第52章
KO.Oh, I don't think you could forget Yum-Yum so easily;and, after all, what is more miserable than a love-blighted life?
NANK.True.
KO.Life without Yum-Yum--why, it seems absurd!
NANK.And yet there are a good many people in the world who have to endure it.
KO.Poor devils, yes! You are quite right not to be of their number.
NANK.(suddenly).I won't be of their number!
KO.Noble fellow!
NANK.I'll tell you how we'll manage it.Let me marry Yum-Yum to-morrow, and in a month you may behead me.
KO.No, no.I draw the line at Yum-Yum.
NANK.Very good.If you can draw the line, so can I.
(Preparing rope.)
KO.Stop, stop--listen one moment--be reasonable.How can I consent to your marrying Yum-Yum if I'm going to marry her myself?
NANK.My good friend, she'll be a widow in a month, and you can marry her then.
KO.That's true, of course.I quite see that.But, dear me! my position during the next month will be most unpleasant--most unpleasant.
NANK.Not half so unpleasant as my position at the end of it.
KO.But--dear me!--well--I agree--after all, it's only putting off my wedding for a month.But you won't prejudice her against me, will you? You see, I've educated her to be my wife;she's been taught to regard me as a wise and good man.Now Ishouldn't like her views on that point disturbed.
NANK.Trust me, she shall never learn the truth from me.
FINALE.
Enter Chorus, Pooh-Bah, and Pish-Tush.
CHORUS.
With aspect stern And gloomy stride, We come to learn How you decide.
Don't hesitate Your choice to name, A dreadful fate You'll suffer all the same.
POOH.To ask you what you mean to do we punctually appear.
KO.Congratulate me, gentlemen, I've found a Volunteer!
ALL.The Japanese equivalent for Hear, Hear, Hear!
KO.(presenting him).'Tis Nanki-Poo!
ALL.Hail, Nanki-Poo!
KO.I think he'll do?
ALL.Yes, yes, he'll do!
KO.He yields his life if I'll Yum-Yum surrender.
Now I adore that girl with passion tender, And could not yield her with a ready will, Or her allot, If I did not Adore myself with passion tenderer still!
Enter Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo, and Pitti-Sing.
ALL.Ah, yes!
He loves himself with passion tenderer still!
KO.(to Nanki-Poo).Take her--she's yours!
[Exit Ko-KoENSEMBLE.
NANKI-POO.The threatened cloud has passed away, YUM-YUM.And brightly shines the dawning day;NANKI-POO.What though the night may come too soon, YUM-YUM.There's yet a month of afternoon!
NANKI-POO, POOH-BAH, YUM-YUM, PITTI-SING, and PEEP-BO.
Then let the throng Our joy advance, With laughing song And merry dance,CHORUS.With joyous shout and ringing cheer, Inaugurate our brief career!
PITTI-SING.A day, a week, a month, a year--YUM.Or far or near, or far or near, POOH.Life's eventime comes much too soon, PITTI-SING.You'll live at least a honeymoon!
ALL.Then let the throng, etc.
CHORUS.With joyous shout, etc.
SOLO--POOH-BAH.
As in a month you've got to die, If Ko-Ko tells us true, 'Twere empty compliment to cry "Long life to Nanki-Poo!"But as one month you have to live As fellow-citizen, This toast with three times three we'll give--"Long life to you--till then!"[Exit Pooh-Bah.
CHORUS.May all good fortune prosper you, May you have health and riches too, May you succeed in all you do!
Long life to you--till then!
(Dance.)
Enter Katisha melodramaticallyKAT.Your revels cease! Assist me, all of you!
CHORUS.Why, who is this whose evil eyes Rain blight on our festivities?
KAT.I claim my perjured lover, Nanki-Poo!
Oh, fool! to shun delights that never cloy!
CHORUS.Go, leave thy deadly work undone!
KAT.Come back, oh, shallow fool! come back to joy!
CHORUS.Away, away! ill-favoured one!
NANK.(aside to Yum-Yum).Ah!
'Tis Katisha!
The maid of whom I told you.(About to go.)KAT.(detaining him).No!
You shall not go, These arms shall thus enfold you!
SONG--KATISHA.
KAT.(addressing Nanki-Poo).
Oh fool, that fleest My hallowed joys!
Oh blind, that seest No equipoise!
Oh rash, that judgest From half, the whole!
Oh base, that grudgest Love's lightest dole!
Thy heart unbind, Oh fool, oh blind!
Give me my place, Oh rash, oh base!
CHORUS.If she's thy bride, restore her place, Oh fool, oh blind, oh rash, oh base!
KAT.(addressing Yum-Yum).
Pink cheek, that rulest Where wisdom serves!
Bright eye, that foolest Heroic nerves!
Rose lip, that scornest Lore-laden years!
Smooth tongue, that warnest Who rightly hears!
Thy doom is nigh.
Pink cheek, bright eye!
Thy knell is rung, Rose lip, smooth tongue!
CHORUS.If true her tale, thy knell is rung, Pink cheek, bright eye, rose lip, smooth tongue!
PITTI-SING.Away, nor prosecute your quest--From our intention, well expressed, You cannot turn us!
The state of your connubial views Towards the person you accuse Does not concern us!
For he's going to marry Yum-Yum--
ALL.Yum-Yum!
PITTI.Your anger pray bury, For all will be merry, I think you had better succumb--ALL.Cumb--cumb!
PITTI.And join our expressions of glee.
On this subject I pray you be dumb--
ALL.Dumb--dumb.
PITTI.You'll find there are many Who'll wed for a penny--The word for your guidance is "Mum"--ALL.Mum--mum!
PITTI.There's lots of good fish in the sea!
ALL.On this subject we pray you be dumb, etc.
SOLO--KATISHA.
The hour of gladness Is dead and gone;
In silent sadness I live alone!
The hope I cherished All lifeless lies, And all has perished Save love, which never dies!
Oh, faithless one, this insult you shall rue!
In vain for mercy on your knees you'll sue.
I'll tear the mask from your disguising!
NANK.(aside).Now comes the blow!
KAT.Prepare yourselves for news surprising!
NANK.(aside).How foil my foe?
KAT.No minstrel he, despite bravado!
YUM.(aside, struck by an idea).Ha! ha! I know!
KAT.He is the son of your----
(Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum, and Chorus, interrupting, sing Japanese words, to drown her voice.)O ni! bikkuri shakkuri to!
KAT.In vain you interrupt with this tornado!
He is the only son of your----
ALL.O ni! bikkuri shakkuri to!
KAT.I'll spoil----
ALL.O ni! bikkuri shakkuri to!
KAT.Your gay gambado!
He is the son----