With soft serenading
We sing them to sleep.
We're called gondolieri, etc.
RECITATIVE—MARCO and GIUSEPPE.
MAR. And now to choose our brides!
GIU. As all are young and fair,
And amiable besides,
BOTH. We really do not care
A preference to declare.
MAR. A bias to disclose
Would be indelicate—
GIU. And therefore we propose
To let impartial Fate
Select for us a mate!
ALL. Viva!
GIRLS. A bias to disclose
Would be indelicate—
MEN. But how do they propose
To let impartial Fate
Select for them a mate?
GIU. These handkerchiefs upon our eyes be good enough to
bind,
MAR. And take good care that both of us are absolutely
blind;
BOTH. Then turn us round—and we, with all convenient
despatch,
Will undertake to marry any two of you we catch!
ALL. Viva!
They undertake to marry any two of us\them they catch!
(The Girls prepare to bind their eyes as directed.)
FIA. (to Marco). Are you peeping?
Can you see me?
MAR. Dark I'm keeping,
Dark and dreamy!
(Marco slyly lifts
bandage.)
VIT. (to Giuseppe). If you're blinded
Truly, say so
GIU. All right-minded
Players play so!
(slyly lifts bandage).
FIA. (detecting Marco). Conduct shady!
They are cheating!
Surely they de-
Serve a beating!
(replaces bandage).
VIT. (detecting Giuseppe). This too much is;
Maidens mocking—
Conduct such is
Truly shocking!
(replaces bandage).
ALL. You can spy, sir!
Shut your eye, sir!
You may use it by and by, sir!
You can see, sir!
Don't tell me, sir!
That will do—now let it be, sir!
CHORUS OF GIRLS. My papa he keeps three horses,
Black, and white, and dapple grey, sir;
Turn three times, then take your courses,
Catch whichever girl you may, sir!
CHORUS OF MEN. My papa, etc.
(Marco and Giuseppe turn round, as directed, and try to catch the
girls. Business of blind-man's buff. Eventually Marco catches
Gianetta, and Giuseppe catches Tessa. The two girls try to
escape, but in vain. The two men pass their hands over the
girls' faces to discover their identity.)
GIU. I've at length achieved a capture!
(Guessing.) This is Tessa! (removes bandage). Rapture,
rapture!
CHORUS. Rapture, rapture!
MAR. (guessing). To me Gianetta fate has granted!
(removes bandage).
Just the very girl I wanted!
CHORUS. Just the very girl he wanted!
GIU. (politely to Mar.). If you'd rather change—
TESS. My goodness!
This indeed is simple rudeness.
MAR. (politely to Giu.). I've no preference whatever—
GIA. Listen to him! Well, I never!
(Each man kisses each girl.)
GIA. Thank you, gallant gondolieri!
In a set and formal measure
It is scarcely necessary
To express our pleasure.
Each of us to prove a treasure,
Conjugal and monetary,
Gladly will devote our leisure,
Gay and gallant gondolieri.
Tra, la, la, la, la, la, etc.
TESS. Gay and gallant gondolieri,
Take us both and hold us tightly,
You have luck extraordinary;
We might both have been unsightly!
If we judge your conduct rightly,
'Twas a choice involuntary;
Still we thank you most politely,
Gay and gallant gondolieri!
Tra, la, la, la, la, la, etc.
CHORUS OF Thank you, gallant gondolieri;
GIRLS. In a set and formal measure,
It is scarcely necessary
To express our pleasure.
Each of us to prove a treasure
Gladly will devote our leisure,
Gay and gallant gondolieri!
Tra, la, la, la, la, la, etc.
ALL. Fate in this has put his finger—
Let us bow to Fate's decree,
Then no longer let us linger,
To the altar hurry we!
(They all dance off two and two—Gianetta with Marco, Tessa with
Giuseppe.)
(Flourish. A gondola arrives at the Piazzetta steps, from which
enter the Duke of Plaza-toro, the Duchess, their daughter
Casilda, and their attendant Luiz, who carries a drum. All are
dressed in pompous but old and faded clothes.)
(Entrance of Duke, Duchess, Casilda, and Luiz.)
DUKE. From the sunny Spanish shore,
The Duke of Plaza-Tor!—
DUCH. And His Grace's Duchess true—
CAS. And His Grace's daughter, too—
LUIZ. And His Grace's private drum
To Venetia's shores have come:
ALL. If ever, ever, ever
They get back to Spain,
They will never, never, never
Cross the sea again—
DUKE. Neither that Grandee from the Spanish shore,
The noble Duke of Plaza-Tor'—
DUCH. Nor His Grace's Duchess, staunch and true—