The Poems and Verses of Charles Dickens Part 1

The Poems and Verses of Charles d.i.c.kens.

by Charles d.i.c.kens.

SONGS, CHORUSES, AND CONCERTED PIECES FROM 'THE VILLAGE COQUETTES'

A COMIC OPERA

1836

THE VILLAGE COQUETTES

About the year 1834, when the earliest of the _Sketches by Boz_ were appearing in print, a young composer named John Hullah set to music a portion of an opera called _The Gondolier_, which he thought might prove successful on the stage. Twelve months later Hullah became acquainted with Charles d.i.c.kens, whose name was then unknown to those outside his own immediate circle, and it occurred to him that he and 'Boz' might combine their forces by converting _The Gondolier_ into a popular play. d.i.c.kens, who always entertained a pa.s.sion for the theatre, entered into the project at once, and informed Hullah that he had a little unpublished story by him which he thought would dramatise well--even better than _The Gondolier_ notion; confessing that he would rather deal with familiar English scenes than with the unfamiliar Venetian environment of the play favoured by Hullah. The t.i.tle of _The Gondolier_ was consequently abandoned, and a novel subject found and put forward as _The Village Coquettes_, a comic opera of which songs, duets, and concerted pieces were to form const.i.tuent parts. d.i.c.kens, of course, became responsible for the _libretto_ and Hullah for the music; and when completed the little play was offered to, and accepted by, Braham, the lessee of the St. James's Theatre, who expressed an earnest desire to be the first to introduce 'Boz' to the public as a dramatic writer. A favourite comedian of that day, John Pritt Harley, after reading the words of the opera prior to its representation, declared it was 'a sure card,' and felt so confident of its success that he offered to wager ten pounds that it would run fifty nights!--an a.s.surance which at once decided Braham to produce it.

_The Village Coquettes_, described on the t.i.tle-page of the printed copies as 'A Comic Opera, in Two Acts,' was played for the first time on December 6, 1836, with Braham and Harley in the cast. In his preface to the play (published contemporaneously by Richard Bentley, and dedicated to Harley) d.i.c.kens explained that 'the _libretto_ of an opera must be, to a certain extent, a mere vehicle for the music,' and that 'it is scarcely fair or reasonable to judge it by those strict rules of criticism which would be justly applicable to a five-act tragedy or a finished comedy.' There is no doubt that the merits of the play were based upon the songs set to Hullah's music rather than upon the play itself, and it is said that Harley's reputation as a vocalist was established by his able rendering of them.

_The Village Coquettes_ enjoyed a run of nineteen nights in London during the season, and was then transferred to Edinburgh, where it was performed under the management of Mr. Ramsay, a friend of Sir Walter Scott. Sala, as a boy of ten, witnessed its first representation in London, and ever retained a vivid impression of the event; while especial interest appertains to the fact that a copy of the play became the means of first bringing d.i.c.kens into personal communication with John Forster, his life-long friend and biographer. It is more than probable that 'Boz' felt a little elated by the reception accorded by the public to the 'dramatic bantling,' but as time progressed he realised that the somewhat unfavourable comments of the critics were not entirely devoid of truth.

Indeed, when in 1843 it was proposed to revive the play, he expressed a hope that it might be allowed 'to sink into its native obscurity.' 'I did it,' he explained, 'in a fit of d.a.m.nable good-nature long ago, for Hullah, who wrote some very pretty music to it. I just put down for everybody what everybody at the St. James's Theatre wanted to say and do, and what they could say and do best, and I have been most sincerely repentant ever since.' The novelist confessed that both the operetta and a little farce called _The Strange Gentleman_ (the latter written as 'a practical joke'

for the St. James's Theatre about the same time) were done 'without the least consideration or regard to reputation'; he also declared that he 'wouldn't repeat them for a thousand pounds apiece,' and devoutly wished these early dramatic efforts to be forgotten. _a propos_ of this, the late Frederick Locker-Lampson has recorded that when he asked d.i.c.kens (about a year before the great writer's death) whether he possessed a copy of _The Village Coquettes_, his reply was, 'No; and if I knew it was in my house, and if I could not get rid of it in any other way, I would burn the wing of the house where it was!'

Although, perhaps, not of a high order of merit, _The Village Coquettes_ is not without bibliographical interest, and may be regarded as a musical and literary curiosity. Copies of the first edition of the little play are now seldom met with, and whenever a perfect impression comes into the market it commands a good price, even as much as 10 or 12,--indeed, a particularly fine copy was sold at Sotheby's in 1889 for twenty-five pounds. In 1878 the words of the opera were reprinted in facsimile by Richard Bentley, for which a frontispiece was etched by F. W. Pailthorpe a year later.

THE VILLAGE COQUETTES

ROUND

Hail to the merry Autumn days, when yellow corn-fields s.h.i.+ne, Far brighter than the costly cup that holds the monarch's wine!

Hail to the merry harvest time, the gayest of the year, The time of rich and bounteous crops, rejoicing, and good cheer!

'Tis pleasant on a fine Spring morn to see the buds expand, 'Tis pleasant in the Summer time to view the teeming land; 'Tis pleasant on a Winter's night to crouch around the blaze,-- But what are joys like these, my boys, to Autumn's merry days!

Then hail to merry Autumn days, when yellow corn-fields s.h.i.+ne, Far brighter than the costly cup that holds the monarch's wine!

And hail to merry harvest time, the gayest of the year, The time of rich and bounteous crops, rejoicing, and good cheer!

LUCY'S SONG

Love is not a feeling to pa.s.s away, Like the balmy breath of a summer day; It is not--it cannot be--laid aside; It is not a thing to forget or hide.

It clings to the heart, ah, woe is me!

As the ivy clings to the old oak tree.

Love is not a pa.s.sion of earthly mould, As a thirst for honour, or fame, or gold: For when all these wishes have died away, The deep strong love of a brighter day, Though nourished in secret, consumes the more, As the slow rust eats to the iron's core.

SQUIRE NORTON'S SONG

That very wise head, old aesop, said, The bow should be sometimes loose; Keep it tight for ever, the string you sever:-- Let's turn his old moral to use.

The world forget, and let us yet, The gla.s.s our spirits buoying, Revel to-night in those moments bright Which make life worth enjoying.

The cares of the day, old moralists say, Are quite enough to perplex one; Then drive to-day's sorrow away till to-morrow, And then put it off till the next one.

_Chorus_--The cares of the day, etc.

Some plodding old crones, the heartless drones!

Appeal to my cool reflection, And ask me whether such nights can ever Charm sober recollection.

Yes, yes! I cry, I'll grieve and die, When those I love forsake me; But while friends so dear surround me here, Let Care, if he can, o'ertake me.

_Chorus_--The cares of the day, etc.

GEORGE EDMUNDS' SONG

Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, lie strewn around me here; Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, how sad, how cold, how drear!

How like the hopes of childhood's day, Thick cl.u.s.t'ring on the bough!

How like those hopes in their decay-- How faded are they now!

Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, lie strewn around me here; Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, how sad, how cold, how drear!

Wither'd leaves, wither'd leaves, that fly before the gale: Withered leaves, withered leaves, ye tell a mournful tale, Of love once true, and friends once kind, And happy moments fled: Dispersed by every breath of wind, Forgotten, changed, or dead!

Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, lie strewn around me here!

Autumn leaves, autumn leaves, how sad, how cold, how drear!

ROSE'S SONG

Some folks who have grown old and sour, Say love does nothing but annoy.

The fact is, they have had their hour, So envy what they can't enjoy.

I like the glance--I like the sigh-- That does of ardent pa.s.sion tell!

If some folks were as young as I, I'm sure they'd like it quite as well.

Old maiden aunts so hate the men, So well know how wives are harried, It makes them sad--not jealous--when They see their poor dear nieces married.

All men are fair and false, they know, And with deep sighs they a.s.sail 'em, It's so long since they tried men, though, I rather think their mem'ries fail 'em.

DUET (_Flam and Rose_)

_Flam._ 'Tis true I'm caressed by the witty, The envy of all the fine beaux, The pet of the court and the city, But still, I'm the lover of Rose.

_Rose._ Country sweethearts, oh, how I despise!

And oh! how delighted I am To think that I s.h.i.+ne in the eyes Of the elegant--sweet--Mr. Flam.

_Flam._ Allow me [_offers to kiss her_].

_Rose._ Pray don't be so bold, sir [_kisses her_].

_Flam._ What sweets on that honey'd lip hang!

_Rose._ Your presumption, I know, I should scold, sir, But I really _can't_ scold Mr. Flam.

_Both._ Then let us be happy together, Content with the world as it goes, An unchangeable couple for ever, Mr. Flam and his beautiful Rose.