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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
time。 I think it is a sweet face。
RUTH： It is oh； it is！
FREDERIC： I say I think it is； that is my impression。 But as I
have never had an opportunity of comparing you with
other women； it is just possible I may be mistaken。
KING： True。
FREDERIC： What a terrible thing it would be if I were to marry
this innocent person； and then find out that she is； on
the whole； plain！
KING： Oh； Ruth is very well； very well indeed。
SAMUEL： Yes； there are the remains of a fine woman about Ruth。
FREDERIC： Do you really think so？
SAMUEL： I do。
FREDERIC： Then I will not be so selfish as to take her from you。
In justice to her； and in consideration for you； I will
leave her behind。 （Hands RUTH to KING）
KING： No； Frederic； this must not be。 We are rough men； who
lead a rough life； but we are not so utterly heartless
as to deprive thee of thy love。 I think I am right in
saying that there is not one here who would rob thee of
this inestimable treasure for all the world holds dear。
ALL： （loudly） Not one！
KING： No； I thought there wasn't。 Keep thy love； Frederic；
keep thy love。 （Hands her back to FREDERIC）
FREDERIC： You're very good； I'm sure。 （Exit RUTH）
KING： Well； it's the top of the tide； and we must be off。
Farewell； Frederic。 When your process of extermination
begins； let our deaths be as swift and painless as you
can conveniently make them。
FREDERIC： I will！ By the love I have for you； I swear it！ Would
that you could render this extermination unnecessary by
accompanying me back to civilization！
KING： No； Frederic； it cannot be。 I don't think much of our
profession； but； contrasted with respectability； it is
comparatively honest。 No； Frederic； I shall live and
die a Pirate King。
SONG PIRATE KING
KING： Oh； better far to live and die
Under the brave black flag I fly；
Than play a sanctimonious part
With a pirate head and a pirate heart。
Away to the cheating world go you；
Where pirates all are well…to…do；
But I'll be true to the song I sing；
And live and die a Pirate King。
For I am a Pirate King！
And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King！
For I am a Pirate King！
ALL： You are！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
KING： And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King。
ALL： It is！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
KING： When I sally forth to seek my prey
I help myself in a royal way。
I sink a few more ships； it's true；
Than a well…bred monarch ought to do；
But many a king on a first…class throne；
If he wants to call his crown his own；
Must manage somehow to get through
More dirty work than e'er I do；
For I am a Pirate King！
And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King！
For I am a Pirate King！
ALL： You are！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
KING： And it is； it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King。
ALL： It is！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
Hurrah for the Pirate King！
（Exeunt all except FREDERIC。 Enter RUTH。）
RUTH： Oh； take me with you！ I cannot live if I am left
behind。
FREDERIC： Ruth； I will be quite candid with you。 You are very
dear to me； as you know； but I must be circumspect。
You see； you are considerably older than I。 A lad of
twenty…one usually looks for a wife of seventeen。
RUTH： A wife of seventeen！ You will find me a wife of a
thousand！
FREDERIC： No； but I shall find you a wife of forty…seven； and
that is quite enough。 Ruth； tell me candidly and
without reserve： compared with other women； how are
you？
RUTH： I will answer you truthfully； master： I have a slight
cold； but otherwise I am quite well。
FREDERIC： I am sorry for your cold； but I was referring rather to
your personal appearance。 Compared with other women；
are you beautiful？
RUTH： （bashfully） I have been told so； dear master。
FREDERIC： Ah； but lately？
RUTH： Oh； no； years and years ago。
FREDERIC： What do you think of yourself？
RUTH： It is a delicate question to answer； but I think I am a
fine woman。
FREDERIC： That is your candid opinion？
RUTH： Yes； I should be deceiving you if I told you otherwise。
FREDERIC： Thank you； Ruth。 I believe you； for I am sure you
would