W. S. Gilbert

“ Oh, Dan’l Druce, give me thy pardon! Dorothy, for the sake of the Dorothy who is dead, give me thy pardon!
Enter Dan’l Druce.
Master Druce, Heaven has interposed to save me from unwittingly working on thee a deep and bitter injury. Take the child that is thine own in the eye of God and of man. As she has been thy daughter hitherto, so shall she be thy daughter to the end!
Dan. (amazed) . Why, sir—Dorothy, my child—is he not goin’ to take thee from me?
Jas. I have no right with her. She is thine, to bless thine old age, and to bring thee comfort to the very last. ”

“ Dor. Nay, sir, I pray you, remove your hand! Sir, you are unmannerly! I pray you, desist!
Enter Sir Jasper; Dorothy runs to him.
Oh, sir, defend me from this wicked man.
Jas. Why, Reuben Haines, thou art at thine old tricks again!
Reu. At our old tricks, your honour!
Jas. Harkee, sirrah. Let bygones go by. Times are changed with me, as thou knowest well, and if thou valuest thy stewardship, adapt thy morals to those of thy master. If thou sayest or doest aught to anger this gentle maiden, I’ll lay my whip across thy shoulders, as I have done ofttimes ere this. ”

“ Frederic, pardon!
Fred. Rise, sweet one; I have long pardoned you.
Ruth (rises) . The two words were so much alike.
Fred. They were. They still are, though years have rolled over their heads. (Ruth goes up with Samuel.) But this afternoon my obligation ceases. Individually I love you all with affection unspeakable, but collectively, I look upon you with a disgust that amounts to absolute detestation. Oh! pity me, my beloved friend, for such is my sense of duty, that once out of my indentures I shall feel myself bound to devote myself heart and soul to your extermination!
All. Poor lad! ”

“ I know thee now!
Oh, foolish heart, be still, for all is well—
He will not harm thee; this is he whose words,
Through the still watches of the long, long night,
Rang like a mighty clarion in mine ears,
“Vavir, I love thee with my whole, whole heart!”
Thou art the messenger of hope and life,
For Heaven hath not bestowed this joy on me
To take me from it. Yes, I am to live!
Flor. (raising her) . Why, Heaven forgive me, maiden—can it be
That thou hast loved this dial of thine with love
Akin to that which women bear to men? ”

“ Dorothy, my little girl—for a reason which I canna tell thee, it concerns my life—ay, my life—that thou shouldst take this man. I—I have been a kind father to thee, have I not? I have asked naught of thee till now. Oh, my child, it is for thine happiness as well as for mine. If thou didst but know! If thou didst but know!
Reu. Behold, maiden, I am worth consideration. I am not as other old men are. In all but years I am a boy—a very boy.
Dor. My father, I know naught of the sorrow that hangs over thee, but it must needs be heavy if thou canst suffer this man to say this thing to me! ”

“ Dorothy—my child—my child! (Takes Dorothy in his arms.) Oh, sir, I know not how to bless thee for this blessing!
Jas. Give me no blessing. I have done thee a wrong that is beyond the power of man to repair. Think of the deepest injury that man’s wickedness has ever wrought on thee, and place it to my account. (Dan’l thunderstruck.) If it lies within thee to extend the hand of pardon to him who laid waste thine home and made thy life desolate, read in my blighted life the punishment that the sin of my youth has brought upon me in my old age. As I have sinned, so before Heaven I have atoned! ”

“ You are a lucky fellow, sir—a very lucky fellow!
Alex. Father, I am welling over with limpid joy! No sicklying taint of sorrow overlies the lucid lake of liquid love, upon which, hand in hand, Aline and I are to float into eternity!
Sir M. Alexis, I desire that of your love for this young lady you do not speak so openly. You are always singing ballads in praise of her beauty, and you expect the very menials who wait behind your chair to chorus your ecstasies. It is not delicate.
Alex. Father, a man who loves as I love——
Sir M. Pooh, pooh, sir! ”

“ On the one hand, I have Family Union, Domestic Happiness, and Snug Old Age—on the other, Blank Misery, Abject Despair, and Desolation, utter and complete. Which shall I give to Sir Jasper, and which to thee? Now, I am a pleasant old gentleman—well to do—not so very old neither, yet old enough to marry. Dorothy and I are good friends; she listens to me when I talk, which many won’t; it is a good sign and augurs well, for I love a good listener. How say you? Come, give me thy daughter, and I will give thee Sir Jasper’s daughter. ”

“ General Stanley, the father of my Mabel——
King and Ruth. Yes, yes!
Fred. He escaped from you on the plea that he was an orphan?
King. He did.
Fred. It breaks my heart to betray the honoured father of the girl I adore, but, as your apprentice, I have no alternative. It is my duty to tell you that General Stanley is no orphan.
King and Ruth. What!
Fred. More than that, he never was one!
King. Am I to understand that, to save his contemptible life, he dared to practise on our credulous simplicity? (Frederic nods as he weeps.) Our revenge shall be swift and terrible. ”

“ I will think out some cunning scheme to lure her into marriage unawares.
Enter Maggie, from cottage.
Mag. Will ye walk in and rest a wee, Maister Belvawney? There’s a room ready for ye, kind sir, and ye’re heartily welcome to it.
Bel. It is well. Stop! Come hither, maiden.
Mag. Oh, sir! you do not mean any harm towards a puir, innocent, unprotected cottage lassie?
Bel. Harm! No: of course, I don’t. What do you mean?
Mag. I’m but a puir, humble mountain girl; but let me tell you, sir, that my character’s just as dear to me as the richest and proudest lady’s in the land. ”

“ Sir, I cannot love you, for my heart is given, but if my father bids me, I must needs do his bidding. (Kneels.) Oh, my father, if the breaking of my heart can save thee, it is thine to break!
Reu. It is dutifully spoken. It is a bargain. Give me thine hand on it, Dan’l Druce. Set thine heart at rest—it is settled.
Dan. (furiously) . Ay, it is settled. Get thee hence, now and for ever, and do thy worst. Dorothy, forgive me—’twas but for a moment I wavered—I am strong again now. (To Reuben.) Thou hast a master—thou owest him a duty. ”

“ Vav. Where hast thou been? Throughout the long, long day
My weeping sisters have been seeking thee.
Hil. No matter now, Vavir. When thou art strong
I’ll tell thee all.
Vav.But I have news for thee,
Rare news, dear sister! Dry those gentle eyes;
The mighty sorrow that hath bowed thy heart
Is at an end! Thy prince—thy Florian,
Whom thou hast loved so tenderly—he lives!
Hilda, my sister, he is seeking thee!
Here, on this island, he is seeking thee!
Hilda, he loves thee; for he told me so!
Hil. I know he loves me.
Vav.Thou hast seen him then?
Hil. I know he loves me ”

“ When happy daylight is dead? Frederic enters down aisle.
Mab. Oh, Frederic, cannot you reconcile it with your conscience to say something that will relieve my father’s sorrow?
Fred. I will try, dear Mabel. But why does he sit, night after night, in this draughty old ruin?
Gen. Why do I sit here? To escape from the pirates’ clutches, I described myself as an orphan, and I am no orphan! I come here to humble myself before the tombs of my ancestors, and to implore their pardon for having brought dishonour on the family escutcheon. ”

“ Why, on my marrying, his entire income goes over to Symperson! I could reduce him to penury to-morrow. As it happens, I am engaged, I recollect, to Symperson’s daughter; and if Belvawney dares to interpose between you and me, by George, I’ll do it!
Miss T. Oh, spare him, sir! You say that you love me? Then, for my sake, remain single for ever—it is all I ask, it is not much. Promise me that you will never, never marry, and we will both bless you with our latest breath! ”

“ But now thou hast so bound me to the earth,
Thou, oh my first, my last, my only love,
I dare not think of death! Oh, let me live,
My life is in thine hands—Oh, let me live!
Flor. Yes, thou shalt live, Vavir, so have no fear.
Vav. Thou wilt not leave me?
Flor.Only for a while;
I will return to thee.
Vav.So, hand in hand
We shall grow old, and die, still hand in hand? ”

“ Gretchen, be not deceived—
He hath a tongue—a very fluent tongue,
And one that serves him well, when he so pleases.
Faus. I am not dumb from lack of gratitude.
Much as I owe to Gottfried’s well-tried love,
My heavy debt is multiplied tenfold.
Gott. (aside to Faustus) . Then, debtor, pay the tenfold debt tenfold.
Watch over her when I am far away—
Shield her from harm as though she were thy sister,
And we’ll cry quits. Thou wilt? I thank thee, Faustus;
I go with lighter heart! (Aloud to Gretchen.) Now, fare thee well.
God keep thee safe and sound till I return. ”

“ Thou’st taken to me as to a father. If thou wast my own flesh and blood thou couldst not be dearer to me, nor I to thee. And now—arter so long.—It canna be right.
Enter Geoffrey.
Geof. Why, Master Druce, thou hast tears in thine eyes!
Dan. Ay, lad, and cause for ’em in my heart! Geoffrey, there’s a heavy blow come on me. I—I told thee of the cruel thankless father who left my girl wi’ me—my Dorothy—thy Dorothy——
Geof. Yes!
Dan. I—I have seen him, Geoffrey! Here—here, I have seen him! Him as thou’rt here to meet,—that’s Dolly’s father!
Geof. Sir Jasper! Impossible! ”

“ Is his wrong to thee
Less than his wrong to me?—and I forgive him!
May Heaven have pity on my woman’s heart—
I love this man!
Gott. (after a pause) . Go, sir—I spare thy life.
My heart has lost its vigour, and my hand
Is stayed against thee. Go! thou knowest now
The virtue of her love—its alchemy
Hath made thee sacred in mine eyes! Go, sir,
Amend thy mis-spent life—she loveth thee!
When evil thoughts assail thine impious soul,
Remember that, despite thy wrong to her,
She loveth thee!
If a man’s heart is beating in thy breast, [Pg 200]
That amulet should hold thee Satan-proof! ”

“ We must be patient, dear Belinda. Minnie, my own, we must be patient. After all, is the situation so very terrible? Each of you has an even chance of becoming my wife, and in the mean time I look upon myself as engaged to both of you. I shall make no distinction. I shall love you both, fondly, and you shall both love me. My affection shall be divided equally between you, and we will be as happy as three little birds.
Miss T. (wiping her eyes) . You are very kind and thoughtful, dear Cheviot.
Min. I believe, in my simple little way, that you are the very best man in the whole world! ”

“ Ralph. I forget nothing, haughty lady. I love you desperately, my life is in thy hand—I lay it at your feet! Give me hope, and what I lack in education and polite accomplishments, that I will endeavour to acquire. Drive me to despair, and in death alone I shall look for consolation. I am proud, and cannot stoop to implore. I have spoken, and I wait your word!
Jos. You shall not wait long. Your proffered love I haughtily reject. Go, sir, and learn to cast your eyes on some village maiden in your own poor rank—they should be lowered before your captain’s daughter! ”

“ Exit Geoffrey into room as Dan’l opens door and admits Sir Jasper and Reuben.
Jas. So, Dan’l Druce, thou art the man who for fourteen long years has hidden my daughter away from me!
Dan. Sir, I am indeed he.
Jas. Oh, shame upon thee—shame upon thee!
Dan. I crave your mercy, for I knew not her father’s name till to-day.
Jas. Yet it would seem that, having learnt it, thou wouldst nevertheless have fled with her, had not this good fellow arrested thy flight.
Dan. I have naught to say that your honour’s kind heart will not more fitly say for me. We love one another dearly. ”

“ Dost thou remember that half-hour, Dorothy? I do. In the course of it I said many rare things to thee, complimentary and insinuating things of amatory significance and connubial import, neatly disguised, or, as one may say, embalmed, in an outer husk of delicate epigram. And thou didst listen! Ye gods! how thou didst listen! I love a good listener.
Dor. Sir, I do indeed remember your coming; but as for your sayings, I was silent, for I understood them not. Is—is Sir Jasper at hand?
Enter Dan’l Druce, unobserved, at back. ”

“ Thy dial points to eight.
Vav.One little hour,
And then my Sun will set. Farewell, oh Sun!
How gloriously he dies!
Mel.The sun will sink,
To rest throughout the night, as we shall rest,
But not to die.
Vav.To die as we should die:
The night is given to the world that she
May mourn her widowhood. He knows no night,
But journeys calmly on his heavenly path
Wrapt in eternal light—in all, a type
Of the excelling life we try to live—
Of the all-glorious death we hope to die!
Mel. See, Vavir, see upon the Beacon-hill,
Mousta, returning from his weary search—
Vav. ”

“ Flor. How fares Vavir?
Hil. Alas! her little life is ebbing fast
From heart-wounds of thy making! Florian,
I have no time to lose on empty forms—
I have no words to waste on idle speech—
My poor sick sister loves thee! Much misled
By thy light words, she placed full faith in thee:
And she is dying for her faith. Oh, sir,
There is but one physician in the world
Who, under Heaven, can save my darling’s life.
Go to her now. If thou hast loved me, sir,
Be merciful, and save this life for me! [Pg 36]
Flor. ”

“ Pardon, sir, but I never was accounted a gentleman, and for my king I care not one jot, yet am I hounded much as you are.
Jas. Thou art hounded much as I am because thou thyself art as I am, though in a lower degree. King Charles is my king (raises hat) —God bless him!—and I serve him, and am hunted for so doing. Jasper Combe is thy king (Reuben raises hat) —God bless him likewise!—and thou servest him, and thou art hunted for so doing. The analogy is complete. Be thou as faithful to thy king as I am to mine, and thy king will reward thee—when my king rewards me! Is the child safe? ”

“ Dorothy, my child, whom I have sought so long, I will not break another heart. Thou art free to go to him who has been more to thee than many fathers.
Dor. Heaven bless thee for those good words; they have sown seed in my heart that will bear thee truer love than could have come in many years passed away from him! Sir, thou hast spared his life. ”