Author: Autumn
•6/20/2008 02:31:00 PM
OK, this is a really funny bit from Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, "The Pirates of Penzance." I wanted to put it on my Facebook quotes, but you need the whole dialogue, which is too long. However, I wanted to have it somewhere. So I'm putting it here for your enjoyment.
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General. Tell me, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan?
Pirates
.
(disgusted) Oh, dash it all!
King.
Here we are again!
General.
I ask you, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan?
King.
Often!
General.
Yes, orphan. Have you ever known what it is to be one?
King.
I say, often.
Pirates
.
(disgusted) Often, often, often. (Turning away)
General.
I don’t think we quite understand one another. I ask you, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan, and you say “orphan”. As I understand you, you are merely repeating the word “orphan” to show that you understand me.
King.
I didn’t repeat the word often.
General.
Pardon me, you did indeed.
King.
I only repeated it once.
General.
True, but you repeated it.
King.
But not often.
General.
Stop! I think I see where we are getting confused. When you said “orphan”, did you mean “orphan” – a person who has lost his parents, or “often”, frequently?
King.
Ah! I beg pardon – I see what you mean – frequently.
General.
Ah! you said "often", frequently.
King.
No, only once.
General.
(irritated) Exactly – you said “often”, frequently, only once.
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