"SAUGEFLEURIE" ["WILD SAGE"], LEGEND FOR ORCHESTRA: Op. 21
Saugefleurie, Legende d'après un conte de Robert de Bonnière, was composed in 1884. The tale upon which it is based is from the Contes des Fées of de Bonnière, excerpts from which are prefaced to the score. The story has been retold in English prose as follows:
"Once upon a time a young and beautiful fairy, Saugefleurie, lived humbly and alone by the edge of a lake. The bank was covered with jonquils. She lived quietly in the trunk of a willow, and stirred from it no more than a pearl from its shell. One day the king's son passed by a-hunting, and she left her tree to see the horses, dogs, and cavaliers. The prince, seeing so fair a face, drew rein and gazed on her. She saw that he was handsome; and, as her modesty was emboldened by naïve love, she looked straight into his eyes. They loved each other at first sight, but not a word was spoken. Now it was death for Saugefleurie to love a mortal man, yet she wished to love the prince, and was willing, loving, to die. Nor was there any kindly power to save her. 'My lord,' she said, 'the fine days are past; do you not find solitude beautiful, and do not lovers love more warmly when their love is hidden? If it seem good to you, let us stay here without fear; our eyes can speak at leisure, and we shall find pleasure only in dwelling together. My heart will be light if it be near you. My lord, I give you my life. Take it, and without a question.' Love and death are always ready and waiting. Do not think that Saugefleurie, whose fate I mourn, was spared. She withered at once, for she was Saugefleurie." [68]
The music opens quietly; there is a violin solo; then the approach of the prince's hunting-party is suggested. The love-scene follows—solo first and second violins, solo viola, and flutes; there is an increase of intensity, and the music becomes passionate and stressful. The hunt music returns, followed by a reminiscence of the love-theme; then the end.