Act I, Scene I
ACT I.
SCENE FIRST
{4}
-- The gardens of the Prince del Piombino's Villa -- at
the back a river, beyond which, picturesque country -- on the L.
side, the entrance to the villa -- on the R. 3 E. side a small
pavilion.
Enter Quadro, Strutt, and Lisetta, from
the villa, meeting male and female villagers, R.
Liset.
And you think yourself a vastly great man, Mr. Strutt, I suppose.
Strut.
Philosophers are not content with thinking, I know it. My
master's a great man, and I'm like the moon to the sun, I shine
with a reflected brightness.
Quad.
Great man, indeed! I should like to know what there is great
about either of you. A couple of adventurers, whom my poor silly
dupe of a master (Heaven help him!) has brought from that
beggarly place, Germany; and I suppose you'll never leave him
whilst he has got a ducat.
Strut.
Pooh! for his ducats! we want his ducats, indeed! when we could
make gold out of any rubbish -- your worthless head, for
instance, Signor Quadro. My master is the most profound
philosopher, and consequently the greatest man that ever lived;
to tell you what he can do is impossible; but what he cannot do,
it would be still more difficult to mention.
Quad.
Yes, his way of making gold, I fancy, is by conveying it out of
other people's pockets. He may make gold, but he'd much rather
have it made to his hand, I've a notion.
Strut.
Signor Quadro it is fortunate for you that my master does not
hear you, and that (considering the choice bottles of Catanian
wine that you have from time to time {5} been pleased to open for
me) I'm too discreet to tell him; -- for, oh! Signor Quadro, his
power is terrible; -- he could prevent you from ever passing a
quiet night again!
Quad.
When I've got three quarts of good Rhenish in my skin I'll give
him leave, if he can. Your master is a water-drinker, sir, he
keeps no butler; I never knew any good of a man that drank water
and kept no butler.
Strut.
At all events, Master Quadro, that's an offence which you cannot
lay to my charge; I have the most philosophical principles upon
the subject; -- I drink water, Signor Quadro, only when I can't
get anything better.
Quad.
And that's generally the case, I fancy, when you can't find some
good-natured simpleton, like the Prince del Piombino, to keep you
and your master together. Instead of board-wages, he billets you
upon the kitchen of anybody that's fool enough to take you into
it.
Strut.
Be assured of this, Signor Quadro, I am not ungrateful; when any
kind friend has the goodness to take me in, I do the best in my
power to return the compliment.
Quad.
The devil doubt you.
Strut.
But for my master, Signor Quadro, don't think that all the wine
in Sicily is any object to him; he could turn that river into
wine if he thought proper, -- I've seen him do it, sir, and
convert a quart of simple water into a bottle of prime Burgundy.
Quad.
Can he? can he do that? Then he has an easy way of making me his
sworn friend for life. Only let him turn -- I won't be
unreasonable; I won't say a word about the river -- only let him
turn the pump in our stableyard into a fountain of claret, and
I'll never help myself to another bottle of my master's so long
as I'm a butler.
Liset.
And pray, Mr. Strutt, has all this philosophy and learning quite
driven the thoughts of love out of your head? I suppose you fancy
yourself now quite above us poor weak women?
Strut.
Not at all, my dear creature; for the man who has the impudence
to fancy himself above the fairest half of human nature has sunk
immeasurably below it.
Quad.
Egad! philosophy has not made quite a fool of the fellow. But
pray now, my good Mr. Strutt, amongst all this transmuting of
metal, and converting of water, can you inform us what it is that
this wonderful master of yours is doing in that pavilion, where
he remains shut up, day and night, and into which no mortal but
himself is ever permitted to penetrate?
Strut.
{6} You would like to know, would you?
Quad.
Yes, I should, very much indeed.
Liset.
Oh, yes, I'd give the world to know, I should so like to find out
the secret.
Strut. (after a pause)
And so should I.
Quad.
What then, you can't tell us?
Liset.
Or perhaps you won't.
Strut.
Why you see -- I'm not exactly certain -- but I partly guess --
(they cling to him with eager curiosity) -- that is, I
suspect -- that it is -- something that will astonish your weak
nerves one day or another.
Quad.
Pshaw!
Liset.
A nasty, ill-natured fellow -- see how I'll serve you the next
time you try to kiss me.
(Music without.
Quad.
But hark! his highness approaches, with his sister, the lady
Rosaura. Back! back! all of you show him proper respect. (they
are joined by other domestics, male and female, who form in order
-- a gondola approaches the shore, R., from which the PRINCE,
ROSAURA, and ATTENDANTS land -- as the PRINCE advances, all
salute him.)
Prince.
Enough, enough, my friends, hasten to the villa, and busy
yourselves in preparations for the festival I wish to give in
honour of the illustrious genius who honours my house with his
presence.
Quad. (aside)
A festival, too! for a man who drinks no wine. Well, there's one
consolation; there'll be more for those who do -- and I'll do my
best to make up for his deficiencies, he may depend on't.
Strut. (to LISETTA)
If there's dancing, may I claim the honour?
Liset.
Will you try to find out your master's secret for me?
Strut.
It is positively against his orders to pry into his concerns; and
do you know, there is but one person in the world whose commands
could induce me to disobey those of my master
Liset.
And who may that be, pray?
Strut.
My mistress, you jade. (takes her under his arm, and exeunt
with QUADRO, DOMESTICS, &c. into the palace, L.)
Prince.
I feel most deeply that rank and opulence can never do themselves
greater honour than by protecting genius. The prince who,
rewards, assists, and forwards it, not only reaps the fruit of
his sublime discoveries, but becomes the sharer of his
immortality.
Rosa.
Oh! may virtues and talents such as Frankenstein's {7} ever
receive the patronage and protection of such men as the Prince
del Piombino.
Prince.
I rejoice that my dear Rosaura's admiration of this illustrious
foreigner almost equals the enthusiasm of her brother's. Has her
penetration ever hinted to her that last, that best, inestimable
reward with which I meditate to crown my favours towards this
Frankenstein?
Rosa. (turning away)
Ah, my brother!
Prince.
That blush, that downcast look, assure me that should my
admiration of his merit induce me to confer on him a gift so
precious as my sister's hand, I should not in her heart find an
opposer of my generosity. I will not tax your delicacy for a
frank avowal, but in your silence read your acquiescence. This
night, amidst the joyous mirth that fills our halls, will I hint
to our philosopher, the dearer pleasure that I have in store for
him.
Rosa.
My dear, dear brother! A heart like yours will ever find the
secret of making all around it happy.
(Exit into palace, L.
Act
Scene
