Three Roses
BALTUS
MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO, AND NOT TOO FAR AWAY,
MY PAPA WAS A SOLDIER IN THE WAR.
HE TOLD OF A GYPSY'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER WHO WAS KILLED, ONE NIGHT ON THE
MOOR.
THERE WAS A CAMP, AROUND A FIRE,
WITH TWO DRUNKEN SOLDIERS WAITING TO RETIRE.
WHEN A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN CAME ASKING FOR HELP,
A HORRIBLE SCENE WOULD TRANSPIRE.
MEESHA
HELP ME PLEASE! UPON MY LIFE! A SOLDIER CHASING ME…
HE SAY I HAVE HIS KNIFE!
SOLDIER
COME CLOSER, COME CLOSER, YOU PRETTY YOUNG THING!
HESSIAN
WE WANT TO SEE YOU DANCE! WE WANT TO HEAR YOU SING!
SOLDIER
Dance, Gypsy!
HESSIAN
What a pretty dress that is!
MEESHA
No! Please. Meesha go!
HESSIAN
I think not. Meesha stay!
BALTUS
THE MEN WERE SO DRUNK, THEY BEGAN TO ASSAULT THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO PLEADED
FOR AID.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE PULLED FROM HER VEST,
A DAGGER WITH GLISTENING BLADE.
SOLDIER
Look at that! She's a thief after all!
HESSIAN
AND MY DEAR, DON'T YOU KNOW WHERE ALL GYPSIES GO WHEN THEY DIE? STRAIGHT
TO HELL!
BALTUS
THEN OUT OF THE SHADOWS, THERE CAME AN OLD WOMAN,
WHO WITNESSED THE HORRIBLE CRIME.
OLD GYPSY
MY DAUGHTER! MY MEESHA! MY BEAUTIFUL GIRL...!
BALTUS
SHE SAID, AS SHE KISSED HER...ONE LAST TIME.
CLUTCHED IN THE HAND OF THE BEAUTIFUL GIRL,
WERE THREE ROSES, ONE WHITE AND TWO RED.
OLD GYPSY
SHE WAS TO MARRY HER LOVER, BUT NOW SHE IS GONE.
AND SOON, YOU TOO, SHALL BE DEAD!
I curse you!
HESSIAN
Leave, woman! Or I'll see that you join your little girl!
OLD GYPSY
SPIRITS, DEMONS, HEAR MY PLEA.
STRIKE HIM DOWN BENEATH THE TREE.
ROSE OF BLOOD, BONES TO DUST.
ROSE OF WHITE, REVENGE IS JUST!
INTO ETERNITY, BREATHE AS ONE.
REST YE SPIRITS, WHAT'S DONE IS DONE.
SUFFER NOW, I WILL NOT WAIT.
THIS ROSE OF WHITE WILL SEAL YOUR FATE!
HESSIAN
A souvenir for my troubles!
OLD GYPSY
NEVER THESE WORDS SHALL YOU REVERSE,
UNTIL ANOTHER TAKES THE CURSE!
FOREVER WITH REGRET AND DREAD
SHALL YOU SEARCH IN VAIN FOR YOUR HEAD.