Life. Ho-ho! Laugh with me. What a jest!
Second Girl [laughs, then shivers].
Life [in high good humor with himself]. Dance for me. You are young. You are happy. Dance!
Second Girl. What shall my dance say?
Life. That it is Spring, and that there are brooks flowing, newly awakened and mad to be with the sea. That there is a white bud widening under the moon, and in a curtained room a young girl sleeping. That the sun has wakened her—
Second Girl [dances these things. At first she is afraid of him, then she forgets and dances with abandon]. And now give me back my crown.
Life. You do not need a crown, pretty one.
Second Girl. I am afraid of you!
Life. Afraid of me! What have I done?
Second Girl. I do not know.