HMS Pinafore by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

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No. 14: DUET (Captain Corcoran & Buttercup)

"Things are seldom what they seem"

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Buttercup.

Things are seldom what they seem,
Skim milk masquerades as cream;
Highlows pass as patent leathers;
Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers.

Captain. (puzzled)

Very true,
So they do.

Buttercup.

Black sheep dwell in every fold;
All that glitters is not gold;
Storks turn out to be but logs;
Bulls are but inflated frogs.

Captain. (puzzled)

So they be,
Frequentlee.

Buttercup.

Drops the wind and stops the mill;
Turbot is ambitious brill;
Gild the farthing if you will,
Yet it is a farthing still.

Click on picture to enlarge — Buttercup (Bertha Lewis) and Captain Corcoran (Leo Sheffield), 1920s

Captain. (puzzled)

Yes, I know.
That is so.
Though to catch your drift I'm striving,
It is shady — it is shady;
I don't see at what you're driving,
Mystic lady — mystic lady.

Both. (aside)

Stern conviction's o'er me/him stealing,
That the mystic lady's dealing
In oracular revealing.

Captain.

Yes, I know —

Buttercup.

That is so!

Captain.

Though I'm anything but clever,
I could talk like that for ever:
Once a cat was killed by care,
Only brave deserve the fair.

Buttercup.

Very true,
So they do.

Captain.

Wink is often good as nod;
Spoils the child who spares the rod;
Thirsty lambs run foxy dangers;
Dogs are found in many mangers.

Buttercup.

Frequentlee,
I agree.

Captain.

Paw of cat the chestnut snatches;
Worn-out garments show new patches;
Only count the chick that hatches;
Men are grown-up catchy-catchies.

Buttercup.

Yes, I know,
That is so.
(aside)Though to catch my drift he's striving,
I'll dissemble — I'll dissemble;
When he sees at what I'm driving,
Let him tremble — let him tremble!

Both.

Tho' a mystic tone I/you borrow,
He will/I shall learn the truth with sorrow;
Here today and gone tomorrow.

Captain.

Yes, I know.

Buttercup.

That is so!

Buttercup.	Captain.
I'll dissemble,	Tho' a mystic tone you borrow,
I'll dissemble, Let him tremble!	I shall learn the truth with sorrow;
Let him tremble! Let him tremble!	Here today and gone tomorrow,
Yes, I know, That is so!	Yes, I know, That is so!

At the end exit Little Buttercup melodramatically.

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