--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In her fantastic mood she stretched her…" description: "\"“In her fantastic mood she stretched her soft, clasped hands upward toward the moon. 'Sweet moon,' she said in a kind of mock prayer, 'make your white ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/barry-pain-42676_dance_in-her-fantastic-mood-she-stretched-her_954485.jpg" --- # In her fantastic mood she stretched her soft, clasped… ![“In her fantastic mood she stretched her soft, clasped hands upward toward the moon. 'Sweet moon,' she said in a kind of mock prayer, 'make your white light come down in music into my dancing-room here, and I will dance most deliciously for you to see". She flung her head backward and let her hands…” quote by Barry Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/barry-pain-42676_dance_in-her-fantastic-mood-she-stretched-her_954485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/barry-pain-42676_dance_in-her-fantastic-mood-she-stretched-her_954485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/barry-pain-42676_dance_in-her-fantastic-mood-she-stretched-her_954485.jpg) > ““In her fantastic mood she stretched her soft, clasped hands upward toward the moon. 'Sweet moon,' she said in a kind of mock prayer, 'make your white light come down in music into my dancing-room here, and I will dance most deliciously for you to see". She flung her head backward and let her hands fall; her eyes were half closed, and her mouth was a kissing mouth. 'Ah! sweet moon,' she whispered, 'do this for me, and I will be your slave; I will be what you will.' Quite suddenly the air was filled with the sound of a grand invisible orchestra. Viola did not stop to wonder. To the music of a slow saraband she swayed and postured. In the music there was the regular beat of small drums and a perpetual drone. The air seemed to be filled with the perfume of some bitter spice. Viola could fancy almost that she saw a smoldering campfire and heard far off the roar of some desolate wild beast. She let her long hair fall, raising the heavy strands of it in either hand as she moved slowly to the laden music. Slowly her body swayed with drowsy grace, slowly her satin shoes slid over the silver sand. The music ceased with a clash of cymbals. Viola rubbed her eyes. She fastened her hair up carefully again. Suddenly she looked up, almost imperiously. "Music! more music!" she cried. Once more the music came. This time it was a dance of caprice, pelting along over the violin-strings, leaping, laughing, wanton. Again an illusion seemed to cross her eyes. An old king was watching her, a king with the sordid history of the exhaustion of pleasure written on his flaccid face. A hook-nosed courtier by his side settled the ruffles at his wrists and mumbled, 'Ravissant! Quel malheur que la vieillesse!' It was a strange illusion. Faster and faster she sped to the music, stepping, spinning, pirouetting; the dance was light as thistle-down, fierce as fire, smooth as a rapid stream. The moment that the music ceased Viola became horribly afraid. She turned and fled away from the moonlit space, through the trees, down the dark alleys of the maze, not heeding in the least which turn she took, and yet she found herself soon at the outside iron gate. ("The Moon Slave")”” [Barry Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-pain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman summons the moon’s light through music and dance, seeking transcendence but fearing loss when the music stops. **In simple terms:** She uses art to connect with the moon, feeling both joy and dread. Key Takeaway Embrace creative expression, but accept impermanence. Themes art music dance longing fear Mood yearning introspective dramatic Type literary descriptive poetic When to use this quote - performance art - personal ritual - nighttime reflection - overcoming fear - celebrating beauty Key Concepts transcendence ritual illusion power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does the moon symbolize for you? - How do you cope when inspiration fades? A Different Perspective The yearning for external validation can trap one in dependency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [La vie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/la-vie/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Pagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pagan/) [White light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-light/) [Wild beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-beast/) ## Related quotes > [“Whatever jasmines whispered to the breeze, brought sweets to the night, For there it dove, deep into the heart, The rush of scent, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayita-bhattacharjee/whatever-jasmines-whispered-to-the-breeze-brought-sweets-to-the-night/) [Jayita Bhattacharjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayita-bhattacharjee/) > [“Why not become the one Who lives with a full moon in each eye That is always saying, With that sweet moon Language What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafiz/why-not-become-the-one-who-lives-with-a-full-moon-in-each-eye-that-is/) [Hafiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafiz/) > [Admit something. 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She flung her head backward and let her hands fall; her eyes were half closed, and her mouth was a kissing mouth. 'Ah! sweet moon,' she whispered, 'do this for me, and I will be your slave; I will be what you will.' Quite suddenly the air was filled with the sound of a grand invisible orchestra. Viola did not stop to wonder. To the music of a slow saraband she swayed and postured. In the music there was the regular beat of small drums and a perpetual drone. The air seemed to be filled with the perfume of some bitter spice. Viola could fancy almost that she saw a smoldering campfire and heard far off the roar of some desolate wild beast. She let her long hair fall, raising the heavy strands of it in either hand as she moved slowly to the laden music. Slowly her body swayed with drowsy grace, slowly her satin shoes slid over the silver sand. The music ceased with a clash of cymbals. Viola rubbed her eyes. She fastened her hair up carefully again. Suddenly she looked up, almost imperiously. \"Music! more music!\" she cried. Once more the music came. This time it was a dance of caprice, pelting along over the violin-strings, leaping, laughing, wanton. Again an illusion seemed to cross her eyes. An old king was watching her, a king with the sordid history of the exhaustion of pleasure written on his flaccid face. A hook-nosed courtier by his side settled the ruffles at his wrists and mumbled, 'Ravissant! Quel malheur que la vieillesse!' It was a strange illusion. Faster and faster she sped to the music, stepping, spinning, pirouetting; the dance was light as thistle-down, fierce as fire, smooth as a rapid stream. The moment that the music ceased Viola became horribly afraid. She turned and fled away from the moonlit space, through the trees, down the dark alleys of the maze, not heeding in the least which turn she took, and yet she found herself soon at the outside iron gate. 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