The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 118

CHORUS. And now if you please, etc.

JUDGE. For now I'm a Judge!

ALL. And a good Judge, too!

JUDGE. For now I'm a Judge!

ALL. And a good Judge, too!

JUDGE. Though all my law be fudge, Yet I'll never, never budge, But I'll live and die a Judge!

ALL. And a good Judge, too!

JUDGE (pianissimo). It was managed by a job-- ALL. And a good job, too!

JUDGE. It was managed by a job!

ALL. And a good job too!

JUDGE. It is patent to the mob, That my being made a n.o.b Was effected by a job.

ALL. And a good job too!

[Enter Counsel for Plaintiff. He takes his place in front row of Counsel's seats

RECIT -- COUNSEL

Swear thou the jury!

USHER. Kneel, Jurymen, oh, kneel!

[All the Jury kneel in the Jury-box, and so are hidden from audience.

USHER. Oh, will you swear by yonder skies, Whatever question may arise, 'Twixt rich and poor, 'twixt low and high, That you will well and truly try?

JURY (raising their hands, which alone are visible)

To all of this we make reply By the dull slate of yonder sky: That we will well and truly try.

We'll try.

(All rise with the last note)

RECIT -- COUNSEL

Where is the Plaintiff?

Let her now be brought.

RECIT -- USHER

Oh, Angelina! Come thou into Court!

Angelina! Angelina!

Enter the Bridesmaids

CHORUS OF BRIDESMAIDS

Comes the broken flower-- Comes the cheated maid-- Though the tempest lower, Rain and cloud will fade Take, oh maid, these posies: Though thy beauty rare Shame the blus.h.i.+ng roses, They are pa.s.sing fair!

Wear the flowers 'til they fade; Happy be thy life, oh maid!

[The Judge, having taken a great fancy to First Bridesmaid, sends her a note by Usher, which she reads, kisses rapturously, and places in her bosom.

Enter Plaintiff

SOLO -- PLAINTIFF

O'er the season vernal, Time may cast a shade; Suns.h.i.+ne, if eternal, Makes the roses fade!

Time may do his duty; Let the thief alone-- Winter hath a beauty.

That is all his own.

Fairest days are sun and shade: I am no unhappy maid!

[The Judge having by this time transferred his admiration to Plaintiff, directs the Usher to take the note from First Bridesmaid and hand it to Plaintiff, who reads it, kisses it rapturously, and places it in her bosom.

CHORUS OF BRIDESMAIDS

Comes the broken flower, etc.

JUDGE. Oh, never, never, never, Since I joined the human race, Saw I so excellently fair a face.

THE JURY (shaking their forefingers at him). Ah, sly dog!

Ah, sly dog!

JUDGE (to Jury). How say you?

Is she not designed for capture?

FOREMAN (after consulting with the Jury). We've but one word, m'lud, and that is--Rapture!

PLAINTIFF (curtseying). Your kindness, gentlemen, quite overpowers!

JURY. We love you fondly, and would make you ours!

BRIDESMAIDS (shaking their forefingers at Jury).

Ah, sly dogs! Ah, sly dogs!

RECIT -- COUNSEL for PLAINTIFF

May it please you, m'lud!

Gentlemen of the jury!

ARIA -- COUNSEL

With a sense of deep emotion, I approach this painful case; For I never had a notion That a man could be so base, Or deceive a girl confiding, Vows, etcetera deriding.

ALL. He deceived a girl confiding, Vows, etcetera, deriding.

[Plaintiff falls sobbing on Counsel's breast and remains there.

COUNSEL. See my interesting client, Victim of a heartless wile!

See the traitor all defiant Wear a supercilious smile!

Sweetly smiled my client on him, Coyly woo'd and gently won him.

ALL. Sweetly smiled, etc.

COUNSEL. Swiftly fled each honeyed hour Spent with this unmanly male!