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（it calls me Dick acos it's entitled to take that liberty）； 〃that
there young gal would recoil from him if she knowed what he
really were。 Ought you to stand off and on； and let this young
gal take this false step and never fire a shot across her bows to
bring her to？ No；〃 it says； 〃you did not ought。〃 And I won't
ought； accordin'。
SIR D。 Then you really feel yourself at liberty to tell me
that my elder brother livesthat I may charge him with his cruel
deceit； and transfer to his shoulders the hideous thraldom under
which I have laboured for so many years！ Freefree at last！
Free to live a blameless life； and to die beloved and regretted
by all who knew me！
DUETSIR DESPARD and RICHARD。
RICH。 You understand？
SIR D。 I think I do；
With vigour unshaken
This step shall be taken。
It's neatly planned。
RICH。 I think so too；
I'll readily bet it
You'll never regret it！
BOTH。 For duty； duty must be done；
The rule applies to every one；
And painful though that duty be；
To shirk the task were fiddle…de…dee！
SIR D。 The bridegroom comes
RICH。 Likewise the bride
The maidens are very
Elated and merry；
They are her chums。
SIR D。 To lash their pride
Were almost a pity；
The pretty committee！
BOTH。 But duty； duty must be done；
The rule applies to every one；
And painful though that duty be；
To shirk the task were fiddle…de…dee！
（Exeunt Richard and Sir Despard。）
（Enter Chorus of Bridesmaids and Bucks。）
CHORUS OF BRIDESMAIDS。
Hail the bride of seventeen summers：
In fair phrases
Hymn her praises；
Lift your song on high； all comers。
She rejoices
In your voices。
Smiling summer beams upon her；
Shedding every blessing on her：
Maidens greet her
Kindly treat her
You may all be brides some day！
CHORUS OF BUCKS。
Hail the bridegroom who advances；
Agitated；
Yet elated。
He's in easy circumstances；
Young and lusty；
True and trusty。
ALL。 Smiling summer beams upon her； etc。
（Enter Robin； attended by Richard and Old Adam； meeting Rose；
attended by Zorah and Dame Hannah。 Rose and Robin embrace。）
MADRIGAL。
ROSE； DAME HANNAH； RICHARD； OLD ADAM with CHORUS。
ROSE。 When the buds are blossoming；
Smiling welcome to the spring；
Lovers choose a wedding day
Life is love in merry May！
GIRLS。 Spring is greenFal lal la！
Summer's roseFal la la！
QUARTET。 It is sad when summer goes；
Fa la！
MEN。 Autumn's goldFah lal la！
Winter's greyFah lal la！
QUARTET。 Winter still is far away
Fa la！
CHORUS。 Leaves in autumn fade and fall；
Winter is the end of all。
Spring and summer teem with glee：
Spring and summer； then； for me！
Fa la！
HANNAH。 In the spring…time seed is sown：
In the summer grass is mown：
In the autumn you may reap：
Winter is the time for sleep。
GIRLS。 Spring is hopeFal lal la！
Summer's joyFal lal la！
QUARTET。 Spring and summer never cloy。
Fa la！
MEN。 Autumn；toilFal lal la！
Winter； restFal lal la！
QUARTET。 Winter； after all； is best
Fal la！
CHORUS。 Spring and summer pleasure you；
Autumn； aye； and winter too
Every season has its cheer；
Life is lovely all the year！
Fa la！
（Gavotte。）
（After Gavotte； enter Sir Despard。）
SIR D。 Hold； bride and bridegroom； ere you wed each other；
I claim young Robin as my elder brother！
His rightful title I have long enjoyed：
I claim him as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd！
CHORUS。 O wonder！
ROSE （wildly）。 Deny the falsehood； Robin； as you should；
It is a plot！
ROB。 I would； if conscientiously I could；
But I cannot！
CHORUS。 Ah； base one！ Ah； base one！
SOLOROBIN。
As pure and blameless peasant；
I cannot； I regret；
Deny a truth unpleasant；
I am that Baronet！
CHORUS。 He is that Baronet！
ROBIN。 But when completely rated
Bad Baronet am I；
That I am what he's stated
I'll recklessly deny！
CHORUS。 He'll recklessly deny！
ROB。 When I'm a bad Bart。 I will tell taradiddles！
CHORUS。 He'll tell taradiddles when he's a bad Bart。
ROB。 I'll play a bad part on the falsest of fiddles。
CHORUS。 On very false fiddles he'll play a bad part！
ROB。 But until that takes place I must be conscientious
CHORUS。 He'll be conscientious until that takes place。
ROB。 Then adieu with good grace to my morals sententious！
CHORUS。 To morals sententious adieu with good grace！
ZOR。 Who is the wretch who hath betrayed thee？
Let him stand forth！
RICH。 （coming forward）。 'Twas I！
ALL。 Die； traitor！
RICH。 Hold！ my conscience made me！
Withhold your wrath！
SOLORICHARD。
Within this breast there beats a heart
Whose voice can't be gainsaid。
It bade me thy true rank impart；
And I at once obeyed。
I knew 'twould blight thy budding fate
I knew 'twould cause thee anguish great
But did I therefore hesitate？
No！ I at once obeyed！
ALL。 Acclaim him who； when his t