The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 161

GROS. We will live and die together!

PATIENCE I swear it!

GROS. We both swear it!

PATIENCE [recoiling from him] But -- oh, horror!

GROS. What's the matter?

PATIENCE Why, you are perfection! A source of endless ecstasy to all who know you!

GROS. I know I am. Well?

PATIENCE Then, bless my heart, there can be nothing unselfish in loving you!

GROS. Merciful powers! I never thought of that!

PATIENCE To monopolize those features on which all women love to linger! It would be unpardonable!

GROS. Why, so it would! Oh, fatal perfection, again you interpose between me and my happiness!

PATIENCE Oh, if you were but a thought less beautiful than you are!

GROS. Would that I were; but candour compels me to admit that I'm not!

PATIENCE Our duty is clear; we must part, and for ever!

GROS. Oh, misery! And yet I cannot question the propriety of your decision. Farewell, Patience!

PATIENCE Farewell, Archibald! [they both turn to go.]

[suddenly] But stay!

GROS. Yes, Patience?

PATIENCE Although I may not love you -- for you are perfection - - there is nothing to prevent your loving me. I am plain, homely, unattractive!

GROS. Why, that's true!

PATIENCE The love of such a man as you for such a girl as I must be unselfis.h.!.+

GROS. Unselfishness itself!

No. 8a. Though to marry you would very selfish be (Duet) Patience and Grosvenor

PATIENCE Though to marry you would very selfish be--

GROSVENOR Hey, but I'm doleful -- willow willow waly!

PATIENCE You may, all the same, continue loving me --

GROSVENOR Hey willow waly O!

BOTH All the world ignoring, You'll/I'll go on adoring-- Hey, willow waly O!

[They go off sadly -- PATIENCE, L., GROSVENOR, R.U.E.]

No. 9. Let the merry cymbals sound (Finale of Act I) Ensemble

[Enter BUNTHORNE, crowned with roses and hung about with garlands, and looking very miserable. He is led by ANGELA and SAPHIR (each of whom holds an end of the rose-garland by which he is bound), and accompanied by procession of Maidens. They are dancing cla.s.sically, and playing on cymbals, double pipes, and other archaic instruments. JANE last, with a very large pair of cymbals.]

[The procession enters over the drawbridge, BUNTHORNE being preceded by the Chorus. They go R. and round the stage, ending with BUNTHORNE down L.C., with ANGELA on his R., SAPHIR on his L., JANE up C.]

MAIDENS Let the merry cymbals sound, Gaily pipe Pandaean pleasure, With a Daphnephoric bound Tread a gay but cla.s.sic measure, Tread a gay but cla.s.sic measure.

Ev'ry heart with hope is beating, For, at this exciting meeting Fickle Fortune will decide Who shall be our Bunthorne's bride!

Ev'ry heart with hope is beating, For, at this exciting meeting Fickle Fortune will decide Who shall be our Bunthorne's bride!

Let the merry cymbals sound, Gaily pipe Pandaean pleasure, With a Daphnephoric bound Tread a gay but cla.s.sic, cla.s.sic measure, Tread a gay but cla.s.sic, cla.s.sic measure, A cla.s.sic measure.

[DRAGOONS enter down R., forming a line diagonally up to up- stage, C.]

Chorus of Dragoons

Now tell us, we pray you, Why thus they array you-- Oh, poet, how say you-- What is it you've [optional -- you have] done?

Now tell us, we pray you, Why thus they array you-- Oh, poet, how say you-- What is it you've done?

Oh, poet, how say you-- What is it you've done?

DUKE [C.] Of rite sacrificial, By sentence judicial, This seems the initial, Then why don't you run?

COLONEL [R.C.] They cannot have led you To hang or behead you, Nor may they all wed you, Unfortunate one!

DRAGOONS Then tell us, we pray you, Why thus they array you-- Oh, poet, how say you-- What is it you've done?

[optional -- Enter SOLICITOR.]

BUNTHORNE Heart-broken at my Patience's barbarity, By the advice of my solicitor In aid -- in aid of a deserving charity, I've put myself up to be raffled for!

[He introduces his solicitor.]

MAIDENS By the advice of his solicitor, He's put himself up to be raffled for!

DRAGOONS Oh, horror! urged by his solicitor, He's put himself up to be raffled for!

MAIDENS Oh, heaven's blessing on his solicitor!