CHORUSThe screw may twist and the rack may turn, O'er London town and all its hoard, And men may bleed and men may burn, O'er London town and all its hoard, O'er London town and its golden hoard I keep my silent watch and ward!
DAME Within its wall of rock The flower of the brave Have perished with a constancy unshaken.
From the dungeon to the block, From the scaffold to the grave, Is a journey many gallant hearts have taken.
And the wicked flames may hiss Round the heroes who have fought For conscience and for home in all its beauty, But the grim old fortalice Takes little heed of aught That comes not in the measure of its duty.
The screw may twist and the rack may turn, And men may bleed and men may burn, O'er London town and its golden hoard I keep my silent watch and ward!
CHORUSThe screw may twist and the rack may turn, O'er London town and all its hoard, And men may bleed and men may burn, O'er London town and all its hoard, O'er London town and its golden hoard I keep my silent watch and ward!
[Exeunt all but PHOEBE.Enter SERGEANT MERYLL.
PHOEBEFather! Has no reprieve arrived for the poor gentleman?
MERYLLNo, my lass; but there's one hope yet.Thy brother Leonard, who, as a reward for his valour in saving his standard and cutting his way through fifty foes who would have hanged him, has been appointed a Yeoman of the Guard, will arrive to-day; and as he comes straight from Windsor, where the Court is, it may be--it may be-- that he will bring the expected reprieve with him.
PHOEBEOh, that he may!
MERYLLAmen to that! For the Colonel twice saved my life, and I'd give the rest of my life to save his! And wilt thou not be glad to welcome thy brave brother, with the fame of whose exploits all England is a-ringing?
PHOEBEAye, truly, if he brings the reprieve.
MERYLLAnd not otherwise?
PHOEBEWell, he's a brave fellow indeed, and I love brave men.
MERYLLAll brave men?
PHOEBEMost of them, I verily believe! But I hope Leonard will not be too strict with me-- they say he is a very dragon of virtue and circumspection! Now, my dear old father is kindness itself, and----MERYLLAnd leaves thee pretty well to thine own ways, eh?
Well, I've no fears for thee; thou hast a feather-brain, but thou'rt a good lass.
PHOEBEYes, that's all very well, but if Leonard is going to tell me that I may not do this and I may not do that, and I must not talk to this one, or walk with that one, but go through the world with my lips pursed up and my eyes cats down, like a poor nun who has renounced mankind-- why, as I have not renounced mankind, and don't mean to renounce mankind, I won't have it-- there!
MERYLLNay, he'll not check thee more than is good for thee, Phoebe! He's a brave fellow, and bravest among brave fellows, and yet it seems but yesterday that he robbed the Lieutenant's orchard.
No.3A.A laughing boy (OPTIONAL SONG)
Sergeant MeryllMERYLL A laughing boy but yesterday, A merry urchin blithe and gay, Whose joyous shout came ringing out Unchecked by care or sorrow.
Today a warrior all sunbrown, When deeds of soldierly renown Are not the boast of London town, A veteran tomorrow, today a warrior, A veteran tomorrow!
When at my Leonard's deeds sublime, A soldier's pulse beats double time, And grave hearts thrill as brave hearts will At tales of martial glory.
I burn with flush of pride and joy, A pride unbittered by alloy, To find my boy, my darling boy, The theme of song and story, To find my darling boy The theme of song and story!
To find my boy, my darling boy, The theme of song and story!
[Enter LEONARD MERYLL
LEONARD Father!
MERYLLLeonard! my brave boy! I'm right glad to see thee, and so is Phoebe!
PHOEBEAye-- hast thou brought Colonel Fairfax's reprieve?
LEONARD Nay, I have here a despatch for the Lieutenant, but no reprieve for the Colonel!
PHOEBEPoor gentleman! poor gentleman!
LEONARD Aye, I would I had brought better news.I'd give my right hand-- nay, my body-- my life, to save his!
MERYLLDost thou speak in earnest, my lad?
LEONARD Aye, father-- I'm no braggart.Did he not save thy life? and am I not his foster-brother?
MERYLLThen hearken to me.Thou hast come to join the Yeomen of the Guard!
LEONARD Well?
MERYLLNone has seen thee but ourselves?
LEONARD And a sentry, who took scant notice of me.
MERYLLNow to prove thy words.Give me the despatch and get thee hence at once! Here is money, and I'll send thee more.Lie hidden for a space, and let no one know.
I'll convey a suit of Yeoman's uniform to the Colonel's cell-- he shall shave off his beard, so that none shall know him, and I'll own him as my son, the brave Leonard Meryll, who saved his flag and cut his way through fifty foes who thirsted for his life.He will be welcomed without question by my brother-Yeomen, I'll warrant that.Now, how to get access to the Colonel's cell? [To PHOEBE] The key is with they sour-faced admirer, Wilfred Shadbolt.
PHOEBE[demurely] I think-- I say, I think-- I can get anything I want from Wilfred.I think-- mind I say, I think-- you may leave that to me.
MERYLLThen get thee hence at once, lad-- and bless thee for this sacrifice.
PHOEBEAnd take my blessing, too, dear, dear Leonard!
LEONARD And thine.eh? Humph! Thy love is newborn; wrap it up carefully, lest it take cold and die.
No.4.Alas! I waver to and fro (TRIO)
Phoebe, Leonard, and MeryllPHOEBE Alas! I waver to and fro!
Dark danger hangs upon the deed!
ALL Dark danger hangs upon the deed!
LEONARD The scheme is rash and well may fail;But ours are not the hearts that quail, The hands that shrink, the cheeks that pale In hours of need!
ALLNo, ours are not the hearts that quail, The hands that shrink, the cheeks that pale The hands that shrink, the cheeks that pale In hours of need!
MERYLL The air I breathe to him I owe:
My life is his-- I count it naught!
PHOEBE
and LEONARD That life is his-- so count it naught!
MERYLL And shall I reckon risks I run When services are to be done To save the life of such an one?
Unworthy thought! Unworthy thought!
PHOEBE
and LEONARD And shall we reckon risks we run To save the life of such an one?
ALL Unworthy thought! Unworthy thought!