Liberty Matters
The Spencerian Gilbert, Part 2
In a follow up to my previous email about W.S. Gilbert, Iolanthe packs more satire about the British government than any other Gilbert & Sullivan opera. Here's a particularly good example, sung by a sentry outside the Parliament building in London, opening Act II. I should note that Pvt. Willis pronounces conservative" conservatyve":[153]
When all night long a chap remains On sentry-go, to chase monotony He exercises of his brains: That is, assuming that he's got any. Though never nurtured in the lap Of luxury, yet, I admonish you, I am an intellectual chap. And think of things that would astonish you. I often think it's comical (fa la la la; fa la la la!) How Nature always does contrive (fa la la la!) That every boy and every gal That's born into the world alive Is either a little Liberal Or else a little Conservative. Is either a little Liberal Or else a little Conservative. Fa la la
Endnotes
[153.] The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan. Introduced and Edited by Ian Bradley (Oxfoed University Press, 1996, 2001), p. 413.
Copyright and Fair Use Statement
“Liberty Matters” is the copyright of Liberty Fund, Inc. This material is put on line to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. These essays and responses may be quoted and otherwise used under “fair use” provisions for educational and academic purposes. To reprint these essays in course booklets requires the prior permission of Liberty Fund, Inc. Please contact oll@libertyfund.org if you have any questions.