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You are here: > > Act 2
No. 14: DUET (Captain Corcoran & Buttercup)
"Things are seldom what they seem"
| Buttercup. |
Things are seldom what they seem,
Skim milk masquerades as cream;
Highlows pass as patent leathers;
Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers. |
| Captain. (puzzled) |
Very true,
So they do. |
| Buttercup. |
Black sheep dwell in every fold;
All that glitters is not gold;
Storks turn out to be but logs;
Bulls are but inflated frogs. |
| Captain. (puzzled) |
So they be,
Frequentlee. |
| Buttercup. |
Drops the wind and stops the mill;
Turbot is ambitious brill;
Gild the farthing if you will,
Yet it is a farthing still. |
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| Captain. (puzzled) |
Yes, I know.
That is so.
Though to catch your drift I'm striving,
It is shady — it is shady;
I don't see at what you're driving,
Mystic lady — mystic lady. |
| Both. (aside) |
Stern conviction's o'er me/him stealing,
That the mystic lady's dealing
In oracular revealing. |
| Captain. |
| Yes, I know — |
| Buttercup. |
| That is so! |
| Captain. |
Though I'm anything but clever,
I could talk like that for ever:
Once a cat was killed by care,
Only brave deserve the fair. |
| Buttercup. |
Very true,
So they do. |
| Captain. |
Wink is often good as nod;
Spoils the child who spares the rod;
Thirsty lambs run foxy dangers;
Dogs are found in many mangers. |
| Buttercup. |
Frequentlee,
I agree. |
| Captain. |
Paw of cat the chestnut snatches;
Worn-out garments show new patches;
Only count the chick that hatches;
Men are grown-up catchy-catchies. |
| Buttercup. |
Yes, I know,
That is so.
(aside)Though to catch my drift he's striving,
I'll dissemble — I'll dissemble;
When he sees at what I'm driving,
Let him tremble — let him tremble! |
| Both. |
Tho' a mystic tone I/you borrow,
He will/I shall learn the truth with sorrow;
Here today and gone tomorrow. |
| Captain. |
| Yes, I know. |
| Buttercup. |
| That is so! |
| Buttercup. |
Captain. |
| I'll dissemble, |
Tho' a mystic tone you borrow, |
| I'll dissemble, Let him tremble! |
I shall learn the truth with sorrow; |
| Let him tremble! Let him tremble! |
Here today and gone tomorrow, |
| Yes, I know, That is so! |
Yes, I know, That is so! |
At the end exit Little Buttercup melodramatically.
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Page Created
8 June, 2005
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