IOL.No; he must never know! He believes me to have died childless, and, dearly as I love him, I am bound, under penalty of death, not to undeceive him.But see--he comes! Quick--my veil!
(Iolanthe veils herself.Strephon and Phyllis go off on tiptoe.)(Enter Lord Chancellor.)LORD CH.Victory! Victory! Success has crowned my efforts, and I may consider myself engaged to Phyllis! At first I wouldn't hear of it--it was out of the question.But I took heart.Ipointed out to myself that I was no stranger to myself; that, in point of fact, I had been personally acquainted with myself for some years.This had its effect.I admitted that I had watched my professional advancement with considerable interest, and Ihandsomely added that I yielded to no one in admiration for my private and professional virtues.This was a great point gained.
I then endeavoured to work upon my feelings.Conceive my joy when I distinctly perceived a tear glistening in my own eye!
Eventually, after a severe struggle with myself, Ireluctantly--most reluctantly--consented.
(Iolanthe comes down veiled.)
RECITATIVE--IOLANTHE (kneeling).
My lord, a suppliant at your feet I kneel, Oh, listen to a mother's fond appeal!
Hear me to-night! I come in urgent need--'Tis for my son, young Strephon, that I plead!
BALLAD--IOLANTHE.
He loves! If in the bygone years Thine eyes have ever shed Tears--bitter, unavailing tears, For one untimely dead--If, in the eventide of life, Sad thoughts of her arise, Then let the memory of thy wife Plead for my boy--he dies!
He dies! If fondly laid aside In some old cabinet, Memorials of thy long-dead bride Lie, dearly treasured yet, Then let her hallowed bridal dress--Her little dainty gloves--Her withered flowers--her faded tress--
Plead for my boy--he loves!
(The Lord Chancellor is moved by this appeal.After a pause.)LORD CH.It may not be--for so the fates decide!
Learn thou that Phyllis is my promised bride.
IOL.(in horror).Thy bride! No! no!
LORD CH.It shall be so!
Those who would separate us woe betide!
IOL.My doom thy lips have spoken--
I plead in vain!
CHORUS OF FAIRIES (without).Forbear! forbear!
IOL.A vow already broken I break again!
CHORUS OF FAIRIES (without).Forbear! forbear!
IOL.For him--for her--for thee I yield my life.
Behold--it may not be!
I am thy wife.
CHORUS OF FAIRIES (without).Aiaiah! Aiaiah! Willaloo!
LORD CH.(recognizing her).Iolanthe! thou livest?
IOL.Aye!
I live! Now let me die!
(Enter Fairy Queen and Fairies.Iolanthe kneels to her.)QUEEN.Once again thy vows are broken:
Thou thyself thy doom hast spoken!
CHORUS OF FAIRIES.Aiaiah! Aiaiah!
Willahalah! Willaloo!
Willahalah! Willaloo!
QUEEN.Bow thy head to Destiny:
Death thy doom, and thou shalt die!
CHORUS OF FAIRIES.Aiaiah! Aiaiah! etc.
(Peers and Sentry enter.The Queen raises her spear.)LEILA.Hold! If Iolanthe must die, so must we all; for, as she has sinned, so have we!
QUEEN.What?
CELIA.We are all fairy duchesses, marchionesses, countesses, viscountesses, and baronesses.
LORD MOUNT.It's our fault.They couldn't help themselves.
QUEEN.It seems they have helped themselves, and pretty freely, too! (After a pause.) You have all incurred death; but Ican't slaughter the whole company! And yet (unfolding a scroll)the law is clear--every fairy must die who marries a mortal!
LORD CH.Allow me, as an old Equity draftsman, to make a suggestion.The subtleties of the legal mind are equal to the emergency.The thing is really quite simple--the insertion of a single word will do it.Let it stand that every fairy shall die who doesn't marry a mortal, and there you are, out of your difficulty at once!
QUEEN.We like your humour.Very well! (Altering the MS.in pencil.) Private Willis!
SENTRY (coming forward).Ma'am!
QUEEN.To save my life, it is necessary that I marry at once.
How should you like to be a fairy guardsman?
SENTRY.Well, ma'am, I don't think much of the British soldier who wouldn't ill-convenience himself to save a female in distress.
QUEEN.You are a brave fellow.You're a fairy from this moment.(Wings spring from Sentry's shoulders.) And you, my Lords, how say you, will you join our ranks?
(Fairies kneel to Peers and implore them to do so.)(Phyllis and Strephon enter.)LORD MOUNT.(to Lord Tolloller).Well, now that the Peers are to be recruited entirely from persons of intelligence, I really don't see what use we are, down here, do you, Tolloller?
LORD TOLL.None whatever.
QUEEN.Good! (Wings spring from shoulders of Peers.) Then away we go to Fairyland.
FINALE.
PHYL.Soon as we may, Off and away!
We'll commence our journey airy--
Happy are we--
As you can see, Every one is now a fairy!
ALL.Every, every, every, Every one is now a fairy!
IOL., QUEEN, Though as a general rule we know and PHYL.Two strings go to every bow, Make up your minds that grief 'twill bring If you've two beaux to every string.
ALL.Though as a general rule, etc.
LORDCH.Up in the sky, Ever so high, Pleasures come in endless series;We will arrange Happy exchange--House of Peers for House of Peris!
ALL.Peris, Peris, Peris, House of Peers for House of Peris!
LORDS CH., Up in the air, sky-high, sky-high, MOUNT., Free from Wards in Chancery, and TOLL.I/He will be surely happier, for I'm/He's such a susceptible Chancellor.
ALL.Up in the air, etc.
CURTAIN
THE MIKADO
OR
THE TOWN OF TITIPU
By William S.Gilbert Music by Sir Arthur SullivanDRAMATIS PERSONAE.
THE MIKADO OF JAPAN.
NANKI-POO (his Son, disguised as a wandering minstrel, and in love with Yum-Yum).
KO-KO (Lord High Executioner of Titipu).
POOH-BAH (Lord High Everything Else).
PISH-TISH (a Noble Lord).
Three Sisters--Wards of Ko-Ko:
YUM-YUM
PITTI-SING
PEEP-BO
KATISHA (an elderly Lady, in love with Nanki-Poo).
Chorus of School-girls, Nobles, Guards, and Coolies.
ACT I.--Courtyard of Ko-Ko's Official Residence.
ACT II.-- Ko-Ko's GardenFirst produced at the Savoy Theatre on March 14, 1885.
ACT I.