Chapter 102
QUINTETTE
ALEXIS, ALINE, SIR MARMADUKE, ZORAH, and DR. DALY
ALEXIS. I rejoice that it's decided, Happy now will be his life, For my father is provided With a true and tender wife.
She will tend him, nurse him, mend him, Air his linen, dry his tears; Bless the thoughtful fate that send him Such a wife to soothe his years!
ALINE. No young giddy thoughtless maiden, Full of graces, airs, and jeers-- But a sober widow, laden With the weight of fifty years!
SIR M. No high-born exacting beauty Blazing like a jewelled sun-- But a wife who'll do her duty, As that duty should be done!
MRS. P. I'm no saucy minx and giddy-- Hussies such as them abound-- But a clean and tidy widdy Well be-known for miles around!
DR.D. All the village now have mated, All are happy as can be-- I to live alone am fated: No one's left to marry me!
ENSEMBLE. She will tend him etc.
(Exeunt Sir Marmaduke, Mrs. Partlet, and Aline, with Alexis. Dr.
Daly looks after them sentimentally, then exits with a sigh.)
Enter Mr. Wells
RECITATIVE--MR. WELLS
Oh, I have wrought much evil with my spells!
And ill I can't undo!
This is too bad of you, J. W. Wells-- What wrong have they done you?
And see--another love-lorn lady comes-- Alas, poor stricken dame!
A gentle pensiveness her life benumbs-- And mine, alone, the blame!
Lady Sangazure enters. She is very melancholy
LADY S. Alas, ah me! and well-a-day!
I sigh for love, and well I may, For I am very old and grey.
But stay!
(Sees Mr. Wells, and becomes fascinated by him.)
RECITATIVE
LADY S. What is this fairy form I see before me?
MR. W. Oh horrible!--She's going to adore me!
This last catastrophe is overpowering!
LADY S. Why do you glare at one with visage
For pity's sake recoil not thus from me!
MR. W. My lady leave me--this may never be!
DUET--LADY SANGAZURE and MR. WELLS
MR. W. Hate me! I drop my H's--have through life!
LADY S. Love me! I'll drop them too!
MR. W. Hate me! I always eat peas with a knife!
LADY S. Love me! I'll eat like you!
MR. W. Hate me! I spend the day at Rosherville!
LADY S. Love me! that joy I'll share!
MR. W. Hate me! I often roll down One Tree Hill!
LADY S. Love me! I'll join you there!
LADY S. Love me! My prejudices I will drop!
MR. W. Hate me! that's not enough!
LADY S. Love me! I'll come and help you in the shop!
MR. W. Hate me! the life is rough!
LADY S. Love me! my grammar I will all forswear!
MR. W. Hate me! abjure my lot!
LADY S. Love me! I'll stick sunflowers in my hair!
MR. W. Hate me! they'll suit you not!
RECITATIVE--MR. WELLS
At what I am going to say be not enraged-- I may not love you--for I am engaged!
LADY S. (horrified) Engaged!
MR. W. Engaged!
To a maiden fair, With bright brown hair, And a sweet and simple smile, Who waits for me By the sounding sea, On a South Pacific isle.
MR. W. (aside) A lie! No maiden waits me there!
LADY S. (mournfully) She has bright brown hair; MR. W. (aside) A lie! No maiden smiles on me!
LADY S. (mournfully) By the sounding sea!
ENSEMBLE
LADY SANGAZURE MR. W.
Oh agony, rage, despair! Oh, agony, rage, despair!
The maiden has bright brown hair, Oh, where will this end--oh, where?
And mine is as white as snow! I should like very much to know!
False man, it will be your fault, It will certainly be my fault, If I go to my family vault, If she goes to her family vault, And bury my life-long woe! To bury her life-long woe!
BOTH. The family vault--the family vault.
It will certainly be (your/my) fault.
If (I go/she goes) to (my/her) family vault, To bury (my/her) life-long woe!
(Exit Lady Sangazure, in great anguish, accompanied by Mr. Wells.)
Enter Aline, Recitative
Alexis! Doubt me not, my loved one! See, Thine uttered will is sovereign law to me!
All fear--all thought of ill I cast away!
It is may darling's will, and I obey!
(She drinks the philtre.)
The fearful deed is done, My love is near!