| [00:17.160] |
We caught the tread of dancing feet, |
| [00:21.161] |
We loitered down the moonlit street, |
| [00:24.413] |
And stopped beneath the harlot's house. |
| [00:28.911] |
Inside, above the din and fray, |
| [00:33.164] |
We heard the loud musicians play |
| [00:36.162] |
The "Treues Liebes Herz" of Strauss. |
| [00:42.163] |
Like strange mechanical grotesques, |
| [00:45.662] |
Making fantastic arabesques, |
| [00:48.914] |
The shadows raced across the blind. |
| [00:52.913] |
We watched the ghostly dancers spin |
| [00:55.663] |
To sound of horn and violin, |
| [00:58.413] |
Like black leaves wheeling in the wind. |
| [01:03.913] |
Like wire-pulled automatons, |
| [01:07.163] |
Slim silhouetted skeletons |
| [01:09.914] |
Went sidling through the slow quadrille. |
| [01:14.664] |
They took each other by the hand, |
| [01:17.414] |
And danced a stately saraband; |
| [01:20.914] |
Their laughter echoed thin and shrill. |
| [01:26.164] |
Sometimes a clockwork puppet pressed |
| [01:29.915] |
A phantom lover to her breast, |
| [01:32.915] |
Sometimes they seemed to try to sing. |
| [01:37.165] |
Sometimes a horrible marionette |
| [01:39.916] |
Came out, and smoked its cigarette |
| [01:42.916] |
Upon the steps like a live thing. |
| [01:48.916] |
Then, turning to my love, I said, |
| [01:51.916] |
"The dead are dancing with the dead, |
| [01:55.416] |
The dust is whirling with the dust." |
| [01:59.417] |
But she--she heard the violin, |
| [02:03.417] |
And left my side, and entered in: |
| [02:06.667] |
Love passed into the house of lust. |
| [02:44.669] |
Then suddenly the tune went false, |
| [02:48.420] |
The dancers wearied of the waltz, |
| [02:51.170] |
The shadows ceased to wheel and whirl. |
| [02:55.670] |
And down the long and silent street, |
| [02:58.920] |
The dawn, with silver-sandaled feet, |
| [03:02.421] |
Crept like a frightened girl. |