You are here: Archive Home > Princess Ida > Web Opera > Act I
 

ACT I

Dialogue following No. 3

Enter Hildebrand.

Hilarion. Well, father, is there news for me at last?
Hildebrand. King Gama is in sight, but much I fear
With no Princess!
Hilarion.   Alas, my liege, I've heard,
  That Princess Ida has forsworn the world,
And, with a band of women, shut herself
Within a lonely country house, and there
Devotes herself to stern philosophies!
Hildebrand. Then I should say the loss of such a wife
Is one to which a reasonable man
Would easily be reconciled.
Hilarion.   Oh, no!
  Or I am not a reasonable man.
She is my wife — has been for twenty years!
  (Holding glass) I think I see her now.

Hildebrand and Hilarion

Hildebrand.   Ha! Let me look!
Hilarion. In my mind's eye, I mean — a blushing bride
All bib and tucker, frill and furbelow!
How exquisite she looked as she was borne,
Recumbent, in her foster-mother's arms!
How the bride wept — nor would be comforted
Until the hireling mother-for-the-nonce
Administered refreshment in the vestry.
And I remember feeling much annoyed
That she should weep at marrying with me.
But then I thought, "These brides are all alike.
You cry at marrying me? How much more cause
You'd have to cry if it were broken off!"
These were my thoughts; I kept them to myself,
For at that age I had not learnt to speak.

Exeunt Hildebrand and Hilarion.

Previous Page Previous Song Opera Home Next Song Next Page

Archive Home | Princess Ida | Web Opera

Page modified 21 August 2019