Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Rip van Winkle
SCENE V.
_Dark.—The Sleepy Hollow, in the bosom of the mountains, occupying the extreme extent of the stage—stunted trees, fragments of rock in various parts.—Moon in the horizon; __ the entrance to this wild recess being by an opening from the abyss in the rear of the glen._
_Music_.—GROTESQUE DUTCH FIGURES _with [enormous]_(_122_)_ masked heads and lofty tapering hats, discovered playing_ [_at cards in various places—others at Dutch pins—battledores and shuttlecocks—the majority seated on a rock drinking and smoking._](123)
GAUDERKIN.
Since on earth this only day, In fifty years we’re given to stray, We’ll keep it as a holiday! So brothers, let’s be jolly and gay.
ICKEN.
But question, where’s that lazy [wight,](124) Who, soon as sun withdrew it’s light, Was for the earth’s rich beverage sent, And has such time in absence spent.
GAUDERKIN.
Perhaps [with some](125) misfortune he’s been doomed to meet, Cross’d, no doubt, on the road by mortal feet.
ICKEN.
And what the punishment that you decree On him, who on our mysteries makes free?
GAUDERKIN.
Twenty years in slumber’s chain, Is the fate that we ordain: Yet, if merry wight he prove, Pleasing dreams his sleep shall move.
ICKEN.
Our brother comes, and up the rugged steep, A mortal, see, Swaggrino’s presence keep.
OMNES.
Twenty years in slumber’s chain, Is the fate that we ordain. He comes! he comes! let silence reign!— Let silence reign! let silence reign!
_The_ SPIRITS _retire up and station themselves in motionless attitudes_.
_Music_.—[SWAGGRINO](126) _ascends by the opening in the rear followed by_ RIP, _with the keg_.—RIP _advances on the left, and, with the assistance of his conductor, places the cask on the rock.—_
_The_ SPIRITS _remain immovable._
RIP.
I’m a dead man, to a certainty. Into what strange company have I tumbled! crikey, what will become of me? Dear, dear! would I were home again, even though along with [Dame](127) Van Winkle.
_Music.—The_ FIGURES _severally advance, and stare at him, then resume their game._ SWAGGRINO _taps the cask; motions the astonished_ RIP _to assist him in distributing its contents into various flagons; an injunction with which he complies._—SWAGGRINO _helps his companions._
RIP.
After all, they seem a harmless set, and there can be no argument with them, for they appear to be all dumbies.—[Lord were my wife](128) as silent. They’re a deadly, lively, jolly set; but I wonder what kind of spirits dese spirits are [drinking!](129) Surely, dere can be no harm in taking a drop along mit dem.—[_Fills a flagon._]—Here goes!—Gentlemen, here’s your [go-to-hells,](130) and your [broad chopped](131) family’s, and may you all live long and prosper. [_Drinks._]
OMNES.
Ha, ha, ha!
_Music.—A grotesque dance ensues, during which_ RIP _continues to supply himself from the keg.—He at length joins in the dance, and becomes so exhausted, that he reels forward and sinks in front. The dancing ceases, the_ SPIRITS _utter three "ho, ho, ho’s!"—[Some of them sink.]_(132)
END OF ACT I.
*Footnotes*
122 Not in K.
123 In K., reads, “_at Dutch pins—the majority seated on a rock drinking and smoking—thunder reverberates each time a bowl is delivered_.”
124 “ICHEN” in K.; also “sprite.”
125 Not in K.
126 “_The_ IMP” in K.
127 “Frau” in K.
128 In K., “if mein wife vere”
129 “trinking” in K.
130 “goot-hells” in K.
131 Not in K. Instead, “Your family’s goot-hells.”
132 In K., the stage directions end, “_Moon very bright. Tableau._”