_King._ With falsehood foul He tricked us of our brides. Let vengeance howl; The pirate so decides. Our nature stem He softened with his lies, And, in return, To-night the traitor dies. _All._ Yes, yes; to-night the traitor dies. _Ruth_ (_crosses to FREDERIC_). To-night he dies. _King._ Yes, or early to-morrow. _Fred._ His girls likewise? _Ruth._ They will welter in sorrow. _King._ The one soft spot---- _Fred._ In their natures they cherish, And all who plot---- _Ruth._ To abuse it shall perish! _All._ Yes, all who plot _King._ To abuse it shall perish! Away, away, etc. [_Exeunt KING and RUTH. FREDERIC throws himself on a stone in blank despair._ _Enter MABEL._ RECITATIVE.--MABEL. All is prepared, your gallant crew await you. My Frederick in tears? It cannot be That lion-heart quails at the coming conflict? _Fred._ No, Mabel, no. A terrible disclosure Has just been made! Mabel, my dearly loved one, I bound myself to serve the pirate captain Until I reached my one and twentieth birthday---- _Mab._ But you are twenty-one? _Fred._ I’ve just discovered That I was born in leap year, and that birthday Will not be reached by me till 1940. _Mab._ Oh, horrible! catastrophe appalling! _Fred._ And so, farewell! _Mab._ No, no! Oh, Frederic, hear me. DUET.--MABEL AND FREDERIC. _Mab._ Stay, Frederic, stay! They have no legal claim; No shadow of a shame Will fall upon thy name. Stay, Frederic, stay! _Fred._ Nay, Mabel, nay, To-night I quit these walls, The thought my soul appals, But when stem duty calls, I must obey. _Mab._ Stay, Frederic, stay---- _Fred._ Nay, Mabel, nay---- _Mab._ They have no claim---- _Fred._ But duty’s name! The thought my soul appals, But when stern duty calls, I must obey. BALLAD.--MABEL (_kneels_).