DRAMATIS PERSONE. INFERNALS. Pluto, King of "Oh, no, we never mention it," an Imperious Deity. Proserpine, his Queen "by Jupiter!" an Imp-rovident Housewife. Minos, Lord Low Chancellor, Rhadamanthus, Vice Chancellor, Eacus, Master of the [hot] Rolls, Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos, Tisiphone, Megara, Alecto, Imp-artial Judges. Three Imp-enetrable Spinsters, "all of that Three Imp-lacable Furies. Cerberus, Head Porter, an Imp-udent Dog. Charon, a Wherry Ferry Funny Fireman-Waterman, and Imp-orter of Spirits. Leader of Pluto's Band, an Imp-osing Professor, with an Imp-romptu performance. Ixion, Imp-enitent Convicts. Sysiphus, SUPERNALS. Phoebus Apollo, a shining character. Pan, a Pan-tomimic character. Silenus, a drunken character. IMMORTAL MORTALS. Orpheus, a charming Musician. Eurydice, his departed Wife. Bacchantes, Priests of Bacchus, Satyrs, Fauns, PROGRAMME OF THE SCENERY. Pluto's Fire-side, with a peep at the Champs Elysées, but not à la mode de Paris. "Hark! he strikes his golden lyre; And the pale spectres dance. He sung and * * * * consented Stern Proserpine relented, And gave him back the fair."-POPE. BARRIERE D'ENFER, EQUALLY UN-PARISIAN. "But soon, too soon, the lover turns his eyes- Temple of Bacchus, on the banks of the Hebrus, Thrace. A BACCHANALIAN PROCESSION. Orpheus discovered sleeping alone, and waking beside himself. An entire Country Dance, wherein several of the company will make beasts of themselves, in humble imitation of their betters. "Orpheus, with his lute made trees, Orpheus' Pipe put out by the Baccha, who tear him, as is reported, into twenty pieces. Swimming of the Head down the Hebrus, "Yet even in death, Eurydice he sung, Eurydice the woods Eurydice the floods Eurydice the rocks and hollow mountains rung." POPE. DESCENT OF PHOEBUS. Origin of the Constellation "Lyra." And conclusion drawn by the scene painter, and come to by the characters. OLYMPIC DEVILS. SCENE 1.-PLUTO'S Fire-side. PLUTO, MINOS, RHADAMANTHUS and ACUS discovered seated on the left, at a table, drinking from flaming gobletssix attendant FIENDS and two IMPs in waiting behind them. On the right, PROSERPINE, with the THREE FURIES · and the THREE FATES, seated at a table, drinking gunpowder tea out of a fiery tea-service; two IMPs attending. In the centre stands a red Throne, with two seats, which is ascended by steps: immediately beneath is the Woolsack, scarlet colour. Glee and Chorus-PLUTO, RHADAMANTFUS, EACUS, &c.Air, "Mynheer Vandunck," Olympian Jove, In his bowers above, Drinks nectar by gallons gayly; But our thirst we slake From a brimstone lake, Which is "warm without sugar," daily. Singing, oh that a pool of punch had we, Pluto. Another bowl-full of that nasty stuff! Pro. Sure you've drank enough; You set a bad example to all Hades. Your coffee's ready: come and join the ladies. -Some coffee, ma'am, for Minos. Ay, ay-no more. me: I'm scarce as sober as a judge should be. (Taking a seat next to ATROPOS.) VOL. IV.-2 Pro. I thought Lord Minos would the first be a'ter us: Do you take cream? Minos. A little cream of Tartarus. (TO FATES.) Well, ladies, hard at work whatever wind stirs : I vow you Fates are most industrious spinsters. Daughter indeed of shear necessity-(Taking up large shears which hang at ATROPOs' side.) Plying her awful task with due decorum, A never ceasing game of snip-snap-snorum. (Snapping the shears.) For help, alas! man pleads to her in vain Her motto's" Cut and never come again." Pluto. Well, that's no news.-Who's seen the even ing paper? How are the funds? Pro. Mine, sir, are rather taper. (Holding up an empty purse.) Pluto. Already? Well, of all the burning shames! When you've just drawn your quarter-Sparks and flames! The god of riches might be ruined thus A My name, ma'am, is Pluto, and not Plutus. sin, Is this a place to lose cool hundreds in? Minos. Come, come, you're warm |