Das Ewige Antlitz

The Eternal Face Since he took his fathers death mask he has stopped carving The sculptor guided by an internal voice must leave He departs from his Bavarian village and family who belong to an indefinite past and sets off for Prague On his journey he has visions Tadpoles squirming in a puddle a worm writhing in agony a flying eagle attacking a swan and a dreamlike masked procession which files past him Upon his arrival in Prague he meets an invalid dancer she has been expecting him Seized by a quiet affection for one another they take a coachride through the desolate streets of fin de siècle Prague But death is also closing in on her