The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan Part 71

Come, Cyril, Florian, our course is plain, To-morrow morn fair Ida we'll engage; But we will use no force her love to gain, Nature, nature has arm'd us for the war we wage!

TRIO -- Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian

Hilarion: Expressive glances Shall be our lances, And pops of Sillery Our light artillery.

We'll storm their bowers With scented showers Of fairest flowers That we can buy!

Chorus: Oh, dainty triolet!

Oh, fragrant violet!

Oh, gentle heigho-let!

(Or little sigh).

On sweet urbanity, Through mere inanity, To touch their vanity We will rely!

Cyril: When day is fading, With serenading And such frivolity We'll prove our quality.

A sweet profusion Of soft allusion This bold intrusion Shall justify, This bold intrusion Shall justify.

Chorus: Oh, dainty triolet!

Oh, fragrant violet!

Oh, gentle heigho-let!

(Or little sigh).

On sweet urbanity, Through mere inanity, To touch their vanity We will rely!

Florian: We'll charm their senses With verbal fences, With ballads amatory And declamatory.

Little heeding Their pretty pleading, Our love exceeding We'll justify!

Our love exceeding We'll justify!

Chorus: Oh, dainty triolet!

Oh, fragrant violet!

Oh, gentle heigho-let!

(Or little sigh).

On sweet urbanity, Through mere inanity, To touch their vanity We will rely!

Sops: Oh dainty Altos, Tenors, and Ba.s.ses: triolet! Oh fragrant Oh violet! Oh dain- gentle ty heigh-o-let! (Or tri- little o- sigh). let!

Hilarion & Cyril: Oh dainty Chorus: triolet! Oh fragrant Oh violet (Add Florian) Oh fra- gentle grant heigh-o-let! (Or vi- little o- sigh). let!

Sops & Altos: Tenors & Ba.s.ses: Oh dainty Oh dainty triolet! Oh tri- fragrant o- violet let!

All: Oh dainty triolet!

Oh fragrant violet!

(Re-enter Gama, Arac, Guron, and Scynthius heavily ironed, followed by Hildebrand)

RECITATIVE

Gama: Must we, till then, in prison cell be thrust?

Hildebd: You must!

Gama: This seems unnecessarily severe!

Arac, Guron & Scyn: Hear, hear!

TRIO - Arac, Guron and Scynthius

For a month to dwell In a dungeon cell: Growing thin and wizen In a solitary prison, Is a poor look out For a soldier stout, Who is longing for the rattle Of a complicated battle-- For the rum - tum - tum Of the military drum And the guns that go boom!

boom!

All: The rum -- tum -- tum Of the military drum, Rum -- tum -- tum -- tummy tummy tummy tummy tum Who is longing for the rattle of a complicated battle-- For the rum tum tum Of the military drum!

Prr, prr, prr, ra -- pum -- pum!

Hildebd: When Hilarion's bride Has at length complied With the just conditions Of our requisitions, You may go in haste And indulge your taste For the fascinating rattle Of a complicated battle-- For the rum - tum - tum, Of the military drum, And the guns that go boom! boom!

All: The rum -- tum -- tum Of the military drum, Rum -- tum -- tum -- tummy tummy tummy tummy tum!

Who is longing for the rattle Of a complicated battle For the rum -- tum -- tum Of the military drum!

Tum, prr -- prr -- prr ra -- pum, pum!

But til that time you'll [we'll] here remain, And bail we [they] will not entertain, Should she our [his] mandate disobey, Your [Our] lives the penalty will pay!

But till that time you'll [we'll] here remain, And bail we [they] will not entertain.

Should she our [his] mandate disobey, Your [Our] lives the penalty will pay!

Should she our [his] mandate disobey, Your [Our] lives the penalty will pay!

(Gama, Arac, Guron, and Synthius are marched off.)

END OF ACT I

ACT II

SCENE Gardens in Castle Adamant. A river runs across the back of the stage, crossed by a rustic bridge. Castle Adamant in the distance.

Girl Graduates discovered seated at the feet of Lady Psyche

CHORUS OF GIRLS & SOLOS (Lady Psyche, Melissa and Sacharissa) "Towards the empyrean heights"

Chorus: Towards the empyrean heights Of ev'ry kind of lore, We've taken several easy flights, And mean to take some more.

In trying to achieve success No envy racks our heart, And all the knowledge we possess, We mutually impart.

SOLO -- Melissa

Pray, what authors should she read Who in Cla.s.sics would succeed?

SOLO -- Psyche

If you'd climb the Helicon, You should read Anacreon, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Likewise Aristophanes, And the works of Juvenal: These are worth attention, all; But, if you will be advised, You will get them Bowdlerized!

Chorus: Ah! we will get them Bowdlerized!