Irene's Dream
(Here probably occur four lines spoken to himself by Florestan while musing on the insanity commonly attributed to Irene
By common minds who run but where they're led.)
He thought the while, "No marvel she's misread:
Her beautiful monotony of leisure,
Her delicate dream-life under the green trees,
Her eyes (that but in Nature seek all pleasure)
To these are but a shape of soul disease."
He thought the while, "No marvel she's misread:
Her beautiful monotony of leisure,
Her delicate dream-life under the green trees,
Her eyes (that but in Nature seek all pleasure)
To these are but a shape of soul disease."
*****
And so, as Fate would have it, did these two
Wander together through those sweet May hours,
Intent the while, she on the strange delight
Of showing so much beauty to new eyes,
The first to share it with her—he on her—
Still more and more bewitched with novelty,
And all with hasty admiration fired
At her strange serious talk and earnest ways;
But tempered with the half-shy consciousness
Native to hearts that ofttimes in extremes
Have passed through all, as yet unworn and young.
To him emotions ever came as new—
Unguarded fires—reflection later came.
Wander together through those sweet May hours,
Intent the while, she on the strange delight
Of showing so much beauty to new eyes,
The first to share it with her—he on her—
Still more and more bewitched with novelty,
And all with hasty admiration fired
At her strange serious talk and earnest ways;
But tempered with the half-shy consciousness
Native to hearts that ofttimes in extremes
Have passed through all, as yet unworn and young.
To him emotions ever came as new—
Unguarded fires—reflection later came.
142
