1st GUARD.
The hangman and King Mark.
The Girl.
Poor soul!
Old Woman.
Why weep'st
Thou, girl?
Old Man (as a crucifix is carried past).
Friends, cross yourselves. The crucifix!
Shepherd (leans forward so that he can see across the courtyard into the castle).
Behold, she comes! My God, how beautiful—!
An angel—!
The Soldier (as Gimella passes).
That, my friend, is but her maid
Gimella.
2d Guard.
Back! Stand back! Thou shalt not push!
Shepherd.
Oh there! Behold, she is a fairy! Yea,
And she is fairer than Gimella far!
I'll fall upon my knees when she goes past.
She's wondrous fair, ay, fairer than a flower,
A lily—See—!
The Soldier (as Brangaene goes by).
Stand up, thou knave, for that's
Brangaene. She's our lady's faithful maid.
Shepherd.
She too was fair! Can one imagine then,
There's any one more beautiful than she?
What wondrous women Mark has at his court!
Such ladies have I never seen—There dwell
None such in Toste! See—! This one—! Oh, God!
Oh, God! The sun has fall'n—! Its blinding
rays—! [Falls on his knees.]