Yes, very gladly. ELSIE. PRINCE HENRY. Then the Celestial Bridegroom Will come for thee also. Upon thy forehead he will place, Not his crown of thorns, But a crown of roses. In thy bridal chamber, Like Saint Cecilia, Thou shalt hear sweet music, And breathe the fragrance Go now and place these flowers A ROOM IN THE FARM-HOUSE. Twilight. URSULA spinning. GOTTLIEB asleep in his chair. URSULA. DARKER and darker! Hardly a glimmer Or is it my eyes are growing dimmer? I cannot disentangle this skein, Nor wind it rightly upon the reel. GOTTLIEB, starting. The stopping of thy wheel Has wakened me out of a pleasant dream. F URSULA. I was calling her: I want a light. I cannot see to spin my flax. Bring the lamp, Elsie. Dost thou hear? ELSIE, within. In a moment! GOTTLIEB. Where are Bertha and Max? URSULA. They are sitting with Elsie at the door. GOTTLIEB. And where is the Prince ? URSULA. In his room overhead; I heard him walking across the floor, As he always does, with a heavy tread. ELSIE comes in with a lamp. MAX and BERTHA follow her; and they all sing the Evening Song on the lighting of the lamps. EVENING SONG. O gladsome light Of the Father Immortal, And of the celestial Sacred and blessed Jesus, our Saviour ! Now to the sunset Again hast thou brought us; And, seeing the evening Praise thee, adore thee! Father omnipotent! Worthy at all times Of worship and wonder! PRINCE HENRY, at the door. Amen! URSULA. Who was it said Amen? ELSIE. It was the Prince: he stood at the door, URSULA. Poor Prince! GOTTLIEB. I thought the house was haunted! Poor Prince, alas! and yet as mild MAX. I love him because he is so good, And makes me such fine bows and arrows, And the red squirrels in the wood! BERTHA. I love him, too! GOTTLIEB. Ay, yes! we all Love him, from the bottom of our hearts; He gave us the farm, the house, and the grange, He gave us the horses and the carts, And the great oxen in the stall, The vineyard, and the forest range! We have nothing to give him but our love! BERTHA. Did he give us the beautiful stork above On the chimney-top, with its large, round nest? |