SCENE I. – KATE O’CONNOR’S CABIN

In the Mountains. Painted by Mr T. CHINN.

Chorus by Peasants – Air, “Now’s the hour.”

Arise, sweet Kate, ’tis long past dawn,
Arise, for ’tis your wedding morn;
May joy and peace be ever thine,
And the sun of plenty on you shine.
Sweet light of the hills, Astore!
Sweet light of the hills, Astore!

Kate’s wedding morn. Everybody happy, especially Nelly and Paudeen. Cake and Whisky. The Squire with his creature enter uninvited. The Squire presses his suit and is rejected. Squire sings. Air, “Green Bushes.”

Oh! why are you loitering here Bonnie Kate?
With a poor Peasant you’ll surely never mate.
Shall I be your true love, and will you agree
To fly from the churl and my own mistress be.

I’ll give you fine Beavers and fine Silken-gowns,
I’ll give you rich Dresses, aye, flounced to the ground,
I’ll buy you fine Jewels, and live but for thee;
But fly from the churl and my own mistress be.

KATE Sings

I want none of your Beavers, nor fine Silks, nor Hose,
For I’m not so poor as to marry for clothes;
To my poor peasant boy, ever kind will I be,
Your offers, Sir Squire, will never tempt me.

KATE Sings – Air, “The Dear Irish Boy.”

My Corney, his cheeks are as ruddy as morning,
The brightest of pearls do mimic his teeth;
While nature with ringlets his mild brow adorning,
His hair cupid’s bow-strings, and roses his teeth.
Smiling, beguiling, cheering, endearing,
Together how oft o’er the mountains we’ve strayed,
In each other delighted, and fondly united,
I’ve listened whole days to my dear Irish boy.

CORNEY Sings – Air, “Pat’s curiosity shop.”

One Chesterfield wrote on good breeding,
On manners, and graces, and all that;
But mine is a different proceeding,
That comes from my fingers quite pat.

Oh! I am the boy to be easy,
With all kind of folk’s I am free,
My jewel says, I doesn’t please ye,
If it don’t, it is nothing to me.

The wedding ring. The peasants drink health to the bride and bridegroom. Irish Jig. Return of the Squire and Rody. The final attempt to persuade Kate to give up Corney. Kate’s indignant refusal. The Squire’s revenge. Proclamation. Reward for the apprehension of Rebels. Paudeen watches, and discovers a plot. Treasonable Documents. Corney proves his innocence. Approach of the Soldiers. The search. The Beggar-maid bribed. The appointment at “The Devil’s Glen.” Corney and Paudeen return. The letter a forgery. Corney resolves to follow Kate. Paudeen leaves Nelly, but not the Whisky.

SCENE II. – THE WICKLOW HILLS

[details missing] Painted by Mr BICKERSTAFF.

Corney in search of Kate. Kate in search of Corney’s retreat.

KATE Sings

I’m now sad and lonely,
Across the wide Sea;
He thinks of me only,
And soon be returning to me.
His eyes they were filled with devotion,
As my husband he said he would be;
Then blow gently, ye winds of the Ocean,
And send back my Corney to me.

Oh! he’s left me, his fortune to better,
Sure, I know that he went for my sake,
But soon I’ll be receiving a letter,
(Or else, sure, my poor heart will break),
To say he will soon be returning
To his own native Ireland and me;
Then, blow gently, ye winds of the morning,
And send back my Corney to me.

Squire’s determination. The dagger. Rody suggests drowning. Pursues Kate to the Devil’s Glen. Corney and Paudeen in search of Kate. Corney primes his Pistol, and Paudeen primes himself with whisky.

SCENE III. – THE DEVIL’S GLEN,

In County Limerick. Painted by Messrs Chinn & Bickerstaff.

Rody’s disguise as a Ferryman. Kate’s disappointment in not finding her lover.

KATE Sings – Air, “Dermit Astore.”

Oh! Corney, astore, between waking and sleeping,
I heard your dear voice, and I wept to its lay,
Every pulse of my heart the sweet measure was keeping,
Till Glendaloch’s wild echoes had borne it away.

Oh! tell me my own love, is this our last meeting?
Shall we wander no more in Glendaloch’s green bowers,
To watch the bright sun o’er the green hills retreating,
And the wild Stag at rest in his bed of spring flowers.

Rody informs her that Corney is waiting on the opposite shore. The Ferry halfway across. Rody throws off disguise and prepares to drown Kate. At the last moment the struggle. The splash. She rises. Paudeen sees her and climbs a tree to reach her. Too late. She sinks. No! she rises again. The rescue. Rody attempts to strike, but is shot by Corney. The squire draws his dagger. Nelly to the rescue.

GRAND TABLEAUX.

SCENE IV. – THE WICKLOW HILLS.

Painted by Mr BICKERSTAFF.

The Squire in custody. Rody wounded. Assisted by soldiers. Approaches the Squire with defiance. Rody staggers. Treasonable papers are found. The denouement. The Squire accused of assassination. The curse. Rody’s death. The Squire escapes. Soldiers pursue.