Rose of Persia Song No. 1

Gilbert and Sullivan Archive

The Rose of Persia
Song No. 1

As we lie in languor lazy

and

I'm Abu-el-Hassan


CD 1	Track 2

MIDI File 33K, 3 min. 11 seconds.

ACT I.

SCENE. — Court of Hassan's house. Entrance to house on Left. At back and on Right view of streets.

Hassan is seated contemplating the view over the city. He is surrounded by his wives, who are lying on divans. It is a beautiful moonlit night.

CHORUS of WIVES.

As we lie in languor lazy,

Lounging on a low divan,

Flood of interesting chatter

Flows behind each dainty fan:

"Is our husband going crazy?

Neighbours call him "Mad Hassan!"

Not an unimportant matter

For the wives of any man!

(addressing Hassan.)

Hassan! Hassan! Hassan!

Inform us if you can!

Irresponsible and hazy,

Unconventional and mazy

Seem your actions — are you crazy?

Are you crazy, O Hassan?

Hassan turns round on his seat, and faces the audience.

SONG. — Hassan:

I'm Abu'l Hassan;

I'm neither sick nor sad:

A most contented man,

Though foolish persons think me mad!

The laziest of lives

I live in peace and plenty,

Surrounded by my wives

Who number only five-and-twenty!

You'll find that five-and-twenty

Are practically plenty,

If you've a craze

To make your days

A dolce far niente!

Another wife

Might spoil my life,

Because you see

('Twixt you and me),

She might have tricks

That would not mix

With dolce far niente!

Chorus (to one another):

Another wife,

Might spoil his life,

Because you see

('Twixt you and me),

She might have tricks

That would not mix

With dolce far niente!

Hassan:

Walter Passmore as Hassan.

It may occur to you

That only twenty-five

Are singularly few —

To that, of course, I'm quite alive!

My wealth is so immense

Their number I could double;

I do not fear expense

So much, you see, as extra trouble!

I smoke my hubble-bubble,

And calculate the trouble;

The trouble I've

With twenty-five

Twice twenty-five would double!

A simple thumb

And finger sum —

It's rule of three

It seems to me;

Our Arabic

Arithmetic

Would prove the trouble double!

Chorus: (to one another).

A simple thumb,