> >>> Act
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No. 20: Scene (Arrostino, Pietro and Chorus)
 |
Enter from monastery
a procession of Tamorras, now transformed
into Dominican
Monks, chaunting from black-letter volumes; ARROSTINO as
the Prior.
CHAUNT.
| CHORUS. | ||
| Time there was when earthly joy Gave our senses full employ; In those days, for ever gone, Bless us, how we carried on! |
||
| Clinking glasses — Lovely lasses — Revel hearty — Picnic party — Gay donzella — Tarantella! |
||
| TENORS. | ||
| Gay donzella — | ||
| BASSES. | ||
| Tarantella! | ||
| ALL. | ||
| In those days, for ever gone, Bless us, how we carried on! |
||
| (confidentially to audience). | ||
| It's a most unaccountable thing — | ||
| An hour ago, as banditti, | ||
| We played like young lovers in spring, | ||
| The mischief in village and city; | ||
| But since we got merry and mellow On the wine of that conjuring fellow, |
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| Transmogrified we're Into friars austere, |
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| Unwashed and unpleasantly yellow! | ||
| Whatever you say or you sing, It's a most unaccountable thing! |
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Enter Chorus of Girls, from various entrances.
| GIRLS. | ||
| After a weary search | ||
| Hiding, at last, we find you; | ||
| Leaving us in the lurch | ||
| Isn't good breeding, mind you. | ||
| Offer apologee — | ||
| We shall want some persuading; | ||
| When do you think you'll be | ||
| Tired of masquerading? | ||
| CONTRALTO SOLO. | ||
| This jocular monkish pretence, | ||
| Though all very well in its way; | ||
| Is likely to pall on the sense, | ||
| If kept up all night and all day. | ||
| SOPRANO SOLO. | ||
| At an overdrawn joke or take-in, | ||
| However amusing, we scoff, | ||
| So many know when to begin, | ||
| So very few when to leave off. | ||
| ALL. | ||
| So many know when to begin, | ||
| So very few when to leave off. | ||
During this, the Girls have
been endeavouring to induce the Monks to pay them
attention. The Monks, however, have kept their eyes studiously
on their books.
| ARROSTINO. | ||
| These blandishments I pray you curb, | ||
| Nor think us churls — nor think us churls; | ||
| Our pious calm do not disturb, | ||
| Now there's good girls — now there's good girls! | ||
| Though our emotions, as you see, | ||
| We try to freeze — we try to freeze! | ||
| We don't, as yet, pretend to be | ||
| St. Anthonies — St. Anthonies; | ||
| So go along, nor think us churls, Now there's good girls — now there's good girls! |
||
| SOPRANOS. | ||
| Ah, cruel ones! | ||
| Time was, your love was stronger! | ||
| ALL. | ||
| Ah, cruel ones! | ||
| You love us then no longer. | ||
| (confidentially to Girls). | ||
| It's a most unaccountable thing — | ||
| An hour ago, as banditti, | ||
| We played like young lovers in spring, | ||
| The mischief in village and city; | ||
| But since we got merry and mellow On the wine of that conjuring fellow, |
||
| Transmogrified we're Into friars austere, |
||
| Unwashed and unpleasantly yellow! | ||
| ALL. | ||
| Transmogrified we're/here Into friars austere, |
||
| Unwashed and unpleasantly yellow! | ||
| Whatever you say or you sing, It's a most unaccountable thing! |
||
Enter PIETRO, still very ill.
| ALL (seeing him). | |||
| Ah! | |||
| What does this mean — what have
you done? Do not attempt away to run |
|||
| Nor questions try to parry. | |||
| ALTOS. | |||
| The men to whom we were betrothed | |||
| SOPRANOS. | |||
| We find as holy friars clothed, | |||
| ALL GIRLS. | |||
| Who mustn't ever marry! | |||
| ALL. | |||
| Who mustn't ever marry! | |||
| PIETRO. | |||
| Now I'll explain, | |||
| (If calm you'll be) | |||
| As well I can | |||
| Though I'm in pain | |||
| And ought to see | |||
| A medical man. | |||
| ALL. | |||
| This man, it's plain, | |||
| As well as we, | |||
| Is under a ban. | |||
| If he's in pain | |||
| He ought to see | |||
| A medical man. | |||
| GIRLS. | MEN. | ||||
| If he's in pain | |||||
| If he's in pain | |||||
| It is as plain | |||||
| It is as plain | |||||
| As plain can be | |||||
| As plain can be | |||||
| He ought to see | |||||
| He ought to see | |||||
| A medical, medical, | A medical, medical, | ||||
| medical, medical, medical, medical man! | medical, medical, medical, medical man! | ||||
| If he's in pain | |||||
| If he's in pain | |||||
| It is as plain | |||||
| It is as plain | |||||
| As plain can be | |||||
| As plain can be | |||||
| He ought to see | |||||
| He ought to see | |||||
| A medical, medical, | A medical, medical, | ||||
| medical, medical, medical, medical man! | medical, medical, medical, medical man! | ||||
| PIETRO. | My worthy friends, the wine you chose
to drink Makes every one what he pretends to be; You personated monks, and monks you are, And will be monks until the spell's removed. |
|
| ALL. | Oh, horror! | |
| Oh, horror and despair unprecedented! | ||
| GIRLS. | But how long must they wait — to
dreary cell, To life-long celibacy sternly vowed? |
|
| MEN. | Yes, say — how long? | |
| PIETRO. | Have patience, for I hold the antidote, | |
[Producing
pocket-book.
| And in an hour or two, or thereabouts, The spell shall be removed, and you may wed As quickly and as often as you please! |
[Exit
PIETRO.
| ALL. | Oh, rapture! | |
| Oh, rapture, joy, and bliss unprecedented! | ||
| GIRLS (dancing). | ||
| An hour! 'twill rapidly pass, | ||
| Our freedom we then shall recover; | ||
| Each lover will welcome his lass — | ||
| Each lass will return to her lover! | ||
| The bells for our wedding will chime, | ||
| Delight in each bosom implanting, | ||
| So, gentlemen, in the mean time, | ||
| Proceed, if you please, with your chaunting! | ||
| So pray, proceed, if you please with your chaunting! | ||
| GIRLS. | MEN. | |||||
| An hour! 'twill rapidly pass, | Time there was when | |||||
| Our freedom we then shall recover; | earthly joy | |||||
| Each lover will welcome his lass — | Gave our sen- | |||||
| Each lass will return to her lover! | ses full employ; | |||||
| The bells for our wedding will chime, | Earthly plea- | |||||
| Delight in each bosom implanting, | sures that allure | |||||
| So, gentlemen, in the mean time, | For an hour | |||||
| Proceed, if you please, with your chaunting! | we abjure, | |||||
| So pray, proceed, if you please with your chaunting! | For an hour we abjure | |||||
| Earthly pleasures that allure, | ||||||
| For an hour we abjure! | ||||||
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