In a corner of Algy's assistants' garden that was sheltered from the north, there rested an old garden bench which, though undeniably decorative owing to advancing decay and its rich coatings of lichens and rust, was no longer safe for human beings to sit upon.
Fluffy birds, however, who not only weigh a great deal less than humans, but are able to leap up into the air should their perch unfortunately happen to collapse beneath them, are able to rest upon it without concern.
So, when Algy noticed a rogue patch of sunshine illuminating the corner of this bench, he hopped up onto it and lay back contentedly against the rusty arm rest, for although the new day had brought some fine sunny intervals, there was also a roaring and bitterly cold wind blowing from the arctic regions of the world, and the dense evergreen shrubbery which screened this spot provided a great deal of protection.
And as he revelled in the adventitious spotlight, Algy realised that for the first time since the autumn, the sun also felt almost warm. Of course he knew that this happy state of affairs was sadly temporary, for a great cloud threatened to bring another shower of sleet and hail very soon, but it was so spring-like for the moment that although there was as yet no sign of the skylarks returning, and in fact the wind was anything but mild, Algy just couldn't help singing:
Die Lerche in blaue Höh entschwebt, der Tauwind weht so lau; sein wonniger milder Hauch belebt und küßt das Feld, die Au. Der Frühling in holder Pracht erwacht, ah alle Pein zu End mag sein, alles Leid, entflohn ist es weit! Schmerz wird milder, frohe Bilder, Glaub an Glück kehrt zurück; Sonnenschein, ah dringt nun ein, ah, alles lacht, ach, ach, erwacht! Which translates roughly as: The lark into blue heights escapes, the thawing wind blows so gently; its delightful mild breath revives and kisses the field, the meadow. Spring awakes in beautiful splendour, ah, all anguish may have come to an end, all suffering has fled far away! Pain becomes milder, happy pictures, Belief in luck returns; Sunshine, ah, please come in, ah, everything laughs, ah, ah, awake!
[Algy is singing the popular waltz Frühlingsstimmen (Spring Voices) by the 19th century Austrian composer Johann Strauss, with original lyrics by Richard Genée.]
This waltz is often played as an orchestral piece, but the lyrics were written for soprano voice and, as an aria, Frühlingsstimmen used to be popular in concert performances. For those who enjoy such things, here is a charming, abridged, staged version from the archives, sung by the clear voice of German soprano Ingeborg Hallstein in 1963:
