The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 68

ACT III

Courtyard of Castle Adamant

ACT I.

SCENE. Pavilion attached to King Hildebrand's Palace.

Soldiers and courtiers discovered looking out through opera-gla.s.ses, telescopes, etc., Florian leading.

CHORUS AND SOLO (Florian) "Search throughout the panorama"

Chorus: Search throughout the panorama For a sign of royal Gama, Who to-day should cross the water With his fascinating daughter-- Ida is her name.

Some misfortune evidently Has detained them -- consequently Search throughout the panorama For the daughter of King Gama, Prince Hilarion's flame!

Prince Hilarion's flame!

SOLO - Florian

Florian: Will Prince Hilarion's hopes be sadly blighted?

Chorus: Who can tell? Who can tell?

Florian: Will Ida break the vows that she has plighted?

Chorus: Who can tell? Who can tell?

Florian: Will she back out, and say she did not mean them?

Chorus: Who can tell?

Florian: If so, there'll be the deuce to pay between them!

Chorus: No, no -- we'll not despair, we'll not despair, For Gama would not dare To make a deadly foe Of Hildebrand, and so, Search through the panorama For a sign of royal Gama, Who today should cross the water With his fascinating daughter-- Ida, Ida is her name.

(Enter King Hildebrand with Cyril)

Hildebd: See you no sign of Gama?

Florian: None, my liege!

Hildebd: It's very odd indeed. If Gama fail To put in an appearance at our Court Before the sun has set in yonder west, And fail to bring the Princess Ida here To whom our son Hilarion was betrothed At the extremely early age of one, There's war between King Gama and ourselves!

(aside to Cyril) Oh, Cyril, how I dread this interview!

It's twenty years since he and I have met.

He was a twisted monster -- all awry---- As though Dame Nature, angry with her work, Had crumpled it in fitful petulance!

Cyril: But, sir, a twisted and ungainly trunk Often bears goodly fruit. Perhaps he was A kind, well-spoken gentleman?

Hildebd: Oh, no!

For, adder-like, his sting lay in his tongue.

(His "sting" is present, though his "stung" is past.)

Florian: (looking through gla.s.s) But stay, my liege; o'er yonder mountain's brow Comes a small body, bearing Gama's arms; And now I look more closely at it, sir, I see attached to it King Gama's legs; From which I gather this corollary That that small body must be Gama's own!

Hildebd: Ha! Is the Princess with him?

Florian: Well, my liege, Unless her highness is full six feet high, And wears mustachios too -- and smokes cigars---- And rides en cavalier in coat of steel---- I do not think she is.

Hildebd: One never knows.

She's a strange girl, I've heard, and does odd things!

Come, bustle there!

For Gama place the richest robes we own---- For Gama place the coa.r.s.est prison dress---- For Gama let our best spare bed be aired---- For Gama let our deepest dungeon yawn---- For Gama lay the costliest banquet out---- For Gama place cold water and dry bread!

For as King Gama brings the Princess here, Or brings her not, so shall King Gama have Much more than everything -- much less than nothing!

SONG (Hildebrand and Chorus) "Now Hearken to my Strict Command"

Hildebd: Now hearken to my strict command On every hand, on every hand----

Chorus: To your command, On every hand, We dutifully bow.

Hildebd: If Gama bring the Princess here, Give him good cheer, give him good cheer.

Chorus: If she come here We'll give him a cheer, And we will show you how.

Hip, hip, hurrah! hip, hip, hurrah!

Hip, hip, hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!

We'll shout and sing Long live the King, And his daughter, too, I trow!

Then shout ha! ha! hip, hip, hurrah!

Hip, hip, hip, hip, hurrah!

For the fair Princess and her good papa, Hurrah, hurrah!

Hildebd: But if he fail to keep his troth, Upon our oath, we'll trounce them both!

Chorus: He'll trounce them both, Upon his oath, As sure as quarter-day!

Hildebd: We'll shut him up in a dungeon cell, And toll his knell on a funeral bell.

Chorus: From his dungeon cell, His funeral knell Shall strike him with dismay!

Hip, hip, hurrah! hip, hip, hurrah!

Hip, hip, hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!

As up we string The faithless King, In the old familiar way!

We'll shout ha! ha! hip, hip, hurrah!

Hip, hip, hip, hip, hurrah!

As we make an end of her false papa, Hurrah, hurrah!

(Exeunt all)

(Enter Hilarion)