The poem
Song
(Act II, Scene I, lines 65-80)
A sunny shaft did I behold, From sky to earth it slanted : And poised therein a bird so bold-- Sweet bird, thou wert enchanted !
He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled Within that shaft of sunny mist ; His eyes of fire, his beak of gold, All else of amethyst !
And thus he sang : `Adieu ! adieu ! Love's dreams prove seldom true. The blossoms they make no delay : The sparkling dew-drops will not stay. Sweet month of May, We must away ; Far, far away ! To-day ! to-day !'
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Hunting Song
(Act IV, Scene II, lines 56-71)
Up, up ! ye dames, ye lasses gay ! To the meadows trip away. 'Tis you must tend the flocks this morn, And scare the small birds from the corn. Not a soul at home may stay : For the shepherds must go With lance and bow To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.
Leave the hearth and leave the house To the cricket and the mouse : Find grannam out a sunny seat, With babe and lambkin at her feet. Not a soul at home must stay : For the shepherds must go With lance and bow To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.