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DUET Zara and Captain Fitzbattleaxe。
Zara： Ah！ gallant soldier； brave and true
In tented field and tourney；
I grieve to have occasioned you
So very long a journey。
A British warrior give up all
His home and island beauty
When summoned to the trumpet call
Of Regimental Duty！
Cho： Tantantara…rara…rara！
Trumpet call of the Princess Zara！
ENSEMBLE
Men Fitz。 and Zara （aside）
A British warrior gives up all； etc。 Oh my joy； my pride；
My delight to hide；
Let us sing； aside；
Ladies What in truth we feel；
Let us whisper low
Knightsbridge nursemaids； etc。 Of our love's glad glow；
Lest the truth we show
We would fain conceal。
Fitz。： Such escort duty； as his due；
To young Lifeguardsman falling
Completely reconciles him to
His uneventful calling。
When soldier seeks Utopian glades
In charge of Youth and Beauty；
Then pleasure merely masquerades
As Regimental Duty！
All： Tantantarara…rara…rara！
Trumpet…call of Princess Zara！
ENSEMBLE
Men Fitz。 and Zara （aside）
A British warrior gives up all； etc。 Oh！ my hours are gold；
And the joys untold；
When my eyes behold
Ladies My beloved Princess；
And the years will seem
Knightsbridge nursemaids； etc。 But a brief day…dream；
In the job extreme
Of our happiness！
（Exeunt King and Zara in one direction； Lifeguardsmen and crowd in
opposite direction。 Enter； at back； Scaphio and Phantis； who
watch
Zara as she goes off。 Scaphio is seated； shaking violently；
and
obviously under the influence of some strong emotion。）
Phantis： Theretell me； Scaphio； is she not beautiful？ Can you
wonder that I love her so passionately？
Scaphio： No。 She is extraordinarilymiraculously lovely！ Good
heavens； what a singularly beautiful girl！
Phantis： I knew you would say so！
Scaphio： What exquisite charm of manner！ What surprising delicacy
of
gesture！ Why； she's a goddess！ a very goddess！
Phantis： （rather taken aback） Yesshe'sshe's an attractive
girl。
Scaphio： Attractive？ Why； you must be blind！She's
entrancingenthrallingintoxicating！ （Aside） God
bless
my heart； what's the matter with me？
Phantis： （alarmed） Yes。 Youyou promised to help me to get her
father's consent； you know。
Scaphio： Promised！ Yes； but the convulsion has come； my good boy！
It is shemy ideal！ Why； what's this？ （Staggering）
Phantis！ Stop meI'm going madmad with the love of
her！
Phantis： Scaphio； compose yourself； I beg。 The girl is perfectly
opaque！ Besides； remembereach of us is helpless
without
the other。 You can't succeed without my consent； you
know。
Scaphio： And you dare to threaten？ Oh； ungrateful！ When you came
to
me； palsied with love for this girl； and implored my
assis…
tance； did I not unhesitatingly promise it？ And this is
the
return you make？ Out of my sight； ingrate！ （Aside）
Dear！
dear！ what is the matter with me？ （Enter Capt。
Fitzbattleaxe
and Zara）
Zara： Dear me。 I'm afraid we are interrupting a tete…a…tete。
Scaphio： （breathlessly） No； no。 You come very appropriately。 To
be
brief； wewe love youthis man and
Imadlypassionately！
Zara： Sir！
Scaphio： And we don't know how we are to settle which of us is to
marry you。
Fitz。： Zara； this is very awkward。
Scaphio： （very much overcome） II am paralyzed by the singular
radiance of your extraordinary loveliness。 I know I am
incoherent。 I never was like this beforeit shall not
occur again。 Ishall be fluent； presently。
Zara： （aside） Oh； dear； Captain Fitzbattleaxe； what is to be
done？
Fitz。： （aside） Leave it to meI'll manage it。 （Aloud） It's
a
common situation。 Why not settle it in the English
fashion？
Both： The English fashion？ What is that？
Fitz。： It's very simple。 In England； when two gentlemen are in
love with the same lady； and until it is settled which
gentleman is to blow out the brains of the other； it is
provided； by the Rival Admirers' Clauses Consolidation
Act；
that the lady shall be entrusted to an officer of
Household
Cavalry as stakeholder； who is bound to hand her over to
the
survivor （on the Tontine principle） in a good condition
of
substantial and decorative repair。
Scaphio： Reasonable wear and tear and damages by fire excepted？
Fitz。： Exactly。
Phantis： Well； that seems very reasonable。 （To Scaphio） What do
you
sayShall we entrust her to this officer of Household
Cavalry？ It will give us time。
Scaphio： （trembling violently） II am not at present in a
condition
to think it out coollybut if he is an officer of
Household
Cavalry； and if the Princess consents…
Zara： Alas； dear sirs； I have no alternativeunder the Rival
Admirers' Clauses Consolidation Act！
Fitz。： Goodthen that's settled。
QUARTET
Fitzbattleaxe； Zara； Scaphio； and Phantis。
Fitz。： It's understood； I think； all round
That； by the English custom bound
I hold the lady safe and sound
In trust for either rival；
Until you clearly testify
By sword and pistol； by and by；
Which gentleman prefers to die；
And which prefers survival。
ENSEMBLE
Sca。 and Phan。 Zara and Fitz
Its clearly understood all round We stand； I think； on safish
ground
That； by your English custom bound Our senses weak it will
astound
He holds the lady safe and sound