Crassus. 
Look, before us
Light streams, a tremulous chorus. 
Oh, it is vague and vacillating!

Alicia. 
Love,
Young love of maidens, is the soul thereof. 
And in the midst, behold, O man! 
The image of great Pan.

Crassus. 
I fear him.

Alicia. 
Go and lie there, at his feet. 
Lie supine!  Lie on that moss-covered root,
While I draw forth the flute
And make a marvellous music.
                        [She ceases laughing and begins to play.]

Crassus. 
O I writhe
Beneath the force of lips, of fingers lithe
That touch the delicate stops so delicately.

Alicia. 
Hush! 
I have drawn the bird from the bush. 
Pan will appear anon.

Crassus. 
Ah!  Ah! ...  Ah!  Ah!

Alicia. 
This music moves you.  Now I’ll play a tune
That would make mad the melancholy moon. 
This.

Crassus. 
Ah! you tear my soul out with the trills. 
Your fingers play like summer lightning on the shaft. 
It is like a storm on the mountains when it shrills;
Like the angry sea when it booms.  Hark!

Alicia. 
Some god laughed.

Crassus. 
Your mouth is like some god’s It burns and blooms
With fire unheard of, with unguessed perfumes. 
O let me kiss you!

Alicia. 
So you stop my song!
                        [She ceases the tune.]

Crassus. 
There is another song.

Alicia. 
You do me wrong. 
For you love Adela!

Crassus. 
By God, girl, no! 
I love Alicia.

Alicia. 
Ah! you love her so! [She laughs]

Crassus. 
Your laugh is shocking — why do you mock me, dear?

Alicia. 
Because you will not guess my secret here. 
But — put your arms about my neck, and swar
You love me, and will always keep them there. 
Then I might dare.

Crassus. 
I swear it.  O my sweet!

Alicia. 
Then take my kiss.

Crassus. 
Your mouth is like a rose of fire.  But what is this? 
I cannot bear it.

Alicia. 
Ai!  Uhu!  Uhu! 
It is my heart; this arrow strikes me through. 
Stir not one muscle for a moment.  Death! 
You beast, you kill me with your urgent breath.

Crassus. 
O how I love you! [He moves violently.]

Alicia. 
Fool!  Now all my pain
Must be gone through again. 
It is sure your chastity’s unstained by crime;
You do the wrong thing just at the right time!

Crassus. 
Why do you taunt me?  All the wood is spring’s,
And love is hovering o’er us with his wings.

Alicia. 
Sub pennis, penis!

Crassus. 
Hush! you break the spell.