Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/46

 would remain to me when thou dost leave me? O, Radúz, thou wilt never forget me; say, never, never!

Radúz.—O, speak not to me of separation! That word hath no meaning. Mahulena, why should those separate who love each other? I love thee, dost thou hear? Not merely because thou hast preserved me, not merely because thou hast suffered for me, not because of thy great compassion—O, no! no! I love thee because well, I know not why, I know only that I love thee! A short time ago that word was strange to me. Never before now have my lips uttered it, never until now! O, whence hath it arisen? Whence came the star when first it showed its beams in the heavens! Thy dear head I hold in my trembling hands and I would kiss thy bright forehead I, who never before kissed any being save my mother  Yet some terror forbids me, I know not of what sort! Thy foot-print, however, here I venture to kiss

Mahulena (Restraining him as he bows to her feet)—My Radúz, what I do in truth I know not; yet a great calm has suddenly stolen over my soul, and I long to rest my head upon thy breast thus, only for a moment, that I may hear how thy heart beats And on thine eyes receive this kiss of mine, on thy cleare yes (Kisses him on the eyes.) And on thy lips this second kiss, here

Radúz.—Mahulena, what powerful charm breathes from thy lips? I am suddenly as if transformed: what has happened to me? I am no longer the man that I have been; I am with thee alone: something new, which never was and which now will endure for evermore, hath awakened in me! Something infinitely better than that which was before! It is as if thou hadst entered into me! Now shall come to see only with thine eyes and to breathe only with thy breath! All my thoughts are thine and one beating unites our hearts If thou shouldst leave me—here I should vanish into nothingness! Tell me, is that perchance what they call love? O tell me! It seems to me that thou knowest all, all!

Mahulena.—Radúz, I know but this, that I am happy. (Remains silent in his embrace. Suddenly.) But, luckless girl, I forget! O, flee, Radúz, while there is yet time! O, flee!

Radúz.—Without thee? Art thou mad?

Mahulena.—Thou wouldst have me go with thee, abide with thee?