| RECITATIVE
|
| Mr. Wells
|
Oh hideous doom - to scatter desolation,
And cause unhappiness on every hand!
To foster misalliance through the nation
And breed unequal matches in the land!
By nature I am mild, humane and tender,
It racks my soul such fearful sights to see!
I can no longer bear it! I will render
My fearful gift to him who gave it me!
|
| INCANTATION
|
|
|
Spirits short and spirits long —
Spirits weak and spirits strong —
Spirits slow and spirits fleet —
Spirits mixed and spirits neat —
Spirits dark and spirits fair —
Listen to my heart-felt prayer.
|
| The stage has grown dark - a gauze descends - imps appear.
|
| Chorus of Spirits
|
We hear the spells
J. W. Wells!
What terrors trouble you,
J. W. W.?
Ha! ha! Ha! ha!
Some terrors trouble him
J. W. Double him!
Ha! ha! Ha! ha!
|
| The market cross opens and Ahrimanes is seen through transparency.
|
| Ahrimanes
|
Presumptuous wretch — what favours do you seek?
You called me — I am here! What would you? Speak!
|
| Mr. Wells
|
Ahrimanes — mighty master —
Hear me — hear me now!
|
| Chorus
|
Hear him — hear him now!
|
| Mr. Wells
|
Avert this terrible disaster —
Free me from my vow!
|
| Chorus
|
Free him from his vow!
Hear him, hear him now!
Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha!
|
| SOLO — Ahrimanes
|
|
|
If thou, audacious elf, will yield
Alexis to my grasp
And let his doom be signed and sealed
In Death's unpleasant clasp —
Or if thou wilt consent, thyself,
To come below with me,
Til grant thy wish, presumptuous elf!
I want, or him, or thee!
|
| Chorus
|
Be dutiful, and obey
Give us — give us our prey!
|
| Ahrimanes
|
Or thou — or he
Which shall it be?
|
| Chorus
|
Or thou — or he
Which shall it be?
|
| Mr. Wells
|
Or I — or he—
Which shall it be?
|
| Chorus
|
Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha!
|
| Mr. Wells
|
Oh master, pity show!
|
| Chorus
|
No! No!
|
| Mr. Wells
|
To meet your views I'll try —
If one of us must go below —
|
| Chorus
|
Ho! Ho!
|
| Mr. Wells
|
I'd rather he than I!
|
| Chorus
|
Much rather?
|
| Mr. Wells
|
Much rather!
|
| Chorus
|
Greatly prefer it?
|
| Mr. Wells
|
Greatly prefer it!
|
| Chorus
|
Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha!
|
| Ahrimanes
|
Good — be it so.
When he will go
With me below, Just let me know.
Ring out his knell
And I will quell
The fatal spell
Till then — farewell!
|
| Chorus
|
Farewell! Farewell! Farewell!
Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha! Ha! ha!
|
