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ACT II

No. 16: DUET (Robin & Old Adam)

"I once was as meek as a new-born lamb"

Midi Symbol MIDI File [8 KB, 2' 01"]

SCENE. – Picture Gallery in Ruddigore Castle. The walls are covered with full- length portraits of the Baronets of Ruddigore from the time of James I – the first being that of Sir Rupert, alluded to in the legend; the last, that of the last deceased Baronet, Sir Roderic.

Enter Robin and Adam melodramatically. They are greatly altered in appearance, Robin wearing the haggard aspect of a guilty roué; Adam, that of the wicked steward to such a man.

Old Adam (Radley Flynn) and Ruthven (Martyn Green) c. 1950
Robin.
I once was as meek as a new-born lamb,
I'm now Sir Murgatroyd – ha! ha!
With greater precision
(Without the elision),
Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd – ha! ha!

Adam.
And I, who was once his valley-de-sham,
As steward I'm now employed – ha! ha!
The dickens may take him –
I'll never forsake him!
As steward I'm now employed – ha! ha!

Both.

How dreadful when an innocent heart
Becomes, perforce, a bad young Bart.,
And still more hard on old Adam,
His former faithful valley-de-sham!
His former faithful valley-de-sham!
His valley-de-sham, de-sham!


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