# Princess Ida

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Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant, is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Savoy Theatre on January 5, 1884, for a run of 246 performances. By Savoy Opera standards, it was not considered a success (a particularly hot summer in London did not help ticket sales), and it was not revived in London until 1919. This was the eighth collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan.
Author:W. S. Gilbert
Princess Ida: or Castle Adamant
Libretto by W. S. Gilbert Music by Arthur Sullivan
First produced at the Savoy Theatre, on January 5, 1884

## Dramatis Personae

* King Hildebrand
* Hilarion – His son
* Hilarion's friends:
** Cyril
** Florian
* King Gama
* His sons:
** Arac
** Guron
** Scynthius
* Princess Ida – Gama's daughter
* Lady Blanche – Professor of Abstract Science
* Lady Psyche – Professor of Humanities
* Melissa – Lady Blanche's Daughter
* Girl Graduates:
** Sacharissa
** Chloe
** Ada
* Soldiers, Courtiers, "Girl Graduates", "Daughters of the Plough", etc.

## Musical numbers
### in Act I

* "Search throughout the panorama" (Florian and Chorus)
* "Now hearken to my strict command" (Hildebrand and Chorus)
* "To-day we meet, my baby bride and I" (Hilarion)
* "We are warriors three" (Arac, Guron, Scynthius, and Chorus)
* "If you give me your attention" (Gama)
* "P'raps if you address the lady" (Gama and Hildebrand)
* "Oh, dainty triolet" (Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian)
* "For a month to dwell in a dungeon cell" (Ensemble)

### in Act 2

* "Towards the empyrean heights" (Psyche, Melissa, Sacharissa, and Chorus)
* "Mighty maiden with a mission" (Chorus)
* "Minerva! Oh, hear me" (Ida)
* "Come, mighty Must" (Blanche)
* "Gently, gently" (Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian)
* "I am a maiden, cold and stately" (Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian)
* "The world is but a broken toy" (Princess, Cyril, Hilarion, and Florian)
* "A lady fair, of lineage high" (Psyche)
* "The woman of the wisest wit" (Psyche, Melissa, Cyril, Hilarion, and Florian)
* "Now, wouldn't you like to rule the roast" (Blanche, Melissa)
* "Merrily ring the luncheon bell" (Chorus of Girls, Blanche, and Cyril)
* "Would you know the kind of maid" (Cyril)
* Finale, Act II (Princess, Hildebrand, Melissa, Psyche, Blanche, Cyril, Hilarion, Florian, Arac, Guron, Scynthius, and Chorus)

### in Act 3

* "Death to the invader!" (Melissa and Chorus)
* "I built upon a rock" (Princess)
* "Whene'er I spoke sarcastic joke" (Gama)
* "When anger spreads his wing" (Chorus of Soldiers and Girls)
* "This helmet, I suppose" (Arac, Guron, Scynthius, and Chorus)
* "With joy abiding" (Ensemble)

## Act I

Scene: Pavilion attached to King Hildebrand's palace. Soldiers and courtiers discovered looking out through opera-glasses, telescopes, etc., Florian leading.
CHORUS AND SOLO – FLORIAN
Enter King Hildebrand with Cyril.
HILDEBRAND. See you no sign of Gama?
FLORIAN. None, my liege!
RECITATIVE – HILDEBRAND
SONG – HILDEBRAND and CHORUS
Exeunt all.
Enter Hilarion.
RECITATIVE – HILARION
BALLAD – HILARION
Enter Hildebrand.
Exeunt Hildebrand and Hilarion. Enter Courtiers.
CHORUS
Enter Arac, Guron, and Scynthius.
SONG – ARAC, GURON, and SCYNTHIUS
Enter King Gama.
SONG – GAMA
Enter Hildebrand, Hilarion, Cyril and Florian.
FINALE.
DUET – GAMA and HILDEBRAND
Gama, Arac, Guron and Scynthius are marched off in custody, Hildebrand following.
RECITATIVE – HILARION
TRIO – HILARION, CYRIL, and FLORIAN
Re-enter Gama, Arac, Guron, and Scynthius, heavily ironed, followed by Hildebrand.
RECITATIVE
TRIO – ARAC, GURON, and SCYNTHIUS
Gama, Arac, Guron, and Synthius are marched off.

## Act II

Scene: Gardens in Castle Adamant. A river runs across the back of the stage, crossed by a rustic bridge. Castle Adamant in the distance.
Girl Graduates discovered seated at the feet of Lady Psyche.
CHORUS AND SOLOS – PSYCHE, MELISSA, and SACHARISSA
Enter Lady Blanche. All stand up demurely.
SACH. (Crying) I meant no harm; they're only men of wood!
CHORUS OF GIRLS
RECITATIVE & ARIA – PRINCESS
Exeunt Princess and maidens. Manet Lady Blanche.
SONG – BLANCHE
Exit Lady Blanche.
Enter Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian, climbing over wall, and creeping cautiously among the trees and rocks at the back of the stage.
TRIO – CYRIL, HILARION, and FLORIAN
HILARION. So that's the Princess Ida's castle! Well, they must be lovely girls, indeed, if it requires such walls as those to keep intruders off!
CYRIL. To keep men off is only half their charge; and that the easier half. I much suspect the object of these walls is not so much to keep men off as keep the maidens in!
FLORIAN. But what are these? (Examining some Collegiate robes)
TRIO – CYRIL, HILARION, and FLORIAN
Dance.
Dance.
Enter the Princess, reading. She does not see them.
FLORIAN. But who comes here? The Princess, as I live! What shall we do?
HILARION. (Aside) Why, we must brave it out! (Aloud) Madam, accept our humblest reverence.
They bow, then suddenly recollecting themselves, curtsey.
PRINCESS. (Surprised) We greet you, ladies. What would you with us?
HILARION. (Aside to Cyril)
Hilarion and Florian curtsey again. Cyril bows extravagantly, then, being recalled to himself by Florian, curtseys.
QUARTET – PRINCESS, CYR., HIL., and FLOR.
Exit Princess. The three Gentlemen watch her off. Lady Psyche enters, and regards them with amazement.
PSYCHE. (Aside) These ladies are unseemly in their mirth.
The gentlemen see her, and, in confusion, resume their modest demeanour.
FLORIAN. (To Psyche, who has watched Cyril in amazement) Psyche! Why, don't you know me? Florian!
PSYCHE. (Amazed) Why, Florian!
FLORIAN. My sister! (Embraces her)
PSYCHE. Oh, my dear! What are you doing here – and who are these?
SONG – PSYCHE
During this, Melissa has entered unobserved; she looks on in amazement.
MELISSA. (Coming down) Oh, Lady Psyche!
PSYCHE. (Terrified) What! You heard us then? Oh, all is lost!
MELISSA. Not so! I'll breathe no word! (Advancing in astonishment to Florian.)
QUINTET
Dance.
Exeunt Psyche, Hilarion, Cyril and Florian. Melissa going. Enter Lady Blanche.
BLANCHE. Melissa!
MELISSA. (Returning) Mother!
BLANCHE. Here – a word with you. Those are the three new students?
MELISSA. (Confused) Yes, they are. They're charming girls.
BLANCHE. Particularly so. So graceful, and so very womanly! So skilled in all a girl's accomplishments!
MELISSA. (Confused) Yes – very skilled.
BLANCHE. They sing so nicely too!
MELISSA. They do sing nicely!
BLANCHE. Humph! It's very odd. Two are tenors, one is a baritone!
MELISSA. (Much agitated) They've all got colds!
BLANCHE. Colds! Bah! D'ye think I'm blind? These "girls" are men disguised!
MELISSA. Oh no – indeed! You wrong these gentlemen— I mean – why, see, here is an etui dropped by one of them. (Picking up an etui) Containing scissors, needles, and –
DUET – MELISSA and BLANCHE
Exit Lady Blanche.
MELISSA. Saved for a time, at least!
Enter Florian, on tiptoe.
FLORIAN. (Whispering) Melissa – come!
Melissa: Oh, sir! you must away from this at once –
FLORIAN. I'll go, but not without you! (Bell) Why, what's that?
MELISSA. The luncheon bell.
FLORIAN. I'll wait for luncheon then!
Enter Hilarion with Princess, Cyril with Psyche, Lady Blanche, and ladies. Also "Daughters of the Plough" bearing luncheon.
PRINCESS. You say you know the court of Hildebrand? There is a Prince there – I forget his name —
HILARION. Hilarion?
PRINCESS. Exactly – is he well?
HILARION. (Aside to Cyril) Be quiet, idiot, or they'll find us out.
CYRIL. The Prince Hilarion's a goodly lad!
PRINCESS. You know him, then?
CYRIL. (Tipsily) I rather think I do! We are inseparables!
PRINCESS. Why, what's this? You love him then?
CYRIL. We do indeed – all three!
HILARION. Madam, she jests! (Aside to Cyril) Remember where you are!
PRINCESS. Well, these are nice young ladies, on my word!
During symphony Hilarion and Florian try to stop Cyril. He shakes them off angrily.
SONG – CYRIL
PRINCESS. Infamous creature, get you hence away!
Hilarion, who has been with difficulty restrained by Florian during this song, breaks from him and strikes Cyril furiously on the breast.
HILARION. Dog! There is something more to sing about!
CYRIL. (Sobered) Hilarion, are you mad?
PRINCESS. (Horrified) Hilarion? Help! Why, these are men! Lost! lost! betrayed, undone! (Running onto bridge)
PSYCHE. Oh! Save her, sir!
BLANCHE. It's useless, sir – you'll only catch your death!
Hilarion springs in.
SACHARISSA. He catches her!
MELISSA. And now he lets her go! Again she's in his grasp –
PSYCHE. And now she's not – He seizes her back hair!
BLANCHE. (Not looking) And it comes off!
PSYCHE. No, no! She's saved! – she's saved! – she's saved! – she's saved!
FINALE, ACT II
They are arrested by the "Daughters of the Plough". Cyril and Florian are bound.
SONG – HILARION
He is bound by two of the attendants. The three gentlemen are marched off.
Enter Melissa.
The gate yields. Soldiers rush in. Arac, Guron, and Scynthius are with them, but with their hands handcuffed.
Enter Hildebrand.
RECITATIVE
SOLO – HILDEBRAND
TRIO – ARAC, GURON, and SCYNTHIUS
The Princess stands, surrounded by girls kneeling. Hildebrand and soldiers stand on built rocks at back and sides of stage. Picture.

## Act III

Scene: Outer Walls and Courtyard of Castle Adamant. Melissa, Sacharissa, and ladies discovered, armed with battleaxes.
CHORUS – GIRLS
Flourish. Enter Princess, armed, attended by Blanche and Psyche.
Exit Chloe.
Exeunt all but Princess, singing refrain of "Please you, do not hurt us", pianissimo.
SONG – PRINCESS
Princess sinks upon a rock. Enter Chloe and all the Ladies.
CHLOE. Madam, your father and your brothers claim an audience!
PRINCESS. What do they do here?
CHLOE. They come to fight for you!
PRINCESS. Admit them!
BLANCHE. Infamous! One's brothers, ma'am, are men!
GAMA. (Entering, pale and unnerved) My daughter!
PRINCESS. Father! Thou art free!
PRINCESS. My tortured father!
SONG – GAMA
Gama bursts into tears and falls sobbing on a seat.
PRINCESS. My poor old father! How he must have suffered! Well, well, I yield!
GAMA. (Hysterically) She yields! I'm saved, I'm saved! (Exit.)
The gates are opened and the girls mount the battlements as the soldiers enter. Arac, Guron, and Scynthius also enter.
CHORUS – SOLDIERS
During this, Hilarion, Florian, and Cyril are brought out by the "Daughters of the Plough". They are still bound and wear the robes. Enter Gama.
GAMA. Hilarion! Cyril! Florian! dressed as women! Is this indeed Hilarion?
HILARION. Yes, it is!
Exit Gama. Hilarion, Florian, and Cyril are led off.
SONG – ARAC, GURON, SCYNTHIUS, and CHORUS
They remove their leg pieces and wear close-fitting shape suits.
Enter Hilarion, Florian, and Cyril.
Desperate fight between the three Princes and the three Knights, during which the Ladies on the battlements and the Soldiers on the stage sing the following chorus:
CHORUS DURING THE FIGHT
By this time, Arac, Guron, and Scynthius are on the ground, wounded; Hilarion, Cyril, and Florian stand over them.
FINALE

## See also

* Princess Ida
* Gilbert and Sullivan
* The Princess; a medley, on which the operetta is exceedingly loosely based
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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