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MEN。 If you'll marry me； I'll dig for you
and
rake for you！
GIRLS。 If you'll marry be； I'll scrub for you
and bake for you！
MEN。 If you'll marry me； all others I'll
forsake for you！
ALL。 All this will I du； if you marry
me！
GIRLS。 If you'll marry me； I'll cook for you
and brew for you！
MEN。 If you'll marry me； I've guineas not
a
few for you！
GIRLS。 If you'll marry me； I'll take you in
and
du for you！
ALL。 All this will I du； if you'll marry
me！
Eh； but I do loike you！
Country Dance
（At end of dance； enter Constance in tears； leading Notary； who
carries an ear…trumpet）
AriaCONSTANCE
Dear friends； take pity on my lot；
My cup is not of nectar！
I long have lovedas who would not？
Our kind and reverend rector。
Long years ago my love began
So sweetlyyet so sadly
But when I saw this plain old man；
Away my old affection ran
I found I loved him madly。
Oh！
（To Notary） You very； very plain old man；
I love； I love you madly！
CHORUS。 You very； very plain old man；
She loves； she loves you madly！
NOTARY。 I am a very deaf old man；
And hear you very badly！
CONST。 I know not why I love him so；
It is enchantment； surely！
He's dry and snuffy； deaf and slow
Ill…tempered； weak and poorly！
He's ugly； and absurdly dressed；
And sixty…seven nearly；
He's everything that I detest；
But if the truth must be confessed；
I love him very dearly！
Oh！
（To Notary） You're everything that I detest；
But still I love you dearly！
CHORUS。 You've everything that girls detest；
But still she loves you dearly！
NOTARY。 I caught that line； but for the rest；
I did not hear it clearly！
（During this verse Aline and Alexis have entered at back
unobserved。）
ALINE AND ALEXIS
ALEX Oh joy！ oh joy！
The charm works well；
And all are now united。
ALINE。 The blind young boy
Obeys the spell；
And troth they all have plighted！
ENSEMBLE
Aline & Alexis Constance Notary
Oh joy！ oh joy！ Oh； bitter joy！ Oh joy！ oh
joy！
The charm works well； No words can tell No words can
tell
And all are now united！ How my poor heart My state
of mind
The blind young boy is blighted！
delighted。
Obeys the spell； They'll soon employ They'll soon
employ
A marriage bell； A marriage
bell；
Their troth they all To say that we're To say
that we're
have plighted。 united。 united。
True happiness I do confess True happiness
Reigns everywhere； A sorrow rare Reigns
everywhere
And dwells with both My humbled spirit And dwells
with both
the sexes。 vexes。 the
sexes；
And all will bless And none will bless And all will
bless
The thoughtful care Example rare Example rare
Of their beloved Of their beloved Of their
beloved
Alexis！ Alexis！ Alexis！
（All； except Alexis and Aline； exeunt
lovingly。）
ALINE How joyful they all seem in their new…found
happiness！ The whole village has paired off in the happiest
manner。 And yet not a match has been made that the hollow world
would not consider ill…advised！
ALEXIS But we are wiserfar wiserthan the world。
Observe the good that will become of these ill…assorted unions。
The miserly wife will check the reckless expenditure of her too
frivolous consort； the wealthy husband will shower innumerable
bonnets on his penniless bride； and the young and lively spouse
will cheer the declining days of her aged partner with comic
songs unceasing！
ALINE What a delightful prospect for him！
ALEXIS But one thing remains to be done； that my happiness
may be complete。 We must drink the philtre ourselves； that I may
be assured of your love for ever and ever。
ALINE Oh； Alexis； do you doubt me？ Is it necessary that
such love as ours should be secured by artificial means？ Oh； no；
no； no！
ALEXIS My dear Aline； time works terrible changes； and I
want to place our love beyond the chance of change。
ALINE Alexis； it is already far beyond that chance。 Have
faith in me； for my love can never； never change！
ALEXIS Then you absolutely refuse？
ALINE I do。 If you cannot trust me； you have no right to
love meno right to be loved by me。
ALEXIS Enough； Aline； I shall know how to interpret this
refusal。
BALLADALEXIS
Thou hast the power thy vaunted love
To sanctify； all doubt above；
Despite the gathering shade：
To make that love of thine so sure
That； come what may； it must endure
Till time itself shall fade。
They love is but a flower
That fades within the hour！
If such thy love； oh； shame！
Call it by other name
It is not love！
Thine is the power and thine alone；
To place me on so proud a throne
That kings might envy me！
A priceless throne of love untold；
More rare than orient pearl and gold。
But no！ Thou wouldst be free！
Such love is like the r