_Sir J._ How came your captain so far to forget himself? I am quite sure you had given him no cause for annoyance. _Ralph._ Please your honour, it was thus wise. You see, I’m only a topman--a mere foremast hand---- _Sir J._ Don’t be ashamed of that. Your position as a topman is a very exalted one. _Ralph._ Well, your honour, love burns as brightly in the fo’c’sle as it does on the quarter-deck, and Josephine is the fairest bud that ever blossomed upon the tree of a poor fellow’s wildest hopes. _Enter JOSEPHINE; she rushes to RALPH’S arms. SIR JOSEPH horrified._ She’s the figurehead of my ship of life--the bright beacon that guides me into my port of happiness--the rarest, the purest gem that ever sparkled on a poor but worthy fellow’s trusting brow. _All._ Very pretty. _Sir J._ Insolent sailor, you shall repent this outrage. Seize him! [_Two _Marines_ seize him and handcuff him._ _Jos._ Oh, Sir Joseph, spare him, for I love him tenderly. _Sir J._ Away with him. I will teach this presumptuous mariner to discipline his affections. Have you such a thing as a dungeon on board? _All._ We have! _Sir J._ Then load him with chains and take him there at once! OCTETTE. _Ralph._ Farewell, my own! Light of my life, farewell! For crime unknown I go to a dungeon cell. _All._ For crime, etc. _Jos._ In the mean time, farewell! And all alone Rejoice in your dungeon cell! _All._ And all, etc. _Sir J._ A bone, a bone I’ll pick with this sailor fell; Let him be shown At once to his dungeon cell. _All._ Let him, etc. _Boat._} He’ll hear no tone _Dick._} Of the maiden he loves so well! _Hebe._} No telephone Communicates with his cell! _All._ No telephone, etc. _But._ (_mysteriously_). But when is known The secret I have to tell, Wide will be thrown The door of his dungeon cell. _All._ Wide will be thrown The door of his dungeon cell! [_All repeat respective verses, ensemble. At the end RALPH is led off in custody._ _Sir J._ Josephine, I cannot tell you the distress I feel at this most painful revelation. I desire to express to you, officially, that I am hurt. You, whom I honoured by seeking in marriage--you, the daughter of a captain in the Royal Navy! _But._ Hold! _I_ have something to say to that? _Sir J._ You? _But._ Yes, I! SONG.--BUTTERCUP. A many years ago, When I was young and charming, As some of you may know I practised baby-farming. _All._ Now this is most alarming! When she was young and charming, She practised baby-farming, A many years ago.