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False and foolish prophets you
Twenty years ago；
Twenty years ago！
（Enter Hildebrand）
Hilarion： Well； father； is there news for me at last？
Hildebd： King Gama is in sight； but much I fear
With no Princess！
Hilarion： Alas； my liege； I've heard；
That Princess Ida has forsworn the world；
And； with a band of women； shut herself
Within a lonely country house； and there
Devotes herself to stern philosophies！
Hildebd： Then I should say the loss of such a wife
Is one to which a reasonable man
Would easily be reconciled。
Hilarion： Oh； no！
Or I am not a reasonable man。
She is my wife has been for twenty years！
（Holding glass） I think I see her now。
Hildebd： Ha！ Let me look！
Hilarion： In my mind's eye； I mean a blushing bride
All bib and tucker； frill and furbelow！
How exquisite she looked as she was borne；
Recumbent； in her foster…mother's arms！
How the bride wept nor would be comforted
Until the hireling mother…for…the…nonce
Administered refreshment in the vestry。
And I remember feeling much annoyed
That she should weep at marrying with me。
But then I thought； 〃These brides are all alike。
You cry at marrying me？ How much more cause
You'd have to cry if it were broken off！〃
These were my thoughts； I kept them to myself；
For at that age I had not learnt to speak。
（Exeunt Hildebrand
and Hilarion）
（Enter Courtiers）
CHORUS
〃From the distant panorama〃
Chorus： From the distant panorama
Come the sons of royal Gama。
They are heralds evidently；
And are sacred consequently；
Sons of Gama； hail！ oh； hail！
（Enter Arac； Guron； and Scynthius）
TRIO （Arac； Guron； Scynthius and Chorus）
〃We are Warriors Three〃
SONG … Arac
Arac： We are warriors three；
Sons of Gama； Rex；
Like most sons are we；
Masculine in sex。
All Three： Yes； yes； yes；
Masculine in sex。
Arac： Politics we bar；
They are not our bent；
On the whole we are
Not intelligent。
All Three： No； no； no；
Not intelligent。
Arac： But with doughty heart；
And with trusty blade
We can play our part
Fighting is our trade。
All Three： Yes； yes； yes；
Fighting is our trade。
Bold and fierce； and strong； ha！ ha！
For a war we burn；
With its right or wrong； ha！ ha！
We have no concern。
Order comes to fight； ha！ ha！
Order is obey'd；
We are men of might； ha！ ha！
Fighting is our trade。
Yes yes； yes；
Fighting is our trade； ha！ ha！
THE THREE PRINCIPALS CHORUS
Fighting is our trade； ha
ha！ They are men of might； ha！ ha！
Fighting is their trade。
Order comes to fight； ha！ ha！
Order is obey'd！
Order comes to fight！
Ha； Ha！
Order is obey'd！
Fighting Fighting
is。 Yes； yes； yes； is
Fighting is our trade； ha their
Ha！ trade！
（Enter King Gama）
SONG （Gama）
〃If you give me your Attention〃
Gama： If you give me your attention； I will tell you what I
am：
I'm a genuine philanthropist all other kinds are
sham。
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow…creatures； I endeavour to correct。
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes；
And little plans to snub the self…sufficient I devise；
I love my fellow creatures I do all the good I
can
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man！
And I can't think why！
To compliments inflated I've a withering reply；
And vanity I always do my best to mortify；
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect；
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect；
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns；
And I carefully compare it with the income…tax
returns；
But to benefit humanity however much I plan；
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man！
And I can't think why！
I'm sure I'm no ascetic； I'm as pleasant as can be；
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee；
I've an irritating chuckle； I've a celebrated sneer；
I've an entertaining snigger； I've a fascinating leer。
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two；
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute and I do。
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I
can；
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man！
And I can't think why！
Chorus： He can't think why！
He can't think why！
（Enter Hildebrand； Hilarion； Cyril and Florian）
Gama： So this is Castle Hildebrand？ Well； well！
Dame Rumour whispered that the place was grand；
She told me that your taste was exquisite；
Superb； unparalleled！
Hildebnd： （Gratified） Oh； really； King！
Gama： But she's a liar！ Why； how old you've grown！
Is this Hilarion？ Why； you've changed too
You were a singularly handsome child！
（To Florian） Are you a courtier？ Come； then ply your trade；
Tell me some lies。 How do you like your King？
Vile rumour says he's all but imbecile。
Now； that's not true？
Florian： My lord； we love our King。
His wise remarks are valued by his court
As precious stones。
Gama： And for the self…same cause。
Like precious stones； his sensible remarks
Derive their value from their scarcity！
Come now； be honest； tell the truth for once！
Tell it of me。 Come； come； I'll harm you not。
This leg is crooked this foot is ill…designed
This shoulder wears a hump！ Come； out with it！
Look； here's my face！ Now； am I not the worst
Of Nature's blunders？
Cyril： Nature never errs。
To those who know the workings of your mind；
Your face and figure； sir； suggest a book
Appropriately bound。
Gama： （Enraged） Why； harkye； sir；
How dare you bandy words with me？
Cyril： No need
To bandy aught that appertains to you。
Gama： （Furiously） Do you permit this； King？
Hildebd： We are in doubt
Whether to treat you as an honoured guest
Or as a traitor knave who plights his word
And breaks it。
Gama： （Quickly） If the casting vote's with me；
I give it for the former！
Hildebd： We shall see。
By the terms of our contract； signed and sealed；
You're bound to bring the Princess here to…day：
Wh