ABSTRACT
The new lovers pass slowly through the silent glades, and tell each other their stories. Siegfried learns that his beloved is called Odette, and that she is the daughter of a knight and a good fairy. After her fairy-mother’s death, she fell under the power of her stepmother, who is a witch. She and her friends transform themselves into swans to escape the witch’s attention. The witch will lose her power to injure Odette once Odette has married, but until then she must wear a crown that protects her from harm. Odette allows Siegfried to see the other swan-maidens. He is fascinated to witness their various ritualistic dances, and to gain an insight into their strange world. Siegfried declares that he has fallen hopelessly in love with Odette, and that he will marry her, if only she will turn up to be chosen at the palace ball the following night. Odette says that he will see many beautiful women at the ball, and forget all about her. She adds that she feels that the witch is setting up a test of his love, and that the outcome could be disastrous. He persuades her, though, to go ahead with his plan. With the dawn, Odette and her swan-maidens disappear, and Siegfried must wait until the evening to see her again.
