Rose of Persia Song No. 10

Gilbert and Sullivan Archive

The Rose of Persia
Song No. 10

Musical Maidens are we

and

Dance and Song


CD 1	Track 11

MIDI File 38K, 4 min. 34 seconds.

Enter Hassan

ENSEMBLE with DANCE and CHORUS.

Rose-in-Bloom, Scent-of-Lilies, and Heart's Desire:

Musical maidens are we

(We are three)

And we deal in melodic frivolity!

We sing and we dance,

And we crave for a chance

To afford you a taste of our quality!

Though damsels of lowly degree,

(As you see)

We'll provide you with innocent pleasure —

We're pretty maids,

Witty maids,

Step-dance and ditty maids,

That is our accurate measure!

Tho' damsels of lowly degree,

(As you see)

We'll provide you with innocent pleasure!

We're pretty maids,

Witty maids,

Step-dance and ditty maids,

That is our accurate measure!

Rose:

To sing my own praises I'm loth,

But in both

Song and dance I've experience ample;

I'll play for you —

Stay for you —

Hours on top "A" for you —

Listen to this for an example!

Rose Scent and Desire

O, listen to this, listen,

Ah! O listen to this, listen!

.... O Listen!

Ah! Ah! Ah! listen! listen!

.... Musical maidens

are they

(So they say)

And provide us with innocent pleasure!

Rose	Scent and Desire
	O, listen to this, listen,
Ah!	O listen to this, listen!
....	O Listen!
Ah! Ah! Ah!	listen! listen!
....	Musical maidens
	are they
	(So they say)
	And provide us with innocent pleasure!

Honey (entering).

That our voices are clear as a bell —: You can tell —

But of dancing I'll give you a sample;

I'll trip for you —

Skip for you —

Twirl on toe-tip for you —

Pray look at this for example!

She dances.

Hassan:

Though vowed to the habit of sloth

By an oath,

I will give you, myself, an example

Of Peri-like,

Fairy-like,

Steps light and airy-like —

Pray look at this for a sample!

He dances with Honey-of-Life. Chorus joins the dance.

ENSEMBLE.

Wives	Men
Dance and song	Allah! al-
To joys of life belong!	lah! allah! allah!
Song and dance	allah! al-
A life of joy enhance!	lah! allah! allah!
Both are fair which way you will!	Allah! allah! allah! al-
So go, dull care,	lah! allah! al-
So go, dull care, away!	lah! allah! allah!
Both are fair!	allah!
Dance and Song!	allah! al-
	lah! allah!
Dance and song	Allah! al-
To joys of life belong!	lah! allah! allah!
Song and dance	allah! al-
A life of joy enhance!	lah! allah! allah!
Both are fair which way you will!	Allah! allah! allah! al-
So go, dull care,	lah! allah! al-
So go, dull care, away!	lah! allah! allah!
Both are fair!	allah!
Dance and Song!	allah! al-
	lah! al-
Dance and Song!	lah! al-
Dance and Song!	lah lah!

Page updated 25 July 1999