I love you.

Look into my eyes. Is it not true that mine is a magnificent, a
powerful look? A firm look and a straight look? And it is
steadfast, like steel forced against your heart. I look ahead and
sway myself, I look and I enchant; in my green eyes I gather your
fear, your loving, fatigued, submissive longing. Come closer to me.
Now I am a queen and you dare not fail to see my beauty; but there
was a strange time--Ah, what a strange time! Ah, what a strange
time! At the mere recollection I am agitated--Ah, what a strange
time! No one loved me. No one respected me. I was persecuted with
cruel ferocity, trampled in the mud and jeered--Ah, what a strange
time it was! One in many! One in many!

I say to you: Come closer to me.

Why did they not love me? At that time I was also a fascinating
creature, but without malice; I was gentle and I danced wonderfully.
But they tortured me. They burnt me with fire. Heavy and coarse
beasts trampled upon me with the dull steps of terribly heavy feet;
cold tusks of bloody mouths tore my tender body--and in my powerless
sorrow I bit the sand, I swallowed the dust of the ground--I was
dying of despair. Crushed, I was dying every day. Every day I was
dying of despair. Oh, what a terrible time that was! The stupid
forest has forgotten everything--it does not remember that time, but
you have pity on me. Come closer to me. Have pity on me, on the
offended, on the sad one, on the loving one, on the one who dances so
beautifully.

I love you.