“I dance after thee, I follow even faint traces lonely. Where art thou? Give me thy hand! Or thy finger only!

“Here are caves and thickets: we shall go astray!⁠—Halt! Stand still! Seest thou not owls and bats in fluttering fray?

“Thou bat! Thou owl! Thou wouldst play me foul? Where are we? From the dogs hast thou learned thus to bark and howl.

“Thou gnashest on me sweetly with little white teeth; thine evil eyes shoot out upon me, thy curly little mane from underneath!

“This is a dance over stock and stone: I am the hunter⁠—wilt thou be my hound, or my chamois anon?

“Now beside me! And quickly, wickedly springing! Now up! And over!⁠—Alas! I have fallen myself overswinging!

“Oh, see me lying, thou arrogant one, and imploring grace! Gladly would I walk with thee⁠—in some lovelier place!