The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 60

KATE: Who are only human beings down to the waist-- EDITH: And who can't be said strictly to set foot anywhere.

Tails they may, but feet they cannot.

KATE: But what shall we do until Papa and the servants arrive with the luncheon?

EDITH: We are quite alone, and the sea is as smooth as gla.s.s.

Suppose we take off our shoes and stockings and paddle?

ALL: Yes, yes! The very thing! (They prepare to carry, out the suggestion. They have all taken off one shoe, when FREDERIC comes forward from cave.)

FREDERIC: (recitative). Stop, ladies, pray!

GIRLS: (Hopping on one foot) A man!

FREDERIC: I had intended Not to intrude myself upon your notice In this effective but alarming costume; But under these peculiar circ.u.mstances, It is my bounden duty to inform you That your proceedings will not be unwitnessed!

EDITH: But who are you, sir? Speak! (All hopping) FREDERIC: I am a pirate!

GIRLS: (recoiling, hopping) A pirate! Horror!

FREDERIC: Ladies, do not shun me!

This evening I renounce my vile profession; And, to that end, O pure and peerless maidens!

Oh, blus.h.i.+ng buds of ever-blooming beauty!

I, sore at heart, implore your kind a.s.sistance.

EDITH: How pitiful his tale!

KATE: How rare his beauty GIRLS: How pitiful his tale! How rare his beauty!

SONG--FREDERIC

Oh, is there not one maiden breast Which does not feel the moral beauty Of making worldly interest Subordinate to sense of duty?

Who would not give up willingly All matrimonial ambition, To rescue such a one as I From his unfortunate position?

From his position, To rescue such an one as I From his unfortunate position?

GIRLS: Alas! there's not one maiden breast Which seems to feel the moral beauty Of making worldly interest Subordinate to sense of duty!

FREDERIC: Oh, is there not one maiden here Whose homely face and bad complexion Have caused all hope to disappear Of ever winning man's affection?

Of such a one, if such there be, I swear by Heaven's arch above you, If you will cast your eyes on me, However plain you be, I'll love you, However plain you be, If you will cast your eyes on me, However plain you be I'll love you, I'll love you, I'll love, I'll love you!

GIRLS: Alas! there's not one maiden here Whose homely face and bad complexion Have caused all hope to disappear Of ever winning man's affection!

FREDERIC: (in despair) Not one?

GIRLS: No, no-- not one!

FREDERIC: Not one?

GIRLS: No, no!

MABEL: (enters through arch) Yes, one!

Yes, one!

GIRLS: 'Tis Mabel!

MABEL: Yes, 'tis Mabel!

RECIT--MABEL

Oh, sisters, deaf to pity's name, For shame!

It's true that he has gone astray, But pray Is that a reason good and true Why you Should all be deaf to pity's name?

GIRLS: (aside): The question is, had he not been A thing of beauty, Would she be swayed by quite as keen A sense of duty?

MABEL: For shame, for shame, for shame!

SONG--MABEL

MABEL: Poor wand'ring one!

Though thou hast surely strayed, Take heart of grace, Thy steps retrace, Poor wand'ring one!

Poor wand'ring one!

If such poor love as mine Can help thee find True peace of mind- Why, take it, it is thine!

GIRLS: Take heart, no danger low'rs; Take any heart but ours!

MABEL: Take heart, fair days will s.h.i.+ne; Take any heart--take mine!

GIRLS: Take heart; no danger low'rs; Take any heart-but ours!

MABEL: Take heart, fair days will s.h.i.+ne; Take any heart--take mine!

Poor wand'ring one!, etc.

(MABEL and FREDERIC go to mouth of cave and converse. EDITH beckons her sisters, who form a semicircle around her.)

EDITH

What ought we to do, Gentle sisters, say?

Propriety, we know, Says we ought to stay; While sympathy exclaims, "Free them from your tether-- Play at other games-- Leave them here together."

KATE

Her case may, any day, Be yours, my dear, or mine.

Let her make her hay While the sun doth s.h.i.+ne.

Let us compromise (Our hearts are not of leather): Let us shut our eyes And talk about the weather.

GIRLS: Yes, yes, let's talk about the weather.

Chattering chorus

How beautifully blue the sky, The gla.s.s is rising very high, Continue fine I hope it may, And yet it rained but yesterday.

To-morrow it may pour again (I hear the country wants some rain), Yet people say, I know not why, That we shall have a warm July.

To-morrow it may pour again (I hear the country wants some rain), Yet people say, I know not why, That we shall have a warm July.

Enter MABEL and FREDERIC

.During MABEL's solo the GIRLS continue chatter pianissimo, but listening eagerly all the time.

SOLO--MABEL

Did ever maiden wake From dream of homely duty, To find her daylight break With such exceeding beauty?

Did ever maiden close Her eyes on waking sadness, To dream of such exceeding gladness?

FREDERIC: Ah, yes! ah, yes! this is exceeding gladness GIRLS: How beautifully blue the sky, etc.

SOLO--FREDERIC