The Mikado Page #2

- For instance -

- Any information about Yum-Yum -

Would come under the head

of a state secret.

Another insult,

and, I think, a light one.

- ##

- ##

##

# Behold the Lord High Executioner #

# A personage of noble rank and title #

# A dignified and potent officer #

# Whose functions are

particularly vital #

# Defer, defer #

# To the Lord High Executioner #

# Defer, defer #

# To the noble lord

To the noble lord #

# To the Lord High Executioner #

# Taken from a county jail #

# By a set of curious chances #

# Liberated then on bail #

# On my own recognizances #

# Wafted by a favoring gale #

# As one sometimes is in trances #

# To a height that few can scale #

# Save by long and weary dances #

# Surely never had a male #

# Under suchlike circumstances #

# So adventurous a tale #

# Which may rank with most romances #

- # Taken from a county jail #

- # Taken from a county jail #

- # By a set of curious chances #

- # Liberated then on bail #

# Surely never had a male

So adventurous a tale #

# Defer, defer #

# To the Lord High Executioner #

# Defer, defer #

# To the noble lord

To the noble Lord High Executioner #

# Bow down, bow down

to the Lord High Executioner #

# Defer, defer #

# To the noble Lord

High Executioner ##

Oh, Pooh-Bah, Pooh-Bah.

It seems that the

festivities in connection...

...with my approaching

marriage must last a week.

Now I should like to do the thing

handsomely, and I want to consult you...

as to the amount I ought to spend

upon them.

Certainly. In which

of my capacities?

As first lord of the treasury,

lord chamberlain...

attorney general,

chancellor of the exchequer...

privy purse or private secretary?

Suppose we say as private secretary.

Speaking as your private secretary...

I should say that, as the city will have

to pay for it, don't stint yourself.

- Do it well.

- Exactly.

As the city will have to pay for it -

that is your advice.

Of course,

as chancellor of the exchequer...

I am bound to see that

due economy is observed.

Oh, but you said just now,

"Don't stint yourself. Do it well. "

As private secretary.

And now you say

that due economy must be observed.

As chancellor of the exchequer.

I see.

Come over here where the

chancellor can't hear us.

Now then, as my solicitor...

how would you advise me to

deal with this difficulty?

Oh, as your solicitor, I should have

no hesitation in saying "Chance it. "

- Thanks. I will. - If it were not

that, as lord chief justice...

I am bound to see

that the law isn't violated.

Now then,

as first lord of the treasury?

Of course,

as first lord of the treasury...

I could propose a special vote

that would cover all expenses -

if it were not that,

as leader of the opposition...

it would be my duty

to resist it tooth and nail.

Or, as paymaster general,

I could so cook the accounts...

that, as lord high auditor,

I should never discover the fraud.

But... as archbishop of Titipu...

it would be my duty

to denounce my dishonesty...

and give myself into my own custody

as first commissioner of police.

That's extremely awkward.

I don't say that all these distinguished

people couldn't be squared.

The matter shall have

my careful consideration.

# Comes a train of little ladies #

# From scholastic trammels free #

# And we wonder

How we wonder #

# We wonder

How we wonder #

# What on earth the world can be #

# What on earth #

# The world can be ##

##

# Three little maids

from school are we #

# Pert as a schoolgirl well can be #

# Filled to the brim

with girlish glee #

# Three little maids from school #

# Everything is a source of fun #

# Nobody's safe,

for we care for none #

# Life is a joke that's just begun #

# Three little maids from school #

# Three little maids who all unwary

come from a ladies' seminary #

# Freed from its genius tutelary #

# Three little maids from school #

# Three little maids from school #

# One little maid is a bride, Yum-Yum #

# Two little maids in attendance come #

# Three little maids is the total sum #

# Three little maids from school #

# From three little maids

take one away #

# Two little maids remain, and they #

# Won't have to wait very long

they say #

- # Three little maids from school #

- # Three little maids from school #

# Three little maids who all unwary

come from a ladies' seminary #

# Freed from its genius tutelary #

# Three little maids from school #

# Three little maids from school ##

At last, me bride that is to be.

Oh, but you're not going to kiss

me before all these people?

Well, that was the idea.

- It seems odd, doesn't it?

- It's rather peculiar.

Oh, I expect it's all right.

Must have a beginning, you know.

Well, of course.

I know nothing about these things.

But I've no objection...

if it's usual.

Oh, it's quite usual...

I think.

Eh, Lord Chamberlain?

I have known it done.

Thank goodness that's over.

- Nanki-Poo!

- Oh, Nanki-Poo!

- I'm so glad! - I haven't

seen you for ever so long!

I've come home for good.

And I'm not going back anymore!

I beg your pardon,

but will you present me?

Oh, this is the gentleman -

One at a time, please.

If you please. He is the gentleman

who used to play so beautifully on the -

Oh, on the, uh - on the -

On the Marine Parade.

Oh, sir, I have the misfortune

to love your ward Yum-Yum.

Oh, I know I deserve your anger.

You -

Anger? Not a bit, my boy.

Why, I love her myself.

Charming little girl, isn't she?

Pretty eyes, nice hair.

Taking little thing altogether.

Very glad to hear my opinion

backed by a competent authority.

Thank you very much. Good-bye.

Take him away.

Oh!

Yum-Yum!

Oh, at last we're alone.

I've sought you night and day

for three weeks...

with the belief that your guardian

was beheaded.

But now I find that you're about

to be married to him this afternoon.

Yes.

But you do not love him?

No.

Oh, why don't you refuse him?

What good would that do?

He is my guardian,

and he wouldn't let me marry you.

Besides, a wand'ring minstrel who plays

a wind instrument outside teahouses...

is hardly a fitting husband for

the ward of the Lord High Executioner.

Oh, but...

what if it should prove

that after all I am no musician?

There! I was certain of it,

directly I heard you play.

Oh, it -

But what if it should

prove that I am...

...the son of His

Majesty the Mikado?

- The son of the Mikado?

- Oh! Shh, shh, shh!

But why is Your Highness disguised?

And what has Your Highness done? And will

Your Highness promise never to do it again?

Some years ago I had the misfortune

to captivate Katisha...

an elderly lady of my father's court.

My father ordered me to marry her

within a week or perish on a scaffold.

That night I fled his court and, assuming

the disguise of a second trombone...

I joined the band in

which you found me.

# Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted #

# I would say in tender tone #

# Loved one, let us be united #

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