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ROB。 If it is it doesn't matter
MAR。 If it is it doesn't matter
ALL。 If it is it doesn't matter； matter； matter； matter；
matter！
（Exeunt Despard and Margaret。）
（Enter Adam。）
ADAM （guiltily）。 Masterthe deed is done！
ROB。 What deed？
ADAM。 She is herealone； unprotected
ROB。 Who？
ADAM。 The maiden。 I've carried her offI had a hard task；
for she fought like a tiger…cat！
ROB。 Great heaven； I had forgotten her！ I had hoped to
have died unspotted by crime； but I am foiled againand by a
tiger…cat！ Produce herand leave us！
（Adam introduces Dame Hannah； very much excited； and exits。）
ROB。 Dame Hannah！ This isthis is not what I expected。
HAN。 Well； sir； and what would you with me？ Oh； you have
begun bravelybravely indeed！ Unappalled by the calm dignity of
blameless womanhood； your minion has torn me from my spotless
home； and dragged me； blindfold and shrieking； through hedges；
over stiles； and across a very difficult country； and left me；
helpless and trembling； at your mercy！ Yet not helpless； coward
sir； for approach one stepnay； but the twentieth part of one
poor inchand this poniard （produces a very small dagger） shall
teach ye what it is to lay unholy hands on old Stephen Trusty's
daughter！
ROB。 Madam； I am extremely sorry for this。 It is not at
all what I intendedanything more correctmore deeply
respectful than my intentions towards you； it would be impossible
for any onehowever particularto desire。
HAN。 Bah； I am not to be tricked by smooth words；
hypocrite！ But be warned in time； for there are； without； a
hundred gallant hearts whose trusty blades would hack him limb
from limb who dared to lay unholy hands on old Stephen Trusty's
daughter！
ROB。 And this is what it is to embark upon a career of
unlicensed pleasure！
（Dame Hannah； who has taken a formidable dagger from one of the
armed figures； throws her small dagger to Robin。）
HAN。 Harkye； miscreant； you have secured me； and I am your
poor prisoner； but if you think I cannot take care of myself you
are very much mistaken。 Now then； it's one to one； and let the
best man win！
（Making for him。）
ROB。 （in an agony of terror）。 Don't！ don't look at me like
that！ I can't bear it！ Roderic！ Uncle！ Save me！
（Sir Roderic enters； from his picture。 He comes down the stage。）
ROD。 What is the matter？ Have you carried her off？
ROB。 I haveshe is therelook at hershe terrifies me！
ROD。 （looking at Hannah）。 Little Nannikin！
HAN。 （amazed）。 Roddy…doddy！
ROD。 My own old love！ Why； how came you here？
HAN。 This brutehe carried me off！ Bodily！ But I'll show
him！ （about to rush at Robin）。
ROD。 Stop！ （To Rob。） What do you mean by carrying off
this lady？ Are you aware that once upon a time she was engaged
to be married to me？ I'm very angryvery angry indeed。
ROB。 Now I hope this will be a lesson to you in future not
to
ROD。 Hold your tongue； sir。
ROB。 Yes； uncle。
ROD。 Have you given him any encouragement？
HAN。 （to Rob。）。 Have I given you any encouragement？
Frankly now； have I？
ROB。 No。 Frankly； you have not。 Anything more
scrupulously correct than your conduct； it would be impossible to
desire。
ROD。 You go away。
ROB。 Yes； uncle。 （Exit Robin。）
ROD。 This is a strange meeting after so many years！
HAN。 Very。 I thought you were dead。
ROD。 I am。 I died ten years ago。
HAN。 And are you pretty comfortable？
ROD。 Pretty wellthat isyes； pretty well。
HAN。 You don't deserve to be； for I loved you all the
while； dear； and it made me dreadfully unhappy to hear of all
your goings…on； you bad； bad boy！
BALLADDAME HANNAH。
There grew a little flower
'Neath a great oak tree：
When the tempest 'gan to lower
Little heeded she：
No need had she to cower；
For she dreaded not its power
She was happy in the bower
Of her great oak tree！
Sing hey；
Lackaday！
Let the tears fall free
For the pretty little flower
And the great oak tree！
BOTH。 Sing hey；
Lackaday！ etc。
When she found that he was fickle；
Was that great oak tree；
She was in a pretty pickle；
As she well might be
But his gallantries were mickle；
For Death followed with his sickle；
And her tears began to trickle
For her great oak tree！
Sing hey；
Lackaday！ etc。
BOTH。 Sing hey；
Lackaday！ etc。
Said she； 〃He loved me never；
Did that great oak tree；
But I'm neither rich nor clever；
And so why should he？
But though fate our fortunes sever；
To be constant I'll endeavour；
Aye； for ever and for ever；
To my great oak tree！'
Sing hey；
Lackaday！ etc。
BOTH。 Sing hey；
Lackaday！ etc。
（Falls weeping on Sir Roderic's bosom。）
（Enter Robin； excitedly； followed by all the characters and Chorus
of Bridesmaids。）
ROB。 Stop a bitboth of you。
ROD。 This intrusion is unmannerly。
HAN。 I'm surprised at you。
ROB。 I can't stop to apologizean idea has just occurred
to me。 A Baronet of Ruddigore can only die through refusing to
commit his daily crime。
ROD。 No doubt。
ROB。 Therefore； to refuse to commit a daily crime is
tantamount to suicide！
ROD。 It would seem so。
ROB。 But suicide is； itself； a crimeand so； by your own
showing； you ought never to have died at all！
ROD。 I seeI understand！ Then I'm practically alive！
ROB。 Undoubtedly！ （Sir Roderic embraces Dame Hannah。） Rose；
when you believed that I was a simple farmer； I believe you loved
me？
ROSE。 Madly； passionately！
ROB。 But when I became a bad baronet； you very properly
loved Richard instead？
ROSE。 Passionately； madly！
ROB。 But if I should turn out not to be a bad baronet after
all； how would you love me then？
ROSE。 Madly； passionately！
ROB。 As before？
ROSE。 Why； of course。
ROB。 My darling！ （They embrace。）
RICH。 Here； I say； belay！
ROSE。 Oh； sir； belay； if it's absolutely necessary！
ROB。 Belay？ Certainly not！
FINALE
ROB。 Having been a wicked baronet a week
Once again a modest livelihood I seek。
Agricultural employment
Is to me a keen enjoyment；
For I'm naturally diffident and meek！
ROSE。 When a man has been a naughty baronet；
And expresses deep repentance and regret；
You should help him； if you're able；
Like the mousie in the fable；
That's the teaching of my Book of Etiquette。
CHORUS。 That's the teaching in her Book of Etiquette。
RICH。 If you ask me why I do not pipe my eye；
Like an honest British sailor； I reply；
That with Zorah for my missis；
There'll be bread and cheese and kisses；
Which is just the sort of ration I enjye！
CHORUS。 Which is just the sort of ration you enjye！
DES。 and MAR。 Prompted by a keen desire to evoke
All the blessed calm of matrimony's yoke；
We shall toddle off tomorrow；
From this scene of sin and sorrow；
For to settle in the town of Basingstoke！
ALL。 For happy the lily
That's kissed by the bee；
And； sipping tranquilly；
Quite happy is he；
And happy the filly
That neighs in her pride；
But happier than any；
A pound to a penny；
A lover is； when he
Embraces his bride！
CURTAIN
THE SORCERER
Libretto by William S。 Gilbert
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan
DRAMATIS PERSONAE