Fallen Fairies Web Opera Act I

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No. 2: Chorus (with solos)
No. 3: Recit. & Song (Lutin) with Chorus

Enter LUTIN, appearing through the gap in the cloud as though rising from the earth below.

Chorus.
	Hail, Lutin, wondrous traveller!
		Thrice welcome back to Fairyland!
	Hail, Lutin, wondrous traveller!
		Thrice welcome back to Fairyland!
	Exploring fay, thyself bestir
			To tell us all That did befall
	Thy stay amid those mortals banned While far, far away from Fairyland!

Darine.
	We to ascertain are eager All the ills that did beleaguer
		And assail thy mortal portals Whilst thou wast among the mortals.

Fleta.
	Didst thou join in all their revels? Drink and dance with all their devils?
		Didst thou see, with awestruck daring, Dicer dicing, swearer swearing?

Chorus.
	Tell us all that did befall — Tell us some and tell us all!

Zayda.
	Didst thou watch, with sorrow sobbing, Liar lying, robber robbing,
		Drinker drinking, gorger gorging, Pinker pinking, forger forging?

Locrine.
	Cooer cooing, biller billing, Wooer wooing, killer killing,
		Prater prating, blabber blabbing, Hater hating, stabber stabbing?

Chorus.
	Tell us all that did befall — Tell us some and tell us all!
		Didst thou join in all their revels? Didst thou dance with all their devils?
			Didst thou see, with awe-struck daring Dicer dicing — swearer swearing?
		Didst thou watch, with sorrow sobbing, Liar lying, robber robbing,
			Drinker drinking, gorger gorging, Pinker pinking, forger forging?
		Prater prating, blabber blabbing, Hater hating, stabber stabbing?
			Kicker kicking, beater beating, Sticker sticking, cheater cheating?
				Ah!
	Tell us all that did befall — O tell us some and tell us all,
		tell us some and tell us all, tell us all!

Lutin. (recit.)
	What! tell you all? Not so!
		All that down there occurred?
		'Twould numb your souls with awe —
				You know not what you ask!
	Describe you all I know?
		Repeat you all I heard?
			Narrate you all I saw?
				God save me from such task!
	One tale I'll try to tell — it will suffice To illustrate their tendency to vice!

SONG— Lutin.

Lutin.	One incident I'll tell that will appall
		Each gentle little heart and head.
	Come, fairies, gather round me, one and all —
		(The details to impart I dread!)
	A tale to cause a demon's flesh to creep,
		And absolutely shock his ears;
	'Twould bring the tears to eyes that never weep,
		And melt a very rock to tears!
Chorus.	'Twould melt a very rock to tears!
Lutin.	So horribly bad that tale appears, It's scarcely fit for fairy spheres; 'Twould outrage e'en a demon's ears — And I'm going to tell it to you, my dears!
Chorus. (in great delight).
	He's going to tell it to us, my dears! He's going to tell it to us, my dears!
Lutin.	Although 'twill make your blood run cold, The terrible details I'll unfold!
Chorus.		So horribly bad that tale appears, It's scarcely fit for fairy spheres; 'Twould outrage e'en a demon's ears —
Lutin.		And I'm going to tell it to you, my dears!

Lutin.	There was a gallant knight of Portugee,
		Who loved a Moorish maid so well
	That he took ship and sailed to Barbaree
		(That's where the little jade did dwell).
	He journeyed o'er the stormy sea apace
		(Of nothing was that knight afraid),
	And when at last they met in an embrace,
		What do you think the naughty maiden said?
Chorus.	We wonder what the little hussy said!
Lutin.	(spoken) She said — but no, their dark careers Would shock your souls and draw your tears; They're quite unfit for decent ears — And I'm hanged if I'll tell 'em to you, my dears!
Chorus. (disappointed).
	He'll be hanged if he'll tell 'em to us, my dears! He'll be hanged if he'll tell 'em to us, my dears!
Lutin.	First thoughts are silver — second, gold; And I'm sorry to say that they can't be told!
Chorus. (vexed).
	His tale is cast in mocking mould — He says it is both bad and bold; We hoped for details, and behold —
Lutin.	I'm sorry to say that they can't be told! I'm sorry to say they can't be told! I'm sorry to say they can't be told!

Page modified 13 March 2009