(A struggle ensues between Pirates and Police, RUTH tackling the SERGEANT.Eventually the Police are overcome and fall prostrate, the Pirates standing over them with drawn swords.)CHORUS OF PIRATES AND POLICEPIRATES POLICEWe triumph now, for well we You triumph now, for well we trow trow Your mortal career's cut short; Our mortal career's cut short;No pirate band will take its No pirate band will take its stand stand At the Central Criminal Court.At the Central Criminal Court.
SERGEANT: To gain a brief advantage you've contrived, But your proud triumph will not be long-lived KING: Don't say you are orphans, for we know that game.
SERGEANT: On your allegiance we've a stronger claim.
We charge you yield, we charge you yield, In Queen Victoria's name!
KING: (baffled) You do?
POLICE: We do!
We charge you yield, In Queen Victoria's name!
(PIRATES kneel, POLICE stand over them triumphantly.)KING: We yield at once, with humbled mien, Because, with all our faults, we love our Queen.
POLICE: Yes, yes, with all their faults, they love their Queen.
ALL: Yes, yes, with all their faults, they love their Queen.
(POLICE, holding PIRATES by the collar, take out handkerchiefs and weep.)GENERAL: Away with them, and place them at the bar!
(Enter RUTH)
RUTH: One moment! let me tell you who they are.
They are no members of the common throng;They are all noblemen who have gone wrong.
ALL: They are all noblemen who have gone wrong.
GENERAL: No Englishman unmoved that statement hears, Because, with all our faults, we love our House of Peers.(All kneel)I pray you, pardon me, ex-Pirate King!
Peers will be peers, and youth will have its fling.
Resume your ranks and legislative duties, And take my daughters, all of whom are beauties.
FINALE--MABEL, EDITH and ENSEMBLE
Poor wandering ones!
Though ye have surely strayed, Take heart of grace, Your steps retrace, Poor wandering ones!
Poor wandering ones!
If such poor love as ours Can help you find True peace of mind, Why, take it, it is yours!
ALL: Poor wandering ones! etc.
END OF OPERA
PRINCESS IDA
OR
CASTLE ADAMANT
libretto by William S.Gilbert music by Arthur S.Sullivan DRAMATIS PERSONAEKing Hildebrand Hilarion (His son)Hilarion's friends:
Cyril FlorianKing GamaHis sons:
Arac Guron Scynthius Princess Ida (Gama's daughter)Lady Blanche (Professor of Abstract Science)Lady Psyche (Professor of Humanities)Melissa (Lady Blanche's Daughter)Girl Graduates:
Sacharissa Chloe AdaSoldiers, Courtiers, "Girl Graduates," "Daughters of the Plough,"etc.
ACT I
Pavilion in King Hildebrand's PalaceACT IIGardens of Castle AdamantACT IIICourtyard of Castle Adamant ACT I.
SCENE.Pavilion attached to King Hildebrand's Palace.
Soldiers and courtiers discovered looking out through opera-glasses, telescopes, etc., Florian leading.
CHORUS AND SOLO (Florian)
"Search throughout the panorama"
Chorus: Search throughout the panorama For a sign of royal Gama, Who to-day should cross the water With his fascinating daughter--Ida is her name.
Some misfortune evidently Has detained them -- consequently Search throughout the panorama For the daughter of King Gama, Prince Hilarion's flame!
Prince Hilarion's flame!
SOLO - FlorianFlorian: Will Prince Hilarion's hopes be sadly blighted?
Chorus: Who can tell? Who can tell?
Florian: Will Ida break the vows that she has plighted?
Chorus: Who can tell? Who can tell?
Florian: Will she back out, and say she did not mean them?
Chorus: Who can tell?
Florian: If so, there'll be the deuce to pay between them!
Chorus: No, no -- we'll not despair, we'll not despair, For Gama would not dare To make a deadly foe Of Hildebrand, and so, Search through the panorama For a sign of royal Gama, Who today should cross the water With his fascinating daughter--Ida, Ida is her name.
(Enter King Hildebrand with Cyril)
Hildebd: See you no sign of Gama?
Florian:None, my liege!
Hildebd: It's very odd indeed.If Gama fail To put in an appearance at our Court Before the sun has set in yonder west, And fail to bring the Princess Ida here To whom our son Hilarion was betrothed At the extremely early age of one, There's war between King Gama and ourselves!
(aside to Cyril)
Oh, Cyril, how I dread this interview!
It's twenty years since he and I have met.
He was a twisted monster -- all awry----
As though Dame Nature, angry with her work, Had crumpled it in fitful petulance!
Cyril: But, sir, a twisted and ungainly trunk Often bears goodly fruit.Perhaps he was A kind, well-spoken gentleman?
Hildebd:Oh, no!
For, adder-like, his sting lay in his tongue.
(His "sting" is present, though his "stung" is past.)Florian: (looking through glass)But stay, my liege; o'er yonder mountain's brow Comes a small body, bearing Gama's arms;And now I look more closely at it, sir, I see attached to it King Gama's legs;From which I gather this corollary That that small body must be Gama's own!
Hildebd: Ha! Is the Princess with him?
Florian: Well, my liege, Unless her highness is full six feet high, And wears mustachios too -- and smokes cigars----And rides en cavalier in coat of steel----I do not think she is.
Hildebd: One never knows.
She's a strange girl, I've heard, and does odd things!
Come, bustle there!
For Gama place the richest robes we own----For Gama place the coarsest prison dress----For Gama let our best spare bed be aired----For Gama let our deepest dungeon yawn----For Gama lay the costliest banquet out----For Gama place cold water and dry bread!
For as King Gama brings the Princess here, Or brings her not, so shall King Gama have Much more than everything -- much less than nothing!
SONG (Hildebrand and Chorus)
"Now Hearken to my Strict Command"
Hildebd: Now hearken to my strict command On every hand, on every hand----Chorus: To your command, On every hand, We dutifully bow.
Hildebd: If Gama bring the Princess here, Give him good cheer, give him good cheer.
Chorus: If she come here We'll give him a cheer, And we will show you how.
Hip, hip, hurrah! hip, hip, hurrah!