The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 84
Act I. — Street in Old Paris
Act I.
Street in Old Paris.
Chorus of Market Men and Women.
Chorus.
Pom. (outside)
Cho.
Pom.
Cho. (looking off R.)
Bab.
Cho.
Bab.
Cho.
Hand in hand, here we're meeting,
Blessings rare
We wish the happy pair.
Hallo ! Pomponnet!
Fine at both ends.
Clairette !
A bride must wear on wedding day.
She must wear on her wedding day.
(Enter Pomponnet.)
Pom.
'Tis for me,
Pomponnet,
She wears this wreath so gay.
Song.
Pom.
Cho.
Bab.
Pom.
Cho.
Of this wreath so sweet and fair;
You may look, but must not dare pull.
E'en one leaf or blossom there.
I alone, am its sole owner.
Yes, 'tis mine, you understand,
And to-night I'll have the honour
To undo it with this hand.
Ah!
page 4
When I think on't, when I think on't,
How I shake from top to toe,
My wedding-day I'm on the brink on't,
What I feel you ne'er can know.
How he shakes from top to toe !
His wedding day lie's on the brink on't,
What he feels none e'er can know.
(Minuet Chorus, during which Clairette enters from House L. in Bridal Costume.)
Cho.
Model of innocence,
See her there !
Beauty e'en unadorned
By no means should be scorned,
But by such splendour warned
We hail her, doubly fair.
Chorus of Women.
Come kiss me for your mother !
Chorus of Men
Pom.
Clair.
Cadet.
Javotte.
Clair.
Cho.
Clair.
Come hug me for your brother !
You'd better kiss no one but me.
What think you of your wedding-morning?
Make no delay.
Romance.
Clair.
Cho.
Pom.
Clair.
Cho.
Pom.
Buteux.
Cadet.
Pom.
Cho.
And when you tell me that wed I must be,
Bright be my future fortune, or dark; it
Rests with you now, I'm obedient you see.
Still, I don't know what I'm vowing and swearing.
No more than a salmon, or basket of greens,
For what wedlock is. Now don't all be staring,
I don't know—on my word—in the least what it means.
page 5
You have been parents and guardians to me;
And I've believed what you've always asserted
That parents should order and children obey.
Marriage is pleasant, you always are saying,
To all young girls who are out of their teens;
And I'd content be, since now 'tis past praying,
If I but knew, only knew, what it means.
Indeed you know, the truth I'm stating,
For an hour he'll not be there.
For every moment seems a day;
So let us haste, and have it o'er,
My trembling heart can bear no more.
His trembling heart can bear no more.
Hand-in-hand, gaily greeting,
Hand-in-hand, here we're meeting.
Blessings rare
We wish the happy pair.
(Enter Amaranthe, running.)
(Legend of Madame Angôt.)
A fishwife bold and trusty,
For reasons big us plums
'Gainst her none e'er ran rusty
In market, street, or slums.
When she got in a passion,
And whether right or wrong,
With fist on hip, so fashion—
Her arguments were strong.
Plump and pretty,
Rough and ready,
Lots of spirit she could show;
Joking, smiling,
Sport ne'er spiling,
A rare good sort was Ma'am Angôt.
Chorus.
page 6
Once up in a balloon, boys,
She sailed upon the breeze,
Got safely down, and soon boys
She dared the raging seas;
Ta'en captive in far Malabar,
Fat, fair, and forty she,
They took her for a widow there,
And got up a "Suttee."
Fair and forty,
Stout and hearty,
Tempest, faggot, friend, or foe;
Rude wave? dashing,
Lightning flashing,
Nothing daunted Ma'am Angôt.
Chorus.
Chorus.
Through all her life a rover,
Of sweethearts she'd a score;
But Turkey gave a lover
Was worth them all, and more.
The Sultan, who'd five hundred wives
In sere and yellow leaf,
Cut off their whole five hundred lives,
And flung her his handkerchief.
(Rondo—Ange Pitou.)
Yes : certainly I love Clairetta;
But should I therefore die of grief,
When some other girl, both young and pretty,
Unto my heart may bring relief.
This little note so sweet and pressing,
In style quite worthy of a Queen,
A passion most sincere expressing,
Perfume breathes its folds between.
Yes; certainly I loved Clairetta,
'Tis she, not I, forgets her vows,
And though at first I may regret her
I'll find myself another spouse.
T'other was lovely, there's no denying,
For without beauty there's no power,
So I conclude 'tis worth the trying;
I burn to meet this beauteous flower.
Yes : certainly I loved Clairetta,
But she may wedded be to-day,
page 7
And so 'tis easy to forgot her
Since she herself lias led the way;
Besides, the unknown, the uncertain
Has for me a charm divine,
So to my first intent reverting,
This unknown fair one shall be mine.
But, still I think I love Clairetta,
Although she's false to me to-day,
And we shall see who'll get the better
When she is Madame Pomponnet.
Who's here, I wonder?
Duet.
Ange Pitout and Clair.
Clair.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Ange Pitou.
Together let us seek the way—
Your mother, dear, would have preferred to—
We'll find it out this very day.
A due.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Madam Angôt would never have done so.
Suppose I kill your future spouse.
A due.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Ange Pitou.
Clair. (a due.)
Ange Pitou (a due.) (Solo)
Clair (solo.)
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
Madam Angôt would never have done so.
Renounce my hand this very day !
Or you may find that with my true Love
I might perchance prove falso to you. Love!
But talked about by none.
We're done for I fear !
If nought turn up to set me free;
When the Mayor makes the demand
"Say, will you give this man your hand?"
Instead of "Yes" I'll answer "No."
page 8
One sweet kiss, just for pity.
My bridal wreath you might displace.
I ask you now, on bended knee,
Clairette, grant me this favour sweet,
Or I die—Here at your feet.
I must go, or else they'll miss me.
Oh; you'll be my ruin now (he kisses her.)
Ah ! what are you doing now ?
Never fear, no one will miss you;
Quite wrong you arc construing now
What I would bo doing now.
One sweet foretaste of our bliss,
Clairette!
(a due)
Ange Pitou (a due.)
You will be my ruin now.
Ah ! what are you doing now?
Don't blame what I am doing now (kisses her.)
Duet.
Ange Pitou
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou.
Lar.
Ange Pitou and Larivandiere.
That you ill person should be here.
Don't you feel it rather queer ?
page 9
Will you help me at my need sir,
And just change in your clever song
Larivaudiére to Lavaujon.
A thousand crowns I'll freely spend.
'Tis a fortune for Clariette!
Why Pomponnet she'd quite forget.
Come, come, don't count the cost,
Ten thousand.
Say thirty thousand told.
Come, d'ye say Done!"
But you must pay me on the nail.
With Clairette I'll gaily spend it.
For in Paris all's for sale
If you can pay down on the nail;
Easy way to end all bother,
Swap one surname for another,
And just change in my little song
Larivaudière to Lavaujon.
page 10
He may gaily go and spend it,
For in Paris all's for sale
If you can pay down on the nail.
Easy way my fault to smother,
Swap one surname for another,
And just change in a little song
Larivaudière to Lavaujon.
(Exit Larivaudiere.)
Finale.—Chorus of Citizens.
You said you'd sing a song,
Hot, and fierce, and strong
Come, begin at once, or dread our anger,
Come, eome, now don't be long,
We'll have it right or wrong;
You promised us a song, you did,
So come begin, do as you're bid,
Sing us the song,
Don't be so long.
(Re-enter the Market People.)
Market People.
Citizens.
Market People.
Citizens.
A Nondescript.
Clair. (at the window.)
Citizens.
Clair. (coming forward)
Pom.
Clair.
Cho.
Pom.
Cadet (furious).
Cho.
Ange Pitou.
Clair.
What's this rout?
What's about?
A lout! a lout! a dirty lying lout!
I'll work it out,
For singing treason they'll nab one, no doubt.
So let him sing it quick;
Come, don't be long,
Or we will break your neck.
Sing the song,
Don't be long,
You said you'd sing a song,
Both hot, and fierce, and strong;
Come, begin at once, or dread our anger,
Come, come, now don't be long,
Well have it right or wring.
page 11
You promised us a song, you did.
So come begin, do as you're bid,
Sing us the song,
Don't be so long.
I picked up as it in the gutter lay;
I can sing it every line,
Indeed it's monstrous line.
Her voice all through the dirty gutters ringing;
Yet I'd like to hear the song.
Come listen all to this fine song.
Political Song.
Clair.
Chorus.
They presents gave both rich and rare
To all their fav'rites of the hour,
Both male and female, dark and fair.
Republics now are all the go,
Yet things are no better as they are,
For Ma'amselle Lange, as we all know
Is the fav'rite Sultana of Barras.
He is our King, and she is our Queen,
And I don't think we've altered our case at all,
For no better off the people's been,
The Rich still push us to the wall.
(Louchard appears, listening at back.)
Clair.
Chorus.
Our kings they did it ev'ry day,
And Barras lets Larivaudière
Our pockets pick his debts to pay;
Thus you see things are the same,
Whether Royalty be up or down,
Nought is changed except the name,
Our Monarch reigns without his crown.
He is our King, &c. (Louchard exit.)
(Re-enter Louchard, with Soldiers)
Lou. (to Soldiers.)
Cho.
Ange Pitou.
Cho.
Pom.
Ange Pitou.
Pom.
Cho.
Clair
Cho.
You do it at your peril,
The song I say is mine.
We'll murder you as you stand there.
T' arrest her on our wedding-day.
Pris'ner on her wedding-day;
Clairette shall not be forsaken,
Nor a captive made, we say.
Than remain here free to-day,
For while in prison I am quaking,
I can't wed little Pomponnet.
She must wed Pomponnet.
End of Act.