"Well, Gott! there isn't anything to be expected then. So hurry up!" Thus the greatest of musical geniuses was done with this world. Germany has given us the greatest musicians, but she leaves other people to take care of them, to love them, and to bury them--or to leave them go "third-class." THE MAGIC FLUTE CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA Queen of the Night. Pamina (Queen's daughter). Papagena. Three ladies of the Queen's Court. Three Genii of the Temple. Tamino, an Egyptian Prince. Monostatos, a Moor in the service of Sarastro. Sarastro, High Priest of the Temple. Papageno, Tamina's servant. Speaker of the Temple. Two priests. Two armed men. Chorus of priests of the Temple, slaves, and attendants. The scene is near the Temple of Isis, in Egypt. Composer: Mozart. ACT I Once upon a time an adventurous Egyptian youth found himself near to the Temple of Isis. He had wandered far, had clothed himself in another habit than that worn by his people, and by the time he reached the temple he had spent his arrows, and had nothing but his useless bow left. In this predicament, he saw a monstrous serpent who made after him, and he fled. He had nothing to fight with, and was about to be caught in the serpent's fearful coils when the doors of the temple opened and three ladies ran out, each armed with a fine silver spear. They had heard the youth's cries of distress, and had rushed out to assist him. Immediately they attacked the monster and killed it, while Tamino lay panting upon the ground. When they went to him they found him unconscious. He seemed to be a very noble and beautiful youth, whose appearance was both heroic and gentle, and they were inspired with confidence in him. "May not this youth be able, in return for our services to him, to help us in our own troubles?" they inquired of each other; for they belonged to the court of the Queen of the Night, and that sovereign was in great sorrow. Her beautiful daughter, Pamina, had been carried away, and none had been able to discover where she was hidden. There was no one in the court who was adventurous enough to search in certain forbidden and perilous places for her. As Tamino lay exhausted upon the ground, one of the women who had rescued him declared that she would remain to guard him--seeing he had no arrows--while the others should go and tell the Queen that they had found a valiant stranger who might help them. At this suggestion the other two set up a great cry. "You stay to guard the youth! Nay, I shall stay myself. Go thou and tell Her Majesty." Thereupon they all fell to quarrelling as to who should remain beside the handsome youth and who should go. Each declared openly that she could gaze upon him forever, because he was such a beauty, which would doubtless have embarrassed Tamino dreadfully if he had not been quite too tired to attend to what they said.