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ACT I

Nos 6 & 7: RECIT. & TRIO - Dorothy, Dorcas & Oswald

DOROTHY is seen coming down the terrace.

DORCAS.
  My mistress comes.
Thyself thy missive give.

DOROTHY advances towards her.

OSWALD.
  Madam, I bow.
DOROTHY.
  Sir, who art thou?
OSWALD.
  Servant of one whose name I must not tell.
This from his hand - and from his heart as well.

DOROTHY reads the letter.


DOROTHY.
  Oh, tell me, what is a maid to say?
    What is a maid to do?
  When heart says "Go," and duty "Stay,"
    And she'd to both be true?
  Oh, tell me, what is a maid to say?
    Shall it be rice or rue?
  When heart says "Yea," and duty "Nay,"
    What is a maid to do? Ah!
       
DOROTHY, DORCAS & OSWALD.
  Yea or nay? Go or stay?
    To which be false, to which be true?
  When a maiden wavers 'twixt yea and nay —
    Shall it be rice or rue?
Shall it be rice or rue?
       
OSWALD.
  Thou askest what is a maid to say,
    What is a maid to do?
  I answer, if her heart say yea,
    Her duty says so too.
DORCAS.
  I can but tell thee what I should say,
    Tell thee what I should do;
  I'd go in showers of rice away,
    And leave behind the rue. Ah!
     
DOROTHY, DORCAS & OSWALD.
  Yea or nay? Go or stay?
    To which be false, to which be true?
  When a maiden wavers 'twixt yea and nay —
    Shall it be rice or rue?
Shall it be rice or rue?

Exeunt DORCAS and OSWALD severally.


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Page modified 24 May 2015