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I've brib'd with toys
Great vulgar boys
To utter something spiteful；
But； bless you； no！
They would be so
Confoundedly politeful！
Ah！ In short； these aggravating lads；
They tickle my tastes； they feed my fads；
They give me this and they give me that；
And I've nothing whatever to grumble at！
Chorus： Oh； isn't your life extremely flat
With nothing whatever to grumble at！
（Gama Bursts into tears and falls sobbing
on a seat。）
Princess： My poor old father！ How he must have suffered！
Well； well； I yield！
Gama： （Hysterically） She yields！ I'm saved； I'm saved！
（Exit）
Princess： Open the gates admit these warriors；
Then get you all within the castle walls。
（Exit）
（The gates are opened and the Girls mount the
battlements as the
Soldiers enter。 Arac； Guron and Scynthius
also enter。）
Chorus of Soldiers
〃When anger spreads his wing〃
Chorus： When anger spread his wing；
And all seems dark as night for it；
There's nothing but to fight for it；
But ere you pitch your ring；
Select a pretty site for it；
（This spot is suited quite for it；）
And then you gaily sing；
And then you gaily sing：
〃Oh I love the jolly rattle
Of an orde…al by battle；
There's an end of tittle…tattle
When your enemy is dead。
It's an arrant molly…coddle
Fears a crack upon his noddle
And he's only fit to swaddle
In a downy feather…bed！
Ladies： For a Soldiers： Oh； I
fight's love the
a jolly
kind rattle
of Of an
thing orde…al by battle
That I There's an
love end of
to tittle
look tattle；
up… When your
on； enemy is dead。
So It's an
let arrant
us molly…
sing； coddle
Long Fears a
live crack upon
the his
King； noddle；
And his And he's
son only fit to
Hi… swaddle； In a
la… downy fea…
ri…on！ ther bed！
（During this； Hilarion； Florian；
and Cyril are
brought out by the 〃Daughters of
the Plough〃。
They are still bound and wear
the robes。
Enter GAMA。）
Gama： Hilarion！ Cyril！ Florian！ dressed as women！
Is this indeed Hilarion？
Hilar。： Yes； it is！
Gama： Why； you look handsome in your women's clothes！
Stick to 'em！ Men's attire becomes you not！
（To CYRIL and FLORIAN） And you； young ladies； will you please to
pray
King Hildebrand to set me free again？
Hang on his neck and gaze into his eyes；
He never could resist a pretty face！
Hilar。： You dog； you'll find； though I wear woman's garb；
My sword is long and sharp！
Gama： Hush； pretty one！
Here's a virago！ Here's a termagant！
If length and sharpness go for anything；
You'll want no sword while you can wag your tongue！
Cyril： What need to waste your words on such as he？
He's old and crippled。
Gama： Aye； but I've three sons；
Fine fellows； young and muscular； and brave；
They're well worth talking to！ Come； what d'ye say？
Arac： Aye； pretty ones； engage yourselves with us；
If three rude warriors affright you not！
Hilar。： Old as you are； I'd wring your shrivelled neck
If you were not the Princess Ida's father。
Gama： If I were not the Princess Ida's father；
And so had not her brothers for my sons；
No doubt you'd wring my neck in safety too！
Come； come； Hilarion； begin； begin！
Give them no quarter they will give you none。
You've this advantage over warriors
Who kill their country's enemies for pay；
You know what you are fighting for look there！
（Pointing to Ladies on the
battlements）
（Exit Gamma。 Hilarion； Florian； and Cyril
are led off。）
SONG （Arac； Guron； Scynthius and Chorus）
〃This Helmet； I Suppose〃
Arac： This helmet； I suppose；
Was meant to ward off blows；
It's very hot
And weighs a lot；
As many a guardsman knows；
As many a guardsman knows；
As many a guardsman knows；
As many a guardsman knows；
So off； so off that helmet goes。
Others： Yes； yes； yes；
So off that helmet goes！
（Giving their helmets to
attendants）
Arac： This tight…fitting cuirass
Is but a useless mass；
It's made of steel；
And weighs a deal；
This tight…fitting cuirass
Is but a useless mass；
A man is but an ass
Who fights in a cuirass；
So off； so off goes that cuirass。
Others： Yes； yes； yes；
So off goes that cuirass！