"A Merry Christmas" - Page 17

Out came Meg, with gray horse-hair hanging about her face, a red and black robe, a staff, and cabalistic signs¹ upon her cloak. 

Hugo demanded a potion to make Zara adore him, and one to destroy Roderigo. Hagar, in a fine dramatic melody, promised both, and proceeded to call up the spirit who would bring the love philter: ² - 

“Hither, hither, from thy home,

Airy sprite, I bid thee come!

Born of horses, fed on dew,

Charms and potions canst thou brew?

Bring me here, with elfin speed, 

The fragrant philter which I need;

Make it sweet and swift and strong;

Spirit, answer now my song!”

A soft strain of music sounded, and then at the back of the cave appeared a little figure in cloudy white, with glittering wings, golden hair, and a garland of roses on its head. Waving a wand, it sung:-

“Hither I come,

From my airy home,

Afar in the silver moon;

Take the magic spell, 

Oh, use it well!

Or its power will vanish soon!”

And dropping a small gilded bottle at the witch’s feet, the spirit vanished. Another chant from Hagar produced another apparition, - not a lovely one, for, with a bang, an ugly imp appeared, and having croaked a reply, tossed a dark bottle at Hugo, and disappeared with a mocking laugh.

Having warbled his thanks, and put the potions in his boots, Hugo departed; and Hagar informed the audience that, as he had killed a few of her friends in times past, she has cursed him, and intends to thwart his plans, and be revenged on him. ³

Then the curtain fell, and the audience reposed, let out the phlegm-filled coughs they had held during the act, and ate candy while discussing the merits of the play.

¹

² _{Per Merriam and, additionally, Webster: “1. a potion credited with magical power. 2. a potion, drug, or charm held to have the power to arouse sexual passion” Currently the name of a now-closed Australian brewery. Man, we used to have WORDS for things!}

³ _{Jo March: a proud pupil of the “Tell Don’t Show” school of playwriting.}