This is the opening number of Patience, set outside of the castle where the poet Reginald Bunthorne resides. Twenty maidens play lutes and mandolins while singing of their hopeless love for him.
[MAIDENS]
Twenty love-sick maidens we
Love-sick all against our will
Twenty years hence we shall be
Twenty love-sick maidens still
Twenty love-sick maidens we
And we die for love of thee
Twenty love-sick maidens we
Love-sick all against our will
Twenty years hence we shall be
Twenty love-sick maidens still
[ANGELA]
Love feeds on hope, they say, or love will die
Ah, misery!
Yet my love lives, although no hope have I!
Ah, misery!
Alas, poor heart, go hide thyself away
To weeping concords tune thy roundelay!
Ah, misery!
[MAIDENS]
All our love is all for one
Yet that love he heedeth not
He is coy and cares for none
Sad and sorry is our lot!
Ah, misery!
[ELLA]
Go, breaking heart
Go, dream of love requited
Go, foolish heart
Go, dream of lovers plighted
Go, madcap heart
Go, dream of never waking;
And in thy dream
Forget that thou art breaking!
[MAIDENS]
Ah, misery!
[ELLA]
Forget that thou art breaking!
[MAIDENS]
Twenty love-sick maidens we
Love-sick all against our will
Twenty years hence we shall be
Twenty love-sick maidens still
Ah, misery!
Twenty Love-Sick Maidens We was written by Arthur Sullivan & W.S. Gilbert.
Gilbert and Sullivan released Twenty Love-Sick Maidens We on Sat Apr 23 1881.