LORD CH. A plague on this vagary, I'm in a nice quandary! Of hasty tone With dames unknown I ought to be more chary; It seems that she's a fairy From Andersen's library, And I took her for The proprietor Of a Ladies' Seminary! PEERS. We took her for The proprietor Of a Ladies' Seminary! QUEEN. When next your Houses do assemble, You may tremble! CELIA. Our wrath, when gentlemen offend us, Is tremendous! LEILA. They meet, who underrate our calling, Doom appalling! QUEEN. Take down our sentence as we speak it, And he shall wreak it! (Indicating Strephon.) PEERS. Oh, spare us! QUEEN. Henceforth, Strephon, cast away Crooks and pipes and ribbons so gay— Flocks and herds that bleat and low; Into Parliament you shall go! ALL. Into Parliament he shall go! Backed by our supreme authority, He'll command a large majority! Into Parliament he shall go! QUEEN. In the Parliamentary hive, Liberal or Conservative— Whig or Tory—I don't know— But into Parliament you shall go! ALL. Into Parliament, etc. QUEEN (speaking through music). Every bill and every measure That may gratify his pleasure, Though your fury it arouses, Shall be passed by both your Houses! PEERS. Oh! QUEEN. You shall sit, if he sees reason, Through the grouse and salmon season; PEERS. No! QUEEN. He shall end the cherished rights You enjoy on Friday nights: PEERS. No! QUEEN. He shall prick that annual blister, Marriage with deceased wife's sister: PEERS. Mercy! QUEEN. Titles shall ennoble, then, All the Common Councilmen: PEERS. Spare us! QUEEN. Peers shall teem in Christendom, And a Duke's exalted station Be attainable by Com- Petitive Examination! PEERS. FAIRIES and PHYLLIS. Oh, horror! Their horror They can't dissemble Nor hide the fear that makes them tremble! ENSEMBLE. PEERS FAIRIES, PHYLLIS, and STREPHON.