There are balls and banquets gayest,

And there are jewelled maidens fair.

ALEKO.

What gain can bring the to wn's mad Joys?

Where love reigns not, joy cannot be.

Better far than all their maidens,

Art thou, Zemphire, though poorly clad,

Of jewels and of necklace bare!

Change not, my true and faithful friend,

And I'll keep true to my sole wish,

With thee will share my love, my cares,

My life, in willing banishment

OLD MAN.

I see, thou lovst us and our folk,

Though bora amidst a people rich;But freedom is not alway's dear

To him who has been born in ease.

Amongst us runs a legend old:

From southern climes was banished once

A stranger to our land.... his name

I knew, but have forgotten since....

He was already old in years,

But still was young in heart and soul;

Possessed the wondrous gift of song,

And voice like murmur of the waves.

And all who knew him loved him well,

And on the Danube's shore he lived,

Offended none, and none despised,

Enchanting all with song divine;

Was not proud, nor reasoned wisely,

But weak and timid, like a child.

For him our folk would hunt the beast,

Or trap the fish in close-knit net;

And when the river swift would freeze,