Sighing softly to the river Comes the loving breeze, Setting nature all a-quiver, Rustling through the trees. MEN: Through the trees. GENERAL: And the brook, in rippling measure, Laughs for very love, While the poplars, in their pleasure, Wave their arms above. MEN: Yes, the trees, for very love, Wave their leafy arms above. ALL: River, river, little river, May thy loving prosper ever! Heaven speed thee, poplar tree, May thy wooing happy be. GENERAL: Yet, the breeze is but a rover, When he wings away, Brook and poplar mourn a lover Sighing,"Well-a-day!" MEN: Well-a-day! GENERAL: Ah! the doing and undoing, That the rogue could tell! When the breeze is out a-wooing, Who can woo so well? MEN: Shocking tales the rogue could tell, Nobody can woo so well. ALL: Pretty brook, thy dream is over, For thy love is but a rover; Sad the lot of poplar trees, Courted by a fickle breeze! (Enter the MAJOR-GENERAL's daughters, led by MABEL, all in white peignoirs and night-caps, and carrying lighted candles.) GIRLS: Now what is this, and what is that, and why does father leave his rest At such a time of night as this, so very incompletely dressed? Dear father is, and always was, the most methodical of men! It's his invariable rule to go to bed at half-past ten. What strange occurrence can it be that calls dear father from his rest At such a time of night as this, so very incompletely dressed? (Enter KING, SAMUEL, and FREDERIC) KING: Forward, my men, and seize that General there! His life is over. (They seize the GENERAL) GIRLS: The pirates! the pirates! Oh, despair! PIRATES: (springing up) Yes, we're the pirates, so despair! GENERAL: Frederic here! Oh, joy! Oh. rapture! Summon your men and effect their capture! MABEL: Frederic, save us! FREDERIC: Beautiful Mabel, I would if I could, but I am not able. PIRATES: He's telling the truth, he is not able. KING: With base deceit You worked upon our feelings! Revenge is sweet, And flavours all our dealings! With courage rare And resolution manly, For death prepare, Unhappy Gen'ral Stanley.