d D.: No, no!
It needn't be a hymn one!

All (dancing): Oh, sweet surprise and dear delight
To find it undisputed quite--
All musty, fusty rules despite--
That Art is wrong and Nature right!

(Dance, and
off)
(Enter Lady Sophy)

RECITATIVE -- Lady Sophy.

Oh, would some demon power the gift impart
To quell my over-conscientious heart--
Unspeak the oaths that never had been spoken,
And break the vows that never should be broken!

SONG -- Lady Sophy

When but a maid of fifteen year,
Unsought--unplighted--
Short petticoated--and, I fear,
Still shorter-sighted--
I made a vow, one early spring,
That only to some spotless King
Who proof of blameless life could bring
I'd be united.
For I had read, not long before,
Of blameless kings in fairy lore,
And thought the race still flourished here--
Well, well--
I was a maid of fifteen year!

(The King enters and overhears this verse)

Each morning I pursued my game
(An early riser);
For spotless monarchs I became
An advertiser:
But all in vain I searched each land,
So, kingless, to my native strand
Returned, a little older, and
A good deal wiser!

I learnt that spotless King and Prince
Have disappeared some ages since--
Even Paramount's angelic grace--
Ah me!--
Is but a mask on Nature's face!
(King comes forward)

King: Ah, Lady Sophy--then you love me!
For so you sing--

Lady S.: (Indignant and surprise. Producing "Palace Peeper")
No, by the stars that shine above me,
Degraded King!
For while these rumours, through the city bruited,
Remain uncontradicted, unrefuted,
The object thou of my aversion rooted,
Repulsive thing!

King: Be just--the time is now at hand
When truth may published be.
These pa