THE GYPSY. You are sixteen years old. When you were born, the planet housed in the sign of Libra was Venus. And so you will love not too much, nor too little, but well. A fortunate planet! There it is, high in the heavens. And see, it is in conjunction with Jupiter. Do you know what that means?
THE MAID. No! Tell me!
THE GYPSY. It means that love and authority will presently come together in your life…. Oh, happy, happy child!
THE MAID. But I do not understand.
THE GYPSY. There are some things past understanding. Even I do not quite understand it yet. I must think it out.
THE MAID. Then think quickly—and advise me. For I read my fortune otherwise. I see myself growing hollow-eyed with looking in eternal silence at the man I love—and worse than that, at the woman I hate— for I do hate her. I shall go mad with wanting to speak out my love and hate. Tell me what to do!
THE GYPSY. I cannot advise to rashness. I can only say—speak out your love and hate.
THE MAID. Do you mean—tell him?
THE GYPSY. Yes. Tell him. And do not be afraid. There is no man so proud but he is moved to tenderness when a woman says she loves him. You go to an easy task, my dear, as I go to a hard one. For there is no woman so kind but her heart is stirred with a base triumph and an easy scorn when a man speaks out his love….
They go out. From the other side the King and the Princess come in.