the complete plays-第33章
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judge whose decrees have received the honour of a double encore。
How can we bring ourselves to do that which will deprive the Court
of Chancery of one of its most attractive features？〃
LORD CH。 I feel the force of your remarks； but I am here in
two capacities； and they clash； my Lords； they clash！ I deeply
grieve to say that in declining to entertain my last application to
myself； I presumed to address myself in terms which render it
impossible for me ever to apply to myself again。 It was a most
painful scene； my Lordsmost painful！
LORD TOLL。 This is what it is to have two capacities！ Let us
be thankful that we are persons of no capacity whatever。
LORD MOUNT。 Come； come。 Remember you are a very just and
kindly old gentleman； and you need have no hesitation in
approaching yourself； so that you do so respectfully and with a
proper show of deference。
LORD CH。 Do you really think so？
LORD MOUNT。 I do。
LORD CH。 Well； I will nerve myself to another effort； and；
if that fails； I resign myself to my fate！
TRIOLORD CHANCELLOR； LORDS MOUNTARARAT and TOLLOLLER。
LORD MOUNT。 If you go in
You're sure to win
Yours will be the charming maidie：
Be your law
The ancient saw；
〃Faint heart never won fair lady！〃
ALL。 Never； never； never；
Faint heart never won fair lady！
Every journey has an end
When at the worst affairs will mend
Dark the dawn when day is nigh
Hustle your horse and don't say die！
LORD TOLL。 He who shies
At such a prize
Is not worth a maravedi；
Be so kind
To bear in mind
Faint heart never won fair lady！
ALL。 Never； never； never；
Faint heart never won fair lady！
While the sun shines make your hay
Where a will is； there's a way
Beard the lion in his lair
None but the brave deserve the fair！
LORD CH。 I'll take heart
And make a start
Though I fear the prospect's shady
Much I'd spend
To gain my end
Faint heart never won fair lady！
ALL。 Never； never； never；
Faint heart never won fair lady！
Nothing venture； nothing win
Blood is thick； but water's thin
In for a penny； in for a pound
It's Love that makes the world go round！
（Dance； and exeunt arm…in…arm
together。）
（Enter Strephon； in very low spirits。）
＇The following song was deleted from production＇
Fold your flapping wings；
Soaring legislature。
Stoop to little things；
Stoop to human nature。
Never need to roam
members patriotic。
Let's begin at home；
Crime is no exotic。
Bitter is your bane
Terrible your trials
Dingy Drury Lane
Soapless Seven Dials。
Take a tipsy lout
Gathered from the gutter；
Hustle him about；
Strap him to a shutter。
What am I but he；
Washed at hours stated。
Fed on filagree；
Clothed and educated
He's a mark of scorn
I might be another
If I had been born
Of a tipsy mother。
Take a wretched thief；
Through the city sneaking。
Pocket handkerchief
Ever； ever seeking。
What is he but I
Robbed of all my chances
Picking pockets by
force of circumstances
I might be as bad；
As unlucky； rather；
If I'd only had；
Fagin for a father。
STREPH。 I suppose one ought to enjoy oneself in Parliament；
when one leads both Parties； as I do！ But I'm miserable； poor；
broken…hearted fool that I am！ Oh Phyllis； Phyllis！
（Enter Phyllis。）
PHYL。 Yes。
STREPH。 （surprised）。 Phyllis！ But I suppose I should say 〃My
Lady。〃 I have not yet been informed which title your ladyship has
pleased to select？
PHYL。 II haven't quite decided。 You see； I have no mother
to advise me！
STREPH。 No。 I have。
PHYL。 Yes； a young mother。
STREPH。 Not verya couple of centuries or so。
PHYL。 Oh！ She wears well。
STREPH。 She does。 She's a fairy。
PHYL。 I beg your pardona what？
STREPH。 Oh； I've no longer any reason to conceal the
factshe's a fairy。
PHYL。 A fairy！ Well； butthat would account for a good many
things！ ThenI suppose you're a fairy？
STREPH。 I'm half a fairy。
PHYL。 Which half？
STREPH。 The upper halfdown to the waistcoat。
PHYL。 Dear me！ （Prodding him with her fingers。） There is
nothing to show it！
STREPH。 Don't do that。
PHYL。 But why didn't you tell me this before？
STREPH。 I thought you would take a dislike to me。 But as
it's all off； you may as well know the truthI'm only half a
mortal！
PHYL。 （crying）。 But I'd rather have half a mortal I do love；
than half a dozen I don't！
STREPH。 Oh； I think notgo to your half…dozen。
PHYL。 （crying）。 It's only two！ and I hate 'em！ Please
forgive me！
STREPH。 I don't think I ought to。 Besides； all sorts of
difficulties will arise。 You know； my grandmother looks quite as
young as my mother。 So do all my aunts。
PHYL。 I quite understand。 Whenever I see you kissing a very
young lady； I shall know it's an elderly relative。
STREPH。 You will？ Then； Phyllis； I think we shall be very
happy！ （Embracing her。）
PHYL。 We won't wait long。
STREPH。 No。 We might change our minds。 We'll get married
first。
PHYL。 And change our minds afterwards？
STREPH。 That's the usual course。
DUETSTREPHON and PHYLLIS。
STREPH。 If we're weak enough to tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I；
Of the feeling I inspire
You may tire
By and by。
For peers with flowing coffers
Press their offers
That is why
I am sure we should not tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I！
PHYL。 If we're weak enough to tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I；
With a more attractive maiden；
Jewel…laden；
You may fly。
If by chance we should be parted；
Broken…hearted
I should die
So I think we will not tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I。
PHYL。 But does your mother know you'reI mean； is she aware
of our engagement？
（Enter Iolanthe。）
IOL。 She is； and thus she welcomes her daughter…in…law！
（Kisses her。）
PHYL。 She kisses just like other people！ But the Lord
Chancellor？
STREPH。 I forgot him！ Mother； none can resist your fairy
eloquence； you will go to him and plead for us？
IOL。 （much agitated）。 No； no； impossible！
STREPH。 But our happinessour very livesdepend upon our
obtaining his consent！
PHYL。 Oh； madam； you cannot refuse to do this！
IOL。 You know not what you ask！ The Lord Chancellor ismy
husband！
STREPH。 and PHYL。 Your husband！
IOL。 My husband and your father！ （Addressing Strephon； who
is much moved。）
PHYLL。 Then our course is plain； on his learning that
Strephon is his son； all objection to our marriage will be at once
removed！
IOL。 No； he must never know！ He believes me to have died
childless； and； dearly as I love him； I am bound； under penalty of
death； not to undeceive him。 But seehe comes！ Quickmy veil！
（Iolanthe veils herself。 Strephon and Phyllis go off on tiptoe。）
（Enter Lord Chancellor。）
LORD CH。 Victory！ Victory！ Success has crowned my efforts；
and I may consider myself engaged to Phyllis！ At first I wouldn't
hear of itit was out of the question。 But I took heart。 I
pointed out to myself that I was no stranger to myself； that； in
point of fact； I had been personally acquainted with myself for
some years。 This had its effect。 I admitted that I had watched my
professional advancement with considerable interest； and I
handsomely added that I yielded to no one in admiration for my
private and professional virtues。 This was a great point gained。
I then endeavoured to work upon my feelings。 Conceive my joy when
I distinctly perceived a tear glistening in my own eye！
Eventually； after a severe struggle with myself； I
reluctantlymost reluctantlyconsented。
（Iolanthe comes down
veiled。）
RECITATIVEIOLANTHE （kneeling）。
My lord； a suppliant at your feet I kneel；
Oh； listen to a mother's fond appeal！
Hear me to…night！ I come in urgent need
'Tis for my son； young Strephon； that I plead！
BALLADIOLANTHE。
He loves！ If in the bygone years
Thine eyes have ever shed
Tearsbitter； unavailing tears；
For one untimely dead
If； in the eventide of life；
Sad thoughts of her arise；
Then let the memory of thy wife
Plead for my boyhe dies！
He dies！ If fondly laid aside
In some old cabinet；
Memorials of thy long…dead bride
Lie； dearly treasured yet；
Then let her hallowed bridal dress
Her little dainty gloves
Her withered flowersher faded tress
Plead for my boyhe loves！
（The Lord Chancellor is moved by this appeal。 After a pause。）
LORD CH。 It may not befor so the fates decide！
Learn thou that Phyllis is my promised bride。
IOL。 （in horror）。 Thy bride！ No！ no！
LORD CH。 It shall be so！
Those
