The Beauty Stone
Song No. 1 - Act I
 
Click, clack
Sung by Simon and Joan

MIDI Icon MIDI File 2 min. 23 seconds. CD 1
Track 2

The home of SIMON LIMAL, the weaver - a sombre, wretched-looking dwelling. At the back is a window-opening, giving a view of a narrow alley leading to the market-place; and on the left of the window is the street-door. On the right of the room there is a flight of steep steps leading to the entrance to a loft; and below the steps stands the weaver's loom. On the left of the room is the hearth; below the hearth is a poor shrine containing an image of the Virgin; and, below that, a door admitting to a bed-chamber. In the centre stands a table and chair, and on each side of the hearth is a stool. There is sunshine without, and a narrow shaft of light streams through a little window which is seen in the roof of the loft.

SIMON LIMAL is at the loom, JOAN is making a fire with sticks. They are a feeble, prematurely-aged pair - ragged, poverty-stricken, bent with toil.


SIMON
Click, clack, click, clack -
For ever the shuttle flies!
Here in the gloom
From out the loom
It groans and rattles and cries!
Oh, would the day were ended when the end of the daylight dies!
Oh, would the day were ended, were ended when the end of the daylight dies!
Click, clack, click, clack
Click, clack, click, clack -
For ever the shuttle flies!

JOAN
Click clack, click, clack
The night and day are one!
The moon may sleep
On the castle keep,
But our travail outstays the sun!
Yes, when the daylight is ended our day is only begun!

Yes, when the daylight is ended, is ended our day is only begun!
Click, clack, click, clack
Click, clack, click, clack
The night and the day are one!

BOTH
Across the narrow street
The crooked shadows meet,
And the sound of falling feet
Echoes fainly and grows dumb;

JOAN SIMON
And the moonbeams creep
And the moonbeams and crawl
creep and crawl Down each gable
Down each gable to the wall.
to the wall.

BOTH

Ah, could night but end it all,
We would pray the night were come!
Click clack, click clack!
Click clack, Click clack!
Click clack!

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Page modified 23 February 2004