Act I. This play takes place somewhere and somewhen but begins in a

blooming garden in spring. And the most fragrant flowers in the garden are the lovely girls that play in it. Take care, _Lobetanz_; take care! Now that you have leaped over the wall into the garden, still take care! You are a travelling singer, your clothes are tattered; but you are a magnificent fellow and sing as only a bird can sing or a fellow who knows nothing about the illness of the _Princess_. What is the matter with her then? She no longer laughs as she once did, her cheeks are pale, she no longer sings but sighs. "Alas!" Oh, the maidens know what is the matter with her but no one asks the maidens. The poet-laureate today at the festival of the Early Rose Day will announce what is the matter with the child of the _King_. And the _King_ is coming, the _Princess_ and the people. And the poets proudly strut in and make known their wisdom. But that does not help. Now the sound of a violin is heard. How the _Princess_ listens and now the player comes before her and fiddles and sings and the maid revives. Roses bloom on her cheeks; her eyes shine in looking at the violinist who is singing of the morning in May when they kissed each other, innocently dear, and played "bridegroom and bride." You must flee, _Lobetanz_, flee; that is magic with which you are subduing the child of the _King_.