Page:Poet Lore, volume 36, 1925.pdf/412



Hanička (Enters from the right, crosses the stones rapidly, and stands near the linden).—If you, old linden, reminded him—

Zajíček (From the woods on the left; is frightened, then joyfully).—Hanička! My, but you gave me a fright; I thought you were a forest maiden.

Hanička.—O, they do live about here. But what are you doing here? Where are the others?

Zajíček.—They went to the little castle. I had to come back. O dear me, I lost that rhymed, petition, and most likely, and I think for certain, that it must have been here (searches about carefully) when we were frightened away.

Hanička.—What

Zajíček.—No, no. I’m afraid to mention the subject around here. But how about you, where are you going?

Hanička.—After Libor; he is leading the Princess to the little castle.

Zajíček.—He? The miller! But if I could only find that petition. (Begins to look for it.) Without it, the concert is impossible.

Hanička.—We will go together.

ZajííekZajíček [sic].—Immediately—but it was here that—(kneels and seeks further) I read it.—Nothing—not a sign of it anywhere.

Soft music is heard from the forest.

Zajíček (Stops looking for the petition; listens, kneeling).—Heavens, Hanička, do you hear that?

Hanička.—I do.

From the forest a soft chorus of forest maidens’ voices is heard:

Hanička (Quietly).—Do you understand?

Zajíček (Disturbed, in a stifled voice).—Indeed I do.