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Enter all the characters except Lady Sangazure and Mr。 Wells
CHORUS
Oh； what is the matter； and what is the clatter？
He's glowering at her； and threatens a blow！
Oh； why does he batter the girl he did flatter？
And why does the latter recoil from him so？
RECITATIVEALEXIS
Prepare for sad surprises
My love Aline despises！
No thought of sorrow shames her
Another lover claims her！
Be his； false girl； for better or for worse
But； ere you leave me； may a lover's curse
DR。 D。 （coming forward） Hold！ Be just。 This poor child
drank the philtre at your instance。 She hurried off to meet
youbut； most unhappily； she met me instead。 As you had
administered the potion to both of us； the result was inevitable。
But fear nothing from meI will be no man's rival。 I shall quit
the country at onceand bury my sorrow in the congenial gloom of
a Colonial Bishopric。
ALEXIS My excellent old friend！ （Taking his handthen
turning to Mr。 Wells； who has entered with Lady Sangazure。） Oh；
Mr。
Wells； what； what is to be done？
WELLS I do not knowand yetthere is one means by which
this spell may be removed。
ALEXIS Name itoh； name it！
WELLS Or you or I must yield up his life to Ahrimanes。 I
would rather it were you。 I should have no hesitation in
sacrificing my own life to spare yours； but we take stock next
week； and it would not be fair on the Co。
ALEXIS True。 Well； I am ready！
ALINE No； noAlexisit must not be！ Mr。 Wells； if he
must die that all may be restored to their old loves； what is to
become of me？ I should be left out in the cold； with no love to
be restored to！
WELLS TrueI did not think of that。 （To the others） My
friends； I appeal to you； and I will leave the decision in your
hands。
FINALE
MR。 W。 Or I or he
Must die！
Which shall it be？
Reply！
SIR M。 Die thou！
Thou art the cause of all offending！
DR。 D。 Die thou！
Yield to this decree unbending！
ALL。 Die thou！
MR。 W。 So be it！ I submit！ My fate is sealed。
To public execration thus I yield！
（Falls on trap）
Be happy allleave me to my despair
I goit matters not with whomor where！
（Gong）
（All quit their present partners； and rejoin their old lovers。
Sir Marmaduke leaves Mrs。 Partlet； and goes to Lady Sangazure。
Aline
leaves Dr。 Daly； and goes to Alexis。 Dr。 Daly leaves Aline； and
goes
to Constance。 Notary leaves Constance； and goes to Mrs。 Partlet。
All
the Chorus makes a corresponding change。）
ALL
GENTLEMEN。 Oh； my adored one！
LADIES。 Unmingled joy！
GENTLEMEN。 Ecstatic rapture！
LADIES。 Beloved boy！
（They embrace）
SIR M。 Come to my mansion； all of you！ At least
We'll crown our rapture with another feast！
ENSEMBLE
SIR MARMADUKE； LADY SANGAZURE； ALEXIS； and ALINE
Now to the banquet we press
Now for the eggs and the ham
Now for the mustard and cress
Now for the strawberry jam！
CHORUS Now to the banquet； etc。
DR。 DALY； CONSTANCE； NOTARY； and MRS。 PARTLET
Now for the tea of our host
Now for the rollicking bun
Now for the muffin and toast
Now for the gay Sally Lunn！
CHORUS。 Now for the tea； etc。
（General Dance）
（During the symphony Mr。 Wells sinks through the trap； amid red
fire。）
CURTAIN
THESPIS
OR
THE GODS GROWN OLD
Libretto by William S。 Gilbert
Music by Arthur S。 Sullivan
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
GODS
Jupiter； Aged Diety
Apollo； Aged Diety
Mars； Aged Diety
Diana； Aged Diety
Mercury
THESPIANS
Thespis
Sillimon
Timidon
Tipseion
Preposteros
Stupidas
Sparkeion
Nicemis
Pretteia
Daphne
Cymon
ACT I … Ruined Temple on the Summit of Mount Olympus
ACT II … The same Scene； with the Ruins Restored
ACT I
＇SceneThe ruins of the The Temple of the Gods； on summit of
Mount Olympus。 Picturesque shattered columns； overgrown with
ivy； etc。 R。 and L。 with entrances to temple （ruined） R。 Fallen
columns on the stage。 Three broken pillars 2 R。E。 At the back of
stage is the approach from the summit of the mountain。 This
should be 〃practicable〃 to enable large numbers of people to
ascend and descend。 In the distance are the summits of adjacent
mountains。 At first all this is concealed by a thick fog； which
clears presently。 Enter （through fog） Chorus of Stars coming off
duty as fatigued with their night's work＇
CHO。 Through the night； the constellations；
Have given light from various stations。
When midnight gloom falls on all nations；
We will resume our occupations。
SOLO。 Our light； it's true； is not worth mention；
What can we do to gain attention。
When night and noon with vulgar glaring
A great big moon is always flaring。
＇During chorus； enter Diana； an elderly goddess。 She is carefully
wrapped up in cloaks； shawls； etc。 A hood is over her head； a
respirator in her mouth； and galoshes on her feet。 During the
chorus； she takes these things off and discovers herself dressed
in the usual costume of the Lunar Diana； the goddess of the moon。
DIA。 ＇shuddering＇ Ugh。 How cold the nights are。 I don't know how
it is； but I seem to feel the night air a good deal more than I
used to。 But it is time for the sun to be rising。 ＇Calls＇ Apollo。
AP。 ＇within＇ Hollo。
DIA。 I've come off dutyit's time for you to be getting up。
＇Enter Apollo。 He is an elderly 〃buck〃 with an air of assumed
juvenility and is dressed in dressing gown and smoking cap。
AP。 ＇yawning＇ I shan't go out today。 I was out yesterday and the
day before and I want a little rest。 I don't know how it is；but I
seem to feel my work a great deal more than I used to。
DIA。 I am sure these short days can't hurt you。 Why you don't
rise til six and you're in bed again by five； you should have a
turn at my work and see how you like thatout all night。
AP。 My dear sister； I don't envy youthough I remember when I
didbut that was when I was a younger sun。 I don't think I'm
quite well。 Perhaps a little change of air will do me good。 I've
a mind to show myself in London this winter。 They'll be very glad
to see me。 No。 I shan't go out today。 I shall send them this
fine； thick wholesome fog and they won't miss me。 It's the best
substitute for a blazing sunand like most substitutes； nothing
at all like the real thing。
＇Fog clears away and discovers the scene described。 Hurried
music。 Mercury shoots up from behind precipice at the back of
stage。 He carries several parcels afterwards described。 He sits
down； very much fatigued。＇
MER。 Home at last。 A nice time I've had of it。
DIA。 You young scamp you've been out all night again。 This is the
third time you've been out this week。
MER。 Well you're a nice one to blow me up for that。
DIA。 I can't help being out all night。
MER。 And I can't help being down all night。 The nature of Mercury
requires that he should go down when the sun sets； and rise again
when the sun rises。
DIA。 And what have you been doing？
MER。 Stealing on commission。 There's a set of false teeth and a
box of Life Pills for Jupiteran invisible peruke and a bottle
of hair dyethat's for Apolloa respirator and a pair of
galoshesthat's for Cupida full bottomed chignon； some
auricomous fluid； a box of pearl…powder； a pot of rouge； and a
hare's footthat's for Venus。
DIA。 Stealing。 You ought to be ashamed of yourself。
MER。 Oh； as the god of thieves I must do something to justify my
position。
DIA。and AP。 ＇contemptuously＇ Your position。
MER。 Oh； I know it's nothing to boast of even on earth。 Up here；
it's simply cont