Scene XIII Mr. de Pourceaugnac, Sbrigani, Two Lawyers, Two Attorneys, Two Sergeants
1st Lawyer (drawling out his words).
Polygamy’s a case, you find,
A case of hanging.
2nd Lawyer (singing and speaking very fast).
Your deed
Is plain and clear,
And all the gear
Of wigs and law
Upon this flaw
One verdict bear.
Consult our authors,
Legislators and glossators,
Justinian, Papinian,
Ulpian and Tribonian,
Fernand, Rebuffe, Jean Imole,
Paul Castro, Julian Barthole, 15
Jason, Aloyat, and Cujas
That mighty mind!
Polygamy’s a case, you’ll find,
A case of hanging.
Ballet, while the 2nd Lawyer sings as before.
All nations civilised,
French, Dutch, and English,
Portuguese, Germans, Flemish,
Italians and Spanish,
By wisdom’s sceptre swayed,
For this the self-same law have made.
The affair allows no doubt,
Polygamy’s a case,
A case of hanging.
(Mr. de Pourceaugnac, irritated, drives them all away.)