MEN Exactly so!

PATIENCE Imposture to contempt must lead--

COLONEL Exactly so!

PATIENCE Blind vanity's dissension's seed--

MAJOR Exactly so!

PATIENCE It follows, then, a maiden who Devotes herself to loving you Is prompted by no selfish view, Is prompted by no selfish view!

MEN Exactly so!

SAPHIR [coming L. of BUNTHORNE]

Are you resolved to wed this shameless one?

ANGELA [coming R. of BUNTHORNE]

Is there no chance for any other?

BUNTHORNE [decisively] None! [Embraces PATIENCE]

[Exit PATIENCE and BUNTHORNE, L. ANGELA, SAPHIR, and ELLA take COLONEL, DUKE, and MAJOR down, while GIRLS gaze fondly at other Officers.]

s.e.xTET (ELLA, SAPHIR, ANGELA, DUKE, MAJOR, COLONEL)

I hear the soft note of the echoing voice Of an old, old love, long dead-- It whispers my sorrowing heart "rejoice"-- For the last sad tear is shed-- The pain that is all but a pleasure will change For the pleasure that's all but pain, And never, oh never, this heart will range From that old, old love again!

[GIRLS embrace OFFICERS]

CHORUS Yes, the pain that is all but a pleasure will change For the pleasure that's all but pain, And never, oh never, our hearts will range From that old, old love again!

DUKE CHORUS

Oh, never, oh never Oh, never, oh never our hearts will range our hearts, our hearts will range From that old, old love again!

s.e.xTET CHORUS

Oh, never, oh never, Oh, never, oh never our hearts, our hearts will range Oh, never, our hearts will range From that old, old From that old, old love love again! again!

[The GIRLS embrace the Officers. Re-enter PATIENCE and BUNTHORNE. L.]

[As the DRAGOONS and GIRLS are embracing, enter GROSVENOR, R.U.E., reading. He takes no notice of them, but comes slowly down, still reading. The GIRLS are all strangely fascinated by him. The Chorus divides, L. & R., and the GIRLS are held back by the DRAGOONS, as they attempt to throw themselves at GROSVENOR. Fury of BUNTHORNE, who recognizes a rival.]

ANGELA [R.C.] But who is this, whose G.o.d-like grace Proclaims he comes of n.o.ble race?

And who is this, whose manly face Bears sorrow's interesting trace?

CHORUS Yes, who is this, whose G.o.d-like grace Proclaims he comes of n.o.ble race?

GROSVENOR [C.] I am a broken-hearted troubadour, Whose mind's aesthetic and whose tastes are pure!

ANGELA Aesthetic! He is aesthetic!

GROSVENOR Yes, yes -- I am aesthetic And poetic!

MAIDENS Then, we love you!

[They break away from the DRAGOONS, and kneel to GROSVENOR.]

DRAGOONS They love him! Horror!

BUNTHORNE and PATIENCE They love him! Horror!

GROSVENOR They love me! Horror! Horror! Horror!

ENSEMBLE [all parts sung at the same time]

PATIENCE DUKE

List, Reginald, while I confess My jealousy I can't express, A love that's all unselfishness, Their love they openly confess; That it's unselfish, goodness knows, His sh.e.l.l-like ears he does not close You won't dispute it, I suppose! To their recital of their woes.

ELLA, SAPHIR, ANGELA, JANE CHORUS

Oh, list while we a love confess Oh, list while we/they a love confess That words imperfectly express.

Those sh.e.l.l-like ears, ah, do not close That words imperfectly express.

To blighted love's distracting woes!

ENSEMBLE [all parts sung at the same time]

MAJOR, COLONEL & BUNTHORNE GROSVENOR

My jealousy I can't express, Again my cursed comeliness Their love they openly confess! Spreads hopeless anguish and distress, Their love they openly confess, Spreads hopeless anguish and confess! distress, distress!

MAIDENS DRAGOONS

Yes, those sh.e.l.l-like ears, ah, do Yes, his sh.e.l.l-like ears not close he does not close To blighted love's distracting To their recital of their woes!

woes!

To blighted love's distracting woes, To their recital of their woes, their woes! their woes!

ENSEMBLE [all parts sung at the same time]

PATIENCE DUKE

Ah! Ah!

And I shall love you, I shall love. His sh.e.l.l-like ears he does not close Your ears, ah, do not close! To love's distracting woes!

Thy sh.e.l.l-like ears, ah, do not close Now is not this ridiculous, and is not this preposterous?