_All._ The lonely orphan boy! Poor fellow! [_GENERAL comes down. _Principals_ come down. _Ladies_ rise._ ENSEMBLE. GENERAL. GIRLS (_aside_). PIRATES (_aside_). I’m telling a He’s telling a If he’s telling a terrible story, terrible story, terrible story But it doesn’t Which will tend to He shall die by a diminish my glory; diminish his glory. death that is gory, For they would have Though they would have One of the cruellest taken my daughters taken his daughters slaughters Over the billowy Over the billowy That ever were known waters, waters, in these waters; If I hadn’t, in It’s easy, in And we’ll finish his elegant diction. elegant diction, moral affliction Indulged in an To call it an innocent By a very complete innocent fiction; fiction; malediction, Which is not in the But it comes in the As a compliment same category same category valedictory, As a regular As a regular If he’s telling a terrible story. terrible story. terrible story. KING. Although our dark career Sometimes involves the crime of stealing, We rather think that we’re Not altogether void of feeling. Although we live by strife, We’re always sorry to begin it, And what, we ask, is life Without a touch of Poetry in it? ALL (_kneeling_). Hail, Poetry, thou heaven-born maid, Thou gildest e’en the pirate’s trade! Hail, flowing fount of sentiment! All hail, Divine Emollient! (_All rise._) KING. You may go, for you’re at liberty, our pirate rules protect you, And honorary members of our band we do elect you. _Sam._ For he is an orphan boy. _Chorus._ He is an orphan boy. _Gen._ And it sometimes is a useful thing To be an orphan boy. _Chorus._ It is! Hurrah for the orphan boy! _Quartette._ Oh, happy day, with joyous glee We will away and merry be! Should it befall auspiciouslee, My sisters all will bridesmaids be. _Chorus._ Oh, happy day, with joyous glee They will away, and merry be; Should it befall auspiciouslee, Our sisters all will bridesmaids be! _RUTH enters, and comes down to FREDERIC, and kneels._ _Ruth._ Oh, master, hear one word, I do implore you! Remember Ruth, your Ruth, who kneels before you! [__Pirates_ come in front of _Ladies_._ _Chorus._ Yes, yes, remember Ruth who kneels before you.