Songs of a Savoyard/The Duke of Plaza-Toro

by W. S. Gilbert

THE DUKE OF PLAZA-TORO.

IN enterprise of martial kind,
When there was any fighting,
He led his regiment from behind,
He found it less exciting.
But when away his regiment ran,
His place was at the fore, O—
That celebrated,
Cultivated,
Underrated
Nobleman,
The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

<poem>

In the first and foremost flight, ha, ha! You always found that knight, ha, ha!

That celebrated,

Cultivated,

Underrated

Nobleman,

The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

When, to evade Destruction's hand,

To hide they all proceeded,

No soldier in that gallant band

Hid half as well as he did.

He lay concealed throughout the war,

And so preserved his gore, O!

That unaffected.

Undetected,

Well connected

Warrior,

The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

In every doughty deed, ha, ha! He always took the lead, ha, ha!

That unaffected.

Undetected,

Well connected

Warrior,

The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

When told that they would all be shot

Unless they left the service,

That hero hesitated not,

So marvellous his nerve is.

He sent his resignation in,

The first of all his corps, O!
That very knowing,
Overflowing,
Easy-going
Paladin,
The Duke of Plaza-Toro!
To men of grosser clay, ha, ha!
He always showed the way, ha, ha
That very knowing,
Overflowing,
Easy-going
Paladin,
The Duke of Plaza-Toro!