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General. And the brook in rippling measure Laughs for very love, While the poplars iu their pleasure Wave their arms above. Police and Pirates. Yes, the trees for very love
Wave their leafy arms above. River, river, little river ! May thy loving prosper ever ! Heaven speed the poplar tree! May thy wooing happy he ! General. Yes, the breeze is but a rover ! When he wings away, Brook and poplar mourn a lover, Sighing " Well-a-day !" All. Well-a-day !
General. Ah, the doing and undoing That the rogue could tell ! When the breeze is out a-wooiug, Who can woo so well ? Police ajid Pirates. Shocking talcs the rogue could tell, Nobody can woo so well ! Pretty brook, thy dream is over, For thy love is but a rover. Sad the lot of poplar trees Courted by a fickle breeze ! (Enter the General's daughters, led by Mabel, all m wh%tt 'peignoirs and nightcaps, and carrying candles.) Girls. Now, wliat is this ? and what is that ? and why doei father leave his rest At such a time of night as this, so very incompletely dressed-? Dear father is, and always was, the most methodical of men ; It's his invariable rule to go to bed at half-past ten. What strange occurrence can it be that calls dear father from
his rest At such a time of night as this, su very, so very incompletelj dressed ? Kino. {Springing up.) Forw'ard, my men, and seize that general there ! His life is over. General. The pirates ! Oh, despair ! Mabel a?u^ Girls. The pirates! the pirates!
Oh, despair 1 Pirates. Yes, ) "^j we are th s pirates, so despair I General. Frederic here ? Oh joy! oh rapture! —
Summon your men and effect their capture. Mabel. Frederic, save ns '
