produced very artfully by the repetition of one little word.
The seventh song shows our lover in a somewhat despondent mood, in keeping with the persistent mist and rain that hide from him the view of his mistress's window. He speculates as to the nature of the answer he is so anxiously awaiting, and dwells on the consequences that will attend her acceptance or refusal of him.
Wet west wind, how you blow, you blow!
And never a line from my lady yet.
Is it ay or no? is it ay or no?"
In the eighth song he has still no answer, and invokes his mistress to accept him. In the ninth he holds her letter doubtfully in his hand before breaking the seal, but at last summons up courage to learn his fate. In the tenth song he breaks forth into exultant joyous exclamation as he reads her consent, and calls on all the birds to rejoice and be merry with him.
In the eleventh song we find him urging his mistress to fix a day for their marriage. She says a year hence, then a month hence, then a week hence, to all
