ORIANA.
A Tennyson-cum-Albery Ballad.
I went to see thee at the Globe,
Oriana!
I tried thy mystery to probe,
Oriana!
But Oh! long talk, bare limbs, rich robe,
Gems decking hand or pendant lobe,
Oriana!
Would tire the patience out of Job,
Oriana!
I saw the lime-light shadows flinging,
Oriana!
I saw black boys, a mattress bringing,
Oriana!
I saw thee to forlorn hope clinging,
I heard the bells of faërie ringing,
Oriana;
And (out of tune) a chorus singing,
Oriana!
I saw a high-priest sage and hoary,
Oriana;
"Friend WAGGLES" struggling with a story,
Oriana.
A youth, in managerial glory,
Striving in vain, tho' con amore,
Oriana,
As (save the mark!) primo tenore,
Oriana,
I came! I saw! I mark'd each word,
Oriana!
Ah, had my visit been deferr'd,
Oriana,
Some better things I might have heard;
But judging from what then occurr'd,
Oriana,
You seem'd a trifle too absurd,
Oriana.
From Fun, February 26th, 1873.
"Oriana," a romantic legend in three acts, by James Albery, music by F. Clay, was first performed at the Globe Theatre, on Saturday, February 15th, 1873. The lessee and manager, Mr. H. J. Montague, performed the part of King Raymond, that of Oriana being represented by Miss Rose Massey. The plot was founded on a fairy tale, slightly resembling Mr. Gilbert's "Palace of Truth," but, beyond the name, the play had nothing in common with Tennyson's poem of "Oriana."