SIR M.Dr.Daly, give me joy.Alexis, my dear boy, you will, I am sure, be pleased to hear that my declining days are not unlikely to be solaced by the companionship of this good, virtuous, and amiable woman.
ALEXIS (rather taken aback) My dear father, this is not altogether what I expected.I am certainly taken somewhat by surprise.Still it can hardly be necessary to assure you that any wife of yours is a mother of mine.(Aside to Aline.) It is not quite what I could have wished.
MRS.P.(crossing to Alexis) Oh, sir, I entreat your forgiveness.I am aware that socially I am not everything that could be desired, nor am I blessed with an abundance of worldly goods, but I can at least confer on your estimable father the great and priceless dowry of a true, tender, and lovin' 'art!
ALEXIS (coldly) I do not question it.After all, a faithful love is the true source of every earthly joy.
SIR M.I knew that my boy would not blame his poor father for acting on the impulse of a heart that has never yet misled him.Zorah is not perhaps what the world calls beautiful--DR.D.Still she is comely--distinctly comely.(Sighs)ALINE Zorah is very good, and very clean, and honest, and quite, quite sober in her habits: and that is worth far more than beauty, dear Sir Marmaduke.
DR.D.Yes; beauty will fade and perish, but personal cleanliness is practically undying, for it can be renewed whenever it discovers symptoms of decay.My dear Sir Marmaduke, I heartily congratulate you.(Sighs)QUINTETTEALEXIS, ALINE, SIR MARMADUKE, ZORAH, and DR.DALYALEXIS.I rejoice that it's decided, Happy now will be his life, For my father is provided With a true and tender wife.
She will tend him, nurse him, mend him, Air his linen, dry his tears;Bless the thoughtful fate that send him Such a wife to soothe his years!
ALINE.No young giddy thoughtless maiden, Full of graces, airs, and jeers--But a sober widow, laden With the weight of fifty years!
SIR M.No high-born exacting beauty Blazing like a jewelled sun--But a wife who'll do her duty, As that duty should be done!
MRS.P.I'm no saucy minx and giddy--Hussies such as them abound--But a clean and tidy widdy Well be-known for miles around!
DR.D.All the village now have mated, All are happy as can be--I to live alone am fated:
No one's left to marry me!
ENSEMBLE.She will tend him etc.
(Exeunt Sir Marmaduke, Mrs.Partlet, and Aline, with Alexis.Dr.
Daly looks after them sentimentally, then exits with a sigh.)Enter Mr.WellsRECITATIVE--MR.WELLSOh, I have wrought much evil with my spells!
And ill I can't undo!
This is too bad of you, J.W.Wells--
What wrong have they done you?
And see--another love-lorn lady comes--
Alas, poor stricken dame!
A gentle pensiveness her life benumbs--
And mine, alone, the blame!
Lady Sangazure enters.She is very melancholyLADY S.Alas, ah me! and well-a-day!
I sigh for love, and well I may, For I am very old and grey.
But stay!
(Sees Mr.Wells, and becomes fascinated by him.)RECITATIVELADY S.What is this fairy form I see before me?
MR.W.Oh horrible!--She's going to adore me!
This last catastrophe is overpowering!
LADY S.Why do you glare at one with visage lowering?
For pity's sake recoil not thus from me!
MR.W.My lady leave me--this may never be!
DUET--LADY SANGAZURE and MR.WELLS
MR.W.Hate me! I drop my H's--have through life!
LADY S.Love me! I'll drop them too!
MR.W.Hate me! I always eat peas with a knife!
LADY S.Love me! I'll eat like you!
MR.W.Hate me! I spend the day at Rosherville!
LADY S.Love me! that joy I'll share!
MR.W.Hate me! I often roll down One Tree Hill!
LADY S.Love me! I'll join you there!
LADY S.Love me! My prejudices I will drop!
MR.W.Hate me! that's not enough!
LADY S.Love me! I'll come and help you in the shop!
MR.W.Hate me! the life is rough!
LADY S.Love me! my grammar I will all forswear!
MR.W.Hate me! abjure my lot!
LADY S.Love me! I'll stick sunflowers in my hair!
MR.W.Hate me! they'll suit you not!
RECITATIVE--MR.WELLS
At what I am going to say be not enraged--I may not love you--for I am engaged!
LADY S.(horrified) Engaged!
MR.W.Engaged!
To a maiden fair, With bright brown hair, And a sweet and simple smile, Who waits for me By the sounding sea, On a South Pacific isle.
MR.W.(aside)A lie! No maiden waits me there!
LADY S.(mournfully) She has bright brown hair;MR.W.(aside)A lie! No maiden smiles on me!
LADY S.(mournfully) By the sounding sea!
ENSEMBLE
LADY SANGAZURE MR.W.
Oh agony, rage, despair! Oh, agony, rage, despair!
The maiden has bright brown hair,Oh, where will this end--oh, where?
And mine is as white as snow!I should like very much to know!
False man, it will be your fault,It will certainly be my fault, If I go to my family vault, If she goes to her family vault, And bury my life-long woe! To bury her life-long woe!
BOTH.The family vault--the family vault.
It will certainly be (your/my) fault.
If (I go/she goes) to (my/her) family vault, To bury (my/her) life-long woe!
(Exit Lady Sangazure, in great anguish, accompanied by Mr.Wells.)Enter Aline, RecitativeAlexis! Doubt me not, my loved one! See, Thine uttered will is sovereign law to me!
All fear--all thought of ill I cast away!
It is may darling's will, and I obey!
(She drinks the philtre.)
The fearful deed is done, My love is near!
I go to meet my own In trembling fear!
If o'er us aught of ill Should cast a shade, It was my darling's will, And I obeyed!
(As Aline is going off, she meets Dr.Daly, entering pensively.He is playing on a flageolet.Under the influence of the spell she at once becomes strangely fascinated by him, and exhibits every symptom of being hopelessly in love with him.)SONG--DR.DALYOh, my voice is sad and low And with timid step I go--For with load of love o'er laden I enquire of every maiden, "Will you wed me, little lady?
Will you share my cottage shady?"
Little lady answers "No!
Thank you for your kindly proffer--
Good your heart, and full your coffer;
Yet I must decline your offer--
I'm engaged to So-and-so!"
So-and-so!
So-and-so! (flageolet solo)
She's engaged to So-and-so!