real life, and an early death is inevitable for you!—It’s all the same, whether she comes as madness or in her usual guise—it’s inevitable, I tell you. This strong mead has heated my head; who knows, perhaps it has made me a prophet.—An early death is inevitable for you! D’you hear, inevitable!
Master: Amen.
Friend: If you permit, I shall sleep here to-night; I’m too tired, but early to-morrow morning, at sunrise, give me horses, the quickest you have. (A pause. Companion finishes the andante. Master kisses her.)
Master (passionately): Hey! Begin! Androgyne, where are you? Quick! (To Companion.) Play! I like that “Dance of the Wrathful Road.” It’s the path of our life. Oh, don’t joke! even we can be serious! It’s the path of our life with its fatal dangers! One must be very clever not to suffer on this wrathful road. Play, girl! Grusha, dance! Begin! (Companion begins Bach’s bourrée in E sharp. Fool and Arab laugh merrily. Enter Maid and begins to dance.)
(Curtain)
