SCENEIII
Thedarksceneagainbecomesglamorous。SEELCHENisseenwithherhandstretchedouttowardsthePiazzaofalittletown，withaplanetreeononeside，awallontheother，andfromtheopendoorwayofanInnapalepathoflight。OvertheInnhangsafullgoldenmoon。
Againstthewall，undertheglimmerofalamp，leansayouthwiththefaceofTHEWINEHORN，inacrimsondock，thrummingamandolin，andsinging:
\"LittlestarsoulThroughthefrostfieldsofnightRoamingalone，disconsolate——
FromoutthecoldIcalltheeinStrikingmydarkmandolinBeneaththismoonofgold。\"
FromtheInncomesaburstoflaughter，andthesoundofdancing。
SEELCHEN:[Whispering]Itisthebigworld！
TheYouthofTHEWINEHORNsingsOn:
\"Prettygreymoth，Wherethestrangecandlesshine，Seekingforwarmth，sodesperate——
Ah！flutteringdoveIbidtheewinStrikingmydarkmandolinThecrimsonflameoflove。\"
SEELCHEN。[GazingenrapturedattheInn]Theyaredancing！
AsSHEspeaks，fromeithersidecomemoth—children，meetingandflutteringupthepathoflighttotheInndoorway;thenwheelingaside，theyformagain，andagainflutterforward。
SEELCHEN。[Holdingoutherhands]Theyarereal！Theirwingsarewindy。
TheYouthofTHEWINEHORNsingson;
\"Lipsofmysong，Tothewhitemaiden’sheartGoye，andwhisper，passionate。
Thesewordsthatburn’Olisteningone！
LovethatfliethpastisgoneNorevermayreturn！’\"
SEELCHENrunstowardshim——butthelightabovehimfades;hehasbecomeshadow。Sheturnsbewilderedtothedancingmoth—
children——buttheyvanishbeforeher。AtthedooroftheInnstandsLAMONDinadarkcloak。
SEELCHEN。Itisyou！
LAMOND。WithoutmylittlesoulIamcold。Come！[Heholdsouthisarmstoher]
SEELCHEN。ShallIbesafe？
LAMOND。Whatissafety？Areyousafeinyourmountains？
SEELCHEN。WhereamI，here？
LAMOND。TheTown。
Smiling，hepointstothedoorway。Andsilentasshadowstherecomedancingout，twobytwo，twogirlsandtwoyouths。Thefirstgirlisdressedinwhitesatinandjewels;andthefirstyouthinblackvelvet。Thesecondgirlisinrags，andashawl;
andthesecondyouthinshirtandcorduroys。Theydancegravely，eachcoupleasifinaworldapart。
SEELCHEN。[Whispering]Inthemountainsalldancetogether。Dotheyneverchangepartners？
LAMOND。Howcouldthey，littleone？Thosearerich，thesepoor。
Butsee！
ACORYBANTICCOUPLEcomedancingforth。Thegirlhasbarelimbs。
aflame—colouredshift，andhairboundwithredflowers;theyouthwearsapanther—skin。Theypursuenotonlyeachother。
buttheothergirlsandyouths。Foramomentallisafuriousmedley。ThentheCorybanticCouplevanishintotheInn，andthefirsttwocouplesareleft，slowly，solemnlydancing，apartfromeachotherasbefore。
SEELCHEN。[Shuddering]ShallIonedaydancelikethat？
TheYouthofTHEWINEHORNappearsagainbeneaththelamp。Hestrikesaloudchord;thenasSEELCHENmovestowardsthatsoundthelampgoesout;thereisagainonlyblueshadow;butthecoupleshavedisappearedintotheInn，andthedoorwayhasgrowndark。
SEELCHEN。Ah！WhatIdonotlike，hewillnotletmesee。
LAMOND。Willyounotcome，then，littlesoul？
SEELCHEN。Alwaystodance？
LAMOND:Notso！
THESHUTTERSofthehousesaresuddenlythrownwide。InalightedroomononeaideoftheInnareseentwopalemenandawoman，amongstmanyclickingmachines。OntheothersideoftheInn，inaforge，arevisibletwowomenandaman，buthalfclothed，makingchains。
SEELCHEN。[Recoilingfrombothsights，inturn]Howsadtheylook——all！Whataretheymaking？
InthedarkdoorwayoftheInnalightshinesout，andinitisseenafigure，visibleonlyfromthewaistup，cladingold—clothstuddedwithjewels，withaflushedcomplacentface，holdinginonehandaglassofgoldenwine。
SEELCHEN。Itisbeautiful。Whatisit？
LAMOND。Luxury。
SEELCHEN。Whatisitstandingon？Icannotsee。
Unseen，THEWINEHORN’Smandolintwangsout。
LAMOND。Forthatdonotlook，littlesoul。
SEELCHEN。Canitnotwalk？[Heshakeshishead]Isthatalltheymakeherewiththeirsadness？
Butagainthemandolintwangsout;theshuttersfalloverthehouses;thedooroftheInngrowsdark。
LAMOND。Whatisit，then，youwouldhave？Isitlearning？Therearebookshere，that，piledoneachother，wouldreachtothestars！
[ButSEELCHENshakesherhead]Thereisreligionsodeepthatnomanknowswhatitmeans。[ButSEELCHENshakesherhead]Thereisreligionsoshallow，youmayhaveitbyturningahandle。Wehaveeverything。
SEELCHEN。IsGodhere？
LAMOND。Whoknows？IsGodwithyourgoats？[ButSEELCHENshakesherhead]Whatthendoyouwant？
SEELCHEN。Life。
Themandolintwangsout。
LAMOND。[Pointingtohisbreast]Thereisbutoneroadtolife。
SEELCHEN。Ah！butIdonotlove。
LAMOND。Whenafeatherdies，isitnotlovingthewind——theunknown？
Whenthedaybringsnotnewthings，wearechildrenofsorrow。Ifdarknessandlightdidnotchange，couldwebreathe？Child！Toliveistolove，toloveistolive—seekingforwonder。[Andasshedrawsnearer]See！Toloveistopeerovertheedge，and，spyingthelittlegreyflower，toclimbdown！Ithaswings;ithasflown——againyoumustclimb;itshivers，’tisbutairinyourhand——youmustcrawl，youmustcling，youmustleap，andstillitisthereandnotthere——forthegreyflowerflitslikeamoth，andthewindofitswingsisallyoushallcatch。Butyoureyesshallbeshining，yourcheeksshallbeburning，yourbreastshallbepanting——Ah！littleheart！[Thescenefallsdarker]Andwhenthenightcomes——thereitisstill，thistledownblownonthedark，andyourwhitehandswillreachforit，andyourhoneybreathwaftit，andnever，never，shallyougraspthatwantonthing——butlifeshallbelovely。[Hisvoicediestoawhisper。Hestretchesouthisarms]
SEELCHEN。[Touchinghisbreast]Iwillcome。
LAMOND。[Drawinghertothedarkdoorway]Loveme！
SEELCHEN。Ilove！
Themandolintwangsout，thedoorwayforamomentisallglamorous;andtheypassthrough。IlluminedbytheglimmerofthelamptheYouthofTHEWINEHourisseenagain。Andslowlytothechordsofhismandolinhebeginstosing:
\"ThewindyhoursthroughdarknessflyCansthearthemlittleheart？
Newlovesareborn，andoldlovesdie，Andkissinglipsmustpart。
TheduskybeesofpassingyearsCanstseethem，soulofmine——
Fromflowerandflowersuppingtears，Andpalesweethoneywine？
[Hisvoicegrownstrangeandpassionate]
Oflamethattreadsthemarshoftime。
Flittingforeverlow。
Where，throughtheblackenchantedslime。
We，desperate，followinggoUntimelyfire，webidtheestay！
Intodarkairabove。
Thegoldengipsythinsaway——
Sohasitbeenwithlove！\"
Whileheissinging，themoongrowspale，anddies。Itfallsdark，savefortheglimmerofthelampbeneathwhichhestands。
Butashissongends，thedawnbreaksoverthehouses，thelampgoesout——THEWINEHORNbecomesshadow。ThenfromthedoorwayoftheInn，intheshrillgreylightSEELCHENcomesforth。Sheispale，asifwanwithliving;hereyeslikepitchagainstthepowderywhitenessofherface。
SEELCHEN。Myheartisold。
Butasshespeaks，fromfarawayisheardafaintchimingofCOWBELLS;andwhileshestandslistening，LAMONDappearsinthedoorwayoftheInn。
LAMOND。Littlesoul！
SEELCHEN。You！Alwaysyou！
LAMOND。Ihavenewwonders。
SEELCHEN。[Mournfully]No。
LAMOND。Iswearit！Youhavenottiredofme，thatamneverthesame？Itcannotbe。
SEELCHEN。Listen！
ThechimeofTHECOWBELLSisheardagain。
LAMOND。[Jealously]Themusic’ofdullsleep！Haslife，then，withmebeensorrow？
SEELCHEN。Idonotregret。
LAMOND。Come！
SEELCHEN。[Pointing—toherbreast]Thebirdistiredwithflying。
[Touchingherlips]Theflowershavenodew。
LAMOND。Wouldyouleaveme？
SEELCHEN。See！
There，inastreakofthedawn，againsttheplanetreeisseentheShepherdofTHECOWHORN，standingwrappedinhismountaincloak。
LAMOND。Whatisit？
SEELCHEN。He！
LAMOND。Thereisnothing。[Heholdsherfast]Ihaveshownyouthemarvelsofmytown——thegay，thebitterwonders。Wehaveknownlife。
IfwithyouImaynolongerlive，thenletusdie！See！HerearesweetDeathsbySlumberandbyDrowning！
Themandolintwangsout，andfromthedimdoorwayoftheInncomeforththeshadowyforms。DEATHBYSLUMBER，andDEATHBYDROWNING。
whotoaghostlytwangingofmandolinsdanceslowlytowardsSEELCHEN。
standsmilingather，andasslowlydanceaway。
SEELCHEN。[Following]Yes。Theyaregoodandsweet。
WhileshemovestowardstheInn。LAMOND’Sfacebecomestransfiguredwithjoy。Butjustasshereachesthedoorway。
thereisadistantchimingofbellsandblowingofpipes，andtheShepherdofTHECOWHORNsings:
\"Tothewildgrasscome，andthedullfarroarOfthefallingrock;totheflowerymeadsOfthymountainhome，wheretheeaglessoar，Andthegrizzledflockinthesunshinefeeds。
TotheAlp，whereI，inthepalelightcrownedWiththemoon’sthinhorns，tomypastureroam;
Tothesilentsky，andthewistfulsoundOftherosydawns———mydaughter，come！\"
WhileHEsings，thesunhasrisen;andSEELCHENhasturned。
withpartedlips，andhandsstretchedout;andtheformsofdeathhavevanished。
SEELCHEN。Icome。
LAMOND。[Claspingherknees]Littlesoul！MustIthendie，likeagnatwhenthesungoesdown？WithoutyouIamnothing。
SEELCHEN。[Releasingherself]Poorheart——Iamgone！
LAMOND。Itisdark。[Hecovershisfacewithhiscloak]。
ThenasSEELCHENreachestheShepherdofTHECOWHORN，thereisblownalongnoteofapipe;thescenefallsback;andthererisesafar，continual，mingledsoundofCowbells，andFlowerBells，andPipes。
SCENEIV
Thesceneslowlybrightenswiththemistyflushofdawn。
SEELCHENstandsonagreenalp，withallaround，nothingbutbluesky。Aslipofacrescentmoonislyingonherback。OnalowrocksitsabrownfacedGOATHERDblowingonapipe，andthefourFlower—childrenaredancingintheirshiftsofgreywhite。
andblue，rose—pink，andburnt—gold。Theirbellsareringing。
astheypelteachotherwithflowersoftheirowncolours;andeachinturn，wheeling，flingsonefloweratSEELCHEN，whoputsthemtoherlipsandeyes。
SEELCHEN。Thedew！[Shemovestowardstherock]Goatherd！
ButTHEFLOWERSencirclehim;andwhentheywheelawayhehasvanished。SheturnstoTHEFLOWERS，buttheytoovanish。Theveilsofmistarerising。
SEELCHEN。Gone！[Sherubshereyes;thenturningoncemoretotherock，seesFELSMANstandingthere，withhisarmsfolded]Thou！
FELSMAN。Sothouhastcome——likeasickheifertobehealed。WasitgoodintheTown——thatkepttheesolong？
SEELCHEN。Idonotregret。
FELSMAN。Whythenreturn？
SEELCHEN。Iwastired。
FELSMAN。Neveragainshaltthougofromme！
SEELCHEN。[Mocking]Withwhatwiltthoukeepme？
FELSMAN。[Graspingher]Thus。
SEELCHEN。IhaveknownChange——Iamnotimidmaid。
FELSMAN。[Moodily]Aye，thouartdifferent。Thineeyesarehollow——thouartwhite—faced。
SEELCHEN。[Stillmocking]Thenwhathastthouherethatshallkeepme？
FELSMAN。Thesun。
SEELCHEN。Toburnme。
FELSMAN。Theair。
Thereisafaintwailingofwind。
SEELCHEN。Tofreezeme。
FELSMAN。Thesilence。
Thenoiseofthewinddiesaway。
SEELCHEN。Yes，itislonely。
FELSMAN。Wait！Andtheflowersshalldancetothee。
Andtoaringingoftheirbells。THEFLOWERScomedancing;
till，onebyone，theycease，andsinkdown，nodding，fallingasleep。
SEELCHEN。See！Eventheygrowsleepyhere！
FELSMAN。Iwillcallthegoatstowakethem。
THEGOATHERDisseenagainsittinguprightonhisrockandpiping。Andtherecomefourlittlebrown，wild—eyed，nakedBoys，withGoat’slegsandfeet，whodancegravelyinandoutofTheSleepingFlowers;andTHEFLOWERSwake，springup，andfly。
TilleachGoat，catchinghisflowerhasvanished，andTHE
GOATHERDhasceasedtopipe，andliesmotionlessagainonhisrock。
FELSMAN。Loveme！
SEELCHEN。Thouartrude！
FELSMAN。Loveme！
SEELCHEN。Thouartgrim！
FELSMAN。Aye。Ihavenosilvertongue。Listen！Thisismyvoice。
[Sweepinghisarmroundallthestillalp]Itisquiet。Fromdawntothefirststarallisfast。[Layinghishandonherheart]Andthewingsofthebirdsshallbestill。
SEELCHEN。[Touchinghiseyes]Thineeyesarefierce。InthemIseethewildbeastscrouching。InthemIseethedistance。Aretheyalwaysfierce？
FELSMAN。Never——tolookonthee，myflower。
SEELCHEN。[Touchinghishands]Thyhandsareroughtopluckflowers。[ShebreaksawayfromhimtotherockwhereTHEGOATHERDislying]See！Nothingmoves！Theverydaystandsstill。Boy！[ButTHEGOATHERDneitherstirsnoranswers]Heislostintheblue。
[Passionately]Boy！Hewillnotanswerme。Noonewillanswermehere。
FELSMAN。[Withfiercelonging]AmIthennoone？
SEELCHEN。Thou？
[Thescenedarkenswithevening]
See！Sleephasstolentheday！Itisnightalready。
TherecomethefemaleshadowformsofSLEEP，ingreycobwebgarments，wavingtheirarmsdrowsily，wheelingroundher。
SEELCHEN。AreyouSleep？DearSleep！
Smiling，sheholdsoutherarmstoFELSMAN。Hetakesherswayingform。Theyvanish，encircledbytheformsofSLEEP。Itisdark，saveforthelightofthethinhornedmoonsuddenlygrownbright。Thenonhisrock，toafaintgapingTHEGOATHERD
sings:
\"Mygoat，mylittlespeckledone。
Myyellow—eyed，sweet—smelling。
LetmoonandwindandgoldensunAndstarsbeyondalltellingMake，everyday，asweetergrass。
Andmultiplythyleaping！
AndmaythemountainfoxespassAndneverscenttheesleeping！
Oh！Letmypipebeclearandfar。
Andletmefindsweetwater！
Nohawknorudder—seekingjarComenearthee，littledaughter！
Mayfieryrocksdefend，atnoon，Thytenderfeetfromslipping！
Oh！hearmyprayerbeneaththemoon——
GreatMaster，Goat—God——skipping！\"
TherepassesinthethinmoonlighttheGoat—GoodPan;andwithalongwailofthepipeTHEGOATHERDBOYissilent。Thenthemoonfades，andallisblack;till，inthefaintgrislylightofthefalsedawncreepingup，SEELCHENisseenrisingfromthesideofthesleepingFELSMAN。THEGOATHERDBOYhasgone;butbytherockstandstheShepherdofTHECOWHORNinhisdock。
SEELCHEN。Years，yearsIhaveslept。Myspiritishungry。[ThenassheseestheShepherdofTHECOWHORNstandingthere]Iknowtheenow——Lifeoftheearth——thesmellofthee，thesightofthee，thetasteofthee，andallthymusic。Ihavepassedtheeandgoneby。
[Shemovesaway]
FELSMAN。[Waking]Wherewouldstthougo？
SEELCHEN。Totheedgeoftheworld。
FELSMAN。[Risingandtryingtostayher]Thoushaltnotleaveme！
[Butagainsthersmilinggesturehestrugglesasthoughagainstsolidity]
SEELCHEN。Friend！Thetimeisonme。
FELSMAN。Weremykisses，then，toorude？WasItoodull？
SEELCHEN。Idonotregret。
TheYouthofTHEWINEHORNisseensuddenlystandingoppositethemotionlessShepherdofTHECOWHORN;andhismandolintwangsout。
FELSMAN。ThecursedmusicoftheTown！Isitbacktohimthouwiltgo？[Gropingforsightofthehatedfigure]Icannotsee。
SEELCHEN。Fearnot！Igoeveronward。
FELSMAN。Donotleavemetothewindintherocks！Withouttheeloveisdead，andImustdie。
SEELCHEN。Poorheart！Iamgone。
FELSMAN。[Crouchingagainsttherock]Itiscold。
AttheblowingoftheShepherd’spipe，THECOWHORNstretchesforthhishandtoher。Themandolintwangsout，andTHEWINE
HORNholdsouthishand。Shestandsunmoving。
SEELCHEN。Companions。Imustgo。Inamomentitwillbedawn。
InSilenceTHECOWHORNandTHEWINEHORN，covertheirfaces。
Thefalsedawndies。Itfallsquitedark。
SCENEV
Thenafaintglowstealingup，lightsthesnowyheadofTHE
GREATHORN，andstreamsforthonSEELCHEN。Toeitheraideofthatpathoflight，likeshadows。THECOWHORNandTHEWINE
HORNstandwithcloakedheads。
SEELCHEN。GreatOne！Icome！
ThePeakofTHEGREATHORNspeaksinafar—awayvoice，growing，withthelight，clearerandstronger。
Wanderingflame，thourestlessfeverBurningallthings，regrettingnone;
Thewindsoffatearestilledforever——
Thylittlegenerouslifeisdone。
Andallitswistfulwonderingscease！
Thoutravellertothetidelesssea，Wherelightanddark，andchangeandpeace，AreOne——Come，littlesoul，toMYSTERY！
SEELCHENfallingonherknees，bowsherheadtotheground。Theglowslowlyfadestillthesceneisblack。
SCENEVI
Thenastheblacknesslifts，inthedimlightofthefalsedawnfilteringthroughthewindowofthemountainhut。LAMONDandFELSMAN
areseenstandingbesideSEELCHENlookingdownatherasleeponthewindowseat。
FELSMAN。[Puttingouthishandtowakeher]Inamomentitwillbedawn。
Shestirs，andherlipsmove，murmuring。
LAMOND。Lethersleep。She’sdreaming。
FELSMANraisesalantern，tillitslightfallsonherface。
Thenthetwomenmovestealthilytowardsthedoor，and，asshespeaks，passout。
SEELCHEN。[Risingtoherknees，andstretchingoutherhandswithecstasy]GreatOne。Icome！[Waking，shelooksaround，andstrugglestoherfeet]Mylittledream！
Throughtheopendoor，thefirstflushofdawnshowsinthesky。
Thereisasoundofgoat—bellspassing。
Thecurtainfalls。