RICH.That's what my heart says.It says, "Dick," it says (it calls me Dick acos it's entitled to take that liberty), "that there young gal would recoil from him if she knowed what he really were.Ought you to stand off and on, and let this young gal take this false step and never fire a shot across her bows to bring her to? No," it says, "you did not ought." And I won't ought, accordin'.
SIR D.Then you really feel yourself at liberty to tell me that my elder brother lives--that I may charge him with his cruel deceit, and transfer to his shoulders the hideous thraldom under which I have laboured for so many years! Free--free at last!
Free to live a blameless life, and to die beloved and regretted by all who knew me!
DUET--SIR DESPARD and RICHARD.
RICH.You understand?
SIR D.I think I do;
With vigour unshaken This step shall be taken.
It's neatly planned.
RICH.I think so too;
I'll readily bet it You'll never regret it!
BOTH.For duty, duty must be done;The rule applies to every one, And painful though that duty be, To shirk the task were fiddle-de-dee!
SIR D.The bridegroom comes--
RICH.Likewise the bride--
The maidens are very Elated and merry;
They are her chums.
SIR D.To lash their pride Were almost a pity, The pretty committee!
BOTH.But duty, duty must be done;The rule applies to every one, And painful though that duty be, To shirk the task were fiddle-de-dee!
(Exeunt Richard and Sir Despard.)
(Enter Chorus of Bridesmaids and Bucks.)
CHORUS OF BRIDESMAIDS.
Hail the bride of seventeen summers:
In fair phrases Hymn her praises;
Lift your song on high, all comers.
She rejoices In your voices.
Smiling summer beams upon her, Shedding every blessing on her:
Maidens greet her--
Kindly treat her--
You may all be brides some day!
CHORUS OF BUCKS.
Hail the bridegroom who advances, Agitated, Yet elated.
He's in easy circumstances, Young and lusty, True and trusty.
ALL.Smiling summer beams upon her, etc.
(Enter Robin, attended by Richard and Old Adam, meeting Rose, attended by Zorah and Dame Hannah.Rose and Robin embrace.)MADRIGAL.
ROSE, DAME HANNAH, RICHARD, OLD ADAM with CHORUS.
ROSE.When the buds are blossoming, Smiling welcome to the spring, Lovers choose a wedding day--Life is love in merry May!
GIRLS.Spring is green--Fal lal la!
Summer's rose--Fal la la!
QUARTET.It is sad when summer goes, Fa la!
MEN.Autumn's gold--Fah lal la!
Winter's grey--Fah lal la!
QUARTET.Winter still is far away--Fa la!
CHORUS.Leaves in autumn fade and fall, Winter is the end of all.
Spring and summer teem with glee:
Spring and summer, then, for me!
Fa la!
HANNAH.In the spring-time seed is sown:
In the summer grass is mown:
In the autumn you may reap:
Winter is the time for sleep.
GIRLS.Spring is hope--Fal lal la!
Summer's joy--Fal lal la!
QUARTET.Spring and summer never cloy.
Fa la!
MEN.Autumn,toil--Fal lal la!
Winter, rest--Fal lal la!
QUARTET.Winter, after all, is best--Fal la!
CHORUS.Spring and summer pleasure you, Autumn, aye, and winter too--Every season has its cheer, Life is lovely all the year!
Fa la!
(Gavotte.)
(After Gavotte, enter Sir Despard.)
SIR D.Hold, bride and bridegroom, ere you wed each other, I claim young Robin as my elder brother!
His rightful title I have long enjoyed:
I claim him as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd!
CHORUS.O wonder!
ROSE (wildly).Deny the falsehood, Robin, as you should, It is a plot!
ROB.I would, if conscientiously I could, But I cannot!
CHORUS.Ah, base one! Ah, base one!
SOLO--ROBIN.
As pure and blameless peasant, I cannot, I regret, Deny a truth unpleasant, I am that Baronet!
CHORUS.He is that Baronet!
ROBIN.But when completely rated Bad Baronet am I, That I am what he's stated I'll recklessly deny!
CHORUS.He'll recklessly deny!
ROB.When I'm a bad Bart.I will tell taradiddles!
CHORUS.He'll tell taradiddles when he's a bad Bart.
ROB.I'll play a bad part on the falsest of fiddles.
CHORUS.On very false fiddles he'll play a bad part!
ROB.But until that takes place I must be conscientious--CHORUS.He'll be conscientious until that takes place.
ROB.Then adieu with good grace to my morals sententious!
CHORUS.To morals sententious adieu with good grace!
ZOR.Who is the wretch who hath betrayed thee?
Let him stand forth!
RICH.(coming forward).'Twas I!
ALL.Die, traitor!
RICH.Hold! my conscience made me!
Withhold your wrath!
SOLO--RICHARD.
Within this breast there beats a heart Whose voice can't be gainsaid.
It bade me thy true rank impart, And I at once obeyed.
I knew 'twould blight thy budding fate--
I knew 'twould cause thee anguish great--But did I therefore hesitate?
No! I at once obeyed!
ALL.Acclaim him who, when his true heart Bade him young Robin's rank impart, Immediately obeyed!
SOLO--ROSE (addressing Robin).
Farewell!
Thou hadst my heart--
'Twas quickly won!
But now we part--
Thy face I shun!
Farewell!
Go bend the knee At Vice's shrine, Of life with me All hope resign.
Farewell! Farewell! Farewell!
(To Sir Despard.) Take me--I am thy bride!
BRIDESMAIDS.
Hail the Bridegroom--hail the Bride!
When the nuptial knot is tied;
Every day will bring some joy That can never, never cloy!
(Enter Margaret, who listens.)
SIR D.Excuse me, I'm a virtuous person now--ROSE.That's why I wed you!
SIR D.And I to Margaret must keep my vow!
MAR.Have I misread you?
Oh, joy! with newly kindled rapture warmed, I kneel before you! (Kneels.)SIR D.I once disliked you; now that I've reformed, How I adore you! (They embrace.)BRIDESMAIDS.
Hail the Bridegroom-hail the Bride!
When the nuptial knot is tied;
Every day will bring some joy That can never, never cloy!
ROSE.Richard, of him I love bereft, Through thy design, Thou art the only one that's left, So I am thine! (They embrace.)BRIDESMAIDS.
Hail the Bridegroom--hail the Bride!
Let the nuptial knot be tied!
DUET--ROSE and RICHARD.
Oh, happy the lily When kissed by the bee;And, sipping tranquilly, Quite happy is he;And happy the filly That neighs in her pride;But happier than any, A pound to a penny, A lover is, when he Embraces his bride!