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STREPH。 She does。 She's a fairy。
PHYL。 I beg your pardona what？
STREPH。 Oh； I've no longer any reason to conceal the
factshe's a fairy。
PHYL。 A fairy！ Well； butthat would account for a good many
things！ ThenI suppose you're a fairy？
STREPH。 I'm half a fairy。
PHYL。 Which half？
STREPH。 The upper halfdown to the waistcoat。
PHYL。 Dear me！ （Prodding him with her fingers。） There is
nothing to show it！
STREPH。 Don't do that。
PHYL。 But why didn't you tell me this before？
STREPH。 I thought you would take a dislike to me。 But as
it's all off； you may as well know the truthI'm only half a
mortal！
PHYL。 （crying）。 But I'd rather have half a mortal I do love；
than half a dozen I don't！
STREPH。 Oh； I think notgo to your half…dozen。
PHYL。 （crying）。 It's only two！ and I hate 'em！ Please
forgive me！
STREPH。 I don't think I ought to。 Besides； all sorts of
difficulties will arise。 You know； my grandmother looks quite as
young as my mother。 So do all my aunts。
PHYL。 I quite understand。 Whenever I see you kissing a very
young lady； I shall know it's an elderly relative。
STREPH。 You will？ Then； Phyllis； I think we shall be very
happy！ （Embracing her。）
PHYL。 We won't wait long。
STREPH。 No。 We might change our minds。 We'll get married
first。
PHYL。 And change our minds afterwards？
STREPH。 That's the usual course。
DUETSTREPHON and PHYLLIS。
STREPH。 If we're weak enough to tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I；
Of the feeling I inspire
You may tire
By and by。
For peers with flowing coffers
Press their offers
That is why
I am sure we should not tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I！
PHYL。 If we're weak enough to tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I；
With a more attractive maiden；
Jewel…laden；
You may fly。
If by chance we should be parted；
Broken…hearted
I should die
So I think we will not tarry
Ere we marry；
You and I。
PHYL。 But does your mother know you'reI mean； is she aware
of our engagement？
（Enter Iolanthe。）
IOL。 She is； and thus she welcomes her daughter…in…law！
（Kisses her。）
PHYL。 She kisses just like other people！ But the Lord
Chancellor？
STREPH。 I forgot him！ Mother； none can resist your fairy
eloquence； you will go to him and plead for us？
IOL。 （much agitated）。 No； no； impossible！
STREPH。 But our happinessour very livesdepend upon our
obtaining his consent！
PHYL。 Oh； madam； you cannot refuse to do this！
IOL。 You know not what you ask！ The Lord Chancellor ismy
husband！
STREPH。 and PHYL。 Your husband！
IOL。 My husband and your father！ （Addressing Strephon； who
is much moved。）
PHYLL。 Then our course is plain； on his learning that
Strephon is his son； all objection to our marriage will be at once
removed！
IOL。 No； he must never know！ He believes me to have died
childless； and； dearly as I love him； I am bound； under penalty of
death； not to undeceive him。 But seehe comes！ Quickmy veil！
（Iolanthe veils herself。 Strephon and Phyllis go off on tiptoe。）
（Enter Lord Chancellor。）
LORD CH。 Victory！ Victory！ Success has crowned my efforts；
and I may consider myself engaged to Phyllis！ At first I wouldn't
hear of itit was out of the question。 But I took heart。 I
pointed out to myself that I was no stranger to myself； that； in
point of fact； I had been personally acquainted with myself for
some years。 This had its effect。 I admitted that I had watched my
professional advancement with considerable interest； and I
handsomely added that I yielded to no one in admiration for my
private and professional virtues。 This was a great point gained。
I then endeavoured to work upon my feelings。 Conceive my joy when
I distinctly perceived a tear glistening in my own eye！
Eventually； after a severe struggle with myself； I
reluctantlymost reluctantlyconsented。
（Iolanthe comes down
veiled。）
RECITATIVEIOLANTHE （kneeling）。
My lord； a suppliant at your feet I kneel；
Oh； listen to a mother's fond appeal！
Hear me to…night！ I come in urgent need
'Tis for my son； young Strephon； that I plead！
BALLADIOLANTHE。
He loves！ If in the bygone years
Thine eyes have ever shed
Tearsbitter； unavailing tears；
For one untimely dead
If； in the eventide of life；
Sad thoughts of her arise；
Then let the memory of thy wife
Plead for my boyhe dies！
He dies！ If fondly laid aside
In some old cabinet；
Memorials of thy long…dead bride
Lie； dearly treasured yet；
Then let her hallowed bridal dress
Her little dainty gloves
Her withered flowersher faded tress
Plead for my boyhe loves！
（The Lord Chancellor is moved by this appeal。 After a pause。）
LORD CH。 It may not befor so the fates decide！
Learn thou that Phyllis is my promised bride。
IOL。 （in horror）。 Thy bride！ No！ no！
LORD CH。 It shall be so！
Those who would separate us woe betide！
IOL。 My doom thy lips have spoken
I plead in vain！
CHORUS OF FAIRIES （without）。 Forbear！ forbear！
IOL。 A vow already broken
I break again！
CHORUS OF FAIRIES （without）。 Forbear！ forbear！
IOL。 For himfor herfor thee
I yield my life。
Beholdit may not be！
I am thy wife。
CHORUS OF FAIRIES （without）。 Aiaiah！ Aiaiah！ Willaloo！
LORD CH。 （recognizing her）。 Iolanthe！ thou livest？
IOL。 Aye！
I live！ Now let me die！
（Enter Fairy Queen and Fairies。 Iolanthe kneels to her。）
QUEEN。 Once again thy vows are broken：
Thou thyself thy doom hast spoken！
CHORUS OF FAIRIES。 Aiaiah！ Aiaiah！
Willahalah！ Willaloo！