The Sorcerer by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

You are here: Archive Home > The Sorcerer > Act 1

No. 14: Finale Act I
(1884 Version)

"Now to the banquet we press"

MIDI File [64KB, 7' 26"]

KARAOKE File [78KB, 7' 26"]

To 1877 Original Version

Enter villagers and all the dramatis personæ, dancing joyously. Mrs Partlet and Mr. Wells then distribute tea-cups.

Chorus.

Now to the banquet we press;
Now for the eggs and the ham;
Now for the mustard and cress,
Now for the strawberry jam!
Now for the tea of our host,
Now for the rollicking bun,
Now for the muffin and toast,
And now for the gay Sally Lunn!
Now for the muffin and toast,
And now for the gay Sally Lunn!

The eggs and the ham, and the strawberry jam!
The rollicking bun, and the gay Sally Lunn!
The eggs and the ham, and the strawberry jam!
The rollicking bun, and the gay Sally Lunn!
The eggs and the ham, and the strawberry jam!
The rollicking bun,
The rollicking bun, and the gay Sally Lunn!
And the strawberry jam!
Jam, — Bun,
Jam, — Bun,
Oh, the strawberry, strawberry jam,
Bun ,— Jam,
Bun ,— Jam,
Oh, the rollicking, rollicking bun!

Click on picture to enlarge — Mr. Wells (Henry Lytton) & Mrs. Partlet
(Anne Bethel) 1933

Sir Marmaduke.

Be happy all – the feast is spread before ye;
Fear nothing, but enjoy yourselves, I pray!
Eat, aye, and drink – be merry, I implore ye,
For once let thoughtless Folly rule the day.

TEA-CUP BRINDISI, 1st Verse

Sir Marmaduke.

Eat, drink, and be gay,
Banish all worry and sorrow,
Laugh gaily today,
Weep, if you're sorry, tomorrow!
Come, pass the cup around –
I will go bail for the liquor;
It's strong, I'll be bound,
For it was brewed by the vicar!
It's strong, I'll be bound,
For it was brewed by the vicar!

Chorus.

None so knowing as he
At brewing a jorum of tea,
Ha! ha! ha! ha!
A pretty stiff jorum of tea.

Aline, Alexis & Mr. Wells.

See – see – they drink –
All thoughts unheeding,
The tea-cups clink,
They are exceeding!
Their hearts will melt
In half-an-hour –
Then will be felt
The potion's power!
Then will be felt
The potion's power!
The potion's power!

During this verse Constance has brought a small tea-pot, kettle, caddy, and cosy to Dr. Daly. He makes tea scientifically.

BRINDISI, 2nd Verse.

Dr. Daly. (with the tea-pot)

Pain, trouble, and care,
Misery, heart-ache, and worry,
Quick, out of your lair!
Get you all gone in a hurry!
Toil, sorrow, and plot,
Fly away quicker and quicker –
Three spoons to the pot –
That is the brew of your vicar!
Three spoons to the pot –
That is the brew of your vicar!

Chorus.

None so cunning as he
At brewing a jorum of tea,
Ha! ha! ha! ha!
A pretty stiff jorum of tea!

ENSEMBLE

Aline. (aside)	Alexis. (aside)
Oh love, true love – unworldly, abiding! Source of all pleasure – true fountain of joy, – Oh love, true love – divinely confiding, Exquisite treasure that knows no alloy, –	Oh love, true love – unworldly, abiding! Source of all pleasure – true fountain of joy, – Oh love, true love – divinely confiding, Exquisite treasure that knows no alloy, –
	Oh love, true love, rich harvest of gladness, Peace-bearing tillage – great garner of bliss, – Oh, love,
Oh love,
Oh love, Oh love, true love, look down on our sadness – Dwell in this village –	Oh love, Oh love, true love, look down on our sadness – Dwell in this village –
Oh, dwell in this village,
Oh hear,	Oh hear us,
Oh hear us,	Oh hear us in this!
Hear us,	Oh hear us, Oh hear us, Oh hear us,
Oh love, in this!	Love in this!
Oh love, true love, Oh hear us in this!	Oh love, true love, Oh hear us in this!

It becomes evident by the strange conduct of the characters that the charm is working. All rub their eyes, and stagger about the stage as if under the influence of a narcotic.

Dr. Daly, Sir Marmaduke, Notary & Male Chorus.

Oh, marvellous illusion!
Oh, terrible surprise!
What is this strange confusion
That veils my aching eyes?

Aline, Alexis & Mr. Wells.

A marvellous illusion!
A terrible surprise
Excites a strange confusion
Within their aching eyes –

All.

I/They must regain my/their senses,
Restoring Reason's law,
Or fearful inferences
The company will draw!
Or fearful inferences
The company will draw!

Principals.	Chorus.
Oh, marvellous illusion!	Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
Oh, terrible surprise!	Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
Oh, marvellous,	Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
Oh, marvellous illusion!	Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh, marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
Oh, marvellous illusion!	Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
Oh, terrible surprise!	Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
Oh, marvellous,	Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
Oh, marvellous illusion!	Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise! Oh marvellous illusion! Oh, terrible surprise!
	Oh, marvellous illusion!
Oh, terrible surprise!
	Oh, marvellous illusion!
Oh, terrible surprise!	Oh, terrible surprise!
What is this strange confusion	What is this strange confusion
That veils my aching eyes,	That veils my aching eyes,
That veils my eyes?	That veils my eyes?

Those who have partaken of the philtre struggle in vain against its effects, and, at the end of the chorus, fall insensible on the stage.

END OF ACT I

Archive Home | The Sorcerer

Page Created 31 March, 2009