The Gondoliers by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan


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No. 17: QUARTET (Marco, Giuseppe, Gianetta & Tessa)

"In a contemplative fashion"

Midi Symbol


All.
In a contemplative fashion,
And a tranquil frame of mind,
Free from every kind of passion,
Some solution let us find.
Let us grasp the situation,
Solve the complicated plot —
Quiet, calm deliberation
Disentangles every knot.
Click on picture to enlarge
Leonard Osborn, Muriel Harding, Joyce Wright & Jeffrey Skitch as Marco, Gianetta, Tessa & Giuseppe. c.  1950
Tessa. The others.
I, no doubt, Giuseppe wedded — In a contempla-  
That's, of course, a slice of luck   tive fashion, And
He is rather dunder-headed. a tranquil frame  
Still distinctly, he's a duck.    of mind,
Gianetta.  
I, a victim, too, of Cupid, Free from every kind  
Marco married — that is clear.    of passion, Some
He's particularly stupid, solution let  
Still distinctly, he's a dear.    us find.
Marco.  
To Gianetta I was mated; Let us grasp the sit-  
I can prove it in a trice:    uation, Solve
Though her charms are overrated, the complica-  
Still I own she's rather nice.   ted plot —
Giuseppe.  
I to Tessa, willy-nilly, Quiet, calm deli-  
All at once a victim fell.   beration Dis-
She is what is called a silly, entangles ev-  
Still she answers pretty well.   'ry knot!
She's a silly, still she answers pretty well.    

Marco. The others.
Now when we were pretty babies
In a contempla-  
Some one married us, that's clear —   fashion, And
Gianetta.  
And if I can catch her
I'll pinch her and scratch her
a tran- quil frame
And send her away with a flea in her ear. mind, Free
Giuseppe.  
He whom that young lady married,
from every kind   
To receive her can't refuse.   of passion, Some
Tessa.  
If I overtake her
I'll warrant I'll make her
solution  let us
To shake in her aristocratical shoes! find. Let
Gianetta. (to Tessa)  
If she married your Giuseppe
us grasp the sit-   
You and he will have to part —   situation, Solve
Tessa. (to Gianetta)  
If I have to do it
I'll warrant she'll rue it —
the compli-  cated
I'll teach her to marry the man of my heart! plot — Quiet,
If she married Messer Marco
You're a spinster,
delibe- ration Dis-
Gianetta. (to Tessa)  
No matter — no matter.
entangles
If I can get at her ev'ry
I doubt if her mother will know her again! knot!

Gianetta. Tessa. Marco. Giuseppe.
No matter, no matter,
If I can get
If I have to do it
I warrant she'll rue it — I'll
To Gianetta
I was
I to
at her, I doubt if her
mother will know her again!
teach her to marry
the man of my heart! If
mated;
I can prove it in a
Tessa, willy nilly,
All at
No matter, no matter,
If I can get
If I have to do it
I warrant she'll rue it — I'll
trice,
Tho' her charms are over-
once a victim fell.
She is
at her, I doubt if her
mother will know her again!
teach her to marry
the man of my heart! I'll
rated
Still I own she's rather
what is called a silly,
called a
No matter,
no matter, no
teach her, I'll teach her
I'll teach her
nice, She's rather,
rather, rather,
silly, silly,
silly, silly,
matter, no matter, no matter,
no matter, no matter!
teach her, I'll teach her
I'll teach her, I'll teach her!
rather, rather,
rather, rather, nice.
silly, still she answers
pretty well.

All.
Quiet, calm deliberation
Disentangles every knot!

Exeunt, pondering.

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