Laughter. Why, 'tis only Song.
For three days now we have not heard thy voice.
Song.
No, Douce-cœur says life is too sad for songs.
Yet music is a gift of the high gods
And like the birds I sing or I must die.
Joy [coaxingly].
Sing us a ballad while we are alone.
Old Service is asleep beside the well
And will not hear thee.
Song [sitting on the seat].
Well, what shall I sing?
How would you like "All on an April Day?"
Joy [clapping her hands].
About the knight who rode to Amiens Town?
Laughter.
Then will we sing the refrain, Joy and I.
Song [begins very softly, and, forgetting, sings louder to the end].
A lover rode to Amiens town
(All on an April day);
He looked not up, he looked not down
But fixed his gaze on Amiens town
(Sing hey!—the Lover's Way).
The cuckoo sang above his head
(All on an April day);
The blossoming trees were white and red,
Yet still he never turned his head
(Sing hey!—the Lover's Way).
The dappled grass with daisies strewn
(All on an April day)
Was trodden by his horse's shoon;
He heeded not those daisies strewn
(Sing hey!—the Lover's Way).