Chapter-19
-- The Great MacFin --
(An English Crumpet Western)
ACT III
$SCENE V
[A Forest Clearing]
[Thunder. Enter the three Cowpokes meeting The Ba-bar-ra]
First Cowpoke
What's wrong, The Ba-bar-ra! you look angry.The Ba-bar-ra
What have you done, broke down as you all are, So Saucy and so overbold? How dare you dare To trade and traffic with MacFin In riddles and affairs of death;And I, the mistress of your charms, Your close contriver of *all* your harms, Was never call'd to bear my part, Or show the glory of my art?
And, what is worse, all you have done Hath been but for a piss-ant's son, He's Both Spiteful and wrathful, all others know He Loves his own ends, but not for you.
Now make amends: then get you gone, to the river of Hell, b'gone Meet me in the morning: then he Will come to know his destiny:
Your vessels and your spells provide, Your charms and every thing beside. I am for the air; but this night I'll spend a dismal and fatal end:
Great business must be wrought b'for the noon: Upon this corner of the moon There hangs a vaporous drop profound; I'll catch it ere it come to ground:
And that distill'd by magic sleights Shall raise such false sprites As by the strength of their illusion Shall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear He will hope 'bove wisdom, grace and fear: And you all know, self-felt security Is mortals' chiefest enemy.
[Music and a song within: 'Come away, come away,' etc]
Hark! I am call'd; my little ghost, see, Sits in a foggy cloud, and waits for me.
[Exit]
First Cowpoke
Come, let's make haste-she'll be back too soon. to this corner of the Moon.[They All Git Out]
-- Great MacFin --
(An English Crumpet Western)ACT III
$SCENE VI
[in the Forest, near the main ranch house][Enter McRiffkin and another Ranch Owner]
McRiffkin
Let me explain what I have said before 'cause these past events are so confounding:First, MacFin found that it easy to pity the Ol'Owner-but only after he was out of the way.
And now it is said that Langstorm was killed by his own son, Bud, because he did fly as did Arthur and McGillis-and thereby were accused of killing their gracious father? ... damned fact!
... and remember How it did grieve MacFin, In pious rage, to *off* those two unlucky Cowboys who were but then slaves of drink and lost in a sleep? Was not that deed done too quickly- before these men could even deny they had done such evil?
To all this I say MacFin has come out smelling like a rose: On the other hand ... I do think That if he had had the Ol'Owner's two sons at his ranch -and I'm glad they were not there- they would certainly find what kill't their father ... and so would Bud.
... But, there's more! I hear Horace lives in disgrace: for just talking too loudly and 'cause he fail'd to be present at MacFin's dinner, that night. Now sir, can you tell what difference that makes?
Other Owner
I hear'd That Arthur, -From whom MacFin stole his rightful land-now lives near the Capital, in Santa Fe and is received by the Governor with such grace That even in his bad misfortune he has not lost influence and high respect:... further, Arthur has gone to pray for help from the Governor, and upon his aid he will collect an army of rural folk and by the help of these-and with the Governor, to ratify this work -we may again Give to our tables meat, quiet sleep to our nights, ... and restore order to our land so that meetings will no longer be occasions for murder, so bloody.
All of this we want: and all reports Hath so exasperated the Governor that he is now Preparing for a range war.
McRiffkin
Did he send for Horace's aid?Other Owner
He did: but the messenger is so unhappy to take such an answer to MacFin that he has no reason to hurry back.I heard that He is concerned for his own health!
McRiffkin
... And well He might. Advise him to move with caution, and to hold what distance His wisdom and current place can provide.It is better to surprise MacFin before he can prepare to battle so that a blessed day May sooner return to this our suffering country Under MacFin's accursed hand!
Other Owner
I'll send my prayers with him.[They All Git Out]
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