Papageno.
Now who’s the greatest man on earth ?1
—Papageno !2
Who knows your sorrow and your mirth ?3
—Papageno !4
With razors, scissors, here I stand,5
Supreme dispenser in the land,6
Come old and young, come one and all,7
Before my weapons ye must fall.8
Papa-papageno—I am Papageno !9
The world may spare10
Its fairest fair,11
But not its Papageno !12
Who holds your monarch ’neath his thumb ?13
—Papageno !14
Who even keeps a woman dumb ?15
—Papageno !16
Who’ll doff your tresses ? or if gone,17
With cunning skill will put them on ?18
Who can your every want supply ?19
’Tis Papageno ! yes, ’tis I !20
Papa-papageno, &c.21
Who hears your secrets every day ?22
—Papageno !23
Who smoothes your wrinkles all away ?24
—Papageno !25
Some powder here, some powder there,26
A tress or two of waving hair,27
A little rouge, a patch this way,28
And presto ! you ara young for aye !29
Papa-papageno, &c.30
Then may he live for evermore,31
—Papageno !32
Whom young respect and old adore,33
—Papageno !34
And long and loud his praise renew,35
Who keeps you young—at least to view !36
And as for pates, and cheeks and chins,37
When Nature fails, why, he begins !38
Papa-papageno—I am Papageno !39
The world may spare40
Its fairest fair,41
But not its Papageno !42