Sorrow.
No, thou art mine, Princess. I hold thee fast.
Poetry.
Douce-cœur, I bid thee raise thy heavy eyes.
Dance is the eldest daughter of my heart.
Born when the rhythm of the stars was voiced,
The past and future meet alike in her.
Let her bring back the sunshine to thy face.
Dance.
With flying feet we chased the hours away.
I used to make thee clap thy hands in glee
And thought to go with thee along the years.
Douce-cœur.
My feet are lead, but dance on if thou wilt,
What can the future hold for me and thee?
[As the Dance ends, she cries:]
Ah, Sorrow, bid them cease and drive them hence.
Send Joy and Laughter, Song and Dance away.
Call Silence here who is thy foster-child.
I am afraid of all this mocking world
And fain would live alone, alone with thee.
Sorrow.
Go forth, go forth into the wilderness. Here is no room for ye.
Go forth into the void that lies beyond. Here I in majesty
Henceforth shall reign, veiling the sun and stars to all eternity.
Go forth. Let wide-eyed Silence take the place ye occupied before
Where flowers ye scattered he henceforth shall strew ashes upon the floor.
Twilight shall fall upon this Court of Youth now and for evermore.
[Exeunt Song, Dance, Joy, and Laughter.]
Poetry.
Douce-cœur, thine eyes are bound. Thou dost but see
With vision warped by her who holds thy hand.
I, who have watched the web of Life unfold
And hold the secrets of a million lives,
Can tell thee from the heights whereon I dwell,
It is not thus that thou wilt help the world.
Thou canst not right the wrong with further wrong.
But now thine ears are dulled; thou wilt not hear
What I might teach thee.
[During this speech enter Herald who speaks to Service. Exit Herald.]