226 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



to you, when I am carried away by the charm of 

 your beauty and melody, when I call you my sweet 

 little one, and you come to my call to bite me caress- 

 ingly with your little beak and flutter your black and 

 yellow wings as if to embrace me ; when in my ardour 

 I take you tenderly in my hands to hold you to my 

 heaving breast and wish and wish that in kissing you 

 I could breathe into you my very life! 



Even so does my owner with me: when in the 

 delirium of passion he strains me to him, when he 

 showers gold and gems and all beautiful gifts on me, 

 and seeks after every imaginable pleasure for my 

 delight, and would give his very life for me — his 

 mistress, bride and queen, who is more than all the 

 world to him. In vain — in vain! Here in my heart 

 there is a voice which asks me : Does it delight you ? 

 Does it sweeten your captivity ? Oh, no, no, his 

 benefits do but increase this secret eternal bitterness! 



Even so do you, oh, my little bird, reward me for 

 all my love and tenderness and blame me with those 

 painfully sharp notes for this tasteless life to which 

 you are doomed; even so do you cry for your lost 

 liberty, and open and flutter your wings with the 

 desire to fly. 



You shall not open them in vain — your pleadings 

 have pierced my heart. You shall go, my beloved 

 bird — you shall go in peace. My love can no longer 

 deny you the boon desired so ardently — so easily 

 bestowed! Go, and know the happiness which free- 

 dom gives, which is now yours, but can nevermore, 

 alas! be mine. 



