THE FOURTH WATCHER: Come, make an end, if those eyelids still are faithful to one another. THE PRINCESS: Ah! Must I leave you, lovely land? THE FIRST WATCHER: What land? THE PRINCESS: "I sleep" it is called. I have fled from life, I am dancing in a dream, My feet are set among strawberry blossoms and lilies of the valley. I cannot move from my place. A dull voice says, "Come!" A clear voice says, "Go!" But I cannot move from my place. _(She opens her eyes._ THE FOURTH WATCHER: Look and see! Alas, you have ceased to smile. THE PRINCESS (_stretching out both arms and pointing to the bystanders_): Who are these? THE FOURTH WATCHER: Living men, and I am one also. THE PRINCESS: And why do they stay here, seated on the floor? THE FOURTH WATCHER: It is night, and there is no light while it endures. THE PRINCESS: And what is that lamp? THE FOURTH WATCHER: _Lampas est expectationis._ THE PRINCESS: And for what are they waiting? THE FOURTH WATCHER: For Death, who is on the way, and the door is open for him. THE PRINCESS: And what dwelling is this? THE FOURTH WATCHER: It is the house of the King. THE PRINCESS: And why have they placed the lamp upon the floor? THE FOURTH WATCHER: I will tell you that. It is so that they can see it. _(Short pause._ THE FIRST WATCHER: And who are you that question us? _(Short pause._ THE PRINCESS: I do not know. Indeed I do not know who I am! And you, do you not know? Oh, who among you will tell me? THE THIRD WATCHER: _Gaudium nostrum es et dilectio, et jussimus te valere._ THE PRINCESS: Truly? THE SECOND WATCHER: Have you come again, O woman? Your absence has been long, but I have not forgotten, and often I dreamed of you. THE PRINCESS: Then you have known me before? THE SECOND WATCHER: Ask me no questions, for I am a surly man. _(Pause._ THE PRINCESS (_looks pensively from one to another. They lower their eyes_): I see more clearly now. I see you all. Surely the darkness shall not hide you nor the light of the lamp. It is I. What do you want of me? You dreamed of me, you say? Well, I am here. --Why do you keep your eyes lowered? Are you afraid to look at me? THE THIRD WATCHER: There is nothing that we want, O woman, and we do not ask you for anything. THE PRINCESS (_looking at him_): So it is you. I know you now. (_She turns towards the_ FIRST WATCHER) And you! (_She turns towards the_ SECOND WATCHER) And you! (_She turns towards the_ THIRD WATCHER) And you! (_She turns towards the_ FOURTH WATCHER) THE FOURTH WATCHER (_rising hurriedly_): Make way! Let me go! THE PRINCESS (_stretching her hand towards him_): Stay! THE FOURTH WATCHER: I understand only your beauty! It is all a play but why does she turn herself towards us With the face of bygone things and of regret, Alas! and things that were never to be? I remember the sweetness of love! Do not shame me before these men! THE PRINCESS: Shame? And I myself, can I not be ashamed before them,