Well, I say nothing;-but Europa rode First Boar. Most innocent ! Pyrganax. 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— Pyrganax. Honourable Swine, In piggish souls can prepossessions reign? If innocent, she will turn into an angel, Into an angel (as I am sure we shall do) By pouring on her head this mystic water. I know that she is innocent; I wish Only to prove her so to all the world. [Showing the Bag. First Boar. Excellent, just, and noble Pyrganax ! Second Boar. How glorious it will be to see her Majesty Flying above our heads, her petticoats Streaming like-like-like Third Boar. Pyrganax. Anything. Oh no! But like a standard of an admiral's ship, Or like the banner of a conquering host, Or like a cloud dyed in the dying day, Unravelled on the blast from a white mountain; Scattered upon the wind. First Boar. Or a cow's tail, Second Boar. Or anything, as the learned Boar observed. Pyrganax. 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 [A great confusion is heard of the Pigs out of Doors, which Porkers, we shall lose our wash, Or must share it with the Lean Pigs ! Order! order! be not rash! Was there ever such a scene, Pigs! AN OLD Sow (rushing in). I never saw so fine a dash Since I first began to wean Pigs. SECOND BOAR (solemnly). The Queen will be an angel time enough. I vote, in form of an amendment, that Upon his face Pyrganax. [His heart is seen to beat through his waistcoat. Gods! What would ye be at? SEMICHORUS I. Pyrganax has plainly shown a Cloven foot and jackdaw feather. SEMICHORUS II. I vote Swellfoot and Iona Try the magic test together; Whenever royal spouses bicker, AN OLD BOAR (aside). A miserable state is that of Pigs; For, if their drivers would tear caps and wigs, A wretched lot Jove has assigned to Swine; CHORUS. Hog-wash has been ta'en away : If the Bull-Queen is divested, We shall be in every way Hunted, stripped, exposed, molested; Let us do whate'er we may That she shall not be arrested. Queen, we entrench you with walls of brawn, And palisades of tusks sharp as a bayonet. · Place your most sacred person here: we pawn Those who hate you hate us; Those who bait you bait us. The oracle is now about to be Fulfilled by circumvolving destiny Which says: "Thebes, choose reform or civil war, Riding upon the Ionian Minotaur. Enter IONA TAURINA. lona Taurina (coming forward). gentle Lady Pigs, Gentlemen Swine and The tender heart of every Boar acquits Their Queen of any act incongruous With native piggishness; and she, reposing Nor has the expectation been deceived of finding shelter there. Yet know, great Boars, I have accepted your protection only Are safest there where trials and dangers wait; Lord Pyrganax, I do commit myself To stand the test, whatever it may be. Pyrganax. This magnanimity in your sacred Majesty A heavenly angel.-Smoke your bits of glass, Will blind your wondering eyes. An Old Boar (aside). They do not smoke you first. Pyrganax. Of Famine, let the expiation be. Swine. Content! content! Take care, my lord, At the approaching feast 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 heap of skulls and loaves intermingled. A number of exceedingly fat Priests in black garments arrayed on each side; Court Porkmen with marrow-bones and cleavers in their hands. A flourish of trumpets. Enter MAMMON as Arch-priest, SWELLFOOT, DAKRY, PYRGANAX, LAOCTONOS, followed by IONA TAURINA guarded. On the other side enter the Swine. CHORUS OF PRIESTS, Accompanied by the Court Porkmen on marrow-bones and cleavers. Goddess bare and gaunt and pale, Empress of the World, all hail! What though Cretans old called thee We call thee Famine ! Goddess of fasts and feasts, starving and cramming! The earth pours forth its plenteous fruits, Those who consume these fruits through thee grow fat; Those who produce these fruits through thee grow Whatever change takes place, oh stick to that! Whose waves are Swine-So let it ever be ! lean: [SWELLFOOT &c. seat themselves at a table magnificently covered at the upper end of the Temple. Attendants pass over the stage with hog-wash in pails. A number of Pigs, exceedingly lean, follow them licking up the wash. Mammon. I fear your sacred Majesty has lost The appetite which you were used to have. A simple kickshaw by your Persian cook, Such as is served at the Greak King's second table. Swellfoot. After the trial, And these fastidious Pigs are gone, perhaps I may recover my lost appetite. I feel the gout flying about my stomach. Give me a glass of maraschino punch. Pyrganax (filling his glass and standing up). The glorious Constitution of the Pigs. VOL. II. D |