THE MASQUE OF PLENTY
43 lines✦
rgument.--The Indian Government being minded to discover the economiccondition of their lands, sent a Committee to inquire into it; and saw that itwas good. Scene.--The wooded heights of Simla. The Incarnation ofthe Government of India in the raiment of the Angel of Plentysings, to pianoforte accompaniment:-- “How sweet is the shepherd's sweet life!From the dawn to the even he strays--And his tongue shall be filled with praise. (adagio dim.) Filled with praise!” (largendo con sp.) Now this is the position,Go make an inquisitionInto their real conditionAs swiftly as ye may. (p) Ay, paint our swarthy billionsThe richest of vermillionsEre two well-led cotillionsHave danced themselves away. Turkish Patrol, as able and intelligent Investigators winddown the Himalayas:-- What is the state of the Nation? What is its occupation?Hi! get along, get along, get along--lend us the information!(dim.) Census the byle and the yabu--capture a first-class Babu,Set him to file Gazetteers--Gazetteers... (ff) What is the state of the Nation, etc., etc. Interlude, from Nowhere in Particular, to stringed and Orientalinstruments. Our cattle reel beneath the yoke they bear--The earth is iron and the skies are brass--And faint with fervour of the flaming airThe languid hours pass. The well is dry beneath the village tree--The young wheat withers ere it reach a span,And belts of blinding sand show cruellyWhere once the river ran. Pray, brothers, pray, but to no earthly King--Lift up your hands above the blighted grain,Look westward--if they please, the Gods shall bringTheir mercy with the rain. Look westward--bears the blue no brown cloud-bank?Nay, it is written--wherefore should we fly?On our own field and by our cattle's flankLie down, lie down to die!
✦