The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 162

DRAGOONS A hideous curse on his solicitor!

MAIDENS Oh, heaven's blessing on his solicitor!

DRAGOONS A hideous curse on his solicitor!

MAIDENS DRAGOONS

A blessing on his solicitor! A curse, a curse on his solicitor!

[The SOLICITOR, horrified at the Dragoons' curse, rushes off, L.]

COLONEL [R.C. BUNTHORNE up L., surrounded by the Ladies.]

Stay, we implore you, Before our hopes are blighted; You see before you The men to whom you're plighted!

DRAGOONS Stay, we implore you, For we adore you; To us you're plighted To be united-- Stay, we implore you, we implore you!

DUKE [C.] Your maiden hearts, ah, do not steel To pity's eloquent appeal, Such conduct British soldiers feel.

[Aside ] Sigh, sigh, all sigh! [They all sigh.]

To foeman's steel we rarely see A British soldier bend the knee, Yet, one and all, they kneel to ye-- [Aside ] Kneel, kneel, all kneel! [They all kneel.]

Our soldiers very seldom cry, And yet -- I need not tell you why-- A tear-drop dews each martial eye!

[Aside ] Weep, weep, all weep! [They all weep.]

MAIDENS & DRAGOONS Our/We soldiers very seldom cry, And yet -- they/we need not tell us/you why--

ABOVE & DUKE A tear-drop dews each eye/martial eye!

Weep, weep, all weep!

[The Solicitor re-enters]

BUNTHORNE [coming briskly forward, L.C.]

Come, walk up, and purchase with avidity, Overcome your diffidence and natural timidity, Tickets for the raffle should be purchased with avidity, Put in half a guinea and a husband you may gain-- Such a judge of blue-and-white and other kinds of pottery-- From early Oriental down to modern terra-cottary-- Put in half a guinea -- you may draw him in a lottery-- Such an opportunity may not occur again.

MAIDENS Such a judge of blue-and-white and other kinds of pottery-- From early Oriental down to modern terra cottary-- Put in half a guinea -- you may draw him in a lottery-- Such an opportunity may not occur again.

[MAIDENS crowd up to purchase tickets. DRAGOONS dance in single file round stage, to express their indifference.]

DRAGOONS We've been thrown over, we're aware But we don't care -- but we don't care!

There's fish in the sea, no doubt of it, As good as ever came out of it, And some day we shall get our share, So we don't care -- so we don't care!

[During this the GIRLS have been buying tickets, the Solicitor officiating. At last JANE presents herself. BUNTHORNE looks at her with aversion.]

BUNTHORNE And are you going a ticket for to buy?

JANE [surprised] Most certainly I am; why shouldn't I?

BUNTHORNE [aside] Oh, Fortune, this is hard! [aloud]

Blindfold your eyes; Two minutes will decide who wins the prize!

[GIRLS blindfold themselves.]

Chorus of MAIDENS

Oh, Fortune, to my aching heart be kind; Like us, thou art blindfolded, but not blind!

Just raise your bandage, thus, [Each uncovers one eye.] that you may see, And give the prize, and give the prize to me! [They cover their eyes again.]

BUNTHORNE Come, Lady Jane, I pray you draw the first!

JANE [joyfully] He loves me best!

BUNTHORNE [aside] I want to know the worst!

[JANE puts her hand in bag to draw ticket. PATIENCE enters and prevents her.]

PATIENCE Hold! Stay your hand!

ALL [uncovering their eyes]

What means this interference?

Of this bold girl I pray you make a clearance!

JANE Away with you, away with you, and to your milk-pails go!

BUNTHORNE [suddenly] She wants a ticket! Take a dozen!

PATIENCE No! If there be pardon in your breast For this poor penitent, Who with remorseful thought opprest, Sincerely doth repent; If you, with one so lowly, still Desire to be allied, Then you may take me, if you will, For I will be your bride!

[She kneels to Bunthorne.]

CHORUS Oh, shameless one!

Oh, bold-faced thing!

Away you run-- Go, take your wing, Oh, shameless one!

Oh, bold-faced thing!

Away you run-- Go, take your wing, You shameless one!

You bold-faced thing!

[Bunthorne raises her.]

BUNTHORNE How strong is love! For many and many a week, She's loved me fondly, and has feared to speak But Nature, for restraint too mighty far, Has burst the bonds of Art -- and here we are!

PATIENCE No, Mister Bunthorne, no -- you're wrong again; Permit me -- I'll endeavour to explain!

True love must single-hearted be--

BUNTHORNE Exactly so!

PATIENCE From ev'ry selfish fancy free--

BUNTHORNE Exactly so!

PATIENCE No idle thought of gain or joy A maiden's fancy should employ-- True love must be without alloy, True love must be without alloy.