No. 9 - Quartette - "Fair maid, take pity"

from "The Mountebanks"
Words by W. S. Gilbert
Music by Alfred Cellier
Copyright © <Year> by <Name>
All Rights Reserved

By Alfred Cellier
Generated by NoteWorthy Composer

[Alfredo:] Fair maid, take pity on my state!
Look down with eyes compassionate
On my condition lonely;
Nor think me too impertinent,
If I implore you to relent,
And my sweet Duchess represent
On this occasion only!
[Teresa:] I thank you, sir, but it would be
Presumptuous, indeed, in me
To personate a Duchess.
But I know one who'd have a face
To jump at mimicking her Grace;
No compliment seems out of place
Her vanity that touches.
[Ultrice:] D'you mean me, miss?
[Teresa:] I mean you, miss,
All above.
[Ultrice:] You're too free, miss.
[Teresa:] Try it, do, miss-
There's a love!
[Ultrice:] I agree, miss!
[Teresa:] That's explicit:
Take your ground!
[Ultrice:] You shall see, miss.
[Teresa:] Wouldn't miss it
For a pound.
[Ultrice:] Though your spite all bounds surpasses,
Pay attention, I beseech you.
Manners of the upper classes
I shall be most pleased to teach you.
[Teresa:] Thank you, dear- pray, take your station-
Malice soon will spread the rumour.
It will be a personation
Teeming with unconscious humour!
[All:] Watch her as she takes her station,
Malice soon will spread the rumour.
It will be a personation
Teeming with unconscious humour!
[Ultrice:] Now, look at me,
And you will see
How ladies grand
Present their hand;
It's copied from the highest ladies in the land.
[Teresa:] I always thought
A lady ought
To walk with grace
And not grimace;
But that, it's very evident, is not the case.
[Ultrice:] Then as they walk,
They blandly talk,
And look at us
With eye-glass- thus-
And what they'll have for dinner
they, perhaps, discuss.
[Teresa:] It would appear
They flout and fleer,
Stick up their nose,
Turn in their toes-
You're teaching me gratuitously, I suppose?
[Ultrice:] Then as she takes her place upon
the throne that is prepared,
The people bow them to the ground,
and every head is bared,
They keep their proper places
as she looks them through and through-
[Teresa:] And I suppose they try to keep
their countenances too?
If that is what is called
Court etiquette, it's very plain
The ways of high society
I never shall attain;
It seems you must be ill-bred,
and as awkward as can be,
Which is A B C to you, my love,
but difficult for me.
[All:] If that is what is called
Court etiquette, it's very plain
The ways of high society
we never shall attain;
It seems you must be ill-bred,
and as awkward as can be,
Which is A B C for her, you know,
but difficult for me.

Karaoke version compiled by Colin Johnson

Mountebanks #9 - Fair maid, take pity
Soft karaoke
Words
Teresa
Ultrice
Alfredo
Elvino
Right Hand
Left Hand
Karaoke Track