_Genia._ Thou shalt be judge, fair maid; within my train, Is one who can the wildest heart enchain; She rules the realm of song, melodious moves, Gathering the warbled sweets of woodland groves; And thence distilling soul-entrancing lays, That fill the earth with peace, the heavens with praise. Spirit of music, sweet Harmonia, wake: Of thy rich gifts bid Poesie partake. _Music. Characters at back separate._ HARMONIA _discovered_, C., _standing erect, a lyre in her left hand, the fingers of her right upon the strings_. POESIE _moves up, and kneels at her feet, looking up at her with clasped hands. The characters group themselves in sitting and reclining positions about her._ PRIMEVA _and_ GENIA _stand at extreme_ R. _and_ L., _back_. _Solo and chorus_: "_So merrily over the Ocean Spray._" HARMONIA _sings the three solos, then full chorus_. _Solo._ I am queen of the realm of song, My home the harmonious sea, Where the spirits of music prolong Unceasing a welcome for me. From the song wave they merrily brave, Melodious voices glide; Oh, sweet is their song as it floateth along The crest of the tremulous tide! _Chorus._ So merrily over the sea of song, Rising and falling we float along; So merrily over the sea of song, Gayly we float along. Gayly over the sea, Harmonia's spirits free, Singing, singing, Happy, happy are we. As merrily over the sea of song, Rising and falling we float along; So merrily over the sea of song, Over the sea of song, Gayly we float along, Gayly we float along. (_When the song is ended, all keep their places_, POESIE _kneeling, with her eyes fixed upon_ HARMONIA. _A pause; then_ GENIA _steps to the side of_ POESIE.) _Genia._ Silent, fair Poesie? What! no words of praise As tribute to Harmonia's matchless lays? _Poesie._ Can words pay fitting homage to her art? My tribute's here, in this high-swelling heart, Which, filled with rapture, checks the flow of speech That would aspire to praise it cannot reach. _Genia._ And so I triumph. Maiden, unto me This soaring spirit bends the humble knee; Is but a slave to work my sovereign will, And with her sisters my commands fulfil. Over the earth unnumbered spirits bind, At smile from me, rich blessings for mankind; What title can she claim who thus displays All that can bless and strengthen and amaze? _Poesie._ What title can she claim? You ask me this, Whose soul is filled with one rich draught of bliss,— Harmonia's mistress? _Genia._ I that spirit claim. _Primeva_ (_comes down_ L. POESIE _rises_).