[The Moon changes into the red beard of the OLD SOLDIER.]
OLD SOLDIER. My beard makes moonlight for me that I may watch you dance.
KAREN. Mercy, Old Soldier! I pray you break your spell!
OLD SOLDIER. You forgot to say the prayers! You thought only of your red shoes!
KAREN. I will go barefoot to church!
OLD SOLDIER. You whispered "red" to the Shoemaker!
KAREN. I will never deceive my dear Grandmother again! Have pity!
OLD SOLDIER. You shall dance in your red shoes till you are pale and cold! By night and by day you shall dance; in sunshine and in rain; in snow and in sleet. Over highways and byways shall you dance; in dark swamps and on mountain tops. You shall go on dancing, dancing, dancing, forever and ever!
[He disappears.]
KAREN. I cannot dance on forever! I cannot! I cannot!
(Weeping; pause.)
Well, I know a way to break the spell, and I'll do it!
(Crossing to hut of the EXECUTIONER; knocking.)
Come out! Come out!
EXECUTIONER (from within the hut). Come in!
KAREN. I cannot come in; I must dance.
EXECUTIONER. Then I will come out.
(The Executioner comes out from hut.)
Well, do you know me?
KAREN. You are the Executioner.
EXECUTIONER. I am the Executioner. I cut off the heads of wicked people with this great ax.
KAREN. Do not strike off my head!
EXECUTIONER. And why not strike off your head, pray?
KAREN. I must have that to repent of my sin. So please to cut off my feet.
EXECUTIONER. It shall be as you say. Thrust out your foot, maid.
[Enter FAIRY QUEEN.]
FAIRY QUEEN. Stay, Executioner, stay! I've come to save you, Karen!
KAREN. To save me?
FAIRY QUEEN. Whenever a child repents of a sin, lo, I am there to save.
KAREN. Will you remove this spell from me?
FAIRY QUEEN. Will you give up your red shoes?
KAREN. Gladly! Gladly! I wish I might never see them again!
FAIRY QUEEN. Then dance to me that I may touch you with my wand.
[Fairy Queen touches Karen's shoes with her wand. The shoes fall off.]
KAREN. Dear Fairy Queen! Dear Fairy Queen! I thank you! I thank you!
FAIRY QUEEN. Look, Karen, your shoes are dancing away! Soon they will be lost to you forever. Shall I not bring them back?
KAREN. No, no! Let them go! Now I am free! Now I can rest!
FAIRY QUEEN. Then come, dear child, I will guide you to your home.
THE STORY OF ALI COGIA
SCENE I
TIME: one evening.
PLACE: the house of a merchant in Bagdad.
| THE MERCHANT. |
| THE MERCHANT'S WIFE. |
[The MERCHANT and his WIFE are at supper.]
WIFE. Our neighbors bought some fine olives to-day. It has been a long time since we have had olives. I am quite hungry for them.
MERCHANT. Now you speak of olives, you put me in mind of the jar which Ali Cogia left with me.
WIFE (pointing to a jar in another part of the room). There is the very jar waiting for him against his return.
MERCHANT. Certainly he must be dead, since he has not returned in all this time. Give me a plate; I will open the jar, and if the olives be good, we will eat them.
WIFE. Pray, husband, do not commit so base an action. You know nothing is more sacred than what is left to one's care and trust.
MERCHANT. But I am certain All Cogia will never return.
WIFE. And I have a strong feeling that he will. What will he think of your honor if he finds the jar has been opened?
MERCHANT. Surely a jar of olives is not to be guarded so carefully, year after year.
WIFE. That is Ali Cogia's affair, not ours. Besides, the olives can't be good after all this time.
MERCHANT (taking a plate). I mean to have a taste of them, at least.
WIFE (indignantly). You are betraying the trust your friend placed in you! I will not remain to witness it.
[She leaves the room. The Merchant crosses and takes cover from jar.]
MERCHANT (looking in jar). My wife was right—the olives are covered with mould, but those at the bottom may still be good.
[He turns the jar up and shakes out the olives. Several gold pieces fall out.]
MERCHANT. What is this? Gold pieces! As I live! Gold! gold!
[He shakes the jar again; a shower of gold pieces fall.]
MERCHANT (dropping the jar in astonishment). A thousand pieces at least! The top of the jar only was laid with olives!
(He puts the gold into his pockets.)
To-night, when my wife is asleep, I will fill the jar entirely with fresh olives, for these show they have been disturbed. And I will make up the jar so that no one, except Ali Cogia himself, will know they have been touched.
SCENE II
TIME: one month later; a moonlight night.
PLACE: a small court opening upon a narrow street of
Bagdad.
| THE CALIPH. |
| THE GRAND VIZIER. |
| FIRST CHILD, who plays he is the Cauzee3 |
| SECOND CHILD, who plays he is the officer. |
| THIRD CHILD, who plays he is Ali Cogia. |
| ZEYN, who plays he is the Merchant. |
| TWO BOYS, who play they are Olive Merchants. |
| MANY OTHER CHILDREN, who look on. |
[The CALIPH, accompanied by his GRAND VIZIER, enters the narrow street upon which the court opens. They are in disguise, appearing as merchants.]
CALIPH. Perhaps we may hear some talk of this affair of Ali Cogia and the merchant, as we go through the city to-night.
VIZIER. It is possible, O Commander of the true Believers! The affair has made a great noise in Bagdad.
CALIPH. Ali Cogia carried the merchant before the Cauzee, I believe.
VIZIER. Yes; he claimed that the merchant had taken from him one thousand pieces of gold.
CALIPH. Proceed; I would know all.
VIZIER. Ali Cogia left with this merchant, so he says, a jar in which he had placed this money. Upon his return, which was but yesterday, he went to the merchant, and, having received the jar, opened it. To his surprise he found that the gold, which he had hidden below a layer of olives, was no longer there.
CALIPH. Ah, that is what Ali Cogia says. What says the merchant?
VIZIER. The merchant made oath before the Cauzee that he did not know there was money in the jar, and so of course could not have taken it.
CALIPH. And the Cauzee dismissed the merchant, I believe.
VIZIER. Yes, Commander of the Faithful, the merchant was acquitted.
CALIPH. This Ali Cogia presented a petition to me to-day, and I promised to hear him to-morrow. Would that I could know the truth of the matter that I may give a just sentence!
[They arrive at the court where several CHILDREN are playing in the moonlight. The Caliph stops to watch them.]
FIRST CHILD. Let us play that the Cauzee is trying the Merchant.
SECOND CHILD (joyfully). Yes, yes!
THIRD CHILD (joyfully). Yes, yes!
ALL CHILDREN (clapping their hands). Yes, yes!
CALIPH (softly to Vizier). Let us sit on this bench. I would know what these children are playing.
[They sit, but are not seen by children.]
FIRST CHILD (taking his seat with great dignity). I choose to be the Cauzee!
SECOND CHILD (taking his place behind the Cauzee). I choose to be the Officer!
THIRD CHILD. I choose to be Ali Cogia!
CAUZEE. Who chooses to be the Merchant?
[Long pause; all the Children hang back.]
CAUZEE. Come, Zeyn, you be the Merchant.
ZEYN. Not I! The part does not please me.
OFFICER. Would you spoil everything, Zeyn?
ZEYN. Oh, well, then, I'll be the Merchant this time.
CAUZEE. Officer, bring in the accused and his accuser.
[The Officer presents the Merchant and Ali Cogia before the Cauzee.]
CAUZEE. Ali Cogia, what charge have you to make against this Merchant?
ALI COGIA (bowing). Sir, when I journeyed from Bagdad seven years ago, I left with this Merchant a jar. Now, into this jar I had put, with some olives, a thousand pieces of gold. When I opened the jar, I found that it had been entirely filled with olives; the gold had disappeared. I beseech your honor that I may not lose so great a sum of money!
CAUZEE. Merchant, what have you to say to this charge?
MERCHANT. I confess that I had the jar in my house, but Ali Cogia found it exactly as he had left it. Did he ever tell me there was gold in the jar? No. He now demands that I pay him one thousand pieces of gold. I wonder that he does not ask me for diamonds and pearls instead of gold. I will take my oath that what I say is the truth.
CAUZEE. Not so fast! Before you come to your oath, I should be glad to see the jar of olives.
(Turning to Ali Cogia.)
Ali Cogia, have you brought the jar?
ALI COGIA. No; I did not think of that.
CAUZEE. Then go and fetch it.
[Ali Cogia goes.]
CAUZEE (to the Merchant). You thought the jar contained olives all this time?
MERCHANT. Ali Cogia told me it contained olives at the first. I will take oath that what I say is the truth.
CAUZEE. We are not yet ready for your oath.
[ALI COGIA enters. He pretends to set a jar before the Cauzee.]
CAUZEE. Ali Cogia, is this jar the same you left with the Merchant?
ALI COGIA. Sir, it is the same.
CAUZEE. Merchant, do you confess this jar to be the same?
MERCHANT. Sir, it is the same.
CAUZEE. Officer, remove the cover.
(The Officer pretends to remove the cover.)
These are fine olives! Let me taste them.
(Pretending to eat an olive.)
They are excellent! But I cannot think that olives will keep seven years and be so good. Therefore, Officer, bring in Olive Merchants, and let me hear what is their opinion.
OFFICER (announcing). Forward, two Olive Merchants!
[Two BOYS present themselves].
CAUZEE. Are you Olive Merchants?
BOYS (bowing). Sir, we are.
CAUZEE. Tell me how long olives will keep.
FIRST OLIVE MERCHANT. Let us take what care we can, they will hardly be worth anything the third year.
SECOND OLIVE MERCHANT. It is true, for then they will have neither taste nor color.
CAUZEE. If it be so, look into that jar and tell me how long it is since those olives were put into it.
[Both Merchants pretend to examine and taste the olives.]
FIRST OLIVE MERCHANT. These olives are new and good.
CAUZEE. You are mistaken. Ali Cogia says he put them into the jar seven years ago.
SECOND OLIVE MERCHANT. Sir, they are of this year's growth. There is not a merchant in Bagdad that will not say the same.
CAUZEE. Merchant, you stand accused. You must return the thousand pieces of gold to Ali Cogia.
MERCHANT. Sir, I protest—
CAUZEE (interrupting). Be silent! You are a rogue. Take him to prison, Officer.
[All the children seize the Merchant and run from the court, laughing and shouting.]
CALIPH (rising). I know now what will be a just trial. I have learned it from the child Cauzee. Do you think I could give a better sentence?
VIZIER. I think not, if the case be as these children played it.
CALIPH. Take care to bid Ali Cogia bring his jar of olives to-morrow. And let two olive merchants attend.
VIZIER. It shall be done, O Commander of true Believers!
CALIPH. If the olives be indeed fresh, then the merchant will receive his punishment and Ali Cogia his thousand pieces of gold.
(Starting off; stopping.)
Take notice of this street, and to-morrow present the boy Cauzee with a purse of gold. Tell him it is a token of my admiration of his wisdom and justice.
THE WILD SWANS
SCENE I
TIME: a long time ago.
PLACE: on the seashore.
| ELIZA. |
| THE GOODY. |
[The GOODY is seen walking along the shore. ELIZA enters from the forest.]
GOODY. Bless me! What is the little girl doing in this lonely place? And alone, too!
ELIZA. I seek my eleven brothers.
GOODY. Ah! Then you must be the Princess Eliza!
ELIZA (sadly). Yes, Goody.
GOODY. And the eleven brothers you seek are the eleven little princes!
ELIZA. Yes; do you know them?
GOODY. I saw them in school one day. Each prince wore a golden crown on his head, a star on his breast, and a sword by his side.
ELIZA (nodding). They studied very hard, just as princes should.
GOODY. They wrote on gold slates with diamond pencils. I myself saw them!
ELIZA. I sat on a little stool of plate-glass. Did you know that?
GOODY. Oh, yes! And I know about your picture-book worth half a kingdom.
ELIZA. We were all so happy then! Our dear mother was alive and sometimes went to school with us. Now all is changed.
GOODY. What has happened?
ELIZA. They have driven us from the palace.
GOODY (indignantly). I said so! On the day of that wedding I said so.
ELIZA. Then you know that my father married again?
GOODY. Yes, I know. I wept when I heard our good king had married that wicked queen.
ELIZA. She drove my brothers away, the very day of the wedding feast.
GOODY. And now she has driven you away!
ELIZA (nodding). If only I could find my dear brothers!
GOODY. You may hear something about them very soon.
ELIZA (quickly). Do you know where they are? Tell me! I pray you tell me!
GOODY (shaking her head mysteriously). I cannot say where they are. I only know what they are.
ELIZA. I do not understand—
GOODY. The wicked queen has turned your brothers into wild swans.
ELIZA. Wild swans?
GOODY (nodding). I saw them yesterday, at sunrise, flying out over the sea. Each swan wore a gold crown on his head.
ELIZA. The queen could not take their crowns from them!
GOODY. As the swans flew upward, their eleven crowns glittered like eleven suns. My eyes were dazzled. I was obliged to look away. At that moment the swans disappeared.
ELIZA (sadly to herself). My poor brothers! I shall never see them again.
GOODY (suddenly). Do you see those great blue bluffs to the south?
ELIZA. Yes; the sea is dashing against them.
GOODY. In those bluffs, back from the shore, is a cave. Go at once to that cave and enter.
ELIZA. And what shall I do there, good woman?
GOODY. Perhaps you may learn how to break the spell over your brothers.
ELIZA (surprised). How to break the spell?
GOODY. Ask no questions, but go at once to the cave.
ELIZA (going). Thank you, good woman. You are very kind to me.
GOODY. Go now, child, and fear nothing.
[Eliza goes; the Goody disappears.]
SCENE II
TIME: a half-hour later.
PLACE: the cave.
| ELIZA. |
| THE FAIRY. |
[ELIZA is seen at entrance of cave. She stops; is afraid to enter.]
ELIZA. I am afraid to enter! It is so dark—I know not what is within! It may be the den of some wild animal.
(Listening.)
Not a sound do I hear! But wild animals are cunning. They know how to lie as still as death and then to leap quickly.
(Pause.)
Well, be it so. I will enter, for I must save my brothers.
[She enters the cave. FAIRY is within the cave, but invisible.]
FAIRY. You have courage, little Eliza.
ELIZA (showing relief). Oh! Are you here, good woman?
FAIRY. Behold!
[The cave is filled with light; a beautiful Fairy is seen.]
ELIZA. Ah! I thought it was the Goody.
FAIRY. No matter, dear child. I knew you were to come here.
ELIZA. I was afraid to enter.
FAIRY. But you did enter. Your love for your brothers was greater than your fear.
ELIZA. It was that which gave me courage.
FAIRY. It was a test of your courage. And now I can tell you how to break the spell over your brothers.
ELIZA. I will do whatever you say.
FAIRY. You will suffer greatly.
ELIZA. What matter, if I save my brothers!
FAIRY (nodding). Then listen. Do you see the stinging nettles which I hold in my hand?
ELIZA. Yes, dear Fairy.
FAIRY. You must gather great quantities of these.
ELIZA. I noticed many of the same sort growing near this cave.
FAIRY (shaking head). You must gather only those that grow in graveyards.
ELIZA. It shall be exactly as you say, dear Fairy.
FAIRY. The nettles will make blisters on your hands.
ELIZA. I will not think of myself; I will think only of my brothers.
FAIRY. Break the nettles into pieces with your hands and feet, and they will become flax. From this flax you must spin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves. If these eleven coats can be thrown over the eleven swans, the spell will be broken.
ELIZA. It shall be done.
FAIRY. But remember, that from the moment you begin your task, until it is finished, you must not speak. Even though it should occupy years of your life, you must not speak.
ELIZA. I shall remember.
FAIRY. The first word you utter will pierce through the hearts of your brothers like a dagger. Their lives hang upon your tongue. Go now and begin your task.
ELIZA (going). I go, dear Fairy.
FAIRY. Remember all I have told you, dear child. Farewell!
[Eliza goes; the cave becomes dark; the Fairy disappears.]
SCENE III
TIME: two days later.
PLACE: a distant country; the King's palace.
| THE KING. |
| HIS WICKED UNCLE. |
| ELIZA. |
| GUARDSMEN. |
| SERVANTS. |
[The WICKED UNCLE stands waiting to receive the King. Enter the KING with ELIZA. She is pale and sad.]
WICKED UNCLE. Welcome, your Majesty! Welcome home from your hunt! But who is this maiden?
KING. I know not, my Uncle.
WICKED UNCLE. What?
KING. My huntsmen found her in a cave in a far-off country.
WICKED UNCLE. In a cave? Alone?
KING (nodding). Alone; spinning coats out of flax.
WICKED UNCLE. This is very strange.
(To Eliza.)
Why were you all alone in a cave, and why were you spinning coats?
(Eliza shakes her head.)
KING. She is dumb, Uncle. Not a word has she uttered since we found her.
WICKED UNCLE. Why did you bring her with you?
KING. I will make her my queen.
WICKED UNCLE (angrily). Your queen?
KING. See how beautiful she is.
WICKED UNCLE (whispering to King). She is a witch!
KING. Nonsense! She is as good as she is beautiful.
WICKED UNCLE (whispering as before). She has bewitched your heart!
KING. Nonsense, I say! She did not want to leave the cave. She wept bitterly when I put her on my horse.
(He turns to the servants.)
Let the music sound! Prepare the wedding feast!
(He turns to Eliza, who weeps.)
Do not weep, my beautiful maid.
WICKED UNCLE (whispering to King). She is not beautiful. She has bewitched your eyes.
KING. I will not listen to you! Go, bid them ring the church bells.
WICKED UNCLE (going; speaking aside). I must poison his heart against her in some way; else I'll never wear the crown.
[Wicked Uncle goes.]
KING (to Eliza). Do not weep. You shall be dressed in silks and velvets and I will place a golden crown upon your head.
(Eliza weeps and wrings her hands.)
Well, then, I know how to make you smile.
[The King opens a door into an inner room. Eliza looks in, smiles, and claps her hands for joy.]
KING. I thought 't would make you happy! 'T is very like your cave—I had it made so.
(Eliza tries to thank King with her eyes.)
But no more spinning! Your fingers shall be covered with diamonds instead of blisters.
(Eliza sighs very sadly.)
Something troubles you, little queen. If you could only tell me of your grief!
(Eliza shakes her head sadly.)
Well, I can at least save you from a life of labor. You shall be most tenderly cared for.
(Calling.)
Ho, there, Guardsmen!
(Enter GUARDSMEN.)
Guardsmen, behold your queen!
(Guards kneel before Eliza.)
Guardsmen, arise and hear my commands.
(Guards rise.)
Your queen is never to do any of the work about the castle. Do you hear me, Guardsmen?
GUARDSMEN (bowing). We hear, O King!
KING. Not even the spinning or weaving. Do you hear me, Guardsmen?
GUARDSMEN (bowing). We hear, O King!
KING. Those are my commands. Now attend us to the banquet-hall.
(To Eliza, who is weeping.)
Weep no more, little queen. I wish only your happiness. Come, give me your hand. We go now to the wedding feast.
[They go out, the Guards attending.]
SCENE IV
TIME: two weeks later; sunrise.
PLACE: the open just without the town gate.
| THE GOODY. |
| THE WICKED UNCLE. |
| THE KING. |
| ELIZA. |
| HER ELEVEN BROTHERS. |
| THE EXECUTIONER. |
| FIRST CITIZEN. |
| SECOND CITIZEN. |
| THIRD CITIZEN. |
| FOURTH CITIZEN. |
| GUARDS. |
[Enter crowds of people from the town gate. Enter the GOODY from the forest. Enter the WICKED UNCLE from the town gate.]
GOODY (to Wicked Uncle). Why these crowds so early, sir?
WICKED UNCLE. Do not call me 'sir.'
GOODY. What shall I say, sir?
WICKED UNCLE. Say, 'Your Highness.'
GOODY. But you are not the King, sir.
WICKED UNCLE. I'm very near it, old woman.
GOODY. Not so near, sir, as you were, sir. There is the new queen, sir.
WICKED UNCLE. The new queen is about to die.
GOODY (alarmed). About to die?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). Aye, because she's a witch. They're bringing her out here now.
GOODY. The King permits it?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). He soon found out the truth about her.
GOODY. And what was that?
WICKED UNCLE. Just what I told him the first time I saw her. "She's a witch," said I, but he would not believe me.
GOODY. What has so changed him?
WICKED UNCLE. 'T was I who saw her slip forth from the castle one midnight. I followed her; straight to the graveyard she went.
GOODY. To the graveyard?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). In she went—I following. I saw her gather the stinging nettles that grow there.
GOODY. But they would blister her hands. Did she not cry out?
WICKED UNCLE. Not a sound did she utter! That would prove her a witch, were there nothing more.
GOODY. Ah, there is something more, then?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding; mysteriously). I followed her back to the castle; through the marble halls and up to the little cave room. I saw her break up the nettles. Then I saw her spin and weave this flax into a magic coat.
GOODY. Bless me! A magic coat?
WICKED UNCLE (nodding). There were ten of them hanging from the ceiling.
GOODY. Of course you told the King?
WICKED UNCLE. Just as soon as I could waken him, but he would not believe me. He said there was but one coat when they brought her here, and that there could be but one now.
GOODY. She worked at night, then, while the castle slept.
WICKED UNCLE. True queens do not work—nay, can't be made to work. Every one knows that.
GOODY. But how did the King find out the truth?
WICKED UNCLE. I persuaded him to watch with me the next night. Just at midnight the queen came out. We followed her to the graveyard. "That is enough," said his Majesty, "she is a witch and must die."
[The CITIZENS rush to the gates.]
CITIZENS (calling). See the witch!
GOODY. Is she coming?
WICKED UNCLE (looking). Yes, she is just within the gate. She rides in an old cart drawn by an old horse—quite good enough for a witch.
[Enter the KING with servants and GUARDS. Behind them is the cart. In the cart sits ELIZA. She is spinning and weaving, never once looking up.]
GOODY. How pale she is! Bless me! She is spinning and weaving.
WICKED UNCLE. It is the eleventh coat and it will be the last.
GOODY. How she hurries to finish it!
[The cart stops.]
KING (to Eliza). Once again I ask you,—Are you a witch?
(Eliza shakes her head.)
Then give up the coats. They are of no use to any one.
[Eliza again shakes her head.]
WICKED UNCLE. That proves her a witch! Else, she would give up the coats.
KING (to Eliza). Once more,—Will you not give them up?
[Eliza shakes her head. The King turns away. He is very sad; his eyes are filled with tears.]
FIRST CITIZEN (calling). See the witch!
SECOND CITIZEN (calling). See her magic coats!
THIRD CITIZEN (calling). Let us tear them to pieces!
FOURTH CITIZEN (calling). At them, Citizens! Tear them to shreds!
GOODY (looking up; speaking aside). Here come the Wild Swans! Now we shall see what we shall see!
[ELEVEN WILD SWANS descend from the sky and alight on the cart. Each wears a golden crown.]
FIRST CITIZEN. Back, Citizens, back! Wild Swans have alighted on the cart!
FOURTH CITIZEN. What do we care for Wild Swans? Forward, Citizens!
FIRST CITIZEN. Back, I say! The Swans are beating us with their strong wings!
SECOND CITIZEN. Back! back, Citizens! We dare not approach the cart!
GOODY (calling to the people). The Swans have come to save the queen! 'T is a sign from heaven that she is innocent!
WICKED UNCLE (angrily). Be silent, old woman!
(He turns to the Executioner.)
Executioner, do your duty!
EXECUTIONER. Out of the cart, witch!
(Eliza shakes her head; takes up coats from floor of cart. The Executioner turns to the Wicked Uncle.)
She will not come!
WICKED UNCLE. Seize her—I command you!
FIRST CITIZEN. Seize her! Seize her!
GOODY. Look, Citizens, look! She is spreading the coats over the Swans!
[Eliza throws the eleven coats over the eleven Swans, who turn to eleven little princes, but the youngest has a swan's wing instead of an arm, for the last sleeve was not finished.]
FIRST CITIZEN. Do you see that, Citizens? They are princes! She has saved them!
SECOND CITIZEN. She is no witch!
THIRD CITIZEN. She is an angel from heaven!
THE ELEVEN BROTHERS. Dear sister, you have saved us!
ELIZA. Now I may speak—I am innocent!
ELDEST BROTHER (to King). Yes, she is innocent!
NINTH BROTHER. How you have suffered for us, dear Eliza!
CITIZENS (to Eliza). Forgive us!
KING (to Eliza). Forgive me! I did not understand.
WICKED UNCLE (annoyed, but trying to conceal it). And I did not understand, I—
KING (sternly). Be silent!
(To Guards.)
Seize him!
(The Guards seize the Wicked Uncle.)
Take him to the mountains where the stinging nettles grow.
WICKED UNCLE. Mercy! Mercy!
KING. You had no mercy on brave little Eliza! Now you shall gather nettles for the rest of your life. Away with him, Guardsmen!
(The Guards take the Wicked Uncle away. The King turns to his servants.)
Let the music sound! Bring forth the queen's golden crown!
(To Eliza.)
My whole kingdom shall do you honor! This land has never seen a more beautiful thing than your love for your brothers.
GOODY (whispering aside). Ring, church bells! Ring of yourselves!
[All the church bells are heard ringing.]
CITIZENS. Hear the church bells! They ring of themselves!
KING. They ring for this sweet queen whose heart is as good as her face is beautiful. Come, Citizens! Away now to the castle! Away to the banquet-hall!
THE TWO COUNTRYMEN
SCENE I
TIME: evening.
PLACE: a large city; a quiet corner with a high wall
back.
| FIRST COUNTRYMAN. |
| SECOND COUNTRYMAN. |
| FIRST CITY WAG. |
| SECOND CITY WAG. |
| MERCHANT. |
[Great crowds of people are seen in the streets. The TWO COUNTRYMEN have just arrived. They find a quiet corner where they place their blankets and baskets of gourds which they carry.]
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. I fear something most dreadful must have happened in that street. See what crowds of people pass that way!
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Perhaps there is a fire. And yet—
[He stops, showing he is puzzled.]
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (anxiously). What troubles thee?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Look thou into that other street! It, too, is full of people, and yet none are gone from here.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Some awful accident hath called them from all parts of the city. We must find out what it may be.
[A MERCHANT passes.]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (to Merchant). I pray thee stop, citizen.
(The Merchant stops.)
Canst thou tell us what dreadful thing hath befallen this city?
MERCHANT. What do you mean?
[TWO CITY WAGS pass; they stop to listen.]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Whither do they go, these vast multitudes? What dreadful thing go they to see?
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Perhaps they flee from some monster just come out of the sea?
MERCHANT. It is ever thus—always the great crowds surging through the streets.
[The Merchant goes.]
SECOND WAG (to Countrymen, winking aside at First Wag). This is your first visit to a city, I take it?
BOTH COUNTRYMEN (bowing). It is, good sirs.
FIRST WAG (winking aside at Second Wag). You know what happens to strangers in our city, of course?
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (anxiously). No, good sir.
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (anxiously). Pray tell us what it may be.
FIRST WAG. 'T is said they become so dazed by the noise of the city and the rush of such countless numbers, they forget who they are.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Eh? Forget who they are?
FIRST WAG (nodding). Aye.
(He winks aside at Second Wag.)
You have heard of this, dear friend?
SECOND WAG (winking aside). To be sure; 't is quite common.
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Forget their own faces?
SECOND WAG. Aye,—their faces. At least, they are not certain as to whose faces theirs may be.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Then we dare not leave this corner!
FIRST WAG. I would not advise it.
SECOND WAG. It would be most unsafe,—at least for to-night.
FIRST WAG. Of course there is this danger,—when you awake in the morning you may not know whether you are yourselves.
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Would that I had never left my farm!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Would that I had never left my wife!
SECOND WAG. Do not despair; there is a way out of your troubles.
BOTH COUNTRYMEN. Tell us, we pray thee!
SECOND WAG. Each of you must take a gourd from his basket there and tie it around his ankle. Then, in the morning, when you awake, you will each know that it is yourself and none other.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (to Second Countryman, joyfully). Dost thou hear? By our gourds we shall know!
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (joyfully). I hear! Thanks and yet again more thanks to thee, good sir!
[The Wags turn to go.]
FIRST WAG. May you know yourselves in the morning for what you truly are!