Section Two
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Many's the heart that's breakingIf we could read them allAfter the ball is over." (An old song.) # To be read or sung slowly and softly,in the manner of lustful, insinuating music. #Scornfully, gailyThe bandmaster sways,Changing the strainThat the wild band plays.With a red and royal intoxication,A tangle of soundsAnd a syncopation,Sweeping and bendingFrom side to side,Master of dreams,With a peacock pride.A lord of the delicate flowers of delightHe drives compunctionBack through the night.Dreams he's a soldierPlumed and spurred,And valiant ladsArise at his word,Flaying the soberThoughts he hates,Driving them backFrom the dream-town gates.How can the languorousDancers knowThe red dreams come# To be read or chanted slowly and softlyin the manner of lustful insinuating music. #When the good dreams go?"'Tis theNIGHTOf love,"Call the silver joy-bells,"NIGHTOf love,"Call the silver joy-bells."Honey and wine,Honey and wine.Sing low, now, violins,Sing, sing low,Blow gently, wood-wind,Mellow and slow.Like midnight poppiesThe sweethearts bloom.Their eyes flash power,Their lips are dumb.Faster and fasterTheir pulses come,Though softer nowThe drum-beats fall.Honey and wine,Honey and wine.'Tis the firemen's ball,'Tis the firemen's ball. # With a climax of whispered mourning. #"I am slain,"Cries true-loveThere in the shadow."And I die,"Cries true-love,There laid low."When the fire-dreams come,The wise dreams go."# Suddenly interrupting. To be read or sung ina heavy bass. First eight lines as harsh as possible.Then gradually musical and sonorous. #BUT HIS CRY IS DROWNEDBY THE PROUD BAND-MASTER.And now great gongs whang,Sharper, faster,And kettledrums rattleAnd hide the shameWith a swish and a swirkIn dead love's name.Red and crimsonAnd scarlet and roseMagical poppiesThe sweethearts bloom.The scarlet staysWhen the rose-flush goes,And love lies lowIn a marble tomb."'Tis theNIGHTOf doom,"Call the ding-dong doom-bells."NIGHTOf Doom,"Call the ding-dong doom-bells.# Sharply interrupting in a very high key. #Hark how the piccolos still make cheer."'Tis a moonlight night in the spring of the year."# Heavy bass. #CLANGARANGA, CLANGARANGA,CLANG... CLANG... CLANG.CLANG... A... RANGA...CLANG... A... RANGA...CLANG... CLANG... CLANG...LISTEN... TO... THE... MUSIC...OF... THE... FIREMEN'S BALL...LISTEN... TO... THE... MUSIC...OF... THE... FIREMEN'S... BALL....
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