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While we have eyes with which to flash our rage！
We can dispense with villainous saltpetre
While we have tongues with which to blow them up！
We can dispense； in short； with all the arts
That brutalize the practical polemist！
Princess： （Contemptuously） I never knew a more dispensing
chemist！
Away； away I'll meet these men alone
Since all my women have deserted me！
（Exeunt all but Princess； singing
refrain of
〃Please you； do not hurt us〃；
pianissimo。）
Princess： So fail my cherished plans so fails my faith
And with it hope； and all that comes of hope！
Song … Princess
〃I Built upon a Rock〃
Princess： I built upon a rock；
But ere Destruction's hand
Dealt equal lot
To Court and cot；
My rock had turn'd to sand！
I leant upon an oak；
But in the hour of need；
Alack…a…day；
My trusted stay
Was but a bruis…ed reed！
A bruis…ed reed！
Ah faithless rock；
My simple faith to mock！
Ah trait'rous oak；
Thy worthlessness to cloak；
Thy worthlessness to cloak！
I drew a sword of steel
But when to home and hearth
The battle's breath
Bore fire and death；
My sword was but a lath！
I lit a beacon fire；
But on a stormy day
Of frost and rime；
In wintertime；
My fire had died away；
Had died away！
Ah； coward steel；
That fear can un…anneal！
False fire indeed；
To fail me in my need；
To fail me in my need！
（Princess Sinks upon a rock。 Enter Chloe and all the Ladies）
Chloe： Madam； your father and your brothers claim
An audience！
Princess： What do they do here？
Chloe： They come
To fight for you！
Princess： Admit them！
Blanche： Infamous！
One's brothers； ma'am； are men！
Princess： So I have heard。
But all my women seem to fail me when
I need them most。 In this emergency；
Even one's brothers may be turned to use。
Gama： （Entering； pale and unnerved） My daughter！
Princess： Father！ Thou art free！
Gama： Aye； free！
Free as a tethered ass！ I come to thee
With words from Hildebrand。 Those duly given
I must return to blank captivity。
I'm free so far。
Princess： Your message。
Gama： Hildebrand
Is loth to war with women。 Pit my sons；
My three brave sons； against these popinjays；
These tufted jack…a…dandy featherheads；
And on the issue let thy hand depend！
Princess： Insult on insult's head！ Are we a stake
For fighting men？ What fiend possesses thee；
That thou has come with offers such as these
From such as he to such an one as I？
Gama： I am possessed
By the pale devil of a shaking heart！
My stubborn will is bent。 I dare not face
That devilish monarch's black malignity！
He tortures me with torments worse than death；
I haven't anything to grumble at！
He finds out what particular meats I love；
And gives me them。 The very choicest wines；
The costliest robes the richest rooms are mine。
He suffers none to thwart my simplest plan；
And gives strict orders none should contradict me！
He's made my life a curse！ （Weeps）
Princess： My tortured father！
SONG （King GAMA with CHORUS of GIRLS）
〃Whene'er I Spoke〃
Gama： Whene'er I poke
Sarcastic joke
Replete with malice spiteful；
This people mild
Politely smil'd；
And voted me delightful！
Now； when a wight
Sits up all night
Ill…natur'd jokes devising；
And all his wiles
Are met with smiles
It's hard； there's no disguising！
Ah！ Oh； don't the days seem lank and long
When all goes right and nothing goes wrong；
And isn't your life extremely flat
With nothing whatever to grumble at！
Chorus： Oh； isn't your life extremely flat
With nothing whatever to grumble at！
Gama： When German bands
From music stands
Play'd Wagner imperfectly
I bade them go
They didn't say no；
But off they went directly！
The organ boys
They stopp'd their noise；
With readiness surprising；
And grinning herds
Of hurdy…gurds
Retired apologising！
Ah！ Oh； don't the days seem lank and long
When all goes right and nothing goes wrong；
And isn't your life extremely flat
With nothing whatever to grumble at！
Chorus： Oh； isn't your life extremely flat
With nothing whatever to grumble at！
Gama： I offer'd gold
In sums untold
To all who'd contradict me
I said I'd pay
A pound a day
To any one who kick'd me
I've brib'd with toys
Great vulgar boys