How could I defend myself? I had only my white, wonderful, sharp
little teeth--they were good only for kisses. How could I defend
myself? It is only now that I carry on my neck this terrible burden
of a head, and my look is commanding and straight, but then my head
was light and my eyes gazed meekly. Then I had no poison yet. Oh,
my head is so heavy and it is hard for me to hold it up! Oh, I have
grown tired of my look--two stones are in my forehead, and these are
my eyes. Perhaps the glittering stones are precious--but it is hard
to carry them instead of gentle eyes--they oppress my brain. It is
so hard for my head! I look ahead and sway myself; I see you in a
green mist--you are so far away. Come closer to me.

You see, even in sorrow I am beautiful, and my look is languid
because of my love. Look into my pupil; I will narrow and widen it,
and give it a peculiar glitter--the twinkling of a star at night, the
playfulness of all precious stones--of diamonds, of green emeralds,
of yellowish topaz, of blood-red rubies. Look into my eyes: It is
I, the queen--I am crowning myself, and that which is glittering,
burning and glowing--that robs you of your reason, your freedom and
your life--it is poison. It is a drop of my poison.

How has it happened? I do not know. I did not bear ill-will to the
living.

I lived and suffered. I was silent. I languished. I hid myself
hurriedly when I could hide myself; I crawled away hastily. But they
have never seen me weep--I cannot weep; and my easy dance grew ever
faster and ever more beautiful. Alone in the stillness, alone in the
thicket, I danced with sorrow in my heart--they despised my swift