eeting Rose,
attended by Zorah and Dame Hannah. Rose and Robin embrace.)

MADRIGAL.
ROSE, DAME HANNAH, RICHARD, OLD ADAM with CHORUS.

ROSE. When the buds are blossoming,
Smiling welcome to the spring,
Lovers choose a wedding day--
Life is love in merry May!

GIRLS. Spring is green--Fal lal la!
Summer's rose--Fal la la!
QUARTET. It is sad when summer goes,
Fa la!
MEN. Autumn's gold--Fah lal la!
Winter's grey--Fah lal la!
QUARTET. Winter still is far away--
Fa la!

CHORUS. Leaves in autumn fade and fall,
Winter is the end of all.
Spring and summer teem with glee:
Spring and summer, then, for me!
Fa la!

HANNAH. In the spring-time seed is sown:
In the summer grass is mown:
In the autumn you may reap:
Winter is the time for sleep.

GIRLS. Spring is hope--Fal lal la!
Summer's joy--Fal lal la!
QUARTET. Spring and summer never cloy.
Fa la!

MEN. Autumn,toil--Fal lal la!
Winter, rest--Fal lal la!
QUARTET. Winter, after all, is best--
Fal la!

CHORUS. Spring and summer pleasure you,
Autumn, aye, and winter too--
Every season has its cheer,
Life is lovely all the year!
Fa la!

(Gavotte.)

(After Gavotte, enter Sir Despard.)

SIR D. Hold, bride and bridegroom, ere you wed each other,
I claim young Robin as my elder brother!
His rightful title I have long enjoyed:
I claim him as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd!

CHORUS. O wonder!
ROSE (wildly). Deny the falsehood, Robin, as you should,
It is a plot!
ROB. I would, if conscientiously I could,
But I cannot!
CHORUS. Ah, base one! Ah, base one!