GIU.The Chancellor in his peruke--The Earl, the Marquis, and the Dook, The Groom, the Butler, and the Cook--They all shall equal be.
MAR.The Aristocrat who banks with Coutts--The Aristocrat who hunts and shoots--The Aristocrat who cleans our boots--
They all shall equal be!
GIU.The Noble Lord who rules the State--The Noble Lord who cleans the plate--MAR.The Noble Lord who scrubs the grate--They all shall equal be!
GIU.The Lord High Bishop orthodox--The Lord High Coachman on the box--1
BOTH.For every one, etc.
Sing high, sing low, Wherever they go, They all shall equal be!
CHORUS.Sing high, sing low, Wherever they go, They all shall equal be!
The Earl, the Marquis, and the Dook, The Groom, the Butler, and the Cook, The Aristocrat who banks with Coutts, The Aristocrat who cleans the boots, The Noble Lord who rules the State, The Noble Lord who scrubs the grate, The Lord High Bishop orthodox, The Lord High Vagabond in the stocks--For every one, etc.
Sing high, sing low, Wherever they go, They all shall equal be!
Then hail! O King, Whichever you may be, To you we sing, But do not bend the knee.
Then hail! O King.
MARCO and GIUSEPPE (together).
Come, let's away--our island crown awaits me--Conflicting feelings rend my soul apart!
The thought of Royal dignity elates me, But leaving thee behind me breaks my heart!
(Addressing Gianetta and Tessa.)
GIANETTA and TESSA (together).
Farewell, my love; on board you must be getting;But while upon the sea you gaily roam, Remember that a heart for thee is fretting--The tender little heart you've left at home!
GIA.Now, Marco dear, My wishes hear:
While you're away It's understood You will be good And not too gay.
To every trace Of maiden grace You will be blind, And will not glance By any chance On womankind!
If you are wise, You'll shut your eyes Till we arrive, And not address A lady less Than forty-five.
You'll please to frown On every gown That you may see;And, O my pet, You won't forget You've married me!
And O my darling, O my pet, Whatever else you may forget, In yonder isle beyond the sea, Do not forget you've married me!
TESS.You'll lay your head Upon your bed At set of sun.
You will not sing Of anything To any one.
You'll sit and mope All day, I hope, And shed a tear Upon the life Your little wife Is passing here.
And if so be You think of me, Please tell the moon!
I'll read it all In rays that fall On the lagoon:
You'll be so kind As tell the wind How you may be, And send me words By little birds To comfort me!
And O my darling, O my pet, Whatever else you may forget, In yonder isle beyond the sea, Do not forget you've married me!
QUARTET.Oh my darling, O my pet, etc.
CHORUS (during which a "Xebeque" is hauled alongside the quay.)Then away we go to an island fair That lies in a Southern sea:
We know not where, and we don't much care, Wherever that isle may be.
THE MEN (hauling on boat).
One, two, three, Haul!
One, two, three, Haul!
One, two, three, Haul!
With a will!
ALL.When the breezes are a-blowing The ship will be going, When they don't we shall all stand still!
Then away we go to an island fair, We know not where, and we don't much care, Wherever that isle may be.
SOLO--MARCO.
Away we go To a balmy isle, Where the roses blow All the winter while.
ALL (hoisting sail).
Then away we go to an island fair That lies in a Southern sea:
Then away we go to an island fair, Then away, then away, then away!
(The men embark on the "Xebeque." Marco and Giuseppe embracing Gianetta and Tessa.The girls wave a farewell to the men as the curtain falls.)END OF ACT IACT II
SCENE.--Pavilion in the Court of Barataria.Marco and Giuseppe, magnificently dressed, are seated on two thrones, occupied in cleaning the crown and the sceptre.The Gondoliers are discovered, dressed, some as courtiers, officers of rank, etc., and others as private soldiers and servants of various degrees.All are enjoying themselves without reference to social distinctions--some playing cards, others throwing dice, some reading, others playing cup and ball, "morra", etc.
CHORUS OF MEN with MARCO and GIUSEPPE.
Of happiness the very pith In Barataria you may see:
A monarchy that's tempered with Republican Equality.
This form of government we find The beau ideal of its kind--A despotism strict combined With absolute equality!
MARCO and GIUSEPPE.
Two kings, of undue pride bereft, Who act in perfect unity, Whom you can order right and left With absolute impunity.
Who put their subjects at their ease By doing all they can to please!
And thus, to earn their bread-and-cheese, Seize every opportunity.
CHORUS.Of happiness the very pith, etc.
MAR.Gentlemen, we are much obliged to you for your expressions of satisfaction and good feeling--I say, we are much obliged to you for your expressions of satisfaction and good feeling.
ALL.We heard you.
MAR.We are delighted, at any time, to fall in with sentiments so charmingly expressed.
ALL.That's all right.
GIU.At the same time there is just one little grievance that we should like to ventilate.
ALL (angrily).What?
GIU.Don't be alarmed--it's not serious.It is arranged that, until it is decided which of us two is the actual King, we are to act as one person.
GIORGIO.Exactly.
GIU.Now, although we act as one person, we are, in point of fact, two persons.
ANNIBALE.Ah, I don't think we can go into that.It is a legal fiction, and legal fictions are solemn things.Situated as we are, we can't recognize two independent responsibilities.
GIU.No; but you can recognize two independent appetites.
It's all very well to say we act as one person, but when you supply us with only one ration between us, I should describe it as a legal fiction carried a little too far.
ANNI.It's rather a nice point.I don't like to express an opinion off-hand.Suppose we reserve it for argument before the full Court?
MAR.Yes, but what are we to do in the meantime?
MAR.and GIU.We want our tea.
ANNI.I think we may make an interim order for double rations on their Majesties entering into the usual undertaking to indemnify in the event of an adverse decision?