Young Strephon is the kind of lout With Strephon for your foe, no doubt, We do not care a fig about! A fearful prospect opens out, We cannot say And who shall say What evils may What evils may Result in consequence. Result in consequence? But lordly vengeance will pursue A hideous vengeance will pursue All kinds of common people who All noblemen who venture to Oppose our views, Opppose his views, Or boldly choose Or boldly choose To offer us offence. To offer him offence. He'd better fly at humbler game, 'Twill plunge them into grief and shame; Or our forbearance he must claim, His kind forbearance they must claim, If he'd escape If they'd escape In any shape In any shape A very painful wrench! A very painful wrench. Your powers we dauntlessly pooh-pooh: Although our threats you now pooh-pooh, A dire revenge will fall on you. A dire revenge will fall on you, If you besiege Should he besiege Our high prestige— Your high prestige— (The word "prestige" is French). The word "prestige" is French). PEERS. Our lordly style You shall not quench With base canaille! FAIRIES. (That word is French.) PEERS. Distinction ebbs Before a herd Of vulgar plebs! FAIRIES. (A Latin word.) PEERS. 'Twould fill with joy, And madness stark The hoi polloi! FAIRIES. (A Greek remark.) PEERS. One Latin word, one Greek remark, And one that's French. FAIRIES. Your lordly style We'll quickly quench With base canaille! PEERS. (That word is French.) FAIRIES. Distinction ebbs Before a herd Of vulgar plebs! PEERS. (A Latin word.) FAIRIES. 'Twill fill with joy And madness stark The hoi polloi! PEERS. (A Greek remark.) FAIRIES. One Latin word, one Greek remark, And one that's French. PEERS. FAIRIES. You needn't wait: We will not wait: Away you fly! We go sky-high! Your threatened hate Our threatened hate We won't defy! You won't defy! (Fairies threaten Peers with their wands. Peers kneel as begging for merry. Phyllis implores Strephon to relent. He casts her from him, and she falls fainting into the arms of Lord Mountararat and Lord Tolloller.) END OF ACT I