Lucindo。What’sthis？Youspeakofstones，bays，wormsandmud？
Butrocksandcragstowerupwardseverywhere，Ineveryspotaspringcomesbubblingforth:
Whetherimpetuous，low，high——whatmatter？
MysteriousplacesstillaretobefoundWhereweareheldenrapturedandspellbound。
Toseethemwakesexcitementinmybreast，Andifitbursts，why，itisjest，nomore。
Sotakemewhereyouwill，yes，tothatgoal！
Waverandfalternot，butlet’saway！
Pertini。TherollingthunderfirstmustceaseitsdinErethepurelightningcleanseyourbreastwithin。
SotoaspotI’llmakemyselfyourguideWhere，Imuchfear，you’llwishtoolongtoabide。
Lucindo。Oh，letourjourney’sgoalliewhereitmay，I’llfollowyou，ifyouwillleadtheway。
Pertini。Mistrustful！（Theybothgoout。）Scene3AroominPertini’shouse。Oulanemisalone，seatedatatable，writing。Paperslieabout。
Suddenlyhespringsup，walkszipanddown，thenstopsabruptlyandstandswithfoldedarms。
Oulanem。Alllost！Thehourisnowexpired，andtimeStandsstill。Thispigmyuniversecollapses。
SoonIshallclaspEternityandhowlHumanity’sgiantcurseintoitsear。
Eternity！Itiseternalpain，Deathinconceivable，immeasurable！
Anevilartificecontrivedtotauntus，Whoarebutclockwork，blindmachineswoundupTobethecalendar—foolsofTime;tobe，Onlythatsomethingthusatleastmighthappen;
Andtodecay，thattheremightbedecay！
Theworldsmusthavehadneedofonethingmore—
Dumb，searingagonytosendthemwhirling。
Deathcomestolifeandputsonshoesandstockings;
Thesorrowingplant，thestone’sinerterosion，ThebirdsthatfindnosongtotellthepainOftheiraethereallife，thegeneraldiscordAndtheblindstrivingoftheAlltoshakeItselfoutofitself，becrushedinquarrel—
Thisnowstandsupandhasapairoflegs，Andhasabreasttofeelthecurseoflife！
Ha，Imusttwinemeonthewheelofflame，AndinEternity’sringI’lldancemyfrenzy！
Ifaughtbesidesthatfrenzycoulddevour，I’dleaptherein，thoughImustsmashaworldThattoweredhighbetweenmyselfandit！
Itwouldbeshatteredbymylong—drawncurse，AndIwoulddingmyarmsaroundcruelBeing，Embracingme，’twouldsilentpassaway。
ThensilentwouldIsinkintothevoid。
Whollytosink，notbe——oh，thiswereLife，ButsweptalonghighonEternity’scurrentToroaroutthrenodiesfortheCreator，Scornonthebrow！CanSunburnitaway？
Boundincompulsion’ssway，curseindefiance！
Lettheenvenomedeyeflashforthdestruction—
Doesithurlofftheponderousworldsthatbind？
Boundineternalfear，splinteredandvoid，BoundtotheverymarbleblockofBeing，Bound，boundforever，andforeverbound！
Theworlds，theyseeitandgorollingonAndhowltheburialsongoftheirowndeath。
Andwe，weApesofacoldGod，stillcherishWithfrenziedpainuponourlovingbreastThevipersovoluptuouslywarm，ThatitasUniversalFormrearsupAndfromitsplaceonhighgrinsdownonus！
Andinourear，tillloathing’sallconsumed，Thewearywaveroarsonward，everonward！
Nowquick，thedieiscast，andallisready;
Destroywhatonlypoetry’sliecontrived，Acurseshallfinishwhatacurseconceived。
（Hesitsdownatthetableandwrites。）Scene4Alwander’shouse;first—beforethehouse。Lucindo，Pertini。
Lucindo。Whybringmehere？
Pertini。Forasucculentpieceofwoman，That’sall！Seeforyourself，andifshesoftlyBreathesamelodiouspeaceintoyoursoul，Thenforward！
Lucindo。What！You’retakingmetowhores？
AndattheverytimewhenallofLifeComesdownwithcrushingforceuponmyshoulders，AndwhenmybreastswellsirresistiblyInamadfrenzycravingself—destruction;
Wheneachbreathbreathesathousanddeathsforme，Andnowawoman！
Pertini。Ha！Raveon，youngman，Breathehellfireanddestruction，breatheaway！
Whatwhores？DidImisunderstandyourmeaning？
See，there’sthehouse。Doesitlooklikeabrothel？
YouthinkIwanttoplaythepimpforyou，Andusetheverydaylightforalantern？
That’srich。Butenterfirstandthere，perhaps，You’lllearnwhatyoudesire。
Lucindo。Iseeyourtrick。
Thestuffyoumadeitofisverycheap。
Youreallyseektoslipthehandthatholdsyou。
BegratefulthatthismomentImusthearyou;
Buttemporisingwillcostyouyourlife。
（Theygointothehouse。Thecurtainfallsandanotherisraised。Amodern，elegantroom。Beatriceissittingonthesofa，aguitarbesideher。Lucindo，Pertini，Beatrice。）
Pertini。Beatrice，ayoungtravellerIbring，Apleasantgentleman，mydistantkinsman。
Beatrice（toLucindo）。Welcome！
Lucindo。ForgivemeifIfindnowords，Nospeechtoexpressmyheart’sastonishment。
Beautysorarequiteoverwhelmsthespirits;
Thebloodleapshigh，butnotawordwillcome。
Beatrice。Fairwords，youngsir。Youareinapleasantmood。
Ithankyourdisposition，notthefavourThatNaturehasdeniedmesounkindly，When’tisyourtonguethatspeaks，andnotyourheart。
Lucindo。Oh，ifmyheartmightspeak，ifitmightonlyPourforthwhatyouhavequickenedinitsdepths，Thewordswouldallbeflamesofmelody，Andeverybreathawholeeternity，AHeaven，anEmpireinfinitelyvast，InwhichallliveswouldsparklebrightwiththoughtsFullofsoftyearning，fullofharmonies，LockingtheWorldsosweetlyinitsbreast，Streamingwithradianceofpureloveliness，Sinceeverywordwouldonlybearyourname！
Pertini。Youwillnottakeitinbadpart，younglady，IfIexplaintoyouthatheisGermanAndalwaysravesofMelodyandSoul。
Beatrice。AGerman！ButIliketheGermanswell，AndIamproudtobeofthatsamestock。
Come，sithere，Germansir。（Sheoffershimaplaceonthesofa。）
Lucindo。Thankyou，mylady。（AsidetoPertini。）
Away！Thereisstilltime;hereIamlost！
Beatrice（abashed）。DidIspeakoutofplace？（Lucindowantstospeak，butPertinicutsin。）
Pertini。Spareusyourflourishesandyourflattery！
Twasnothing，Beatrice;merelysomebusinessThatImuststillarrangeforhiminhaste。
Lucindo（confused，inalowvoice）。
ByGod，Pertini，youareplayingwithme！
Pertini（aloud）。Takeitnotsotoheart，don’tbesoscared！
Theladytrustsmyword，isitnotso？
Beatrice，hemaystay，isitnotso，TillIamback。Andpleaseremember——prudence;
Youareastranger，sonofoolishness。
Beatrice。Oh，come，youngsir，wasthenmywelcomesuchThatyoucouldthinkI’dbanishyou，astranger，FriendofPertini，anoldfriendofours，Unceremoniouslyfromthishouse，Whosehospitabledoorsareopentoall？
Youneednotflatter，butyoumustbefair。
Lucindo。ByGod，yourgraciouskindnessoverwhelmsme！
Youspeakasgentlyastheangelsspeak。
ForgiveifoverawedandovercomeBythewildstreamofpassionlongforgotten，Thelipsspokewhattheyoughttohaveconcealed。
YetseetheskyallclearandluminousSmiledownuponusfromtheclouds’bluerealm，Andseethecoloursthrobsosweetandbright，Nowwrappedinshadeandnowingentlelight，Minglinginharmoniessosoftandfull，Onelovelypicture，oneinspiredsoul。
Seethis，andthenbesilentifyourlipsObey。Butno！yourheartenchantedleaps，Prudenceandcircumspectionvanishedall。
Thelipsmustspeakwhatholdsyourheartinthrall。
EvenastheAeolianlyreisstirredtosoundWhenZephyrwrapshisflutteringpinionsround。
Beatrice。ReproofIcannotfindwithinmyheart，Youdressthepoison，sir，withsuchsweetart。
Lucindo（asidetoPertini）。
Confoundedvillain，yetgoodvillaintoo，WhatshallIdo？Getoutofhere，byGod！
Pertini（aloud）。
Itranklesinhismind，rememberinghowItookthewordsoutofhismouthjustnow。
Inlanguagebeautifulhewouldhavetalked，Whenbymyinterruptionhewasbalked。
Butnevermind，’tisBeatrice’sbeliefYoukindlywishedtoaffordhersomereliefFromyourgrandtalk;likeanyGermanjest，Onceswallowed，it’snoteasytodigest。
Igo。
Lucindo（inalowvoice）。Butman！
Pertini（aloud）。ThinkofthesympathiesThatfromthestomachtotheheartsoonrise;
I’llsoonbebacktofetchyouswiftaway，Orelseinthissweetplacetoolongyou’llstay。
（Aside。）Imustbegone。Andwhilehepayshiscourt，I’llseetheoldmanbringsitalltonaught。
（ExitPertini。Lucindoisinconfusion。）
Beatrice。AndmustIyetoncemorebidyoubeseated？
Lucindo。I’llgladlysithereifyoutrulywishit。（Sitsdown。）
Beatrice。OurfriendPertini’softenstrangelymoody。
Lucindo。Yes，strangelyso！Moststrangely！Verystrangely！
（Pause。）
Forgiveme，lady——youesteemthisman！
Beatrice。Hehaslongbeenatruefriendofthehousehold，Andalwaystreatedmemostamiably。
Andyet——Iknownotwhy——Icannotbearhim。
He’softenviolent。Oftenfromhisbreast—
Forgiveme，he’syourfriend——somesecretspiritCallsstrangely，inavoiceIdonotlike。
ItisasthoughsomeinnerturbulentdarknessShrankfromthedaylight’sopenlookofloveAndfearedtomakeresponse，asifheharbouredAnevilworsethanhistonguespeaks，worseevenThanhisheartdarestothink。Thisisbutsurmise，AndIdowrong，confidingitsosoon;
Itissuspicion;suspicionisaviper。
Lucindo。Doyouregretconfidinginme，then？
Beatrice。Wereitasecretthatconcernedmyself—
Butoh，whatamIsaying！HaveyouwonMytrustalready？YetitisnotwrongThatIshouldtellyoueverythingIknow;
Icouldconfideitalltoanyone，SinceIknownothingthat’snotknowntoall。
Lucindo。Toall？Wellsaid！Youwouldbekindtoall？
Beatrice。Wouldyounottoo？
Lucindo。Oangel，Osweetbeing！
Beatrice。Youmakemefearful，sir。Whatmeanthesewords？
Youjumpsosuddenlyfromthemetotheme！
Lucindo。Imustactquickly，forthehourisstriking。
Whyhesitate？Deathisineveryminute。
CanIconcealit？It’samiracle，Ihavejustmetyou;strangethoughitappears，Wemighthaveknowneachothermanyyears。
ItisasifthemusicIheardsoundWithinmyownheart，livingformhadfound，Andintovibrant，warmrealityThespirit—bondunitingusbreaksfree。
Beatrice。Iwon’tdenyit:youarenottomeAstranger，yetstillstrangeyouare，unknown。
ButasdarkspiritswouldnotletusseeEachothertillthishour，sowemustownTheremaybeotherspiritswhosedeceitBindsuswithtreacherousbonds，howeversweet。
Foresightandwisdomwemustnotdespise;
Thestrongestlightningstrikesnotfromdarkskies。
Lucindo。Ofairphilosopheroftheheart！OGod，Icanresistnomore，foryoucompelme！
DonotimaginethatIdonotholdYouinrespectbecausemyheartgrowsbold。
Itthrobstobursting，allmynervesaretense。
Icanresistnomore。SoonI’llbegone，Far，farawayfromhere，fromyoudivided。
Then，worlds，plungedown，plungedownintotheabyss！
Forgiveme，sweetmychild，forgivethehourThatdrivesmeonwardwithsuchviolentpower。
Iloveyou，Beatrice，byGodIswearit，AndLoveandBeatricemakebutonewordThatIcanutteronlyinonebreath，AndinthisthoughtI’dgotomeetmydeath。
Beatrice。Sincegoodcannevercomeofit，IpraySpeaknomorethus。If——butthiscannotbe——
Youweretowinmyheart，now，straightaway，Surelyyouwouldnolongerhonourme。
You’dsaythatIwasjustacommonthing，Ready，asthousandsare，tohaveherfling。
IfforamomentsuchanotioncrossedYourmind，thenloveandhonourwouldbelost。
Twouldmeanthatyoucaredformenotajot，Andself—reproachwouldhavetobemylot。
Lucindo。Tenderandlovelybeing，hearmeplead！
Ifonlyinmybosomyoucouldread，Ineverlovedtillnow，byGodabove，Andyourreproachesmakeamockoflove。
Letthebasemerchanthaggleoverflaws，Byshrewddelaysmoreprofitstillhedraws。
Lovebringstheunionoftheworldsabout，Naughtisbeyond，andnaughtelsetodesire。
Letthosewhobindthemselvesinhatreddoubt。
LoveisaflashingsparkfromLife’sownfire，Magicthatholdsusinanopenring，Soyieldtoit——thisistheonlythingThatcountsinlove，notprudentcarefulness;
Forloveisquicktokindle，quicktobless。
Beatrice。ShallIbemodest？Coy？No，Imustdare，Howeverhighmayleaptheflames’fierceflare。
YetmybreasttightensunderfearfulstrainAsifdelightweremixedwithsearingpain，AsifbetweenouruniontherecamefloatingAhissingsoundmixedinbydevilsgloating。
Lucindo。Itisthefirewhichyoudonotyetknow，Andtheoldlife，whichnowhasturnedtogoAwayfromus，isspeakingitslastword;
Thenitsreproacheswillnomorebeheard。
Buttellme，Beatrice，howwillyoubemine！
Beatrice。MyfatherwantstotiemetoamanWhomIwouldhateifIcouldhatemyfellows。
Butbeassuredyousoonwillhearfromme。
Whereareyoustaying，sweetfriendofmyheart？
Lucindo。Why，atPertini’shouse。
Beatrice。I’llsendacourier。
Butnowyourname？MostsurelyitmustsoundAsdoesthemusicofthecirclingspheres。
Lucindo（inaseriousvoice）。Lucindoismyname。
Beatrice。Lucindo！Sweet，Sweetringsthatnametome。Ah，myLucindo，Heismyworld，myGod，myheart，myall。
Lucindo。Beatrice，that’syourself，andyouaremore，Youareyetmorethanall，foryouareBeatrice。（Hepressesherardentlytohisbreast。ThedoorburstsopenandWierinenters。）
Wierin。Aprettysight！OBeatrice！Osnake！
Puppetofvirtue，areyou，coldasmarble！
Lucindo。Whatdoyoumeanbythis？Whatdoyouseek？
ByGod，noapecouldeverlooksosleek。
Wierin。Damnedboy，you’llsoonenoughlearnwhatImean。
We’llspeaktogether，youandI，OrivalFashionedinhumanformtomakeitloathsome，Creaturepuffedupwithimpudentconceit，Apieceofblotting—papertowipepenson，Acomicheroofsomewretchedjape。
Lucindo。Andasremarked，beholdthecompleteape！
Shameonyouthustobandywordswithme！
Suchcourageislikebarrel—organmusicPlayedtoapaintedpictureofabattle。
Soontherealthingwillcount。
Wierin。Soon？Nowboy，nowwe’llhavethismatterout！
B—b—byGod——myverybloodrunscold！
Beatrice，I’llfinishoffthisparamour。
Lucindo。Silence，fellow，I’llfollowyouthisinstant。
（Pertinienters。）
Pertini。What’sallthisnoise？Youthinkyou’reonthestreet？（ToWierin。）
Whydoyouscreech，youcrow？I’llstopyourmouth！（Aside。）
I’vecomejustinthenickoftime。ThefellowHassomewhatmisinterpretedmymeaning。
（Beatricefallsinafaint。）
Lucindo。Help！Sheswoons！OGod！
（Hebendsoverher。）
Cometoyourself，angel，sweetspirit，speak！（Hekissesher。）
Feelyouthewarmth？Hereyelidsflutter，shebreathes！
Beatrice，whyareyouso？Oh，tellme，why？
Youwanttokillme？CanIseeyouthus？
（Heraisesherup，embracingher。Wierinwantstorushuponhim。Pertiniholdshimback。）
Pertini。Come，friendCrow，justafewwordsinyourear。
Beatrice（inafaintvoice）。Lucindo，myLucindo，ah，mylostone，Andlosttome，myheart，beforeIwonyou。
Lucindo。Becalm，myangel，nothingshallbelost，AndsoonI’llseethisfellowbreathehislast。
（Hecarrieshertothesofa。）
Liethereawhile;wecannotlongremain，Thisholyplacemustbearnoevilstain。
Wierin。Come，weshallspeaktogether。
Pertini。I’llcometoo。
Onesecondataduelissomethingnew。
Lucindo。Composeyourself，sweetchild，beofgoodcheer。
Beatrice。Farewell。
Lucindo。Angel，farewell。
Beatrice（withadeepsigh）。I’mfulloffear。
（Curtain。EndofActI。）
Bookofverse——KarlMarxSONGTOTHESTARSYoudanceroundandaroundInshimmeringraysoflight，YoursoaringshapesaboundInnumberinfinite。
HerebreaksthenoblestSoul，Thefullheartburstsintwain，AndlikeajewelingoldIsclaspedbymortalpain。
ItturnsonyouitslookDarkly，compellingly，Fromyou，babe—like，wouldsuckHopeandEternity。
Alas，yourlightisneverMorethanaethereallyrare。
NodivinebeingeverCastintoyouhisfire。
Youarefalseimages，Facesofradiantflame;
Heart’swarmthandtendernessAndSoulyoucannotclaim。
AmockeryisyourshiningOfAction，Pain，Desire。
OnyouisdashedallyearningAndtheheart’ssongoffire。
Grieving，wemustturngrey，Endindespairandpain，ThenseethemockeryThatEarthandHeavenremain;
That，aswetrembleeven，Andworldswithinusdrown，Notreetrunk’severriven，Nostargoesplungingdown。
Deadyou’dbeotherwise，Yourgravetheoceanblue，Allgone，theshiningrays，Andallfirespentinyou。
Truthyou’dspeaksilently，Notdazzlewithdeadlight，Norshineinclarity;
AndallroundwouldbeNight。