HMS Pinafore by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

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No 2a: RECITATIVE (Little Buttercup & Boatswain)
No. 3: SCENA & BALLAD (Ralph & Chorus)

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Buttercup. (recit.)

But, tell me — who's the youth whose faltering feet
With difficulty bear him on his course?

Boatswain. (recit.)

That is the smartest lad in all the fleet —
Ralph Rackstraw!

Buttercup. (recit.)

Ralph! That name! Remorse! remorse!

Enter Ralph.

SCENA

Ralph.

The Nightingale
Sighed for the moon's bright ray,
And told his tale
In his own melodious way!
He sang "Ah, well-a-day!"

Chorus.

He sang "Ah, well-a-day!"

Ralph.

The lowly vale
For the mountain vainly sighed,
To his humble wail
The echoing hills replied.
They sang "Ah, well-a-day!"

Chorus.

They sang "Ah, well-a-day!"

Ralph.

I know the value of a kindly chorus,
But choruses yield little consolation
When we have pain, and sorrow, too, before us!
I love — and love, alas, above my station!

Buttercup.

He loves — and loves a lass above his station!

Chorus.

Yes, yes, the lass is much above his station!

Click on picture to enlarge — George Power, the original Ralph Rackstraw. 1878

Exit Little Buttercup.

BALLAD

Ralph.

A maiden fair to see,
The pearl of minstrelsy,
A bud of blushing beauty;
For whom proud nobles sigh,
And with each other vie
To do her menial's duty.

Chorus.

To do her menial's duty.

Ralph.

A suitor, lowly born,
With hopeless passion torn,
And poor, beyond denying,
Has dared for her to pine
At whose exalted shrine
A world of wealth is sighing.

Chorus.

A world of wealth is sighing.

Ralph.

Unlearned he in aught
Save that which love has taught
(For love had been his tutor);
Oh, pity, pity me —
Our captain's daughter she,
And I that lowly suitor!

Ralph.	Chorus.
Oh, pity, pity me — Our captain's daughter she, And I that lowly suitor!	And he, and he that lowly suitor.

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