"a young artist was deeply in love with a girl who did not love him. he felt so desperately sad that he tried to poison himself with opium. he did not take enough to kill him. it just made him fall into a deep sleep. in this sleep he imagined all sorts of things. his beloved came to him in a dream. she changes into a musical theme (the "idée fixe") which he just cannot forget. he imagines her love and his tender feelings for her."