enter IONA TAURINA, lona Taurina (coming forward). Gentlemen swine, and gentle lady-pigs, The tender heart of every boar acquits With native piggishness, and she reposing With confidence upon the grunting nation, Has thrown herself, her cause, her life, her all, Of finding shelter there. Yet know, great boars, I have accepted your protection only In compliment of your kind love and care, Are safest there where trials and dangers wait; Lord PURGANAX, I do commit myself To stand the test, whatever it may be! Purganax. This magnanimity in your sacred majesty Must please the pigs. You cannot fail of being A heavenly angel. Smoke your bits of glass, Ye loyal swine, or her transfiguration Will blind your wondering eyes. An Old Boar (aside). They do not smoke you first. Purganax. Of Famine, let the expiation be. Take care, my lord, At the approaching feast "Rich and rare were the gems she wore." See Moore's Irish Melodies. Swine. Content! content! Iona Taurina (aside). I, most content of all, Know that my foes even thus prepare their fall! [Exeunt omnes. SCENE II. The interior of the Temple of FAMINE. The statue of the Goddess, a skeleton clothed in party-coloured rags, seated upon a neap of skulls and loaves intermingled. A number of exceedingly fat Priests in black garments arrayed on each side, with marrow-bones and cleavers in their hands. A flourish of trumpets. Enter MAMMON as Arch-priest, SWELLFOOT, DAKRY, PURGANAX, LAOCTONOS, followed by IONA TAURINA guarded. On the other side enter the Swine. CHORUS OF PRIESTS Accompanied by the Court Porkman on marrow-bones and cleavers. Goddess bare, and gaunt, and pale, Empress of the world, all hail! What though Cretans old called thee City-crested Cybele? We call thee FAMINE! Goddess of fasts and feasts, starving and cramming; Through thee, for emperors, kings, and priests and lords, Who rule by viziers, sceptres, bank-notes, words, The earth pours forth its plenteous fruits, Corn, wool, linen, flesh, and roots Those who consume these fruits through thee grow fat And let things be as they have ever been; At least while we remain thy priests, And proclaim thy fasts and feasts! Through thee the sacred SWELLFOOT dynasty Whose waves are swine-so let it ever be ! [SWELLFOOT, &c., seat themselves at a table magnificently Mammon. I fear your sacred majesty has lost |