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Through the frost fields of night
Roaming alone； disconsolate
From out the cold
I call thee in
Striking my dark mandolin
Beneath this moon of gold。〃
From the Inn comes a burst of laughter； and the sound of
dancing。
SEELCHEN： ＇Whispering＇ It is the big world！
The Youth of THE WINE HORN sings On：
〃Pretty grey moth；
Where the strange candles shine；
Seeking for warmth； so desperate
Ah！ fluttering dove
I bid thee win
Striking my dark mandolin
The crimson flame of love。〃
SEELCHEN。 ＇Gazing enraptured at the Inn＇ They are dancing！
As SHE speaks； from either side come moth…children； meeting and
fluttering up the path of light to the Inn doorway； then
wheeling aside； they form again； and again flutter forward。
SEELCHEN。 ＇Holding out her hands＇ They are real！ Their wings are
windy。
The Youth of THE WINE HORN sings on；
〃Lips of my song；
To the white maiden's heart
Go ye； and whisper； passionate。
These words that burn
'O listening one！
Love that flieth past is gone
Nor ever may return！'〃
SEELCHEN runs towards himbut the light above him fades； he has
become shadow。 She turns bewildered to the dancing moth…
childrenbut they vanish before her。 At the door of the Inn
stands LAMOND in a dark cloak。
SEELCHEN。 It is you！
LAMOND。 Without my little soul I am cold。 Come！ ＇He holds out his
arms to her＇
SEELCHEN。 Shall I be safe？
LAMOND。 What is safety？ Are you safe in your mountains？
SEELCHEN。 Where am I； here？
LAMOND。 The Town。
Smiling； he points to the doorway。 And silent as shadows there
come dancing out； two by two； two girls and two youths。 The
first girl is dressed in white satin and jewels； and the first
youth in black velvet。 The second girl is in rags； and a shawl；
and the second youth in shirt and corduroys。 They dance
gravely； each couple as if in a world apart。
SEELCHEN。 ＇Whispering＇ In the mountains all dance together。 Do they
never change partners？
LAMOND。 How could they； little one？ Those are rich； these poor。
But see！
A CORYBANTIC COUPLE come dancing forth。 The girl has bare limbs。
a flame…coloured shift； and hair bound with red flowers； the
youth wears a panther…skin。 They pursue not only each other。
but the other girls and youths。 For a moment all is a furious
medley。 Then the Corybantic Couple vanish into the Inn； and the
first two couples are left； slowly； solemnly dancing； apart from
each other as before。
SEELCHEN。 ＇Shuddering＇ Shall I one day dance like that？
The Youth of THE WINE HORN appears again beneath the lamp。 He
strikes a loud chord； then as SEELCHEN moves towards that sound
the lamp goes out； there is again only blue shadow； but the
couples have disappeared into the Inn； and the doorway has grown
dark。
SEELCHEN。 Ah！ What I do not like； he will not let me see。
LAMOND。 Will you not come； then； little soul？
SEELCHEN。 Always to dance？
LAMOND： Not so！
THE SHUTTERS of the houses are suddenly thrown wide。 In a
lighted room on one aide of the Inn are seen two pale men and a
woman； amongst many clicking machines。 On the other side of the
Inn； in a forge； are visible two women and a man； but half
clothed； making chains。
SEELCHEN。 ＇Recoiling from both sights； in turn＇ How sad they look
all！ What are they making？
In the dark doorway of the Inn a light shines out； and in it is
seen a figure； visible only from the waist up； clad in
gold…cloth studded with jewels； with a flushed complacent face；
holding in one hand a glass of golden wine。
SEELCHEN。 It is beautiful。 What is it？
LAMOND。 Luxury。
SEELCHEN。 What is it standing on？ I cannot see。
Unseen； THE WINE HORN'S mandolin twangs out。
LAMOND。 For that do not look； little soul。
SEELCHEN。 Can it not walk？ ＇He shakes his head＇ Is that all they
make here with their sadness？
But again the mandolin twangs out； the shutters fall over the
houses； the door of the Inn grows dark。
LAMOND。 What is it； then； you would have？ Is it learning？ There
are books here； that； piled on each other； would reach to the stars！
＇But SEELCHEN shakes her head＇ There is religion so deep that no man
knows what it means。 ＇But SEELCHEN shakes her head＇ There is
religion so shallow； you may have it by turning a handle。 We have
everything。
SEELCHEN。 Is God here？
LAMOND。 Who knows？ Is God with your goats？ ＇But SEELCHEN shakes
her head＇ What then do you want？
SEELCHEN。 Life。
The mandolin twangs out。
LAMOND。 ＇Pointing to his breast＇ There is but one road to life。
SEELCHEN。 Ah！ but I do not love。
LAMOND。 When a feather dies； is it not loving the windthe unknown？
When the day brings not new things； we are children of sorrow。 If
darkness and light did not change； could we breathe？ Child！ To live
is to love； to love is to live…seeking for wonder。 ＇And as she draws
nearer＇ See！ To love is to peer over the edge； and； spying the
little grey flower； to climb down！ It has wings； it has flownagain
you must climb； it shivers； 'tis but air in your handyou must
crawl； you must cling； you must leap； and still it is there and not
therefor the grey flower flits like a moth； and the wind of its
wings is all you shall catch。 But your eyes shall be shining； your
cheeks shall be burning； your breast shall be pantingAh！ little
heart！ ＇The scene falls darker＇ And when the night comesthere it
is still； thistledown blown on the dark； and your white hands will
reach for it； and your honey breath waft it； and never； never； shall
you grasp that wanton thingbut life shall be lovely。 ＇His voice
dies to a whisper。 He stretches out his arms＇
SEELCHEN。 ＇Touching his breast＇ I will come。
LAMOND。 ＇Drawing her to the dark doorway＇ Love me！
SEELCHEN。 I love！
The mandolin twangs out； the doorway for a moment is all
glamorous； and they pass through。 Illumined by the glimmer of
the lamp the Youth of THE WINE Hour is seen again。 And slowly
to the chords of his mandolin he begins to sing：
〃The windy hours through darkness fly
Canst hear them little heart？
New loves are born； and old loves die；
And kissing lips must part。
The dusky bees of passing years
Canst see them； soul of mine
From flower and flower supping tears；
And pale sweet honey wine？
＇His voice grown strange and passionate＇
O flame that treads the marsh of time。
Flitting for ever low。
Where； through the black enchanted slime。
We； desperate； following go
Untimely fire； we bid thee stay！
Into dark air above。
The golden gipsy thins away
So has it been with love！〃
While he is singing； the moon grows pale； and dies。 It falls
dark； save for the glimmer of the lamp beneath which he stands。
But as his song ends； the dawn breaks over the houses； the lamp
goes outTHE WINE HORN becomes shadow。 Then from the doorway
of the Inn； in the shrill grey light SEELCHEN comes forth。 She
is pale； as if wan with living； her eyes like pitch against the
powdery whiteness of her face。
SEELCHEN。 My heart is old。
But as she speaks； from far away is heard a faint chiming of
COWBELLS； and while she stands listening； LAMOND appears in the
doorway of the Inn。
LAMOND。 Little soul！
SEELCHEN。 You！ Always you！
LAMOND。 I have new wonders。
SEELCHEN。 ＇Mournfully＇ No。
LAMOND。 I swear it！ You have not tired of me； that am never the
same？ It cannot be。
SEELCHEN。 Listen！
The chime of THE COWBELLS is heard again。
LAMOND。 ＇Jealously＇ The music' of dull sleep！ Has life； then； with
me been sorrow？
SEELCHEN。 I do not regret。
LAMOND。 Come！
SEELCHEN。 ＇Pointing…to her breast＇ The bird is tired with flying。
＇Touching her lips＇ The flowers have no dew。
LAMOND。 Would you leave me？
SEELCHEN。 See！
There； in a streak of the dawn； against the plane tree is seen
the Shepherd of THE COW HORN； standing wrapped in his mountain
cloak。
LAMOND。 What is it？
SEELCHEN。 He！
LAMOND。 There is nothing。 ＇He holds her fast＇ I have shown you the
marvels of my townthe gay； the bitter wonders。 We have known life。
If with you I