From Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance.

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Frederic has just discovered that Ruth was lying to him about her beauty. He denounces her, and she tries desperately to win back his favor...


RECIT

FREDERIC:
Oh, false one, you have deceived me!

RUTH:
I have deceived you?

FREDERIC:
Yes, deceived me!
(Denouncing her.)

DUET -- Frederic and Ruth

FREDERIC:
You told me you were fair as gold!

RUTH:
(wildly) And, master, am I not so?

FREDERIC:
And now I see you're plain and old.

RUTH:
I am sure I am not a jot so.

FREDERIC:
Upon my innocence you play.

RUTH:
I'm not the one to plot so.

FREDERIC:
Your face is lined, your hair is grey.

RUTH:
It's gradually got so.

FREDERIC:
Faithless woman, to deceive me,
I who trusted so!

RUTH:
Master, master, do not leave me!
Hear me, ere you go!

My love without reflecting,
Oh, do not be rejecting!
Take a maiden tender -- her affection raw and green,
At very highest rating,
Has been accumulating
Summers seventeen -- summers seventeen.
Don't, beloved master,
Crush me with disaster.
What is such a dower to the dower I have here?
My love unabating
Has been accumulating
Forty-seven year -- forty-seven year!



                    ENSEMBLE




RUTH                                  FREDERIC
                               
     Don't, beloved master,           Yes, your former master
     Crush me with disaster.          Saves you from disaster.
What is such a dower to the        Your love would be uncomfortably
     dower I have here?               fervid, it is clear
     My love unabating                If, as you are stating,
     Has been accumulating            It's been accumulating
Forty-seven year -- forty-seven     Forty-seven year -- forty-seven year!
     year!                         

     
     

{At the end he renounces her, and she goes off in despair.

FREDERIC:
What shall I do? Before these gentle maidens
I dare not show in this alarming costume!
No, no, I must remain in close concealment
Until I can appear in decent clothing!

(Hides in cave as they enter climbing over the rocks.)

Song: Climbing Over Rocky Mountain

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