This opera opened April 23, 1881 at the Opera Comique and ran for 578 performances at both the Opera Comique and Savoy Theatres. The county dames are in love with two poets while the poets are both in love with Patience, the village milkmaid. The brigade men don't see the point to aesthetics, but decide they had better give it a try to win the women's love.

Composed by: Arthur S. Sullivan