CURTAIN.
ORTHE SLAVE OF DUTY
DRAMATIS PERSONAEMAJOR-GENERAL STANLEYTHE PIRATE KINGSAMUEL (his Lieutenant)SERGEANT OF POLICEMABEL, EDITH, KATE, and ISABEL (General Stanley's Daughters)RUTH (a Pirate Maid of all Work)Chorus of Pirates, Police, and General Stanley's Daughters
ACT IA rocky sea-shore on the coast of CornwallACT IIA ruined chapel by moonlight
First produced at the Opera Comique on April 3, 1880
(Scene.-A rocky seashore on the coast of Cornwall. In thedistance is a calm sea, on which a schooner is lying at anchor.Rock L. sloping down to L.C. of stage. Under these rocks is acavern, the entrance to which is seen at first entrance L. Anatural arch of rock occupies the R.C. of the stage. As thecurtain rises groups of pirates are discovered — some drinking,some playing cards. SAMUEL, the Pirate Lieutenant, is going fromone group to another, filling the cups from a flask. FREDERIC isseated in a despondent attitude at the back of the scene. RUTHkneels at his feet.)OPENING CHORUSALL: Pour, O pour the pirate sherry;Fill, O fill the pirate glass;And, to make us more than merryLet the pirate bumper pass.SAMUEL: For today our pirate 'prenticeRises from indentures freed;Strong his arm, and keen his scent isHe's a pirate now indeed!ALL: Here's good luck to Fred'ric's ventures!Fred'ric's out of his indentures.SAMUEL: Two and twenty, now he's rising,And alone he's fit to fly,Which we're bent on signalizingWith unusual revelry.ALL: Here's good luck to Fred'ric's ventures!Fred'ric's out of his indentures.Pour, O pour the pirate sherry;Fill, O fill the pirate glass;And, to make us more than merryLet the pirate bumper pass.(FREDERIC rises and comes forward with PIRATE KING, who enters)KING: Yes, Frederic, from to-day you rank as a full-blownmember of our band.ALL: Hurrah!FREDERIC: My friends, I thank you all, from my heart, for yourkindly wishes. Would that I could repay them as theydeserve!KING: What do you mean?FREDERIC: To-day I am out of my indentures, and to-day I leaveyou for ever.KING: But this is quite unaccountable; a keener hand atscuttling a Cunarder or cutting out a White Star nevershipped a handspike.FREDERIC: Yes, I have done my best for you. And why? It was myduty under my indentures, and I am the slave of duty.As a child I was regularly apprenticed to your band.It was through an error — no matter, the mistake wasours, not yours, and I was in honour bound by it.SAMUEL: An error? What error? (RUTH rises and comes forward)FREDERIC: I may not tell you; it would reflect upon my well-lovedRuth.RUTH: Nay, dear master, my mind has long been gnawed by thecankering tooth of mystery. Better have it out atonce.SONG — RUTHRUTH: When Frederic was a little lad he proved so brave anddaring,His father thought he'd 'prentice him to some careerseafaring.I was, alas! his nurs'rymaid, and so it fell to my lotTo take and bind the promising boy apprentice to apilot —A life not bad for a hardy lad, though surely not ahigh lot,Though I'm a nurse, you might do worse than make yourboy a pilot.I was a stupid nurs'rymaid, on breakers alwayssteering,And I did not catch the word aright, through being hardof hearing;Mistaking my instructions, which within my brain didgyrate,I took and bound this promising boy apprentice to apirate.A sad mistake it was to make and doom him to a vilelot.I bound him to a pirate — you! — instead of to apilot.I soon found out, beyond all doubt, the scope of thisdisaster,But I hadn't the face to return to my place, and breakit to my master.A nurs'rymaid is not afraid of what you people callwork,So I made up my mind to go as a kind of piratical maid-of-all-work.And that is how you find me now, a member of your shylot,Which you wouldn't have found, had he been boundapprentice to a pilot.RUTH: Oh, pardon! Frederic, pardon! (Kneels)FREDERIC: Rise, sweet one, I have long pardoned you. (Ruthrises)RUTH: The two words were so much alike!FREDERIC: They were. They still are, though years have rolledover their heads. But this afternoon my obligationceases. Individually, I love you all with affectionunspeakable; but, collectively, I look upon you with adisgust that amounts to absolute detestation. Oh! pityme, my beloved friends, for such is my sense of dutythat, once out of my indentures, I shall feel myselfbound to devote myself heart and soul to yourextermination!ALL: Poor lad — poor lad! (All weep)KING: Well, Frederic, if you conscientiously feel that it isyour duty to destroy us, we cannot blame you for actingon that conviction. Always act in accordance with thedictates of your conscience, my boy, and chance theconsequences.SAMUEL: Besides, we can offer you but little temptation toremain with us. We don't seem to make piracy pay. I'msure I don't know why, but we don't.FREDERIC: I know why, but, alas! I mustn't tell you; it wouldn'tbe right.KING: Why not, my boy? It's only half-past eleven, and youare one of us until the clock strikes twelve.SAMUEL: True, and until then you are bound to protect ourinterests.ALL: Hear, hear!FREDERIC: Well, then, it is my duty, as a pirate, to tell youthat you are too tender-hearted. For instance, youmake a point of never attacking a weaker party thanyourselves, and when you attack a stronger party youinvariably get thrashed.KING: There is some truth in that.FREDERIC: Then, again, you make a point of never molesting anorphan!SAMUEL: Of course: we are orphans ourselves, and know what itis.FREDERIC: Yes, but it has got about, and what is the consequence?Every one we capture says he's an orphan. The lastthree ships we took proved to be manned entirely byorphans, and so we had to let them go. One would thinkthat Great Britain's mercantile navy was recruitedsolely from her orphan asylums — which we know is notthe case.SAMUEL: But, hang it all! you wouldn't have us absolutelymerciless?FREDERIC: There's my difficulty; until twelve o'clock I would,after twelve I wouldn't. Was ever a man placed in sodelicate a situation?RUTH: And Ruth, your own Ruth, whom you love so well, and whohas won her middle-aged way into your boyish heart,what is to become of her?KING: Oh, he will take you with him.FREDERIC: Well, Ruth, I feel some difficulty about you. It istrue that I admire you very much, but I have beenconstantly at sea since I was eight years old, andyours is the only woman's face I have seen during thattime. I think it is a sweet face.RUTH: It is — oh, it is!FREDERIC: I say I think it is; that is my impression. But as Ihave never had an opportunity of comparing you withother women, it is just possible I may be mistaken.KING: True.FREDERIC: What a terrible thing it would be if I were to marrythis innocent person, and then find out that she is, onthe whole, plain!KING: Oh, Ruth is very well, very well indeed.SAMUEL: Yes, there are the remains of a fine woman about Ruth.FREDERIC: Do you really think so?SAMUEL: I do.FREDERIC: Then I will not be so selfish as to take her from you.In justice to her, and in consideration for you, I willleave her behind. (Hands RUTH to KING)KING: No, Frederic, this must not be. We are rough men, wholead a rough life, but we are not so utterly heartlessas to deprive thee of thy love. I think I am right insaying that there is not one here who would rob thee ofthis inestimable treasure for all the world holds dear.ALL: (loudly) Not one!KING: No, I thought there wasn't. Keep thy love, Frederic,keep thy love. (Hands her back to FREDERIC)FREDERIC: You're very good, I'm sure. (Exit RUTH)KING: Well, it's the top of the tide, and we must be off.Farewell, Frederic. When your process of exterminationbegins, let our deaths be as swift and painless as youcan conveniently make them.FREDERIC: I will! By the love I have for you, I swear it! Wouldthat you could render this extermination unnecessary byaccompanying me back to civilization!KING: No, Frederic, it cannot be. I don't think much of ourprofession, but, contrasted with respectability, it iscomparatively honest. No, Frederic, I shall live anddie a Pirate King.SONG — PIRATE KINGKING: Oh, better far to live and dieUnder the brave black flag I fly,Than play a sanctimonious partWith a pirate head and a pirate heart.Away to the cheating world go you,Where pirates all are well-to-do;But I'll be true to the song I sing,And live and die a Pirate King.For I am a Pirate King!And it is, it is a glorious thingTo be a Pirate King!For I am a Pirate King!ALL: You are!Hurrah for the Pirate King!KING: And it is, it is a glorious thingTo be a Pirate King.ALL: It is!Hurrah for the Pirate King!Hurrah for the Pirate King!KING: When I sally forth to seek my preyI help myself in a royal way.I sink a few more ships, it's true,Than a well-bred monarch ought to do;But many a king on a first-class throne,If he wants to call his crown his own,Must manage somehow to get throughMore dirty work than e'er I do,For I am a Pirate King!And it is, it is a glorious thingTo be a Pirate King!For I am a Pirate King!ALL: You are!Hurrah for the Pirate King!KING: And it is, it is a glorious thingTo be a Pirate King.ALL: It is!Hurrah for the Pirate King!Hurrah for the Pirate King!(Exeunt all except FREDERIC. Enter RUTH.)RUTH: Oh, take me with you! I cannot live if I am leftbehind.FREDERIC: Ruth, I will be quite candid with you. You are verydear to me, as you know, but I must be circumspect.You see, you are considerably older than I. A lad oftwenty-one usually looks for a wife of seventeen.RUTH: A wife of seventeen! You will find me a wife of athousand!FREDERIC: No, but I shall find you a wife of forty-seven, andthat is quite enough. Ruth, tell me candidly andwithout reserve: compared with other women, how areyou?RUTH: I will answer you truthfully, master: I have a slightcold, but otherwise I am quite well.FREDERIC: I am sorry for your cold, but I was referring rather toyour personal appearance. Compared with other women,are you beautiful?RUTH: (bashfully) I have been told so, dear master.FREDERIC: Ah, but lately?RUTH: Oh, no; years and years ago.FREDERIC: What do you think of yourself?RUTH: It is a delicate question to answer, but I think I am afine woman.FREDERIC: That is your candid opinion?RUTH: Yes, I should be deceiving you if I told you otherwise.FREDERIC: Thank you, Ruth. I believe you, for I am sure youwould not practice on my inexperience. I wish to dothe right thing, and if- I say if- you are really afine woman, your age shall be no obstacle to our union!(Shakes hands with her. Chorus of girls heard in thedistance, "climbing over rocky mountain," etc.) Hark!Surely I hear voices! Who has ventured to approach ourall but inaccessible lair? Can it be Custom House? No,it does not sound like Custom House.RUTH: (aside) Confusion! it is the voices of young girls!If he should see them I am lost.FREDERIC: (looking off) By all that's marvellous, a bevy ofbeautiful maidens!RUTH: (aside) Lost! lost! lost!FREDERIC: How lovely, how surpassingly lovely is the plainest ofthem! What grace- what delicacy- what refinement! AndRuth— Ruth told me she was beautiful!RECITATIVEFREDERIC: Oh, false one, you have deceived me!RUTH: I have deceived you?FREDERIC: Yes, deceived me!(Denouncing her.)FREDERIC: You told me you were fair as gold!RUTH: (wildly) And, master, am I not so?FREDERIC: And now I see you're plain and old.RUTH: I'm sure I'm not a jot so.FREDERIC: Upon my innocence you play.RUTH: I'm not the one to plot so.FREDERIC: Your face is lined, your hair is grey.RUTH: It's gradually got so.FREDERIC: Faithless woman, to deceive me,I who trusted so!RUTH: Master, master, do not leave me!Hear me, ere you go!My love without reflecting,Oh, do not be rejecting!Take a maiden tender, her affection raw and green,At very highest rating,Has been accumulatingSummers seventeen, summers seventeen.Don't, beloved master,Crush me with disaster.What is such a dower to the dower I have here?My love unabatingHas been accumulatingForty-seven year—forty-seven year!ENSEMBLERUTH FREDERICDon't, beloved master, Yes, your former masterCrush me with disaster. Saves you from disaster.What is such a dower to the Your love would be uncomfortablydower I have here fervid, it is clearMy love unabating If, as you are statingHas been accumulating It's been accumulatingForty-seven year, forty-seven Forty-seven year—forty-seven year!year! Faithless woman to deceive me, Iwho trusted so!Master, master, do not leave Faithless woman to deceive me, Ime, hear me, ere I go! who trusted so!RECIT—FREDERICWhat shall I do? Before these gentle maidensI dare not show in this alarming costume!No, no, I must remain in close concealmentUntil I can appear in decent clothing!(Hides in cave as they enter climbing over the rocks and througharched rock)GIRLS: Climbing over rocky mountain,Skipping rivulet and fountain,Passing where the willows quiver,Passing where the willows quiverBy the ever-rolling river,Swollen with the summer rain, the summer rainThreading long and leafy mazesDotted with unnumbered daisies,Dotted, dotted with unnumbered daisies,Scaling rough and rugged passes,Climb the hardy little lasses,Till the bright sea-shore they gain;Scaling rough and rugged passes,Climb the hardy little lasses,Till the bright sea-shore they gain!EDITH: Let us gaily tread the measure,Make the most of fleeting leisure,Hail it as a true ally,Though it perish by-and-by.GIRLS: Hail it as a true ally,Though it perish by-and-by.EDITH: Every moment brings a treasureOf its own especial pleasure;Though the moments quickly die,Greet them gaily as they fly,Greet them gaily as they fly.GIRLS: Though the moments quickly die,Greet them gaily as they fly.KATE: Far away from toil and care,Revelling in fresh sea-air,Here we live and reign aloneIn a world that's all our own.Here, in this our rocky den,Far away from mortal men,We'll be queens, and make decrees—They may honour them who please.GIRLS: We'll be queens, and make decrees—They may honour them who please.Let us gaily tread the measure, etc.KATE: What a picturesque spot! I wonder where we are!EDITH: And I wonder where Papa is. We have left him ever sofar behind.ISABEL: Oh, he will be here presently! Remember poor Papa isnot as young as we are, and we came over a ratherdifficult country.KATE: But how thoroughly delightful it is to be so entirelyalone! Why, in all probability we are the first humanbeings who ever set foot on this enchanting spot.ISABEL: Except the mermaids—it's the very place for mermaids.KATE: Who are only human beings down to the waist—EDITH: And who can't be said strictly to set foot anywhere.Tails they may, but feet they cannot.KATE: But what shall we do until Papa and the servants arrivewith the luncheon?EDITH: We are quite alone, and the sea is as smooth as glass.Suppose we take off our shoes and stockings and paddle?ALL: Yes, yes! The very thing! (They prepare to carry, outthe suggestion. They have all taken off one shoe, whenFREDERIC comes forward from cave.)FREDERIC: (recitative). Stop, ladies, pray!GIRLS: (Hopping on one foot) A man!FREDERIC: I had intendedNot to intrude myself upon your noticeIn this effective but alarming costume;But under these peculiar circumstances,It is my bounden duty to inform youThat your proceedings will not be unwitnessed!EDITH: But who are you, sir? Speak! (All hopping)FREDERIC: I am a pirate!GIRLS: (recoiling, hopping) A pirate! Horror!FREDERIC: Ladies, do not shun me!This evening I renounce my vile profession;And, to that end, O pure and peerless maidens!Oh, blushing buds of ever-blooming beauty!I, sore at heart, implore your kind assistance.EDITH: How pitiful his tale!KATE: How rare his beautyGIRLS: How pitiful his tale! How rare his beauty!SONG—FREDERICOh, is there not one maiden breastWhich does not feel the moral beautyOf making worldly interestSubordinate to sense of duty?Who would not give up willinglyAll matrimonial ambition,To rescue such a one as IFrom his unfortunate position?From his position,To rescue such an one as IFrom his unfortunate position?GIRLS: Alas! there's not one maiden breastWhich seems to feel the moral beautyOf making worldly interestSubordinate to sense of duty!FREDERIC: Oh, is there not one maiden hereWhose homely face and bad complexionHave caused all hope to disappearOf ever winning man's affection?Of such a one, if such there be,I swear by Heaven's arch above you,If you will cast your eyes on me,However plain you be, I'll love you,However plain you be,If you will cast your eyes on me,However plain you be I'll love you,I'll love you, I'll love, I'll love you!GIRLS: Alas! there's not one maiden hereWhose homely face and bad complexionHave caused all hope to disappearOf ever winning man's affection!FREDERIC: (in despair) Not one?GIRLS: No, no— not one!FREDERIC: Not one?GIRLS: No, no!MABEL: (enters through arch) Yes, one!Yes, one!GIRLS: 'Tis Mabel!MABEL: Yes, 'tis Mabel!RECIT—MABELOh, sisters, deaf to pity's name,For shame!It's true that he has gone astray,But prayIs that a reason good and trueWhy youShould all be deaf to pity's name?GIRLS: (aside): The question is, had he not beenA thing of beauty,Would she be swayed by quite as keenA sense of duty?MABEL: For shame, for shame, for shame!SONG—MABELMABEL: Poor wand'ring one!Though thou hast surely strayed,Take heart of grace,Thy steps retrace,Poor wand'ring one!Poor wand'ring one!If such poor love as mineCan help thee findTrue peace of mind-Why, take it, it is thine!GIRLS: Take heart, no danger low'rs;Take any heart but ours!MABEL: Take heart, fair days will shine;Take any heart—take mine!GIRLS: Take heart; no danger low'rs;Take any heart-but ours!MABEL: Take heart, fair days will shine;Take any heart—take mine!Poor wand'ring one!, etc.(MABEL and FREDERIC go to mouth of cave and converse. EDITHbeckons her sisters, who form a semicircle around her.)EDITHWhat ought we to do,Gentle sisters, say?Propriety, we know,Says we ought to stay;While sympathy exclaims,"Free them from your tether—Play at other games—Leave them here together."KATEHer case may, any day,Be yours, my dear, or mine.Let her make her hayWhile the sun doth shine.Let us compromise(Our hearts are not of leather):Let us shut our eyesAnd talk about the weather.GIRLS: Yes, yes, let's talk about the weather.Chattering chorusHow beautifully blue the sky,The glass is rising very high,Continue fine I hope it may,And yet it rained but yesterday.To-morrow it may pour again(I hear the country wants some rain),Yet people say, I know not why,That we shall have a warm July.To-morrow it may pour again(I hear the country wants some rain),Yet people say, I know not why,That we shall have a warm July.Enter MABEL and FREDERIC
.During MABEL's solo the GIRLS continue chatter pianissimo, butlistening eagerly all the time.SOLO—MABELDid ever maiden wakeFrom dream of homely duty,To find her daylight breakWith such exceeding beauty?Did ever maiden closeHer eyes on waking sadness,To dream of such exceeding gladness?FREDERIC: Ah, yes! ah, yes! this is exceeding gladnessGIRLS: How beautifully blue the sky, etc.SOLO—FREDERIC
.During this, GIRLS continue their chatter pianissimo as before,but listening intently all the time.Did ever pirate rollHis soul in guilty dreaming,And wake to find that soulWith peace and virtue beaming?ENSEMBLEFREDERIC MABEL GIRLSDid ever pirate Did ever maiden wake How beautifully blueloathed From dream of homely the sky, etc.Forsake his hideous duty,mission To find her daylightTo find himself breakbetrothed With such exceedingTo lady of position? beauty?RECIT—FREDERICStay, we must not lose our senses;Men who stick at no offencesWill anon be here!Piracy their dreadful trade is;Pray you, get you hence, young ladies,While the coast is clear(FREDERIC and MABEL retire)GIRLS: No, we must not lose our senses,If they stick at no offencesWe should not be here!Piracy their dreadful trade is—Nice companions for young ladies!Let us disap—.(During this chorus the PIRATES have entered stealthily, andformed in a semicircle behind the GIRLS. As the GIRLS moveto go off, each PIRATE seizes a GIRL. KING seizes EDITH andISABEL, SAMUEL seizes KATE.)GIRLS: Too late!PIRATES: Ha, ha!GIRLS: Too late!PIRATES: Ho, ho!Ha, ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho, ho!ENSEMBLE(Pirates pass in front of (Girls pass in front ofGirls.) Pirates.)PIRATES GIRLSHere's a first-rate opportunity We have missed our opportunityTo get married with impunity, Of escaping with impunity;And indulge in the felicity So farewell to the felicityOf unbounded domesticity. Of our maiden domesticity!You shall quickly be We shall quickly beparsonified, parsonified,Conjugally matrimonified, Conjugally matrimonified,By a doctor of divinity By a doctor of divinity,Who is located in this Who is located in thisvicinity. vicinity.By a doctor of divinity, By a doctor of divinity,Who resides in this vicinity, Who resides in this vicinity,By a doctor, a doctor, a doctor By a doctor, a doctor, a doctorof divinity, of divinity. of divinity, of divinity.
RECITMABEL: (coming forward) Hold, monsters! Ere your piratecaravanseraiProceed, against our will, to wed us all,Just bear in mind that we are Wards in Chancery,And father is a Major-General!SAMUEL: (cowed) We'd better pause, or danger may befall,Their father is a Major-General.GIRLS: Yes, yes; he is a Major-General!(The MAJOR-GENERAL has entered unnoticed, on the rock)GENERAL: Yes, yes, I am a Major-General!SAMUEL: For he is a Major-General!ALL: He is! Hurrah for the Major-General!GENERAL: And it is, it is a glorious thingTo be a Major-General!ALL: It is! Hurrah for the Major-General!Hurrah for the Major-General!SONG—MAJOR-GENERALI am the very model of a modern Major-General,I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral,I know the kings of England, and I quote the fightshistoricalFrom Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;I'm very well acquainted, too, with mattersmathematical,I understand equations, both the simple andquadratical,About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news,With many cheerful facts about the square of thehypotenuse.ALL: With many cheerful facts, etc.GENERAL: I'm very good at integral and differential calculus;I know the scientific names of beings animalculous:In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,I am the very model of a modern Major-General.ALL: In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,He is the very model of a modern Major-General.GENERAL: I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and SirCaradoc's;I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste forparadox,I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous;I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows andZoffanies,I know the croaking chorus from the Frogs ofAristophanes!Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music'sdin afore,And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsensePinafore.ALL: And whistle all the airs, etc.GENERAL: Then I can write a washing bill inBabylonic cuneiform,And tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus's uniform:In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,I am the very model of a modern Major-General.ALL: In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,He is the very model of a modern Major-General.GENERAL: In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and"ravelin",When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin,When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm morewary at,And when I know precisely what is meant by"commissariat",When I have learnt what progress has been made inmodern gunnery,When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery--In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy,You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.ALL: You'll say a better Major-General, etc.GENERAL: For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky andadventury,Has only been brought down to the beginning of thecentury;But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,I am the very model of a modern Major-General.ALL: But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,He is the very model of a modern Major-General.GENERAL: And now that I've introduced myself, I should like tohave some idea of what's going on.KATE: Oh, Papa— we—-SAMUEL: Permit me, I'll explain in two words: we propose tomarry your daughters.GENERAL: Dear me!GIRLS: Against our wills, Papa—against our wills!GENERAL: Oh, but you mustn't do that! May I ask— this is apicturesque uniform, but I'm not familiar with it.What are you?KING: We are all single gentlemen.GENERAL: Yes, I gathered that. Anything else?KING: No, nothing else.EDITH: Papa, don't believe them; they are pirates— thefamous Pirates of Penzance!GENERAL: The Pirates of Penzance! I have often heard of them.MABEL: All except this gentleman (indicating FREDERIC), whowas a pirate once, but who is out of his indentures to-day, and who means to lead a blameless life evermore.GENERAL: But wait a bit. I object to pirates as sons-in-law.KING: We object to major-generals as fathers-in-law. But wewaive that point. We do not press it. We look over it.GENERAL: (aside) Hah! an idea! (aloud) And do you mean to saythat you would deliberately rob me of these, the soleremaining props of my old age, and leave me to gothrough the remainder of my life unfriended,unprotected, and alone?KING: Well, yes, that's the idea.GENERAL: Tell me, have you ever known what it is to be anorphan?PIRATES: (disgusted) Oh, dash it all!KING: Here we are again!GENERAL: I ask you, have you ever known what it is to be anorphan?KING: Often!GENERAL: Yes, orphan. Have you ever known what it is to be one?KING: I say, often.ALL: (disgusted) Often, often, often. (Turning away)GENERAL: I don't think we quite understand one another. I askyou, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan,and you say "orphan". As I understand you, you aremerely repeating the word "orphan" to show that youunderstand me.KING: I didn't repeat the word often.GENERAL: Pardon me, you did indeed.KING: I only repeated it once.GENERAL: True, but you repeated it.KING: But not often.GENERAL: Stop! I think I see where we are getting confused.When you said "orphan", did you mean "orphan",a personwho has lost his parents, or "often", frequently?KING: Ah! I beg pardon— I see what you mean — frequently.GENERAL: Ah! you said "often", frequently.KING: No, only once.GENERAL: (irritated) Exactly— you said "often", frequently,only once.FINALE OF ACT IGENERAL: Oh, men of dark and dismal fate,Forgo your cruel employ,Have pity on my lonely state,I am an orphan boy!KING/SAMUEL: An orphan boy?GENERAL: An orphan boy!PIRATES: How sad, an orphan boy.GENERAL: These children whom you seeAre all that I can call my own!PIRATES: Poor fellow!GENERAL: Take them away from me,And I shall be indeed alone.PIRATES: Poor fellow!GENERAL: If pity you can feel,Leave me my sole remaining joy—See, at your feet they kneel;Your hearts you cannot steelAgainst the sad, sad tale of the lonely orphan boy!PIRATES: (sobbing) Poor fellow!See at our feet they kneel;Our hearts we cannot steelAgainst the sad, sad tale of the lonely orphan boy!SAMUEL: The orphan boy!add KING: The orphan boy!See at our feet they kneel;Our hearts we cannot steelAgainst the tale of the lonely orphan boy!PIRATES: Poor fellow!ENSEMBLEGENERAL (aside) GIRLS (aside) PIRATES(aside)I'm telling a terrible He is telling a terrible If he's tellingastory story, terriblestoryBut it doesn't diminish Which will tend to He shall die bya deathmy glory; diminish his that is goryFor they would have glory; Yes, one of thetaken my daughters Though they would have cruellestOver the billowy waters, taken his slaughtersdaughters That ever wereknown inOver the billowy waters, thesewaters;If I hadn't, in elegant It is easy, in elegant It is easy, inelegantdiction, diction. diction,Indulged in an innocent To call it an innocent To call it aninnocentfiction, fiction, fictionWhich is not in the same But it comes in the same But it comes inthe samecategory category categoryAs a regular terrible As telling a regular As telling aregularstory. terrible story. terriblestory.KING: Although our dark careerSometimes involves the crime of stealing,We rather think that we'reNot altogether void of feeling.Although we live by strife,We're always sorry to begin it,For what, we ask, is lifeWithout a touch of Poetry in it?(all kneel)ALL: Hail, Poetry, thou heav'n-born maid!Thou gildest e'en the pirate's trade.Hail, flowing fount of sentiment!All hail, all hail, divine emollient!(all rise)KING: You may go, for you're at liberty, our pirate rulesprotect you,And honorary members of our band we do elect you!SAMUEL: For he is an orphan boy!CHORUS: He is! Hurrah for the orphan boy!GENERAL: And it sometimes is a useful thingTo be an orphan boy.CHORUS: It is! Hurrah for the orphan boy!Hurrah for the orphan boy!ENSEMBLE: Oh, happy day, with joyous gleeThey will away and married be!Should it befall auspiciously,Her (Our) sisters all will bridesmaids be!(RUTH enters and comes down to FREDERIC)RUTH: Oh, master, hear one word, I do implore you!Remember Ruth, your Ruth, who kneels before you!PIRATES: Yes, yes, remember Ruth, who kneels before you!FREDERIC: Away, you did deceive me!PIRATES: (Threatening RUTH) Away, you did deceive him!RUTH: Oh, do not leave me!PIRATES: Oh, do not leave her!FREDERIC: Away, you grieve me!PIRATES: Away, you grieve him!FREDERIC: I wish you'd leave me! (FREDERIC casts RUTH from him)PIRATES: We wish you'd leave him!ENSEMBLEMEN WOMENPray observe the magnanimity Pray observe the magnanimityWe display to lace and dimity! They display to lace anddimity!Never was such opportunity Never was such opportunityTo get married with impunity, To get married with impunity,But we give up the felicity But they give up the felicityOf unbounded domesticity, Of unbounded domesticity,Though a doctor of divinity Though a doctor of divinityIs located in this vicinity. Is located in this vicinity.(GIRLS and MAJOR-GENERAL go up rocks, while PIRATES indulge in awild dance of delight on stage. The MAJOR-GENERAL producesa British flag, and the PIRATE KING, in arched rock,produces a black flag with skull and crossbones. EnterRUTH, who makes a final appeal to FREDERIC, who casts herfrom him.)END OF ACT I