their ant-hills, and struggle on for crumbs and flies--may burst with
rage if they fail to find them, or die with despair if they should lose
them. I have left all to....

VOICE OF THE MAIDEN. Here--this way--through--

She glides rapidly on.

* * * * *

Hills and mountains overhanging the sea. Clouds, mist, wind, storm.

THE MAN. Where is she gone? The morning breeze dies suddenly away, the
thick mists gather, and the sky grows dark.

There! I have gained at last the very top of this steep peak;--heavens,
what a frightful abyss yawns before me! How moaningly the wind howls up
this rocky pass!

VOICE OF THE MAIDEN (_from a distance_). Come! to me! to me! beloved!

THE MAN. Where art thou? thy voice is almost lost in the distance. How
can I follow thee through this abyss?

A VOICE (_in his ear_). Where are thy wings?

THE MAN. Evil spirit, why dost thou mock and torture me? I scorn thee!

ANOTHER VOICE. What! a great, immortal soul, which in a single moment
should be able to traverse the boundless space of heaven, to faint and
perish at a cliff on the side of a hill! Stout heart! sublime soul,
shuddering, and imploring thy feet to go no farther! poor things!

THE MAN. Appear! Take forms with which I may contend, which may be
overthrown! If I start or quail before you, may _she_ never again be
mine!

THE MAIDEN (_from the other side of the abyss_). Seize my hand, and
swing thyself over to me!

THE MAN. What strange change is coming over thee!...

The flowers start from thy temples, tear themselves loose from thy hair,
and when thou touchest them, they crawl like lizards, and writhe and
hiss like adders!

THE MAIDEN. My beloved!

THE MAN. Merciful God! the wind has twisted and torn off thy floating
drapery; it hangs in squalid rags about thee!

THE MAIDEN. Why dost thou linger?

THE MAN. The rain drops from thy heart, and freezes as it
falls;--skeleton bones look forth from thy bosom!

THE MAIDEN. Thou hast promised, hast sworn!

THE MAN. The lightning has burned out the apples of thine eyes!

CHORUS OF EVIL SPIRITS. Old Satan, welcome back to hell! Thou hast
seduced and ruined a mighty spirit, admired by men, a marvel to itself.

Sublime soul, haughty heart--follow thy beloved!

THE MAN. Wilt thou then damn me, O my God! because I have believed that
Thy Beauty far surpassed the loveliness of earth; because I have left
all to follow it; and have suf