For this world is placed 'twixt the day and the night, For there ever is day, and there never is night. Then shalt thou fear too at thy second birth; But when thou hast wakened and gazed all around, And seen all who had formerly loved thee on earth, 'Round thy couch stand and cry, Oh, the lost one is found! Thou shalt laugh; and thy Father, to hear thy voice, That a god hath been born shall rejoice, rejoice; And when all the delights of that heaven are unfurled, Thou❜lt rejoice to have been born from this darksome world. THE OVERTHROW OF SATAN By LEONARD CHARLES VAN NOPPEN ['Vondel's Lucifer' translated from the Dutch, 1898. Copyright, The Search-Light Information Library. By permission. The extracts are from Act V.] URIEL: Even as bright day to gloomy night is changed, Of black that shining skin of pearl; while from A dragon, full of envy; and a wolf Of sordid avarice. His beauteous form Is now a monster execrable, by God And Spirit and man e'er to be cursed. That beast And veils with darkling mists its Gorgon face. RAFAEL: Thus shall Ambition learn how vain to tilt For God's own crown. Where stayed Apollion? URIEL: He saw his tide ebb when his star declined, Have crawled to swell the rout; and pleased are all, O! what a whirl of storms in one resolved! And what a noisy tumult rises round! What floods sweep by! Our legions, blessed by God, CHORUS: Hail to the hero, hail! Who the wicked did assail; And in the fight, o'er his might and his standard, Who strove for God's own crown, From his high and splendid throne, Into night, with his might, hath been driven. Through flames the tumult fell, The valiant Michael With his hand the fierce brand can extinguish: All mutiny shall quell. God's banner he doth rear: Come, wreathe his brow austere. Now, in peace, shall increase Heaven's Palace: Then to the Godhead raise, In His deathless courts, your praise. Glory bring to the King of all Kingdoms: His deeds inspire our lays. MICHAEL: Praise be to God! The state of things above There, deep beneath our sight and these high thrones, Move to and fro, all blind and overcast With shrouding clouds, and horribly deformed. Thus is his fate, who would assail God's Throne. CHORUS: Thus is his fate, who would assail God's throne. Thus is his fate, who would, through envy, man, In God's own image made, deprive of light. THE BIRDS AND THEIR FALSE LOVERS By FRANCIS P. WIGHTMAN ['Little Leather Breeches,' 1899. By permission of J. F. Taylor and Company.] "Well," said the red bird, sitting on a tree "I had a mate as well as thee. But she grew fickle, an' away she fled, "Well," said the blue bird, sitting on a tree— But he grew fickle, and away he flew, And ever since then my head's been blue." "Well," said the black bird, sitting on a tree- But she flew away, and never came back, "Well," said the green bird, sitting on a tree,- But he flew away, an' wuz never more seen, "Well," said the brown bird, sitting on a tree— "I had a mate as well as thee, But he flew up, and never came down, And ever since then my head's been brown!" "Wely," said the gray bird, sitting on a tree"I had a mate as well as thee. But she grew fickle, and flew away, And ever since then my head's been gray." OLD DAN TUCKUH By FRANCIS P. WIGHTMAN ['Little Leather Breeches,' 1899. By permission of J. F. Taylor and Company.] Ol' Dan Tuckuh was a fine ol' man, He used t' ride a Durham ram, Rode 'im down t' de bottom of a hill, An' ef 'e ain't up, 'e's down there still! Ol' Dan Tuckuh! Come too late f'r t' git yo' suppuh! Ol' Dan Tuckuh, he got drunk, Great Gran-daddy! how de ashes flew! Ol' Dan Tuckuh! Come too late f'r t' git yo' suppuh! Ol' Dan Tuckuh was a fine ol' man- Ol' Dan Tuckuh! Come too late f'r t' git yo' suppuh! OMENS By FRANCIS P. WIGHTMAN ['Little Leather Breeches,' 1899. By permission of J. F. Taylor and Company.] W'en de screech-owl light on de gable en', En holler "Who-00, 00-00!" Den yo' bettuh keep yo' eye-ball peel, Kase 'e bring bad luck t' yo'! W'en de ol' black cat, widde yaller eyes, W'en de puddle-duck 'e leave de pon' |