DOUCE-COEUR. Sing if thou wilt. Those days were long ago.
SONG. _I stood beside the lilac bush While all its blossoms rained on me, I watched the white wraith of a moon Turn to pale gold above the sea._
_I held a wand of almond bough And waved it three times circlewise, I whispered words of faery lore With beating heart and close shut eyes._
_I oped them on a forest scene Of summer-land; the open glade Lay shining like a tourmaline Set in a ring of duller jade._
_I saw three queens with shining crowns Go riding by on palfreys gray; I saw three knights that followed close, And dreams were in their eyes that day._
_I saw a minstrel with his harp, His cloak was green and patched and torn; I saw a hunter with his bow, I heard the winding of his horn._
_I saw a bush of lavender With clouds of fluttering butterflies, Then I looked backward to the earth And broke my faery spell with sighs._
DOUCE-COEUR. I cannot bear thy music. In my heart No answering chords respond. The past is dead. I hear the tears of thousands in thy voice. When Sorrow speaks--I hear no tones but hers.
SORROW. No, thou art mine, Princess. I hold thee fast.
POETRY. Douce-coeur, 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-COEUR. My feet are lead, but dance on if thou wilt, What can the future hold for me and thee?
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.