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POINT It is sung to the knell
Of a churchyard bell；
And a doleful dirge； ding dong； O！
It's a song of a popinjay； bravely born；
Who turned up his noble nose with scorn
At the humble merrymaid； peerly proud；
Who loved a lord； and who laughed aloud
At the moan of the merryman； moping mum；
Whose soul was sad； and whose glance was glum；
Who sipped no sup； and who craved no crumb；
As he sighed for the love of a ladye！
Heighdy！ heighdy！
Misery melack…a…day…dee！
He sipped no sup； and he craved no crumb；
As he sighed for the love of a ladye！
ELSIE I have a song to sing； O！
POINT Sing me your song； O！
ELSIE It is sung with a sigh
And a tear in the eye；
For it tells of a righted wrong； O！
It's a song of the merrymaid； once so gay；
Who turned on her heel and tripped away
From the peacock popinjay； bravely born；
Who turned up his noble nose with scorn
At the humble heart that he did not prize：
So she begged on her knees； with downcast eyes；
For the love of the merryman； moping mum；
Whose soul was sad； and whose glance was glum；
Who sipped no sup； and who craved no crumb；
As he sighed for the love of a ladye！
BOTH Heighdy！ heighdy！
Misery melack…a…day…dee！
His pains were o'er； and he sighed no more；
For he lived in the love of a ladye！
Heighdy！ heighdy！
Misery melack…a…day…dee！
His pains were o'er； and he sighed no more；
For he lived in the love of a ladye！
1ST
CITIZEN Well sung and well danced！
2ND
CITIZEN A kiss for that； pretty maid！
ALL Aye； a kiss all round。 ＇CROWD gathers around her＇
ELSIE ＇drawing dagger＇ Best beware！ I am armed！
POINT Back； sirs back！ This is going too far。
2ND
CITIZEN Thou dost not see the humour of it； eh？ Yet there is
humour in all things even in this。 ＇Trying to kiss
her＇
ELSIE Help！ Help！
＇Enter LIEUTENANT with GUARD。 CROWD falls back
LIEUT。 What is the pother？
ELSIE Sir； we sang to these folk； and they would have repaid
us with gross courtesy； but for your honour's coming。
LIEUT。 ＇to CROWD＇ Away with ye！ Clear the rabble。
＇GUARDS push CROWD off； and go off with them＇
Now； my girl； who are you； and what do you here？
ELSIE May it please you； sir； we are two strolling players；
Jack Point and I； Elsie Maynard； at your worship's
service。 We go from fair to fair； singing； and
dancing； and playing brief interludes； and so we make
a poor living。
LIEUT。 You two； eh？ Are ye man and wife？
POINT No； sir； for though I'm a fool； there is a limit to my
folly。 Her mother； old Bridget Maynard； travels with
us （for Elsie is a good girl）； but the old woman is a…
bed with fever； and we have come here to pick up some
silver to buy an electuary for her。
LIEUT。 Hark ye； my girl！ Your mother is ill？
ELSIE Sorely ill； sir。
LIEUT。 And needs good food； and many things that thou canst
not buy？
ELSIE Alas！ sir； it is too true。
LIEUT。 Wouldst thou earn an hundred crowns？
ELSIE An hundred crowns！ They might save her life！
LIEUT。 Then listen！ A worthy but unhappy gentleman is to be
beheaded in an hour on this very spot。 For sufficient
reasons； he desires to marry before he dies； and he
hath asked me to find him a wife。 Wilt thou be that
wife？
ELSIE The wife of a man I have never seen！
POINT Why； sir； look you； I am concerned in this； for though
I am not yet wedded to Elsie Maynard； time works
wonders； and there's no knowing what may be in store
for us。 Have we your worship's word for it that this
gentleman will die to…day？
LIEUT。 Nothing is more certain； I grieve to say。
POINT And that the maiden will be allowed to depart the very
instant the ceremony is at an end？
LIEUT。 The very instant。 I pledge my honour that it shall be
so。
POINT An hundred crowns？
LIEUT。 An hundred crowns！
POINT For my part； I consent。 It is for Elsie to speak。
No。 8。 How say you； maiden； will you wed
（TRIO）
Elsie； Point； and Lieutenant
LIEUT。 How say you； maiden； will you wed
A man about to lose his head？
For half an hour
You'll be his wife；
And then the dower
Is your for life。
A headless bridegroom why refuse？
If truth the poets tell；
Most bridegrooms； 'ere they marry；
Lose both head and heart as well！
ELSIE A strange proposal you reveal；
It almost makes my senses reel。
Alas！ I'm very poor indeed；
And such a sum I sorely need。
My mother； sir； is like to die。
This money life may bring。
Bear this in mind； I pray；
If I consent to do this thing！
POINT Though as a general rule of life
I don't allow my promised wife；
My lovely bride that is to be；
To marry anyone but me；
Yet if the fee is promptly paid；
And he； in well…earned grave；
Within the hour is duly laid；
Objection I will waive！
Yes； objection I will waive！
ALL Temptation； oh； temptation；
Were we； I pray； intended
To shun； what e'er our station；
Your fascinations splendid；
Or fall； whene'er we view you；
Head over heels into you？
Head over heels； Head over heels；
Head over heels into you！
Head over heels； Head over heels；
Head over heels； Right into you！
Head over heels； Head over heels； etc。
Temptation； oh； temptation！
＇During this； the LIEUTENANT has whispered to WILFRED
（who has entered）。 WILFRED binds ELSIE's eyes with a
kerchief； and leads her into the Cold Ha