The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan | Page 7

LUIZ. But you will not recognize
this marriage? It took place when you were too young to understand its
import. CAS. Nay, Luiz, respect my principles and cease to torture me
with vain entreaties. Henceforth my life is another's. LUIZ. But
stay--the present and the future--they are another's; but the past--that at
least is ours, and none can take it from us. As we may revel in naught
else, let us revel in that! CAS. I don't think I grasp your meaning. LUIZ.
Yet it is logical enough. You say you cease to love me? CAS.
(demurely). I say I may not love you. LUIZ. Ah, but you do not say
you did not love me? CAS. I loved you with a frenzy that words are
powerless to express--and that but ten brief minutes since! LUIZ.
Exactly. My own--that is, until ten minutes since, my own--my lately
loved, my recently adored--tell me that until, say a quarter of an hour
ago, I was all in all to thee! (Embracing her.) CAS. I see your idea. It's
ingenious, but don't do that. (Releasing herself.) LUIZ. There can be no
harm in revelling in the past. CAS. None whatever, but an embrace
cannot be taken to act retrospectively. LUIZ. Perhaps not! CAS. We
may recollect an embrace--I recollect many--but we must not repeat
them. LUIZ. Then let us recollect a few! (A moment's pause, as they
recollect, then both heave a deep sigh.) LUIZ. Ah, Casilda, you were to
me as the sun is to the earth! CAS. A quarter of an hour ago? LUIZ.
About that. CAS. And to think that, but for this miserable discovery,
you would have been my own for life! LUIZ. Through life to death--a
quarter of an hour ago! CAS. How greedily my thirsty ears would have

drunk the golden melody of those sweet words a quarter--well, it's now
about twenty minutes since. (Looking at her watch.) LUIZ. About that.
In such a matter one cannot be too precise. CAS. And now our love, so
full of life, is but a silent, solemn memory! LUIZ. Must it be so,
Casilda? CAS. Luiz, it must be so!
DUET--CASILDA and LUIZ.
LUIZ. There was a time-- A time for ever gone--ah, woe is me! It was
no crime To love but thee alone--ah, woe is me! One heart, one life,
one soul, One aim, one goal-- Each in the other's thrall, Each all in all,
ah, woe is me!
BOTH. Oh, bury, bury--let the grave close o'er The days that were--that
never will be more! Oh, bury, bury love that all condemn, And let the
whirlwind mourn its requiem!
CAS. Dead as the last year's leaves-- As gathered flowers--ah, woe is
me! Dead as the garnered sheaves, That love of ours--ah, woe is me!
Born but to fade and die When hope was high, Dead and as far away
As yesterday!--ah, woe is me!
BOTH. Oh, bury, bury--let the grave close o'er, etc.
(Re-enter from the Ducal Palace the Duke and Duchess, followed by
Don Alhambra del Bolero, the Grand Inquisitor.)
DUKE. My child, allow me to present to you His Distinction Don
Alhambra del Bolero, the Grand Inquisitor of Spain. It was His
Distinction who so thoughtfully abstracted your infant husband and
brought him to Venice. DON AL. So this is the little lady who is so
unexpectedly called upon to assume the functions of Royalty! And a
very nice little lady, too! DUKE. Jimp, isn't she? DON AL. Distinctly
jimp. Allow me! (Offers his hand. She turns away scornfully.) Naughty
temper! DUKE. You must make some allowance. Her Majesty's head is
a little turned by her access of dignity. DON AL. I could have wished
that Her Majesty's access of dignity had turned it in this direction.
DUCH. Unfortunately, if I am not mistaken, there appears to be some
little doubt as to His Majesty's whereabouts. CAS. (aside). A doubt as
to his whereabouts? Then we may yet be saved! DON AL. A doubt?
Oh dear, no--no doubt at all! He is here, in Venice, plying the modest
but picturesque calling of a gondolier. I can give you his address--I see
him every day! In the entire annals of our history there is absolutely no
circumstance so entirely free from all manner of doubt of any kind

whatever! Listen, and I'll tell you all about it.
SONG--DON ALHAMBRA (with DUKE, DUCHESS, CASILDA, and
LUIZ).
I stole the Prince, and I brought him here, And left him gaily prattling
With a highly respectable gondolier, Who promised the Royal babe to
rear, And teach him the trade of a timoneer With his own beloved
bratling.
Both of the babes were strong and stout, And, considering all things,
clever. Of that there is no manner of doubt-- No probable, possible
shadow