Oh joy! oh joy! Oh, bitter joy! Oh joy! oh joy! The charm works well, No words can tell No words can tell And all are now united! How my poor heart My state of mind The blind young boy is blighted! delighted. Obeys the spell, They'll soon employ They'll soon employ A marriage bell, A marriage bell, Their troth they all To say that we're To say that we're have plighted. united. united. True happiness I do confess True happiness Reigns everywhere, A sorrow rare Reigns everywhere And dwells with both My humbled spirit And dwells with both the sexes. vexes. the sexes, And all will bless And none will bless And all will bless The thoughtful care Example rare Example rare Of their beloved Of their beloved Of their beloved Alexis! Alexis! Alexis! (All, except Alexis and Aline, exeunt lovingly.) ALINE How joyful they all seem in their new-found happiness! The whole village has paired off in the happiest manner. And yet not a match has been made that the hollow world would not consider ill-advised! ALEXIS But we are wiser—far wiser—than the world. Observe the good that will become of these ill-assorted unions. The miserly wife will check the reckless expenditure of her too frivolous consort, the wealthy husband will shower innumerable bonnets on his penniless bride, and the young and lively spouse will cheer the declining days of her aged partner with comic songs unceasing! ALINE What a delightful prospect for him! ALEXIS But one thing remains to be done, that my happiness may be complete. We must drink the philtre ourselves, that I may be assured of your love for ever and ever. ALINE Oh, Alexis, do you doubt me? Is it necessary that such love as ours should be secured by artificial means? Oh, no, no, no! ALEXIS My dear Aline, time works terrible changes, and I want to place our love beyond the chance of change. ALINE Alexis, it is already far beyond that chance. Have faith in me, for my love can never, never change! ALEXIS Then you absolutely refuse? ALINE I do. If you cannot trust me, you have no right to love me—no right to be loved by me. ALEXIS Enough, Aline, I shall know how to interpret this refusal. BALLAD—ALEXIS