Chapter 83
Arac: These things I treat the same (indicating leg pieces) (I quite forget their name.) They turn one's legs To cribbage pegs-- Their aid I thus disclaim, Their aid I thus disclaim, Though I forget their name, Though I forget their name, Their aid, their aid I thus disclaim!
Others: Yes, yes, yes, All: Their aid (we/they) thus disclaim!
(They remove their leg pieces and wear close-fitting shape suits.)
Enter Hilarion, Florian, and Cyril
(Desperate fight between the three Princes and the three Knights, during which the Ladies on the battlements and the Soldiers on the stage sing the following chorus):
CHORUS DURING THE FIGHT "This is our Duty"
Chorus: This is our duty plain towards Our Princess all immaculate, We ought to bless her brothers' swords, And piously e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.e: Oh, Hungary!
Oh, Hungary!
Oh, doughty sons of Hungary!
May all success Attend and bless Your warlike ironmongery!
Hilarion! Hilarion! Hilarion!
(By this time, Arac, Guron, and Scynthius are on the ground, wounded -- Hilarion, Cyril and Florian stand over them.)
Princess: (Entering through gate and followed by Ladies, Hildebrand, and Gama.) Hold! stay your hands! -- we yield ourselves to you!
Ladies, my brothers all lie bleeding there!
Bind up their wounds -- but look the other way.
(Coming down) Is this the end? (Bitterly to Lady Blanche) How say you, Lady Blanche-- Can I with dignity my post resign?
And if I do, will you then take my place?
Blanche: To answer this, it's meet that we consult The great Potential Mysteries; I mean The five Subjunctive Possibilities-- The May, the Might, the Would, the Could, the Should.
Can you resign? The Prince May claim you; if He Might, you Could -- and if you Should, I Would!
Princess: I thought as much! Then to my fate I yield-- So ends my cherished scheme! Oh, I had hoped To band all women with my maiden throng, And make them all abjure tyrannic Man!
Hildebd: A n.o.ble aim!
Princess: You ridicule it now; But if
Hildebd: But pray reflect -- If you enlist all women in your cause, And make them all abjure tyrannic Man, The obvious question then arises, "How Is this Posterity to be provided?"
Princess: I never thought of that! My Lady Blanche, How do you solve the riddle?
Blanche: Don't ask me -- Abstract Philosophy won't answer it.
Take him -- he is your Shall. Give in to Fate!
Princess: And you desert me. I alone am staunch!
Hilarion: Madam, you placed your trust in Woman -- well, Woman has failed you utterly -- try Man, Give him one chance, it's only fair -- besides, Women are far too precious, too divine, To try unproven theories upon.
Experiments, the proverb says, are made On humble subjects -- try our grosser clay, And mould it as you will!
Cyril: Remember, too Dear Madam, if at any time you feel A-weary of the Prince, you can return To Castle Adamant, and rule your girls As heretofore, you know.
Princess: And shall I find The Lady Psyche here?
Psyche: If Cyril, ma'am, Does not behave himself, I think you will.
Princess: And you Melissa, shall I find you here?
Melissa: Madam, however Florian turns out, Unhesitatingly I answer, No!
Gama: Consider this, my love, if your mama Had looked on matters from your point of view (I wish she had), why where would you have been?
Blanche: There's an unbounded field of speculation, On which I could discourse for hours!
Princess: No doubt!
We will not trouble you. Hilarion, I have been wrong -- I see my error now.
Take me, Hilarion -- "We will walk this world Yoked in all exercise of n.o.ble end!
And so through those dark gates across the wild That no one knows!" Indeed, I love thee -- Come!
Finale "With joy abiding"
Princess: With joy abiding, Together gliding Through life's variety, In sweet society, And thus enthroning The love I'm owning, On this atoning I will rely!
Chorus: It were profanity For poor humanity To treat as vanity The sway of Love.
In no locality Or princ.i.p.ality Is our mortality It's sway above!
Hilarion: When day is fading, With serenading And such frivolity Of tender quality-- With scented showers Of fairest flowers, The happy hours Will gaily fly!
The happy hours will gaily fly!
Chorus: It were profanity For poor humanity To treat as vanity The sway of Love.
In no locality Or princ.i.p.ality Is our mortality It's sway above!
1st Sops: In no lo- Others: cality Or princi- Its pality Is our mor- sway tality It's sway a- a- bove! bove!
Princess & With scented Others: Hilarion: showers Of fairest Its flowers, The happy sway hours will gaily a- fly! bove!
All: In no locality Or princ.i.p.ality Is our mortality Above the sway of love!
Curtain
RUDDIGORE
or
The Witch's Curse