This sweet display of sympathy maternal,
Well, that would also be
A mere pretence!

My histrionic art
Though you deride,
That's how I'd play that part--
The Grand Duke's Bride!

ENSEMBLE.
ERNEST. JULIA.
Oh joy! when two glowing young My boy, when two
glowing
hearts, young hearts

From the rise of the curtain, From the rise of the
curtain,
Thus throw themselves into their Thus throw themselves
into
their parts, parts,
Success is most certain! Success is most
certain!
If the role you're prepared to endow The role I'm prepared
to
endow
With such delicate touches, With most delicate
touch-
es,
By the heaven above us, I vow By the heaven above us,
I
vow
You shall be my Grand Duchess! I will be your Grand
Duchess!

(Dance.)

Enter all the Chorus with LUDWIG, NOTARY,
and LISA--all greatly agitated.

EXCITED CHORUS.

My goodness me! What shall we do? Why, what a dreadful
situation!
(To LUD.) It's all your fault, you booby you--you lump of
indiscrimination!
I'm sure I don't know where to go--it's put me into such a
tetter--
But this at all events I know--the sooner we are off, the
better!

ERN. What means this agitato? What d'ye seek?
As your Grand Duke elect I bid you speak!

SONG--LUDWIG.

Ten minutes since I met a chap
Who bowed an easy salutation--
Thinks I, "This gentleman, mayhap,
Belongs to our Association."
But, on the whole,
Uncertain yet,
A sausage-roll
I took and eat--
That chap replied (I don't embellish)
By eating three with obvious relish.

CHORUS (angrily