Chapter 152
[DAME CARRUTHERS comes down] Dame Carruthers!
DAME So this is a plot to s.h.i.+eld this arch-fiend, and I have detected it. A word from me, and three heads besides his would roll from their shoulders!
MERYLL Nay, Colonel Fairfax is reprieved.
[Aside] Yet, if my complicity in his escape were known! Plague on the old meddler! There's nothing for it-- [aloud]-- Hush, pretty one! Such bloodthirsty words ill become those cherry lips!
[Aside] Ugh!
DAME [bashfully] Sergeant Meryll!
MERYLL Why, look ye, chuck-- for many a month I've-- I've thought to myself-- "There's snug love saving up in that middle-aged bosom for some one, and why not for thee-- that's me-- so take heart and tell her-- that's thee-- that thou-- that's me-- lovest her-- thee-- and-- and-- well,I'm a miserable old man, and I've done it-- and that's me!" But not a word about Fairfax! The price of thy silence is--
DAME Meryll's heart?
MERYLL No, Meryll's hand.
DAME It's the same thing!
MERYLL Is it?
No. 21. Rapture, rapture (DUET) Dame Carruthers and Sergeant Meryll
DAME Rapture, rapture When love's votary, Flushed with capture, Seeks the notary, Joy and jollity Then is polity; Reigns frivolity!
Rapture, rapture!
Joy and jollity Then is polity; Reigns frivolity!
Rapture, rapture!
MERYLL Doleful, doleful!
When humanity With its soul full Of satanity, Courting privity, Down declivity Seeks captivity!
Doleful, doleful!
Courting privity, Down declivity Seeks captivity!
Doleful, doleful!
DAME Joyful, joyful!
When virginity Seeks, all coyful, Man's affinity; Fate all flowery, Bright and bowery, Is her dowery!
Joyful, joyful!
Fate all flowery, Bright and bowery, Is her dowery!
Joyful, joyful!
MERYLL Ghastly, ghastly!
When man, sorrowful, Firstly, lastly, Of to-morrow full, After tarrying, Yields to harrying-- Goes a-marrying.
Ghastly, ghastly!
DAME Joyful, joyful!
MERYLL Ghastly, ghastly!
DAME Joyful, joyful!
MERYLL Ghastly, ghastly!
DAME MERYLL
Joyful, joyful! Ghastly, ghastly!
Joyful, joyful, joyful! Ghastly, ghastly,ghastly!
Rapture,
When love's votary, When humanity Flushed with capture, With its soul full Seeks the notary, Of satanity, Joy and jollity Courting privity, Then is polity; Down declivity Reigns frivolity! Seeks captivity!
Rapture, rapture! Doleful, doleful!
Joy and jollity Courting privity, Then is polity; Down declivity Reigns frivolity! Seeks captivity!
Rapture, rapture! Doleful, doleful!
Rapture, rapture! Doleful, doleful!
Rapture, rapture, Doleful, doleful, Rapture, rapture! Doleful, doleful!
Joy and jollity Courting privity, Then is polity; Down declivity Reigns frivolity! Seeks captivity!
Rapture, rapture! Doleful, doleful!
[Exeunt DAME and SERGEANT MERYLL.
No. 22. Comes the pretty young bride (FINALE OF ACT II) Ensemble
[Enter YEOMEN and WOMEN
WOMEN Comes the pretty young bride, a-blus.h.i.+ng, timidly shrinking-- Set all thy fears aside-- cheerily, pretty young bride!
Brave is the youth to whom thy lot thou art willingly linking!
Flower of valour he-- loving as loving can be!
Brightly thy summer is s.h.i.+ning, Brightly thy summer is s.h.i.+ning, Fair as the dawn, as the dawn of the day; Take him, be true to him-- Tender his due to him-- Honour him, honour him, love and obey!
[Enter DAME, PHOEBE, and ELSIE as Bride
PHOEBE, ELSIE & DAME 'Tis said that joy in full perfection Comes only once to womankind-- That, other times, on close inspection, Some lurking bitter we shall find.
If this be so, and men say truly, My day of joy has broken duly With happiness my/her soul is cloyed-- With happiness is cloyed-- With happiness my/her soul is cloyed-- This is my/her joy-day unalloyed, unalloyed, This is my/her joy-day unalloyed!
ALL Yes, yes, with happiness her soul is cloyed!
This is her joy-day unalloyed!
[Flourish. Enter LIEUTENANT
LIEUT. Hold, pretty one! I bring to thee News-- good or ill, it is for thee to say.
Thy husband lives-- and he is free, And comes to claim his bride this very day!
ELSIE No! No! recall those words-- it cannot be!
[all four blocks below sung at once]
KATE and CHORUS DAME CARRUTHERS and PHOEBE
Oh, day of terror! Oh, day of terror!
Oh, day of terror! Oh, day of terror!
Day of terror! The man to whom thou art Day of tears! allied Day of terror! Appears to claim thee Day of tears! as his bride.