“I am Italy!  Italy!”

     “See me—­steam in the distance!”

     “O remember! remember!”

Seelchen. [Distracted] Oh! it is hard!

The cow Horn.  I will never desert thee.

The wine Horn.  A hundred times I will desert you, a hundred times come back, and kiss you.

Seelchen. [Whispering] Peace for my heart!

The cow Horn.  With me thou shalt lie on the warm wild thyme.

          Theflowers laugh happily.

The wine Horn.  With me you shall lie on a bed of dove’s feathers.

          Theflowers moan.

The wine Horn.  I will give you old wine.

The cow Horn.  I will give thee new milk.

The wine Horn.  Hear my song!

          From far away comes the sound as of mandolins.

Seelchen. [Clasping her breast] My heart—­it is leaving me!

The cow Horn.  Hear my song!

          From the distance floats the piping of a Shepherd’s reed.

Seelchen. [Curving her hand at her ears] The piping!  Ah!

The cow Horn.  Stay with me, Seelchen!

The wine Horn.  Come with me, Seelchen!

The cow Horn.  I give thee certainty!

The wine Horn.  I give you chance!

The cow Horn.  I give thee peace.

The wine Horn.  I give you change.

The cow Horn.  I give thee stillness.

The wine Horn.  I give you voice.

The cow Horn.  I give thee one love.

The wine Horn.  I give you many.

Seelchen. [As if the words were torn from her heart] Both, both—­I will love!

     And suddenly the Peak of the great Horn speaks.

The great Horn.  And both thou shalt love, little soul!  Thou shalt lie on the hills with Silence; and dance in the cities with Knowledge.  Both shall possess thee!  The sun and the moon on the mountains shall burn thee; the lamps of the town singe thy wings. small Moth!  Each shall seem all the world to thee, each shall seem as thy grave!  Thy heart is a feather blown from one mouth to the other.  But be not afraid!  For the life of a man is for all loves in turn.  ’Tis a little raft moored, then sailing out into the blue; a tune caught in a hush, then whispering on; a new-born babe, half courage and half sleep.  There is a hidden rhythm.  Change.  Quietude.  Chance.  Certainty.  The One.  The Many.  Burn on—­thou pretty flame, trying to eat the world!  Thou shaft come to me at last, my little soul!