The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 144

WILFRED Good sir, we are betrothed.

[FAIRFAX turns inquiringly to PHOEBE

PHOEBE Or more or less-- But rather less than more!

WILFRED To thy fond care I do commend thy sister.

Be to her An ever-watchful guardian-- eagle-eyed!

And when she feels (as sometimes she does feel) Disposed to indiscriminate caress, Be thou at hand to take those favours from her!

YEOMEN Be thou at hand to take those favours from her!

PHOEBE Yes, yes.

Be thou at hand to take those favours from me!

WILFRED To thy fraternal care Thy sister I commend; From every lurking snare Thy lovely charge defend; And to achieve this end, Oh! grant, I pray, this boon-- Oh! grant this boon She shall not quit my sight; From morn to afternoon-- From afternoon to night-- From sev'n o'clock to two-- From two to eventide-- From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night, From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night She shall not quit my side!

YEOMEN From morn to afternoon-- From afternoon to 'lev'n at night She shall not quit thy side!

PHOEBE So amiable I've grown, So innocent as well, That if I'm left alone The consequences fell No mortal can foretell.

So grant, I pray, this boon-- Oh! grant this boon I shall not quit thy sight: From morn to afternoon-- From afternoon to night-- From sev'n o'clock to two-- From two to eventide-- From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night I shall not quit thy side!

YEOMEN From morn to afternoon-- From afternoon to 'lev'n at night She shall not quit thy side!

FAIRFAX With brotherly readiness, For my fair sister's sake, At once I answer "Yes"-- That task I undertake-- My word I never break.

I freely grant that boon, And I'll repeat my plight.

From morn to afternoon-- [kiss]

From afternoon to night-- [kiss]

From sev'n o'clock to two-- [kiss]

From two to evening meal-- [kiss]

From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night, From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night, That compact I will seal. [kiss]

YEOMEN From morn to afternoon, From afternoon to 'lev'n at night He freely grants that boon.

[The bell of St. Peter's begins to toll. The CROWD enters; the block is brought on to the stage, and the HEADSMAN takes his place. The YEOMEN of the Guard form up. The LIEUTENANT enters and takes his place, and tells off FAIRFAX and two others to bring the prisoner to execution.

WILFRED, FAIRFAX, and TWO YEOMEN exeunt to Tower.

CHORUS The prisoner comes to meet his doom; The block, the headsman, and the tomb.

The funeral bell begins to toll; May Heav'n have mercy on his soul!

May Heav'n have mercy on his soul!

ELSIE Oh, Mercy, thou whose smile has shone So many a captive heart upon; Of all immured within these walls, To-day the very worthiest falls!

ALL Oh, Mercy, thou whose smile has shone So many a captive heart upon; Of all immured within these walls, The very worthiest falls.

Oh, Mercy, Oh, Mercy!

[Enter FAIRFAX and TWO YEOMEN from Tower in great excitement.

FAIRFAX My lord! I know not how to tell The news I bear!

I and my comrades sought the pris'ner's cell-- He is not there!

ALL He is not there!

They sought the pris'ner's cell-- he is not there!

FAIRFAX AND TWO YEOMEN As escort for the prisoner We sought his cell, in duty bound; The double gratings open were, No prisoner at all we found!

We hunted high, we hunted low, We hunted here, we hunted there-- The man we sought with anxious care Had vanished into empty air!

The man we sought with anxious care Had vanished into empty air!

[Exit LIEUTENANT

WOMEN Now, by my troth, the news is fair, The man has vanished into air!

ALL As escort for the prisoner We/they sought his cell in duty bound; The double gratings open were, No prisoner at all we/they found, We/they hunted high, we/they hunted low, We/they hunted here, we/they hunted there, The man we/they sought with anxious care Had vanished into empty air!

The man we/they sought with anxious care Had vanished into empty air!

[Enter WILFRED, followed by LIEUTENANT

LIEUT. Astounding news! The pris'ner fled!

[To WILFRED] Thy life shall forfeit be instead!

[WILFRED is arrested

WILFRED My lord, I did not set him free, I hate the man-- my rival he!

MERYLL The pris'ner gone-- I'm all agape!

LIEUT. Thy life shall forfeit be instead!

MERYLL Who could have helped him to escape?

WILFRED My lord, I did not set him free!

PHOEBE Indeed I can't imagine who!

I've no idea at all, have you?

[Enter JACK POINT

DAME Of his escape no traces lurk, Enchantment must have been at work!

ELSIE [aside to POINT]

What have I done? Oh, woe is me!

PHOEBE & DAME Indeed I can't imagine who!

I've no idea at all, have you?

ELSIE I am his wife, and he is free!

POINT Oh, woe is you? Your anguish sink!