What is such a dower to the Your love would be uncomfortably dower I have here fervid, it is clear My love unabating If, as you are stating Has been accumulating It's been accumulating Forty-seven year, forty-seven Forty-seven year--forty-seven year!
year! Faithless woman to deceive me, Iwho trusted so!
Master, master, do not leaveFaithless woman to deceive me, Ime, hear me, ere I go! who trusted so!
RECIT--FREDERIC
What shall I do? Before these gentle maidens I dare not show in this alarming costume!
No, no, I must remain in close concealment Until I can appear in decent clothing!
(Hides in cave as they enter climbing over the rocks and through arched rock)GIRLS:Climbing over rocky mountain, Skipping rivulet and fountain, Passing where the willows quiver, Passing where the willows quiver By the ever-rolling river, Swollen with the summer rain, the summer rain Threading long and leafy mazes Dotted with unnumbered daisies, Dotted, dotted with unnumbered daisies, Scaling rough and rugged passes, Climb the hardy little lasses, Till the bright sea-shore they gain;Scaling rough and rugged passes, Climb the hardy little lasses, Till the bright sea-shore they gain!
EDITH:Let us gaily tread the measure, Make the most of fleeting leisure, Hail it as a true ally, Though it perish by-and-by.
GIRLS: Hail it as a true ally, Though it perish by-and-by.
EDITH:Every moment brings a treasure Of its own especial pleasure;Though the moments quickly die, Greet them gaily as they fly, Greet them gaily as they fly.
GIRLS:Though the moments quickly die, Greet them gaily as they fly.
KATE: Far away from toil and care, Revelling in fresh sea-air, Here we live and reign alone In a world that's all our own.
Here, in this our rocky den, Far away from mortal men, We'll be queens, and make decrees--They may honour them who please.
GIRLS:We'll be queens, and make decrees--They may honour them who please.
Let us gaily tread the measure, etc.
KATE: What a picturesque spot! I wonder where we are!
EDITH:And I wonder where Papa is.We have left him ever so far behind.
ISABEL: Oh, he will be here presently! Remember poor Papa is not as young as we are, and we came over a rather difficult country.
KATE: But how thoroughly delightful it is to be so entirely alone! Why, in all probability we are the first human beings who ever set foot on this enchanting spot.
ISABEL: Except the mermaids--it's the very place for mermaids.
KATE: Who are only human beings down to the waist--EDITH:And who can't be said strictly to set foot anywhere.
Tails they may, but feet they cannot.
KATE: But what shall we do until Papa and the servants arrive with the luncheon?
EDITH:We are quite alone, and the sea is as smooth as glass.
Suppose we take off our shoes and stockings and paddle?
ALL: Yes, yes! The very thing! (They prepare to carry, out the suggestion.They have all taken off one shoe, when FREDERIC comes forward from cave.)FREDERIC: (recitative).Stop, ladies, pray!
GIRLS:(Hopping on one foot)A man!
FREDERIC:I had intended Not to intrude myself upon your notice In this effective but alarming costume;But under these peculiar circumstances, It is my bounden duty to inform you That your proceedings will not be unwitnessed!
EDITH:But who are you, sir? Speak! (All hopping)FREDERIC:I am a pirate!
GIRLS:(recoiling, hopping) A pirate! Horror!
FREDERIC:Ladies, do not shun me!
This evening I renounce my vile profession;And, to that end, O pure and peerless maidens!
Oh, blushing buds of ever-blooming beauty!
I, sore at heart, implore your kind assistance.
EDITH:How pitiful his tale!
KATE: How rare his beauty GIRLS:How pitiful his tale! How rare his beauty!
SONG--FREDERIC
Oh, is there not one maiden breast Which does not feel the moral beauty Of making worldly interest Subordinate to sense of duty?
Who would not give up willingly All matrimonial ambition, To rescue such a one as IFrom his unfortunate position?
From his position, To rescue such an one as IFrom his unfortunate position?
GIRLS:Alas! there's not one maiden breast Which seems to feel the moral beauty Of making worldly interest Subordinate to sense of duty!
FREDERIC: Oh, is there not one maiden here Whose homely face and bad complexion Have caused all hope to disappear Of ever winning man's affection?
Of such a one, if such there be, I swear by Heaven's arch above you, If you will cast your eyes on me, However plain you be, I'll love you, However plain you be, If you will cast your eyes on me, However plain you be I'll love you, I'll love you, I'll love, I'll love you!
GIRLS:Alas! there's not one maiden here Whose homely face and bad complexion Have caused all hope to disappear Of ever winning man's affection!
FREDERIC: (in despair) Not one?
GIRLS: No, no-- not one!
FREDERIC: Not one?
GIRLS: No, no!
MABEL:(enters through arch) Yes, one!
Yes, one!
GIRLS:'Tis Mabel!
MABEL: Yes, 'tis Mabel!
RECIT--MABEL
Oh, sisters, deaf to pity's name, For shame!
It's true that he has gone astray, But pray Is that a reason good and true Why you Should all be deaf to pity's name?
GIRLS:(aside): The question is, had he not been A thing of beauty, Would she be swayed by quite as keen A sense of duty?
MABEL:For shame, for shame, for shame!
SONG--MABEL
MABEL:Poor wand'ring one!
Though thou hast surely strayed, Take heart of grace, Thy steps retrace, Poor wand'ring one!
Poor wand'ring one!
If such poor love as mine Can help thee find True peace of mind-Why, take it, it is thine!
GIRLS:Take heart, no danger low'rs;
Take any heart but ours!
MABEL:Take heart, fair days will shine;Take any heart--take mine!
GIRLS:Take heart; no danger low'rs;
Take any heart-but ours!
MABEL:Take heart, fair days will shine;Take any heart--take mine!
Poor wand'ring one!, etc.
(MABEL and FREDERIC go to mouth of cave and converse.EDITHbeckons her sisters, who form a semicircle around her.)EDITHWhat ought we to do, Gentle sisters, say?