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I'll ｝ murmur forth decorous joy
We'll
In dreamy roundelays！
DICK DEADEYE
He thinks he's won his Josephine；
But though the sky is now serene；
A frowning thunderbolt above
May end their ill…assorted love
Which now is all ablaze。
Our captain； ere the day is gone；
Will be extremely down upon
The wicked men who art employ
To make his Josephine less coy
In many various ways。 ＇Exit
DICK。
JOS。 This very night；
HEBE。 With bated breath
RALPH。 And muffled oar
JOS。 Without a light；
HEBE。 As still as death；
RALPH。 We'll steal ashore
JOS。 A clergyman
RALPH。 Shall make us one
BOAT； At half…past ten；
JOS。 And then we can
RALPH Return； for none
BOAT。 Can part them then！
ALL。 This very night； etc。
（DICK appears at hatchway。）
DICK。 Forbear； nor carry out the scheme you've planned；
She is a ladyyou a foremast hand！
Remember； she's your gallant captain's daughter；
And you the meanest slave that crawls the water！
ALL。 Back； vermin； back；
Nor mock us！
Back； vermin； back；
You shock us！
＇Exit DICK
Let's give three cheers for the sailor's bride
Who casts all thought of rank aside
Who gives up home and fortune too
For the honest love of a sailor true！
For a British tar is a soaring soul
As free as a mountain bird！
His energetic fist should be ready to resist
A dictatorial word！
His foot should stamp and his throat should growl；
His hair should twirl and his face should scowl；
His eyes should flash and his breast protrude；
And this should be his customary attitude（pose）。
GENERAL DANCE
END OF ACT I
ACT II
Same Scene。 Night。 Awning removed。 Moonlight。 CAPTAIN
discovered
singing on poop deck； and accompanying himself on a
mandolin。 LITTLE
BUTTERCUP seated on quarterdeck； gazing sentimentally at
him。
SONGCAPTAIN
Fair moon； to thee I sing；
Bright regent of the heavens；
Say； why is everything
Either at sixes or at sevens？
I have lived hitherto
Free from breath of slander；
Beloved by all my crew
A really popular commander。
But now my kindly crew rebel；
My daughter to a tar is partial；
Sir Joseph storms； and； sad to tell；
He threatens a court martial！
Fair moon； to thee I sing；
Bright regent of the heavens；
Say； why is everything
Either at sixes or at sevens？
BUT。 How sweetly he carols forth his melody to the
unconscious
moon！ Of whom is he thinking？ Of some high…born beauty？ It may
be！ Who is
poor Little Buttercup that she should expect his glance to fall
on one so
lowly！ And yet if he knewif he only knew！
CAPT。 （coming down）。 Ah！ Little Buttercup； still on board？
That is
not quite right； little one。 It would have been more respectable
to have
gone on shore at dusk。
BUT； True； dear Captainbut the recollection of your sad
pale
face seemed to chain me to the ship。 I would fain see you smile
before I
go。
CAPT。 Ah！ Little Buttercup； I fear it will be long before I
recover my accustomed cheerfulness； for misfortunes crowd upon
me； and
all my old friends seem to have turned against me！
BUT； Oh nodo not say 〃all〃； dear Captain。 That were
unjust to
one； at least。
CAPT。 True； for you are staunch to me。 （Aside。） If ever I
gave my
heart again； methinks it would be to such a one as this！ （Aloud。）
I am
touched to the heart by your innocent regard for me； and were we
differently situated； I think I could have returned it。 But as it
is； I
fear I can never be more to you than a friend。
BUT； I understand！ You hold aloof from me because you are
rich and
loftyand I poor and lowly。 But take care！ The poor bumboat
woman has
gipsy blood in her veins； and she can read destinies。
CAPT。 Destinies？
BUT。 There is a change in store for you！
CAPT。 A change？
BUT。 Ayebe prepared！
DUETLITTLE BUTTERCUP and CAPTAIN
BUT； Things are seldom what they seem；
Skim milk masquerades as cream；
Highlows pass as patent leathers；
Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers。
CAPT。 （puzzled）。 Very true；
So they do。
BUT。 Black sheep dwell in every fold；
All that glitters is not gold；
Storks turn out to be but logs；
Bulls are but inflated frogs。
CAPT。 （puzzled）。 So they be；
Frequentlee。
BUT。 Drops the wind and stops the mill；
Turbot is ambitious brill；
Gild the farthing if you will；
Yet it is a farthing still。
CAPT。 （puzzled）。 Yes； I know。
That is so。
Though to catch your drift I'm striving；
It is shadyit is shady；
I don't see at what you're driving；
Mystic ladymystic lady。
（Aside。） Stern conviction's o'er me stealing；
That the mystic lady's dealing
In oracular revealing。
BUT。 （aside）。Stern conviction's o'er him stealing；
That the mystic lady's dealing
In oracular revealing。
Yes； I know
That is so！
CAPT。 Though I'm anything but clever；
I could talk like that for ever：
Once a cat was killed by care；
Only brave deserve the fair。
Very true；
So they do。
CAPT。 Wink is often good as nod；
Spoils the child who spares the rod；
Thirsty lambs run foxy dangers；
Dogs are found in many mangers。
BUT。 Frequentlee；
I agree。
Paw of cat the chestnut snatches；
Worn…out garments show new patches；
Only count the chick that hatches；
Men are grown…up catchy…catchies。
BUT。 Yes； I know；
That is so。
（Aside。） Though to catch my drift he's striving；
I'll dissembleI'll dissemble；
When he sees at what I'm driving；
Let him tremblelet him tremble！
ENSEMBLE
Though a mystic tone ｛ I ｝ borrow；
you
You will ｝ learn the truth with sorrow；
I shall
Here to…day and gone to…