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against Dick。 I'll stick up for him through thick and thin！
RICH。 Thankye； Rob； thankye。 You're a true friend。 I've
acted accordin' to my heart's dictates； and such orders as them
no man should disobey。
ENSEMBLERICHARD； ROBIN； and ROSE。
In sailing o'er life's ocean wide
Your heart should be your only guide；
With summer sea and favouring wind；
Yourself in port you'll surely find。
SOLORICHARD。
My heart says； 〃To this maiden strike
She's captured you。
She's just the sort of girl you like
You know you do。
If other man her heart should gain；
I shall resign。〃
That's what it says to me quite plain；
This heart of mine。
SOLOROBIN。
My heart says； 〃You've a prosperous lot；
With acres wide；
You mean to settle all you've got
Upon your bride。〃
It don't pretend to shape my acts
By word or sign；
It merely states these simple facts；
This heart of mine！
SOLOROSE。
Ten minutes since my heart said 〃white〃
It now says 〃black〃。
It then said 〃left〃it now says 〃right〃
Hearts often tack。
I must obey its latest strain
You tell me so。 （To Richard。）
But should it change its mind again；
I'll let you know。
（Turning from Richard to Robin； who embraces her。）
ENSEMBLE。
In sailing o'er life's ocean wide
No doubt the heart should be your guide；
But it is awkward when you find
A heart that does not know its mind！
（Exeunt Robin with Rose L。； and Richard； weeping； R。）
（Enter Mad Margaret。 She is wildly dressed in picturesque tatters；
and is an obvious caricature of theatrical madness。）
SCENAMARGARET。
Cheerily carols the lark
Over the cot。
Merrily whistles the clerk
Scratching a blot。
But the lark
And the clerk；
I remark；
Comfort me not！
Over the ripening peach
Buzzes the bee。
Splash on the billowy beach
Tumbles the sea。
But the peach
And the beach
They are each
Nothing to me！
And why？
Who am I？
Daft Madge！ Crazy Meg！
Mad Margaret！ Poor Peg！
He！ he！ he！ he！ （chuckling）。
Mad； I？
Yes； very！
But why？
Mystery！
Don't call！
Whisht！ whisht！
No crime
'Tis only
That I'm
Love…lonely！
That's all！
BALLADMARGARET。
To a garden full of posies
Cometh one to gather flowers；
And he wanders through its bowers
Toying with the wanton roses；
Who； uprising from their beds；
Hold on high their shameless heads
With their pretty lips a…pouting；
Never doubtingnever doubting
That for Cytherean posies
He would gather aught but roses！
In a nest of weeds and nettles
Lay a violet； half…hidden；
Hoping that his glance unbidden
Yet might fall upon her petals。
Though she lived alone； apart；
Hope lay nestling at her heart；
But； alas； the cruel awaking
Set her little heart a…breaking；
For he gathered for his posies
Only rosesonly roses！
（Bursts into tears。）
（Enter Rose。）
ROSE。 A maiden； and in tears？ Can I do aught to soften thy
sorrow？ This apple（offering apple）。
MAR。 （Examines it and rejects it。） No！ （Mysteriously。）
Tell me； are you mad？
ROSE。 I？ No！ That is； I think not。
MAR。 That's well！ Then you don't love Sir Despard
Murgatroyd？ All mad girls love him。 I love him。 I'm poor Mad
MargaretCrazy MegPoor Peg！ He！ he！ he！ he！ （chuckling）。
ROSE。 Thou lovest the bad Baronet of Ruddigore？ Oh；
horribletoo horrible！
MAR。 You pity me？ Then be my mother！ The squirrel had a
mother； but she drank and the squirrel fled！ Hush！ They sing a
brave song in our partsit runs somewhat thus： （Sings。）
〃The cat and the dog and the little puppee
Sat down in adown in ain a
I forget what they sat down in； but so the song goes！
ListenI've come to pinch her！
ROSE。 Mercy； whom？
MAR。 You mean 〃who〃。
ROSE。 Nay！ it is the accusative after the verb。
MAR。 True。 （Whispers melodramatically。） I have come to
pinch Rose Maybud！
ROSE。 （Aside； alarmed。） Rose Maybud！
MAR。 Aye！ I love himhe loved me once。 But that's all
gone； fisht！ He gave me an Italian glancethus （business）and
made me his。 He will give her an Italian glance； and make her
his。 But it shall not be； for I'll stamp on herstamp on her…
…stamp on her！ Did you ever kill anybody？ No？ Why not？
ListenI killed a fly this morning！ It buzzed； and I wouldn't
have it。 So it diedpop！ So shall she！
ROSE。 But； behold； I am Rose Maybud； and I would fain not
die 〃pop。〃
MAR。 You are Rose Maybud？
ROSE。 Yes； sweet Rose Maybud！
MAR。 Strange！ They told me she was beautiful！ And he
loves you！ No； no！ If I thought that； I would treat you as the
auctioneer and land…agent treated the lady…birdI would rend you
asunder！
ROSE。 Nay； be pacified； for behold I am pledged to another；
and Lo； we are to be wedded this very day！
MAR。 Swear me that！ Come to a Commissioner and let me have
it on affidavit！ I once made an affidavitbut it diedit died…
…it died！ But see； they comeSir Despard and his evil crew！
Hide； hidethey are all madquite mad！
ROSE。 What makes you think that？
MAR。 Hush！ They sing choruses in public。 That's mad
enough； I think。 Gohide away； or they will seize you！ Hush！
Quite softlyquite； quite softly！
（Exeunt together； on tiptoe。）
（Enter Chorus of Bucks and Blades； heralded by Chorus of
Bridesmaids。）
CHORUS OF BRIDESMAIDS。
Welcome； gentry；
For your entry
Sets our tender hearts a…beating。
Men of station；
Admiration
Prompts this unaffected greeting。
Hearty greeting offer we！
CHORUS OF BUCKS AND BLADES。
When thoroughly tired
Of being admired；
By ladies of gentle degreedegree；
With flattery sated；
High…flown and inflated；
Away from the city we fleewe flee！
From charms intramural
To prettiness rural
The sudden transition
Is simply Elysian；
So come； Amaryllis；
Come； Chloe and Phyllis；
Your slaves； for the moment； are we！
ALL。 From charms intramural； etc。
CHORUS OF BRIDESMAIDS。
The sons of the tillage
Who dwell in this village
Are people of lowly degreedegree。
Though honest and active；
They're most unattractive；
And awkward as awkward can becan be。
They're clumsy clodhoppers
With axes and choppers；
And shepherds and ploughmen
And drovers and cowmen；
And hedgers and reapers
And carters and keepers；
But never a lover for me！
ENSEMBLE。
BRIDESMAIDS。