Original Plays, Second SeriesGilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck)
General
Original Plays, Second Series
Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck)
English drama; Operas -- Librettos
_But._ (_with emotion_).
Ah, poor Sir Joseph! Ah, I know too well
The anguish of a heart that loves but vainly!
But see, here comes your most attractive daughter.
I go--Farewell! [_Exit._
_Capt._ (_looking after her_). A plump and pleasing person!
_Enter JOSEPHINE on poop. She comes down, twining some flowers which
she carries in a small basket._
BALLAD.--JOSEPHINE.
Sorry her lot who loves too well,
Heavy the heart that hopes but vainly,
Sad are the sighs that own the spell
Uttered by eyes that speak too plainly;
Heavy the sorrow that bows the head
When love is alive and hope is dead!
Sad is the hour when sets the sun--
Dark is the night to earth’s poor daughters,
When to the ark the wearied one
Flies from the empty waste of waters!
Heavy the sorrow that bows the head
When love is alive and hope is dead!
_Capt._ My child, I grieve to see that you are a prey to melancholy.
You should look your best to-day, for Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B., will
be here this afternoon to claim your promised hand.
_Jos._ Ah, father, your words cut me to the quick. I can
esteem--reverence--venerate Sir Joseph, for he is a great and good man;
but oh, I cannot love him! My heart is already given.
_Capt._ (_aside_). It is, then, as I feared. (_Aloud._) Given? And to
whom? Not to some gilded lordling?
_Jos._ No, father--the object of my love is no lordling. Oh, pity me,
for he is but a humble sailor on board your own ship!
_Capt._ Impossible!
_Jos._ Yes, it is true--too true.
_Capt._ A common sailor? Oh, fie!
_Jos._ I blush for the weakness that allows me to cherish such a
passion. I hate myself when I think of the depth to which I have
stooped in permitting myself to think tenderly of one so ignobly born,
but I love him! I love him! I love him! (_Weeps._)
_Capt._ Come, my child, let us talk this over. In a matter of the heart
I would not coerce my daughter--I attach but little value to rank or
wealth, but the line must be drawn somewhere. A man in that station may
be brave and worthy, but at every step he would commit solecisms that
society would never pardon.
_Jos._ Oh, I have thought of this night and day. But fear not, father.
I have a heart, and therefore I love; but I am your daughter, and
therefore I am proud. Though I carry my love with me to the tomb, he
shall never, never know it.
_Capt._ You _are_ my daughter, after all. But see, Sir Joseph’s barge
approaches, manned by twelve trusty oarsmen and accompanied by the
admiring crowd of female relatives that attend him wherever he goes.
Retire, my daughter, to your cabin--take this, his photograph, with
you--it may help to bring you to a more reasonable frame of mind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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