BUTTERCUP: Things are seldom what they seem, 
Skim milk masquerades as cream; 
Highlows pass as patent leathers; 
Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers. 

CAPTAIN: (puzzled). 
Very true, 
So they do. 

BUT: Black sheep dwell in every fold; 
All that glitters is not gold; 
Storks turn out to be but logs; 
Bulls are but inflated frogs. 

CAPT: (puzzled). 
So they be, 
Frequentlee. 

BUT:Drops the wind and stops the mill; 
Turbot is ambitious brill; 
Gild the farthing if you will, 
Yet it is a farthing still. 

CAPT: (puzzled). 
Yes, I know. 
That is so. 

Though to catch your drift I'm striving, 
It is shady -- it is shady; 
I don't see at what you're driving, 
Mystic lady -- mystic lady. 

BOTH (Aside). 
Stern conviction's o'er me stealing, 
That the mystic lady's dealing 
In oracular revealing. 

CAPT (aside). 
Yes, I know-- 

BUT (aside). 
That is so! 

CAPT. 
Though I'm anything but clever, 
I could talk like that for ever: 
Once a cat was killed by care, 
Only brave deserve the fair. 

BUT. 
Very true, 
So they do. 

CAPT. 
Wink is often good as nod; 
Spoils the child who spares the rod; 
Thirsty lambs run foxy dangers; 
Dogs are found in many mangers. 

BUT. 
Frequentlee, 
I agree. 

CAPT. 
Paw of cat the chestnut snatches; 
Worn-out garments show new patches; 
Only count the chick that hatches; 
Men are grown-up catchy-catchies. 

BUT. 
Yes, I know, 
That is so. 
(Aside.) 
Though to catch my drift he's striving, 
I'll dissemble -- I'll dissemble; 
When he sees at what I'm driving, 
Let him tremble -- let him tremble!

BUTTERCUP                                  CAPTAIN 
Tho' a mystic tone I borrow,               Tho' a mystic tone you borrow, 
He will learn the truth with sorrow;       I shall learn the truth with sorrow; 
Here today and gone tomorrow.              Here today and gone tomorrow. 

                                           Yes, I know.
That is so!  

                                           Tho' a mystic 
I'll dissemble,                            tone 
                                           you borrow, 
I'll dissemble,                            I 
                                           shall learn 
Let him tremble!                           the truth with 
                                           sorrow; 
Let him  
tremble!                                   Here today 
Let him tremble!                           and gone 
                                           tomorrow, 
Yes, I know, That is so!                   Yes, I know, That is so!