Brightly Dawns our (Daughter's) Wedding Day

No blogging this weekend -- please share our happiness, expressed in this little gem of a madrigal by Sir Arthur Sullivan. The mock sadness in the libretto stems from the 30-day sentence of execution seeming to hang over the groom's head -- but all turns out well by the operetta's end, never worry. As for us, we join in its opening sentiment: "Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!"

Yum-Yum.

Brightly dawns our wedding day;

All.

Joyous hour, we give thee greeting! Whither, whither art thou fleeting? Fickle moment, prithee stay! Fickle moment, prithee stay!

Pish-Tush.

What though mortal joys be hollow?

Pitti-Sing.

Pleasures come, if sorrows follow:

Yum-Yum.	Pitti-Sing.	Nanki-Poo.	Pish-Tush.
Though the tocsin sound,	Though the tocsin sound,	Though the tocsin sound,	Though the tocsin sound,
ere long,	ere long,	ere long,	ere long,
	Ding	ere long,	Ding
Though the tocsin sound,	dong! Ding dong!	Though the tocsin	dong! Ding dong! Ding
ere long,	Ding	sound, ere
Though the tocsin sound,	dong! Ding dong!	long, sound, ere long.	dong! Ding dong!
ere long,
Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!
Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!

All.

Yet until the shadows fall Over one and over all,

Yum-Yum.

Sing a merry madrigal,

All.

Sing a merry madrigal, Sing a merry madrigal, Fa la la la la, etc.

(Ending in tears.)

Yum-Yum.

Let us dry the ready tear,

All.

Though the hours are surely creeping Little need for woeful weeping, Till the sad sundown is near, Till the sad sundown is near.

Pish-Tush.

All must sip the cup of sorrow —

Pitti-Sing.

I to-day and thou to-morrow;

Yum-Yum.	Pitti-Sing.	Nanki-Poo.	Pish-Tush.
This the close of	This the close of	This the close of	This the close of
every song —	every song —	every,	every song —
	Ding	every song —	Ding
This the close of	dong! Ding dong!	This the close of	dong! Ding dong! Ding
every song —	Ding	every song,
This the close of	dong! Ding dong!	this the close.	dong! Ding dong!
every song —
Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!
Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!	Ding dong!

All.

What, though solemn shadows fall, Sooner, later, over all?

Yum-Yum.

Sing a merry madrigal,

All.

Sing a merry madrigal, Sing a merry madrigal, Fa la la la la, etc.

(Ending in tears.)

Exeunt Pitti-Sing and Pish-Tush.