Copyright © 2005 by Paul Howarth
All Rights Reserved

NOTARY About a century since,
The code of the duello
To sudden death
For want of breath
Sent many a strapping fellow.
The then presiding Prince
(Who useless bloodshed hated),
He passed an Act,
Short and compact,
Which may be briefly stated.
Unlike the complicated laws
A Parliamentary draftsman draws,
It may be briefly stated.

ALL We know that complicated laws,
A Parliamentary draftsman draws,
Cannot be briefly stated.

NOT. By

this ingenious law,
If any two shall quarrel,
They may not fight
With falchions bright
(Which seemed to him immoral);
But each a card shall draw,
And he who draws the lowest
Shall (so 'twas said)
Be henceforth dead:
In fact, a legal "ghoest"
(When exigence of rhyme compels,
Orthography forgoes her spells,
And "ghost" is written "ghoest").

ALL With what an emphasis he dwells
Upon "orthography" and "spells"!
That kind of fun's the lowest.

NOT. When off the loser's popped
(By pleasing legal fiction),
And friend and foe
Have wept their woe
In counterfeit affliction,
The winner must adopt
The loser's poor relations:
Discharge his debts,
Pay all his bets,
And take his obligations.
The winner must adopt
The loser's poor relations:
Discharge his debts,
Pay all his bets,
Discharge his debts,
Pay all his bets,
And take his obligations.
In short, to briefly sum the case,
The winner takes the loser's place,
With all its obligations.

ALL How neatly lawyers state a case!
The winner takes the loser's place,
With all its obligations!
How neatly lawyers state a case!
The winner takes the loser's place,
How neatly lawyers state a case!
The winner takes the loser's place,
With all its obligations, obligations!

By Arthur Sullivan
Generated by NoteWorthy Composer

Grand Duke No. 6
Lyrics
Julia
Lisa
Ernest
Notary
Ludwig
Right Hand
Left Hand
Tempo