38
[sc.
YOUNG AND HANDSOME.
I can't! The struggle's over-it is past !
To blight such love 'twould take a sterner blast.
(aloud) Madam, behold the generous friend you seek,
I'm a brave spirit, not an airy sneak;
I'll go through fire and water for your sake,
And if I haven't strength to stir the lake,
I'll call on my big brother winds, to rise,
Wherever I can find them in the skies;
And such a jolly breeze we'll make together,
No land nor water witch the storm shall weather.
PRINC. Do that—and I'll in turn be
your
adorer;
And build a temple here, to you—and Flora.
Exit PRINCESS, L. 1 E.
ZEPHYR. My wife! That is a floorer! Never mind !
For Young and Handsome still I'll raise the wind;
And as I've so legitimate a view in it,
Even
my wife can't blow me up for doing it!
Swift! Let me see which way the wind blows.
(runs to window, L. F.)
Oh!
East and by north it's coming on to blow;
That's not a bad wind, if we get enough of it.
It's getting up! I just caught the first puff of it!
Ho! Aquilo!
AQUILO, appears at the window, L. F.
AQUILO.
Hah! how d'ye do, young fellow?
ZEPHYR. Step in, I want you.
AQUILO. (jumping in) Now! what's up?
ZEPHYR.
Don't bellow!
Where's brother Boreas ?
AQUILO.
A few points behind.
ZEPHYR. Just whistle to him then, but gently, mind.
(AQUILO whistles at the window)
And Auster?
AQUILO. He's
gone
round to blow a cloud
With Eurus.
ZEPHYR. Hush ! for heaven's sake, not so loud !
Here's Boreas !
BOREAS, at the window, L. F.
BOREAS. What's the row ? (enters)


SC. VII.]
41
YOUNG AND HANDSOME.
Enter ZEPHYR, L. 2 E.
ZEPHYR. Where there's a will there is a way. A chink
I found, by good luck, on the very brink
Of desperation, and I've wriggled through it;
Now I've no body, I'm the boy can do it!
And here you are! living (crosses c.) on Love, no
doubt;
Half-starved, and dying for a good blow out,
And you
shall have it in a brace of shakes. (noise, L.)
Hark! what a row one of my brothers makes
Rumbling down after me!
(goes to L.)
ALIDOR.
Who is this mighty
Brisk little fellow ? he seems rather flighty!
CUPID. Zephyr! he has been visible to you
Before, and was your rival once.
ALIDOR. (starts)
Ah, true!
CUPID. But there is no occasion for that start,-
To do much harm he never had the heart :
But here comes one that has. Now for the struggle.
Enter MORDICANTA and JEALOUSY, R. 1 E.
MORDI. Hah! what strange phantoms with my senses
juggle?
What light now breaks on my suspicions dark ?
CUPID. The light of Love—the most electric spark.
MORDI. Out on thee for a false intriguing knave!
What dost thou here?
CUPID.
I came your love to save.
Behold him, perfect still in form and feature;
And here's your monster, quite another creature:
So tame, a child might play with him at snapdragon,
Or a young lady make of him a lap-dragon.
MORDI. Alidor, still alive! Jupiter Ammon !
And you preserved him for
my
sake?
JEAL. (aside, R.)
Oh, gammon!
CUPID. Yes, that you might release him without ransom,
And, in the best of senses, do the handsome.
JEAL. By giving him to Young and Hansome-don't !
MORDI. Oh, never fear me-no! no! that I won't!