Lyrics by Frank DiGiacomo with assistance from Julian R. Pace.
After being battered in doubt and disillusionment by his advisers, the Prince voices his despair over his own inability to remain true to Undine, his love and his dreams.
LYRICS
Prince Hulbrand:
Leave me alone! Leave me alone.
(The Ministers leave)
Now is the time to pay for my folly,
my thoughtlessness, my rashness, in bringing her here.
Now is the time to stand as her champion, defend her, protect her,
proclaim her as mine!
Why am I left with a choice which nothing prepares me to make?
I am afraid to stand against them, Undine, afraid to be without you,
I have heard your song sighing the love song of the wind,
dancing the dance of the stream
on its way to the sea. Must I choose to forget this?
I have seen your hair flying behind you
as you ran through the meadow,
the moon in your eyes,
and the sun in your smile; must I choose to forget this?
Your feet, touching so lightly, so softly as not to bruise the grass...
and the flowers stretching on slender necks, reaching to kiss you,
caress you as you pass them by...Undine!
Undine, Undine, your image, Undine, your song,
your song has sung my heart to rest, has sung my heart to rest.
My voice has caught your sound and breathed from its golden gate
each gentle word your lips have told, each gentle word...
Ah, Undine, I have loved you well! And now I would betray you!
Why could I not have left you where I found you, hidden,
protected in darkness, no prey for the hunter.
Ah! There is no place for you here in the world to which I belong,
and no longer a place for him who
would be your lover, be your knight.
And I must face this about myself:
I haven’t the courage to stand by your side.
And I must live with my fear, and I must live wiith my doubt!
You, Undine, are far, far happier than I:
You will be able to live without me, but I cannot live with myself!