Page:Poet Lore, volume 36, 1925.pdf/413

 Soft music from the forest.

Zajíček (As if in rapture).—How sweetly it sounds, and it is wafted like a message from the darkness of bygone nights, as if softly resounding from afar out of childhood. It is as though I were listening again with my sister and gazing into the face of my mother, which warmed us to the depths of our hearts and glowed even as a ray of light gleams to the depths of a forest well.

''Near the birch trees a forest maiden appears, two others stepping forth at the same time from the forest in the background; more come forth from the right. They glance about like timid fawns and again disappear. Immediately others appear from behind the trees in the little meadow.''

Zajíček.—Good Lord, it’s a dream, I’m dreaming. Hanička!

The soft music suddenly ceases, the forest maidens vanish.

Hanička (Disturbed).—They are coming!

Zajíček.—Who?

Hanička.—They are coming to fetch me, to carry me away!

Zajíček.—Run, run—here into the forest.

Hanička.—It’s too late! Do you hear them?

Franc (Behind the scene, from the outskirts of the forest on left)—Have no fear.

Bailiff.—Why, I’m not afraid. (Enters, looks about him timidly.) She is already gone, I think.

follows him, clinging to him timidly.

''Just then, from all corners of the forest, forest maidens swarm forth, clasping one an-other’s hands and forming a circle around the linden. Soft music.''

Bailiff (Trembling).—That is—that is—Mr. Office—

runs back.

Bailiff.—Mr. Officer!

enters it.

Zajíček.—I fear for you.

Hanička.—Protect me!

Just then it becomes dark; the music ceases.

Forest maidens disappear.

When the moon became forth again, is standing under the linden.