The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan E-Book

W. S. Gilbert

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 777

Beschreibung

List and learn, ye dainty roses, Roses white and roses red, Why we bind you into posies Ere your morning bloom has fled. By a law of maiden's making, Accents of a heart that's aching, Even though that heart be breaking, Should by maiden be unsaid: Though they love with love exceeding, They must seem to be unheeding- Go ye then and do their pleading, Roses white and roses red!

Leseprobe

The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan

The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan THE GONDOLIERSACT IACT IITHE GRAND DUKEACT I.ACT II.H.M.S. PINAFOREACT IACT IIIOLANTHEACT IACT IITHE MIKADOACT I.ACT II.THE PIRATES OF PENZANCEACT IACT IIPRINCESS IDAACT I.ACT IIACT IIIRUDDIGOREACT IACT IITHE SORCERERACT I.ACT IITHESPISACT IACT IITRIAL BY JURYUTOPIA LIMITEDACT I.ACT IITHE YEOMEN OF THE GUARDACT IACT IIPATIENCEACT IACT IICopyright

The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan

W. S. Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan

THE GONDOLIERS

ORTHE KING OF BARATARIALibretto by William S. GilbertMusic by Arthur S. SullivanDRAMATIS PERSONAETHE DUKE OF PLAZA-TORO (a Grandee of Spain)LUIZ (his attendant)DON ALHAMBRA DEL BOLERO (the Grand Inquisitioner)Venetian GondoliersMARCO PALMIERIGIUSEPPE PALMIERIANTONIOFRANCESCOGIORGIOANNIBALETHE DUCHESS OF PLAZA-TOROCASILDA (her Daughter)ContadineGIANETTATESSAFIAMETTAVITTORIAGIULIAINEZ (the King's Foster-mother)Chorus of Gondoliers and Contadine, Men-at-Arms, Heralds andPagesACT IThe Piazzetta, VeniceACT IIPavilion in the Palace of Barataria(An interval of three months is supposed to elapse between Acts Iand II)DATE1750

ACT I

Scene.— the Piazzetta, Venice. The Ducal Palace on the right.Fiametta, Giulia, Vittoria, and other Contadine discovered, eachtying a bouquet of roses.CHORUS OF CONTADINE.List and learn, ye dainty roses,Roses white and roses red,Why we bind you into posiesEre your morning bloom has fled.By a law of maiden's making,Accents of a heart that's aching,Even though that heart be breaking,Should by maiden be unsaid:Though they love with love exceeding,They must seem to be unheeding—Go ye then and do their pleading,Roses white and roses red!FIAMETTA.Two there are for whom in duty,Every maid in Venice sighs—Two so peerless in their beautyThat they shame the summer skies.We have hearts for them, in plenty,They have hearts, but all too few,We, alas, are four-and-twenty!They, alas, are only two!We, alas!CHORUS. Alas!FIA. Are four-and-twenty,They, alas!CHORUS. Alas!FIA. Are only two.CHORUS. They, alas, are only two, alas!Now ye know, ye dainty roses,Roses white and roses red,Why we bind you into posies,Ere your morning bloom has fled,Roses white and roses red!(During this chorus Antonio, Francesco, Giorgio, and otherGondoliers have entered unobserved by the Girls—at first two,then two more, then four, then half a dozen, then the remainderof the Chorus.)SOLI.FRANC. Good morrow, pretty maids; for whom prepare yeThese floral tributes extraordinary?FIA. For Marco and Giuseppe Palmieri,The pink and flower of all the Gondolieri.GIU. They're coming here, as we have heard but lately,To choose two brides from us who sit sedately.ANT. Do all you maidens love them?ALL. Passionately!ANT. These gondoliers are to be envied greatly!GIOR. But what of us, who one and all adore you?Have pity on our passion, we implore you!FIA. These gentlemen must make their choice before you;VIT. In the meantime we tacitly ignore you.GIU. When they have chosen two that leaves you plenty—Two dozen we, and ye are four-and-twenty.FIA. and VIT. Till then, enjoy your dolce far niente.ANT. With pleasure, nobody contradicente!SONG—ANTONIO and CHORUS.For the merriest fellows are we, tra la,That ply on the emerald sea, tra la;With loving and laughing,And quipping and quaffing,We're happy as happy can be, tra la—With loving and laughing, etc.With sorrow we've nothing to do, tra la,And care is a thing to pooh-pooh, tra la;And Jealousy yellow,Unfortunate fellow,We drown in the shimmering blue, tra la—And Jealousy yellow, etc.FIA. (looking off). See, see, at last they come to make theirchoice—Let us acclaim them with united voice.

(Marco and Giuseppe appear in gondola at back.)CHORUS (Girls). Hail, hail! gallant gondolieri, ben venuti!Accept our love, our homage, and our duty.Ben' venuti! ben' venuti!(Marco and Giuseppe jump ashore—the Girls salute them.)DUET—MARCO and GIUSEPPE, with CHORUS OF GIRLS.MAR. and GIU. Buon' giorno, signorine!GIRLS. Gondolieri carissimi!Siamo contadine!MAR. and GIU. (bowing). Servitori umilissimi!Per chi questi fiori—Questi fiori bellissimi?GIRLS. Per voi, bei signoriO eccellentissimi!(The Girls present their bouquets to Marco and Giuseppe, who areoverwhelmed with them, and carry them with difficulty.)MAR. and GIU. (their arms full of flowers). O ciel'! O ciel'!GIRLS. Buon' giorno, cavalieri!MAR. and GIU. (deprecatingly). Siamo gondolieri.(To Fia. and Vit.) Signorina, io t' amo!GIRLS. (deprecatingly). Contadine siamo.MAR. and GIU. Signorine!GIRLS (deprecatingly). Contadine!(Curtseying to Mar. and Giu.) Cavalieri.MAR. and GIU. (deprecatingly). Gondolieri!Poveri gondolieri!CHORUS. Buon' giorno, signorine, etc.DUET—MARCO and GIUSEPPE.We're called gondolieri,But that's a vagary,It's quite honoraryThe trade that we ply.For gallantry notedSince we were short-coated,To beauty devoted,Giuseppe\Are Marco and I;When morning is breaking,Our couches forsaking,To greet their awakingWith carols we come.At summer day's nooning,When weary lagooning,Our mandolins tuning,We lazily thrum.When vespers are ringing,To hope ever clinging,With songs of our singingA vigil we keep,When daylight is fading,Enwrapt in night's shading,With soft serenadingWe sing them to sleep.We're called gondolieri, etc.RECITATIVE—MARCO and GIUSEPPE.MAR. And now to choose our brides!GIU. As all are young and fair,And amiable besides,BOTH. We really do not careA preference to declare.MAR. A bias to discloseWould be indelicate—GIU. And therefore we proposeTo let impartial FateSelect for us a mate!ALL. Viva!GIRLS. A bias to discloseWould be indelicate—MEN. But how do they proposeTo let impartial FateSelect for them a mate?GIU. These handkerchiefs upon our eyes be good enough tobind,MAR. And take good care that both of us are absolutelyblind;BOTH. Then turn us round—and we, with all convenientdespatch,Will undertake to marry any two of you we catch!ALL. Viva!They undertake to marry any two of us\them they catch!(The Girls prepare to bind their eyes as directed.)FIA. (to Marco). Are you peeping?Can you see me?MAR. Dark I'm keeping,Dark and dreamy!(Marco slyly liftsbandage.)VIT. (to Giuseppe). If you're blindedTruly, say soGIU. All right-mindedPlayers play so!(slyly lifts bandage).FIA. (detecting Marco). Conduct shady!They are cheating!Surely they de-Serve a beating!(replaces bandage).VIT. (detecting Giuseppe). This too much is;Maidens mocking—Conduct such isTruly shocking!(replaces bandage).ALL. You can spy, sir!Shut your eye, sir!You may use it by and by, sir!You can see, sir!Don't tell me, sir!That will do—now let it be, sir!CHORUS OF GIRLS. My papa he keeps three horses,Black, and white, and dapple grey, sir;Turn three times, then take your courses,Catch whichever girl you may, sir!CHORUS OF MEN. My papa, etc.(Marco and Giuseppe turn round, as directed, and try to catch thegirls. Business of blind-man's buff. Eventually Marco catchesGianetta, and Giuseppe catches Tessa. The two girls try toescape, but in vain. The two men pass their hands over thegirls' faces to discover their identity.)GIU. I've at length achieved a capture!(Guessing.) This is Tessa! (removes bandage). Rapture,rapture!CHORUS. Rapture, rapture!MAR. (guessing). To me Gianetta fate has granted!(removes bandage).Just the very girl I wanted!CHORUS. Just the very girl he wanted!GIU. (politely to Mar.). If you'd rather change—TESS. My goodness!This indeed is simple rudeness.MAR. (politely to Giu.). I've no preference whatever—GIA. Listen to him! Well, I never!(Each man kisses each girl.)GIA. Thank you, gallant gondolieri!In a set and formal measureIt is scarcely necessaryTo express our pleasure.Each of us to prove a treasure,Conjugal and monetary,Gladly will devote our leisure,Gay and gallant gondolieri.Tra, la, la, la, la, la, etc.TESS. Gay and gallant gondolieri,Take us both and hold us tightly,You have luck extraordinary;We might both have been unsightly!If we judge your conduct rightly,'Twas a choice involuntary;Still we thank you most politely,Gay and gallant gondolieri!Tra, la, la, la, la, la, etc.CHORUS OF Thank you, gallant gondolieri;GIRLS. In a set and formal measure,It is scarcely necessaryTo express our pleasure.Each of us to prove a treasureGladly will devote our leisure,Gay and gallant gondolieri!Tra, la, la, la, la, la, etc.ALL. Fate in this has put his finger—Let us bow to Fate's decree,Then no longer let us linger,To the altar hurry we!(They all dance off two and two—Gianetta with Marco, Tessa withGiuseppe.)(Flourish. A gondola arrives at the Piazzetta steps, from whichenter the Duke of Plaza-toro, the Duchess, their daughterCasilda, and their attendant Luiz, who carries a drum. All aredressed in pompous but old and faded clothes.)(Entrance of Duke, Duchess, Casilda, and Luiz.)DUKE. From the sunny Spanish shore,The Duke of Plaza-Tor!—DUCH. And His Grace's Duchess true—CAS. And His Grace's daughter, too—LUIZ. And His Grace's private drumTo Venetia's shores have come:ALL. If ever, ever, everThey get back to Spain,They will never, never, neverCross the sea again—DUKE. Neither that Grandee from the Spanish shore,The noble Duke of Plaza-Tor'—DUCH. Nor His Grace's Duchess, staunch and true—CAS. You may add, His Grace's daughter, too—LUIZ. Nor His Grace's own particular drumTo Venetia's shores will come:ALL. If ever, ever, everThey get back to Spain,They will never, never, neverCross the sea again!DUKE. At last we have arrived at our destination. This isthe Ducal Palace, and it is here that the Grand Inquisitorresides. As a Castilian hidalgo of ninety-five quarterings, Iregret that I am unable to pay my state visit on a horse. As aCastilian hidalgo of that description, I should have preferred toride through the streets of Venice; but owing, I presume, to anunusually wet season, the streets are in such a condition thatequestrian exercise is impracticable. No matter. Where is oursuite?LUIZ (coming forward). Your Grace, I am here.DUCH. Why do you not do yourself the honour to kneel whenyou address His Grace?DUKE. My love, it is so small a matter! (To Luiz.) Still,you may as well do it. (Luiz kneels.)CAS. The young man seems to entertain but an imperfectappreciation of the respect due from a menial to a Castilianhidalgo.DUKE. My child, you are hard upon our suite.CAS. Papa, I've no patience with the presumption of personsin his plebeian position. If he does not appreciate thatposition, let him be whipped until he does.DUKE. Let us hope the omission was not intended as aslight. I should be much hurt if I thought it was. So would he.(To Luiz.) Where are the halberdiers who were to have had thehonour of meeting us here, that our visit to the Grand Inquisitormight be made in becoming state?LUIZ. Your Grace, the halberdiers are mercenary people whostipulated for a trifle on account.DUKE. How tiresome! Well, let us hope the Grand Inquisitoris a blind gentleman. And the band who were to have had thehonour of escorting us? I see no band!LUIZ. Your Grace, the band are sordid persons who requiredto be paid in advance.DUCH. That's so like a band!DUKE (annoyed). Insuperable difficulties meet me at everyturn!DUCH. But surely they know His Grace?LUIZ. Exactly—they know His Grace.DUKE. Well, let us hope that the Grand Inquisitor is a deafgentleman. A cornet-a-piston would be something. You do nothappen to possess the accomplishment of tootling like acornet-a-piston?LUIZ. Alas, no, Your Grace! But I can imitate a farmyard.DUKE (doubtfully). I don't see how that would help us. Idon't see how we could bring it in.CAS. It would not help us in the least. We are not aparcel of graziers come to market, dolt!(Luizrises.)DUKE. My love, our suite's feelings! (To Luiz.) Be sogood as to ring the bell and inform the Grand Inquisitor that hisGrace the Duke of Plaza-Toro, Count Matadoro, Baron Picadoro—DUCH. And suite—DUKE. And suite—have arrived at Venice, and seek—CAS. Desire—DUCH. Demand!DUKE. And demand an audience.LUIZ. Your Grace has but to command.DUKE (much moved). I felt sure of it—I felt sure of it!(Exit Luiz into Ducal Palace.) And now, my love—(aside toDuchess) Shall we tell her? I think so—(aloud to Casilda) Andnow, my love, prepare for a magnificent surprise. It is myagreeable duty to reveal to you a secret which should make youthe happiest young lady in Venice!CAS. A secret?DUCH. A secret which, for State reasons, it has beennecessary to preserve for twenty years.DUKE. When you were a prattling babe of six months old youwere married by proxy to no less a personage than the infant sonand heir of His Majesty the immeasurably wealthy King ofBarataria!CAS. Married to the infant son of the King of Barataria?Was I consulted? (Duke shakes his head.) Then it was a mostunpardonable liberty!DUKE. Consider his extreme youth and forgive him. Shortlyafter the ceremony that misguided monarch abandoned the creed ofhis forefathers, and became a Wesleyan Methodist of the mostbigoted and persecuting type. The Grand Inquisitor, determinedthat the innovation should not be perpetuated in Barataria,caused your smiling and unconscious husband to be stolen andconveyed to Venice. A fortnight since the Methodist Monarch andall his Wesleyan Court were killed in an insurrection, and we arehere to ascertain the whereabouts of your husband, and to hailyou, our daughter, as Her Majesty, the reigning Queen ofBarataria! (Kneels.)(During this speech Luiz re-enters.)DUCH. Your Majesty! (Kneels.) (Drum roll.)DUKE. It is at such moments as these that one feels hownecessary it is to travel with a full band.CAS. I, the Queen of Barataria! But I've nothing to wear!We are practically penniless!DUKE. That point has not escaped me. Although I amunhappily in straitened circumstances at present, my socialinfluence is something enormous; and a Company, to be called theDuke of Plaza-Toro, Limited, is in course of formation to workme. An influential directorate has been secured, and I shallmyself join the Board after allotment.CAS. Am I to understand that the Queen of Barataria may becalled upon at any time to witness her honoured sire in processof liquidation?DUCH. The speculation is not exempt from that drawback. Ifyour father should stop, it will, of course, be necessary to windhim up.CAS. But it's so undignified—it's so degrading! A Grandeeof Spain turned into a public company! Such a thing was neverheard of!DUKE. My child, the Duke of Plaza-Toro does not followfashions—he leads them. He always leads everybody. When he wasin the army he led his regiment. He occasionally led them intoaction. He invariably led them out of it.SONG—DUKE OF PLAZA-TORO.In enterprise of martial kind,When there was any fighting,He led his regiment from behind—He found it less exciting.But when away his regiment ran,His place was at the fore, O—That celebrated,Cultivated,UnderratedNobleman,The Duke of Plaza-Toro!ALL. In the first and foremost flight, ha, ha!You always found that knight, ha, ha!That celebrated,Cultivated,UnderratedNobleman,The Duke of Plaza-Toro!DUKE. When, to evade Destruction's hand,To hide they all proceeded,No soldier in that gallant bandHid half as well as he did.He lay concealed throughout the war,And so preserved his gore, O!That unaffected,Undetected,Well-connectedWarrior,The Duke of Plaza-Toro!ALL. In every doughty deed, ha, ha!He always took the lead, ha, ha!That unaffected,Undetected,Well-connectedWarrior,The Duke of Plaza-Toro!DUKE. When told that they would all be shotUnless they left the service,That hero hesitated not,So marvellous his nerve is.He sent his resignation in,The first of all his corps, O!That very knowing,Overflowing,Easy-goingPaladin,The Duke of Plaza-Toro!ALL. To men of grosser clay, ha, ha!He always showed the way, ha, ha!That very knowing,Overflowing,Easy-goingPaladin,The Duke of Plaza-Toro!(Exeunt Duke and Duchess into Grand Ducal Palace. As soon asthey have disappeared, Luiz and Casilda rush to each other'sarms.)RECITATIVE AND DUET—CASILDA AND LUIZ.O rapture, when alone togetherTwo loving hearts and those that bear themMay join in temporary tether,Though Fate apart should rudely tear them.CAS. Necessity, Invention's mother,Compelled me to a course of feigning—But, left alone with one another,I will atone for my disdaining!AIRCAS. Ah, well-beloved,Mine angry frownIs but a gownThat serves to dressMy gentleness!LUIZ. Ah, well-beloved,Thy cold disdain,It gives no pain—'Tis mercy, playedIn masquerade!BOTH. Ah, well-beloved, etc.CAS. O Luiz, Luiz—what have you said? What have I done?What have I allowed you to do?LUIZ. Nothing, I trust, that you will ever have reason torepent. (Offering to embrace her.)CAS. (withdrawing from him). Nay, Luiz, it may not be. Ihave embraced you for the last time.LUIZ (amazed). Casilda!CAS. I have just learnt, to my surprise and indignation,that I was wed in babyhood to the infant son of the King ofBarataria!LUIZ. The son of the King of Barataria? The child who wasstolen in infancy by the Inquisition?CAS. The same. But, of course, you know his story.LUIZ. Know his story? Why, I have often told you that mymother was the nurse to whose charge he was entrusted!CAS. True. I had forgotten. Well, he has been discovered,and my father has brought me here to claim his hand.LUIZ. But you will not recognize this marriage? It tookplace when you were too young to understand its import.CAS. Nay, Luiz, respect my principles and cease to tortureme with vain entreaties. Henceforth my life is another's.LUIZ. But stay—the present and the future—they areanother's; but the past—that at least is ours, and none can takeit from us. As we may revel in naught else, let us revel inthat!CAS. I don't think I grasp your meaning.LUIZ. Yet it is logical enough. You say you cease to loveme?CAS. (demurely). I say I may not love you.LUIZ. Ah, but you do not say you did not love me?CAS. I loved you with a frenzy that words are powerless toexpress—and that but ten brief minutes since!LUIZ. Exactly. My own—that is, until ten minutes since,my own—my lately loved, my recently adored—tell me that until,say a quarter of an hour ago, I was all in all to thee!(Embracing her.)CAS. I see your idea. It's ingenious, but don't do that.(Releasing herself.)LUIZ. There can be no harm in revelling in the past.CAS. None whatever, but an embrace cannot be taken to actretrospectively.LUIZ. Perhaps not!CAS. We may recollect an embrace—I recollect many—but wemust not repeat them.LUIZ. Then let us recollect a few! (A moment's pause, asthey recollect, then both heave a deep sigh.)LUIZ. Ah, Casilda, you were to me as the sun is to theearth!CAS. A quarter of an hour ago?LUIZ. About that.CAS. And to think that, but for this miserable discovery,you would have been my own for life!LUIZ. Through life to death—a quarter of an hour ago!CAS. How greedily my thirsty ears would have drunk thegolden melody of those sweet words a quarter—well, it's nowabout twenty minutes since. (Looking at her watch.)LUIZ. About that. In such a matter one cannot be tooprecise.CAS. And now our love, so full of life, is but a silent,solemn memory!LUIZ. Must it be so, Casilda?CAS. Luiz, it must be so!DUET—CASILDA and LUIZ.LUIZ. There was a time—A time for ever gone—ah, woe is me!It was no crimeTo love but thee alone—ah, woe is me!One heart, one life, one soul,One aim, one goal—Each in the other's thrall,Each all in all, ah, woe is me!BOTH. Oh, bury, bury—let the grave close o'erThe days that were—that never will be more!Oh, bury, bury love that all condemn,And let the whirlwind mourn its requiem!CAS. Dead as the last year's leaves—As gathered flowers—ah, woe is me!Dead as the garnered sheaves,That love of ours—ah, woe is me!Born but to fade and dieWhen hope was high,Dead and as far awayAs yesterday!—ah, woe is me!BOTH. Oh, bury, bury—let the grave close o'er, etc.(Re-enter from the Ducal Palace the Duke and Duchess, followed byDon Alhambra del Bolero, the Grand Inquisitor.)DUKE. My child, allow me to present to you His DistinctionDon Alhambra del Bolero, the Grand Inquisitor of Spain. It wasHis Distinction who so thoughtfully abstracted your infanthusband and brought him to Venice.DON AL. So this is the little lady who is so unexpectedlycalled upon to assume the functions of Royalty! And a very nicelittle lady, too!DUKE. Jimp, isn't she?DON AL. Distinctly jimp. Allow me! (Offers his hand. Sheturns away scornfully.) Naughty temper!DUKE. You must make some allowance. Her Majesty's head isa little turned by her access of dignity.DON AL. I could have wished that Her Majesty's access ofdignity had turned it in this direction.DUCH. Unfortunately, if I am not mistaken, there appears tobe some little doubt as to His Majesty's whereabouts.CAS. (aside). A doubt as to his whereabouts? Then we mayyet be saved!DON AL. A doubt? Oh dear, no—no doubt at all! He ishere, in Venice, plying the modest but picturesque calling of agondolier. I can give you his address—I see him every day! Inthe entire annals of our history there is absolutely nocircumstance so entirely free from all manner of doubt of anykind whatever! Listen, and I'll tell you all about it.SONG—DON ALHAMBRA(with DUKE, DUCHESS, CASILDA, and LUIZ).I stole the Prince, and I brought him here,And left him gaily prattlingWith a highly respectable gondolier,Who promised the Royal babe to rear,And teach him the trade of a timoneerWith his own beloved bratling.Both of the babes were strong and stout,And, considering all things, clever.Of that there is no manner of doubt—No probable, possible shadow of doubt—No possible doubt whatever.ALL. No possible doubt whatever.But owing, I'm much disposed to fear,To his terrible taste for tippling,That highly respectable gondolierCould never declare with a mind sincereWhich of the two was his offspring dear,And which the Royal stripling!Which was which he could never make outDespite his best endeavour.Of that there is no manner of doubt—No probable, possible shadow of doubt—No possible doubt whatever.ALL. No possible doubt whatever.Time sped, and when at the end of a yearI sought that infant cherished,That highly respectable gondolierWas lying a corpse on his humble bier—I dropped a Grand Inquisitor's tear—That gondolier had perished.A taste for drink, combined with gout,Had doubled him up for ever.Of that there is no manner of doubt—No probable, possible shadow of doubt—No possible doubt whatever.ALL. No possible doubt whatever.The children followed his old career—(This statement can't be parried)Of a highly respectable gondolier:Well, one of the two (who will soon be here)—But which of the two is not quite clear—Is the Royal Prince you married!Search in and out and round about,And you'll discover neverA tale so free from every doubt—All probable, possible shadow of doubt—All possible doubt whatever!ALL. A tale free from every doubt, etc.CAS. Then do you mean to say that I am married to one oftwo gondoliers, but it is impossible to say which?DON AL. Without any doubt of any kind whatever. But bereassured: the nurse to whom your husband was entrusted is themother of the musical young man who is such a past-master of thatdelicately modulated instrument (indicating the drum). She can,no doubt, establish the King's identity beyond all question.LUIZ. Heavens, how did he know that?DON AL. My young friend, a Grand Inquisitor is always up todate. (To Cas.) His mother is at present the wife of a highlyrespectable and old-established brigand, who carries on anextensive practice in the mountains around Cordova. Accompaniedby two of my emissaries, he will set off at once for his mother'saddress. She will return with them, and if she finds anydifficulty in making up her mind, the persuasive influence of thetorture chamber will jog her memory.RECITATIVE—CASILDA and DON ALHAMBRA.CAS. But, bless my heart, consider my position!I am the wife of one, that's very clear;But who can tell, except by intuition,Which is the Prince, and which the Gondolier?DON AL. Submit to Fate without unseemly wrangle:Such complications frequently occur—Life is one closely complicated tangle:Death is the only true unraveller!QUINTET—DUKE, DUCHESS, CASILDA, LUIZ, and GRAND INQUISITOR.ALL. Try we life-long, we can neverStraighten out life's tangled skein,Why should we, in vain endeavour,Guess and guess and guess again?LUIZ. Life's a pudding full of plums,DUCH. Care's a canker that benumbs.ALL. Life's a pudding full of plums,Care's a canker that benumbs.Wherefore waste our elocutionOn impossible solution?Life's a pleasant institution,Let us take it as it comes!Set aside the dull enigma,We shall guess it all too soon;Failure brings no kind of stigma—Dance we to another tune!LUIZ. String the lyre and fill the cup,DUCH. Lest on sorrow we should sup.ALL. Hop and skip to Fancy's fiddle,Hands across and down the middle—Life's perhaps the only riddleThat we shrink from giving up!(Exeunt all into Ducal Palace except Luiz, who goes off ingondola.)(Enter Gondoliers and Contadine, followed by Marco, Gianetta,Giuseppe, and Tessa.)CHORUS.Bridegroom and bride!Knot that's insoluble,Voices all volubleHail it with pride.Bridegroom and bride!We in sincerityWish you prosperity,Bridegroom and bride!SONG—TESSA.TESS. When a merry maiden marries,Sorrow goes and pleasure tarries;Every sound becomes a song,All is right, and nothing's wrong!From to-day and ever afterLet our tears be tears of laughter.Every sigh that finds a ventBe a sigh of sweet content!When you marry, merry maiden,Then the air with love is laden;Every flower is a rose,Every goose becomes a swan,Every kind of trouble goesWhere the last year's snows have gone!CHORUS. Sunlight takes the place of shadeWhen you marry, merry maid!TESS. When a merry maiden marries,Sorrow goes and pleasure tarries;Every sound becomes a song,All is right, and nothing's wrong.Gnawing Care and aching Sorrow,Get ye gone until to-morrow;Jealousies in grim array,Ye are things of yesterday!When you marry, merry maiden,Then the air with joy is laden;All the corners of the earthRing with music sweetly played,Worry is melodious mirth,Grief is joy in masquerade;CHORUS. Sullen night is laughing day—All the year is merry May!(At the end of the song, Don Alhambra enters at back. TheGondoliers and Contadine shrink from him, and gradually go off,much alarmed.)GIU. And now our lives are going to begin in real earnest!What's a bachelor? A mere nothing—he's a chrysalis. He can'tbe said to live—he exists.MAR. What a delightful institution marriage is! Why havewe wasted all this time? Why didn't we marry ten years ago?TESS. Because you couldn't find anybody nice enough.

GIA. Because you were waiting for us.MAR. I suppose that was the reason. We were waiting foryou without knowing it. (Don Alhambra comes forward.) Hallo!DON AL. Good morning.GIU. If this gentleman is an undertaker it's a bad omen.DON AL. Ceremony of some sort going on?GIU. (aside). He is an undertaker! (Aloud.) No—a littleunimportant family gathering. Nothing in your line.DON AL. Somebody's birthday, I suppose?GIA. Yes, mine!TESS. And mine!MAR. And mine!GIU. And mine!DON AL. Curious coincidence! And how old may you all be?TESS. It's a rude question—but about ten minutes.DON AL. Remarkably fine children! But surely you arejesting?TESS. In other words, we were married about ten minutessince.DON AL. Married! You don't mean to say you are married?MAR. Oh yes, we are married.DON AL. What, both of you?ALL. All four of us.DON AL. (aside). Bless my heart, how extremely awkward!GIA. You don't mind, I suppose?TESS. You were not thinking of either of us for yourself, Ipresume? Oh, Giuseppe, look at him—he was. He's heart-broken!DON AL. No, no, I wasn't! I wasn't!GIU. Now, my man (slapping him on the back), we don't wantanything in your line to-day, and if your curiosity'ssatisfied—you can go!DON AL. You mustn't call me your man. It's a liberty. Idon't think you know who I am.GIU. Not we, indeed! We are jolly gondoliers, the sons ofBaptisto Palmieri, who led the last revolution. Republicans,heart and soul, we hold all men to be equal. As we abhoroppression, we abhor kings: as we detest vain-glory, we detestrank: as we despise effeminacy, we despise wealth. We areVenetian gondoliers—your equals in everything except ourcalling, and in that at once your masters and your servants.DON AL. Bless my heart, how unfortunate! One of you may beBaptisto's son, for anything I know to the contrary; but theother is no less a personage than the only son of the late Kingof Barataria.ALL. What!DON AL. And I trust—I trust it was that one who slapped meon the shoulder and called me his man!GIU. One of us a king!MAR. Not brothers!TESS. The King of Barataria! [Together]GIA. Well, who'd have thought it!MAR. But which is it?DON AL. What does it matter? As you are both Republicans,and hold kings in detestation, of course you'll abdicate at once.Good morning! (Going.)GIA. and TESS. Oh, don't do that! (Marco and Giuseppe stophim.)GIU. Well, as to that, of course there are kings and kings.When I say that I detest kings, I mean I detest bad kings.DON AL. I see. It's a delicate distinction.GIU. Quite so. Now I can conceive a kind of king—an idealking—the creature of my fancy, you know—who would be absolutelyunobjectionable. A king, for instance, who would abolish taxesand make everything cheap, except gondolas—MAR. And give a great many free entertainments to thegondoliers—GIU. And let off fireworks on the Grand Canal, and engageall the gondolas for the occasion—MAR. And scramble money on the Rialto among the gondoliers.GIU. Such a king would be a blessing to his people, and ifI were a king, that is the sort of king I would be.MAR. And so would I!DON AL. Come, I'm glad to find your objections are notinsuperable.MAR. and GIU. Oh, they're not insuperable.GIA. and TESS. No, they're not insuperable.GIU. Besides, we are open to conviction.GIA. Yes; they are open to conviction.TESS. Oh! they've often been convicted.GIU. Our views may have been hastily formed on insufficientgrounds. They may be crude, ill-digested, erroneous. I've avery poor opinion of the politician who is not open toconviction.TESS. (to Gia.). Oh, he's a fine fellow!GIA. Yes, that's the sort of politician for my money!DON AL. Then we'll consider it settled. Now, as thecountry is in a state of insurrection, it is absolutely necessarythat you should assume the reins of Government at once; and,until it is ascertained which of you is to be king, I havearranged that you will reign jointly, so that no question canarise hereafter as to the validity of any of your acts.MAR. As one individual?DON AL. As one individual.GIU. (linking himself with Marco). Like this?DON AL. Something like that.MAR. And we may take our friends with us, and give themplaces about the Court?DON AL. Undoubtedly. That's always done!MAR. I'm convinced!GIU. So am I!TESS. Then the sooner we're off the better.GIA. We'll just run home and pack up a few things (going)—DON AL. Stop, stop—that won't do at all—ladies are notadmitted.ALL. What!DON AL. Not admitted. Not at present. Afterwards,perhaps. We'll see.GIU. Why, you don't mean to say you are going to separateus from our wives!DON AL. (aside). This is very awkward! (Aloud.) Only fora time—a few months. Alter all, what is a few months?TESS. But we've only been married half an hour! (Weeps.)FINALE, ACT I.SONG—GIANETTA.Kind sir, you cannot have the heartOur lives to partFrom those to whom an hour agoWe were united!Before our flowing hopes you stem,Ah, look at them,And pause before you deal this blow,All uninvited!You men can never understandThat heart and handCannot be separated whenWe go a-yearning;You see, you've only women's eyesTo idolizeAnd only women's hearts, poor men,To set you burning!Ah me, you men will never understandThat woman's heart is one with woman's hand!Some kind of charm you seem to findIn womankind—Some source of unexplained delight(Unless you're jesting),But what attracts you, I confess,I cannot guess,To me a woman's face is quiteUninteresting!If from my sister I were torn,It could be borne—I should, no doubt, be horrified,But I could bear it;—But Marco's quite another thing—He is my King,He has my heart and none besideShall ever share it!Ah me, you men will never understandThat woman's heart is one with woman's hand!RECITATIVE—DON ALHAMBRA.Do not give way to this uncalled-for grief,Your separation will be very brief.To ascertain which is the KingAnd which the other,To Barataria's Court I'll bringHis foster-mother;Her former nurseling to declareShe'll be delighted.That settled, let each happy pairBe reunited.MAR., GIU., Viva! His argument is strong!GIA., TESS. Viva! We'll not be parted long!Viva! It will be settled soon!Viva! Then comes our honeymoon!(Exit DonAlhambra.)QUARTET—MARCO, GIUSEPPE., GIANETTA, TESSA.GIA. Then one of us will be a Queen,And sit on a golden throne,With a crown insteadOf a hat on her head,And diamonds all her own!With a beautiful robe of gold and green,I've always understood;I wonder whetherShe'd wear a feather?I rather think she should!ALL. Oh, 'tis a glorious thing, I ween,To be a regular Royal Queen!No half-and-half affair, I mean,But a right-down regular Royal Queen!MAR. She'll drive about in a carriage and pair,With the King on her left-hand side,And a milk-white horse,As a matter of course,Whenever she wants to ride!With beautiful silver shoes to wearUpon her dainty feet;With endless stocksOf beautiful frocksAnd as much as she wants to eat!ALL. Oh, 'tis a glorious thing, I ween, etc.TESS. Whenever she condescends to walk,Be sure she'll shine at that,With her haughty stareAnd her nose in the air,Like a well-born aristocrat!At elegant high society talkShe'll bear away the bell,With her "How de do?"And her "How are you?"And "I trust I see you well!"ALL. Oh, 'tis a glorious thing, I ween, etc.GIU. And noble lords will scrape and bow,And double themselves in two,And open their eyesIn blank surpriseAt whatever she likes to do.And everybody will roundly vowShe's fair as flowers in May,And say, "How clever!"At whatsoeverShe condescends to say!ALL. Oh, 'tis a glorious thing, I ween,To be a regular Royal Queen!No half-and-half affair, I mean,But a right-down regular Royal Queen!(Enter Chorus of Gondoliers and Contadine.)CHORUS.Now, pray, what is the cause of this remarkable hilarity?This sudden ebullition of unmitigated jollity?Has anybody blessed you with a sample of his charity?Or have you been adopted by a gentleman of quality?MAR. and GIU. Replying, we singAs one individual,As I find I'm a king,To my kingdom I bid you all.I'm aware you objectTo pavilions and palaces,But you'll find I respectYour Republican fallacies.CHORUS. As they know we objectTo pavilions and palaces,How can they respectOur Republican fallacies?MARCO and GIUSEPPE.MAR. For every one who feels inclined,Some post we undertake to findCongenial with his frame of mind—And all shall equal be.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—MAR. The Lord High Vagabond in the stocks—They all shall equal be!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 andTessa.)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 awayIt's understoodYou will be goodAnd not too gay.To every traceOf maiden graceYou will be blind,And will not glanceBy any chanceOn womankind!If you are wise,You'll shut your eyesTill we arrive,And not addressA lady lessThan forty-five.You'll please to frownOn every gownThat you may see;And, O my pet,You won't forgetYou'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 headUpon your bedAt set of sun.You will not singOf anythingTo any one.You'll sit and mopeAll day, I hope,And shed a tearUpon the lifeYour little wifeIs passing here.And if so beYou think of me,Please tell the moon!I'll read it allIn rays that fallOn the lagoon:You'll be so kindAs tell the windHow you may be,And send me wordsBy little birdsTo 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 fairThat 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-blowingThe 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 goTo a balmy isle,Where the roses blowAll the winter while.ALL (hoisting sail).Then away we go to an island fairThat 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 embracingGianetta and Tessa. The girls wave a farewell to the men as thecurtain falls.)

END OF ACT I

ACT II

SCENE.—Pavilion in the Court of Barataria. Marco andGiuseppe, magnificently dressed, are seated on two thrones,occupied in cleaning the crown and the sceptre. The Gondoliersare discovered, dressed, some as courtiers, officers of rank,etc., and others as private soldiers and servants of variousdegrees. All are enjoying themselves without reference to socialdistinctions—some playing cards, others throwing dice, somereading, others playing cup and ball, "morra", etc.CHORUS OF MEN with MARCO and GIUSEPPE.Of happiness the very pithIn Barataria you may see:A monarchy that's tempered withRepublican Equality.This form of government we findThe beau ideal of its kind—A despotism strict combinedWith absolute equality!MARCO and GIUSEPPE.Two kings, of undue pride bereft,Who act in perfect unity,Whom you can order right and leftWith absolute impunity.Who put their subjects at their easeBy 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 yourexpressions of satisfaction and good feeling—I say, we are muchobliged to you for your expressions of satisfaction and goodfeeling.ALL. We heard you.MAR. We are delighted, at any time, to fall in withsentiments so charmingly expressed.ALL. That's all right.GIU. At the same time there is just one little grievancethat we should like to ventilate.ALL (angrily). What?GIU. Don't be alarmed—it's not serious. It is arrangedthat, until it is decided which of us two is the actual King, weare to act as one person.GIORGIO. Exactly.GIU. Now, although we act as one person, we are, in pointof fact, two persons.ANNIBALE. Ah, I don't think we can go into that. It is alegal fiction, and legal fictions are solemn things. Situated aswe 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 yousupply us with only one ration between us, I should describe itas a legal fiction carried a little too far.ANNI. It's rather a nice point. I don't like to express anopinion off-hand. Suppose we reserve it for argument before thefull 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 doublerations on their Majesties entering into the usual undertaking toindemnify in the event of an adverse decision?GIOR. That, I think, will meet the case. But you must workhard—stick to it—nothing like work.GIU. Oh, certainly. We quite understand that a man whoholds the magnificent position of King should do something tojustify it. We are called "Your Majesty"; we are allowed to buyourselves magnificent clothes; our subjects frequently nod to usin the streets; the sentries always return our salutes; and weenjoy the inestimable privilege of heading the subscription liststo all the principal charities. In return for these advantagesthe least we can do is to make ourselves useful about the Palace.SONG—GIUSEPPE with CHORUS.Rising early in the morning,We proceed to light the fire,Then our Majesty adorningIn its workaday attire,We embark without delayOn the duties of the day.First, we polish off some batchesOf political despatches,And foreign politicians circumvent;Then, if business isn't heavy,We may hold a Royal levee,Or ratify some Acts of Parliament.Then we probably review the household troops—With the usual "Shalloo humps!" and "Shalloo hoops!"Or receive with ceremonial and stateAn interesting Eastern potentate.After that we generallyGo and dress our private valet—(It's a rather nervous duty—he's a touchy little man)—Write some letters literaryFor our private secretary—He is shaky in his spelling, so we help him if we can.Then, in view of cravings inner,We go down and order dinner;Then we polish the Regalia and the Coronation Plate—Spend an hour in titivatingAll our Gentlemen-in-Waiting;Or we run on little errands for the Ministers of State.Oh, philosophers may singOf the troubles of a King;Yet the duties are delightful, and the privileges great;But the privilege and pleasureThat we treasure beyond measureIs to run on little errands for the Ministers of State.CHORUS. Oh, philosophers may sing, etc.After luncheon (making merryOn a bun and glass of sherry),If we've nothing in particular to do,We may make a Proclamation,Or receive a deputation—Then we possibly create a Peer or two.Then we help a fellow-creature on his pathWith the Garter or the Thistle or the Bath,Or we dress and toddle off in semi-stateTo a festival, a function, or a fete.Then we go and stand as sentryAt the Palace (private entry),Marching hither, marching thither, up and down and to andfro,While the warrior on dutyGoes in search of beer and beauty(And it generally happens that he hasn't far to go).He relieves us, if he's able,Just in time to lay the table,Then we dine and serve the coffee, and at half-past twelveor one,With a pleasure that's emphatic,We retire to our atticWith the gratifying feeling that our duty has been done!Oh, philosophers may singOf the troubles of a King,But of pleasures there are many and of worries there arenone;And the culminating pleasureThat we treasure beyond measureIs the gratifying feeling that our duty has been done!CHORUS. Oh, philosophers may sing, etc.(Exeunt all but Marco andGiuseppe.)GIU. Yes, it really is a very pleasant existence. They'reall so singularly kind and considerate. You don't find themwanting to do this, or wanting to do that, or saying "It's myturn now." No, they let us have all the fun to ourselves, andnever seem to grudge it.MAR. It makes one feel quite selfish. It almost seems liketaking advantage of their good nature.GIU. How nice they were about the double rations.MAR. Most considerate. Ah! there's only one thing wantingto make us thoroughly comfortable.GIU. And that is?MAR. The dear little wives we left behind us three monthsago.GIU. Yes, it is dull without female society. We can dowithout everything else, but we can't do without that.MAR. And if we have that in perfection, we have everything.There is only one recipe for perfect happiness.SONG—MARCO.Take a pair of sparkling eyes,Hidden, ever and anon,In a merciful eclipse—Do not heed their mild surprise—Having passed the Rubicon,Take a pair of rosy lips;Take a figure trimly planned—Such as admiration whets—(Be particular in this);Take a tender little hand,Fringed with dainty fingerettes,Press it—in parenthesis;—Ah! Take all these, you lucky man—Take and keep them, if you can!Take a pretty little cot—Quite a miniature affair—Hung about with trellised vine,Furnish it upon the spotWith the treasures rich and rareI've endeavoured to define.Live to love and love to live—You will ripen at your ease,Growing on the sunny side—Fate has nothing more to give.You're a dainty man to pleaseIf you are not satisfied.Ah! Take my counsel, happy man;Act upon it, if you can!(Enter Chorus of Contadine, running in, led by Fiametta andVittoria. They are met by all the Ex-Gondoliers, who welcomethem heartily.)SCENE—CHORUS OF GIRLS, QUARTET, DUET and CHORUS.Here we are, at the risk of our lives,From ever so far, and we've brought your wives—And to that end we've crossed the main,And don't intend to return again!FIA. Though obedience is strong,Curiosity's stronger—We waited for long,Till we couldn't wait longer.VIT. It's imprudent, we know,But without your societyExistence was slow,And we wanted variety—BOTH. Existence was slow, and we wanted variety.ALL. So here we are, at the risk of our lives,From ever so far, and we've brought your wives—And to that end we've crossed the main,And don't intend to return again!(Enter Gianetta and Tessa. They rush to the arms of Marco andGiuseppe.)GIU. Tessa!TESS. Giuseppe! {All embrace.}GIA. Marco!MAR. Gianetta!TESSA and GIANETTA.TESS. After sailing to this island—GIA. Tossing in a manner frightful,TESS. We are all once more on dry land—GIA. And we find the change delightful,TESS. As at home we've been remaining—We've not seen you both for ages,GIA. Tell me, are you fond of reigning?—How's the food, and what's the wages?TESS. Does your new employment please ye?—GIA. How does Royalizing strike you?TESS. Is it difficult or easy?—GIA. Do you think your subjects like you?TESS. I am anxious to elicit,Is it plain and easy steering?GIA. Take it altogether, is itBetter fun than gondoliering?BOTH. We shall both go on requestingTill you tell us, never doubt it;Everything is interesting,Tell us, tell us all about it!CHORUS. They will both go on requesting, etc.TESS. Is the populace exacting?GIA. Do they keep you at a distance?TESS. All unaided are you acting,GIA. Or do they provide assistance?TESS. When you're busy, have you got toGet up early in the morning?GIA. If you do what you ought not to,Do they give the usual warning?TESS. With a horse do they equip you?GIA. Lots of trumpeting and drumming?TESS. Do the Royal tradesmen tip you?GIA. Ain't the livery becoming!TESS. Does your human being innerFeed on everything that nice is?GIA. Do they give you wine for dinner;Peaches, sugar-plums, and ices?BOTH. We shall both go on requestingTill you tell us, never doubt it;Everything is interesting,Tell us, tell us all about it!CHORUS. They will both go on requesting, etc.MAR. This is indeed a most delightful surprise!TESS. Yes, we thought you'd like it. You see, it was likethis. After you left we felt very dull and mopey, and the dayscrawled by, and you never wrote; so at last I said to Gianetta,"I can't stand this any longer; those two poor Monarchs haven'tgot any one to mend their stockings or sew on their buttons orpatch their clothes—at least, I hope they haven't—let us allpack up a change and go and see how they're getting on." And shesaid, "Done," and they all said, "Done"; and we asked old Giacopoto lend us his boat, and he said, "Done"; and we've crossed thesea, and, thank goodness, that's done; and here we are,and—and—I've done!GIA. And now—which of you is King?TESS. And which of us is Queen?GIU. That we shan't know until Nurse turns up. But nevermind that—the question is, how shall we celebrate thecommencement of our honeymoon? Gentlemen, will you allow us tooffer you a magnificent banquet?ALL. We will!GIU. Thanks very much; and, ladies, what do you say to adance?TESS. A banquet and a dance! O, it's too much happiness!CHORUS and DANCE.Dance a cachucha, fandango, bolero,Xeres we'll drink—Manzanilla, Montero—Wine, when it runs in abundance, enhancesThe reckless delight of that wildest of dances!To the pretty pitter-pitter-patter,And the clitter-clitter-clitter-clatter—Clitter—clitter—clatter,Pitter—pitter—patter,Patter, patter, patter, patter, we'll dance.Old Xeres we'll drink—Manzanilla, Montero;For wine, when it runs in abundance, enhancesThe reckless delight of that wildest of dances!(Cachucha.)(The dance is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of DonAlhambra, who looks on with astonishment. Marco and Giuseppeappear embarrassed. The others run off, except Drummer Boy, whois driven off by Don Alhambra.)DON AL. Good evening. Fancy ball?GIU. No, not exactly. A little friendly dance. That'sall. Sorry you're late.DON AL. But I saw a groom dancing, and a footman!MAR. Yes. That's the Lord High Footman.DON AL. And, dear me, a common little drummer boy!GIU. Oh no! That's the Lord High Drummer Boy.DON AL. But surely, surely the servants'-hall is the placefor these gentry?GIU. Oh dear no! We have appropriated the servants'-hall.It's the Royal Apartment, and accessible only by ticketsobtainable at the Lord Chamberlain's office.MAR. We really must have some place that we can call ourown.DON AL. (puzzled). I'm afraid I'm not quite equal to theintellectual pressure of the conversation.GIU. You see, the Monarchy has been re-modelled onRepublican principles.DON AL. What!GIU. All departments rank equally, and everybody is at thehead of his department.DON AL. I see.MAR. I'm afraid you're annoyed.DON AL. No. I won't say that. It's not quite what Iexpected.GIU. I'm awfully sorry.MAR. So am I.GIU. By the by, can I offer you anything after your voyage?A plate of macaroni and a rusk?DON AL. (preoccupied). No, no—nothing—nothing.GIU. Obliged to be careful?DON AL. Yes—gout. You see, in every Court there aredistinctions that must be observed.GIU. (puzzled). There are, are there?DON AL. Why, of course. For instance, you wouldn't have aLord High Chancellor play leapfrog with his own cook.MAR. Why not?DON AL. Why not! Because a Lord High Chancellor is apersonage of great dignity, who should never, under anycircumstances, place himself in the position of being told totuck in his tuppenny, except by noblemen of his own rank. A LordHigh Archbishop, for instance, might tell a Lord High Chancellorto tuck in his tuppenny, but certainly not a cook, gentlemen,certainly not a cook.GIU. Not even a Lord High Cook?DON AL. My good friend, that is a rank that is notrecognized at the Lord Chamberlain's office. No, no, it won'tdo. I'll give you an instance in which the experiment was tried.SONG—DON ALHAMBRA, with MARCO and GIUSEPPE.DON AL. There lived a King, as I've been told,In the wonder-working days of old,When hearts were twice as good as gold,And twenty times as mellow.Good-temper triumphed in his face,And in his heart he found a placeFor all the erring human raceAnd every wretched fellow.When he had Rhenish wine to drinkIt made him very sad to thinkThat some, at junket or at jink,Must be content with toddy.MAR. and GIU. With toddy, must be content with toddy.DON AL. He wished all men as rich as he(And he was rich as rich could be),So to the top of every treePromoted everybody.MAR. and GIU. Now, that's the kind of King for me.He wished all men as rich as he,So to the top of every treePromoted everybody!DON AL. Lord Chancellors were cheap as sprats,And Bishops in their shovel hatsWere plentiful as tabby cats—In point of fact, too many.Ambassadors cropped up like hay,Prime Ministers and such as theyGrew like asparagus in May,And Dukes were three a penny.On every side Field-Marshals gleamed,Small beer were Lords-Lieutenant deemed,With Admirals the ocean teemedAll round his wide dominions.MAR. and GIU. With Admirals all round his wide dominions.DON AL. And Party Leaders you might meetIn twos and threes in every streetMaintaining, with no little heat,Their various opinions.MAR. and GIU. Now that's a sight you couldn't beat—Two Party Leaders in each streetMaintaining, with no little heat,Their various opinions.DON AL. That King, although no one deniesHis heart was of abnormal size,Yet he'd have acted otherwiseIf he had been acuter.The end is easily foretold,When every blessed thing you holdIs made of silver, or of gold,You long for simple pewter.When you have nothing else to wearBut cloth of gold and satins rare,For cloth of gold you cease to care—Up goes the price of shoddy.MAR. and GIU. Of shoddy, up goes the price of shoddy.DON AL. In short, whoever you may be,To this conclusion you'll agree,When every one is somebodee,Then no one's anybody!MAR. and GIU. Now that's as plain as plain can be,To this conclusion we agree—ALL. When every one is somebodee,Then no one's anybody!(Gianetta and Tessa enter unobserved. The two girls, impelled bycuriosity, remain listening at the back of the stage.)DON AL. And now I have some important news to communicate.His Grace the Duke of Plaza-Toro, Her Grace the Duchess, andtheir beautiful daughter Casilda—I say their beautiful daughterCasilda—GIU. We heard you.DON AL. Have arrived at Barataria, and may be here at anymoment.MAR. The Duke and Duchess are nothing to us.DON AL. But the daughter—the beautiful daughter! Aha!Oh, you're a lucky dog, one of you!GIU. I think you're a very incomprehensible old gentleman.DON AL. Not a bit—I'll explain. Many years ago when you(whichever you are) were a baby, you (whichever you are) weremarried to a little girl who has grown up to be the mostbeautiful young lady in Spain. That beautiful young lady will behere to claim you (whichever you are) in half an hour, and Icongratulate that one (whichever it is) with all my heart.MAR. Married when a baby!GIU. But we were married three months ago!DON AL. One of you—only one. The other (whichever it is)is an unintentional bigamist.GIA. and TESS. (coming forward). Well, upon my word!DON AL. Eh? Who are these young people?TESS. Who are we? Why, their wives, of course. We've justarrived.DON AL. Their wives! Oh dear, this is very unfortunate!Oh dear, this complicates matters! Dear, dear, what will HerMajesty say?GIA. And do you mean to say that one of these Monarchs wasalready married?TESS. And that neither of us will be a Queen?DON AL. That is the idea I intended to convey. (Tessa andGianetta begin to cry.)GIU. (to Tessa). Tessa, my dear, dear child—TESS. Get away! perhaps it's you!MAR. (to Gia.). My poor, poor little woman!GIA. Don't! Who knows whose husband you are?TESS. And pray, why didn't you tell us all about it beforethey left Venice?DON AL. Because, if I had, no earthly temptation would haveinduced these gentlemen to leave two such extremely fascinatingand utterly irresistible little ladies!TESS. There's something in that.DON AL. I may mention that you will not be kept long insuspense, as the old lady who nursed the Royal child is atpresent in the torture chamber, waiting for me to interview her.GIU. Poor old girl. Hadn't you better go and put her outof her suspense?DON AL. Oh no—there's no hurry—she's all right. She hasall the illustrated papers. However, I'll go and interrogateher, and, in the meantime, may I suggest the absolute proprietyof your regarding yourselves as single young ladies. Goodevening!(Exit DonAlhambra.)GIA. Well, here's a pleasant state of things!MAR. Delightful. One of us is married to two young ladies,and nobody knows which; and the other is married to one younglady whom nobody can identify!GIA. And one of us is married to one of you, and the otheris married to nobody.TESS. But which of you is married to which of us, andwhat's to become of the other? (About to cry.)GIU. It's quite simple. Observe. Two husbands havemanaged to acquire three wives. Three wives—two husbands.(Reckoning up.) That's two-thirds of a husband to each wife.TESS. O Mount Vesuvius, here we are in arithmetic! My goodsir, one can't marry a vulgar fraction!GIU. You've no right to call me a vulgar fraction.MAR. We are getting rather mixed. The situation isentangled. Let's try and comb it out.QUARTET—MARCO, GIUSEPPE, GIANETTA, TESSA.In a contemplative fashion,And a tranquil frame of mind,Free from every kind of passion,Some solution let us find.Let us grasp the situation,Solve the complicated plot—Quiet, calm deliberationDisentangles every knot.TESS.I, no doubt, Giuseppe wedded— THE OTHERS. In acontemplativeThat's, of course, a slice of luck fashion,etc.He is rather dunder-headed.Still distinctly, he's a duck.GIA. I, a victim, too, of Cupid, THE OTHERS. Letus grasp the