Kind friends in front, you here behold a figure allegorical:
Excuse me if at times I pause and for my paregoric call.
I want to tell you all about this story Anglo-Corsican,
And do the best in spite of cough and voice that's rather hoarse I can.
Old Father Time I am, you guess; 't is I who rule the universe,
And cause the changes which I sing in this the poet's punny verse!
So while the scene is changing, here I sing this song preparative,
To help you, as a chorus should, to understand the narrative.
Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho!
As chorus to this tragedy, to act my painful doom it is.
In spite of cough, sciatica, lumbago, and the rheumatiz.
The little boys who in the wood the robins saved from perishing
Are two young men for one young girl a hopeless passion cherishing.
In Corsica with his mamma young Fabien dei Franchi is;
The other one in Paris lives, and growing rather cranky is.
Sweet Rosie Posie followed them. The ma of these phenomena
As lady-help accepted her for foiling the abomina-
Ble plans the wicked uncle laid the brothers to assassinate,
And Rosie still in Corsica contrives all hearts to fascinate.
To Paris went the uncle, too, to let coiffeurs their talent try,
And now he is an agèd buck and famous for his gallantry.
He's bought a wig, and paints his face—three times a day he'll carmine it,
He asks young wives to opera balls, and swears there's little harm in it.
G. R. Sims.
In the second act Meynard brings a friend with him to Corsica, and thus presents him to Mme. dei Franchi:—
A friend of mine who's come this trip with me,
The customs of the country for to see.
The customs, when he landed, landed him—
He's cust 'em rather, I can tell you, mim!
Friend. 'Tain't pleasant when a chap on pleasure's bent
To find the call of duty cent. per cent.
Mad. You're welcome, sir, although our customs seize you:
A triple welcome, and I hope the trip'll please you.
Previous to the first entry of Louis' ghost, Fabien says:—