Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/45

 rock, and cannot come to thee; with all my strength I tug at the fetters O, curses, I am weak—(He falls.)

Mahulena (Hastening up towards him).—At thy feet here, here, O my soul! O, place thy foot upon my neck and punish me because they have so tortured thee!

Radúz.—Would that I might die, Mahulena, at this moment, before thou dost depart again—! (Clasps her passionately.)

Mahulena.—I bring thee salvation and freedom!

Radúz.—Ah, do not deceive me! What speaks from thee is pure sympathy and ardent desire! How couldst thou fulfill what thou dost promise?

Mahulena.—I bring the key of thy fetters; behold! I kissit Only my hand trembles too much now; I can scarcely hold it  Yet  Now it is in the lock and creaks  Thy fetters fall! Radúz, thou art free Now flee  go, and let me die! (Falls face downward.)

Radúz (Drawing her toward him).—Thou, my salvation! Dearly beloved soul, thou art dying! I shall cast myself headlong from the crags

Mahulena.—Thou art mad with joy, like myself See, I live! But now go and lose no time (Together they descend from the crag.) How uncertain is thy step! Ah, Radúz, how they have tortured thee! O seat thyself beneath a tree for an instant, thou art trembling too much! Thou art pale, my soul. But thou wilt soon regain thy strength. I will lead thee by a hidden path which only I know. Then thou wilt go in the direction which I shall show thee Dost thou hear what I say? Thou wilt return to thy mother, to thy father, home O, thou wilt think of me sometimes, wilt thou not? But now go; I fear that they will follow me. Thou dost not know, friend, how they can hate—those below in the castle They gave me a potion to bring thee here  They spoke so sweetly, suddenly so sweetly, that suspicion dimly arose in my thoughts  I poured their potion into a crystal goblet, and the crystal, which knows no deceit, cracked in an instant  Ah! my hand was to offer that poison of theirs to thy lips as a balsam! In such manner did they aim at my heart, brutally, and treacherously, and at thy youthful life as well!

Radúz.—O unheard-of cruelty! Weep no more, Mahulena.

Mahulena.—In truth, if I should now shed all my tears, what