The Pirates of Penzance

W. S. Gilbert

3 chapters · about 41 min

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The opening

Scene.—A rocky sea-shore on the coast of Cornwall. Under the rock is a cavern. In the distance is a calm sea, on which a schooner is lying at anchor. As the curtain rises groups of Pirates are discovered—some drinking, some playing cards. Samuel, the pirate lieutenant, is going from one group to the other, filling the cups from a flask. Frederic is seated in a despondent attitude at the back of the scene. Ruth kneels at his feet.

Opening Chorus.

All. Pour, oh, pour the pirate sherry; Fill, oh, fill the pirate glass; And, to make us more than merry, Let the pirate bumper pass.

Solo. } For to-day our pirate ’prentice Sam. } Rises from indenture freed; Strong his arm and keen his scent is, He’s a pirate now indeed!

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About this edition

The words
The author's text, copied word for word.
Copied from

Project Gutenberg ebook59685, Original Plays, Second Series.

Left out
  • Native typographic rule, not a new scene (2 blocks)
  • The title page and opening pages before chapter 1
  • Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 2 places
  • Notes about a stage production
  • Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages, in 2 places
  • Repeated work title
  • Native page-number-only sibling within stanza (7 blocks)