RECITATIVE.--RALPH. Can I survive this overbearing Or live a life of mad despairing, My proffered love despised, rejected? No, no, it’s not to be expected! (_Calling off._) Messmates, ahoy! Come here! Come here! _Enter _Sailors_, HEBE, and _Relatives_._ _All._ Ay, ay, my boy, What cheer, what cheer? Now tell us, pray, Without delay, What does she say-- What cheer, what cheer? _Ralph_ (_to COUSIN HEBE_). The maiden treats my suit with scorn, Rejects my humble love, my lady; She says I am ignobly born, And cuts my hopes adrift, my lady. _All._ Oh, cruel one! _Dick._ She spurns your suit? Oho! Oho! I told you so, I told you so. _Sail. and Rel._ Shall {we} submit? Are {we} but slaves? {they} {they} Love comes alike to high and low-- Britannia’s sailors rule the waves, And shall they stoop to insult? No! _Dick._ You must submit, you are but slaves; A lady she! Oho! Oho! You lowly toilers of the waves, She spurns you all--I told you so! (_Goes off._) _Ralph_ (_drawing a pistol_). My friends, my leave of life I’m taking, For oh, for oh, my heart is breaking. When I am gone, oh, prithee tell The maid that, as I died, I loved her well! (_Loading it._) _All_ (_turning away, weeping_). Of life, alas! his leave he’s taking. For, ah! his faithful heart is breaking. When he is gone we’ll surely tell The maid that, as he died, he loved her well. (_During chorus he has loaded pistol._) _Ralph._ Be warned, my messmates all Who love in rank above you-- For Josephine I fall! (_Puts pistol to his head. All the sailors stop their ears._) _Enter JOSEPHINE._ _Jos._ Ah! stay your hand! I love you! _All._ Ah! stay your hand--she loves you! _Ralph_ (_incredulously_). Loves me? _Jos._ Loves you! _All._ Yes, yes--ah, yes--she loves you! ENSEMBLE. SAILORS AND RELATIVES, AND JOSEPHINE.