(To the chorus.)
Eat, comrades, drink abundantly, friends.
(The Shepherd and the chorus withdraw.)
Act IV.
The Seraglio.
The Shulamite
(musing.)
I sleep but my heart waketh. I heard the voice of my beloved. He knocked. Open to me! he said. My sister, my love, my immaculate dove, open to me, for my head is covered with dew, the locks of my hair are wet ... I rose to open to my beloved ... but he was gone. My soul faileth me when he spoke not. I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him but he did not reply.
(A pause. She relates the story of her abduction.)
The watchman that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me, and the keepers of the walls took away my veil.
(To the Odalisques.)