ruddigore 30 I'm now Sir Murgatroyd

DUET ñ ROBIN AND ADAM.
ROB. I once was as meek as a new-born lamb,
I'm now Sir Murgatroyd ñ ha! ha!
With greater precision
(Without the elision),
Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd ñ ha! ha!
ADAM. And I, who was once his valley-de-sham,
As steward I'm now employed ñ ha! ha!
The dickens may take him ñ
I'll never forsake him!
As steward I'm now employed ñ ha! ha!
BOTH. How dreadful when an innocent heart
Becomes, perforce, a bad young Bart.,
And still more hard on old Adam,
His former faithful valley-de-sham!

[@lijluvr356]

Yes, I know. The change of pronunciation of 'Ruthven' as "Rivven" is called an "Ellision". (Another ellision occurs, for instance, in HMS Pinafore, when Ralph Rackstraw's name is pronounced "Rafe".) Throughout Ruddigore, the ellision of Ruthven, "Rivven," is used. However, in the line which we are now discussing, "With greater precision/ WITHOUT the ellision", the pronunciation is in this one instance supposed to be "Ruthven". The cadence in the song backs this up. I hope this helps you. :)

[@lijluvr356]

well, without the ellision, it's RUTHven, not Rivven, as he says it. Oh well, no one's perfect.

[@PaulHudsonOpera]

Adam was sung by Paul Hudson

[@wickedfeylady]

LOL Adam really sucks at being evil

[@DarthWill3]

That's because he _loathes_ the life Sir Ruthven is leading.

[@wickedfeylady]

@@DarthWill3 I know, that's the humor of it

[@verdew8181]

Very cute!

[@titanuranus3095]

valet de chambre is how I would spell it.

[@crippmeister]

Ruthven is pronounced Rivven, that's why he says it.