Mirette - Song No. 4

No. 4: When Winter Gales Were Loud

Francal, Mirette, and Chorus

FRANCAL:	When winter gales were loud and winter snows were flying,
		We found a woman dying upon the frozen way:
	And at rest, on her breast her little child was lying;
		We took you and reared you to be our Queen, our Queen today!
			Do you think of that, or no? It was sixteen years ago
				When I took you in my hand
					From her bosom frozen,
				To be child of all our band,
					Queen and lady chosen!
		Still with your smile the way beguile
				Sing to enchant us yet!
			You that have been our child and Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!
			You, you are our child and our Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!
CHORUS:		Still with your smile the way beguile
				Sing to enchant us yet!
			You that have been our child and Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!
			You, you are our child and our Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!

FRANCAL:	And since that day gone by, that old and dead December,
		Your place beside the ember in winter time was made.
	Was July, hot and dry, we ever would remember
		To give you for shelter the deepest bit of forest shade!
			Luck has come to us, my child, Since the day when first you smiled;
				Like a magic amulet,
					Were the lays you sung us;
				Live with us and love us yet,
					Wedding one among us!
		Still with your smile the way beguile
				Sing to enchant us yet!
			You that have been our child and Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!
			You, you are our child and our Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!
CHORUS:		Still with your smile the way beguile
				Sing to enchant us yet!
			You that have been our child and Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!
			You, you are our child and our Queen,
				Our own, our own Mirette!

MIRETTE:		It is my duty to help you still!
FRANCAL:		We would not try to force your will,
			Or give your maiden beauty,
		Our little Queen, our magic girl, To some unloved and loveless churl!
	Choose whom you will, but choose this night!
MIRETTE:	This very night? Can that be right?
FRANCAL:		See all of them before you, You know how they adore you,
			They wrangle, And they jangle,
		And fight and quarrel for you!
			For you they all reveal
				Their long and deep affection;
			Behold them, how they kneel
				And wait for your selection!

TENORS:		Ah! let your choice on me be set!
			I love you best, more than the rest,
				Mirette! Mirette!

MIRETTE:			Ha! ha! ha! ha!
(laughing)	Ha! ha! it's so amusing, my laughter pray excuse! You've asked me but this moment; how am I to choose?
		For when one is with lovers so - so very well provided, Why, one's naturally rather just a little - a little undecided!
			Ah! Then listen to me, one and all,
				And, oh, pardon my speaking so plainly,
					You, sir, are a little too tall,
				And you, sir, too short and ungainly!
					You're too shy, sir, and you are too bold, You're too young, you, too old!
				Excuse me, pray, excuse me, pray,
					If I refuse when such a choice is provided;
				But, if the truth I now must say,
					I'm undecided, still undecided!
				I can't make up my mind, you see,
					I really don't know what to do;
				But if I marry, if I marry, if I marry,
					But if I marry, why it won't be you!

WOMEN:			But if she marries, if she marries, if she marries,
					But if she marries, it won't be you!

Page modified 27 July 2019