The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze

The sun, whose rays

Are all ablaze

With ever-living glory,

Does not deny

His majesty —

He scorns to tell a story!

He don't exclaim,

"I blush for shame,

So kindly be indulgent."

But, fierce and bold,

In fiery gold,

He glories all effulgent!

I mean to rule the earth,

As he the sky —

We really know our worth,

The sun and I!

I mean to rule the earth,

As he the sky —

We really know our worth,

The sun and I!

Observe his flame,

That placid dame,

The moon's Celestial Highness;

There's not a trace

Upon her face

Of diffidence or shyness:

She borrows light

That, through the night,

Mankind may all acclaim her!

And, truth to tell,

She lights up well,

So I, for one, don't blame her!

Ah, pray make no mistake,

We are not shy;

We're very wide-awake,

The moon and I!

Ah, pray make no mistake,

We are not shy;

We're very wide-awake,

The moon and I!

The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze, by W. S. Gilbert.

From The Mikado, 1885, music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, lyrics and libretto by W.S. Gilbert.*

Illustration: Deborah Klein, Untitled, 1992, woodcut on oriental paper

*To hear this glorious song (performed by Shirley Henderson as Leonora Braham
 in the movie Topsy-Turvy, 1999, directed by Mike Leigh) click HERE.