Utopia Limited by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

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No. 8: DUET (Princess Zara & Captain Fitzbattleaxe)
"Ah! gallant soldier, brave and true"

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Princess Zara.

Ah! gallant soldier, brave and true
In tented field and tourney,
I grieve to have occasioned you
So very long a journey.
A British warrior give up all —
His home and island beauty —
When summoned by the trumpet call
Of Regimental Duty!

Zara. (aside)	Fitzbattleaxe. (aside)	Women.	Men.
	Oh my joy, my pride,	Knightsbridge nursemaids,	A British soldier
	My delight to hide,	serving fairies	gives up all
Let us sing, aside,	Let us sing, aside,	Stars of proud	His home and island
What in truth we feel,	What in truth we feel,	Belgravian airies;	beauty
Let us whisper low	Let us whisper low	At stern duty's	When summoned by the
Of our love's glad glow,	Of our love's glad glow,	call you leave them	trumpet call
Lest the truth we show	Lest the truth we show	Though you know how	Of Regimental
We would fain conceal.	We would fain conceal.	that must grieve them!	Duty!

Click on picture to enlarge — Meston Reid as Captain Fitzbattleaxe, 1975

Captain Fitzbattleaxe.

Such escort duty, as his due,
To young Lifeguardsman falling,
Completely reconciles him to
His uneventful calling.
When soldier seeks Utopian glades
In charge of Youth and Beauty,
Then pleasure merely masquerades
As Regimental Duty!

Chorus.

Tantantarara-rara!
Tantantarara-rara-rara!
Trumpet-call of Princess Zara!
That's trump call, and we're all trump cards!

Troopers.

And we are the escort, First Life Guards!

Zara & Fitzbattleaxe. (aside)	Troopers.	Chorus.
Oh! my hours are gold,	First Life Guards, the First	They're her es-
And the joys untold,	Life Guards! And we	cort, The First
When your/my eyes behold	are the escort, First	Life Guards, First
Your/My beloved Princess;	Life Guards, First	Life Guards, They're
And the years will seem	Life Guards, The First	her es-
But a brief day-dream,	Life Guards, The First,	cort, The First,
In our happiness!	The First Life Guards,	The First Life Guards,
	Tantantara!	Tantantara!
And the years will seem
But a brief day-dream,	Tantantara!	Tantantara!
In the joy extreme
Of our happiness,
In the joy of our happiness!	Tantantara!	Tantara! The First Life Guards,
	The First Life Guards, The First, the First, the First, The First Life Guards!	The First Life Guards, The First, the First, the First, The First Life Guards!

Exeunt King and Zara in one direction, Lifeguardsmen and crowd in opposite direction.

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