in crumpled bands and rusty bombazine, led me, still singing, into Chancery Lane! I'll go no more: I'll marry her to-day, and brave the upshot, be it what it may! (sees Fairies). But who are these?
Iol.
Oh, Strephon! rejoice with me, my Queen has pardoned me!
Streph.
Pardoned you, mother? This is good news indeed!
Iol.
And these ladies are my beloved sisters.
Streph.
Your sisters! Then they are my aunts! (Kneels.)
Queen.
A pleasant piece of news for your bride on her wedding day.
Streph.
Hush! My bride knows nothing of my fairyhood. I dare not tell her, lest it frighten her. She thinks me mortal, and prefers me so.
Leila.
Your fairyhood doesn't seem to have done you much good.
Streph.
Much good! It's the curse of my existence! What's the use of being half a fairy? My body can creep through a keyhole, but what's the good of that when my legs are left kicking behind? I can make myself invisible down to the waist, but that's of no use when my legs remain exposed to view? My brain is a fairy brain, but from the waist downwards I'm a gibbering idiot. My upper half is immortal, but my lower half grows older every day, and some day or other must die of old age. What's to become of my upper half when I've buried my lower half I really don't know!
Queen.
I see your difficulty, but with a fairy brain you should seek an intellectual sphere of action. Let me see. I've a borough or two at my disposal. Would you like to go into Parliament?
Iol.
A fairy Member! That would be delightful!
Streph.
I'm afraid I should do no good there—you see, down to the waist, I'm a Tory of the most determined description, but my legs are a couple of confounded Radicals, and, on a division, they'd be sure to take me into the wrong lobby. You see they're two to one, which is a strong working majority.
Queen.
Don't let that distress you; you shall be returned as a Liberal-Conservative, and your legs shall be our peculiar care.
Streph.
(bowing.) I see your Majesty does not do things by halves.
Queen.
No, we are fairies down to the feet.
Ensemble.
<poem>
Queen. Fairies. Queen.
Fairies.
Fare thee well, attractive stranger. Fare thee well, attractive stranger. Should'st thou be in doubt or danger. Peril or perplexitee, Call us, and we'll come to thee! Call us, and we'll come to thee! Tripping hither, tripping thither, Nobody knows why or whither. We must now be taking wing To another fairy ring!
Fairies and Queen trip off. Iolanthe, who takes an affectionate farewell of her son, going off last.
EnterPhyllis, singing and dancing, and accompanying herself on a flageolet.
