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ACT I

No.5: DUET - Dorcas & Oswald


OSWALD.
  The sun's in the sky, and
The grass in the ground;
    Nature maternal,
Placid, supernal,
Spreadeth her vernal
  Mantle around.
     
DORCAS.
  'Tis idle repining,
When summer is gay;
    When from her coffers
Jewels she offers,
Scorn not her proffers,
  Say her not nay!
     
OSWALD.
  While morning is shining,
Your garlands entwine;
    Ere evening closes,
Gather your posies,
Jasmine and roses,
  Sweet eglantine!
     
DORCAS.
  While yet it is daylight,
Rejoice in the day;
    Nought to repent of,
Breath be content of,
Fragrant with scent of
  Newly mown hay!

DORCAS. OSWALD.
  Night will come soon enough —   Night
  Starlight nor moon enough!   will come
  While there is noon enough,   soon
      Let us be gay!   enough!
  Night will come soon enough —   Star-
  Starlight nor moon enough!   light nor
  While there is noon enough,   moon
      Let us be gay!   enough!

BOTH.
  Night will come soon enough —
Star-light nor moon enough!
While there is noon enough,
While there is noon enough,
    Let us be gay,
    Be gay, be gay, be gay!
Let us be gay, be gay!

OSWALD.
  No grace is in grief, and
No virtue in tears!
    Come what may after,
Youth and its laughter
Piercing the rafter,
  Gladden the spheres!
     
DORCAS.
  Tomorrow we'll sorrow
But now let us sing!
    Happy to-day be,
Joyous and gay be,
Plucking while may be
  Blossoms of spring!
     
OSWALD.
  Each gift of creation
Is heaven's envoy;
    Ne'er a bud springeth,
Ne'er a bird singeth,
But to earth bringeth
  Tidings of joy!
     
DORCAS.
  Oh! list to the message
The hemispheres voice!
    "Folly is sadness,
Misery, madness,
Holy is gladness —
  Thine is the choice!"

DORCAS. OSWALD.
  Night will come soon enough —   Night
  Starlight nor moon enough!   will come
  While there is noon enough,   soon
      Let us rejoice!   enough!
  Night will come soon enough —   Star-
  Starlight nor moon enough!   light nor
  While there is noon enough,   moon
      Let us be rejoice!   enough!

BOTH.
  Night will come soon enough —
Star-light nor moon enough!
While there is noon enough,
While there is noon enough,
    Let us rejoice,
    Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!
Let us rejoice, rejoice!


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Page modified 24 May 2015