No. 8. Prithee, pretty maiden(Duet)Patience and GrosvenorGROSVENOR [up-stage, R. ] Prithee, pretty maiden — prithee,tell me true,(Hey, but I'm doleful, willow willow waly!)Have you e'er a lover a-dangling after you?Hey willow waly O![coming down-stage]I would fain discoverIf you have a lover!Hey willow waly O!PATIENCE [L.] Gentle sir, my heart is frolicsome and free—(Hey, but he's doleful, willow willow waly!)Nobody I care for comes a-courting me—Hey willow waly O!Nobody I care forComes a-courting — therefore,Hey willow waly O!GROSVENOR [C.] Prithee, pretty maiden, will you marry me?(Hey, but I'm hopeful, willow willow waly!)I may say, at once, I'm a man of propertee—Hey willow waly O!Money, I despise it;Many people prize it,Hey willow waly O!PATIENCE Gentle Sir, although to marry I design—(Hey, but he's hopeful, willow willow waly!)As yet I do not know you, and so I must decline.Hey willow waly O!To other maidens go you—As yet I do not know you,BOTH Hey willow waly O!
GROS. Patience! Can it be that you don't recognize me?PATIENCE [down L.] Recognize you? No, indeed I don't!GROS. Have fifteen years so greatly changed me?PATIENCE [turning to him] Fifteen years? What do you mean?GROS. Have you forgotten the friend of your youth, yourArchibald? — your little playfellow? Oh, Chronos, Chronos, thisis too bad of you! [Comes down, C.]PATIENCE Archibald! Is it possible? Why, let me look! It is!It is! [takes his hands.] It must be! Oh, how happy I am! Ithought we should never meet again! And how you've grown!GROS. Yes, Patience, I am much taller and much stouter than Iwas.PATIENCE And how you've improved!GROS. [dropping her hands and turning] Yes, Patience, I am verybeautiful! [Sighs.]PATIENCE But surely that doesn't make you unhappy?GROS. Yes, Patience. Gifted as I am with a beauty whichprobably has not its rival on earth, I am, nevertheless, utterlyand completely miserable.PATIENCE Oh — but why?GROS. My child-love for you has never faded. Conceive, then,the horror of my situation when I tell you that it is my hideousdestiny to be madly loved at first sight by every woman I comeacross!PATIENCE But why do you make yourself so picturesque? Why notdisguise yourself, disfigure yourself, anything to escape thispersecution?GROS. No, Patience, that may not be. These gifts — irksome asthey are — were given to me for the enjoyment and delectation ofmy fellow-creatures. I am a trustee for Beauty, and it is myduty to see that the conditions of my trust are faithfullydischarged.PATIENCE And you, too, are a Poet?GROS. Yes, I am the Apostle of Simplicity. I am called"Archibald the All-Right" — for I am infallible!PATIENCE And is it possible that you condescend to love such agirl as I?GROS. Yes, Patience, is it not strange? I have loved you with aFlorentine fourteenth-century frenzy for full fifteen years!PATIENCE Oh, marvelous! I have hitherto been deaf to the voiceof love. I seem now to know what love is! It has been revealedto me — it is Archibald Grosvenor!GROS. Yes, Patience, it is! [She goes into his arms.]PATIENCE [as in a trance] We will never, never part!GROS. We will live and die together!PATIENCE I swear it!GROS. We both swear it!PATIENCE [recoiling from him] But — oh, horror!GROS. What's the matter?PATIENCE Why, you are perfection! A source of endless ecstasyto all who know you!GROS. I know I am. Well?PATIENCE Then, bless my heart, there can be nothing unselfish inloving you!GROS. Merciful powers! I never thought of that!PATIENCE To monopolize those features on which all women love tolinger! It would be unpardonable!GROS. Why, so it would! Oh, fatal perfection, again youinterpose between me and my happiness!PATIENCE Oh, if you were but a thought less beautiful than youare!GROS. Would that I were; but candour compels me to admit thatI'm not!PATIENCE Our duty is clear; we must part, and for ever!GROS. Oh, misery! And yet I cannot question the propriety ofyour decision. Farewell, Patience!PATIENCE Farewell, Archibald! [they both turn to go.][suddenly] But stay!GROS. Yes, Patience?PATIENCE Although I may not love you — for you are perfection -- there is nothing to prevent your loving me. I am plain,homely, unattractive!GROS. Why, that's true!PATIENCE The love of such a man as you for such a girl as I mustbe unselfish!GROS. Unselfishness itself!
No. 8a. Though to marry you would very selfish be(Duet)Patience and GrosvenorPATIENCE Though to marry you would very selfish be—GROSVENOR Hey, but I'm doleful — willow willow waly!PATIENCE You may, all the same, continue loving me —GROSVENOR Hey willow waly O!BOTH All the world ignoring,You'll/I'll go on adoring—Hey, willow waly O![They go off sadly — PATIENCE, L., GROSVENOR, R.U.E.]
No. 9. Let the merry cymbals sound(Finale of Act I)Ensemble[Enter BUNTHORNE, crowned with roses and hung about withgarlands, and looking very miserable. He is led by ANGELAand SAPHIR (each of whom holds an end of the rose-garland bywhich he is bound), and accompanied by procession ofMaidens. They are dancing classically, and playing oncymbals, double pipes, and other archaic instruments. JANElast, with a very large pair of cymbals.][The procession enters over the drawbridge, BUNTHORNE beingpreceded by the Chorus. They go R. and round the stage,ending with BUNTHORNE down L.C., with ANGELA on his R.,SAPHIR on his L., JANE up C.]MAIDENS Let the merry cymbals sound,Gaily pipe Pandaean pleasure,With a Daphnephoric boundTread a gay but classic measure,Tread a gay but classic measure.Ev'ry heart with hope is beating,For, at this exciting meetingFickle Fortune will decideWho shall be our Bunthorne's bride!Ev'ry heart with hope is beating,For, at this exciting meetingFickle Fortune will decideWho shall be our Bunthorne's bride!Let the merry cymbals sound,Gaily pipe Pandaean pleasure,With a Daphnephoric boundTread a gay but classic, classic measure,Tread a gay but classic, classic measure,A classic measure.[DRAGOONS enter down R., forming a line diagonally up to up-stage, C.]Chorus of DragoonsNow tell us, we pray you,Why thus they array you—Oh, poet, how say you—What is it you've [optional — you have] done?Now tell us, we pray you,Why thus they array you—Oh, poet, how say you—What is it you've done?Oh, poet, how say you—What is it you've done?DUKE [C.] Of rite sacrificial,By sentence judicial,This seems the initial,Then why don't you run?COLONEL [R.C.] They cannot have led youTo hang or behead you,Nor may they all wed you,Unfortunate one!DRAGOONS Then tell us, we pray you,Why thus they array you—Oh, poet, how say you—What is it you've done?[optional — Enter SOLICITOR.]BUNTHORNE Heart-broken at my Patience's barbarity,By the advice of my solicitorIn aid — in aid of a deserving charity,I've put myself up to be raffled for![He introduces his solicitor.]MAIDENS By the advice of his solicitor,He's put himself up to be raffled for!DRAGOONS Oh, horror! urged by his solicitor,He's put himself up to be raffled for!MAIDENS Oh, heaven's blessing on his solicitor!DRAGOONS A hideous curse on his solicitor!MAIDENS Oh, heaven's blessing on his solicitor!DRAGOONS A hideous curse on his solicitor!MAIDENS DRAGOONSA blessing on his solicitor! A curse, a curse on hissolicitor![The SOLICITOR, horrified at the Dragoons' curse, rushes off, L.]COLONEL [R.C. BUNTHORNE up L., surrounded by the Ladies.]Stay, we implore you,Before our hopes are blighted;You see before youThe men to whom you're plighted!DRAGOONS Stay, we implore you,For we adore you;To us you're plightedTo be united—Stay, we implore you, we implore you!DUKE [C.] Your maiden hearts, ah, do not steelTo pity's eloquent appeal,Such conduct British soldiers feel.[Aside ] Sigh, sigh, all sigh! [They all sigh.]To foeman's steel we rarely seeA British soldier bend the knee,Yet, one and all, they kneel to ye—[Aside ] Kneel, kneel, all kneel! [They all kneel.]Our soldiers very seldom cry,And yet — I need not tell you why—A tear-drop dews each martial eye![Aside ] Weep, weep, all weep! [They all weep.]MAIDENS &DRAGOONS Our/We soldiers very seldom cry,And yet — they/we need not tell us/you why—ABOVE &DUKE A tear-drop dews each eye/martial eye!Weep, weep, all weep![The Solicitor re-enters]BUNTHORNE [coming briskly forward, L.C.]Come, walk up, and purchase with avidity,Overcome your diffidence and natural timidity,Tickets for the raffle should be purchased with avidity,Put in half a guinea and a husband you may gain—Such a judge of blue-and-white and other kinds of pottery—From early Oriental down to modern terra-cottary—Put in half a guinea — you may draw him in a lottery—Such an opportunity may not occur again.MAIDENS Such a judge of blue-and-white and other kinds ofpottery—From early Oriental down to modern terra cottary—Put in half a guinea — you may draw him in a lottery—Such an opportunity may not occur again.[MAIDENS crowd up to purchase tickets. DRAGOONS dance in singlefile round stage, to express their indifference.]DRAGOONS We've been thrown over, we're awareBut we don't care — but we don't care!There's fish in the sea, no doubt of it,As good as ever came out of it,And some day we shall get our share,So we don't care — so we don't care![During this the GIRLS have been buying tickets, the Solicitorofficiating. At last JANE presents herself. BUNTHORNElooks at her with aversion.]BUNTHORNE And are you going a ticket for to buy?JANE [surprised] Most certainly I am; why shouldn't I?BUNTHORNE [aside] Oh, Fortune, this is hard! [aloud]Blindfold your eyes;Two minutes will decide who wins the prize![GIRLS blindfold themselves.]
Chorus of MAIDENSOh, Fortune, to my aching heart be kind;Like us, thou art blindfolded, but not blind!Just raise your bandage, thus, [Each uncovers one eye.] that youmay see,And give the prize, and give the prize to me! [They cover theireyes again.]BUNTHORNE Come, Lady Jane, I pray you draw the first!JANE [joyfully] He loves me best!BUNTHORNE [aside] I want to know the worst![JANE puts her hand in bag to draw ticket. PATIENCE enters andprevents her.]PATIENCE Hold! Stay your hand!ALL [uncovering their eyes]What means this interference?Of this bold girl I pray you make a clearance!JANE Away with you, away with you, and to your milk-pails go!BUNTHORNE [suddenly] She wants a ticket! Take a dozen!PATIENCE No! If there be pardon in your breastFor this poor penitent,Who with remorseful thought opprest,Sincerely doth repent;If you, with one so lowly, stillDesire to be allied,Then you may take me, if you will,For I will be your bride![She kneels to Bunthorne.]CHORUS Oh, shameless one!Oh, bold-faced thing!Away you run—Go, take your wing,Oh, shameless one!Oh, bold-faced thing!Away you run—Go, take your wing,You shameless one!You bold-faced thing![Bunthorne raises her.]BUNTHORNE How strong is love! For many and many a week,She's loved me fondly, and has feared to speakBut Nature, for restraint too mighty far,Has burst the bonds of Art — and here we are!PATIENCE No, Mister Bunthorne, no — you're wrong again;Permit me — I'll endeavour to explain!True love must single-hearted be—BUNTHORNE Exactly so!PATIENCE From ev'ry selfish fancy free—BUNTHORNE Exactly so!PATIENCE No idle thought of gain or joyA maiden's fancy should employ—True love must be without alloy,True love must be without alloy.MEN Exactly so!PATIENCE Imposture to contempt must lead—COLONEL Exactly so!PATIENCE Blind vanity's dissension's seed—MAJOR Exactly so!PATIENCE It follows, then, a maiden whoDevotes herself to loving youIs prompted by no selfish view,Is prompted by no selfish view!MEN Exactly so!SAPHIR [coming L. of BUNTHORNE]Are you resolved to wed this shameless one?ANGELA [coming R. of BUNTHORNE]Is there no chance for any other?BUNTHORNE [decisively] None! [Embraces PATIENCE][Exit PATIENCE and BUNTHORNE, L. ANGELA, SAPHIR, and ELLA takeCOLONEL, DUKE, and MAJOR down, while GIRLS gaze fondly atother Officers.]
SEXTET(ELLA, SAPHIR, ANGELA, DUKE, MAJOR, COLONEL)I hear the soft note of the echoing voiceOf an old, old love, long dead—It whispers my sorrowing heart "rejoice"—For the last sad tear is shed—The pain that is all but a pleasure will changeFor the pleasure that's all but pain,And never, oh never, this heart will rangeFrom that old, old love again![GIRLS embrace OFFICERS]CHORUS Yes, the pain that is all but a pleasure will changeFor the pleasure that's all but pain,And never, oh never, our hearts will rangeFrom that old, old love again!DUKE CHORUSOh, never, oh never Oh, never, oh neverour hearts will range our hearts, our heartswill rangeFrom that old, old love again!SEXTET CHORUSOh, never, oh never, Oh, never, oh never our hearts,our hearts will range Oh, never, our hearts will rangeFrom that old, old From that old, old lovelove again! again![The GIRLS embrace the Officers. Re-enter PATIENCE andBUNTHORNE. L.][As the DRAGOONS and GIRLS are embracing, enter GROSVENOR,R.U.E., reading. He takes no notice of them, but comesslowly down, still reading. The GIRLS are all strangelyfascinated by him. The Chorus divides, L. & R., and theGIRLS are held back by the DRAGOONS, as they attempt tothrow themselves at GROSVENOR. Fury of BUNTHORNE, whorecognizes a rival.]ANGELA [R.C.] But who is this, whose god-like graceProclaims he comes of noble race?And who is this, whose manly faceBears sorrow's interesting trace?CHORUS Yes, who is this, whose god-like graceProclaims he comes of noble race?GROSVENOR [C.] I am a broken-hearted troubadour,Whose mind's aesthetic and whose tastes are pure!ANGELA Aesthetic! He is aesthetic!GROSVENOR Yes, yes — I am aestheticAnd poetic!MAIDENS Then, we love you![They break away from the DRAGOONS, and kneel to GROSVENOR.]DRAGOONS They love him! Horror!BUNTHORNE andPATIENCE They love him! Horror!GROSVENOR They love me! Horror! Horror! Horror!ENSEMBLE[all parts sung at the same time]PATIENCE DUKE
List, Reginald, while I confess My jealousy I can'texpress,A love that's all unselfishness, Their love they openlyconfess;That it's unselfish, goodness knows, His shell-like ears hedoes not closeYou won't dispute it, I suppose! To their recital oftheir woes.ELLA, SAPHIR, ANGELA, JANE CHORUSOh, list while we a love confess Oh, list while we/they alove confessThat words imperfectly express.Those shell-like ears, ah, do not close That words imperfectlyexpress.To blighted love's distracting woes!ENSEMBLE[all parts sung at the same time]MAJOR, COLONEL & BUNTHORNE GROSVENORMy jealousy I can't express, Again my cursed comelinessTheir love they openly confess! Spreads hopelessanguish anddistress,Their love they openly confess, Spreads hopeless anguishandconfess! distress, distress!MAIDENS DRAGOONSYes, those shell-like ears, ah, do Yes, his shell-like earsnot close he does not closeTo blighted love's distracting To their recital of theirwoes!woes!To blighted love's distracting woes, To their recital of theirwoes,their woes! their woes!
ENSEMBLE[all parts sung at the same time]PATIENCE DUKEAh! Ah!And I shall love you, I shall love. His shell-like ears hedoes not closeYour ears, ah, do not close! To love's distractingwoes!Thy shell-like ears, ah, do not close Now is not thisridiculous,and is not thispreposterous?To blighted love's distracting woes! A thorough-pacedabsurdity,explain it if youcan!Thy shell-like ears, ah, do not close Now is not thisridiculous,and is not thispreposterous?To blighted love's distracting woes! A thorough-pacedabsurdity,explain it if youcan!To love's, to love's distracting woes! Explain, explain it if youcan!love's woes! you can!ELLA, SAPHIR, ANGELA, JANE MAIDENSOh, list while we our love confess Oh, list while we a loveconfessThat words imperfectly express. That words imperfectlyexpress.Thy shell-like ears, ah, do not close Those shell-like ears, ah,do notcloseTo love's distracting woes! To love's distractingwoes!Thy shell-like ears, ah, do not close Those shell-like ears, ah,do notcloseTo blighted love's distracting woes! To blighted love'sdistractingwoes!Thy shell-like ears, ah, do not close Those shell-like ears, ah,do notcloseTo blighted love's distracting woes! To blighted love'sdistractingwoes!To love's, to love's distracting woes! To love's, to love'sdistractinglove's woes woes! love's woes!BUNTHORNE MAJOR and COLONELMy jealousy I can't express, My jealousy I can'texpress,Their love they openly confess. Their love theyopenly confess.His shell-like ears he does not close His shell-like ears hedoes not closeTo love's distracting woes! To love's distractingwoes!His shell-like ears he does not close Now is not thisridiculous,and is not thispreposterous?To blighted love's distracting A thorough-pacedabsurdity,woes! explain it if youcan!His shell-like ears he does not close Now is not thisridiculous,and is not thispreposterous?To blighted love's distracting A thorough-pacedabsurdity,woes! explain it if youcan!To love's, to love's distracting woes! Explain, explain it if youcan!love's woes! you can!GROSVENOR MALE CHORUSAgain my cursed comeliness Oh, list while they a loveconfessSpreads hopeless anguish and That wordsimperfectly express.distress;Thine ears, oh, Fortune, do not close His shell-like ears Hedoes not closeTo love's distracting woes! To love's distractingwoes!My shell-like ears I can not close Now is not thisridiculous,and is not thispreposterous?To blighted love's distracting A thorough-pacedabsurdity,woes! explain it if youcan!My shell-like ears I can not close Now is not thisridiculous,and is not thispreposterous?To blighted love's distracting A thorough-pacedabsurdity,woes! explain it if youcan!To love's, to love's distracting woes! Explain, explain it if youcan!love's woes! you can!
[GROSVENOR makes a wild effort to escape up-stage; the GIRLS draghim back and kneel as the curtain falls.]END OF ACT I
[SCENE — A wooded glade, with a view of open country in thebackground. The chorus of MAIDENS is heard singing in thedistance. JANE is discovered leaning on a violoncello,which she has propped up on a tree-stump, L., and upon whichshe will presently accompany herself. As the Chorus ends,she speaks.]No. 10. On such eyes as maidens cherish(Opening Chorus)MaidensOn such eyes as maidens cherishLest thy fond adorers gaze,Or incontinently perish,In their all-consuming rays!Or incontinently perish,In their all-consuming rays!
JANE The fickle crew have deserted Reginald and sworn allegianceto his rival, and all, forsooth, because he has glanced withpassing favour on a puling milkmaid! Fools! Of that fancy hewill soon weary — and then, I, who alone am faithful to him,shall reap my reward. But do not dally too long, Reginald, formy charms are ripe, Reginald, and already they are decaying.Better secure me ere I have gone too far!
No. 11. Sad is that woman's lot(Recitative and Solo)JaneJANE Sad is that woman's lot who, year by year,Sees, one by one, her beauties disappear,When Time, grown weary of her heart-drawn sighs,Impatiently begins to dim her eyes!Compelled, at last, in life's uncertain gloamings,To wreathe her wrinkled brow with well-saved"combings,"Reduced, with rouge, lip-shade, and pearly grey,To "make up" for lost time as best she may!Silvered is the raven hair,Spreading is the parting straight,Mottled the complexion fair,Halting is the youthful gait,Hollow is the laughter free,Spectacled the limpid eye,Little will be left of meIn the coming bye and bye!Little will be left of meIn the coming bye and bye!Fading is the taper waist,Shapeless grows the shapely limb,And although severely laced,Spreading is the figure trim!Stouter than I used to be,Still more corpulent grow I—There will be too much of meIn the coming by and bye!There will be too much of meIn the coming by and bye![Exit, L., carrying her violoncello.][Enter GROSVENOR, R., followed by MAIDENS, two and two, playingon archaic instruments as in Act I. He is readingabstractedly, as BUNTHORNE did in Act I, and pays noattention to them.]
No. 12. Turn, oh, turn in this direction(Chorus)MaidensTurn, oh, turn in this direction,Shed, oh, shed a gentle smile,With a glance of sad perfection,Our poor fainting hearts beguile!On such eyes as maidens cherishLet thy fond adorers gaze,Or incontinently perish,In their all-consuming rays!Or incontinently perish,In their all-consuming rays![GROSVENOR sits, R.; they group themselves around him in aformation similar to that which opens Act I.]GROS. [aside, not looking up] The old, old tale. Howrapturously these maidens love me, and how hopelessly! [He looksup.] Oh, Patience, Patience, with the love of thee in my heart,what have I for these poor mad maidens but an unvalued pity?Alas, they will die of hopeless love for me, as I shall die ofhopeless love for thee!ANGELA Sir, will it please you read to us?GROS. [sighing] Yes, child, if you will. What shall I read?ANGELA One of your own poems.GROS. One of my own poems? Better not, my child. They will notcure thee of thy love. [All sigh.]ELLA Mr. Bunthorne used to read us a poem of his own every day.SAPHIR And, to do him justice, he read them extremely well.GROS. Oh, did he so? Well, who am I that I should take uponmyself to withhold my gifts from you? What am I but a trustee?Here is a decalet — a pure and simple thing, a very daisy — ababe might understand it. To appreciate it, it is not necessaryto think of anything at all.ANGELA Let us think of nothing at all!GROS. [reciting]Gentle Jane was as good as gold,She always did as she was told;She never spoke when her mouth was full,Or caught bluebottles their legs to pull,Or spilt plum jam on her nice new frock,Or put white mice in the eight-day clock,Or vivisected her last new doll,Or fostered a passion for alcohol.And when she grew up she was given in marriageTo a first-class earl who keeps his carriage!GROS. I believe I am right in saying that there is not one wordin that decalet which is calculated to bring the blush of shameto the cheek of modesty.ANGELA Not one; it is purity itself.GROS. Here's another.Teasing Tom was a very bad boy,A great big squirt was his favourite toyHe put live shrimps in his father's boots,And sewed up the sleeves of his Sunday suits;He punched his poor little sisters' heads,And cayenne-peppered their four-post beds;He plastered their hair with cobbler's wax,And dropped hot halfpennies down their backs.The consequence was he was lost totally,And married a girl in the corps de bally![The MAIDENS express intense horror.]ANGELA Marked you how grandly — how relentlessly — the damningcatalogue of crime strode on, till Retribution, like a poisedhawk, came swooping down upon the Wrong-Doer? Oh, it wasterrible! [All shudder.]ELLA Oh, sir, you are indeed a true poet, for you touch ourhearts, and they go out to you!GROS. [aside] This is simply cloying. [aloud] Ladies, I amsorry to appear ungallant, but this is Saturday, and you havebeen following me about ever since Monday. I should like theusual half-holiday. I shall take it as a personal favour if youwill kindly allow me to close early to-day.SAPHIR Oh, sir, do not send us from you!GROS. Poor, poor girls! It is best to speak plainly. I knowthat I am loved by you, but I never can love you in return, formy heart is fixed elsewhere! Remember the fable of the Magnetand the Churn.ANGELA [wildly] But we don't know the fable of the Magnet andthe Churn!GROS. Don't you? Then I will sing it to you.
No. 13. A magnet hung in a hardware shop(Solo and Chorus)Grosvenor and MaidensGROSVENOR A magnet hung in a hardware shop,And all around was a loving cropOf scissors and needles, nails and knives,Offering love for all their lives;But for iron the magnet felt no whim,Though he charmed iron, it charmed not him;From needles and nails and knives he'd turn,For he'd set his love on a Silver Churn!MAIDENS A Silver Churn!GROSVENOR A Silver Churn!His most aesthetic,Very magneticFancy took this turn—"If I can wheedleA knife or a needle,Why not a Silver Churn?"MAIDENS His most aesthetic,Very magneticFancy took this turn—"If I can wheedleA knife or a needle,Why not a Silver Churn?"GROSVENOR [He rises, going C.]And Iron and Steel expressed surprise,The needles opened their well-drilled eyes,The penknives felt "shut up", no doubt,The scissors declared themselves "cut out",The kettles they boiled with rage, 'tis said,While ev'ry nail went off its head,And hither and thither began to roam,Till a hammer came up and drove them home.MAIDENS It drove them home?GROSVENOR It drove them home!While this magnetic,PeripateticLover he lived to learn,By no endeavourCan magnet everAttract a Silver Churn!MAIDENS While this magnetic,PeripateticLover he lived to learn,MAIDENS andGROSVENOR By no endeavourCan magnet everAttract a Silver Churn![They go off in low spirits, R.U.E., gazing back at him from timeto time.]GROS. At last they are gone! What is this mysteriousfascination that I seem to exercise over all I come across? Acurse on my fatal beauty, for I am sick of conquests! [Goes R.][Enter PATIENCE, L. Stops L.C. on seeing GROSVENOR.]GROS. [Turns and sees her.] Patience!PATIENCE I have escaped with difficulty from my Reginald. Iwanted to see you so much that I might ask you if you still loveme as fondly as ever?GROS. Love you? If the devotion of a lifetime— [seizing herhand.]PATIENCE [indignantly] Hold! Unhand me, or I scream! [Hereleases her.] If you are a gentleman, pray remember that I amanother's! [very tenderly.] But you do love me, don't you?GROS. Madly, hopelessly, despairingly!PATIENCE That's right! I never can be yours; but that's right!GROS. And you love this Bunthorne?PATIENCE With a heart-whole ecstasy that withers, and scorches,and burns, and stings! [sadly] It is my duty.GROS. Admirable girl! But you are not happy with him?PATIENCE Happy? I am miserable beyond description!GROS. That's right! I never can be yours; but that's right!PATIENCE But go now. I see dear Reginald approaching.Farewell, dear Archibald; I cannot tell you how happy it has mademe to know that you still love me.GROS. Ah, if I only dared— [advancing towards her]PATIENCE Sir! this language to one who is promised to another![tenderly] Oh, Archibald, think of me sometimes, for my heart isbreaking! He is unkind to me, and you would be so loving!GROS. Loving! [advancing towards her]PATIENCE Advance one step, and as I am a good and pure woman, Iscream! [tenderly] Farewell, Archibald! [sternly] Stop there![tenderly] Think of me sometimes! [angrily] Advance at yourperil! Once more, adieu![GROSVENOR sighs, gazes sorrowfully at her, sighs deeply, andexits, R. She bursts into tears.][Enter BUNTHORNE, followed by JANE. He is moody andpreoccupied.]
In a doleful train(Solo)JaneJANE In a doleful trainOne and one I walk all day;For I love in vain—None so sorrowful as theyWho can only sigh and say,Woe is me, alackaday!BUN. [seeing PATIENCE] Crying, eh? What are you crying about?PATIENCE I've only been thinking how dearly I love you!BUN. Love me! Bah!JANE Love him! Bah!BUN. [to JANE] Don't you interfere.JANE He always crushes me!PATIENCE [going to him] What is the matter, dear Reginald? Ifyou have any sorrow, tell it to me, that I may share it with you.[sighing] It is my duty!BUN. [snappishly] Whom were you talking with just now?PATIENCE With dear Archibald.BUN. [furiously] With dear Archibald! Upon my honour, this istoo much!JANE A great deal too much!BUN. [angrily to JANE] Do be quiet!JANE Crushed again!PATIENCE I think he is the noblest, purest, and most perfectbeing I have ever met. But I don't love him. It is true that heis devotedly attached to me, but I don't love him. Whenever hegrows affectionate, I scream. It is my duty! [sighing]BUN. I dare say!JANE So do I! I dare say!PATIENCE Why, how could I love him and love you too? You can'tlove two people at once!BUN. Oh, can't you, though!PATIENCE No, you can't; I only wish you could.BUN. I don't believe you know what love is!PATIENCE [sighing] Yes, I do. There was a happy time when Ididn't, but a bitter experience has taught me.[BUNTHORNE, noticing that JANE is not looking at him, goes offquickly up R. She turns, sees him, and runs after him.]