ARIA - ALINELet us fly to a far-off land,Where peace and plenty dwell—Where the sigh of the silver strandIs echoed in every shellTo the joy that land will give,On the wings of Love we'll fly;In innocence, there to live—In innocence there to die!CHORUS OF SPIRITS.Too late—too lateIt may not be!That happy fateIs not for (me/thee)!ALEXIS, ALINE, and MR. W.Too late—too late,That may not be!That happy fate,Is not for thee!MR. WELLSNow shrivelled hags, with poison bags,Discharge your loathsome loads!Spit flame and fire, unholy choir!Belch forth your venom, toads!Ye demons fell, with yelp and yell,Shed curses far afield—Ye fiends of night, your filthy blightIn noisome plenty yield!WELLS (pouring phial into tea-pot—flash)Number One!CHORUS It is done!WELLS (same business) Number Two! (flash)CHORUS One too few!WELLS Number Three! (flash)CHORUS Set us free!Set us free-our work is doneHa! ha! ha!Set us free—our course is run!Ha! ha! ha!ALINE AND ALEXIS (aside)Let us fly to a far-off land,Where peace and plenty dwell—Where the sigh of the silver strandIs echoed in every shell.
CHORUS OF FIENDS.Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!(Stage grows light. Mr. Wells beckons villagers. Enter villagersand all the dramatis personae, dancing joyously. Mrs. Partlet andMr. Wells then distribute tea-cups.)CHORUS.Now to the banquet we press;Now for the eggs, the ham;Now for the mustard and cress,Now for the strawberry jam!Now for the tea of our host,Now for the rollicking bun,Now for the muffin and toast,Now for the gay Sally Lunn!WOMEN. The eggs and the ham, and the strawberry jam!MEN. The rollicking bun, and the gay Sally Lunn!The rollicking, rollicking bun!RECITATIVE—SIR MARMADUKEBe happy all—the feast is spread before ye;Fear nothing, but enjoy yourselves, I pray!Eat, aye, and drink—be merry, I implore ye,For once let thoughtless Folly rule the day.TEA-CUP BRINDISIEat, drink, and be gay,Banish all worry and sorrow,Laugh gaily to-day,Weep, if you're sorry, to-morrow!Come, pass the cup around—I will go bail for the liquor;It's strong, I'll be bound,For it was brewed by the vicar!CHORUS.None so knowing as heAt brewing a jorum of tea,Ha! ha!A pretty stiff jorum of tea.TRIO—WELLS, ALINE, and ALEXIS. (aside)See—see—they drink—All thoughts unheeding,The tea-cups clink,They are exceeding!Their hearts will meltIn half-an-hour—Then will be feltThe potions power!(During this verse Constance has brought a small tea-pot, kettle,caddy, and cosy to Dr. Daly. He makes tea scientifically.)BRINDISI, 2nd Verse—DR. DALY (with the tea-pot)Pain, trouble, and care,Misery, heart-ache, and worry,Quick, out of your lair!Get you gone in a hurry!Toil, sorrow, and plot,Fly away quicker and quicker—Three spoons in the pot—That is the brew of your vicar!CHORUSNone so cunning as heAt brewing a jorum of tea,Ha! ha!A pretty stiff jorum of tea!ENSEMBLE—ALEXIS and ALINE (aside)Oh love, true love—unworldly, abiding!Source of all pleasure—true fountain of joy,—Oh love, true love—divinely confiding,Exquisite treasure that knows no alloy,—Oh love, true love, rich harvest of gladness,Peace-bearing tillage—great garner of bliss,—Oh love, true love, look down on our sadness —Dwell in this village—oh, hear us in this!(It becomes evident by the strange conduct of the characters thatthe charm is working. All rub their eyes, and stagger about thestage as if under the influence of a narcotic.)TUTTI (aside) ALEXIS, MR. WELLS and ALINEOh, marvellous illusion! A marvellous illusion!Oh, terrible surprise! A terrible surpriseWhat is this strange confusion Excites a strange confusionThat veils my aching eyes? Within their aching eyes—I must regain my senses, They must regain their senses,Restoring Reason's law, Restoring Reason's law,Or fearful inferences Or fearful inferencesSociety will draw! Society will draw!(Those who have partaken of the philtre struggle in vain againstits effects, and, at the end of the chorus, fall insensible onthe stage.)END OF ACT I
Scene—Exterior of Sir Marmaduke's mansion by moonlight. All thepeasantry are discovered asleep on the ground, as at the end ofAct I.Enter Mr. Wells, on tiptoe, followed by Alexis and Aline. Mr. Wellscarries a dark lantern.TRIO—ALEXIS, ALINE, and MR. WELLS'Tis twelve, I think,And at this mystic hourThe magic drinkShould manifest its power.Oh, slumbering forms,How little ye have guessedThat fire that warmsEach apathetic breast!ALEX. But stay, my father is not here!ALINE. And pray where is my mother dear?MR. WELLS. I did not think it meet to seeA dame of lengthy pedigree,A Baronet and K.C.B.A Doctor of Divinity,And that respectable Q.C.,All fast asleep, al-fresco-ly,And so I had them taken homeAnd put to bed respectably!I trust my conduct meets your approbation.ALEX. Sir, you have acted with discrimination,And shown more delicate appreciationThan we expect of persons of your station.MR. WELLS. But stay—they waken one by one —The spell has worked—the deed is done!I would suggest that we retireWhile Love, the Housemaid, lights her kitchenfire!(Exeunt Mr. Wells, Alexis and Aline, on tiptoe, as the villagersstretch their arms, yawn, rub their eyes, and sit up.)MEN. Why, where be oi, and what be oi a doin',A sleepin' out, just when the dews du rise?GIRLS. Why, that's the very way your health to ruin,And don't seem quite respectable likewise!MEN. (staring at girls) Eh, that's you!Only think o' that now!GIRLS. (coyly) What may you be at, now?Tell me, du!MEN. (admiringly) Eh, what a nose,And eh, what eyes, miss!Lips like a rose,And cheeks likewise, miss!GIRLS. (coyly) Oi tell you true,Which I've never done, sir,Oi loike youAs I never loiked none, sir!ALL. Eh, but oi du loike you!MEN. If you'll marry me, I'll dig for youandrake for you!GIRLS. If you'll marry be, I'll scrub for youand bake for you!MEN. If you'll marry me, all others I'llforsake for you!ALL. All this will I du, if you marryme!GIRLS. If you'll marry me, I'll cook for youand brew for you!MEN. If you'll marry me, I've guineas notafew for you!GIRLS. If you'll marry me, I'll take you inanddu for you!ALL. All this will I du, if you'll marryme!Eh, but I do loike you!Country Dance(At end of dance, enter Constance in tears, leading Notary, whocarries an ear-trumpet)Aria—CONSTANCEDear friends, take pity on my lot,My cup is not of nectar!I long have loved—as who would not?—Our kind and reverend rector.Long years ago my love beganSo sweetly—yet so sadly—But when I saw this plain old man,Away my old affection ran—I found I loved him madly.Oh!(To Notary) You very, very plain old man,I love, I love you madly!CHORUS. You very, very plain old man,She loves, she loves you madly!NOTARY. I am a very deaf old man,And hear you very badly!CONST. I know not why I love him so;It is enchantment, surely!He's dry and snuffy, deaf and slowIll-tempered, weak and poorly!He's ugly, and absurdly dressed,And sixty-seven nearly,He's everything that I detest,But if the truth must be confessed,I love him very dearly!Oh!(To Notary) You're everything that I detest,But still I love you dearly!CHORUS. You've everything that girls detest,But still she loves you dearly!NOTARY. I caught that line, but for the rest,I did not hear it clearly!(During this verse Aline and Alexis have entered at backunobserved.)ALINE AND ALEXISALEX Oh joy! oh joy!The charm works well,And all are now united.ALINE. The blind young boyObeys the spell,And troth they all have plighted!ENSEMBLEAline & Alexis Constance NotaryOh joy! oh joy! Oh, bitter joy! Oh joy! ohjoy!The charm works well, No words can tell No words cantellAnd all are now united! How my poor heart My stateof mindThe blind young boy is blighted!delighted.Obeys the spell, They'll soon employ They'll soonemployA marriage bell, A marriagebell,Their troth they all To say that we're To saythat we'rehave plighted. united. united.True happiness I do confess True happinessReigns everywhere, A sorrow rare ReignseverywhereAnd dwells with both My humbled spirit And dwellswith boththe sexes. vexes. thesexes,And all will bless And none will bless And all willblessThe thoughtful care Example rare Example rareOf their beloved Of their beloved Of theirbelovedAlexis! Alexis! Alexis!(All, except Alexis and Aline, exeuntlovingly.)ALINE How joyful they all seem in their new-foundhappiness! The whole village has paired off in the happiestmanner. And yet not a match has been made that the hollow worldwould not consider ill-advised!ALEXIS But we are wiser—far wiser—than the world.Observe the good that will become of these ill-assorted unions.The miserly wife will check the reckless expenditure of her toofrivolous consort, the wealthy husband will shower innumerablebonnets on his penniless bride, and the young and lively spousewill cheer the declining days of her aged partner with comicsongs unceasing!ALINE What a delightful prospect for him!ALEXIS But one thing remains to be done, that my happinessmay be complete. We must drink the philtre ourselves, that I maybe assured of your love for ever and ever.ALINE Oh, Alexis, do you doubt me? Is it necessary thatsuch love as ours should be secured by artificial means? Oh, no,no, no!ALEXIS My dear Aline, time works terrible changes, and Iwant to place our love beyond the chance of change.ALINE Alexis, it is already far beyond that chance. Havefaith in me, for my love can never, never change!ALEXIS Then you absolutely refuse?ALINE I do. If you cannot trust me, you have no right tolove me—no right to be loved by me.ALEXIS Enough, Aline, I shall know how to interpret thisrefusal.BALLAD—ALEXISThou hast the power thy vaunted loveTo sanctify, all doubt above,Despite the gathering shade:To make that love of thine so sureThat, come what may, it must endureTill time itself shall fade.They love is but a flowerThat fades within the hour!If such thy love, oh, shame!Call it by other name—It is not love!Thine is the power and thine alone,To place me on so proud a throneThat kings might envy me!A priceless throne of love untold,More rare than orient pearl and gold.But no! Thou wouldst be free!Such love is like the rayThat dies within the day:If such thy love, oh, shame!Call it by other name—It is not love!Enter Dr. Daly.DR. D. (musing) It is singular—it is very singular. Ithas overthrown all my calculations. It is distinctly opposed tothe doctrine of averages. I cannot understand it.ALINE Dear Dr. Daly, what has puzzled you?DR. D. My dear, this village has not hitherto been addictedto marrying and giving in marriage. Hitherto the youths of thisvillage have not been enterprising, and the maidens have beendistinctly coy. Judge then of my surprise when I tell you thatthe whole village came to me in a body just now, and implored meto join them in matrimony with as little delay as possible. Evenyour excellent father has hinted to me that before very long itis not unlikely that he may also change his condition.ALINE Oh, Alexis—do you hear that? Are you not delighted?ALEXIS Yes, I confess that a union between your mother andmy father would be a happy circumstance indeed. (Crossing to Dr.Daly) My dear sir—the news that you bring us is verygratifying.DR. D. Yes—still, in my eyes, it has its melancholy side.This universal marrying recalls the happy days—now, alas, goneforever—when I myself might have—but tush! I am puling. I amtoo old to marry—and yet, within the last half-hour, I havegreatly yearned for companionship. I never remarked it before,but the young maidens of this village are very comely. Solikewise are the middle-aged. Also the elderly. All arecomely—and (with a deep sigh) all are engaged!ALINE Here comes your father.Enter Sir Marmaduke with Mrs. Partlet, arm-in-armALINE and ALEXIS (aside). Mrs. Partlet!SIR M. Dr. Daly, give me joy. Alexis, my dear boy, youwill, I am sure, be pleased to hear that my declining days arenot unlikely to be solaced by the companionship of this good,virtuous, and amiable woman.ALEXIS (rather taken aback) My dear father, this is notaltogether what I expected. I am certainly taken somewhat bysurprise. Still it can hardly be necessary to assure you thatany wife of yours is a mother of mine. (Aside to Aline.) It isnot quite what I could have wished.MRS. P. (crossing to Alexis) Oh, sir, I entreat yourforgiveness. I am aware that socially I am not everything thatcould be desired, nor am I blessed with an abundance of worldlygoods, but I can at least confer on your estimable father thegreat and priceless dowry of a true, tender, and lovin' 'art!ALEXIS (coldly) I do not question it. After all, afaithful love is the true source of every earthly joy.SIR M. I knew that my boy would not blame his poor fatherfor acting on the impulse of a heart that has never yet misledhim. Zorah is not perhaps what the world calls beautiful—DR. D. Still she is comely—distinctly comely. (Sighs)ALINE Zorah is very good, and very clean, and honest, andquite, quite sober in her habits: and that is worth far more thanbeauty, dear Sir Marmaduke.DR. D. Yes; beauty will fade and perish, but personalcleanliness is practically undying, for it can be renewedwhenever it discovers symptoms of decay. My dear Sir Marmaduke,I heartily congratulate you. (Sighs)QUINTETTEALEXIS, ALINE, SIR MARMADUKE, ZORAH, and DR. DALYALEXIS. I rejoice that it's decided,Happy now will be his life,For my father is providedWith a true and tender wife.She will tend him, nurse him, mend him,Air his linen, dry his tears;Bless the thoughtful fate that send himSuch a wife to soothe his years!ALINE. No young giddy thoughtless maiden,Full of graces, airs, and jeers—But a sober widow, ladenWith the weight of fifty years!SIR M. No high-born exacting beautyBlazing like a jewelled sun—But a wife who'll do her duty,As that duty should be done!MRS. P. I'm no saucy minx and giddy—Hussies such as them abound—But a clean and tidy widdyWell be-known for miles around!DR.D. All the village now have mated,All are happy as can be—I to live alone am fated:No one's left to marry me!ENSEMBLE. She will tend him etc.(Exeunt Sir Marmaduke, Mrs. Partlet, and Aline, with Alexis. Dr.Dalylooks after them sentimentally, then exits with a sigh.)Enter Mr. WellsRECITATIVE—MR. WELLSOh, I have wrought much evil with my spells!And ill I can't undo!This is too bad of you, J. W. Wells—What wrong have they done you?And see—another love-lorn lady comes—Alas, poor stricken dame!A gentle pensiveness her life benumbs—And mine, alone, the blame!Lady Sangazure enters. She is very melancholyLADY S. Alas, ah me! and well-a-day!I sigh for love, and well I may,For I am very old and grey.But stay!(Sees Mr. Wells, and becomes fascinated by him.)RECITATIVELADY S. What is this fairy form I see before me?MR. W. Oh horrible!—She's going to adore me!This last catastrophe is overpowering!LADY S. Why do you glare at one with visage lowering?For pity's sake recoil not thus from me!MR. W. My lady leave me—this may never be!DUET—LADY SANGAZURE and MR. WELLSMR. W. Hate me! I drop my H's—have through life!LADY S. Love me! I'll drop them too!MR. W. Hate me! I always eat peas with a knife!LADY S. Love me! I'll eat like you!MR. W. Hate me! I spend the day at Rosherville!LADY S. Love me! that joy I'll share!MR. W. Hate me! I often roll down One Tree Hill!LADY S. Love me! I'll join you there!LADY S. Love me! My prejudices I will drop!MR. W. Hate me! that's not enough!LADY S. Love me! I'll come and help you in the shop!MR. W. Hate me! the life is rough!LADY S. Love me! my grammar I will all forswear!MR. W. Hate me! abjure my lot!LADY S. Love me! I'll stick sunflowers in my hair!MR. W. Hate me! they'll suit you not!RECITATIVE—MR. WELLSAt what I am going to say be not enraged—I may not love you—for I am engaged!LADY S. (horrified) Engaged!MR. W. Engaged!To a maiden fair,With bright brown hair,And a sweet and simple smile,Who waits for meBy the sounding sea,On a South Pacific isle.MR. W. (aside) A lie! No maiden waits me there!LADY S. (mournfully) She has bright brown hair;MR. W. (aside) A lie! No maiden smiles on me!LADY S. (mournfully) By the sounding sea!ENSEMBLELADY SANGAZURE MR. W.Oh agony, rage, despair! Oh, agony, rage,despair!The maiden has bright brown hair, Oh, where will thisend—oh, where?And mine is as white as snow! I should like very muchto know!False man, it will be your fault, It will certainly be myfault,If I go to my family vault, If she goes to her familyvault,And bury my life-long woe! To bury her life-longwoe!BOTH. The family vault—the family vault.It will certainly be (your/my) fault.If (I go/she goes) to (my/her) family vault,To bury (my/her) life-long woe!(Exit Lady Sangazure, in great anguish, accompanied by Mr. Wells.)Enter Aline, RecitativeAlexis! Doubt me not, my loved one! See,Thine uttered will is sovereign law to me!All fear—all thought of ill I cast away!It is may darling's will, and I obey!(She drinks thephiltre.)The fearful deed is done,My love is near!I go to meet my ownIn trembling fear!If o'er us aught of illShould cast a shade,It was my darling's will,And I obeyed!(As Aline is going off, she meets Dr. Daly, entering pensively. Heis playing on a flageolet. Under the influence of the spell sheat once becomes strangely fascinated by him, and exhibits everysymptom of being hopelessly in love with him.)SONG—DR. DALYOh, my voice is sad and lowAnd with timid step I go—For with load of love o'er ladenI enquire of every maiden,"Will you wed me, little lady?Will you share my cottage shady?"Little lady answers "No!Thank you for your kindly proffer—Good your heart, and full your coffer;Yet I must decline your offer—I'm engaged to So-and-so!"So-and-so!So-and-so! (flageolet solo)She's engaged to So-and-so!What a rogue young hearts to pillage;What a worker on Love's tillage!Every maiden in the villageIs engage to So-and-so!So-and-so!So-and-so! (flageolet solo)All engaged to So-and-so!(At the end of the song Dr. Daly sees Aline, and, under theinfluence of the potion, falls in love with her.)ENSEMBLE—ALINE and DR. DALY.Oh, joyous boon! oh, mad delight;Oh, sun and moon! oh, day and night!Rejoice, rejoice with me!Proclaim our joy, ye birds above—Yet brooklets, murmur forth our love,In choral ecstasy:ALINE. Oh, joyous boon!DR. D. Oh, mad delight!ALINE. Oh, sun and moon!DR. D. Oh, day and night!BOTH. Ye birds, and brooks, and fruitful trees,With choral joy, delight the breeze—Rejoice, rejoice with me!Enter AlexisALEXIS (with rapture). Aline my only love, my happiness!The philtre—you have tasted it?ALINE (with confusion). Yes! Yes!ALEXIS Oh, joy, mine, mine for ever, and for aye!(Embraces her.)ALINE Alexis, don't do that—you must not!(Dr. Daly interposes between them)ALEXIS (amazed). Why?DUET—ALINE and DR. DALYALINE. Alas! that lovers thus should meet:Oh, pity, pity me!Oh, charge me not with cold deceit;Oh, pity, pity me!You bade me drink—with trembling aweI drank, and, by the potion's law,I loved the very first I saw!Oh, pity, pity, me!DR. D. My dear young friend, consoled be—We pity, pity you.In this I'm not an agent free—We pity, pity you.Some most extraordinary spellO'er us has cast its magic fell—The consequence I need not tell.We pity, pit you.ENSEMBLESome most extraordinary spellO'er (us/them) has cast its magic fell—The consequence (we/they) need not tell.(We/They) pity, pity (thee!/me).ALEXIS (furiously) False one, begone—I spurn thee,To thy new lover turn thee!Thy perfidy all men shall know,ALINE. (wildly) I could not help it!ALEXIS (calling off) Come one, come all!DR. D. We could not help it!ALEXIS (calling off) Obey my call!ALINE (wildly) I could not help it!ALEXIS (calling off) Come hither, run!DR. D. We could not help it!ALEXIS (calling off) Come, every one!Enter all the characters except Lady Sangazure and Mr. WellsCHORUSOh, what is the matter, and what is the clatter?He's glowering at her, and threatens a blow!Oh, why does he batter the girl he did flatter?And why does the latter recoil from him so?RECITATIVE—ALEXISPrepare for sad surprises—My love Aline despises!No thought of sorrow shames her—Another lover claims her!Be his, false girl, for better or for worse—But, ere you leave me, may a lover's curse—DR. D. (coming forward) Hold! Be just. This poor childdrank the philtre at your instance. She hurried off to meetyou—but, most unhappily, she met me instead. As you hadadministered the potion to both of us, the result was inevitable.But fear nothing from me—I will be no man's rival. I shall quitthe country at once—and bury my sorrow in the congenial gloom ofa Colonial Bishopric.ALEXIS My excellent old friend! (Taking his hand—thenturning to Mr. Wells, who has entered with Lady Sangazure.) Oh,Mr.Wells, what, what is to be done?WELLS I do not know—and yet—there is one means by whichthis spell may be removed.ALEXIS Name it—oh, name it!WELLS Or you or I must yield up his life to Ahrimanes. Iwould rather it were you. I should have no hesitation insacrificing my own life to spare yours, but we take stock nextweek, and it would not be fair on the Co.ALEXIS True. Well, I am ready!ALINE No, no—Alexis—it must not be! Mr. Wells, if hemust die that all may be restored to their old loves, what is tobecome of me? I should be left out in the cold, with no love tobe restored to!WELLS True—I did not think of that. (To the others) Myfriends, I appeal to you, and I will leave the decision in yourhands.FINALEMR. W. Or I or heMust die!Which shall it be?Reply!SIR M. Die thou!Thou art the cause of all offending!DR. D. Die thou!Yield to this decree unbending!ALL. Die thou!MR. W. So be it! I submit! My fate is sealed.To public execration thus I yield!(Falls on trap)Be happy all—leave me to my despair—I go—it matters not with whom—or where!(Gong)(All quit their present partners, and rejoin their old lovers.Sir Marmaduke leaves Mrs. Partlet, and goes to Lady Sangazure.Alineleaves Dr. Daly, and goes to Alexis. Dr. Daly leaves Aline, andgoesto Constance. Notary leaves Constance, and goes to Mrs. Partlet.Allthe Chorus makes a corresponding change.)ALLGENTLEMEN. Oh, my adored one!LADIES. Unmingled joy!GENTLEMEN. Ecstatic rapture!LADIES. Beloved boy!(They embrace)SIR M. Come to my mansion, all of you! At leastWe'll crown our rapture with another feast!ENSEMBLESIR MARMADUKE, LADY SANGAZURE, ALEXIS, and ALINENow to the banquet we press—Now for the eggs and the ham—Now for the mustard and cress—Now for the strawberry jam!CHORUS Now to the banquet, etc.DR. DALY, CONSTANCE, NOTARY, and MRS. PARTLETNow for the tea of our host—Now for the rollicking bun—Now for the muffin and toast—Now for the gay Sally Lunn!CHORUS. Now for the tea, etc.(General Dance)(During the symphony Mr. Wells sinks through the trap, amid redfire.)CURTAIN
ORTHE GODS GROWN OLD
Libretto by William S. GilbertMusic by Arthur S. Sullivan
DRAMATIS PERSONAEGODSJupiter, Aged DietyApollo, Aged DietyMars, Aged DietyDiana, Aged DietyMercuryTHESPIANSThespisSillimonTimidonTipseionPreposterosStupidasSparkeionNicemisPretteiaDaphneCymonACT I - Ruined Temple on the Summit of Mount OlympusACT II - The same Scene, with the Ruins Restored