Princess Ida - Web Opera

ACT I

No. 7: ACT I FINALE
"P'raps if you address the lady "

MIDI File [80KB, 2' 42"]

Gama.
P'raps if you address the lady
	Most politely, most politely —
Flatter and impress the lady,
	Most politely, most politely, —
Humbly beg and humbly sue — She may deign to look on you, But your doing you must do
	Most politely, most politely, most politely!

All.
Humbly beg and humbly sue, She may deign to look on you, But your doing you must do
	Most politely, most politely, most politely!

Hildebrand.
Go you and inform the lady,
	Most politely, most politely,
If she don't, we'll storm the lady
	Most politely, most politely!
(To Gama) You'll remain as hostage here; Should Hilarion disappear, We will hang you, never fear,
	Most politely, most politely, most politely!

All.
You'll remain as hostage here. Should Hilarion disappear, They will hang you never fear,
	Most politely, most politely, most politely!

Gama, Arac, Guron and Scynthius are marched off in custody, Hildebrand following.

HIlarion.
Come, Cyril, Florian, our course is plain,
	To-morrow morn fair Ida we'll engage;
But we will use no force her love to gain,
	Nature, nature has armed us for the war we wage!

Hilarion.
Expressive glances Shall be our lances,
		And pops of Sillery Our light artillery.
We'll storm their bowers With scented showers Of fairest flowers
	That we can buy!

Chorus.
Oh, dainty triolet! Oh, fragrant violet! Oh, gentle heigho-let!
	(Or little sigh).
On sweet urbanity, Tho' mere inanity, To touch their vanity
	We will rely!

Cyril.
When day is fading, With serenading
	And such frivolity We'll prove our quality.
A sweet profusion Of soft allusion This bold intrusion
	Shall justify.
This bold intrusion
	Shall justify.

Chorus.
Oh, dainty triolet! Oh, fragrant violet! Oh, gentle heigho-let!
	(Or little sigh).
On sweet urbanity, Tho' mere inanity, To touch their vanity
	We will rely!

Florian.
We'll charm their senses With verbal fences,
	With ballads amatory And declamatory.
Little heeding Their pretty pleading, Our love exceeding
	We'll justify!
Our love exceeding
	We'll justify!

Chorus.
Oh, dainty triolet! Oh, fragrant violet! Oh, gentle heigho-let!
	(Or little sigh).
On sweet urbanity, Tho' mere inanity, To touch their vanity
	We will rely!

1954 Revival

Re-enter Gama, Arac, Guron, and Scynthius heavily ironed, followed by Hildebrand.

Gama.
Must we, till then, in prison cell be thrust?
Hildebrand.
	You must!
Gama.
This seems unnecessarily severe!
Arac, Guron & Scynthius.
	Hear, hear!

Arac, Guron & Scynthius.
For a month to dwell In a dungeon cell,
	Growing thin and wizen In a solitary prison,
Is a poor look out For a soldier stout,
	Who is longing for the rattle Of a complicated battle — Who is longing for the rattle Of a complicated battle —
For the rum - tum - tum Of the military drum
	And the guns that go boom! boom!

Guron (John Banks), Arac (Donald Adams)
and Scynthius (Trevor Hills), 1954

All.
	The rum-tum-tum Of the military drum,
Rum-tum-tum-tummy, tummy, tummy, tummy, tum, Who is longing for the rattle of a complicated battle —
	For the rum tum tum Of the military drum! Prr, prr, prr, ra-pum-pum!

Hildebrand.
When Hilarion's bride Has at length complied
	With the just conditions Of our requisitions,
You may go in haste And indulge your taste
	For the fascinating rattle Of a complicated battle — For the fascinating rattle Of a complicated battle —
For the rum-tum-tum, Of the military drum,
	And the guns that go boom! boom!

All.
			The rum-tum-tum Of the military drum,
Rum-tum-tum-tummy, tummy, tummy, tummy, tum!
	Who is longing for the rattle Of a complicated battle
		For the rum-tum-tum Of the military drum!
			Tum, prr, prr, prr, ra-pum, pum!

	But till that time you'll here remain, And bail we will not entertain,
		Should she his mandate disobey, Your lives the penalty will pay!
	But till that time you'll here remain, And bail we will not entertain.
		Should she his mandate disobey, Your lives the penalty will pay! Should she our mandate disobey, Your lives the penalty will pay!

(Gama, Arac, Guron, and Scynthius are marched off.)

END OF ACT I.

Page modified 21 August 2019