THE WINDOW; OR, THE SONGS OF THE WRENS. WORDS WRITTEN FOR MUSIC. THE MUSIC BY ARTHUR SULLIVAN. FOUR years ago Mr. Sullivan requested me to write a little song-cycle, German fashion, for him to exercise his art upon. He had been very successful in setting such old songs as "Orpheus with his lute," and I drest up for him, partly in the old style, a puppet whose almost only merit is, perhaps, that it can dance to Mr. Sullivan's instrument. I am sorry that my four-year-old puppet should have to dance at all in the dark shadow of these days; but the music is now completed, and I am bound by my promise. THE WINDOW; OR, THE SONGS OF THE WRENS. X. WHEN? SUN comes, moon comes, Time slips away. Sun sets, moon sets, Love, fix a day. "A year hence, a year hence." "We shall both be gray." "A month hence, a month hence." "Far, far away." "A week hence, a week hence." "Ah, the long delay." "Wait a little, wait a little, You shall fix a day." "To-morrow, love, to-morrow, And that's an age away." Blaze upon her window, sun, And honour all the day. XI. MARRIAGE MORNING. LIGHT, 8o low upon earth, You send a flash to the sun. O the woods and the meadows, You flash and lighten afar: For this is the golden morning of love, By meadow and stile and wood: For a love that never tires? O heart, are you great enough for love? I have heard of thorns and briers. Over the thorns and briers, Over the meadows and stiles, Over the world to the end of it Flash for a million miles. 365 |