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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 who would separate us woe betide！
IOL。 My doom thy lips have spoken
I plead in vain！
CHORUS OF FAIRIES （without）。 Forbear！ forbear！
IOL。 A vow already broken
I break again！
CHORUS OF FAIRIES （without）。 Forbear！ forbear！
IOL。 For himfor herfor thee
I yield my life。
Beholdit may not be！
I am thy wife。
CHORUS OF FAIRIES （without）。 Aiaiah！ Aiaiah！ Willaloo！
LORD CH。 （recognizing her）。 Iolanthe！ thou livest？
IOL。 Aye！
I live！ Now let me die！
（Enter Fairy Queen and Fairies。 Iolanthe kneels to her。）
QUEEN。 Once again thy vows are broken：
Thou thyself thy doom hast spoken！
CHORUS OF FAIRIES。 Aiaiah！ Aiaiah！
Willahalah！ Willaloo！
Willahalah！ Willaloo！
QUEEN。 Bow thy head to Destiny：
Death thy doom； and thou shalt die！
CHORUS OF FAIRIES。 Aiaiah！ Aiaiah！ etc。
（Peers and Sentry enter。 The Queen raises her spear。）
LEILA。 Hold！ If Iolanthe must die； so must we all； for； as
she has sinned； so have we！
QUEEN。 What？
CELIA。 We are all fairy duchesses； marchionesses； countesses；
viscountesses； and baronesses。
LORD MOUNT。 It's our fault。 They couldn't help themselves。
QUEEN。 It seems they have helped themselves； and pretty
freely； too！ （After a pause。） You have all incurred death； but I
can't slaughter the whole company！ And yet （unfolding a scroll）
the law is clearevery fairy must die who marries a mortal！
LORD CH。 Allow me； as an old Equity draftsman； to make a
suggestion。 The subtleties of the legal mind are equal to the
emergency。 The thing is really quite simplethe insertion of a
single word will do it。 Let it stand that every fairy shall die
who doesn't marry a mortal； and there you are； out of your
difficulty at once！
QUEEN。 We like your humour。 Very well！ （Altering the MS。 in
pencil。） Private Willis！
SENTRY （coming forward）。 Ma'am！
QUEEN。 To save my life； it is necessary that I marry at once。
How should you like to be a fairy guardsman？
SENTRY。 Well； ma'am； I don't think much of the British
soldier who wouldn't ill…convenience himself to save a female in
distress。
QUEEN。 You are a brave fellow。 You're a fairy from this
moment。 （Wings spring from Sentry's shoulders。） And you； my
Lords； how say you； will you join our ranks？
（Fairies kneel to Peers and implore them to
do so。）
（Phyllis and Strephon enter。）
LORD MOUNT。 （to Lord Tolloller）。 Well； now that the Peers are
to be recruited entirely from persons of intelligence； I really
don't see what use we are； down here； do you； Tolloller？
LORD TOLL。 None whatever。
QUEEN。 Good！ （Wings spring from shoulders of Peers。） Then
away we go to Fairyland。
FINALE。
PHYL。 Soon as we may；
Off and away！
We'll commence our journey airy
Happy are we
As you can see；
Every one is now a fairy！
ALL。 Every； every； every；
Every one is now a fairy！
IOL。； QUEEN； Though as a general rule we know
and PHYL。 Two strings go to every bow；
Make up your minds that grief 'twill bring
If you've two beaux to every string。
ALL。 Though as a general rule； etc。
LORDCH。 Up in the sky；
Ever so high；
Pleasures come in endless series；
We will arrange
Happy exchange
House of Peers for House of Peris！
ALL。 Peris； Peris； Peris；
House of Peers for House of Peris！
LORDS CH。； Up in the air； sky…high； sky…high；
MOUNT。； Free from Wards in Chancery；
and TOLL。 I/He will be surely happier； for
I'm/He's such a susceptible Chancellor。
ALL。 Up in the air； etc。
CURTAIN
THE MIKADO
OR
THE TOWN OF TITIPU
By William S。 Gilbert
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan
DRAMATIS PERSONAE。
THE MIKADO OF JAPAN。
NANKI…POO （his Son； disguised as a wandering minstrel； and in
love with Yum…Yum）。
KO…KO （Lord High Executioner of Titipu）。
POOH…BAH （Lord High Everyt