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To Swinburne and Morris；
They all of them take a back place。
Then I sing and I play and I paint：
Though none are accomplished as I；
To say so were treason：
You ask me the reason？
I'm diffident； modest； and shy！
If you wish in the world to advance； etc。
（Exit Robin。）
RICH。 （looking after him）。 Ah； it's a thousand pities he's
such a poor opinion of himself； for a finer fellow don't walk！
Well； I'll do my best for him。 〃Plead for him as though it was
for your own father〃that's what my heart's a…remarkin' to me
just now。 But here she comes！ Steady！ Steady it is！ （Enter
Rosehe is much struck by her。） By the Port Admiral； but she's
a tight little craft！ Come； come； she's not for you； Dick； and
yetshe's fit to marry Lord Nelson！ By the Flag of Old England；
I can't look at her unmoved。
ROSE。 Sir； you are agitated
RICH。 Aye； aye； my lass； well said！ I am agitated； true
enough！took flat aback； my girl； but 'tis naught'twill pass。
（Aside。） This here heart of mine's a…dictatin' to me like
anythink。 Question is； Have I a right to disregard its
promptings？
ROSE。 Can I do aught to relieve thine anguish； for it
seemeth to me that thou art in sore trouble？ This
apple（offering a damaged apple）。
RICH。 （looking at it and returning it）。 No； my lass；
'tain't that： I'mI'm took flat abackI never see anything like
you in all my born days。 Parbuckle me； if you ain't the
loveliest gal I've ever set eyes on。 ThereI can't say fairer
than that； can I？
ROSE。 No。 （Aside。） The question is； Is it meet that an
utter stranger should thus express himself？ （Refers to book。）
Yes〃Always speak the truth。〃
RICH。 I'd no thoughts of sayin' this here to you on my own
account； for； truth to tell； I was chartered by another； but when
I see you my heart it up and it says； says it； 〃This is the very
lass for you； Dick〃〃speak up to her； Dick；〃 it says（it calls
me Dick acos we was at school together）〃tell her all； Dick；〃 it
says； 〃never sail under false coloursit's mean！〃 That's what
my heart tells me to say； and in my rough； common…sailor fashion；
I've said it； and I'm a…waiting for your reply。 I'm a…tremblin'；
miss。 Lookye here（holding out his hand）。 That's narvousness！
ROSE （aside）。 Now； how should a maiden deal with such an
one？ （Consults book。） 〃Keep no one in unnecessary suspense。〃
（Aloud。） Behold； I will not keep you in unnecessary suspense。
（Refers to book。） 〃In accepting an offer of marriage； do so with
apparent hesitation。〃 （Aloud。） I take you； but with a certain
show of reluctance。 （Refers to book。） 〃Avoid any appearance of
eagerness。〃 （Aloud。） Though you will bear in mind that I am far
from anxious to do so。 （Refers to book。） 〃A little show of
emotion will not be misplaced！〃 （Aloud。） Pardon this tear！
（Wipes her eye。）
RICH。 Rose； you've made me the happiest blue…jacket in
England！ I wouldn't change places with the Admiral of the Fleet；
no matter who he's a…huggin' of at this present moment！ But；
axin' your pardon； miss （wiping his lips with his hand）； might I
be permitted to salute the flag I'm a…goin' to sail under？
ROSE （referring to book）。 〃An engaged young lady should not
permit too many familiarities。〃 （Aloud。） Once！ （Richard kisses
her。）
DUETRICHARD and ROSE。
RICH。 The battle's roar is over；
O my love！
Embrace thy tender lover；
O my love！
From tempests' welter；
From war's alarms；
O give me shelter
Within those arms！
Thy smile alluring；
All heart…ache curing；
Gives peace enduring；
O my love！
ROSE。 If heart both true and tender；
O my love！
A life…love can engender；
O my love！
A truce to sighing
And tears of brine；
For joy undying
Shall aye be mine；
BOTH。 And thou and I； love；
Shall live and die； love；
Without a sigh； love
My own； my love！
（Enter Robin； with Chorus of Bridesmaids。）
CHORUS。
If well his suit has sped；
Oh； may they soon be wed！
Oh； tell us； tell us； pray；
What doth the maiden say？
In singing are we justified；
Hall the Bridegroomhail the Bride！
Let the nuptial knot be tied：
In fair phrases
Hymn their praises；
Hail the Bridegroomhall the Bride？
ROB。 Wellwhat news？ Have you spoken to her？
RICH。 Aye； my lad； I haveso to speakspoke her。
ROB。 And she refuses？
RICH。 Why； no； I can't truly say she do。
ROB。 Then she accepts！ My darling！ （Embraces her。）
BRIDESMAIDS。
Hail the Bridegroomhail the Bride！ etc。
ROSE （aside； referring to her book）。 Now； what should a
maiden do when she is embraced by the wrong gentleman？
RICH。 Belay； my lad； belay。 You don't understand。
ROSE。 Oh； sir； belay； I beseech you！
RICH。 You see； it's like this： she acceptsbut it's me！
ROB。 You！ （Richard embraces Rose。）
BRIDESMAIDS。
Hail the Bridegroomhail the Bride！
When the nuptial knot is tied
ROB。 （interrupting angrily）。 Hold your tongues； will you！
Now then； what does this mean？
RICH。 My poor lad； my heart grieves for thee； but it's like
this： the moment I see her； and just as I was a…goin' to mention
your name； my heart it up and it says； says it〃Dick； you've
fell in love with her yourself；〃 it says； 〃be honest and
sailor…likedon't skulk under false coloursspeak up；〃 it says；
〃take her； you dog； and with her my blessin'！〃
BRIDESMAIDS。
Hail the Bridegroomhail the bride
ROB。 Will you be quiet！ Go away！ （Chorus makes faces at
him and exeunt。） Vulgar girls！
RICH。 What could I do？ I'm bound to obey my heart's
dictates。
ROB。 Of courseno doubt。 It's quite rightI don't
mindthat is； not particularlyonly it'sit is disappointing；
you know。
ROSE （to Robin）。 Oh； but； sir； I knew not that thou didst
seek me in wedlock； or in very truth I should not have hearkened
unto this man； for behold； he is but a lowly mariner； and very
poor withal； whereas thou art a tiller of the land； and thou hast
fat oxen； and many sheep and swine； a considerable dairy farm and
much corn and oil！
RICH。 That's true； my lass； but it's done now； ain't it；
Rob？
ROSE。 Still it may be that I should not be happy in thy
love。 I am passing young and little able to judge。 Moreover； as
to thy character I know naught！
ROB。 Nay； Rose； I'll answer for that。 Dick has won thy
love fairly。 Broken…hearted as I am； I'll stand up for Dick
through thick and thin！
RICH。 （with emotion）。 Thankye； messmate！ that's well said。
That's spoken honest。 Thankye； Rob！ （Grasps his hand。）
ROSE。 Yet methinks I have heard that sailors are but
worldly men； and little prone to lead serious and thoughtful
lives！
ROB。 And what then？ Admit that Dick is not a steady
character； and that when he's excited he uses language that would
make your hair curl。 Grant thathe does。 It's the truth； and
I'm not going to deny it。 But look at his good qualities。 He's
as nimble as a pony； and his hornpipe is the talk of the fleet！
RICH。 Thankye； Rob！ That's well spoken。 Thankye； Rob！
ROSE。 But it may be that he drinketh strong waters which do
bemuse a man； and make him even as the wild beasts of the desert！
ROB。 Well； suppose he does； and I don't say he don't； for
rum's his bane； and ever has been。 He does drinkI won't deny
it。 But what of that？ Look at his armstattooed to the
shoulder！ （Rich。 rolls up his sleeves。） No； noI won't hear a
word against Dick！
ROSE。 But they say that mariners are but rarely true to
those whom they profess to love！
ROB。 Grantedgrantedand I don't say that Dick isn't as
bad as any of 'em。 （Rich。 chuckles。） You are； you know you are；
you dog！ a devil of a fellowa regular out…and…out Lothario！
But what then？ You can't have everything； and a better hand at
turning…in a dead…eye don't walk a deck！ And what an
accomplishment that is in a family man！ No； nonot a word
against Dick。 I'll stick up for him through thick and thin