BUT, True, dear Captain--but the recollection of your sad pale face seemed to chain me to the ship.I would fain see you smile before Igo.
CAPT.Ah! Little Buttercup, I fear it will be long before Irecover my accustomed cheerfulness, for misfortunes crowd upon me, and all my old friends seem to have turned against me!
BUT, Oh no--do not say "all", dear Captain.That were unjust to one, at least.
CAPT.True, for you are staunch to me.(Aside.) If ever Igave my heart again, methinks it would be to such a one as this! (Aloud.)I am touched to the heart by your innocent regard for me, and were we differently situated, I think I could have returned it.But as it is, Ifear I can never be more to you than a friend.
BUT, I understand! You hold aloof from me because you are rich and lofty--and I poor and lowly.But take care! The poor bumboat woman has gipsy blood in her veins, and she can read destinies.
CAPT.Destinies?
BUT.There is a change in store for you!
CAPT.A change?
BUT.Aye--be prepared!
DUET--LITTLE BUTTERCUP and CAPTAIN
BUT, Things are seldom what they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream;Highlows pass as patent leathers;Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers.
CAPT.(puzzled).Very true, So they do.
BUT.Black sheep dwell in every fold;All that glitters is not gold;Storks turn out to be but logs;
Bulls are but inflated frogs.
CAPT.(puzzled).So they be, Frequentlee.
BUT.Drops the wind and stops the mill;Turbot is ambitious brill;Gild the farthing if you will, Yet it is a farthing still.
CAPT.(puzzled).Yes, I know.
That is so.
Though to catch your drift I'm striving, It is shady--it is shady;I don't see at what you're driving, Mystic lady--mystic lady.
(Aside.) Stern conviction's o'er me stealing, That the mystic lady's dealing In oracular revealing.
BUT.(aside).Stern conviction's o'er him stealing, That the mystic lady's dealing In oracular revealing.
Yes, I know--
That is so!
CAPT.Though I'm anything but clever, I could talk like that for ever:
Once a cat was killed by care;
Only brave deserve the fair.
Very true, So they do.
CAPT.Wink is often good as nod;
Spoils the child who spares the rod;
Thirsty lambs run foxy dangers;
Dogs are found in many mangers.
BUT.Frequentlee, I agree.
Paw of cat the chestnut snatches;
Worn-out garments show new patches;
Only count the chick that hatches;
Men are grown-up catchy-catchies.
BUT.Yes, I know, That is so.
(Aside.) Though to catch my drift he's striving, I'll dissemble--I'll dissemble;When he sees at what I'm driving, Let him tremble--let him tremble!
ENSEMBLE
Though a mystic tone { I } borrow, you You will } learn the truth with sorrow, I shall Here to-day and gone to-morrow;Yes, I know--That is so!
[At the end exit LITTLE BUTTERCUP
melodramatically.
CAPT.Incomprehensible as her utterances are, I nevertheless feel that they are dictated by a sincere regard for me.But to what new misery is she referring? Time alone can tell!
Enter SIR JOSEPH
SIR JOSEPH.Captain Corcoran, I am much disappointed with your daughter.In fact, I don't think she will do.
CAPT.She won't do, Sir Joseph!
SIR JOSEPH.I'm afraid not.The fact is, that although I have urged my suit with as much eloquence as is consistent with an official utterance, I have done so hitherto without success.How do you account for this?
CAPT.Really, Sir Joseph, I hardly know.Josephine is of course sensible of your condescension.
SIR JOSEPH.She naturally would be.
CAPT.But perhaps your exalted rank dazzles her.
SIR JOSEPH.You think it does?
CAPT.I can hardly say; but she is a modest girl, and her social position is far below your own.It may be that she feels she is not worthy of you.
SIR JOSEPH.That is really a very sensible suggestion, and displays more knowledge of human nature than I had given you credit for.
CAPT.See, she comes.If your lordship would kindly reason with her and assure her officially that it is a standing rule at the Admiralty that love levels all ranks, her respect for an official utterance might induce her to look upon your offer in its proper light.
SIR JOSEPH.It is not unlikely.I will adopt your suggestion.
But soft, she is here.Let us withdraw, and watch our opportunity.
Enter JOSEPHINE from cabin.FIRST LORD and CAPTAIN retireSCENE--JOSEPHINEThe hours creep on apace, My guilty heart is quaking!
Oh, that I might retrace The step that I am taking!
Its folly it were easy to be showing, What I am giving up and whither going.
On the one hand, papa's luxurious home, Hung with ancestral armour and old brasses, Carved oak and tapestry from distant Rome, Rare "blue and white" Venetian finger-glasses, Rich oriental rugs, luxurious sofa pillows, And everything that isn't old, from Gillow's.
And on the other, a dark and dingy room, In some back street with stuffy children crying, Where organs yell, and clacking housewives fume, And clothes are hanging out all day a-drying.
With one cracked looking-glass to see your face in, And dinner served up in a pudding basin!
A simple sailor, lowly born, Unlettered and unknown, Who toils for bread from early mom Till half the night has flown!
No golden rank can he impart--
No wealth of house or land--
No fortune save his trusty heart And honest brown right hand!
And yet he is so wondrous fair That love for one so passing rare, So peerless in his manly beauty, Were little else than solemn duty!
Oh, god of love, and god of reason, say, Which of you twain shall my poor heart obey!
SIR JOSEPH and CAPTAIN enterSIR JOSEPH.Madam, it has been represented to me that you are appalled by my exalted rank.I desire to convey to you officially my assurance, that if your hesitation is attributable to that circumstance, it is uncalled for.
JOS.Oh! then your lordship is of opinion that married happiness is not inconsistent with discrepancy in rank?
SIR JOSEPH.I am officially of that opinion.
JOS.That the high and the lowly may be truly happy together, provided that they truly love one another?