The Chieftain

SENTINEL enters on rocks above, and is seen pacing up and down at back. In the distance the "Angelus" bell is heard. The SENTINEL pauses.

Hark! 'tis the Angelus!

Ave Maria! gratia plena,
Dominus te cum.

[The choral section of the above Angelus does not appear in the second edition of "The Chieftain".]

Then enter RITA. The SENTINEL challenges her, but recognizing her as their prisoner he lets her pass. She comes down the rocks.

The tinkling sheep-bell knells the parting day,
The flocks collect from meadow, hill, and moor,
The happy goatherd homeward takes his way,
His wife and children wait him at the door,
His wife and children wait him at the door.
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs, "Alone! alone!"
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs, "Alone! alone!"

Tinkle the bells upon the mountain steeps,
Fainter and fainter down the narrow ways,
Soon in his cot, the shepherd, ere he sleeps,
Joins with his loved ones in their hymn of praise,
Joins with his loved ones in their hymn of praise.
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs, "Alone! alone!"
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs, "Alone! alone!"
Only the night wind sighs, "Alone!" - sighs, "Alone!"

Sullivan and Burnand considered replacing this song, but probably never did so. Its proposed replacement is in an appendix to the Web Opera.