Gilbert and Sullivan Archive The Rose of Persia Song No. 21 Laughing low, on tip-toe

CD 2 Track 4

MIDI File

Chorus enter with Hassan, who is carried in still unconscious, and set upon the throne. He is dressed in Royal garments.

Chorus:

Laughing low,

On toe-tip!

Finger so --

On each lip!

Whispering,

(Undertone,)

Set the King

On the throne!

King Hassan!

Ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho!

Laugh pian-

Issimo. Ho! ho! ho!

Laughing low, On tip-toe,

Laughing low, ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho!

Ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho!

Hush, hush, hush, hush!

Ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho! ho!

Hush, hush, hush, hush!

They watch Hassan, who slowly begins to wake.

Hassan (opening his eyes):

Where am I -- where?

Vizier:

Where art thou -- where

But in thy palace rich and rare,

Where none can say thee nay!

Chorus:

Where everyone

Will rush and run

And race to get thy bidding done --

We hear thee and obey!

We hear thee and obey!

We hear thee and obey!

Hassan (astonished):

But hear me speak!

Physician:

But hear him speak,

And other music's flat and weak

Beside his golden speech!

Chorus:

His lightest word

Is far preferred

Beyond the music any bird

Could ever hope to reach!

Beyond the music any bird

Could ever hope to reach!

Hassan (more bewildered):

Attend to me,

Executioner:

Attend to him

And bring a goblet to the brim

With Persian sherbet filled!

Chorus 1	Chorus 2	Chorus 3
And when	And when	And when
he dips His		he
Royal lips,		dips His
Let dainty	he dips	Roy-
damask catch the drips,	His Royal lips,	al lips, He dips
That none of them	his Royal, roy-	his Royal, roy-
be spill'd!	al lips,	al lips,
Let dainty damask,	Let dainty damask,	Let dainty damask,
dainty damask catch the drips	dainty damask catch the drips	dainty damask catch the drips
that none are lost!	that none are lost!	that none are lost!
		Attend to him,
	Attend,	Attend,
Attend,		attend,
attend!	attend!	attend!

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Page updated 24 July 1999