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so well fitted to render her exceptionally happy。 （Peers： Hear；
hear！） But such an award would be open to misconstruction； and
therefore； at whatever personal inconvenience； I waive my claim。
LORD TOLL。 My Lord； I desire； on the part of this House； to
express its sincere sympathy with your Lordship's most painful
position。
LORD CH。 I thank your Lordships。 The feelings of a Lord
Chancellor who is in love with a Ward of Court are not to be
envied。 What is his position？ Can he give his own consent to his
own marriage with his own Ward？ Can he marry his own Ward without
his own consent？ And if he marries his own Ward without his own
consent； can he commit himself for contempt of his own Court？ And
if he commit himself for contempt of his own Court； can he appear
by counsel before himself； to move for arrest of his own judgement？
Ah； my Lords； it is indeed painful to have to sit upon a woolsack
which is stuffed with such thorns as these！
（Enter Lord Mountararat。）
LORD MOUNT。 My Lord； I have much pleasure in announcing that
I have succeeded in inducing the young person to present herself at
the Bar of this House。
（Enter Phyllis。）
RECITATIVEPHYLLIS。
My well…loved Lord and Guardian dear；
You summoned me； and I am here！
CHORUS OF PEERS。
Oh； rapture； how beautiful！
How gentlehow dutiful！
SOLOLORD TOLLOLLER。
Of all the young ladies I know
This pretty young lady's the fairest；
Her lips have the rosiest show；
Her eyes are the richest and rarest。
Her origin's lowly； it's true；
But of birth and position I've plenty；
I've grammar and spelling for two；
And blood and behaviour for twenty！
Her origin's lowly； it's true；
I've grammar and spelling for two；
CHORUS。 Of birth and position he's plenty；
With blood and behaviour for twenty！
SOLOLORD MOUNTARARAT。
Though the views of the House have diverged
On every conceivable motion；
All questions of Party are merged
In a frenzy of love and devotion；
If you ask us distinctly to say
What Party we claim to belong to；
We reply； without doubt or delay；
The Party I'm singing this song to！
SOLOPHYLLIS。
I'm very much pained to refuse；
But I'll stick to my pipes and my tabors；
I can spell all the words that I use；
And my grammar's as good as my neighbours'。
As for birthI was born like the rest；
My behaviour is rustic but hearty；
And I know where to turn for the best；
When I want a particular Party！
PHYLLIS； LORD TOLL。； and LORD MOUNT。
Though her station is none of the best；
I suppose she was born like the rest；
And she knows where to look for her hearty；
When she wants a particular Party！
RECITATIVEPHYLLIS。
Nay； tempt me not。
To rank I'll not be bound；
In lowly cot
Alone is virtue found！
CHORUS。 No； no； indeed high rank will never hurt you；
The Peerage is not destitute of virtue。
BALLADLORD TOLLOLLER。
Spurn not the nobly born
With love affected；
Nor treat with virtuous scorn
The well…connected。
High rank involves no shame
We boast an equal claim
With him of humble name
To be respected！
Blue blood！ blue blood！
When virtuous love is sought
Thy power is naught；
Though dating from the Flood；
Blue blood！ Ah； blue blood！
CHORUS。 When virtuous love is sought； etc。
Spare us the bitter pain
Of stern denials；
Nor with low…born disdain
Augment our trials。
Hearts just as pure and fair
May beat in Belgrave Square
As in the lowly air
Of Seven Dials！
Blue blood！ blue blood！
Of what avail art thou
To serve us now？
Though dating from the Flood；
Blue blood！ Ah； blue blood！
CHORUS。 Of what avail art thou； etc。
RECITATIVEPHYLLIS。
My Lords； it may not be。
With grief my heart is riven！
You waste your time on me；
For ah！ my heart is given！
ALL。 Given！
PHYL。 Yes； given！
ALL。 Oh； horror！！！
RECITATIVELORD CHANCELLOR。
And who has dared to brave our high displeasure；
And thus defy our definite command？
（Enter Strephon。）
STREPH。 'Tis Iyoung Strephon！ mine this priceless treasure！
Against the world I claim my darling's hand！
（Phyllis rushes to his arms。）
A shepherd I
ALL。 A shepherd he！
STREPH。 Of Arcady…
ALL。 Of Arcadee！
STREPH。 Betrothed are we！
ALL。 Betrothed are they
STREPH。 And mean to be…
ALL。 Espoused to…day！
ENSEMBLE。
STREPH。 THE OTHERS。
A shepherd I A shepherd he
Of Arcady； Of Arcadee；
Betrothed are we； Betrothed is he；
And mean to be And means to be
Espoused to…day！ Espoused to…day！
DUETLORD MOUNTARARAT and LORD TOLLOLLER
（aside to each other）。
'Neath this blow；
Worse than stab of dagger
Though we mo…
Mentarily stagger；
In each heart
Proud are we innately
Let's depart；
Dignified and stately！
ALL。 Let's depart；
Dignified and stately！
CHORUS OF PEERS。