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Which was grateful of the poor Mounseer！
And I'll wager in their joy they kissed each other's
cheek
（Which is what them furriners do）；
And they blessed their lucky stars
We were hardy British tars
Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo！
CHORUS。 Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo；
D'ye see？
Who had pity on a poor Parley…voo！
（HORNPIPE。）
（Exeunt Chorus。）
（Enter Robin。）
ROB。 Richard！
RICH。 Robin！
ROB。 My beloved foster…brother； and very dearest friend；
welcome home again after ten long years at sea！ It is such deeds
as yours that cause our flag to be loved and dreaded throughout
the civilized world！
RICH。 Why； lord love ye； Rob； that's but a trifle to what
we have done in the way of sparing life！ I believe I may say；
without exaggeration； that the marciful little Tom…Tit has spared
more French frigates than any craft afloat！ But 'taint for a
British seaman to brag； so I'll just stow my jawin' tackle and
belay。 （Robin sighs。） But 'vast heavin'； messmate； what's
brought you all a…cockbill？
ROB。 Alas； Dick； I love Rose Maybud； and love in vain！
RICH。 You love in vain？ Come； that's too good！ Why；
you're a fine strapping muscular young fellowtall and strong as
a to'…gall'n'…m'sttaut as a forestayaye； and a barrowknight
to boot； if all had their rights！
ROB。 Hush； Richardnot a word about my true rank； which
none here suspect。 Yes； I know well enough that few men are
better calculated to win a woman's heart than I。 I'm a fine
fellow； Dick； and worthy any woman's lovehappy the girl who
gets me； say I。 But I'm timid； Dick； shynervousmodest
retiringdiffidentand I cannot tell her； Dick； I cannot tell
her！ Ah； you've no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself；
and how little I deserve it。
RICH。 Robin； do you call to mind how； years ago； we swore
that； come what might； we would always act upon our hearts'
dictates？
ROB。 Aye； Dick； and I've always kept that oath。 In doubt；
difficulty； and danger I've always asked my heart what I should
do； and it has never failed me。
RICH。 Right！ Let your heart be your compass； with a clear
conscience for your binnacle light； and you'll sail ten knots on
a bowline； clear of shoals； rocks； and quicksands！ Well； now；
what does my heart say in this here difficult situation？ Why； it
says； 〃Dick；〃 it says（it calls me Dick acos it's known me from
a babby）〃Dick；〃 it says； 〃you ain't shyyou ain't
modestspeak you up for him as is！〃 Robin； my lad； just you lay
me alongside； and when she's becalmed under my lee； I'll spin her
a yarn that shall sarve to fish you two together for life！
ROB。 Will you do this thing for me？ Can you； do you think？
Yes （feeling his pulse）。 There's no false modesty about you。
Yourwhat I would call bumptious self…assertiveness （I mean the
expression in its complimentary sense） has already made you a
bos'n's mate； and it will make an admiral of you in time； if you
work it properly； you dear； incompetent old impostor！ My dear
fellow； I'd give my right arm for one tenth of your modest
assurance！
SONGROBIN。
My boy； you may take it from me；
That of all the afflictions accurst
With which a man's saddled
And hampered and addled；
A diffident nature's the worst。
Though clever as clever can be
A Crichton of early romance
You must stir it and stump it；
And blow your own trumpet；
Or； trust me； you haven't a chance！
If you wish in the world to advance；
Your merits you're bound to enhance；
You must stir it and stump it；
And blow your own trumpet；
Or； trust me； you haven't a chance！
Now take； for example； my case：
I've a bright intellectual brain
In all London city
There's no one so witty
I've thought so again and again。
I've a highly intelligent face
My features cannot be denied
But； whatever I try； sir；
I fail inand why； sir？
I'm modesty personified！
If you wish in the world to advance； etc。
As a poet； I'm tender and quaint
I've passion and fervour and grace
From Ovid and Horace
To Swinburne and Morris；
They all of them take a back place。
Then I sing and I play and I paint：
Though none are accomplished as I；
To say so were treason：
You ask me the reason？
I'm diffident； modest； and shy！
If you wish in the world to advance； etc。
（Exit Robin。）
RICH。 （looking after him）。 Ah； it's a thousand pities he's
such a poor opinion of himself； for a finer fellow don't walk！
Well； I'll do my best for him。 〃Plead for him as though it was
for your own father〃that's what my heart's a…remarkin' to me
just now。 But here she comes！ Steady！ Steady it is！ （Enter
Rosehe is much struck by her。） By the Port Admiral； but she's
a tight little craft！ Come； come； she's not for you； Dick； and
yetshe's fit to marry Lord Nelson！ By the Flag of Old England；
I can't look at her unmoved。
ROSE。 Sir； you are agitated
RICH。 Aye； aye； my lass； well said！ I am agitated； true
enough！took flat aback； my girl； but 'tis naught'twill pass。
（Aside。） This here heart of mine's a…dictatin' to me like
anythink。 Question is； Have I a right to disregard its
promptings？
ROSE。 Can I do aught to relieve thine anguish； for it
seemeth to me that thou art in sore trouble？ This
apple（offering a damaged apple）。
RICH。 （looking at it and returning it）。 No； my lass；
'tain't that： I'mI'm took flat abackI never see anything like
you in all my born days。 Parbuckle me； if you ain't the
loveliest gal I've ever set eyes on。 ThereI can't say fairer
than that； can I？
ROSE。 No。 （Aside。） The question is； Is it meet that an
utter stranger should thus express himself？ （Refers to book。）
Yes〃Always speak the truth。〃
RICH。 I'd no thoughts of sayin' this here to you on my own
account； for； truth to tell； I was chartered by another； but when
I see you my heart it up and it says； says it；