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May their love never cloy！
May their bliss me unbounded！
With a halo of joy
May their lives be surrounded！
Heaven bless our Aline！
RECITATIVEALINE。
My kindly friends； I thank you for this greeting
And as you wish me every earthly joy；
I trust your wishes may have quick fulfillment！
ARIAALINE。
Oh； happy young heart！
Comes thy young lord a…wooing
With joy in his eyes；
And pride in his breast
Make much of thy prize；
For he is the best
That ever came a…suing。
Yetyet we must part；
Young heart！
Yetyet we must part！
Oh； merry young heart；
Bright are the days of thy wooing！
But happier far
The days untried
No sorrow can mar；
When love has tied
The knot there's no undoing。
Then； never to part；
Young heart！
Then； never to part！
Enter Lady Sangazure
RECITATIVELADY S。
My child； I join in these congratulations：
Heed not the tear that dims this aged eye！
Old memories crowd upon me。 Though I sorrow；
'Tis for myself； Aline； and not for thee！
Enter Alexis； preceded by Chorus of Men
CHORUS OF MEN AND WOMEN
With heart and with voice
Let us welcome this mating；
To the maid of his choice；
With a heart palpitating；
Comes Alexis； the brave！。
（Sir Marmaduke enters。 Lady Sangazure and he exhibit signs of
strong
emotion at the sight of each other which they endeavor to
repress。 Alexis and Aline rush into each other's arms。）
RECITATIVE
ALEXIS Oh； my adored one！
ALINE Beloved boy！
ALEXIS Ecstatic rapture！
ALINE Unmingled joy！
（They
retire up。）
DUETSIR MARMADUKE and LADY SANGAZURE
SIR M。 （with stately courtesy）
Welcome joy； adieu to sadness！
As Aurora gilds the day；
So those eyes； twin orbs of gladness；
Chase the clouds of care away。
Irresistible incentive
Bids me humbly kiss your hand；
I'm your service most attentive
Most attentive to command！
（Aside with frantic vehemence）
Wild with adoration！
Mad with fascination！
To indulge my lamentation
No occasion do I miss！
Goaded to distraction
By maddening inaction；
I find some satisfaction
In apostophe like this：
〃Sangazure immortal；
〃Sangazure divine；
〃Welcome to my portal；
〃Angel； oh be mine！〃
（Aloud with much ceremony）
Irresistible incentive
Bids me humbly kiss your hand；
I'm your servant most attentive
Most attentive to command！
LADY S。 Sir； I thank you most politely
For your grateful courtesee；
Compliment more true and knightly
Never yet was paid to me！
Chivalry is an ingredient
Sadly lacking in our land
Sir； I am your most obedient；
Most obedient to command！
（Aside and with great vehemence）
Wild with adoration！
Mad with fascination！
To indulge my lamentation
No occasion do I miss！
Goaded to distraction
By maddening inaction；
I find some satisfaction
In apostophe like this：
〃Marmaduke immortal；
〃Marmaduke divine；
〃Take me to thy portal；
〃Loved one； oh be mine！〃
（Aloud with much ceremony）
Chivalry is an ingredient
Sadly lacking in our land；
Sir； I am your most obedient；
Most obedient to command！
（During this the Notary has entered； with marriage contract。）
RECITATIVENOTARY
All is prepared for sealing and for signing；
The contract has been drafted as agreed；
Approach the table； oh； ye lovers pining；
With hand and seal come execute the deed！
（Alexis and Aline advance and sign； Alexis supported by Sir
Marmaduke；
Aline by her Mother。）
CHORUS
See they sign； without a quiver； it
Then to seal proceed。
They deliver itthey deliver it
As their Act and Deed！
ALEX。 I deliver itI deliver it
As my Act and Deed！。
ALINE。 I deliver itI deliver it。
As my Act and Deed！
CHO。 With heart and with voice
Let us welcome this mating；
Leave them here to rejoice；
With true love palpitating；
Alexis the brave；
And the lovely Aline！
（Exeunt all but Alexis
and Aline。）
ALEXIS At last we are alone！ My darling； you are now
irrevocably betrothed to me。 Are you not very； very happy？
ALINE Oh； Alexis； can you doubt it？ Do I not love you
beyond all on earth； and am I not beloved in return？ Is not true
love； faithfully given and faithfully returned； the source of
every earthly joy？
ALEXIS Of that there can be no doubt。 Oh； that the world
could be persuaded of the truth of that maxim！ Oh； that the
world would break down the artificial barriers of rank； wealth；
education； age； beauty； habits； taste； and temper； and recognize
the glorious principle； that in marriage alone is to be found the
panacea for every ill！
ALINE Continue to preach that sweet doctrine； and you will
succeed； oh； evangel of true happiness！
ALEXIS I hope so； but as yet the cause progresses but
slowly。 Still I have made some converts to the principle； that
men and women should be coupled in matrimony without distinction
of rank。 I have lectured on the subject at Mechanics'
Institutes； and the mechanics were unanimous in favour of my
views。 I have preached in workhouses； beershops； and Lunatic
Asylums； and I have been received with enthusiasm。 I have
addressed navvies on the advantages that would accrue to them if
they married wealthy ladies of rank； and not a navvy dissented！
ALINE Noble fellows！ And yet there are those who hold that
the uneducated classes are not open to argument！ And what do the
countesses say？
ALEXIS Why； at present； it can't be denied； the aristocracy
hold aloof。
ALINE Ah； the working man is the true Intelligence after
all！
ALEXIS He is a noble creature when he is quite sober。 Yes；
Aline； true happiness comes of true love； and true love should be