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YEOMEN In the autumn of our life；
Here at rest in ample clover；
We rejoice in telling over
Our impetuous May and June。
In the evening of our day；
With the sun of life declining；
We recall without repining
All the heat of bygone noon；
We recall without repining
All the heat；
We recall； recall
All of bygone noon。
2ND YEOMAN This the autumn of our life；
This the evening of our day；
Weary we of battle strife；
Weary we of mortal fray。
But our year is not so spent；
And our days are not so faded；
But that we with one consent；
Were our loved land invaded；
Still would face a foreign foe；
As in days of long ago；
Still would face a foreign foe；
As in days of long ago；
As in days of long ago；
As in days of long ago。
YEOMEN Still would face a foreign foe；
As in days of long ago。
CROWD Tower warders；
Under orders；
Gallant pikemen； valiant sworders！
Brave in bearing； Foemen scaring；
In their bygone days of daring！
CROWD YEOMEN
Tower warders； This the autumn of our life
Under orders；
Gallant pikemen；
Valiant sworders
Brave in bearing； This the evening of our day；
Foemen scaring；
In their bygone days of daring！
Ne'er a stranger Weary we of battle strife；
There to danger
Each was o'er the world a ranger：
To the story Weary we of mortal fray。
Of our glory
Each a bold；
A bold contributory。
To the story This the autumn of our life。
Of our glory
Each a bold contributory！ This the evening of our day；
Each a bold contributory！ This the evening of our day。
＇Exit CROWD。 Manent YEOMEN。 Enter DAME CARRUTHERS。
DAME A good day to you！
2ND
YEOMAN Good day； Dame Carruthers。 Busy to…day？
DAME Busy； aye！ the fire in the Beauchamp ＇pronounced
Bee'cham＇ last night has given me work enough。 A dozen
poor prisoners Richard Colfax； Sir Martin Byfleet；
Colonel Fairfax； Warren the preacher…poet； and half…a…
score others all packed into one small cell； not six
feet square。 Poor Colonel Fairfax； who's to die to…
day； is to be removed to no。 14 in the Cold Harbour
that he may have his last hour alone with his
confessor； and I've to see to that。
2ND
YEOMAN Poor gentleman！ He'll die bravely。 I fought under him
two years since； and he valued his life as it were a
feather！
PHOEBE He's the bravest； the handsomest； and the best young
gentleman in England！ He twice saved my father's life；
and it's a cruel thing； a wicked thing； and a
barbarous thing that so gallant a hero should lose his
head for it's the handsomest head in England！
DAME For dealings with the devil。 Aye！ if all were beheaded
who dealt with him； there'd be busy things on Tower
Green。
PHOEBE You know very well that Colonel Fairfax is a student
of alchemy nothing more； and nothing less； but this
wicked Tower； like a cruel giant in a fairy…tale； must
be fed with blood； and that blood must be the best and
bravest in England； or it's not good enough for the
old Blunderbore。 Ugh！
DAME Silence； you silly girl； you know not what you say。 I
was born in the old keep； and I've grown grey in it；
and； please God； I shall die and be buried in it； and
there's not a stone in its walls that is not as dear
tome as my right hand。
No。 3。 When our gallant Norman foes
（SONG WITH CHORUS）
Dame Carruthers and Yeomen
DAME When our gallant Norman foes
Made our merry land their own；
And the Saxons from the Conqueror were flying；
At his bidding it arose；
In its panoply of stone；
A sentinel unliving and undying。
Insensible； I trow；
As a sentinel should be；
Though a queen to save her head should
come a…suing；
There's a legend on its brow
That is eloquent to me；
And it tells of duty done and duty doing。
The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
CHORUS The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
DAME Within its wall of rock
The flower of the brave
Have perished with a constancy unshaken。
From the dungeon to the block；
From the scaffold to the grave；
Is a journey many gallant hearts have taken。
And the wicked flames may hiss
Round the heroes who have fought
For conscience and for home in all its beauty；
But the grim old fortalice
Takes little heed of aught
That comes not in the measure of its duty。
The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
CHORUS The screw may twist and the rack may turn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
And men may bleed and men may burn；
O'er London town and all its hoard；
O'er London town and its golden hoard
I keep my silent watch and ward！
＇Exeunt all but PHOEBE。 Enter SERGEANT MERYLL。
PHOEBE Father！ Has no reprieve arrived for the poor
gentleman？
MERYLL No； my lass； but there's one hope yet。 Thy brother
Leonard； who； as a reward for his valour in saving his
standard and cutting his way through fifty foes who
would have hanged him； has been appointed a Yeoman of
the Guard； will arrive to…day； and as he comes
straight from Windsor； where the Court is； it may be
it may be that he will bring the expected reprieve
with him。
PHOEBE Oh； that he may！
MERYLL Amen to that！ For the Colonel twice saved my life； and
I'd give the rest of my life to save his！ And wilt
thou not be glad to welcome thy brave brother； with
the fame of whose exploits all England is a…ringing？
PHOEBE Aye； truly； if he brings the reprieve。
MERYLL And not otherwise？
PHOEBE Well； he's a brave fellow indeed； and I love brave
men。
MERYLL All brave men？
PHOEBE Most of them； I verily believe！ But I hope Leonard
will not be too strict with me