The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 154

or

Bunthorne's Bride

Book by W.S. GILBERT

Music by ARTHUR SULLIVAN

First produced at the Opera Comique, London, on April 23, 1881.

PATIENCE DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Officers of Dragoon Guards COLONEL CALVERLEY Baritone MAJOR MURGATROYD Baritone LIEUT. THE DUKE OF DUNSTABLE Tenor

REGINALD BUNTHORNE (A Fleshly Poet) Light Baritone

ARCHIBALD GROSVENOR (An Idyllic Poet) Baritone

MR. BUNTHORNE'S SOLICITOR Non-singing

Rapturous Maidens THE LADY ANGELA Mezzo-Soprano THE LADY SAPHIR Mezzo-Soprano THE LADY ELLA Soprano THE LADY JANE Contralto

PATIENCE (A Dairy Maid) Soprano

Chorus of Rapturous MAIDENS and Officers of DRAGOON GUARDS

ACT I--Exterior of Castle Bunthorne

ACT II--A Glade

ACT I

[Scene: Exterior of Castle Bunthorne, the gateway to which is seen, R.U.E., and is approached by a drawbridge over a moat.

A rocky eminence R. with steps down to the stage. In front of it, a rustic bench, on which ANGELA is seated, with ELLA on her left. Young Ladies wearing aesthetic draperies are grouped about the stage from R. to L.C., SAPHIR being near the L. end of the group. The Ladies play on lutes, etc., as they sing, and all are in the last stage of despair.]

No. 1. Twenty love-sick maidens we (Opening Chorus and Solos) Maidens, Angela, and Ella

MAIDENS Twenty love-sick maidens we, Love-sick all against our will.

Twenty years hence we shall be Twenty love-sick maidens still!

Twenty love-sick maidens we, And we die for love of thee!

Twenty love-sick maidens we, Love-sick all against our will.

Twenty years hence we shall be Twenty love-sick maidens still!

ANGELA Love feeds on hope, they say, or love will die;

MAIDENS Ah, miserie!

ANGELA Yet my love lives, although no hope have I!

MAIDENS Ah, miserie!

ANGELA Alas, poor heart, go hide thyself away, To weeping concords tune thy roundelay!

Ah, miserie!

MAIDENS All our love is all for one, Yet that love he heedeth not, He is coy and cares for none, Sad and sorry is our lot!

Ah, miserie!

ELLA Go, breaking heart, Go, dream of love requited!

Go, foolish heart, Go, dream of lovers plighted; Go, madcap heart, Go, dream of never waking; And in thy dream Forget that thou art breaking!

MAIDENS Ah, miserie!

ELLA Forget that thou art breaking!

MAIDENS Twenty love-sick maidens we, Love-sick all against our will.

Twenty years hence we shall be Twenty love-sick maidens still.

Ah, miserie!

ANGELA There is a strange magic in this love of ours! Rivals as we all are in the affections of our Reginald, the very hopelessness of our love is a bond that binds us to one another!

SAPHIR Jealousy is merged in misery. While he, the very cynosure of our eyes and hearts, remains icy insensible -- what have we to strive for?

ELLA The love of maidens is, to him, as interesting as the taxes!

SAPHIR Would that it were! He pays his taxes.

ANGELA And cherishes the receipts!

[Enter LADY JANE, L.U.E.]

SAPHIR Happy receipts! [All sigh heavily]

JANE [L.C., suddenly] Fools! [They start, and turn to her]

ANGELA I beg your pardon?

JANE Fools and blind! The man loves -- wildly loves!

ANGELA But whom? None of us!