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Don't dig me up now。
ADAM。 Dear master； it shall be as you wish； for have I not
sworn to obey you for ever in all things？ Yet； as we are here
alone； and as I belong to that particular description of good old
man to whom the truth is a refreshing novelty； let me call you by
your own right title once more！ （Robin assents。） Sir Ruthven
Murgatroyd！ Baronet！ Of Ruddigore！ Whew！ It's like eight
hours at the seaside！
ROB。 My poor old friend！ Would there were more like you！
ADAM。 Would there were indeed！ But I bring you good
tidings。 Your foster…brother； Richard； has returned from
seahis ship the Tom…Tit rides yonder at anchor； and he himself
is even now in this very village！
ROB。 My beloved foster…brother？ No； noit cannot be！
ADAM。 It is even soand see； he comes this way！
（Exeunt together。）
（Enter Chorus of Bridesmaids。）
CHORUS。
From the briny sea
Comes young Richard； all victorious！
Valorous is he
His achievements all are glorious！
Let the welkin ring
With the news we bring
Sing itshout it
Tell about it
Safe and sound returneth he；
All victorious from the sea！
（Enter Richard。 The girls welcome him as he greets old
acquaintances。）
BALLADRICHARD。
I shipped； d'ye see； in a Revenue sloop；
And； off Cape Finistere；
A merchantman we see；
A Frenchman； going free；
So we made for the bold Mounseer；
D'ye see？
We made for the bold Mounseer。
CHORUS。 So we made for the bold Mounseer；
D'ye see？
We made for the bold Mounseer。
But she proved to be a Frigateand she up with her
ports；
And fires with a thirty…two！
It come uncommon near；
But we answered with a cheer；
Which paralysed the Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
Which paralysed the Parley…voo！
CHORUS。 Which paralysed the Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
Which paralysed the Parley…voo！
Then our Captain he up and he says； says he；
〃That chap we need not fear；
We can take her； if we like；
She is sartin for to strike；
For she's only a darned Mounseer；
D'ye see？
She's only a darned Mounseer！〃
CHORUS。 For she's only a darned Mounseer；
D'ye see？
She's only a darned Mounseer！
〃But to fight a French fal…lalit's like hittin' of a
gal！
It's a lubberly thing for to do；
For we； with all our faults；
Why； we're sturdy British salts；
While she's only a Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
While she's only a poor Parley…voo！〃
CHORUS。 While she's only a Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
While she's only a poor Parley…voo！'
So we up with our helm； and we scuds before the breeze
As we gives a compassionating cheer；
Froggee answers with a shout
As he sees us go about；
Which was grateful of the poor Mounseer；
D'ye see？
Which was grateful of the poor Mounseer！
CHORUS。 Which was grateful of the poor Mounseer；
D'ye see？
Which was grateful of the poor Mounseer！
And I'll wager in their joy they kissed each other's
cheek
（Which is what them furriners do）；
And they blessed their lucky stars
We were hardy British tars
Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo！
CHORUS。 Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo！
（HORNPIPE。）
（Exeunt Chorus。）
（Enter Robin。）
ROB。 Richard！
RICH。 Robin！
ROB。 My beloved foster…brother； and very dearest friend；
welcome home again after ten long years at sea！ It is such deeds
as yours that cause our flag to be loved and dreaded throughout
the civilized world！
RICH。 Why； lord love ye； Rob； that's but a trifle to what
we have done in the way of sparing life！ I believe I may say；
without exaggeration； that the marciful little Tom…Tit has spared
more French frigates than any craft afloat！ But 'taint for a
British seaman to brag； so I'll just stow my jawin' tackle and
belay。 （Robin sighs。） But 'vast heavin'； messmate； what's
brought you all a…cockbill？
ROB。 Alas； Dick； I love Rose Maybud； and love in vain！
RICH。 You love in vain？ Come； that's too good！ Why；
you're a fine strapping muscular young fellowtall and strong as
a to'…gall'n'…m'sttaut as a forestayaye； and a barrowknight
to boot； if all had their rights！
ROB。 Hush； Richardnot a word about my true rank； which
none here suspect。 Yes； I know well enough that few men are
better calculated to win a woman's heart than I。 I'm a fine
fellow； Dick； and worthy any woman's lovehappy the girl who
gets me； say I。 But I'm timid； Dick； shynervousmodest
retiringdiffidentand I cannot tell her； Dick； I cannot tell
her！ Ah； you've no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself；
and how little I deserve it。
RICH。 Robin； do you call to mind how； years ago； we swore
that； come what might； we would always act upon our hearts'
dictates？
ROB。 Aye； Dick； and I've always kept that oath。 In doubt；
difficulty； and danger I've always asked my heart what I should
do； and it has never failed me。
RICH。 Right！ Let your heart be your compass； with a clear
conscience for your binnacle light； and you'll sail ten knots on
a bowline； clear of shoals； rocks； and quicksands！ Well； now；
what does my heart say in this here difficult situation？ Why； it
says； 〃Dick；〃 it says（it calls me Dick acos it's known me from
a babby）〃Dick；〃 it says； 〃you ain't shyyou ain't
modestspeak you up for him as is！〃 Robin； my lad； just you lay
me alongside； and when she's becalmed under my lee； I'll spin her
a yarn that shall sarve to fish you two together for life！
ROB。 Will you do this thing for me？ Can you； do you think？
Yes （feeling his pulse）。 There's no false modesty about you。
Yourwhat I would call bumptious self…assertiveness （I mean the
expression in its complimentary sense） has already made you a
bos'n's mate； and it will make an admiral of you in time； if you
work it properly； you dear； incompetent old impostor！ My dear
fellow； I'd give my right arm for one tenth of your modest
assurance！
SONGROBIN。
My boy； you may take it from me；
That of all the afflictions accurst
With which a man's saddled
And hampered and addled；
A diffident nature's the worst。
Though clever as clever can be
A Crichton of early romance
You must stir it and stump it；
And blow your own trumpet；
Or； trust me； you haven't a chance！
If you wish in the world to advance；
Your merits you're bound to enhance；
You must stir it and stump it；
And blow your own trumpet；
Or； trust me； you haven't a chance！
Now take； for example； my case：
I've a bright intellectual brain
In all London city
There's no one so witty
I've thought so again and again。
I've a highly intelligent face
My features cannot be denied
But； whatever I try； sir；
I fail inand why； sir？
I'm modesty personified！
If you wish in the world to advance； etc。
As a poet； I'm tender and quaint
I've passion and fervour and grace
From Ovid and Horace
To Swinburne and Morris；
They all of them take a back place。