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ACT 1

No. 4: SONG - Oswald & Chorus

MIDI FILE [30KB, 3' 25"]

[3' 24"]

Re-enter CHORUS, surrounding OSWALD.

CHORUS.
	Ribbons to sell, ribbons to sell!
		Ribbons to tie up our hair!
			Who'll buy? I! I! Who'll buy? I! I!
				I as well! I as well!
		And now for the fun of the fair!

	Ribbons to sell, ribbons to sell!
		Ribbons to tie up our hair!
			Who'll buy? I! I! Who'll buy? I! I! Who'll buy? And I as well! Who'll buy? I! I! And I as well!
		And now for the fun, the fun of the fair!

Oswald — Oswald

OSWALD.

Come, simples and gentles, and gather ye

round,

And for your attention I'll thank'ee;

I sell by the pennyweight, pottle, and pound,

Wares English, French, German, and

Yankee.

I've wares for the young, nor left out in the cold

Are their elders, the more is the pity,

For I can't help remarking you're none of you old

And noting you're all of you pretty!

I've articles suited to every taste
	And every description of weather;
If any fair lady'll oblige with a waist,
	We'll try on this girdle together!

CHORUS.

Although on his back he may carry a pack,

He has hands of a wonderful whiteness;

And this sympathetic young peripatetic

A paragon is of politeness!

OSWALD.

My prices are low and my dealings are cash,

So your pockets I won't dip in deeply;

Through buying my stock at a great London smash

I am able to sell very cheaply;

So bid for it boldly, but please bear in mind

That the rule of cash down is "de rigueur."

The price of each article, ladies, you'll find,

Has been marked in a very plain figure.

A complaint the proprietor bids you implore
	In case you're not treated politely,
For I am a type of a travelling store —
	In fact, I'm a premature Whitely!

CHORUS.

He bought up a great metropolitan smash

At a sacrifice truly alarming;

He doesn't deduct any discount for cash,

But his manner is perfectly charming!

OSWALD.

Now isn't that beautiful? isn't that nice?

When I tell you the article's German,

You'll know it could only be sold at the price

Through a grand international firman.

A still greater bargain! An article French.

When I say it's of French manufacture,

I mean that if worn by a beautiful wench

A heart it is certain to fracture.

But here is the prize — only tuppence — pure gold!
	When I mention, the article's Yankee,
Well, nobody then will require to be told
	That there can't be the least hanky-panky!

			Who'll buy?
CHORUS.
			Not I!
OSWALD.
			Who'll buy?
CHORUS.
			Not I!
OSWALD.
	A chance like this you mustn't miss!
CHORUS.
	Oh, yes! oh, yes! the chance we'll miss!
		But we've been told, alas!
	That what is sold as Yankee gold
		Is sometimes Yankee brass.

Exeunt CHORUS.

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