MERYLL Ye Tower warders, nursed in war's alarms, Suckled on gunpowder, and weaned on glory, Behold my son, whose all-subduing arms Have formed the theme of many a song and story!
Forgive his aged father's pride; nor jeer His aged father's sympathetic tear!
[Pretending to weep]
YEOMEN Leonard Meryll!
Leonard Meryll!
Dauntless he in time of peril!
Man of power, Knighthood's flower, Welcome to the grim old Tower, To the Tower, welcome thou!
FAIRFAXForbear, my friends, and spare me this ovation, I have small claim to such consideration;The tales that of my prowess are narrated Have been prodigiously exaggerated, prodigiously exaggerated!
YEOMEN 'Tis ever thus!
Wherever valor true is found, True modesty will there abound.
1ST YEOMAN Didst thou not, oh, Leonard Meryll!
Standard lost in last campaign, Rescue it at deadly peril--Bear it safely back again?
YEOMEN Leonard Meryll, at his peril, Bore it safely back again!
2ND YEOMAN Didst thou not, when prisoner taken, And debarred from all escape, Face, with gallant heart unshaken, Death in most appalling shape?
YEOMEN Leonard Meryll, faced his peril, Death in most appalling shape!
FAIRFAX [aside] Truly I was to be pitied, Having but an hour to live, I reluctantly submitted, I had no alternative!
FAIRFAX [aloud] Oh! the tales that are narrated Of my deeds of derring-do Have been much exaggerated, Very much exaggerated, Scarce a word of them is true!
Scarce a word of them is true!
YEOMEN They are not exaggerated, Not at all exaggerated, Could not be exaggerated, Ev'ry word of them is true!
3RD YEOMAN [optional]You, when brought to execution, Like a demigod of yore, With heroic resolution Snatched a sword and killed a score.
YEOMEN [optional]Leonard Meryll, Leonard Meryll Snatched a sword and killed a score!
4TH YEOMAN [optional]Then escaping from the foemen, Boltered with the blood you shed, You, defiant, fearing no men, Saved your honour and your head!
YEOMEN [optional]Leonard Meryll, Leonard Meryll Saved his honour and his head.
FAIRFAX [optional] True, my course with judgement shaping, Favoured, too, by lucky star, I succeeded in escaping Prison-bolt and prison bar!
FAIRFAX [optional] Oh! the tales that are narrated Of my deeds of derring-do Have been much exaggerated, Very much exaggerated, Scarce a word of them is true!
Scarce a word of them is true!
YEOMEN [optional]They are not exaggerated, Not at all exaggerated, Could not be exaggerated, Ev'ry word of them is true!
[Enter PHOEBE.She rushes to FAIRFAX.Enter WILFRED.
PHOEBE Leonard!
FAIRFAX [puzzled] I beg your pardon?
PHOEBE Don't you know me? I'm little Phoebe!
FAIRFAX [still puzzled] Phoebe? Is this Phoebe?
What! little Phoebe?
[aside] Who the deuce may she be?
It can't be Phoebe, surely?
WILFRED Yes, 'tis Phoebe--
Your sister Phoebe! Your own little sister!
YEOMEN Aye, he speaks the truth; 'Tis Phoebe!
FAIRFAX [pretending to recognise her]
Sister Phoebe!
PHOEBE Oh, my brother!
FAIRFAX Why, how you've grown!
I did not recognize you!
PHOEBE So many years! Oh, brother!
FAIRFAX Oh, my sister!
BOTHOh, brother!/Oh, sister!
WILFRED Aye, hug him, girl!
There are three thou mayst hug--
Thy father and thy brother and-- myself!
FAIRFAX Thyself, forsooth?
And who art thou thyself?
WILFRED Good sir, we are betrothed.
[FAIRFAX turns inquiringly to PHOEBE
PHOEBE Or more or less--
But rather less than more!
WILFRED To thy fond care I do commend thy sister.
Be to her An ever-watchful guardian-- eagle-eyed!
And when she feels (as sometimes she does feel)Disposed to indiscriminate caress, Be thou at hand to take those favours from her!
YEOMEN Be thou at hand to take those favours from her!
PHOEBE Yes, yes.
Be thou at hand to take those favours from me!
WILFRED To thy fraternal care Thy sister I commend;From every lurking snare Thy lovely charge defend;And to achieve this end, Oh! grant, I pray, this boon--Oh! grant this boon She shall not quit my sight;From morn to afternoon--From afternoon to night--
From sev'n o'clock to two--
From two to eventide--
From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night, From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night She shall not quit my side!
YEOMEN From morn to afternoon--
From afternoon to 'lev'n at night She shall not quit thy side!
PHOEBE So amiable I've grown, So innocent as well, That if I'm left alone The consequences fell No mortal can foretell.
So grant, I pray, this boon--
Oh! grant this boon I shall not quit thy sight:
From morn to afternoon--
From afternoon to night--
From sev'n o'clock to two--
From two to eventide--
From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night I shall not quit thy side!
YEOMEN From morn to afternoon--
From afternoon to 'lev'n at night She shall not quit thy side!
FAIRFAX With brotherly readiness, For my fair sister's sake, At once I answer "Yes"--That task I undertake--My word I never break.
I freely grant that boon, And I'll repeat my plight.
From morn to afternoon--[kiss]
From afternoon to night-- [kiss]
From sev'n o'clock to two-- [kiss]
From two to evening meal-- [kiss]
From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night, From dim twilight to 'lev'n at night, That compact I will seal.[kiss]
YEOMEN From morn to afternoon, From afternoon to 'lev'n at night He freely grants that boon.
[The bell of St.Peter's begins to toll.The CROWD enters;the block is brought on to the stage, and the HEADSMANtakes his place.The YEOMEN of the Guard form up.The LIEUTENANT enters and takes his place, and tells off FAIRFAX and two others to bring the prisoner to execution.
WILFRED, FAIRFAX, and TWO YEOMEN exeunt to Tower.
CHORUS The prisoner comes to meet his doom;The block, the headsman, and the tomb.
The funeral bell begins to toll;
May Heav'n have mercy on his soul!
May Heav'n have mercy on his soul!
ELSIE Oh, Mercy, thou whose smile has shone So many a captive heart upon;Of all immured within these walls, To-day the very worthiest falls!
ALLOh, Mercy, thou whose smile has shone So many a captive heart upon;Of all immured within these walls, The very worthiest falls.