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are
so ridiculously demure？ Why； an English girl of the
highest
type is the best； the most beautiful； the bravest； and
the
brightest creature that Heaven has conferred upon this
world
of ours。 She is frank； open…hearted； and fearless； and
never shows in so favorable a light as when she gives her
own blameless impulses full play！
Nekaya Oh； you shocking story！
and
Kalyba：
Gold。： Not at all。 I'm speaking the strict truth。 I'll tell
you
all about her。
SONG Mr。 Goldbury。
A wonderful joy our eyes to bless；
In her magnificent comeliness；
Is an English girl of eleven stone two；
And five foot ten in her dancing shoe！
She follows the hounds； and on the pounds
The 〃field〃 tails off and the muffs diminish
Over the hedges and brooks she bounds；
Straight as a crow； from find to finish。
At cricket； her kin will lose or win
She and her maids； on grass and clover；
Eleven maids outeleven maids in
And perhaps an occasional 〃maiden over！〃
Go search the world and search the sea；
Then come you home and sing with me
There's no such gold and no such pearl
As a bright and beautiful English girl！
With a ten…mile spin she stretches her limbs；
She golfs； she punts； she rows； she swims
She plays； she sings； she dances； too；
From ten or eleven til all is blue！
At ball or drum； til small hours come
（Chaperon's fans concealing her yawning）
She'll waltz away like a teetotum。
And never go home til daylight's dawning。
Lawn…tennis may share her favours fair
Her eyes a…dance； and her cheeks a…glowing
Down comes her hair； but then what does she care？
It's all her own and it's worth the showing！
Go search the world； etc。
Her soul is sweet as the ocean air；
For prudery knows no haven there；
To find mock…modesty； please apply
To the conscious blush and the downcast eye。
Rich in the things contentment brings；
In every pure enjoyment wealthy；
Blithe and beautiful bird she sings；
For body and mind are hale and healthy。
Her eyes they thrill with right goodwill
Her heart is light as a floating feather
As pure and bright as the mountain rill
That leaps and laughs in the Highland heather！
Go search the world； etc。
QUARTET
Nek。： Then I may sing and play？
Lord D。： You may！
Kal。： Then I may laugh and shout？
Gold。： No doubt！。
Nek。： These maxims you endorse？
Lord D。： Of course！
Kal。： You won't exclaim 〃Oh fie！〃
Gold。： Not I！
Gold： Whatever you arebe that：
Whatever you saybe true：
Straightforwardly act
Be honestin fact；
Be nobody else but you。
Lord D。： Give every answer pat
Your character true unfurl；
And when it is ripe；
You'll then be a type
Of a capital English girl。
All。： Oh sweet surpriseoh； dear delight；
To find it undisputed quite；
All musty； fusty rules despite
That Art is wrong and Nature right！
Nek。： When happy I；
With laughter glad
I'll wake the echoes fairly；
And only sigh
When I am sad
And that will be but rarely！
Kal。： I'll row and fish；
And gallop； soon
No longer be a prim one
And when I wish
To hum a tune；
It needn't be a hymn one？
Gold and Lord D。： No； no！
It needn't be a hymn one！
All （dancing）： Oh； sweet surprise and dear delight
To find it undisputed quite
All musty； fusty rules despite
That Art is wrong and Nature right！
（Dance； and
off）
（Enter Lady Sophy）
RECITATIVE Lady Sophy。
Oh； would some demon power the gift impart
To quell my over…conscientious heart
Unspeak the oaths that never had been spoken；
And break the vows that never should be broken！
SONG Lady Sophy
When but a maid of fifteen year；
Unsoughtunplighted
Short petticoatedand； I fear；
Still shorter…sighted
I made a vow； one early spring；
That only to some spotless King
Who proof of blameless life could bring
I'd be united。
For I had read； not long before；
Of blameless kings in fairy lore；
And thought the race still flourished here
Well； well
I was a maid of fifteen year！
（The King enters and overhears this verse）
Each morning I pursued my game
（An early riser）；
For spotless monarchs I became
An advertiser：
But all in vain I searched each land；
So； kingless； to my native strand
Returned； a little older； and
A good deal wiser！
I learnt that spotless King and Prince
Have disappeared some ages since
Even Paramount's angelic grace
Ah me！
Is but a mask on Nature's face！
（King comes forward）
King： Ah； Lady Sophythen you love me！
For so you sing
Lady S。： （Indignant and surprise。 Producing 〃Palace Peeper〃）
No； by the stars that shine above me；
Degraded King！
For while these rumours； through the city bruited；
Remain uncontradicted； unrefuted；
The object thou of my aversion rooted；
Repulsive thing！
King： Be justthe time is now at hand
When truth may published be。
These paragraphs were written and
Contributed by me！
Lady S。： By you？ No； no！
King： Yes； yes。 I swear； by me！
I； caught in Scaphio's ruthless toil；
Contributed the lot！
Lady S。： That that is why you did not boil
The author on the spot！
King： And that is why I did not boil
The author on the spot！
Lady S。： I couldn't think why you did not boil！
King： But I know why I did not boil
The author on the spot！
DUET Lady Sophy and King
Lady S。： Oh； the rapture unrestrained
Of a candid retractation！
For my sovereign has deigned
A convincing explanation
And the clouds that gathered o'er
All have vanished in the distance；
And the Kings of fairy lore
One； at least； is in existence！
King： Oh； the skies are blue above；
And t