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So off goes that cuirass！
（Removing
cuirasses）
Arac： These brassets； truth to tell；
May look uncommon well；
But in a fight
They're much too tight；
They're like a lobster shell；
They're like a lobster shell！
Others： Yes； yes； yes；
They're like a lobster shell。
（Removing
their brassets）
Arac： These things I treat the same
（indicating leg pieces）
（I quite forget their name。）
They turn one's legs
To cribbage pegs
Their aid I thus disclaim；
Their aid I thus disclaim；
Though I forget their name；
Though I forget their name；
Their aid； their aid I thus disclaim！
Others： Yes； yes； yes；
All： Their aid （we/they） thus disclaim！
（They remove their leg pieces and wear close…fitting shape suits。）
Enter Hilarion； Florian； and Cyril
（Desperate fight between the three Princes
and the three
Knights； during which the Ladies on the
battlements and
the Soldiers on the stage sing the
following chorus）：
CHORUS DURING THE FIGHT
〃This is our Duty〃
Chorus： This is our duty plain towards
Our Princess all immaculate；
We ought to bless her brothers' swords；
And piously ejaculate：
Oh； Hungary！
Oh； Hungary！
Oh； doughty sons of Hungary！
May all success
Attend and bless
Your warlike ironmongery！
Hilarion！ Hilarion！ Hilarion！
（By this time； Arac； Guron； and
Scynthius are
on the ground； wounded
Hilarion； Cyril and
Florian stand
over them。）
Princess： （Entering through gate and followed by Ladies；
Hildebrand； and Gama。）
Hold！ stay your hands！ we yield ourselves to you！
Ladies； my brothers all lie bleeding there！
Bind up their wounds but look the other way。
（Coming down） Is this the end？ （Bitterly to Lady
Blanche）
How say you； Lady Blanche
Can I with dignity my post resign？
And if I do； will you then take my place？
Blanche： To answer this； it's meet that we consult
The great Potential Mysteries； I mean
The five Subjunctive Possibilities
The May； the Might； the Would； the Could； the Should。
Can you resign？ The Prince May claim you； if
He Might； you Could and if you Should； I Would！
Princess： I thought as much！ Then to my fate I yield
So ends my cherished scheme！ Oh； I had hoped
To band all women with my maiden throng；
And make them all abjure tyrannic Man！
Hildebd： A noble aim！
Princess： You ridicule it now；
But if I carried out this glorious scheme；
At my exalted name Posterity
Would bow in gratitude！
Hildebd： But pray
reflect
If you enlist all women in your cause；
And make them all abjure tyrannic Man；
The obvious question then arises； 〃How
Is this Posterity to be provided？〃
Princess： I never thought of that！ My Lady Blanche；
How do you solve the riddle？
Blanche： Don't ask me
Abstract Philosophy won't answer it。
Take him he is your Shall。 Give in to Fate！
Princess： And you desert me。 I alone am staunch！
Hilarion： Madam； you placed your trust in Woman well；
Woman has failed you utterly try Man；
Give him one chance； it's only fair besides；
Women are far too precious； too divine；
To try unproven theories upon。
Experiments； the proverb says； are made
On humble subjects try our grosser clay；
And mould it as you will！
Cyril： Remember； too
Dear Madam； if at any time you feel
A…weary of the Prince； you can return
To Castle Adamant； and rule your girls
As heretofore； you know。
Princess： And shall I find
The Lady Psyche here？
Psyche： If Cyril； ma'am；
Does not behave himself； I think you will。
Princess： And you Melissa； shall I find you here？
Melissa： Madam； however Florian turns out；
Unhesitatingly I answer； No！
Gama： Consider this； my love； if your mama
Had looked on matters from your point of view
（I wish she had）； why where would you have been？
Blanche： There's an unbounded field of speculation；
On which I could discourse for hours！
Princess： No doubt！
We will not trouble you。 Hilarion；
I have been wrong I see my error now。
Take me； Hilarion 〃We will walk this world
Yoked in all exercise of noble end！
And so through those dark gates across the wild
That no one knows！〃 Indeed； I love thee Come！
Finale
〃With joy abiding〃
Princess： With joy abiding；
Together gliding
Through life's variety；
In sweet society；
And thus enthroning
The love I'm owning；
On this atoning
I will rely！
Chorus： It were profanity
For poor humanity
To treat as vanity
The sway of Love。
In no locality
Or principality
Is our mortality
It's sway above！
Hilarion： When day is fading；
With serenading
And such frivolity