Enter BLACKTHORN, half-dressed as Owlspiegle. He left the hall before, but then took fright, Had you seen Leonard, when she left the hall [dinary Put on your spectacles, And try if you can read it at this distance, For you shall come no nearer. [ture, Black. But is there nothing, then, save rank imposIn all these tales of goblinry at Devorgoil? [ing Kat. My aunt's grave lord thinks otherwise, supposThat his great name so interests the Heavens, That miracles must needs bespeak its fallI would that I were in a lowly cottage Beneath the greenwood, on its walls no armour To court the levin-bolt Black. And a kind husband, Katleen, To ward such dangers as must needs come nigh.— My father's cottage stands so low and lone, That you would think it solitude itself; The greenwood shields it from the northern blast, And, in the woodbine round its latticed casement, The linnet's sure to build the earliest nest Flo. (smiling.) Kind Master Gullcrammer, How can you ask me aught so unbecoming? Gull. Oh, fie, fie, fie !-Believe me, Mistress Flora, 'Tis not for that—but being guided through Such dreary galleries, stairs, and suites of rooms, To this same cubicle, I'm somewhat loath To bid adieu to pleasant company. Flo. A flattering compliment !-In plain truth you are frighten'd. Gull. What! frighten'd?-I-I-am not timorous. Flo. Perhaps you've heard this is our haunted chamber? But then it is our best-Your Reverence knows, Flo. It is an uncouth and outlandish name, Flo. Hush, hush, hush! [merry spirit; Perhaps he hears us now-(in an under tone)—A None of your elves that pinch folks black and blue, For lack of cleanliness. Gull. As for that, Mistress Flora, My taffeta doublet hath been duly brush'd, As ghostly hours approach. I'll to my bed Flo. Why, you need fear no goblins. But this Beneath the clothes-leave the lamp burning there, Owlspiegle Is of another class;-yet has his frolics; Cuts hair, trims beards, and plays amid his antics The office of a sinful mortal barber. Such is at least the rumour. Gull. He will not cut my clothes, or scar my face, Or draw my blood? Flo. Enormities like these Were never charged against him. [Sets it on the table. [He lays aside his cloak, and brushes it, as from habit, starting at every moment; ties a napkin over his head; then shrinks beneath the bedclothes. He starts once or twice, and at length seems to go to sleep. A bell tolls ONE. He leaps up in his bed. And trust to fate the issue. Gull. I had just coax'd myself to sweet forgetfulness, And that confounded bell-I hate all bells, Gull. And, Mistress Flora, would you smile on me, Except a dinner bell-and yet I lie, too,— If, prick'd by the fond hope of your approval, I should endure this venture? Flo. I shall have cause to smile. Gull. I do hope Well! in that hope [She is going. Flo. night, sir. [piegle, -Good [Exit, and double-locks the door. Gull. Nay, hold ye, hold!-Nay, gentle Mistress Flora, Wherefore this ceremony?-She has lock'd me in, It would be better mann'd. She has a footstep light, and taper ankle. [Sits down and drinks. [Chuckles. Aha! that ankle! yet, confound it too, I love the bell that soon shall tell the parish Duet without, between OWLSPIEGLE and COCKLEDEMOY. OWLSPIEGLE. Cockledemoy! My boy, my boy COCKLEDEMOY. Here, father, here. OWLSPIEGLE. Now the pole-star's red and burning, Gull. (who has again raised himself, and listened But never of his child. Now, Heaven deliver me! They have their Latin prayers, cut and dried, And pat for such occasion—I can think OWLSPIEGLE. We'll sport us here COCKLEDEMOY. Our gambols play, OWLSPIEGLE. And domineer, BOTH. Laugh, frolic, and frisk, till the morning appear. COCKLEDEMOY. Lift latch-open clasp Shoot bolt-and burst hasp! [The door opens with violence. Enter BLACKTHORN as OWLSPIEGLE, fantastically dressed as a Spanish Barber, tall, thin, emaciated, and ghostly; KATLEEN as COCKLEDEMOY, attends as his Page. All their manners, tones, and motions, are fantastic, as those of Goblins. They make two or three times the circuit of the Room, without seeming to see GULLCRAMMER. They then resume their Chant, or Recitative. OWLSPIEGLE. Cock ledemoy! My boy, my boy, What wilt thou do that will give thee joy? Wilt thou ride on the midnight owl? COCKLEDEMOY. No; for the weather is stormy and foul. OWLSPIEGLE. Cockledemoy! My boy, my boy, What wilt thou do that can give thee joy? With a needle for a sword, and a thimble for a hat, Wilt thou fight a traverse with the castle cat? COCKLEDEMOY. Oh, no! she has claws, and I like not that. Gull. I see the devil is a doating father, And spoils his children-'tis the surest way To make cursed imps of them. They see me not— What will they think on next? It must be own'd, They have a dainty choice of occupations. OWLSPIEGLE. Cockledemoy! My boy, my boy, What shall we do that can give thee joy? Shall we go seek for a cuckoo's nest? COCKLEDEMOY. That's best, that's best! BOTH. About, about, Like an elvish scout, The cuckoo's a gull, and we'll soon find him out. [They search the room with mops and mows. At length COCKLEDEMOY jumps on the bed. GULLCRAMMER raises himself half up, supporting himself by his hands. COCKLEDEMOY does the same, and grins at him, then skips from the bed, and runs to OWLSPIEGle. COCKLEDEMOY. I've found the nest, And in it a guest, With a sable cloak and a taffeta vest; He must be wash'd, and trimm'd, and dress'd, To please the eyes he loves the best. OWLSPIEGLE. That's best, that's best. BOTH. He must be shaved, and trimm'd, and dress'd, [They arrange shaving things on the table, BOTH. Know that all of the humbug, the bite, and the buz, Of the make-believe world, becomes forfeit to us. OWLSPIEGLE (sharpening his razor.) The sword this is made of was lost in a fray By a fop, who first bullied and then ran away; And the strap, from the hide of a lame racer, sold By Lord Match, to his friend, for some hundreds in gold. BOTH. For all of the humbug, the bite, and the buz, Of the make-believe world, becomes forfeit to us. COCKLEDEMOY (placing the napkin.) And this cambric napkin, so white and so fair, [Drops something from a vial, as This dewdrop I caught from one eye of his mother, BOTH. For all of the humbug, the bite, and the buz, Of the make-believe world, becomes forfeit to us. OWLSPIEGLE (arranging the lather and the basin.) My soap-ball is of the mild alkali made, Which the soft dedicator employs in his trade; BOTH. For all of the humbug. the bite, and the buz, Halloo, halloo, The blackcock crew, Thrice shriek'd hath the owl, thrice croak'd hath the raven, Here, ho! Master Gullcrammer, rise and be shaven ! Da kapo. Gull. (who has been observing them.) I'll pluck a spirit up; they're merry goblins, And will deal mildly. I will soothe their humour; Besides, my beard lacks trimming. [He rises from his bed, and advances with great Gentlemen, 'tis your will I should be trimm'd- (They point to a seat—he sits.) Of me as one who hates to see his blood; Be gentle in your craft. I know those barbers, OWLSPIEGLE shaves GULLCRAMMER, while COCKLEDEMOY sings. Father never started hair, Shaved too close, or left too bare- As from courtly tongue a fib. Whiskers, mustache, he can trim in Fashion meet to please the women; Sharp's his blade, perfumed his lather, Happy those are trimm'd by father! Gull. That's a good boy. I love to hear a child Stand for his father, if he were the devil. [He motions to rise. Craving your pardon, sir.-What! sit again? COCKLEDEMOY (sings as before.) Hair-breadth 'scapes, and hair-breadth snares, Part when father clips your hairs. If there is a hero frantic, Or a lover too romantic; If threescore seeks second spouse, Or fourteen lists lover's vows, . Bring them here-for a Scotch boddle, They take the napkin from about GULLCRAMMER'S neck. He makes bows of acknowledgment, which they return fantastically, and sing— Thrice crow'd hath the blackcock, thrice croak'd hath the raven, And Master Melchisedek Gullcrammer's shaven! Gull. My friends, you are too musical for me; But though I cannot cope with you in song, I would, in humble prose, enquire of you, If that you will permit me to acquit Even with the barber's pence the barber's service? [They shake their heads. Or if there is aught else that I can do for you, Sweet Master Owlspiegle, or your loving child, The hopeful Cockle'moy? COCKLEDEMOY. Sir, you have been trimm'd of late, Gull. Welcome, as Fortunatus' wishing cap, [As he puts on the cap, a pair of ass's ears disengage themselves. Upon my faith, it is a dainty head-dress, And might become an alderman!-Thanks, sweet Thou'rt a considerate youth. [Monsieur, [Both Goblins bow with ceremony to GULLCRAM- She has four wings and strength enow, Gull. Cockledemoy now is a naughty bratWould have the poor old stiff-rumped devil, his father, Peril his fiendish neck. All boys are thoughts. SONG. Which way didst thou take? COCKLEDEMOY. I have fall'n in the lake Help, father, for Beelzebub's sake. Gull. The imp is drown'd,-a strange death for a devil, O, may all boys take warning, and be civil; COCKLEDEMOY (sings.) Now merrily, merrily, row 1 to shore, My life, my joy, My Cockledemoy! Gull. I can bear this no longer-thus children are spoil'd. Master Owlspiegle, hoy! [Strikes into the tune. He deserves to be whipp'd, little Cockledemoy! [Their voices are heard as if dying away. Gull. They're gone!-Now, am I scared, or am I not? I think the very desperate ecstasy Of fear has given me courage. This is strange now. In these wild halls while playing feigned goblins, Kat. Not a jot. Black. But is not this the place, the very hall, [A rustling sound is heard. A forester, and frighten'd! I am sorry [The same rushing sound is repeated. Black. Why, are you mad, or hear you not the sound? Kat. And if I do, I take small heed of it. Will you allow a maiden to be bolder [A Figure is imperfectly seen between Partakes not the alarm.-If thou dost come in In Heaven's name art thou welcome! Pal. I come, by Heaven permitted. Quit this castle: I will haste, The blood that lately fortified my heart [As she steps forward she stumbles over the key. What's this? The key?-there may be mystery in't. I'll to my kinswomen, when this dizzy fit Kat. There's something moves, that's certain, and Will give me leave to choose my way aright. the moonlight, Chased by the flitting gale, is too imperfect To show its form; but, in the name of God, Wilt thou so? Black. [She sits down exhausted. Re-enter BLACKTHORN, with a drawn sword and torch. Black. Katleen! What, Katleen !-What a wretch To leave her!-Katleen, I am weapon'd now, Kat. It stands full in our path, and we must pass it, Beast that I was-nay, worse than beast; the stag, Or tarry here all night. As timorous as he is, fights for his hind. Kat. (who has somewhat gathered her spirits, in con- Kat. Thou art a fool to ask me to thy cottage, |