en
everything--it does not remember that time, but you have pity on me.
Come closer to me. Have pity on me, on the offended, on the sad one, on
the loving one, on the one who dances so beautifully.

I love you.

How could I defend myself? I had only my white, wonderful, sharp little
teeth--they were good only for kisses. How could I defend myself? It is
only now that I carry on my neck this terrible burden of a head, and my
look is commanding and straight, but then my head was light and my eyes
gazed meekly. Then I had no poison yet. Oh, my head is so heavy and it
is hard for me to hold it up! Oh, I have grown tired of my look--two
stones are in my forehead, and these are my eyes. Perhaps the glittering
stones are precious--but it is hard to carry them instead of gentle
eyes--they oppress my brain. It is so hard for my head! I look ahead and
sway myself; I see you in a green mist--you are so far away. Come closer
to me.

You see, even in sorrow I am beautiful, and my look is languid because
of my love. Look into my pupil; I will narrow and widen it, and give it
a peculiar glitter--the twinkling of a star at night, the playfulness of
all precious stones--of diamonds, of green emeralds, of yellowish
topaz, of blood-red rubies. Look into my eyes: It is I, the queen--I am
crowning myself, and that which is glittering, burning and glowing--that
robs you of your reason, your freedom and your life--it is poison. It is
a drop of my poison.

How has it happened? I do not know. I did not bear ill-will to the
living.

I lived and suffered. I was silent. I languished. I hid myself hurriedly
when I could hide myself; I crawled away hastily. But they have never
seen me weep--I cannot weep; and my easy dance grew ever faster and ever
more beautiful. Alone in the stillness, alone in the thicket, I danced
with sorrow in my heart--they despised my swift dance and would have
been glad to kill me as I danced. Suddenly my head began to grow
heavy--How strange it is!--My head grew heavy. Just as small and
beautiful, just as wise and beautiful, it had suddenly grown terribly
heavy; it bent my neck to the ground, and caused me pain. Now I am
somewhat used to it, but at first it was dreadfully awkward and painful.
I thought I was sick.

And suddenly... Come closer to me. Look into my eyes. Hush! Hush! Hush!

And suddenly my look became heavy--it became fixed and strange--I was
even frightened! I want to glance and turn away--but cannot