The Pirates of Penzance (or, The Slave of Duty), Act I: Im telling a terrible story (Major-General, Others except Ruth)
GENERAL (aside)
Im telling a terrible story?
But it doesnt diminish my glory;?
For they would have?
taken my daughters?
Over the billowy waters,
If I hadnt, in elegant diction,
Indulged in an innocent fiction,
Which is not in the same category
As a regular terrible story.
GIRLS (aside) PIRATES (asid
He is telling a terrible If hes telling a
story, terrible story
Which will tend to He shall die by a death
diminish hislory; that is gory
Though they would have? Yes, one of the
taken hisaughters cruellest slaughters
Over the billowy waters, That ever were known in these waters;
It is easy, in elegant It is easy, in elegant
diction. diction,
To call it an innocent To call it an innocent
?fiction,? fiction
But it comes in the same But it comes in the same
As telling a regular As telling a regular
terrible story.? terrible story.
It is easy, in elegant It is easy, in elegant
diction. diction,
To call it an innocent To call it an innocent
fiction fiction
But it comes in the same But it comes in the same
As telling a regular As telling a regular
terrible story.? terrible story.
KING
Although our dark career
Sometimes involves the crime of stealing,
We rather think that were
Not altogether void of feeling.
Although we live by strife,
Were always sorry to begin it,
For what , we ask, is life
Without a touch of Poetry in it?
ALL
Hail, Poetry, thou heavn-born maid!
Thou gildest een the pirates trade.
Hail, flowing fount of sentiment!
All hail, all hail, divine emollient!
(all rise)
KING
You may go, for youre at liberty,
our pirate rules protect you,
And honorary members of our band we do elect you!
SAMUEL
For he is an orphan boy!
CHORUS
He is!?Hurrah for the orphan boy!
GENERAL
And it sometimes is a useful thing
To be an orphan boy.
CHORUS
It is!?Hurrah for the orphan boy !
Hurrah for the orphan boy!
ENSEMBLE
Oh, happy day, with joyous glee
They will away and married be!
Oh, happy day, with joyous glee
They will away and married be!
Should it befall auspiciously,
Her (Our) sisters all will bridesmaids be!
Should it befall auspiciously,
Her (Our) sisters all will bridesmaids be!
Oh, happy day, with joyous glee
They will away and married be!
Should it befall auspiciously,
Her (Our) sisters all will bridesmaids be!
Should it befall auspiciously,
Her (Our) sisters all will bridesmaids be!