Page:Gilbert Original Plays.djvu/35

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Swayed right and left by every tempting wind;
And we are pure, and very, very brave,
Having no taste for trivial solaces
(taking Ethais hand);
Scorning such idle joys as we have heard
Appeal most strongly to such men as you;
And we have cherished earnest hope that we,
By the example of our sacred lives,
May teach you to abjure such empty joys,
May send you back to earth, pure, childlike men,
To teach your mothers, sisters, and your wives,
And those perchance (sighing) who are to be your wives!
That there are fairy maidens in the clouds.
Whose gentle mode of thought and mode of life
They would do well to imitate. We would
That every maid on earth were such as we! (Placing her arms round his neck).
Eth. In truth we would that every maiden were,—
(Aside) Except our mothers, sisters, and our wives!
Sel. If you will be our pupils, you must give
Some token of submission to our will.
No doubt you have some form of fealty?
Eth. When man desires to show profound respect—
To indicate most forcibly his own
Inferiority, he always puts
His arm round the respected object's waist.
And drawing her (or him) towards him, thus,
Places a very long and tender kiss