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Chorus of Pirates； Police； and General Stanley's Daughters
ACT I
A rocky sea…shore on the coast of Cornwall
ACT II
A ruined chapel by moonlight
First produced at the Op…ra Comique on April 3； 1880
ACT I
（Scene。…A rocky seashore on the coast of Cornwall。 In the
distance is a calm sea； on which a schooner is lying at anchor。
Rock L。 sloping down to L。C。 of stage。 Under these rocks is a
cavern； the entrance to which is seen at first entrance L。 A
natural arch of rock occupies the R。C。 of the stage。 As the
curtain rises groups of pirates are discovered some drinking；
some playing cards。 SAMUEL； the Pirate Lieutenant； is going from
one group to another； filling the cups from a flask。 FREDERIC is
seated in a despondent attitude at the back of the scene。 RUTH
kneels at his feet。）
OPENING CHORUS
ALL： Pour； O pour the pirate sherry；
Fill； O fill the pirate glass；
And； to make us more than merry
Let the pirate bumper pass。
SAMUEL： For today our pirate 'prentice
Rises from indentures freed；
Strong his arm； and keen his scent is
He's a pirate now indeed！
ALL： Here's good luck to Fred'ric's ventures！
Fred'ric's out of his indentures。
SAMUEL： Two and twenty； now he's rising；
And alone he's fit to fly；
Which we're bent on signalizing
With unusual revelry。
ALL： Here's good luck to Fred'ric's ventures！
Fred'ric's out of his indentures。
Pour； O pour the pirate sherry；
Fill； O fill the pirate glass；
And； to make us more than merry
Let the pirate bumper pass。
（FREDERIC rises and comes forward with PIRATE KING； who enters）
KING： Yes； Frederic； from to…day you rank as a full…blown
member of our band。
ALL： Hurrah！
FREDERIC： My friends； I thank you all； from my heart； for your
kindly wishes。 Would that I could repay them as they
deserve！
KING： What do you mean？
FREDERIC： To…day I am out of my indentures； and to…day I leave
you for ever。
KING： But this is quite unaccountable； a keener hand at
scuttling a Cunarder or cutting out a White Star never
shipped a handspike。
FREDERIC： Yes； I have done my best for you。 And why？ It was my
duty under my indentures； and I am the slave of duty。
As a child I was regularly apprenticed to your band。
It was through an error no matter； the mistake was
ours； not yours； and I was in honour bound by it。
SAMUEL： An error？ What error？ （RUTH rises and comes forward）
FREDERIC： I may not tell you； it would reflect upon my well…loved
Ruth。
RUTH： Nay； dear master； my mind has long been gnawed by the
cankering tooth of mystery。 Better have it out at
once。
SONG RUTH
RUTH： When Frederic was a little lad he proved so brave and
daring；
His father thought he'd 'prentice him to some career
seafaring。
I was； alas！ his nurs'rymaid； and so it fell to my lot
To take and bind the promising boy apprentice to a
pilot
A life not bad for a hardy lad； though surely not a
high lot；
Though I'm a nurse； you might do worse than make your
boy a pilot。
I was a stupid nurs'rymaid； on breakers always
steering；
And I did not catch the word aright； through being hard
of hearing；
Mistaking my instructions； which within my brain did
gyrate；
I took and bound this promising boy apprentice to a
pirate。
A sad mistake it was to make and doom him to a vile
lot。
I bound him to a pirate you！ instead of to a
pilot。
I soon found out； beyond all doubt； the scope of this
disaster；
But I hadn't the face to return to my place； and break
it to my master。
A nurs'rymaid is not afraid of what you people call
work；
So I made up my mind to go as a kind of piratical maid…
of…all…work。
And that is how you find me now； a member of your shy
lot；
Which you wouldn't have found； had he been bound
apprentice to a pilot。
RUTH： Oh； pardon！ Frederic； pardon！ （Kneels）
FREDERIC： Rise； sweet one； I have long pardoned you。 （Ruth
rises）
RUTH： The two words were so much alike！
FREDERIC： They were。 They still are； though years have rolled
over their heads。 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 friends； 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 poor lad！ （All weep）
KING： Well； Frederic； if you conscientiously feel that it is
your duty to destroy us； we cannot blame you for acting
on that conviction。 Always act in accordance with the
dictates of your conscience； my boy； and chance the
consequences。
SAMUEL： Besides； we can offer you but little temptation to
remain with us。 We don't seem to make piracy pay。 I'm
sure I don't know why； but we don't。
FREDERIC： I know why； but； alas！ I mustn't tell you； it wouldn't
be right。
KING： Why not； my boy？ It's only half…past eleven； and you
are one of us until the clock strikes twelve。
SAMUEL： True； and until then you are bound to protect our
interests。
ALL： Hear； hear！
FREDERIC： Well； then； it is my duty； as a pirate； to tell you
that you are too tender…hearted。 For instance； you
make a point of never attacking a weaker party than
yourselves； and when you attack a stronger party you
invariably get thrashed。
KING： There is some truth in that。
FREDERIC： Then； again； you make a point of never molesting an
orphan！
SAMUEL： Of course： we are orphans ourselves； and know what it
is。
FREDERIC： Yes； but it has got about； and what is the consequence？
Every one we capture says he's an orphan。 The last
three ships we took proved to be manned entirely by
orphans； and so we had to let them go。 One would think
that Great Britain's mercantile navy was recruited
solely from her orphan asylums which we know is not
the case。
SAMUEL： But； hang it all！ you wouldn't have us absolutely
merciless？
FREDERIC： There's my difficulty； until twelve o'clock I would；
after twelve I wouldn't。 Was ever a man placed in so
delicate a situation？
RUTH： And Ruth； your own Ruth； whom you love so well； and who
has won her middle…aged way into your boyish heart；
what is to become of her？
KING： Oh； he will take you with him。
FREDERIC： Well； Ruth； I feel some difficulty about you。 It is
true that I admire you very much； but I have been
constantly at sea since I was eight years old； and
yours is the only woman's face I have seen during that