| |
|
You are here: > > Web Opera > Act I
No. 8: DUET (Princess Zara & Captain Fitzbattleaxe)
"Ah! gallant soldier, brave and true"
| Princess Zara. |
Ah! gallant soldier, brave and true
In tented field and tourney,
I grieve to have occasioned you
So very long a journey.
A British warrior give up all —
His home and island beauty —
When summoned by the trumpet call
Of Regimental Duty! |
| Zara. (aside) |
Fitzbattleaxe. (aside) |
Women. |
Men. |
| |
Oh my joy, my pride, |
Knightsbridge nursemaids, |
A British soldier |
| |
My delight to hide, |
serving fairies |
gives up all |
| Let us sing, aside, |
Let us sing, aside, |
Stars of proud |
His home and island |
| What in truth we feel, |
What in truth we feel, |
Belgravian airies; |
beauty |
| Let us whisper low |
Let us whisper low |
At stern duty's |
When summoned by the |
| Of our love's glad glow, |
Of our love's glad glow, |
call you leave them |
trumpet call |
| Lest the truth we show |
Lest the truth we show |
Though you know how |
Of Regimental |
| We would fain conceal. |
We would fain conceal. |
that must grieve them! |
Duty! |
Meston Reid as Captain Fitzbattleaxe, 1975
 |
|
| Captain Fitzbattleaxe. |
Such escort duty, as his due,
To young Lifeguardsman falling,
Completely reconciles him to
His uneventful calling.
When soldier seeks Utopian glades
In charge of Youth and Beauty,
Then pleasure merely masquerades
As Regimental Duty! |
| Chorus. |
Tantantarara-rara!
Tantantarara-rara-rara!
Trumpet-call of Princess Zara!
That's trump call, and we're all trump cards! |
| Troopers. |
| And we are the escort, First Life Guards! |
|
| Zara & Fitzbattleaxe. (aside) |
Troopers. |
Chorus. |
| Oh! my hours are gold, |
First Life Guards, the First |
They're her es- |
| And the joys untold, |
Life Guards! And we |
cort, The First |
| When your/my eyes behold |
are the escort, First |
Life Guards, First |
| Your/My beloved Princess; |
Life Guards, First |
Life Guards, They're |
| And the years will seem |
Life Guards, The First |
her es- |
| But a brief day-dream, |
Life Guards, The First, |
cort, The First, |
| In our happiness! |
The First Life Guards, |
The First Life Guards, |
| |
Tantantara! |
Tantantara! |
| And the years will seem |
|
|
| But a brief day-dream, |
Tantantara! |
Tantantara! |
| In the joy extreme |
|
|
| Of our happiness, |
|
|
| In the joy of our happiness! |
Tantantara! |
Tantara! The First Life Guards, |
| |
The First Life Guards,
The First, the First, the First,
The First Life Guards! |
The First Life Guards,
The First, the First, the First,
The First Life Guards! |
Exeunt King and Zara in one direction, Lifeguardsmen and crowd in opposite direction.
|
Page Created
27 November, 2005
|
|
|
)