Our mothers were pregnant at the same time and, this evening, she is married, Melissa, my dearest friend. The roses still lie upon the path; the torches have not yet burned out. And I return, by the same path, with mother, and I dream. Thus, as she is now, I also will be later. Am I already a woman? The cortège, the flutes, the nuptial song and the flowered car of the bridegroom, all the festival, some other evening, will unfold for me under the branches of the olives. Like Melissa at this same hour, I shall unveil myself before a man, I shall know love in the night, and, later, little children will nourish themselves at my swollen breasts.... XX CONFIDENCES The next day I went to her house and we reddened when we saw each other. She led me into her chamber where we would be alone. I had many things to say to her, but when I saw her I forgot them all. I did not even throw myself upon her neck, I regarded her high girdle. I was astonished that nothing in her face had changed, that she still resembled my friend although, since the sleepless night, she had learned so many things startling to me. Suddenly I seated myself upon her knees, took her in my arms, and whispered quickly, anxiously, into her ear. Then she laid her cheek against mine and told me all. XXI THE MOON WITH EYES OF BLUE The night mingles with the hair of women and the branches of the willows. I walked at the edge of the water. Suddenly I heard singing; then only I knew I was there with young girls. I said to them: “To whom do you sing?” They replied: “To those who return.” One awaited her father, another her brother; but she who awaited her lover was the most impatient. They had woven for themselves crowns and garlands cut from the branches of palms and lotos drawn from the water. They rested their arms on each other’s necks and sang one after another. I moved along the river, saddened and all alone, but in looking about me I saw that, behind the great trees, the moon with eyes of blue was guiding me. XXII SONG “Shadow of the woods, whence she should come, tell me, where has my mistress gone?--She has descended upon the plain.--Plain, where has my mistress gone?--She has followed the banks of the river.” “Fair river who hast seen her pass, tell me, is she near this place?--She has left me for the path.--Path, dost thou see her still?--She has left me for the road.” “O white road, road of the city, tell me, where hast thou led her?--To the street of gold which enters into Sardis.--O street of light, touchest thou her naked feet?--She has entered the palace of the king.”