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Act II,

Scene I,—Seme in Presburg, Moonlight,—Tent of Arline, On the opposite tide of the stage are houses one of which, an hotel is lighted up.

[Arline is discovered asleep. Thaddeus is watching her. As the curtain rises, a Patrol of the City Guard march by, and as soon as they have gone off, Devilshoof and A party of Gipsies suddenly appear.

Chorus.
Silence ! silence ! the lady moon
Is the only witness awake;
And weary of watching, perchance she soon,
To sleep will herself betake.
Silence! silence ! from her throne in air
She may look on and listen for aught we care;
But if she attend unto our behest,
She will quietly go to her rest.

Solo.—Devilshoof.
There's a deed to do whose gains
Will reward the risk and pains—
Fie ! Fie ! to a gentleman when you appeal.
You may draw his purse without drawing your steel;
With bows, and politeness, and great respect,
You can take more than he can at first detect.
See, where in goblets deep,
What sense they have they steep—
Watch here ! 'till each to his home
Shall reel on his doubtful way
Watch here ! and the goblets foam
Will make him an easy prey.
Silence ! Silence ! this way, this way,

[As the Gipsies retire up the stage, Florestein staggers out of the hotel. He is elegantly dressed, with chain, rings, &c., and a rich medallion round his neck.]

Wine, wine, if I am heir,
To the Count—my uncle's line—
Where's the fellow—will dare
To refuse his nephew—wine?
That moon there, staring me in the way,
Can't be as modest as people say,
For meet whom she will, and in whatever spot,
She often looks on what she ought not.
Wine, wine, wine?

[The Gipsies have by this time advanced, and Devilshoof goes politely up to Florestein.

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My ear caught not the clock's last chime,
And I beg to ask the time?

(reels, recovers a little, and after eyeing Devilshoof)
(aside) If the bottle has prevailed,
Yet whatever I'm assailed,
Though there may be nothing in it,
I am sobered in a minute—
(to Dev) You are really too polite,
That (taking his watch out of his pocket) 'tis late in the night.

Dev.

(taking the watch and putting it into his fob)
You are very kind—can it really be !
Are you sure 'tis so late?

Flo.

(assuming courage) May I beg to ask ?—

Dev.

I am grieved to see
Any one in such a state,
And will gladly take the utmost care,
Of the rings and chains you chance to wear.

[Taking from Florestein his rings, chain, and the rich medallion. Florestein draws his sword.]

What I thought politeness is downright theft,
And at this rate I shall soon have nothing left.

[At a sign from Devilshoof the Gipsies instantly surround Florestein and take every valuable from him.]

Advance with caution, let every man,
Seize on, and keep whatever he can,

[During the chorus, Devilshoof makes off with the Medallion, and the others are dividing the rest of the spoil, when a female appears in the midst of them, drops her cloak, and discovers their Queen.]

To him from whom you stole,
Surrender back the whole.

[The Gipsies return the different things to Florestein

(trembling and looking over the things)
Thanks, madam—lady but might I request
A medallion in diamonds worth all the rest,

[At a sign from the Queen, who seems to command its restitution

Chorus of Gipsies.
On our chieftain's share we ne'er encroach,
And he fied with that prize at your approach,

(to Florestein) Be your safety my care—

Flo.

I'm in precious hands!

Queen

(to Gipsies) Follow, and list to your Queen's commands.

[Exeunt Queen holding Florestein, and beckoning the Gipsies to follow. When they have gone off, Arline comes from the tent followed by Thaddeus.]

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The Gipsy Girl's Dream.
I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls
With vassals and serfs by my side !
And of all who assembled within those walls
That I was the hope and the pride,
I had riches too great to count—could boast
Of a high ancestral name,
And I also dreamt, which charmed me most,
That you loved me still the same.

I dreamt that suitors sought my hand,
That knights, upon bended knee,
With vows no maiden heart could withstand
They pledged their faith to me,
And I dreamt that one of that noble host
Came forth my hand to claim;
And I also dreamt, which charmed me most,
Thrt you loved me still the same,

Duet.

That wound upon thy arm
Whose mark through life will be
In saving thee from greater harm.
Was there transfixed by me.

Arl.

By thee ?

Tha.

E'er on thy gentle head
Thy sixth sun had its radiance shed,
A wild deer who had lain at bay,
Pursued by hunters cross'd the way
By slaying him I rescued thee,
And in his death throe's agony,
That tender frame by his antler gored
This humble arm to thy home; restored.

Arl.

Strange feelings move this breast
It never knew before,
And bid me here implore
That you reveal the rest.

Tha.

The secret of her birth
To me is only known;
The secret of a life whose worth
I prize beyond my own.

Arl.

The secret of my birth
To him is fully known;
The secret of a life whose worth
I prize beyond my own.
page 11 Speak, Tell me—ease my tortured heart
And that, secret, evil or good impart.

Tha.

I will tell thee although the words may sever
One who so loves thee, from thy love for ever.

Arl.

Where is the spell hath yet effaced
The first fond lines that love hath traced.
And after years hath but impressed
More deep in love's confiding breast.

Tha.

And yet few spells have e'er effaced
The first fond lines that love hath traced,
And after years hath but imprest
More deep in love's confiding breast.

[At the end of the duet, Thaddeus throws himself in an ecstacy at the feet of Arline, when the Queen appears, She advances towards Arline, and pointing to Thaddeus—Queen And dare you aspire to the love of him who possesses the heart of your Queen?

[Thaddeus runs and embraces Arline

[The Queen is standing in the centre, while Thaddeus calls the Gipsies together, who enter on all sides and surround the Queen.]

Concerted Piece.
Listen, while I relate
The hopes of the Gipsy's fate;
I am loved by one, by one I love,
All other hearts above,
And the sole delight to me
Is with him united be.

Happy the light of heart be those
Who in each bosom one faith repose !

Dev.

A rival's hate you may better tell
By her rage than by her fears;
And it, perchance, may be as well,
To set them both by the ears.

(to Queen)

As the queen of the tribe, 'tis yours by right,
The hands of those you rule to unite.

Cho.

In love and truth, by thee,
Their hands united be.

Queen

Hand and to hind, and heart to heart,
Who shall those I have mated part?
By the spell of my sway
Part them who may.
page 12 Happy and light of heart be those
Who in each Bosom one faith repose.

[During this scene the stage has been growing somewhat lighter. Gipsy enters.

[Exeunt Thaddeus and Arline hand in hand, followed by the other gipsies repeating chorus.

This is thy deed—seek not to assuage
My jealous fears and a rival's rage.

Dev.

I neither fear nor seek to calm

Queen

Revenge is my wounded bosom's balm.
That Jewel with which thou hast dared to deck
Thy foredoomed neck.
Answer me—where did'st thou get it—where?

Dev.

'Twas entrusted to my care.

Queen

This very night on this very spot,
Thy soul for once its fears forgot,
A drunken galliard who crossed the way
Became the prey.

Dev.

Fiend born, 'twere vain to fly
The glance of her searching eye !

Queen

Down on thy knee and that gem restore,
E'en in thy shame amazed;
Or long years of sin shall deplore
The storm which thou bast raised.

Dev.

It best might be the prize to restore,
Much as I seem amazed;
Or hereafter I may peplore
The storm which I have raised.
Queen—I obey,

Queen

Tis the wisest thing
Thy coward soul could do.

Dev.

Who from my grasp such prize could wring
The doing it may rue.

Queen

Depart and join the rest,

Dev.

I do thy high behest—
The wrongs we forgive not and cannot forget
Will the edge of our vengeance more sharply whet.

Queen

The wrongs we forgive not and cannot forget
Will the edge of our vengeance more sharply whet.

[Exit Queen and Devilshoof.