Princess Ida
Sullivan, Arthur
Responsief blok lib/tran/syn
Princess Ida Libretto
CASTLE ADAMANTlibretto by William S.
CASTLE ADAMANTGilbert
CASTLE ADAMANTmusic by Arthur S.
CASTLE ADAMANTSullivan
DRAMATIS PERSONAEKing Hildebrand
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHilarion (His son)
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHilarion's friends:
DRAMATIS PERSONAECyril
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian
DRAMATIS PERSONAEKing Gama
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHis sons:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEArac
DRAMATIS PERSONAEGuron
DRAMATIS PERSONAEScynthius
DRAMATIS PERSONAEPrincess Ida (Gama's daughter)
DRAMATIS PERSONAELady Blanche (Professor of Abstract Science)
DRAMATIS PERSONAELady Psyche (Professor of Humanities)
DRAMATIS PERSONAEMelissa (Lady Blanche's Daughter)
DRAMATIS PERSONAEGirl Graduates:
DRAMATIS PERSONAESacharissa
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChloe
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAda
DRAMATIS PERSONAESoldiers, Courtiers, "Girl Graduates," "Daughters of the Plough,"
DRAMATIS PERSONAEetc.
SYSTEMACT I
DRAMATIS PERSONAEPavilion in King Hildebrand's Palace
SYSTEMACT II
DRAMATIS PERSONAEGardens of Castle Adamant
SYSTEMACT III
DRAMATIS PERSONAECourtyard of Castle Adamant
SYSTEMACT I.
SYSTEMSCENE.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEPavilion attached to King Hildebrand's Palace.
DRAMATIS PERSONAESoldiers and courtiers discovered looking out through
DRAMATIS PERSONAEopera-glasses, telescopes, etc.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE, Florian leading.
DRAMATIS PERSONAECHORUS AND SOLO (Florian)
DRAMATIS PERSONAE"Search throughout the panorama"
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAESearch throughout the panorama
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor a sign of royal Gama,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWho to-day should cross the water
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWith his fascinating daughter—
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIda is her name.
DRAMATIS PERSONAESome misfortune evidently
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHas detained them — consequently
DRAMATIS PERSONAESearch throughout the panorama
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor the daughter of King Gama,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEPrince Hilarion's flame!
DRAMATIS PERSONAESOLO - Florian
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWill Prince Hilarion's hopes be sadly blighted?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWho can tell? Who can tell?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWill Ida break the vows that she has plighted?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWho can tell? Who can tell?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWill she back out, and say she did not mean them?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWho can tell?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIf so, there'll be the deuce to pay between them!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAENo, no — we'll not despair, we'll not despair,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor Gama would not dare
DRAMATIS PERSONAETo make a deadly foe
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOf Hildebrand, and so,
DRAMATIS PERSONAESearch through the panorama
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor a sign of royal Gama,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWho today should cross the water
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWith his fascinating daughter—
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIda, Ida is her name.
(Enter King Hildebrand
DRAMATIS PERSONAEwith Cyril)
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAESee you no sign of Gama?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian:
DRAMATIS PERSONAENone, my liege!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIt's very odd indeed.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIf Gama fail
DRAMATIS PERSONAETo put in an appearance at our Court
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBefore the sun has set in yonder west,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd fail to bring the Princess Ida here
DRAMATIS PERSONAETo whom our son Hilarion was betrothed
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAt the extremely early age of one,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThere's war between King Gama and ourselves!
aside to Cyril
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOh, Cyril, how I dread this interview!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIt's twenty years since he and I have met.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHe was a twisted monster — all awry——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAs though Dame Nature, angry with her work,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHad crumpled it in fitful petulance!
DRAMATIS PERSONAECyril:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBut, sir, a twisted and ungainly trunk
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOften bears goodly fruit.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEPerhaps he was
DRAMATIS PERSONAEA kind, well-spoken gentleman?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOh, no!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor, adder-like, his sting lay in his tongue.
His "sting" is present, though his "stung" is past
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian:
looking through glass
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBut stay, my liege; o'er yonder mountain's brow
DRAMATIS PERSONAEComes a small body, bearing Gama's arms;
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd now I look more closely at it, sir,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEI see attached to it King Gama's legs;
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFrom which I gather this corollary
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThat that small body must be Gama's own!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHa! Is the Princess with him?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFlorian:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWell, my liege,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEUnless her highness is full six feet high,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd wears mustachios too — and smokes cigars——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd rides en cavalier in coat of steel——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEI do not think she is.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOne never knows.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEShe's a strange girl, I've heard, and does odd
DRAMATIS PERSONAEthings!
DRAMATIS PERSONAECome, bustle there!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor Gama place the richest robes we own——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor Gama place the coarsest prison dress——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor Gama let our best spare bed be aired——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor Gama let our deepest dungeon yawn——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor Gama lay the costliest banquet out——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor Gama place cold water and dry bread!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor as King Gama brings the Princess here,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOr brings her not, so shall King Gama have
DRAMATIS PERSONAEMuch more than everything — much less than nothing!
DRAMATIS PERSONAESONG (Hildebrand and Chorus)
DRAMATIS PERSONAE"Now Hearken to my Strict Command"
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAENow hearken to my strict command
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOn every hand, on every hand——
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAETo your command,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOn every hand,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWe dutifully bow.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIf Gama bring the Princess here,
Give him good cheer, give him good cheer.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIf she come here
We'll give him a cheer,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd we will show you how.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHip, hip, hurrah! hip, hip, hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHip, hip, hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!
We'll shout and sing
DRAMATIS PERSONAELong live the King,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd his daughter, too, I trow!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThen shout ha! ha! hip, hip, hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHip, hip, hip, hip, hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor the fair Princess and her good papa,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHurrah, hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBut if he fail to keep his troth,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEUpon our oath, we'll trounce them both!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHe'll trounce them both,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEUpon his oath,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAs sure as quarter-day!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWe'll shut him up in a dungeon cell,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd toll his knell on a funeral bell.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEChorus:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFrom his dungeon cell,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHis funeral knell
DRAMATIS PERSONAEShall strike him with dismay!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHip, hip, hurrah! hip, hip, hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHip, hip, hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAs up we string
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThe faithless King,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIn the old familiar way!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWe'll shout ha! ha! hip, hip, hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHip, hip, hip, hip, hurrah!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAs we make an end of her false papa,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHurrah, hurrah!
Exeunt all
Enter Hilarion
DRAMATIS PERSONAERECITATIVE AND SONG (Hilarion)
DRAMATIS PERSONAE"Today we meet"
DRAMATIS PERSONAERECITATIVE - Hilarion
DRAMATIS PERSONAETo-day we meet, my baby bride and I—
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBut ah, my hopes are balanc'd by my fears!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWhat transmutations have been conjur'd by
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThe silent alchemy of twenty years!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBALLAD - Hilarion
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIda was a twelve-month old,
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEI was twice her age, I'm told,
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHusband twice as old as wife
DRAMATIS PERSONAEArgues ill for married life
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBaleful prophecies were rife,
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago,
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEStill, I was a tiny prince
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEShe has gained upon me, since
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThough she's twenty-one, it's true,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEI am barely twenty-two—
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFalse and foolish prophets you
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago,
DRAMATIS PERSONAETwenty years ago!
Enter Hildebrand
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHilarion:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWell, father, is there news for me at last?
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEKing Gama is in sight, but much I fear
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWith no Princess!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHilarion:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAlas, my liege, I've heard,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThat Princess Ida has forsworn the world,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd, with a band of women, shut herself
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWithin a lonely country house, and there
DRAMATIS PERSONAEDevotes herself to stern philosophies!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThen I should say the loss of such a wife
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIs one to which a reasonable man
DRAMATIS PERSONAEWould easily be reconciled.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHilarion:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOh, no!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEOr I am not a reasonable man.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEShe is my wife — has been for twenty years!
DRAMATIS PERSONAE(Holding glass) I think I see her now.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHildebd:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHa! Let me look!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHilarion:
DRAMATIS PERSONAEIn my mind's eye, I mean — a blushing bride
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAll bib and tucker, frill and furbelow!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHow exquisite she looked as she was borne,
DRAMATIS PERSONAERecumbent, in her foster-mother's arms!
DRAMATIS PERSONAEHow the bride wept — nor would be comforted
DRAMATIS PERSONAEUntil the hireling mother-for-the-nonce
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAdministered refreshment in the vestry.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEAnd I remember feeling much annoyed
That she should weep at marrying with me.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEBut then I thought, "These brides are all alike.
DRAMATIS PERSONAEYou cry at marrying me? How much more cause
DRAMATIS PERSONAEYou'd have to cry if it were broken off!"
DRAMATIS PERSONAEThese were my thoughts; I kept them to myself,
DRAMATIS PERSONAEFor at that age I had not learnt to speak.
(Exeunt Hildebrand
DRAMATIS PERSONAEand Hilarion)
Enter Courtiers
CHORUS"From the distant panorama"
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSFrom the distant panorama
CHORUSCome the sons of royal Gama.
CHORUSThey are heralds evidently,
CHORUSAnd are sacred consequently,
CHORUSSons of Gama, hail! oh, hail!
Enter Arac, Guron, and Scynthius
CHORUSTRIO (Arac, Guron, Scynthius and Chorus)
CHORUS"We are Warriors Three"
CHORUSSONG - Arac
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSWe are warriors three,
CHORUSSons of Gama, Rex,
CHORUSLike most sons are we,
CHORUSMasculine in sex.
CHORUSAll Three:
CHORUSYes, yes, yes,
CHORUSMasculine in sex.
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSPolitics we bar,
CHORUSThey are not our bent;
CHORUSOn the whole we are
CHORUSNot intelligent.
CHORUSAll Three:
CHORUSNo, no, no,
CHORUSNot intelligent.
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSBut with doughty heart,
CHORUSAnd with trusty blade
CHORUSWe can play our part—
CHORUSFighting is our trade.
CHORUSAll Three:
CHORUSYes, yes, yes,
CHORUSFighting is our trade.
CHORUSBold and fierce, and strong, ha! ha!
CHORUSFor a war we burn,
CHORUSWith its right or wrong, ha! ha!
CHORUSWe have no concern.
CHORUSOrder comes to fight, ha! ha!
CHORUSOrder is obey'd,
CHORUSWe are men of might, ha! ha!
CHORUSFighting is our trade.
CHORUSYes — yes, yes,
CHORUSFighting is our trade, ha! ha!
CHORUSFighting is our trade, ha
CHORUSha! They are men of might, ha! ha!
CHORUSFighting is their trade.
CHORUSOrder comes to fight, ha! ha!
CHORUSOrder is obey'd!
CHORUSOrder comes to fight!
CHORUSHa, Ha!
CHORUSOrder is obey'd!
CHORUSFighting Fighting
CHORUSis.
CHORUSYes, yes, yes, is
CHORUSFighting is our trade, ha their
CHORUSHa! trade!
Enter King Gama
CHORUSSONG (Gama)
CHORUS"If you give me your Attention"
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSIf you give me your attention, I will tell you what I
CHORUSam:
CHORUSI'm a genuine philanthropist — all other kinds are
CHORUSsham.
CHORUSEach little fault of temper and each social defect
CHORUSIn my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct.
CHORUSTo all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes;
CHORUSAnd little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise;
CHORUSI love my fellow creatures — I do all the good I
CHORUScan—
CHORUSYet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
CHORUSAnd I can't think why!
CHORUSTo compliments inflated I've a withering reply;
CHORUSAnd vanity I always do my best to mortify;
CHORUSA charitable action I can skillfully dissect;
CHORUSAnd interested motives I'm delighted to detect;
CHORUSI know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns;
CHORUSAnd I carefully compare it with the income-tax
CHORUSreturns;
CHORUSBut to benefit humanity however much I plan,
CHORUSYet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
CHORUSAnd I can't think why!
CHORUSI'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be;
CHORUSYou'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee,
CHORUSI've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
CHORUSI've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
CHORUSTo ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two;
CHORUSI can tell a woman's age in half a minute — and I do.
CHORUSBut although I try to make myself as pleasant as I
CHORUScan,
CHORUSYet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
CHORUSAnd I can't think why!
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSHe can't think why!
Enter Hildebrand, Hilarion, Cyril and Florian
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSSo this is Castle Hildebrand? Well, well!
CHORUSDame Rumour whispered that the place was grand;
CHORUSShe told me that your taste was exquisite,
CHORUSSuperb, unparalleled!
CHORUSHildebnd:
CHORUS(Gratified) Oh, really, King!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSBut she's a liar! Why, how old you've grown!
CHORUSIs this Hilarion? Why, you've changed too—
CHORUSYou were a singularly handsome child!
CHORUS(To Florian) Are you a courtier? Come, then ply your trade,
CHORUSTell me some lies.
CHORUSHow do you like your King?
CHORUSVile rumour says he's all but imbecile.
CHORUSNow, that's not true?
CHORUSFlorian:
CHORUSMy lord, we love our King.
CHORUSHis wise remarks are valued by his court
CHORUSAs precious stones.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSAnd for the self-same cause.
CHORUSLike precious stones, his sensible remarks
CHORUSDerive their value from their scarcity!
CHORUSCome now, be honest, tell the truth for once!
CHORUSTell it of me.
CHORUSCome, come, I'll harm you not.
CHORUSThis leg is crooked — this foot is ill-designed—
CHORUSThis shoulder wears a hump! Come, out with it!
CHORUSLook, here's my face! Now, am I not the worst
CHORUSOf Nature's blunders?
CHORUSCyril:
CHORUSNature never errs.
CHORUSTo those who know the workings of your mind,
CHORUSYour face and figure, sir, suggest a book
CHORUSAppropriately bound.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUS(Enraged) Why, harkye, sir,
CHORUSHow dare you bandy words with me?
CHORUSCyril:
CHORUSNo need
CHORUSTo bandy aught that appertains to you.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUS(Furiously) Do you permit this, King?
CHORUSHildebd:
CHORUSWe are in doubt
CHORUSWhether to treat you as an honoured guest
CHORUSOr as a traitor knave who plights his word
CHORUSAnd breaks it.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUS(Quickly) If the casting vote's with me,
CHORUSI give it for the former!
CHORUSHildebd:
CHORUSWe shall see.
CHORUSBy the terms of our contract, signed and sealed,
CHORUSYou're bound to bring the Princess here to-day:
CHORUSWhy is she not with you?
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSAnswer me this:
CHORUSWhat think you of a wealthy purse-proud man,
CHORUSWho, when he calls upon a starving friend,
CHORUSPulls out his gold and flourishes his notes,
CHORUSAnd flashes diamonds in the pauper's eyes?
CHORUSWhat name have you for such an one?
CHORUSHildebd:
CHORUSA snob.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSJust so.
CHORUSThe girl has beauty, virtue, wit,
CHORUSGrace, humour, wisdom, charity and pluck.
CHORUSWould it be kindly, think you, to parade
CHORUSThese brilliant qualities before your eyes?
CHORUSOh no, King Hildebrand, I am no snob!
CHORUSHildebd:
CHORUS(Furiously) Stop that tongue,
CHORUSOr you shall lose the monkey head that holds it!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSBravo! Your King deprives me of my head,
CHORUSThat he and I may meet on equal terms!
CHORUSHildebd:
CHORUSWhere is she now? (Threatening)
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSIn Castle Adamant,
CHORUSOne of my many country houses.
CHORUSThere
CHORUSShe rules a woman's University,
CHORUSWith full a hundred girls, who learn of her.
CHORUSCyril:
CHORUSA hundred girls! A hundred ecstasies!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSBut no mere girls, my good young gentleman;
CHORUSWith all the college learning that you boast,
CHORUSThe youngest there will prove a match for you.
CHORUSCyril:
CHORUSWith all my heart, if she's the prettiest!
CHORUS(To Florian) Fancy, a hundred matches — all alight!—
CHORUSThat's if I strike them as I hope to do!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSDespair your hope; their hearts are dead to men.
CHORUSHe who desires to gain their favour must
CHORUSBe qualified to strike their teeming brains,
CHORUSAnd not their hearts.
CHORUSThey're safety matches, sir,
CHORUSAnd they light only on the knowledge box—
CHORUSSo you've no chance!
CHORUSFlorian:
CHORUSAnd there are no males whatever in those walls?
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSNone, gentlemen, excepting letter mails—
CHORUSAnd they are driven (as males often are
CHORUSIn other large communities) by women.
CHORUSWhy, bless my heart, she's so particular
CHORUSShe'll hardly suffer Dr.
CHORUSWatts's hymns—
CHORUSAnd all the animals she owns are "hers"!
The ladies rise at cockcrow every morn—
CHORUSCyril:
CHORUSAh, then they have male poultry?
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSNot at all,
CHORUS(Confidentially) The crowing's done by an accomplished hen!
FINALE(Gama, Hildebrand, Cyril, Hilarion, Florian
FINALEand Chorus of Girls and Men)
FINALEDUET (Gama and Hildebrand)
FINALE"P'raps if you Address the Lady"
FINALEGama:
FINALEP'raps if you address the lady
FINALEMost politely, most politely—
FINALEFlatter and impress the lady,
FINALEMost politely, most politely,—
FINALEHumbly beg and humbly sue—
FINALEShe may deign to look on you,
FINALEBut your doing you must do
FINALEMost politely, most politely, most
FINALEpolitely!
FINALEAll:
FINALEHumbly beg and humbly sue,
FINALEShe may deign to look on you,
FINALEBut your doing you must do
FINALEMost politely, most politely, most
FINALEpolitely!
FINALEHildebd:
FINALEGo you and inform the lady,
FINALEMost politely, most politely,
FINALEIf she don't, we'll storm the lady
FINALEMost politely, most politely!
FINALE(To Gama) You'll remain as hostage here;
FINALEShould Hillarion disappear,
FINALEWe will hang you, never fear,
FINALEMost politely, most politely, most
FINALEpolitely!
FINALEAll:
FINALEHe'll [I'll] [You'll] remain as hostage here.
FINALEShould Hilarion disappear,
FINALEThey [We] will hang me [you] never fear,
FINALEMost politely, most politely, most
FINALEpolitely!
FINALE(Gama, Arac, Guron and Scynthius are marched off in custody,
FINALEHildebrand following)
FINALERECITATIVE — Hilarion
FINALECome, Cyril, Florian, our course is plain,
FINALETo-morrow morn fair Ida we'll engage;
FINALEBut we will use no force her love to gain,
FINALENature, nature has arm'd us for the war we
FINALEwage!
FINALETRIO — Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian
FINALEHilarion:
FINALEExpressive glances
FINALEShall be our lances,
FINALEAnd pops of Sillery
FINALEOur light artillery.
FINALEWe'll storm their bowers
FINALEWith scented showers
FINALEOf fairest flowers
FINALEThat we can buy!
FINALEChorus:
FINALEOh, dainty triolet!
FINALEOh, fragrant violet!
FINALEOh, gentle heigho-let!
(Or little sigh).
FINALEOn sweet urbanity,
FINALEThrough mere inanity,
FINALETo touch their vanity
FINALEWe will rely!
FINALECyril:
FINALEWhen day is fading,
FINALEWith serenading
FINALEAnd such frivolity
FINALEWe'll prove our quality.
FINALEA sweet profusion
FINALEOf soft allusion
FINALEThis bold intrusion
FINALEShall justify,
FINALEThis bold intrusion
FINALEShall justify.
FINALEChorus:
FINALEOh, dainty triolet!
FINALEOh, fragrant violet!
FINALEOh, gentle heigho-let!
(Or little sigh).
FINALEOn sweet urbanity,
FINALEThrough mere inanity,
FINALETo touch their vanity
FINALEWe will rely!
FINALEFlorian:
FINALEWe'll charm their senses
FINALEWith verbal fences,
FINALEWith ballads amatory
FINALEAnd declamatory.
FINALELittle heeding
FINALETheir pretty pleading,
FINALEOur love exceeding
FINALEWe'll justify!
FINALEOur love exceeding
FINALEWe'll justify!
FINALEChorus:
FINALEOh, dainty triolet!
FINALEOh, fragrant violet!
FINALEOh, gentle heigho-let!
(Or little sigh).
FINALEOn sweet urbanity,
FINALEThrough mere inanity,
FINALETo touch their vanity
FINALEWe will rely!
FINALESops:
FINALEOh dainty Altos, Tenors, and
FINALEBasses:
FINALEtriolet! Oh fragrant Oh
FINALEviolet! Oh dain-
FINALEgentle ty
FINALEheigh-o-let! (Or tri-
FINALElittle o-
sigh).
FINALElet!
FINALEHilarion & Cyril:
FINALEOh dainty Chorus:
FINALEtriolet! Oh fragrant Oh
FINALEviolet (Add Florian) Oh fra-
FINALEgentle grant
FINALEheigh-o-let! (Or vi-
FINALElittle o-
sigh).
FINALElet!
FINALESops & Altos:
FINALETenors & Basses:
FINALEOh dainty Oh dainty
FINALEtriolet! Oh tri-
FINALEfragrant o-
FINALEviolet let!
FINALEAll:
FINALEOh dainty triolet!
FINALEOh fragrant violet!
(Re-enter Gama, Arac, Guron, and Scynthius heavily ironed, followed
FINALEby Hildebrand)
RECITATIVEGama:
RECITATIVEMust we, till then, in prison cell be thrust?
RECITATIVEHildebd:
RECITATIVEYou must!
RECITATIVEGama:
RECITATIVEThis seems unnecessarily severe!
RECITATIVEArac, Guron
RECITATIVE& Scyn:
RECITATIVEHear, hear!
RECITATIVETRIO - Arac, Guron and Scynthius
RECITATIVEFor a month to dwell
RECITATIVEIn a dungeon cell:
RECITATIVEGrowing thin and wizen
RECITATIVEIn a solitary prison,
RECITATIVEIs a poor look out
RECITATIVEFor a soldier stout,
RECITATIVEWho is longing for the rattle
RECITATIVEOf a complicated battle—
RECITATIVEFor the rum - tum - tum
RECITATIVEOf the military drum
RECITATIVEAnd the guns that go boom!
RECITATIVEboom!
RECITATIVEAll:
RECITATIVEThe rum — tum — tum
RECITATIVEOf the military drum,
RECITATIVERum — tum — tum — tummy tummy tummy tummy tum
RECITATIVEWho is longing for the rattle of a complicated
RECITATIVEbattle—
RECITATIVEFor the rum tum tum
RECITATIVEOf the military drum!
RECITATIVEPrr, prr, prr, ra — pum — pum!
RECITATIVEHildebd:
RECITATIVEWhen Hilarion's bride
RECITATIVEHas at length complied
RECITATIVEWith the just conditions
RECITATIVEOf our requisitions,
RECITATIVEYou may go in haste
RECITATIVEAnd indulge your taste
RECITATIVEFor the fascinating rattle
RECITATIVEOf a complicated battle—
RECITATIVEFor the rum - tum - tum,
RECITATIVEOf the military drum,
RECITATIVEAnd the guns that go boom! boom!
RECITATIVEAll:
RECITATIVEThe rum — tum — tum
RECITATIVEOf the military drum,
RECITATIVERum — tum — tum — tummy tummy tummy tummy tum!
RECITATIVEWho is longing for the rattle
RECITATIVEOf a complicated battle
RECITATIVEFor the rum — tum — tum
RECITATIVEOf the military drum!
RECITATIVETum, prr — prr — prr ra — pum, pum!
RECITATIVEBut til that time you'll [we'll] here remain,
RECITATIVEAnd bail we [they] will not entertain,
RECITATIVEShould she our [his] mandate disobey,
RECITATIVEYour [Our] lives the penalty will pay!
RECITATIVEBut till that time you'll [we'll] here remain,
RECITATIVEAnd bail we [they] will not entertain.
RECITATIVEShould she our [his] mandate disobey,
RECITATIVEYour [Our] lives the penalty will pay!
RECITATIVEShould she our [his] mandate disobey,
RECITATIVEYour [Our] lives the penalty will pay!
RECITATIVE(Gama, Arac, Guron, and Synthius are
RECITATIVEmarched off)
SYSTEMACT II
SYSTEMSCENE Gardens in Castle Adamant.
END OF ACT IA river runs across the
END OF ACT Iback of the stage, crossed by a rustic bridge.
END OF ACT ICastle
END OF ACT IAdamant in the distance.
END OF ACT IGirl Graduates discovered seated at the feet of Lady
END OF ACT IPsyche
END OF ACT ICHORUS OF GIRLS & SOLOS (Lady Psyche, Melissa and
END OF ACT ISacharissa)
END OF ACT I"Towards the empyrean heights"
END OF ACT IChorus:
END OF ACT ITowards the empyrean heights
END OF ACT IOf ev'ry kind of lore,
END OF ACT IWe've taken several easy flights,
END OF ACT IAnd mean to take some more.
END OF ACT IIn trying to achieve success
END OF ACT INo envy racks our heart,
END OF ACT IAnd all the knowledge we possess,
END OF ACT IWe mutually impart.
END OF ACT ISOLO — Melissa
END OF ACT IPray, what authors should she read
END OF ACT IWho in Classics would succeed?
END OF ACT ISOLO — Psyche
END OF ACT IIf you'd climb the Helicon,
END OF ACT IYou should read Anacreon,
END OF ACT IOvid's Metamorphoses,
END OF ACT ILikewise Aristophanes,
END OF ACT IAnd the works of Juvenal:
END OF ACT IThese are worth attention, all;
END OF ACT IBut, if you will be advised,
END OF ACT IYou will get them Bowdlerized!
END OF ACT IChorus:
END OF ACT IAh! we will get them Bowdlerized!
END OF ACT ISOLO — Sacharissa
END OF ACT IPray you, tell us, if you can,
END OF ACT IWhat's the thing that's known as Man?
END OF ACT ISOLO — Psyche
END OF ACT IMan will swear and man will storm—
END OF ACT IMan is not at all good form—
END OF ACT IIs of no kind of use—
END OF ACT IMan's a donkey — Man's a goose—
END OF ACT IMan is coarse and Man is plain—
END OF ACT IMan is more or less insane—
END OF ACT IMan's a ribald — Man's a rake,
END OF ACT IMan is Nature's sole mistake!
END OF ACT IChorus:
END OF ACT IWe'll a memorandum make—
END OF ACT IMan is Nature's sole mistake!
END OF ACT IAnd thus to empyrean height
END OF ACT IOf ev'ry kind of lore,
END OF ACT IIn search of wisdom's pure delight,
END OF ACT IAmbitiously we soar.
END OF ACT IIn trying to achieve success
END OF ACT INo envy racks our heart,
END OF ACT IFor all we know and all we guess
END OF ACT IWe mutually impart!
END OF ACT IAnd all the knowledge we possess,
END OF ACT IWe mutually impart,
END OF ACT IWe mutually impart, impart.
(Enter Lady Blanche.
All stand up demurely)
END OF ACT IBlanche:
END OF ACT IAttention, ladies, while I read to you
END OF ACT IThe Princess Ida's list of punishments.
END OF ACT IThe first is Sacharissa.
END OF ACT IShe's expelled!
END OF ACT IAll:
END OF ACT IExpelled!
END OF ACT IBlan.
END OF ACT IExpelled, because although she knew
END OF ACT INo man of any kind may pass our walls,
END OF ACT IShe dared to bring a set of chessmen here!
END OF ACT ISach.
END OF ACT I(Crying) I meant no harm; they're only men of wood!
END OF ACT IBlan.
END OF ACT IThey're men with whom you give each other mate,
END OF ACT IAnd that's enough! The next is Chloe.
END OF ACT IChloe:
END OF ACT IAh!
END OF ACT IBlan.
END OF ACT IChloe will lose three terms, for yesterday,
When looking through her drawing-book, I found
END OF ACT IA sketch of a perambulator!
END OF ACT IAll:
END OF ACT I(Horrified) Oh!
END OF ACT IBlan.
END OF ACT IDouble perambulator.
END OF ACT IAll:
END OF ACT IOh, oh!
END OF ACT IBlan.
END OF ACT Ishameless girl!
END OF ACT IThat's all at present.
END OF ACT INow, attention, pray;
END OF ACT IYour Principal the Princess comes to give
END OF ACT IHer usual inaugural address
END OF ACT ITo those young ladies who joined yesterday.
CHORUS"Mighty maiden with a mission"
CHORUSGirls:
CHORUSMighty maiden with a mission,
CHORUSParagon of common sense,
CHORUSRunning fount of erudition,
CHORUSMiracle of eloquence,
CHORUSAltos:
CHORUSWe are blind and we
CHORUSwould see;
CHORUSSops:
CHORUSWe are bound, and would be free;
CHORUSGirls:
CHORUSWe are dumb, and we would talk;
CHORUSWe are lame, and we would walk.
(Enter
CHORUSthe Princess)
CHORUSMighty maiden with a mission—
CHORUSParagon of common sense;
CHORUSRunning found of erudition—
CHORUSMiracle of eloquence, of eloquence!
CHORUSRECITATIVE & ARIA (Princess)
CHORUS"Minerva! Oh, hear Me"
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSMinerva! Minerva!
CHORUSOh, hear me:
CHORUSOh, goddess wise
CHORUSThat lovest light
CHORUSEndow with sight
CHORUSTheir unillumin'd eyes.
CHORUSAt this my call,
CHORUSA fervent few
CHORUSHave come to woo
The rays that from thee fall,
That from thee fall.
CHORUSOh, goddess wise
CHORUSThat lovest light,
CHORUSLet fervent words and fervent thoughts be mine,
CHORUSThat I may lead them to thy sacred shrine!
CHORUSLet fervent words and fervent thoughts be mine,
CHORUSThat I may lead them to thy sacred shrine,
CHORUSI may lead them to thy sacred shrine, thy sacred
CHORUSshrine!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSWomen of Adamant, fair Neophytes—
CHORUSWho thirst for such instruction as we give,
CHORUSAttend, while I unfold a parable.
CHORUSThe elephant is mightier than Man,
CHORUSYet Man subdues him.
CHORUSWhy? The elephant
CHORUSIs elephantine everywhere but here (tapping her
CHORUSforehead),
CHORUSAnd Man, whose brain is to the elephant's
CHORUSAs Woman's brain to Man's - (that's rule of three),—
CHORUSConquers the foolish giant of the woods,
As Woman, in her turn, shall conquer Man.
CHORUSIn Mathematics, Woman leads the way;
CHORUSThe narrow-minded pedant still believes
CHORUSThat two and two make four! Why, we can prove,
CHORUSWe women — household drudges as we are—
CHORUSThat two and two make five — or three — or seven;
CHORUSOr five and twenty, if the case demands!
CHORUSDiplomacy? The wiliest diplomat
CHORUSIs absolutely helpless in our hands.
CHORUSHe wheedles monarchs — Woman wheedles him!
CHORUSLogic? Why, tyrant Man himself admits
CHORUSIt's a waste of time to argue with a woman!
CHORUSThen we excel in social qualities:
CHORUSThough man professes that he holds our sex
CHORUSIn utter scorn, I venture to believe
CHORUSHe'd rather pass the day with one of you,
CHORUSThan with five hundred of his fellow-men!
CHORUSIn all things we excel.
CHORUSBelieving this,
CHORUSA hundred maidens here have sworn to place
CHORUSTheir feet upon his neck.
CHORUSIf we succeed,
CHORUSWe'll treat him better than he treated us:
CHORUSBut if we fail, why, then let hope fail too!
CHORUSLet no one care a penny how she looks—
CHORUSLet red be worn with yellow — blue with green—
CHORUSCrimson with scarlet — violet with blue!
CHORUSLet all your things misfit, and you yourselves
CHORUSAt inconvenient moments come undone!
CHORUSLet hair-pins lose their virtue:
CHORUSlet the hook
CHORUSDisdain the fascination of the eye—
CHORUSThe bashful button modestly evade
CHORUSThe soft embraces of the button-hole!
CHORUSLet old associations all dissolve,
CHORUSLet Swan secede from Edgar — Gask from Gask,
CHORUSSewell from Cross — Lewis from Allenby!
CHORUSIn other words, let Chaos come again!
CHORUS(Coming down) Who lectures in the Hall of Arts to-day?
CHORUSBlanche:
CHORUSI, madam, on Abstract Philosophy.
CHORUSThere I propose considering, at length,
Three points — The Is, the Might Be, and the Must.
CHORUSWhether the Is, from being actual fact,
CHORUSIs more important than the vague Might Be,
CHORUSOr the Might Be, from taking wider scope,
CHORUSIs for that reason greater than the Is:
CHORUSAnd lastly, how the Is and Might Be stand
CHORUSCompared with the inevitable Must!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSThe subject's deep — how do you treat it, pray?
CHORUSBlan.
CHORUSMadam, I take three possibilities,
CHORUSAnd strike a balance then between the three:
CHORUSAs thus:
CHORUSThe Princess Ida Is our head,
CHORUSthe Lady Psyche Might Be, — Lady Blanche,
CHORUSNeglected Blanche, inevitably Must.
CHORUSGiven these three hypotheses — to find
CHORUSThe actual betting against each of them!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSYour theme's ambitious:
CHORUSpray you bear in mind
Who highest soar fall farthest.
CHORUSFare you well,
CHORUSYou and your pupils! Maidens, follow me.
[Exeunt Princess
CHORUSand maidens.
CHORUSManet
CHORUSLady Blanche.
GIRLS"And thus to Empyrean Height"
GIRLSChorus:
GIRLSAnd thus to empyrean height
GIRLSOf ev'ry kind of lore,
GIRLSIn search of wisdom's pure delight,
GIRLSAmbitiously we soar.
GIRLSIn trying to achieve success
GIRLSNo envy racks our heart,
GIRLSFor all we know and all we guess
GIRLSWe mutually impart!
GIRLSAnd all the knowledge we possess,
GIRLSWe mutually impart,
GIRLSWe mutually impart, impart.
GIRLSBlan.
GIRLSI should command here — I was born to rule,
GIRLSBut do I rule? I don't.
GIRLSWhy? I don't know.
GIRLSI shall some day.
GIRLSNot yet, I bide my time.
GIRLSI once was Some One — and the Was Will Be.
GIRLSThe Present as we speak becomes the Past,
GIRLSThe Past repeats itself, and so is Future!
GIRLSThis sounds involved.
GIRLSIt's not.
GIRLSIt's right enough.
Since 1935 the following song has been usually omitted
GIRLSSONG (Lady Blanche)
GIRLS"Come, mighty Must!"
GIRLSBlanche:
GIRLSCome mighty Must!
GIRLSInevitable Shall!
GIRLSIn thee I trust.
GIRLSTime weaves my coronal!
GIRLSGo, mocking Is!
GIRLSGo, disappointing Was!
GIRLSThat I am this
GIRLSYe are the cursed cause!
GIRLSYet humble second shall be first,
GIRLSI wean
GIRLSAnd dead and buried be the curst
GIRLSHas Been!
GIRLSOh, weak Might Be!
GIRLSOh, May, Might, Could, Would, Should!
GIRLSHow pow'rless ye
GIRLSFor evil or for good!
GIRLSIn ev'ry sense
GIRLSYour moods I cheerless call.
GIRLSWhate'er your tense
GIRLSYe are imperfect all.
GIRLSYe have deceiv'd the trust I've shown
GIRLSIn ye!
GIRLSYe have deceiv'd the trust I've shown
GIRLSIn ye!
GIRLSI've shown in ye!
GIRLSAway! The Mighty Must alone
GIRLSShall be!
[Exit
GIRLSLady Blanche
[Enter Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian, climbing over wall, and creep-
GIRLSing cautiously among the trees and rocks at the back
GIRLSof
GIRLSthe stage]
GIRLSTRIO (Cyril, Hilarion and Florian)
GIRLS"Gently, gently"
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSGently, gently,
GIRLSEvidently
GIRLSWe are safe so far,
GIRLSAfter scaling
GIRLSFence and paling,
GIRLSHere, at last, we are!
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSIn this college,
GIRLSUseful knowledge
GIRLSEv'rywhere one finds,
GIRLSAnd already,
GIRLSGrowing steady,
GIRLSWe've enlarged our minds
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSWe learnt that prickly cactus
GIRLSHas power to attract us
When we fall.
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSWhen we fall!
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSThat nothing man unsettles
GIRLSLike a bed of stinging nettles,
GIRLSShort or tall.
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSShort or tall!
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSThat bull-dogs feed on throttles—
GIRLSThat we don't like broken bottles
GIRLSOn a wall.
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSOn a wall!
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSThat spring-guns breathe defiance!
GIRLSAnd that burglary's a science
GIRLSAfter all!
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSAfter all!
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSA Woman's college! maddest folly going!
GIRLSWhat can girls learn within its walls worth
GIRLSknowing?
GIRLSI'll lay a crown (the Princess shall decide it)
GIRLSI'll teach them twice as much in half-an-hour
GIRLSoutside it.
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSHush, scoffer; ere you sound your puny thunder,
GIRLSList to their aims, and bow your head in wonder!
GIRLSThey intend to send a wire
GIRLSTo the moon
GIRLSCyril &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSTo the moon;
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSAnd they'll set the Thames on fire
GIRLSVery soon
GIRLSCyril &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSVery soon;
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSThen they'll learn to make silk purses
GIRLSWith their rigs
GIRLSCyril &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSWith their rigs.
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSFrom the ears of Lady Circe's
GIRLSPiggy-wigs
GIRLSCyril &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSPiggy-wigs.
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSAnd weasels at their slumbers
GIRLSThey trepan
GIRLSCyril &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSThey trepan;
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSTo get sunbeams from cucumbers
GIRLSThey've a plan
GIRLSCyril
GIRLS& Florian:
GIRLSThey've a plan.
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSThey've a firmly rooted notion
GIRLSThey can cross the Polar Ocean,
GIRLSAnd they'll find Perpetual Motion,
GIRLSIf they can
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSIf they can.
GIRLSThese are the phenomena
GIRLSThat ev'ry pretty domina
GIRLSIs hoping at her Universitee we shall see.
GIRLSThese are the phenomena
GIRLSThat ev'ry pretty domina
GIRLSIs hoping at her Universitee we shall see!
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSAs for fashion, they forswear it,
GIRLSSo they say
GIRLSHilarion &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSSo they say;
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSAnd the circle — they will square it
GIRLSSome fine day
GIRLSHilarion &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSSome fine day;
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSThen the little pigs they're teaching
GIRLSFor to fly
GIRLSHilarion &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSFor to fly;
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSAnd the niggers they'll be bleaching,
GIRLSBy and by
GIRLSHilarion &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSBy and by!
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSEach newly joined aspirant
GIRLSTo the clan
GIRLSHilarion &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSTo the clan
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSMust repudiate the tyrant
GIRLSKnown as Man
GIRLSHilarion &
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSKnown as Man.
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSThey'll mock at him and flout him,
GIRLSFor they do not care about him
GIRLSAnd they're "going to do without him"
GIRLSIf they can
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSIf they can!
GIRLSThese are the phenomena
GIRLSThat ev'ry pretty domina
GIRLSIs hoping at her Universitee we shall see.
GIRLSThese are the phenomena
GIRLSThat ev'ry pretty domina
GIRLSIs hoping at her Universitee we shall see!
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSSo that's the Princess Ida's castle! Well,
GIRLSThey must be lovely girls, indeed, if it requires
GIRLSSuch walls as those to keep intruders off!
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSTo keep men off is only half their charge,
GIRLSAnd that the easier half.
GIRLSI much suspect
GIRLSThe object of these walls is not so much
GIRLSTo keep men off as keep the maidens in!
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSBut what are these? (Examining some Collegiate robes)
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLS(looking at them) Why, Academic robes,
GIRLSWorn by the lady undergraduates
GIRLSWhen they matriculate.
GIRLSLet's try them on.
GIRLS(They do
GIRLSso)
GIRLSWhy, see — we're covered to the very toes.
GIRLSThree lovely lady undergraduates
GIRLSWho, weary of the world and all its wooing — (pose)
GIRLSFlorian:
GIRLSAnd penitent for deeds there's no undoing — (pose)
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSLooked at askance by well-conducted maids — (pose)
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSSeek sanctuary in these classic shades!
GIRLSTRIO (Cyril, Hilarion and Florian)
GIRLS"I am a maiden"
GIRLSHilarion:
GIRLSI am a maiden, cold and stately,
GIRLSHeartless I, with face divine.
GIRLSWhat do I want with a heart, innately?
GIRLSEvery heart I meet is mine!
GIRLSEvery heart I meet is mine, is mine!
GIRLSAll:
GIRLSHaughty, humble, coy, or free,
GIRLSLittle care I what maid may be.
GIRLSSo that a maid is fair to see,
GIRLSEv'ry maid is the maid for me!
Dance
GIRLSCyril:
GIRLSI am a maiden, frank and simple,
GIRLSBrimming with joyous roguery;
GIRLSMerriment lurks in ev'ry dimple
GIRLSNobody breaks more hearts than I!
GIRLSNobody breaks more hearts, more hearts than
IAll:
IHaughty, humble, coy, or free,
ILittle care I what maid may be.
ISo that a maid is fair to see,
IEv'ry maid is the maid for me!
Dance
IFlorian:
II am a maiden coyly blushing,
ITimid am I as a startled hind;
IEvery suitor sets me flushing,
IEvery suitor sets me flushing:
II am the maid that wins mankind!
IAll:
IHaughty, humble, coy, or free,
ILittle care I what maid may be.
ISo that a maid is fair to see,
IEv'ry maid is the maid for me!
IHaughty, humble, coy, or free,
ILittle care I what maid may be.
ISo that a maid is fair to see,
IEv'ry maid is the maid for me!
[Enter the Princess, reading.
IShe does not
Isee them)
IFlorian:
IBut who comes here? The Princess, as I live!
IWhat shall we do?
IHilarion:
I(Aside) Why, we must brave it out!
I(Aloud) Madam, accept our humblest reverence.
I(They bow, then suddenly recollecting
Ithemselves, curtsey)
IPrincess:
I(Surprised) We greet you, ladies.
IWhat would you
Iwith us?
IHilarion:
Aside to Cyril
IWhat shall I say? (Aloud) We are three students,
Ima'am,
IThree well-born maids of liberal estate,
IWho wish to join this University.
I(Hilarion and Florian curtsey again.
ICyril bows
Iextravagantly,
Ithen, being recalled to himself by Florian,
Icurtseys)
IPrincess:
IIf, as you say, you wish to join our ranks,
IAnd will subscribe to all our rules, 'tis well.
IFlorian:
ITo all your rules we cheerfully subscribe.
IPrincess:
IYou say you're noblewomen.
IWell, you'll find
INo sham degrees for noblewomen here.
IYou'll find no sizars here, or servitors,
Or other cruel distinctions, meant to draw
IA line 'twixt rich and poor; you'll find no tufts
ITo mark nobility, except such tufts
IAs indicate nobility of brain.
IAs for your fellow-students, mark me well:
IThere are a hundred maids within these walls,
IAll good, all learned, and all beautiful:
IThey are prepared to love you:
Iwill you swear
ITo give the fullness of your love to them?
IHilarion:
IUpon our words and honours, Ma'am, we will!
IPrincess:
IBut we go further:
IWill you undertake
IThat you will never marry any man?
IFlorian:
IIndeed we never will!
IPrincess:
IConsider well,
IYou must prefer our maids to all mankind!
IHilarion:
ITo all mankind we much prefer your maids!
ICyril:
IWe should be dolts indeed, if we did not, seeing how
Ifair —
IHilarion:
I(Aside to Cyril) Take care — that's rather strong!
IPrincess:
IBut have you left no lovers at your home
IWho may pursue you here?
IHilarion:
INo, madam, none.
IWe're homely ladies, as no doubt you see,
IAnd we have never fished for lover's love.
IWe smile at girls who deck themselves with gems,
IFalse hair and meretricious ornament,
ITo chain the fleeting fancy of a man,
IBut do not imitate them.
IWhat we have
IOf hair, is all our own.
IOur colour, too,
IUnladylike, but not unwomanly,
IIs Nature's handiwork, and man has learnt
ITo reckon Nature an impertinence.
IPrincess:
IWell, beauty counts for naught within these walls;
IIf all you say is true, you'll pass with us
IA happy, happy time!
ICyril:
IIf, as you say,
IA hundred lovely maidens wait within,
ITo welcome us with smiles and open arms,
II think there's very little doubt we shall!
IQUARTET (Princess, Cyril, Hilarion and Florian)
I"The World is But a Broken Toy"
IPrincess:
IThe world is but a broken toy,
IIts pleasure hollow — false its joy,
IUnreal its loveliest hue,
IAlas!
IIts pains alone are true,
IAlas!
IIts pains alone are true.
IHilarion:
IThe world is ev'rything you say,
IThe world we think has had its day.
IIts merriment is slow.
IAlas!
IWe've tried it, and we know,
IAlas!
IWe've tried it and we know.
IAll:
IUnreal its loveliest hue,
IIts pains alone are true,
IPrincess:
IAlas!
IAll:
IThe world is but a broken toy,
IIts pleasure hollow — false its joy,
IUnreal its loveliest hue,
IAlas!
IIts pains alone are true,
IAlas!
IIts pains alone are true!
IFlorian:
IUnreal its loveliest hue,
I3 Men:
IUnreal its loveliest hue,
IPrincess:
ICyr.
I& Flor:
IA- Hilarion:
IUn-
IUn- las! real its
Iloveliest hue
Ireal—- Alas! Alas!
I—— its loveliest hue
IAll:
IAlas!
IIts pains alone are true.
(Exit Princess.
IThe three Gentlemen
Iwatch her off.
Lady Psyche enters, and regards them with
Iamazement)
IHilarion:
II'faith, the plunge is taken, gentlemen!
IFor, willy-nilly, we are maidens now,
IAnd maids against our will we must remain.
[All laugh
Iheartily]
IPsyche:
(Aside) These ladies are unseemly in their mirth.
I(The gentlemen see her, and, in confusion,
Iresume their
Imodest
Idemeanour)
IFlorian:
I(Aside) Here's a catastrophe, Hilarion!
IThis is my sister! She'll remember me,
IThough years have passed since she and I have met!
IHilarion:
(Aside to Florian) Then make a virtue of necessity,
IAnd trust our secret to her gentle care.
IFlorian:
To Psyche, who has watched Cyril in amazement
IPsyche! Why, don't you know me? Florian!
IPsyche:
I(Amazed) Why, Florian!
IFlorian:
IMy sister! (Embraces her)
IPsyche:
IOh, my dear! What are you doing here — and who are
Ithese?
IHilarion:
II am that Prince Hilarion to whom
IYour Princess is betrothed.
II come to claim
IHer plighted love.
IYour brother Florian
IAnd Cyril came to see me safely through.
IPsyche:
IThe Prince Hilarion? Cyril too? How strange!
IMy earliest playfellows!
IHilarion:
IWhy, let me look!
IAre you that learned little Psyche who
IAt school alarmed her mates because she called
IA buttercup "ranunculus bulbosus"?
ICyril:
IAre you indeed that Lady Psyche, who
IAt children's parties, drove the conjuror wild,
IExplaining all his tricks before he did them?
IHilarion:
IAre you that learned little Psyche, who
IAt dinner parties, brought in to dessert,
IWould tackle visitors with "You don't know
IWho first determined longitude — I do —
IHipparchus 'twas — B.
Cone sixty-three!"
CAre you indeed that small phenomenon?
CPsyche:
CThat small phenomenon indeed am I!
But gentlemen, 'tis death to enter here:
CWe have all promised to renounce mankind!
CFlorian:
CRenounce mankind!? On what ground do you base
CThis senseless resolution?
CPsyche:
CSenseless? No.
CWe are all taught, and, being taught, believe
CThat Man, sprung from an Ape, is Ape at heart.
CCyril:
CThat's rather strong.
CPsyche:
CThe truth is always strong!
CSONG (Lady Psyche, with Cyril, Hilarion and Florian)
C"A Lady Fair, of Lineage High"
CPsyche:
CA Lady fair, of lineage high,
CWas loved by an Ape, in the days gone by.
CThe Maid was radiant as the sun,
CThe Ape was a most unsightly one,
CThe Ape was a most unsightly one—
CSo it would not do—
CHis scheme fell through,
CFor the Maid, when his love took formal shape,
CExpress'd such terror
CAt his monstrous error,
CThat he stammer'd an apology and made his 'scape,
CThe picture of a disconcerted Ape.
With a view to rise in the social scale,
CHe shaved his bristles and he docked his tail,
CHe grew mustachios, and he took his tub,
CAnd he paid a guinea to a toilet club,
CHe paid a guinea to a toilet club—
CBut it would not do,
CThe scheme fell through—
CFor the Maid was Beauty's fairest Queen,
CWith golden tresses,
CLike a real princess's,
CWhile the Ape, despite his razor keen,
CWas the apiest Ape that ever was seen!
CHe bought white ties, and he bought dress suits,
CHe crammed his feet into bright tight boots—
CAnd to start in life on a brand-new plan,
CHe christen'd himself Darwinian Man!
CBut it would not do,
CThe scheme fell through—
CFor the Maiden fair, whom the monkey crav'd,
CWas a radiant Being,
CWith brain far-seeing—
CWhile Darwinian Man, though well-behav'd,
CAt best is only a monkey shav'd!
C3 Men:
CFor the Maiden fair, whom the monkey crav'd,
CAll:
CWas a radiant being,
CWith a brain far-seeing—
CWhile Darwinian Man, though well-behav'd,
CAt best is only a monkey shav'd!
C(During this, Melissa has entered
Cunobserved;
Cshe looks on in
Camazement)
CMelissa:
C(Coming down) Oh, Lady Psyche!
CPsyche:
C(Terrified) What! You heard us then?
COh, all is lost!
CMelissa:
CNot so! I'll breathe no word!
Advancing in astonishment to Florian
CHow marvelously strange! and are you then
CIndeed young men?
CFlorian:
CWell, yes, just now we are—
CBut hope by dint of study to become,
CIn course of time, young women.
CMelissa:
C(Eagerly) No, no, no —
COh, don't do that! Is this indeed a man?
CI've often heard of them, but, till to-day,
CNever set eyes on one.
CThey told me men
CWere hideous, idiotic, and deformed!
CThey are quite as beautiful as women are!
CAs beautiful, they're infinitely more so!
CTheir cheeks have not that pulpy softness which
COne gets so weary of in womankind:
CTheir features are more marked — and — oh, their
Cchins!
Feeling Florian's chin
CHow curious!
CFlorian:
CI fear it's rather rough.
CMelissa:
C(Eagerly) Oh, don't apologize — I like it so!
CQUINTET (Psyche, Melissa, Cyril, Hilarion and Florian)
C"The Woman of the Wisest Wit"
CPsyche:
CThe woman of the wisest win
CMay sometimes be mistaken, O!
CIn Ida's views, I must admit,
CMy faith is somewhat shaken O!
CCyril:
On every other point than this
CHer learning is untainted, O!
CBut Man's a theme with which she is
CEntirely unacquainted, O!
C—acquainted, O!
CEntirely unacquainted, O!
CAll:
CThen jump for joy and gaily bound,
CThe truth is found — the truth is found!
CSet bells a-ringing through the air—
CRing here and there and ev'rywhere—
C3 Men:
CAnd echo forth the joyous sound,
CAll:
CThe truth is found — the truth is found!
C3 Men:
CAnd echo forth the joyous sound,
CAll:
CThe truth is found — the truth is found!
CAnd echo forth the joyous sound,
CThe truth is found — the truth is found!
Dance
CMelissa:
CMy natural instinct teaches me
And instinct is important, O!
CYou're ev'rything you ought to be,
CAnd nothing that you oughtn't, O!
CHilarion:
CThat fact was seen at once by you
CIn casual conversation, O!
CWhich is most creditable to
CYour powers of observation, O!
C-servation, O!
CYour powers of observation, O!
CAll:
CThen jump for joy and gaily bound,
CThe truth is found, the truth is found!
CSet bells a-ringing through the air,
CRing here and there and ev'rywhere.
C3 Men:
CAnd echo forth the joyous sound,
CAll:
CThe truth is found — the truth is found!
C3 Men:
CAnd echo forth the joyous sound,
CAll:
CThe truth is found — the truth is found!
CAnd echo forth the joyous sound,
CThe truth is found — the truth is found!
(Exeunt Psyche, Hilarion, Cyril
Cand Florian,
CMelissa going)
(Enter
CLady Blanche.
CBlanche:
CMelissa!
CMelissa:
C(Returning) Mother!
CBlanche:
CHere — a word with you.
CThose are the three new students?
CMelissa:
C(Confused) Yes, they are.
CThey're charming girls.
CBlanche:
CParticularly so.
CSo graceful, and so very womanly!
CSo skilled in all a girl's accomplishments!
CMelissa:
C(Confused) Yes — very skilled.
CBlanche:
CThey sing so nicely too!
CMelissa:
CThey do sing nicely!
CBlanche:
CHumph! It's very odd.
CTwo are tenors, one is a baritone!
CMelissa:
C(Much agitated) They've all got colds!
CBlanche:
CColds! Bah! D'ye think I'm blind?
CThese "girls" are men disguised!
CMelissa:
COh no — indeed!
CYou wrong these gentlemen — I mean — why, see,
CHere is an etui dropped by one of them (picking up an
Cetui).
CContaining scissors, needles, and —
CBlanche:
C(Opening it) Cigars!
CWhy, these are men! And you knew this, you minx!
CMelissa:
COh, spare them — they are gentlemen indeed.
CThe Prince Hilarion (married years ago
CTo Princess Ida) with two trusted friends!
CConsider, mother, he's her husband now,
CAnd has been, twenty years! Consider, too,
CYou're only second here — you should be first.
CAssist the Prince's plan, and when he gains
CThe Princess Ida, why, you will be first.
CYou will design the fashions — think of that—
CAnd always serve out all the punishments!
CThe scheme is harmless, mother — wink at it!
CBlanche:
C(Aside) The prospect's tempting! Well, well, well,
CI'll try —
CThough I've not winked at anything for years!
C'Tis but one step towards my destiny—
CThe mighty Must! the inevitable Shall!
CDUET (Melissa and Lady Blanche)
C"Now Wouldn't you like to Rule the Roast"
CMelissa:
CNow wouldn't you like to rule the roast
CAnd guide this University?
CBlanche:
CI must agree,
C'Twould pleasant be,
Sing hey, a Proper Pride!
CMelissa:
CAnd wouldn't you like to clear the coast,
COf malice and perversity?
CBlanche:
CWithout a doubt,
CI'll bundle 'em out,
Sing hey, when I preside!
CBoth:
CSing hey!
CSing hoity toity! Sorry for some!
CSing marry, come up, and (my) her day will come!
CSing Proper Pride
CIs the horse to ride,
CAnd Happy-go-lucky, my Lady, O!
CBlanche:
CFor years I've writhed beneath her sneers,
CAlthough a born Plantagenet!
CMelissa:
CYou're much too meek,
COr you would speak
Sing hey, I'll say no more!
CBlanche:
CHer elder I, by several years,
CAlthough you'd ne'er imagine it.
CMelissa:
CSing, so I've heard
CBut never a word
CHave I e'er believ'd before!
CBoth:
CSing hey!
CSing hoity toity! Sorry for some!
CSing marry, come up, and her (my) day will come!
CSing, she shall learn
That a worm will turn.
CSing Happy-go-lucky, my Lady, O!
(Exit
CLady Blanche)
CMelissa:
CSaved for a time, at least!
(Enter Florian,
Con tiptoe)
CFlorian:
C(Whispering) Melissa — come!
CMelissa:
COh, sir! you must away from this at once—
CMy mother guessed your sex! It was my fault—
CI blushed and stammered so that she exclaimed,
C"Can these be men?" Then, seeing this, "Why these—"
C"Are men", she would have added, but "are men"
CStuck in her throat! She keeps your secret, sir,
CFor reasons of her own — but fly from this
CAnd take me with you — that is — no — not that!
CFlorian:
CI'll go, but not without you! (Bell) Why, what's
Cthat?
CMelissa:
CThe luncheon bell.
CFlorian:
CI'll wait for luncheon then!
(Enter Hilarion with Princess,
CCyril with
CPsyche, Lady Blanche and
Cladies.
CAlso
C"Daughters of the Plough" bearing
Cluncheon)
CCHORUS OF GIRLS & SOLOS (Blanche and Cyril)
C"Merrily Ring the Luncheon Bell"
CChorus:
CMerrily ring the luncheon bell!
CHere in meadow of asphodel,
CFeast we body and mind as well,
CMerrily ring the luncheon
C1st Sops:
C2nd Sops:
Cbell! - - - —- bell! Oh merrily
CRing - - - —- ring the luncheon
Coh, —- bell, Oh
Cring, - - - —- merrily, merrily,
Cmerrily,
COh, —- merrily
CChorus:
CMerrily ring the luncheon bell, the luncheon
Cbell!
CBlanche:
CHunger, I beg to state,
CIs highly indelicate.
CThis is a fact profoundly true,
CSo learn your appetites to subdue.
CAll:
CYes, yes,
CWe'll learn our appetites to subdue!
CCyril:
CMadam, your words so wise,
CNobody should despise,
CCurs'd with appetite keen I am
CAnd I'll subdue it—
CI'll subdue it with cold roast lamb!
CAll:
CYes — yes—
CWe'll subdue it with cold roast lamb!
CMerrily ring the luncheon bell!
COh
C1st Sops:
Cring! - - - —- 2nd Sophs:
Cmerrily,
COh, merrily,
Cmerrily
CChorus:
CMerrily ring the luncheon bell, the luncheon
Cbell!
CPrincess:
CYou say you know the court of Hildebrand?
CThere is a Prince there — I forget his name —
CHilarion:
CHilarion?
CPrincess:
CExactly — is he well?
CHilarion:
CIf it be well to droop and pine and mope,
CTo sigh "Oh, Ida! Ida!" all day long,
C"Ida! my love! my life! Oh, come to me!"
CIf it be well, I say, to do all this,
CThen Prince Hilarion is very well.
CPrincess:
CHe breathes our name? Well, it's a common one!
CAnd is the booby comely?
CHilarion:
CPretty well.
CI've heard it said that if I dressed myself
CIn Prince Hilarion's clothes (supposing this
CConsisted with my maiden modesty),
CI might be taken for Hilarion's self.
CBut what is this to you or me, who think
COf all mankind with undisguised contempt?
CPrincess:
CContempt? Why, damsel, when I think of man,
CContempt is not the word.
CCyril:
C(Getting tipsy) I'm sure of that,
COr if it is, it surely should not be!
CHilarion:
(Aside to Cyril) Be quiet, idiot, or they'll find us
Cout.
CCyril:
CThe Prince Hilarion's a goodly lad!
CPrincess:
CYou know him then?
CCyril:
C(Tipsily) I rather think I do!
CWe are inseparables!
CPrincess:
CWhy, what's this?
CYou love him then?
CCyril:
CWe do indeed — all
Cthree!
CHilarion:
CMadam, she jests! (Aside to Cyril) Remember where
Cyou
Care!
CCyril:
CJests? Not at all! Why, bless my heart alive,
CYou and Hilarion, when at the Court,
CRode the same horse!
CPrincess:
C(Horrified) Astride?
CCyril:
COf course! Why not?
CWore the same clothes — and once or twice, I think,
CGot tipsy in the same good company!
CPrincess:
CWell, these are nice young ladies, on my word!
CCyril:
(Tipsy) Don't you remember that old kissing-song
CHe'd sing to blushing Mistress Lalage,
CThe hostess of the Pigeons? Thus it ran:
CSONG (Cyril)
C"Would you know the Kind of Maid"
C(During symphony Hilarion and
CFlorian try to
Cstop Cyril.
CHe shakes them
Coff angrily)
CCyril:
CWould you know the kind of maid
CSets my heart aflame-a?
CEyes must be downcast and staid,
CCheeks must flush for shame-a!
CShe may neither dance nor sing,
CBut, demure in everything,
CHang her head in modest way,
CWith pouting lips, with pouting lips
Cthat
Cseem to say,
C"Oh kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, kiss me,
CThough I die of shame-a!"
CPlease you, that's the kind of maid
CSets my heart aflame-a!
C"Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, kiss me,
CThough I die of shame-a!"
CPlease you, that's the kind of maid
CSets my heart aflame-a!
CWhen a maid is bold and gay,
CWith a tongue goes clang-a,
CFlaunting it in brave array,
CMaiden may go hang-a
CSunflow'r gay and holly-hock
CNever shall my garden stock;
CMine the blushing rose of May,
CWith pouting lips, with pouting lips
Cthat
Cseem to say,
C"Oh kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, kiss me,
CThough I die for shame-a!"
CPlease you, that's the kind of maid
CSets my heart aflame-a!
C"Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, kiss me,
CThough I die of shame-a!"
CPlease you, that's the kind of maid
CSets my heart aflame-a!
CPrincess:
CInfamous creature, get you hence away!
C(Hilarion, Who has been with difficulty
Crestrained by
CFlorian during this song, breaks from him
Cand strikes
CCyril furiously on
Cthe breast)
CHilarion:
CDog! There is something more to sing about!
CCyril:
C(Sobered) Hilarion, are you mad?
CPrincess:
C(Horrified) Hilarion? Help!
CWhy, these are men! Lost! lost! betrayed, undone!
C(Running on
Cto bridge)
CGirls, get you hence! Man-monsters, if you dare
CApproach one step, I —- Ah!
(Loses her balance and falls into
Cthe stream)
CPsyche:
COh! Save her, sir!
CBlanche:
CIt's useless, sir — you'll only catch your death!
C(Hilarion
Csprings in)
CSach.
CHe catches her!
CMelissa:
CAnd now he lets her go!
CAgain she's in his grasp—
CPsyche:
CAnd now she's not,
CHe seizes her back hair!
CBlanche:
C(Not looking) And it comes off!
CPsyche:
CNo, no! She's saved!—she's saved! she's
Csaved!—she's
Csaved!
SYSTEMFINALE, ACT II
C(Princess, Hildebrand, Melissa, Lady Psyche, Blanche,
CCyril, Hilarion, Florian, Arac, Guron, Scynthius and
CChorus of Girls and Men )
C"Oh Joy! our Chief is Sav'd"
CGirls:
COh joy! our chief is sav'd
CAnd by Hillarion's hand;
CThe torrent fierce he brav'd,
CAnd brought her safe to land!
CFor his intrusion we must own
CThis doughty deed may well atone!
CPrincess:
CStand forth ye three,
CWho-e'er ye be,
CAnd hearken to our stern decree!
CCyril, &
CFlorian:
CHave mercy, O Lady Hilarion:
CHave
Cdisregard your Mer—
Coaths! cy!
CPrincess:
CI know no mercy, men in women's clothes!
CThe man whose sacrilegious eyes
CInvade our strict seclusion, dies.
CArrest the coarse intruding spies!
C(They are arrested by the "Daughters of
Cthe Plough")
CGirls:
CHave mercy, O lady — disregard your oaths.
CPrincess:
CI know not mercy, men in women's clothes!
C(Cyril & Florian
Care bound)
CSONG — Hilarion
CHilarion:
CWhom thou has chain'd must wear his chain,
CThou canst not set him free,
CHe wrestles with his bonds in vain
CWho lives by loving thee!
CIf heart of stone for heart of fire,
CBe all thou hast to give,
CIf dead to my heart's desire,
CWhy should I wish to live?
CCyr & Flo:
CHave Girls:
CHave
Cmercy, O Mer-
Clady! cy!
CHilarion:
CNo word of thine — no stern command
CCan teach my heart to rove,
CThen rather perish by thy hand,
CThan live without thy love!
CA loveless life apart from thee
CWere hopeless slavery,
CIf kindly death will set me free,
CWhy should I fear to die?
CGirls:
CHave mercy!
CHilarion:
CIf kindly death
CGirls:
CHave mercy!
CHilarion:
Cwill set me free,
CIf kindly death will set me free,
CWhy should I fear,
CWhy should I fear to die?
C(He is bound by two of the attendants, the three gentlemen are
Cmarched off)
Enter Melissa
CMelissa:
CMadam, without the castle walls
CAn armed band
CDemand admittance to our halls
CFor Hildebrand!
CAll:
COh, horror!
CPrincess:
CDefy them!
CWe will defy them!
CAll:
CToo late — too late!
CThe castle gate
CIs battered by them!
C(The gate yields.
CSoldiers rush in.
CArac, Guron, and Scynthius are
Cwith them, but with their hands handcuffed.
CMen:
CWalls and fences scaling,
CPromptly we appear;
CWalls are unavailing,
We have enter'd here.
CFemale exaceration.
CStifle if you're wise.
CStop your lamentations,
CDry your pretty, pretty
CGirls:
CRend the air with wailing.
CMen:
Ceyes!
CShed the shameful tear!
Man has enter'd here.
CWalls are unavailing.
CGirls:
CRend the Men:
CWalls and
Cair fences
Cwith scaling,
Cwail——— Promptly we appear;
C————— Walls are unavailing.
Cing.
We have enter'd here.
CShed Female exe-
Cthe cration.
Cshame- Stifle if
Cful tear! you're wise.
CMan Stop your lament-
Chas ation,
Cen- Dry your pret-
Cter'd ty
Chere! eyes.
OWalls are stop your
Oun- lament-
Oa- ation,
Ovail- Dry your pretty pretty
Oing.
Oeyes! Female exe-
OMan cration.
OStifle
Ohas if you're
Oen- wise.
OStop your lament-
Oter'd ation, Dry your pretty
Ohere! eyes.
Enter Hildebrand
RECITATIVEPrincess:
RECITATIVEAudacious tyrant, do you dare
RECITATIVETo beard a maiden in her lair?
RECITATIVEHildebd:
RECITATIVESince you inquire,
RECITATIVEWe've no desire
RECITATIVETo beard a maiden here, or anywhere!
RECITATIVESoldiers:
RECITATIVENo, no.
RECITATIVEWe've no desire
RECITATIVETo beard a maiden here or anywhere!
RECITATIVESOLO — Hildebrand
RECITATIVEHildebd:
RECITATIVESome years ago,
RECITATIVENo doubt you know
And if you don't I'll tell you so
RECITATIVEYou gave your troth
RECITATIVEUpon your oath
RECITATIVETo Hilarion my son.
RECITATIVEA vow you make
RECITATIVEYou must not break,
RECITATIVE(If you think you may, it's a great mistake),
RECITATIVEFor a bride's a bride
RECITATIVEThough the knot were tied
RECITATIVEAt the early age of one!
RECITATIVEAnd I'm a peppery kind of King,
RECITATIVEWhose indisposed for parleying
RECITATIVETo fit the wit of a bit of chit,
RECITATIVEAnd that's the long and the short of
RECITATIVEit!
RECITATIVESoldiers:
RECITATIVEFor he's a peppery kind of King,
RECITATIVEWhose indisposed for parleying
RECITATIVETo fit the wit of a bit of chit,
RECITATIVEAnd that's the long and the short of it!
RECITATIVEHildebd:
RECITATIVEIf you decide
RECITATIVETo pocket your pride
RECITATIVEAnd let Hilarion claim his bride,
RECITATIVEWhy, well and good,
RECITATIVEIt's understood
RECITATIVEWe'll let bygones go by—
RECITATIVEBut if you choose
RECITATIVETo sulk in the blues
RECITATIVEI'll make the whole of you shake in your shoes.
RECITATIVEI'll storm your walls,
RECITATIVEAnd level your halls,
RECITATIVEIn the winking of an eye!
RECITATIVEFor I'm a peppery Potentate,
RECITATIVEWho's little inclined his claim to
RECITATIVEbate,
RECITATIVETo fit the wit of a bit of a chit,
RECITATIVEAnd thats the long and the short of
RECITATIVEit!
RECITATIVESoldiers:
RECITATIVEFor he's a peppery Potentate,
RECITATIVEWhose indisposed for parleying,
RECITATIVETo fit the wit of a bit of chit,
RECITATIVEAnd that's the long and the short of it!
RECITATIVETRIO — Arac, Guron & Scynthius
RECITATIVEAll 3:
RECITATIVEWe may remark, though nothing can
RECITATIVEDismay us,
RECITATIVEThat if you thwart this gentleman,
RECITATIVEHe'll slay us.
RECITATIVEWe don't fear death, of course — we're taught
RECITATIVETo shame it;
RECITATIVEBut still upon the whole we thought
RECITATIVEWe'd name it.
To each other
RECITATIVEScynthius:
RECITATIVEYes!
RECITATIVEGuron:
RECITATIVEYes!
RECITATIVEArac:
RECITATIVEYes!
RECITATIVEAll 3:
RECITATIVEBetter p'r'aps to name it.
RECITATIVEOur interests we would not press
RECITATIVEWith chatter,
RECITATIVEThree hulking brothers more or less
RECITATIVEDon't matter;
RECITATIVEIf you'd pooh-pooh this monarch's plan
RECITATIVEPooh-pooh it,
RECITATIVEBut when he says he'll hang a man,
RECITATIVEHe'll do it.
To each other
RECITATIVEScynthius:
RECITATIVEYes!
RECITATIVEGuron:
RECITATIVEYes!
RECITATIVEArac:
RECITATIVEYes!
RECITATIVEAll 3:
RECITATIVEDevil doubt he'll do it.
RECITATIVEPrincess:
RECITATIVEBe reassured, nor fear his anger blind,
RECITATIVEHis menaces are idle as the wind.
RECITATIVEHe dares not kill you — vengeance lurks behind!
RECITATIVE3 Knights:
RECITATIVEWe rather think he dares, but never mind!
RECITATIVEHildebd: 3 Knights:
Irather No!
Ithink I No!
Idare, but No!
Inever, never mind! never never mind!
IEnough of
INo,
Iparley no,
Inever nev-
Ias a er
Ispe- mind!
Icial
INo!
Iboon.
Ino! never, never mind!
IWe give you till tomorrow
Iafternoon;
IHildebd:
IRelease Hilarion, then,
IAnd be his bride
IOr you'll incur the guilt of fratricide!
IPrincess:
ITo yield at once to such a foe
IWith shame we're rife;
ISo quick! away with him, although
IHe sav'd my life!
IThat he is fair, and strong, and tall
IIs very evident to all,
IYet I will die,
IYet I will die, before I call myself his
IPrincess:
IAll Others:
Iwife! - —- Oh, yield at once, 'twere better
Iso,
I- - - —- Than risk a strife!
IAnd let the Prince Hilarion go.
IHe Saved thy life!
IThat Hi-
Ihe is la-rion's
Ifair and fair,
Istrong and and
Itall, strong and tall,
Itall,
IIs - - - - -
- - - - - - Avery worse mis-
- - - - - - Aevi- for-
- - - - - - Adent to tune
- - - - - - Aall, might befall.
- - - - - - AYet
- - - - - - AI will It's
- - - - - - Adie, will die before I call not so dreadful after all,
- - - - - - AMyself his wife! To be his wife!
- - - - - - AThough I am but a girl
- - - - - - ADefiance thus I hurl
- - - - - - AOur banners all
- - - - - - AOn outer wall
- - - - - - AWe fearlessly unfurl
(The Princess stands, surrounded by girls kneeling.
- - - - - - AHildebrand and
- - - - - - Asoldiers stand on built rocks at back and sides of stage.
- - - - - - APicture)
SYSTEMACT III
SYSTEMSCENE — Outer Walls and Courtyard of Castle Adamant.
END OF ACT IIMelissa,
END OF ACT IISachaRissa, and ladies discovered, armed with
END OF ACT IIbattleaxes.
CHORUS"Death to the Invader!"
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSDeath to the invader!
CHORUSStrike a deadly blow,
CHORUSAs an old Crusader
CHORUSStruck his Paynim foe!
CHORUSLet our martial thunder
CHORUSFill his soul with wonder,
CHORUSTear his ranks asunder,
CHORUSLay the tyrant low!
CHORUSDeath to the invader!
CHORUSStrike a deadly blow,
CHORUSAs an old Crusader
CHORUSStruck his Paynim foe!
CHORUSMelissa:
CHORUSThus our courage, all untarnish'd,
CHORUSWe're instructed to display;
CHORUSBut to tell the truth unvarnish'd,
CHORUSWe are more inclined to say,
CHORUS"Please you, do not hurt us,"
CHORUSAll:
CHORUS"Do not hurt us, if it please you!"
CHORUSMelissa:
CHORUS"Please you let us be.
CHORUS"
CHORUSAll:
CHORUS"Let us be — let us be!"
CHORUSMelissa:
CHORUS"Soldiers disconcert us.
CHORUS"
CHORUSAll:
CHORUS"Disconcert us, if it please you!"
CHORUSMelissa:
CHORUS"Frighten'd maids are we!"
CHORUSAll:
CHORUS"Maids are we, maids are we!"
CHORUSMelissa:
CHORUSPlease you,
CHORUSAll:
CHORUSDo not hurt us;
CHORUSMelissa:
CHORUSPlease you,
CHORUSAll:
CHORUSLet us be.
CHORUSMel & Cho:
CHORUSFrighten'd maids are we, frighten'd maids are we!
CHORUSMelissa:
CHORUSBut 'twould be an error
CHORUSTo confess our terror,
CHORUSSo in Ida's name,
CHORUSBoldly we exclaim:
CHORUSMel & Cho:
CHORUSDeath to the invader!
CHORUSStrike a deadly blow,
CHORUSAs an old Crusader
CHORUSStruck his Paynim foe!
CHORUS(Flourish.
Enter Princess, armed, attended by Blanche and Psyche)
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSI like your spirit, girls! We have to meet
CHORUSStern bearded warriors in fight to-day;
CHORUSWear naught but what is necessary to
CHORUSPreserve your dignity before their eyes,
CHORUSAnd give your limbs full play.
CHORUSBlanche:
CHORUSOne moment, ma'am,
CHORUSHere is a paradox we should not pass
CHORUSWithout inquiry.
CHORUSWe are prone to say
CHORUS"This thing is Needful — that, Superfluous"—
CHORUSYet they invariably co-exist!
CHORUSWe find the Needful comprehended in
CHORUSThe circle of the grand Superfluous,
CHORUSYet the Superfluous cannot be brought
CHORUSUnless you're amply furnished with the Needful.
CHORUSThese singular considerations are—
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSSuperfluous, yet not Needful — so you see
CHORUSThe terms may independently exist.
CHORUS(To Ladies) Women of Adamant, we have to show
CHORUSThat women, educated to the task,
CHORUSCan meet Man, face to face, on his own ground,
CHORUSAnd beat him there.
CHORUSNow, let us set to work;
CHORUSWhere is our lady surgeon?
CHORUSSach.
CHORUSMadam, here!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSWe shall require your skill to heal the wounds
Of those that fall.
CHORUSSach.
CHORUS(Alarmed) What, heal the wounded?
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSYes!
CHORUSSach.
CHORUSAnd cut off real live legs and arms?
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSOf course!
CHORUSSach.
CHORUSI wouldn't do it for a thousand pounds!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSWhy, how is this? Are you faint-hearted, girl?
CHORUSYou've often cut them off in theory!
CHORUSSach.
CHORUSIn theory I'll cut them off again
CHORUSWith pleasure, and as often as you like,
CHORUSBut not in practice.
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSCoward! Get you hence,
CHORUSI've craft enough for that, and courage too,
CHORUSI'll do your work! My fusiliers, advance!,
CHORUSWhy, you are armed with axes! Gilded toys!
CHORUSWhere are your rifles, pray?
CHORUSChloe:
CHORUSWhy, please you, ma'am,
CHORUSWe left them in the armoury, for fear
CHORUSThat in the heat and turmoil of the fight,
CHORUSThey might go off!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUS"They might!" Oh, craven souls!
CHORUSGo off yourselves! Thank heaven I have a heart
CHORUSThat quails not at the thought of meeting men;
CHORUSI will discharge your rifles! Off with you!
Exit Chloe
CHORUSWhere's my bandmistress?
CHORUSAda:
CHORUSPlease you, ma'am, the band
CHORUSDo not feel well, and can't come out today!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSWhy, this is flat rebellion! I've no time
CHORUSTo talk to them just now.
CHORUSBut, happily,
CHORUSI can play several instruments at once,
And I will drown the shrieks of those that fall
CHORUSWith trumpet music, such as soldiers love!
CHORUSHow stand we with respect to gunpowder?
CHORUSMy Lady Psyche — you who superintend
CHORUSOur lab'ratory — are you well prepared
CHORUSTo blow these bearded rascals into shreds?
CHORUSPsyche:
CHORUSWhy, madam—
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSWell?
CHORUSPsyche:
CHORUSLet us try gentler means.
CHORUSWe can dispense with fulminating grains
CHORUSWhile we have eyes with which to flash our rage!
CHORUSWe can dispense with villainous saltpetre
CHORUSWhile we have tongues with which to blow them up!
CHORUSWe can dispense, in short, with all the arts
CHORUSThat brutalize the practical polemist!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUS(Contemptuously) I never knew a more dispensing
CHORUSchemist!
CHORUSAway, away — I'll meet these men alone
CHORUSSince all my women have deserted me!
(Exeunt all but Princess, singing
CHORUSrefrain of
CHORUS"Please you, do not hurt us",
CHORUSpianissimo)
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSSo fail my cherished plans — so fails my faith—
CHORUSAnd with it hope, and all that comes of hope!
CHORUSSong - Princess
CHORUS"I Built upon a Rock"
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSI built upon a rock,
CHORUSBut ere Destruction's hand
CHORUSDealt equal lot
CHORUSTo Court and cot,
CHORUSMy rock had turn'd to sand!
CHORUSI leant upon an oak,
CHORUSBut in the hour of need,
CHORUSAlack-a-day,
CHORUSMy trusted stay
CHORUSWas but a bruis-ed reed!
CHORUSA bruis-ed reed!
CHORUSAh faithless rock,
CHORUSMy simple faith to mock!
CHORUSAh trait'rous oak,
CHORUSThy worthlessness to cloak,
CHORUSThy worthlessness to cloak!
CHORUSI drew a sword of steel
CHORUSBut when to home and hearth
CHORUSThe battle's breath
CHORUSBore fire and death,
CHORUSMy sword was but a lath!
CHORUSI lit a beacon fire,
CHORUSBut on a stormy day
CHORUSOf frost and rime,
CHORUSIn wintertime,
CHORUSMy fire had died away,
CHORUSHad died away!
CHORUSAh, coward steel,
CHORUSThat fear can un-anneal!
CHORUSFalse fire indeed,
CHORUSTo fail me in my need,
CHORUSTo fail me in my need!
CHORUS(Princess Sinks upon a rock.
Enter Chloe and all the Ladies)
CHORUSChloe:
CHORUSMadam, your father and your brothers claim
CHORUSAn audience!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSWhat do they do here?
CHORUSChloe:
CHORUSThey come
CHORUSTo fight for you!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSAdmit them!
CHORUSBlanche:
CHORUSInfamous!
CHORUSOne's brothers, ma'am, are men!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSSo I have heard.
CHORUSBut all my women seem to fail me when
CHORUSI need them most.
CHORUSIn this emergency,
CHORUSEven one's brothers may be turned to use.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUS(Entering, pale and unnerved) My daughter!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSFather! Thou art free!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSAye, free!
CHORUSFree as a tethered ass! I come to thee
CHORUSWith words from Hildebrand.
CHORUSThose duly given
CHORUSI must return to blank captivity.
CHORUSI'm free so far.
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSYour message.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSHildebrand
CHORUSIs loth to war with women.
CHORUSPit my sons,
CHORUSMy three brave sons, against these popinjays,
CHORUSThese tufted jack-a-dandy featherheads,
CHORUSAnd on the issue let thy hand depend!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSInsult on insult's head! Are we a stake
CHORUSFor fighting men? What fiend possesses thee,
CHORUSThat thou has come with offers such as these
CHORUSFrom such as he to such an one as I?
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSI am possessed
CHORUSBy the pale devil of a shaking heart!
CHORUSMy stubborn will is bent.
CHORUSI dare not face
CHORUSThat devilish monarch's black malignity!
CHORUSHe tortures me with torments worse than death,
CHORUSI haven't anything to grumble at!
CHORUSHe finds out what particular meats I love,
CHORUSAnd gives me them.
CHORUSThe very choicest wines,
CHORUSThe costliest robes — the richest rooms are mine.
CHORUSHe suffers none to thwart my simplest plan,
CHORUSAnd gives strict orders none should contradict me!
CHORUSHe's made my life a curse! (Weeps)
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSMy tortured father!
CHORUSSONG (King GAMA with CHORUS of GIRLS)
CHORUS"Whene'er I Spoke"
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSWhene'er I poke
CHORUSSarcastic joke
CHORUSReplete with malice spiteful,
CHORUSThis people mild
CHORUSPolitely smil'd,
CHORUSAnd voted me delightful!
CHORUSNow, when a wight
CHORUSSits up all night
CHORUSIll-natur'd jokes devising,
CHORUSAnd all his wiles
CHORUSAre met with smiles
CHORUSIt's hard, there's no disguising!
CHORUSAh! Oh, don't the days seem lank and long
CHORUSWhen all goes right and nothing goes wrong,
CHORUSAnd isn't your life extremely flat
CHORUSWith nothing whatever to grumble at!
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSOh, isn't your life extremely flat
CHORUSWith nothing whatever to grumble at!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSWhen German bands
CHORUSFrom music stands
CHORUSPlay'd Wagner imperfectly —
CHORUSI bade them go—
CHORUSThey didn't say no,
CHORUSBut off they went directly!
CHORUSThe organ boys
CHORUSThey stopp'd their noise,
CHORUSWith readiness surprising,
CHORUSAnd grinning herds
CHORUSOf hurdy-gurds
CHORUSRetired apologising!
CHORUSAh! Oh, don't the days seem lank and long
CHORUSWhen all goes right and nothing goes wrong,
CHORUSAnd isn't your life extremely flat
CHORUSWith nothing whatever to grumble at!
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSOh, isn't your life extremely flat
CHORUSWith nothing whatever to grumble at!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSI offer'd gold
CHORUSIn sums untold
CHORUSTo all who'd contradict me—
CHORUSI said I'd pay
CHORUSA pound a day
CHORUSTo any one who kick'd me—
CHORUSI've brib'd with toys
CHORUSGreat vulgar boys
CHORUSTo utter something spiteful,
CHORUSBut, bless you, no!
CHORUSThey would be so
CHORUSConfoundedly politeful!
CHORUSAh! In short, these aggravating lads,
CHORUSThey tickle my tastes, they feed my fads,
CHORUSThey give me this and they give me that,
CHORUSAnd I've nothing whatever to grumble at!
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSOh, isn't your life extremely flat
CHORUSWith nothing whatever to grumble at!
(Gama Bursts into tears and falls sobbing
CHORUSon a seat)
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSMy poor old father! How he must have suffered!
CHORUSWell, well, I yield!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUS(Hysterically) She yields! I'm saved, I'm saved!
Exit
CHORUSPrincess:
Open the gates — admit these warriors,
CHORUSThen get you all within the castle walls.
Exit
CHORUS(The gates are opened and the Girls mount the
CHORUSbattlements as the
Soldiers enter.
CHORUSArac, Guron and Scynthius
also enter)
CHORUSChorus of Soldiers
CHORUS"When anger spreads his wing"
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSWhen anger spread his wing,
CHORUSAnd all seems dark as night for it,
CHORUSThere's nothing but to fight for it,
CHORUSBut ere you pitch your ring,
CHORUSSelect a pretty site for it,
This spot is suited quite for it,
CHORUSAnd then you gaily sing,
CHORUSAnd then you gaily sing:
CHORUS"Oh I love the jolly rattle
CHORUSOf an orde-al by battle,
CHORUSThere's an end of tittle-tattle
CHORUSWhen your enemy is dead.
CHORUSIt's an arrant molly-coddle
CHORUSFears a crack upon his noddle
CHORUSAnd he's only fit to swaddle
CHORUSIn a downy feather-bed!
CHORUSLadies:
CHORUSFor a Soldiers:
CHORUSOh, I
CHORUSfight's love the
CHORUSa jolly
CHORUSkind rattle
CHORUSof Of an
CHORUSthing orde-al by battle
CHORUSThat I There's an
CHORUSlove end of
CHORUSto tittle
CHORUSlook tattle,
CHORUSup- When your
CHORUSon, enemy is dead.
CHORUSSo It's an
CHORUSlet arrant
CHORUSus molly-
CHORUSsing, coddle
CHORUSLong Fears a
CHORUSlive crack upon
CHORUSthe his
CHORUSKing, noddle,
CHORUSAnd his And he's
CHORUSson only fit to
CHORUSHi- swaddle, In a
CHORUSla- downy fea-
CHORUSri-on! ther bed!
CHORUS(During this, Hilarion, Florian,
CHORUSand Cyril are
CHORUSbrought out by the "Daughters of
CHORUSthe Plough".
CHORUSThey are still bound and wear
CHORUSthe robes.
Enter GAMA)
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSHilarion! Cyril! Florian! dressed as women!
CHORUSIs this indeed Hilarion?
CHORUSHilar.
CHORUSYes, it is!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSWhy, you look handsome in your women's clothes!
CHORUSStick to 'em! Men's attire becomes you not!
CHORUS(To CYRIL and FLORIAN) And you, young ladies, will you please to
CHORUSpray
CHORUSKing Hildebrand to set me free again?
CHORUSHang on his neck and gaze into his eyes,
CHORUSHe never could resist a pretty face!
CHORUSHilar.
CHORUSYou dog, you'll find, though I wear woman's garb,
CHORUSMy sword is long and sharp!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSHush, pretty one!
CHORUSHere's a virago! Here's a termagant!
CHORUSIf length and sharpness go for anything,
CHORUSYou'll want no sword while you can wag your tongue!
CHORUSCyril:
CHORUSWhat need to waste your words on such as he?
CHORUSHe's old and crippled.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSAye, but I've three sons,
CHORUSFine fellows, young and muscular, and brave,
CHORUSThey're well worth talking to! Come, what d'ye say?
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSAye, pretty ones, engage yourselves with us,
CHORUSIf three rude warriors affright you not!
CHORUSHilar.
CHORUSOld as you are, I'd wring your shrivelled neck
CHORUSIf you were not the Princess Ida's father.
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSIf I were not the Princess Ida's father,
CHORUSAnd so had not her brothers for my sons,
CHORUSNo doubt you'd wring my neck — in safety too!
CHORUSCome, come, Hilarion, begin, begin!
Give them no quarter — they will give you none.
CHORUSYou've this advantage over warriors
CHORUSWho kill their country's enemies for pay,—
CHORUSYou know what you are fighting for — look there!
(Pointing to Ladies on the
CHORUSbattlements)
(Exit Gamma.
CHORUSHilarion, Florian, and Cyril
CHORUSare led off)
CHORUSSONG (Arac, Guron, Scynthius and Chorus)
CHORUS"This Helmet, I Suppose"
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSThis helmet, I suppose,
CHORUSWas meant to ward off blows,
CHORUSIt's very hot
CHORUSAnd weighs a lot,
CHORUSAs many a guardsman knows,
CHORUSSo off, so off that helmet goes.
CHORUSOthers:
CHORUSYes, yes, yes,
CHORUSSo off that helmet goes!
CHORUS(Giving their helmets to
CHORUSattendants)
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSThis tight-fitting cuirass
CHORUSIs but a useless mass,
CHORUSIt's made of steel,
CHORUSAnd weighs a deal,
CHORUSThis tight-fitting cuirass
CHORUSIs but a useless mass,
CHORUSA man is but an ass
CHORUSWho fights in a cuirass,
CHORUSSo off, so off goes that cuirass.
CHORUSOthers:
CHORUSYes, yes, yes,
CHORUSSo off goes that cuirass!
CHORUS(Removing
CHORUScuirasses)
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSThese brassets, truth to tell,
CHORUSMay look uncommon well,
CHORUSBut in a fight
CHORUSThey're much too tight,
CHORUSThey're like a lobster shell,
CHORUSThey're like a lobster shell!
CHORUSOthers:
CHORUSYes, yes, yes,
CHORUSThey're like a lobster shell.
CHORUS(Removing
CHORUStheir brassets)
CHORUSArac:
CHORUSThese things I treat the same
indicating leg pieces
I quite forget their name
They turn one's legs
CHORUSTo cribbage pegs—
CHORUSTheir aid I thus disclaim,
CHORUSThough I forget their name,
CHORUSTheir aid, their aid I thus disclaim!
CHORUSOthers:
CHORUSYes, yes, yes,
CHORUSAll:
CHORUSTheir aid (we/they) thus disclaim!
They remove their leg pieces and wear close-fitting shape suits
Enter Hilarion, Florian, and Cyril
CHORUS(Desperate fight between the three Princes
CHORUSand the three
CHORUSKnights, during which the Ladies on the
CHORUSbattlements and
CHORUSthe Soldiers on the stage sing the
CHORUSfollowing chorus):
CHORUS"This is our Duty"
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSThis is our duty plain towards
CHORUSOur Princess all immaculate,
CHORUSWe ought to bless her brothers' swords,
CHORUSAnd piously ejaculate:
CHORUSOh, Hungary!
CHORUSOh, doughty sons of Hungary!
CHORUSMay all success
CHORUSAttend and bless
CHORUSYour warlike ironmongery!
CHORUSHilarion! Hilarion! Hilarion!
CHORUS(By this time, Arac, Guron, and
CHORUSScynthius are
CHORUSon the ground, wounded —
CHORUSHilarion, Cyril and
CHORUSFlorian stand
CHORUSover them)
CHORUSPrincess:
(Entering through gate and followed by Ladies,
CHORUSHildebrand, and Gama)
CHORUSHold! stay your hands! — we yield ourselves to you!
CHORUSLadies, my brothers all lie bleeding there!
CHORUSBind up their wounds — but look the other way.
CHORUS(Coming down) Is this the end? (Bitterly to Lady
CHORUSBlanche)
CHORUSHow say you, Lady Blanche—
CHORUSCan I with dignity my post resign?
CHORUSAnd if I do, will you then take my place?
CHORUSBlanche:
CHORUSTo answer this, it's meet that we consult
CHORUSThe great Potential Mysteries; I mean
CHORUSThe five Subjunctive Possibilities—
CHORUSThe May, the Might, the Would, the Could, the Should.
CHORUSCan you resign? The Prince May claim you; if
CHORUSHe Might, you Could — and if you Should, I Would!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSI thought as much! Then to my fate I yield—
CHORUSSo ends my cherished scheme! Oh, I had hoped
CHORUSTo band all women with my maiden throng,
CHORUSAnd make them all abjure tyrannic Man!
CHORUSHildebd:
CHORUSA noble aim!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSYou ridicule it now;
CHORUSBut if I carried out this glorious scheme,
CHORUSAt my exalted name Posterity
CHORUSWould bow in gratitude!
CHORUSHildebd:
CHORUSBut pray
CHORUSreflect —
CHORUSIf you enlist all women in your cause,
CHORUSAnd make them all abjure tyrannic Man,
CHORUSThe obvious question then arises, "How
CHORUSIs this Posterity to be provided?"
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSI never thought of that! My Lady Blanche,
CHORUSHow do you solve the riddle?
CHORUSBlanche:
CHORUSDon't ask me —
CHORUSAbstract Philosophy won't answer it.
CHORUSTake him — he is your Shall.
CHORUSGive in to Fate!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSAnd you desert me.
CHORUSI alone am staunch!
CHORUSHilarion:
CHORUSMadam, you placed your trust in Woman — well,
CHORUSWoman has failed you utterly — try Man,
Give him one chance, it's only fair — besides,
CHORUSWomen are far too precious, too divine,
CHORUSTo try unproven theories upon.
CHORUSExperiments, the proverb says, are made
CHORUSOn humble subjects — try our grosser clay,
CHORUSAnd mould it as you will!
CHORUSCyril:
CHORUSRemember, too
CHORUSDear Madam, if at any time you feel
CHORUSA-weary of the Prince, you can return
CHORUSTo Castle Adamant, and rule your girls
CHORUSAs heretofore, you know.
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSAnd shall I find
CHORUSThe Lady Psyche here?
CHORUSPsyche:
CHORUSIf Cyril, ma'am,
CHORUSDoes not behave himself, I think you will.
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSAnd you Melissa, shall I find you here?
CHORUSMelissa:
Madam, however Florian turns out,
CHORUSUnhesitatingly I answer, No!
CHORUSGama:
CHORUSConsider this, my love, if your mama
Had looked on matters from your point of view
CHORUS(I wish she had), why where would you have been?
CHORUSBlanche:
CHORUSThere's an unbounded field of speculation,
CHORUSOn which I could discourse for hours!
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSNo doubt!
CHORUSWe will not trouble you.
CHORUSHilarion,
CHORUSI have been wrong — I see my error now.
CHORUSTake me, Hilarion — "We will walk this world
CHORUSYoked in all exercise of noble end!
CHORUSAnd so through those dark gates across the wild
CHORUSThat no one knows!" Indeed, I love thee — Come!
SYSTEMFinale
CHORUS"With joy abiding"
CHORUSPrincess:
CHORUSWith joy abiding,
CHORUSTogether gliding
CHORUSThrough life's variety,
CHORUSIn sweet society,
CHORUSAnd thus enthroning
CHORUSThe love I'm owning,
CHORUSOn this atoning
CHORUSI will rely!
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSIt were profanity
CHORUSFor poor humanity
CHORUSTo treat as vanity
CHORUSThe sway of Love.
CHORUSIn no locality
CHORUSOr principality
CHORUSIs our mortality
CHORUSIt's sway above!
CHORUSHilarion:
CHORUSWhen day is fading,
CHORUSWith serenading
CHORUSAnd such frivolity
CHORUSOf tender quality—
CHORUSWith scented showers
CHORUSOf fairest flowers,
CHORUSThe happy hours
CHORUSWill gaily fly!
CHORUSThe happy hours will gaily fly!
CHORUSChorus:
CHORUSIt were profanity
CHORUSFor poor humanity
CHORUSTo treat as vanity
CHORUSThe sway of Love.
CHORUSIn no locality
CHORUSOr principality
CHORUSIs our mortality
CHORUSIt's sway above!
CHORUS1st Sops:
CHORUSIn no lo- Others:
CHORUScality Or princi- Its
CHORUSpality Is our mor- sway
CHORUStality It's sway a- a-
CHORUSbove! bove!
CHORUSPrincess & With scented Others:
CHORUSHilarion:
CHORUSshowers Of fairest Its
CHORUSflowers, The happy sway
CHORUShours will gaily a-
CHORUSfly! bove!
CHORUSAll:
CHORUSIn no locality
CHORUSOr principality
CHORUSIs our mortality
CHORUSAbove the sway of love!
CHORUSCurtain