The night before my wedding,

Guess what happened me.

I rose up to the window,

If daybreak I could see—

The dawn of day,

The lovely dawn of day,

Of light and love so gay.

I rose up to my window,

If daybreak I could see,

The lovely moon still shining

Was all that greeted me.

The lovely moon still shining,

Was all the sign of light.

I thought it must be four o'clock,

But 't was not yet midnight.

I thought it must be four o'clock,

But midnight had not sped.

My mother, who was listening,

Heard the cross words I said.

My mother, who was listening,

Heard the sad sighs I drew.

"Be silent, little fool," she said,

"Or God will punish you!

"Be silent, little fool," she said,

Or God will bring you loss."

"O, mother dear, do you not know

What't is that makes me cross?

"O, mother dear, do you not know,

What't is that gives me pain,

You lie at ease, but I do not;

I must get up again."

There is also a flavor of mockery in the naÏve dialogue between the shepherd, Joseph, and his mistress, whom he has come to waken in the morning, and to invite to spend the day with him on the mountain. The shepherdess wants to be assured of something more substantial than mere affection before she yields to the temptation.