Fallen Fairies Web Opera Act I

You are here: Archive Home > Fallen Fairies > Web Opera > Act I

No. 8: Song (Selene) & Chorus

Selene.
		Poor, purblind, untaught youths, We seek to teach ye truths
	Which now ye wot not of, as we suppose!
		Our aid ye sorely need. For ye are frail indeed — Each a poor fragile reed
	Swayed to and fro by every breeze that blows!
		[Taking his hand and stroking it tenderly.
		And we are good and pure, Safe from temptations lure.
	(There are no temptations to disturb our rest!)
		Unknown the fierce delights That lure attractive knights Into disastrous plights, Into disastrous plights!
(aside to DARINE).¹
	They are attractive, it must be confessed!
Chorus.
	Though worldly passions animate each breast, They are attractive, it must be confessed!
Selene.
		Poor maidens to deceive A potent spell ye weave,
	To which those all-too-willing victims yield!
		[Kissing his hand.
		We fairies hope to show The ills that from it flow, And teach you to forgo
	The marv'lous enchantment, The marv'lous enchantment that ye wield.
		[Gently stroking his face.
		Homeward returning then, Pure, simple, guileless men,
	Say this to all the maids with whom ye are in touch,²
		"Would ye live free from harm? Then shun, in wild alarm, Our strange mysterious charm!
(Aside to ZAYDA, sighing).
	The maids may shun it, but I doubt it much.
Chorus.
		Would ye escape the plights That spring from love's delights, Shun all attractive knights!
(Aside to each other, sighing).
	The maids may do so, but I doubt it much!

Selene.		Chorus.
	Ah! I doubt it much, doubt it much!		Ah!
	Ah! I doubt		Ah!
	it much!		The maids may do so,
	But I doubt it much,		But I doubt it much, I doubt
	I doubt it much!		it, doubt it much!

During SELENE's song and the chorus, DARINE, ZAYDA, and others have been dealing tenderly with PHYLLON. All show that they are deeply impressed by the two knights.

ENSEMBLE. — Sir Ethais and Sir Phyllon (nudging each other).

13 August, 2011ake offence —

Phyllon.
	With keen remorse
		We tell you penitentially,
	Our lives are course
		And villainous essentially —
	But bred and born
		In Pagan Principality,
	We view with scorn
		Our former immorality.
Ethais.
	Of blameless state
		We've hope infinitesimal
	(We calculate
		Its value to a decimal),
	Unless at once
		You give, experimentally,
	Each wayward dunce
		A polish-up, parentally!
Phyllon. (to DARINE).
	This humble pie
		Is but a tough comestible
	Which he and I
		Find rather indigestible!
Ethais (to SELENE).
	That's just his way —
		An ill-bred Oriental man.
	Forgive him, pray —
		Of course he's not a gentleman!
Phyllon.
	My penitence
		Perhaps is unconventional.
Ethais (to SELENE).
		I'm sure it's unintentional.
Both.
	For both are bound
		For fairy course probational;
	So pray expound
		This system educational!
Chorus.
	With keen remorse, keen remorse
		They tell us penitentially
	Their lives are coarse
		And villianous essentially.

Darine, Zayda and Locrine.
	Oh, gentle knights, with joy elate,
		We'll teach you to abjure
	All earthly dross, and cultivate
		The blameless and the pure!
	Be docile pupils in our school,
		While we, with earnest heart,
	Of all that's good, of all that's good
			And all that's beautiful
		The theories³ impart!

Chorus.
	Be docile pupils in our school,
		While we, with earnest heart,
	Of all that's good, of all that's good
			And all that's beautiful
		The theories impart!

Darine, Zayda and Locrine.		Chorus.
	Of all that's beautiful		The theories impart!
	The theories impart!		The theories impart!

Selene. (recit.)
	If my obedient pupils you would be, You must avow your loyalty to me.
		No doubt you recognise Some formula, world-wise,
	That binds your heart in solemn fealty?

1. Zayda in the libretto, Darine in the vocal score.

2. This line and those following read:

"Warn all poor maids with whom ye are in touch
	(Would they live free from harm) To shun, in wild alarm, Your strange mysterious charm!"

in the libretto.

3. For "theories" read "principles" in the libretto.

Archive Home | Fallen Fairies

Page modified 13 March 2009