The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan | Page 4

at last they come to make their choice--
Let us acclaim them with united voice.
(Marco and Giuseppe appear in gondola at back.)
CHORUS (Girls). Hail, hail! gallant gondolieri, ben venuti! Accept our
love, our homage, and our duty. Ben' venuti! ben' venuti!
(Marco and Giuseppe jump ashore--the Girls salute them.)
DUET--MARCO and GIUSEPPE, with CHORUS OF GIRLS.
MAR. and GIU. Buon' giorno, signorine!
GIRLS. Gondolieri carissimi! Siamo contadine!
MAR. and GIU. (bowing). Servitori umilissimi! Per chi questi fiori--

Questi fiori bellissimi?
GIRLS. Per voi, bei signori O eccellentissimi!
(The Girls present their bouquets to Marco and Giuseppe, who are
overwhelmed with them, and carry them with difficulty.)
MAR. and GIU. (their arms full of flowers). O ciel'! O ciel'!
GIRLS. Buon' giorno, cavalieri!
MAR. and GIU. (deprecatingly). Siamo gondolieri.
(To Fia. and Vit.) Signorina, io t' amo!
GIRLS. (deprecatingly). Contadine siamo.
MAR. and GIU. Signorine!
GIRLS (deprecatingly). Contadine!
(Curtseying to Mar. and Giu.) Cavalieri.
MAR. and GIU. (deprecatingly). Gondolieri! Poveri gondolieri!
CHORUS. Buon' giorno, signorine, etc.
DUET--MARCO and GIUSEPPE.
We're called gondolieri, But that's a vagary, It's quite honorary The
trade that we ply. For gallantry noted Since we were short-coated, To
beauty devoted, Giuseppe\Are Marco and I;
When morning is breaking, Our couches forsaking, To greet their
awaking With carols we come. At summer day's nooning, When weary
lagooning, Our mandolins tuning, We lazily thrum.
When vespers are ringing, To hope ever clinging, With songs of our
singing A vigil we keep, When daylight is fading, Enwrapt in night's
shading, With soft serenading We sing them to sleep.
We're called gondolieri, etc.
RECITATIVE--MARCO and GIUSEPPE.
MAR. And now to choose our brides!
GIU. As all are young and fair, And amiable besides,
BOTH. We really do not care A preference to declare.
MAR. A bias to disclose Would be indelicate--
GIU. And therefore we propose To let impartial Fate Select for us a
mate!
ALL. Viva!
GIRLS. A bias to disclose Would be indelicate--
MEN. But how do they propose To let impartial Fate Select for them a
mate?
GIU. These handkerchiefs upon our eyes be good enough to bind,

MAR. And take good care that both of us are absolutely blind;
BOTH. Then turn us round--and we, with all convenient despatch, Will
undertake to marry any two of you we catch!
ALL. Viva! They undertake to marry any two of us hem they catch!
(The Girls prepare to bind their eyes as directed.)
FIA. (to Marco). Are you peeping? Can you see me?
MAR. Dark I'm keeping, Dark and dreamy!
(Marco slyly lifts bandage.)
VIT. (to Giuseppe). If you're blinded Truly, say so
GIU. All right-minded Players play so! (slyly lifts bandage).
FIA. (detecting Marco). Conduct shady! They are cheating! Surely they
de- Serve a beating! (replaces bandage).
VIT. (detecting Giuseppe). This too much is; Maidens mocking--
Conduct such is Truly shocking! (replaces bandage).
ALL. You can spy, sir! Shut your eye, sir! You may use it by and by,
sir! You can see, sir! Don't tell me, sir! That will do--now let it be, sir!
CHORUS OF GIRLS. My papa he keeps three horses, Black, and white,
and dapple grey, sir; Turn three times, then take your courses, Catch
whichever girl you may, sir!
CHORUS OF MEN. My papa, etc.
(Marco and Giuseppe turn round, as directed, and try to catch the girls.
Business of blind-man's buff. Eventually Marco catches Gianetta, and
Giuseppe catches Tessa. The two girls try to escape, but in vain. The
two men pass their hands over the girls' faces to discover their identity.)
GIU. I've at length achieved a capture! (Guessing.) This is Tessa!
(removes bandage). Rapture, rapture!
CHORUS. Rapture, rapture!
MAR. (guessing). To me Gianetta fate has granted! (removes bandage).
Just the very girl I wanted!
CHORUS. Just the very girl he wanted!
GIU. (politely to Mar.). If you'd rather change--
TESS. My goodness! This indeed is simple rudeness.
MAR. (politely to Giu.). I've no preference whatever--
GIA. Listen to him! Well, I never! (Each man kisses each girl.)
GIA. Thank you, gallant gondolieri! In a set and formal measure It is
scarcely necessary To express our pleasure. Each of us to prove a
treasure, Conjugal and monetary, Gladly will devote our leisure, Gay

and gallant gondolieri. Tra, la, la, la, la, la, etc.
TESS. Gay and gallant gondolieri, Take us both and hold us tightly,
You have luck extraordinary; We might both have been unsightly! If
we judge your conduct rightly, 'Twas a choice involuntary; Still we
thank you most politely, Gay and gallant gondolieri! Tra, la, la, la, la, la,
etc.
CHORUS OF Thank you, gallant gondolieri; GIRLS. In a set and
formal measure, It is scarcely necessary To express our pleasure. Each
of us to prove a treasure Gladly will devote our leisure, Gay and gallant
gondolieri! Tra, la, la, la,