Would anybody else like to marry me? You, ma'am—or
you—anybody! I'm getting used to it!
BARONESS. But let me tell you, ma'am—
JULIA. Why, you impudent little hussy—
LISA. Oh, here's another—here's another! (Weeping.)
PRINCESS. Poor ladies, I'm very sorry for you all; but,
you
see, I've a prior claim. Come, away we go—there's not a moment
to be lost!
CHORUS (as they dance towards exit).
Away to the wedding we'll go
To summon the charioteers,
No kind of reluctance we show
To embark on our married careers—
(At this moment RUDOLPH, ERNEST, and NOTARY appear.
All kneel in astonishment.)
RECITATIVE.
RUD., Ern., and NOT.
Forbear! This may not be!
Frustrated are your plans!
With paramount decree
The Law forbids the banns!
ALL. The Law forbids the banns!
LUD. Not a bit of it! I've revived the law for another
century!
RUD. You didn't revive it! You couldn't revive it!
You—you are an impostor, sir—a tuppenny rogue, sir! You—you
never were, and in all human probability never will be—Grand
Duke of Pfennig Anything!
ALL. What!!!
RUD. Never—never, never! (Aside.) Oh, my internal
economy!
LUD. That's absurd, you know. I fought the Grand Duke.
He
drew a King, and I drew an Ace. He perished in inconceivable
agonies on the spot. Now, as that's settled, we'll go on with
the wedding.
RUD. It—it isn't settled. You—you can't. I—I—(to
NOTARY). Oh, tell him—tell him! I can't!
NOT. Well, the fact is, there's been a little mistake
here.
On reference to the Act that regulates Statutory Duels, I find it
is expressly laid down that the Ace shall count invariably as
lowest!
ALL. As lowest!
RUD. (breathlessly). As lowest—lowest—lowest! So
you're
the ghoest—ghoest—ghoest! (Aside.) Oh, what is the matter
with me inside here!
ERN. Well, Julia, as it seems that the law hasn't been
revived—and as, consequently, I shall come to life in about
three minutes—(consulting his watch)—
JULIA. My objection falls to the ground. (Resignedly.)
Very well!
PRINCESS. And am I to understand that I was on the point
of
marrying a dead man without knowing it? (To RUDOLPH, who
revives.) Oh, my love, what a narrow escape I've had!
RUD. Oh—you are the Princess of Monte Carlo, and you've
turned up just in time! Well, you're an attractive little girl,
you know, but you're as poor as a rat! (They retire up
together.)
LISA. That's all very well, but what is to become of me?
(To LUDWIG.) If you're a dead man—(Clock strikes three.)
LUD. But I'm not. Time's up—the Act has expired—I've
come
to life—the parson is still in attendance, and we'll all be
married directly.
ALL. Hurrah!
FINALE.
Happy couples, lightly treading,
Castle chapel will be quite full!
Each shall have a pretty wedding,
As, of course, is only rightful,
Though the brides be fair or frightful.
Contradiction little dreading,
This will be a day delightful—
Each shall have a pretty wedding!
Such a pretty, pretty wedding!
Such a pretty wedding!
(All dance off to get married as the curtain falls.)
THE END
H.M.S. PINAFORE
OR, THE LASS THAT LOVED A SAILOR
Libretto by William S. Gilbert
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
THE RT.HON SIR JOSEPH PORTER, K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty).
CAPTAIN CORCORAN (Commanding H.M.S. Pinafore).
TOM TUCKER (Midshipmite).
RALPH RAKESTRAW (Able Seaman).
DICK DEADEYE (Able Seaman).
BILL BOBSTAY (Boatswain's Mate).
BOB BECKET (Carpenter's Mate).
JOSEPHINE (the Captain's Daughter).
HEBE (Sir Joseph Porter's First Cousin).
MRS. CRIPPS (LITTLE BUTTERCUP) (A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman).
First Lord's Sisters, his Cousins, his Aunts, Sailors, Marines, etc.
Scene: QUARTER-DECK OF H.M.S. PINAFORE, OFF PORTSMOUTH
ACT I.—Noon. ACT II.—Night
First produced at the Opera Comique on May 25, 1878.
ACT I
SCENE—Quarter-deck of H.M.S. Pinafore. Sailors, led by BOATSWAIN,
discovered cleaning brasswork, splicing rope, etc.
CHORUS
We sail the ocean blue,
And our saucy ship's a beauty;
We're sober men and true,
And attentive to our duty.
When the balls whistle free
O'er the bright blue sea,
We stand to our guns all day;
When at anchor we ride
On the Portsmouth tide,
We have plenty of time to play.
Enter LITTLE BUTTERCUP, with large basket on her arm