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RUDDIGORE
129

Enter Mad Margaret. She is wildly dressed in picturesque tatters, and is an obvious caricature of theatrical madness.

Scena

Mar.

Cheerily carols the lark
Over the cot.
Merrily whistles the clerk
Scratching a blot.
But the lark
And the clerk,
I remark,
Comfort me not!

Over the ripening peach
Buzzes the bee.
Splash on the billowy beach
Tumbles the sea.
But the peach
And the beach
They are each
Nothing to me!

And why?
Who am I?
Daft Madge! Crazy Meg!
Mad Margaret! Poor Peg!
 He! he! he! he! he![Chuckling.

Mad, I?
Yes, very!
But why?
Mystery!
Don't call!
Whisht! whisht!

No crime—
Tis only
That I'm
Love—lonely!
That's all!
Whisht! whisht!

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