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your determinationdon't spoil yourself by committing suicide；
but be beheaded handsomely at the hands of the Public
Executioner！
NANK。 I don't see how that would benefit me。
KO。 You don't？ Observe： you'll have a month to live； and
you'll live like a fighting…cock at my expense。 When the day
comes there'll be a grand public ceremonialyou'll be the
central figureno one will attempt to deprive you of that
distinction。 There'll be a processionbandsdead marchbells
tollingall the girls in tearsYum…Yum distractedthen； when
it's all over； general rejoicings； and a display of fireworks in
the evening。 You won't see them； but they'll be there all the
same。
NANK。 Do you think Yum…Yum would really be distracted at my
death？
KO。 I am convinced of it。 Bless you； she's the most
tender…hearted little creature alive。
NANK。 I should be sorry to cause her pain。 Perhaps； after
all； if I were to withdraw from Japan； and travel in Europe for a
couple of years； I might contrive to forget her。
KO。 Oh； I don't think you could forget Yum…Yum so easily；
and； after all； what is more miserable than a love…blighted life？
NANK。 True。
KO。 Life without Yum…Yumwhy； it seems absurd！
NANK。 And yet there are a good many people in the world who
have to endure it。
KO。 Poor devils； yes！ You are quite right not to be of
their number。
NANK。 （suddenly）。 I won't be of their number！
KO。 Noble fellow！
NANK。 I'll tell you how we'll manage it。 Let me marry
Yum…Yum to…morrow； and in a month you may behead me。
KO。 No； no。 I draw the line at Yum…Yum。
NANK。 Very good。 If you can draw the line； so can I。
（Preparing rope。）
KO。 Stop； stoplisten one momentbe reasonable。 How can
I consent to your marrying Yum…Yum if I'm going to marry her
myself？
NANK。 My good friend； she'll be a widow in a month； and you
can marry her then。
KO。 That's true； of course。 I quite see that。 But； dear
me！ my position during the next month will be most
unpleasantmost unpleasant。
NANK。 Not half so unpleasant as my position at the end of
it。
KO。 Butdear me！wellI agreeafter all； it's only
putting off my wedding for a month。 But you won't prejudice her
against me； will you？ You see； I've educated her to be my wife；
she's been taught to regard me as a wise and good man。 Now I
shouldn't like her views on that point disturbed。
NANK。 Trust me； she shall never learn the truth from me。
FINALE。
Enter Chorus； Pooh…Bah； and Pish…Tush。
CHORUS。
With aspect stern
And gloomy stride；
We come to learn
How you decide。
Don't hesitate
Your choice to name；
A dreadful fate
You'll suffer all the same。
POOH。 To ask you what you mean to do we punctually appear。
KO。 Congratulate me； gentlemen； I've found a Volunteer！
ALL。 The Japanese equivalent for Hear； Hear； Hear！
KO。 （presenting him）。 'Tis Nanki…Poo！
ALL。 Hail； Nanki…Poo！
KO。 I think he'll do？
ALL。 Yes； yes； he'll do！
KO。 He yields his life if I'll Yum…Yum surrender。
Now I adore that girl with passion tender；
And could not yield her with a ready will；
Or her allot；
If I did not
Adore myself with passion tenderer still！
Enter Yum…Yum； Peep…Bo； and Pitti…Sing。
ALL。 Ah； yes！
He loves himself with passion tenderer still！
KO。 （to Nanki…Poo）。 Take hershe's yours！
＇Exit Ko…Ko
ENSEMBLE。
NANKI…POO。 The threatened cloud has passed away；
YUM…YUM。 And brightly shines the dawning day；
NANKI…POO。 What though the night may come too soon；
YUM…YUM。 There's yet a month of afternoon！
NANKI…POO； POOH…BAH； YUM…YUM； PITTI…SING；
and PEEP…BO。
Then let the throng
Our joy advance；
With laughing song
And merry dance；
CHORUS。 With joyous shout and ringing cheer；
Inaugurate our brief career！
PITTI…SING。 A day； a week； a month； a year
YUM。 Or far or near； or far or near；
POOH。 Life's eventime comes much too soon；
PITTI…SING。 You'll live at least a honeymoon！
ALL。 Then let the throng； etc。
CHORUS。 With joyous shout； etc。
SOLOPOOH…BAH。
As in a month you've got to die；
If Ko…Ko tells us true；
'Twere empty compliment to cry
〃Long life to Nanki…Poo！〃
But as one month you have to live
As fellow…citizen；
This toast with three times three we'll give
〃Long life to youtill then！〃
＇Exit
Pooh…Bah。
CHORUS。 May all good fortune prosper you；
May you have health and riches too；
May you succeed in all you do！
Long life to youtill then！
（Dance。）
Enter Katisha melodramatically
KAT。 Your revels cease！ Assist me； all of you！
CHORUS。 Why； who is this whose evil eyes
Rain blight on our festivities？
KAT。 I claim my perjured lover； Nanki…Poo！
Oh； fool！ to shun delights that never cloy！
CHORUS。 Go； leave thy deadly work undone！
KAT。 Come back； oh； shallow fool！ come back to joy！
CHORUS。 Away； away！ ill…favoured one！
NANK。 （aside to Yum…Yum）。 Ah！
'Tis Katisha！
The maid of whom I told you。 （About to go。）
KAT。 （detaining him）。 No！
You shall not go；
These arms shall thus enfold you！
SONGKATISHA。
KAT。 （addressing Nanki…Poo）。
Oh fool； that fleest
My hallowed joys！
Oh blind； that seest
No equipoise！
Oh rash； that judgest
From half； the whole！
Oh base； that grudgest
Love's lightest dole！
Thy heart unbind；
Oh fool； oh blind！
Give me my place；
Oh rash； oh base！
CHORUS。 If she's thy bride； restore her place；
Oh fool； oh blind； oh rash； oh base！
KAT。 （addressing Yum…Yum）。
Pink cheek； that rulest
Where wisdom serves！
Bright eye； that foolest
Heroic nerves！
Rose lip； that scornest
Lore…laden years！
Smooth tongue； that warnest
Who rightly hears！
Thy doom is nigh。
Pink cheek； bright eye！
Thy knell is rung；
Rose lip； smooth tongue！
CHORUS。 If true her tale； thy knell is rung；
Pink cheek； bright eye； rose lip； smooth tongue！
PITTI…SING。 Away； nor prosecute your quest
From our intention； well expressed；
You cannot turn us！
The state of your connubial views
Towards the person you accuse
Does not concern us！
For he's going to marry Yum…Yum
ALL。 Yum…Yum！
PITTI。 Your anger pray bury；
For all will be merry；
I think you had better succumb
ALL。 Cumbcumb！
PITTI。 And join our expressions of glee。
On this subject I pray you be dumb
ALL。 Dumbdumb。
PITTI。 You'll find there are many
Who'll wed for a penny
The word for your guidance is 〃Mum〃
ALL。 Mummum！
PITTI。 There's lots of good fish in the sea！
ALL。 On this subject we pray you be dumb； etc。
SOLOKATISHA。
The hour of gladness
Is dead and gone；
In silent sadness
I live alone！
The hope I cherished
All lifeless lies；
And all has perished
Save love； which never dies！