.] Of rite sacrificial,
By sentence judicial,
This seems the initial,
Then why don't you run?

COLONEL [R.C.] They cannot have led you
To hang or behead you,
Nor may they all wed you,
Unfortunate one!

DRAGOONS Then tell us, we pray you,
Why thus they array you--
Oh, poet, how say you--
What is it you've done?

[optional -- Enter SOLICITOR.]

BUNTHORNE Heart-broken at my Patience's barbarity,
By the advice of my solicitor
In aid -- in aid of a deserving charity,
I've put myself up to be raffled for!

[He introduces his solicitor.]

MAIDENS By the advice of his solicitor,
He's put himself up to be raffled for!

DRAGOONS Oh, horror! urged by his solicitor,
He's put himself up to be raffled for!

MAIDENS Oh, heaven's blessing on his solicitor!

DRAGOONS A hideous curse on his solicitor!

MAIDENS Oh, heaven's blessing on his solicitor!

DRAGOONS A hideous curse on his solicitor!

MAIDENS DRAGOONS

A blessing on his solicitor! A curse, a curse on his
solicitor!

[The SOLICITOR, horrified at the Dragoons' curse, rushes off, L.]

COLONEL [R.C. BUNTHORNE up L., surrounded by the Ladies.]
Stay, we implore you,
Before our hopes are blighted;
You see before you
The men to whom you're plighted!

DRAGOONS Stay, we implore you,
For we adore you;
To us you're plighted
To be united--
Stay, we implore you, we implore you!

DUKE [C.] Your maiden hearts, ah, do not steel
To pity's eloquent appeal,
Such conduct British soldiers feel.
[Aside ] Sigh, sigh, all sigh! [They all sigh.]

To foeman's steel we rarely see
A British soldier bend the knee,
Yet, one and all, they kneel to ye--
[Aside ] Kneel, kneel, all kneel! [They all kneel.]

Our soldiers very seldom cry,
And yet -- I need not tell you why--
A tear-drop dews each martial eye!
[Aside ] Weep, weep, all weep! [They all weep.]

MAIDENS &
DRAGOONS Our/We soldiers very se