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No. 7 - Finale Act I
| Chorus: | Comes the happy maiden, Fair as any flow'r |
| Basses: | Heart with rapture... |
| Others: | Heart with rapture laden At this joyous hour. Eyes that droop demurely, Cheeks that glow with pride. Never was there surely such a lovely bride. |
| Ladies: | Roses, strew your petals fresh and sweet At her feet, Tall Madonna lilies, bow your heads Where she treads. Throstle on the hawthorn spray, Sing a joyous roundelay. Zephyrs stirring up aloft Whisper music low and soft All things do her honour, Fortune smile upon her. Grief and gloom should find no room On this her wedding day. |
| Josephine: | As butterfly that leaves the chrysalis, Spreading its wings and flaunting in the sun, I leave behind a modest home like this To flutter to a far more stately one. With Fortune's favours quite content I am, And "Mad'moiselle" henceforth becomes "Madame." |
| Josephine: | Timidly a maiden stands At the parting of the ways, Reaching out, with eager hands, From the realm of girlish days, To that future bright and glowing O'er the borderline of life, Where she's going little knowing What awaits her as a wife. Strange at first no doubt she'll find it, I, for one, shan't mind it. Oh, this time yesterday, People were always saying, "Oui, Mad'moiselle! C'est bon, Mad'moiselle!" "Fi! Mad'moiselle! Ah non, Mad'moiselle!" But goodbye yesterday, I leave you without much sorrow, For I know quite well I shan't be "Mad'moiselle" By this time tomorrow. |
| Childhood's days are past and gone, Girlhood's golden hours are sped, Other scenes I'll gaze upon, Other duties lie ahead. Yet I see no cause for sorrow In the life I mean to live; One can borrow from tomorrow More than yesterday could give. So the future holds no warning On my wedding morning. Oh, this time yesterday, People were always saying, "Oui, Mad'moiselle! C'est bon, Mad'moiselle!" "Fi! Mad'moiselle! Ah non, Mad'moiselle!" But goodbye yesterday, I leave you without much sorrow, For I know quite well I shan't be "Mad'moiselle" By this time tomorrow. |
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| Chorus: | Oh, this time yesterday, People were always saying, "Oui, Mad'moiselle! C'est bon, Mad'moiselle!" "Fi! Mad'moiselle! Ah non, Mad'moiselle!" But goodbye yesterday, I leave you without much sorrow, |
| Josephine: | For I know quite well I shan't be "Mad'moiselle" |
| All: | By this time tomorrow. |
| Miradoux: | My dearest Josephine, the hour draws near When to the altar you must wend your way. |
| Josephine: | Monseigneur le Marquis, he should be here, What is the meaning of this strange delay? For surely it were insolence sublime To keep me waiting and at such a time! |
| Chorus: | This strange delay is really most perplexing, One such a day it's just a little vexing. |
| Josephine: | I rage, I fume, to think that he Should thus presume to mock at me; It shows a lack of courtesy To do me such dishonour. Oh I declare no vulgar knave Would ever dare to thus behave, A man should be a woman's slave And gladly wait upon her. |
| Miradoux: | Be patient, Josephine, |
| Josephine: | Too patient I have been! |
| Denise: | But listen, sister dear — |
| Josephine: | Now don't you interfere! I'll teach Monseigneur le Marquis To make a laughing stock of me! |
| Chorus: | She'll teach Monseigneur le Marquis To show to her more courtesy! |
| Comte: | Mad'moiselle, he loves you dearly — |
| Josephine: | Oh! that's affectation merely — |
| Comte: | He adores the ground you tread — |
| Josephine: | Still, his conduct's most ill-bred. No excuse is any use, 'Tis an insult and he's planned it. I declare and vow and swear I won't stand it! I won't... |
| Chorus: | Monseigneur le Marquis de Brevancourt! |
| Josephine: | My hand you shall not kiss, At such a time as this Your conduct's most remiss, Explain it if you can, Pray why are you so late? Allow me, Sir, to state, I've never had to wait For any other man. |
| Marquis: | Indeed, Mad'moiselle, Although I'm here at last I've no excuse, No doubt you think it strange; You've often kept me waiting in the past, So why should you mind waiting for a change? |
| Comte: | The guests are waiting and the moments fly; Already you can hear the wedding bell; |
| Marquis: | We'll finish this discussion by and by, As for today, allow me Mad'moiselle! |
| Ladies: | Lead on! the merry marriage bells are ringing And the golden hours are winging on their flight. Lead on! along the path that lies before us While our hearts in joyful chorus all unite. |
| Men: | Now for happy man and maiden, May all life be laughter laden |
| All: | Long may they enjoy together Perfect days of Summer weather, Lead on! the merry marriage bells are ringing and the golden hours are winging on their flight. Lead on! along the path that lies before us While our hearts in happy chorus all unite, Our hearts in happy chorus, Our hearts in happy chorus, Our hearts in happy chorus all unite. |
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Page modified 6 January 2017