THE LADY [Unveiling.]
Then, foolish boy, receive at length thy will:
Now knowest thou the greatness of thine ill.
PIERROT
Now have I lost my heart, and gained my goal.
THE LADY
Didst thou not read the warning on the scroll?
[Picking up the parchment.]
PIERROT
I read it all, as on this quest I fared,
Save where it was illegible and hard.
THE LADY
Alack! poor scholar, wast thou never taught
A little knowledge serveth less than naught?
Hadst thou perused—but, stay, I will explain
What was the writing which thou didst disdain.
[Reads:]
"Au Petit Trianon, at night's full noon,
Mortal, beware the kisses of the moon!
Whoso seeks her she gathers like a flower—
He gives a life, and only gains an hour."
PIERROT [Laughing recklessly.]
Bear me away to thine enchanted bower,
All of my life I venture for an hour.
THE LADY
Take up thy destiny of short delight;
I am thy lady for a summer's night.
Lift up your viols, maidens of my train,
And work such havoc on this mortal's brain
That for a moment he may touch and know
Immortal things, and be full Pierrot.
White music, Nymphs! Violet and Eglantine!
To stir his tired veins like magic wine.
What visitants across his spirit glance,
Lying on lilies, while he watch me dance?
Watch, and forget all weary things of earth,
All memories and cares, all joy and mirth,
While my dance woos him, light and rhythmical,
And weaves his heart into my coronal.
Music, more music for his soul's delight:
Love is his lady for a summer's night.
[Pierrot reclines, and gazes at her while she dances. The dance finished, she beckons to him: he rises dreamily, and stands at her side.]
PIERROT
Whence came, dear Queen, such magic melody?