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Of a sudden （which is English for 〃repente〃）；
But of all I ever heard
This is much the most absurd；
For she's seventeen； and he is five…and…twenty！
ALL。 Though she is seventeen； and he is four or
five…and…twenty！
Oh； fie！ our Strephon is a rogue！
LORD MOUNT。 Now； listen； pray to me；
For this paradox will be
Carried； nobody at all contradicente。
Her age； upon the date
Of his birth； was minus eight；
If she's seventeen； and he is five…and…twenty！
PEERS and FAIRIES。 If she is seventeen； and he is only
five…and…twenty。
ALL。 To say she is his mother is an utter bit of folly！
Oh； fie！ our Strephon is a rogue！
Perhaps his brain is addled； and it's very melancholy！
Taradiddle； taradiddle； tol lol lay！
I wouldn't say a word that could be reckoned as
injurious；
But to find a mother younger than her son is very
curious；
And that's a kind of mother that is usually spurious。
Taradiddle； taradiddle； tol lol lay！
LORD CH。 Go away； madam；
I should say； madam；
You display； madam；
Shocking taste。
It is rude； madam；
To intrude； madam；
With your brood； madam；
Brazen…faced！
You come here； madam；
Interfere； madam；
With a peer； madam。
（I am one。）
You're aware； madam；
What you dare； madam；
So take care； madam；
And begone！
ENSEMBLE
FAIRIES （to QUEEN）。 PEERS
Let us stay； madam； Go away； madam；
I should say； madam； I should say； madam；
They display； madam； You display； madam；
Shocking taste。 Shocking taste。
It is rude； madam； It is rude； madam；
To allude； madam； To intrude； madam；
To your brood； madam； With your brood； madam；
Brazen…faced！ Brazen…faced！
We don't fear； madam； You come here； madam；
Any peer； madam； Interfere； madam；
Though； my dear madam； With a peer； madam；
This is one。 （I am one。）
They will stare； madam； You're aware； madam；
When aware； madam； What you dare； madam；
What they dare； madam So take care； madam；
What they've done！ And begone！
QUEEN。 Bearded by these puny mortals！
（furious）。 I will launch from fairy portals
All the most terrific thunders
In my armoury of wonders！
PHYL。 （aside）。 Should they launch terrific wonders；
All would then repent their blunders。
Surely these must be immortals。
（Exit
Phyllis。）
QUEEN。 Oh！ Chancellor unwary
It's highly necessary
Your tongue to teach
Respectful speech
Your attitude to vary！
Your badinage so airy；
Your manner arbitrary；
Are out of place
When face to face
With an influential Fairy。
ALL THE PEERS We never knew
（aside）。 We were talking to
An influential Fairy！
LORD CH。 A plague on this vagary；
I'm in a nice quandary！
Of hasty tone
With dames unknown
I ought to be more chary；
It seems that she's a fairy
From Andersen's library；
And I took her for
The proprietor
Of a Ladies' Seminary！
PEERS。 We took her for
The proprietor
Of a Ladies' Seminary！
QUEEN。 When next your Houses do assemble；
You may tremble！
CELIA。 Our wrath； when gentlemen offend us；
Is tremendous！
LEILA。 They meet； who underrate our calling；
Doom appalling！
QUEEN。 Take down our sentence as we speak it；
And he shall wreak it！
（Indicating
Strephon。）
PEERS。 Oh； spare us！
QUEEN。 Henceforth； Strephon； cast away
Crooks and pipes and ribbons so gay
Flocks and herds that bleat and low；
Into Parliament you shall go！
ALL。 Into Parliament he shall go！
Backed by our supreme authority；
He'll command a large majority！
Into Parliament he shall go！
QUEEN。 In the Parliamentary hive；
Liberal or Conservative
Whig or ToryI don't know
But into Parliament you shall go！
ALL。 Into Parliament； etc。
QUEEN （speaking through music）。
Every bill and every measure
That may gratify his pleasure；
Though your fury it arouses；
Shall be passed by both your Houses！
PEERS。 Oh！
QUEEN。 You shall sit； if he sees reason；
Through the grouse and salmon season；
PEERS。 No！
QUEEN。 He shall end the cherished rights
You enjoy on Friday nights：
PEERS。 No！
QUEEN。 He shall prick that annual blister；
Marriage with deceased wife's sister：
PEERS。 Mercy！
QUEEN。 Titles shall ennoble； then；
All the Common Councilmen：
PEERS。 Spare us！
QUEEN。 Peers shall teem in Christendom；
And a Duke's exalted station
Be attainable by Com…
Petitive Examination！
PEERS。 FAIRIES and PHYLLIS。
Oh； horror！ Their horror
They can't dissemble
Nor hide the fear that makes them
tremble！
ENSEMBLE。
PEERS FAIRIES； PHYLLIS； and STREPHON。
Young Strephon is the kind of lout With Strephon for your foe； no
doubt；
We do not care a fig about！ A fearful prospect opens out；
We cannot say And who shall say
What evils may What evils may
Result in consequence。 Result in consequence？
But lordly vengeance will pursue A hideous vengeance will pursue
All ki