ating and
swaying to and fro upon it.

GUARDIAN ANGEL. If thou keepest the Holy Vow, thou wilt be my brother
forever before the face of our Heavenly Father! Vanishes.

The interior of the church. Wax lights blaze upon the altar--many
witnesses are standing round it. A Priest is reading the marriage
service.

THE PRIEST. Remember, you have sworn to be true and faithful until
death!

The Bride and Groom rise--he presses the hand of the Bride, and
conducts her to one of the relatives. All depart except the Groom;
he remains alone in the church.

BRIDEGROOM. I have descended to an earthly betrothal, I have found her
of whom my spirit dreamed.

Curses be upon my head if I ever cease to love her!

* * * * *

A saloon filled with people. Music, dancing, lights, flowers; the
Bride dances--after a few rounds she remains standing--meets the
Groom, draws apart from the crowd, and leans her head upon his
breast.

BRIDEGROOM. How beautiful thou art, my love, in thy exhaustion, with
flowers and pearls falling in soft confusion through the masses of thy
wavy hair, glowing with the rapid motion of the dance, and blushing with
maiden shame!

Oh, forever and ever thou shalt be my living Poem!

BRIDE. I will be to thee a true wife, as my mother taught me, as my own
heart teaches me. But there are so many men here--there is so much
noise--and it is so hot--

BRIDEGROOM. Go and join once more the dance. I will stand here, and
watch thee as thou floatest on, as I have often gazed in dreams upon the
circling angels.

BRIDE. I will go, since it is thy wish--but I am very weary.

BRIDEGROOM. I pray thee, love, go.

Music and dancing.

* * * * *

Midnight. The Evil Spirit appears, flying about in the form of a
maiden.

EVIL SPIRIT. It is not long since at this same hour I coursed the
earth--the spirits of the lower world now drive me on; they force me to
assume a holy part.

He flies over a garden.

Ye perfumed flowers! tear yourselves from your green stems, and fly into
my hair!

He flies over a graveyard.

Living bloom and fresh charms of buried maidens, lost here, and floating
vainly about above forgotten graves--fly into, and paint my swarthy
cheeks with roseate hues of youth and love!

Under this white stone a fair-haired girl moulders and festers into
wormy