Fosca's Entrance (I Read)

I so enjoyed the novel by Rousseau
Yes, it's wonderful. It's my favorite, really
The character of Julie is a great mystery
You should have kept the book longer to meditate over.

I do not read to think. I do not read to learn
I do not read to search for truth
I know the truth, the truth is hardly what I need
I read to dream.

I read to live. In other people's lives
I read about the joys, the world
Dispenses to the fortunate
And listen for the echoes.

I read to live
To get away from life!

No, captain, I have no illusions
I recognize the limits of my dreams
I know how painful dreams can be
Unless you know they're merely dreams.

There is a flower which offers nectar at the top
Delicious nectar at the top and bitter poison underneath
The butterfly that stays too long and drinks too deep
Is doomed to die.

I read to fly, to skim
I do not read to swim
I do not dwell on dreams
I know how soon a dream becomes an expectation
How can I have expectations?
Look at me
No, captain, look at me
Look at me!
I do not hope for what I cannot have!
I do not cling to things I cannot keep!
The more you cling to things, the more you love them
The more the pain you suffer when they're taken from you
Ah, but if you have no expectations
You can never have a disappointment
Forgive me. I must be mad to chatter on about myself like this to you.

I assure you
No, forgive me, please
But truly, there is nothing to forgive.

Have you explored the town?
It is remote, isn't it?
And provincial, don't you think?

Yes.

And everything so brown
The streets, the fields, the river even
Though there are some lovely gardens
You do like gardens, I hope?

Yes.

Good, I can show you gardens
And then of course there is the castle
The ruined castle.

Ah.

I find it lovely. Probably because it's ruined
I suppose.

I didn't know there was a castle.

I like to take excursions there
When I'm in better health
Perhaps you join me and my cousin
One day...

That would be delightful
I don't believe I've seen a flower or a garden since
the day I arrived.

Thank you. How delightful
I'm surprised you haven't seen our wonderful greenhouse
Greenhouse?

Yes, we haven't had much luck with the vegetables this year
But the gardenias and petunias are magnificent.

Oh look. There's a funeral procession. I suppose
They come here for flowers to adorn the casket.

It's good to know that the dead here
Signora?
Doctor! Doctor! Help!
(From musical Passion)