Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast Lyrics

Frederic.
Oh, is there not one maiden breast
Which does not feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to sense of duty?
Who would not give up willingly
All matrimonial ambition,
To rescue such a one as I
From his unfortunate position?
From his position,
To rescue such a one as I
From his unfortunate position?

Chorus.
Alas! there's not one maiden breast
Which seems to feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to sense of duty!

Frederic.
Oh, is there not one maiden here
Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hope to disappear
Of ever winning man's affection?
To such an one, if such there be,
I swear by Heaven's arch above you,
If you will cast your eyes on me,
However plain you be - I'll love you!
However plain you be,
If you will cast your eyes on me,
However plain you be - I'll love you,
I'll love you, I'll love, I'll love you!

Chorus.
Alas! there's not one maiden here
Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hope to disappear
Of ever winning man's affection!

Frederic. (in despair)
Not one?

Chorus.
No, no - not one!

Frederic.
Not one?

Chorus.
No, no!

MABEL enters.

Mabel.
Yes, one!

Chorus.
'Tis Mabel!

Mabel.
Yes, 'tis Mabel!
Oh, sisters, deaf to pity's name,
For shame!
It's true that he has gone astray,
But pray
Is that a reason good and true
Why you
Should all be deaf to pity's name?

Chorus. (aside)
The question is, had he not been
A thing of beauty,
Would she be swayed by quite as keen
A sense of duty?