THE BIRTH OF THE IVY.

Illustrated with Ten Tableaux, especially arranged for this Publication.

Characters:--“A Ladye of High Degree”; Her Knight; Her Page; Peasants.

Costumes:--In the first two tableaux the Ladye wears any elegant dress that is sufficiently antique, and which can be put on over the white one used in the third and fourth. In the fifth a hat and mantle may be used to change the appearance, but little time being given between the changes of scene; a plain dark gown in the sixth and seventh, over which may be draped something brilliant for the eighth; in the ninth a white or light colored wrapper or simple house dress.

In the second tableau the Knight first appears--and in ordinary dress; in the next in full military costume, as also in the fifth, his “last appearance.”

The Page, who should be a handsome boy of from seven to twelve years old, wears dark blouse waist, dark knee pants, sash of brilliant color, deep lace ruffles at wrist, broad round collar of same, low shoes with high heels; black velvet cap with plume; velvet cape with bright lining for last tableau.

Peasant women’s dress--short, scant skirt of any bright color; plain, round short sleeved; bodice of same or harmonious contrasting color. If an old woman is shown in group, she may wear cap and kerchief of white, the latter voluminous and crossed over chest.

Many and many a year ago
(I’ll tell the tale as ’twas told to me.)
A Ladye dwelt in her own proud hall,
A Ladye of high degree;[1]
And many a Knight came wooing her,
For stately and fair was she;
The fairest, stateliest flower that grew
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
Now one of these Knights she loved full well,
And he bowed low at her feet;[2]
“I have wooed thee for three long years,” he said,
“When wilt thou wed me, sweet?”
But she with a light laugh answered “Wait.”
“I will wait one year,” said he,
“And then I shall come to claim your hand
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.”
So off to the foreign wars he went
To fight with an angry horde--
And the whole land rang with the fame of him
And the might of his good sword.
But after a twelve-month back he came,
And again at her feet knelt he.[3]
“Now wilt thou wed me, Ladye fair,
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea?”
But her pride than her love was stronger still;
And lifting her haughty head--
“Wait longer. He who patiently waits
Is never a loser,” she said.
The lover rose with a smothered sigh,
But never a prayer prayed he--
As mounting his steed, away he rode,
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
The Ladye frowned, and the Ladye wept
In her love and wrath and pain,
For she had not dreamed he could thus obey
And ride from her side again.[4]
Then twice the seasons came and went
With bird and blossom and bee--
With the summer rose and the winter snows,
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
And then again to his Ladye’s bower
Strode the Knight with a ringing tread.
“For two long years I have waited, patiently,”
Were all the words he said.[5]
And still in pride that o’ermastered love,
“Wait longer” answered she.
“If I wait, I will wait forever,” he cried--
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
“Then wait forever,” she coldly said,
And drew her white hand away,
Sure he would fall at her feet again
For his Ladye’s grace to pray;
But never another word he spoke
And never a sign made he,
But mounting his steed he rode away
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
How dragged the slow months, one by one!
The Ladye, in sore distress,
Wept night and day in her lonely bower,
Bewailing her haughtiness.[6]
At length she summoned her trusty Page--
“Speed over the hills” said she,
“Go tell my lover I wait for him
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.”[7]
*        *         *         *
But the Knight came not, nor sent he word,
Save this one short message: “Wait.”
And the sun rose up, and the sun went down,
And the flowers died, soon or late.
At length she summoned her Page again,
And again to him said she:
“Go tell my Knight I wait for him
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.”
The Page came back and doffed his cap,
And these were the words he bore:
“He loses nothing who patiently waits.”
And not one syllable more.[8]
“He remembers well” the Ladye cried.
And in wan despair lived she
Two more long, desolate years,
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
“Now go to my lord once more” she prayed--
“Tell him my death is near.
Tell him I wait his face to see,
And I long his voice to hear.”
The Page came back with a lagging pace--
“O, what does he say?” cried she.
“Dear Ladye, he bids you wait for aye,
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.”[9]
“I am well paid,” the Ladye cried,
“And in coin I know too well.
He doth but give me my own again--
So now farewell, my love, farewell.”
And soon she lay in the starlight pale
Under an old yew tree,
With a stone at her head and one at her feet,
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
*        *        *        *        *
But when the springing grass was green
On the grave of her who slept
A plant with wonderful shining leaves,
Out of the darkness crept.
It wandered here, and wandered there,
It climbed up turret and tree,
And from point to point, over rock and rill
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.
Slowly and surely it onward crept,
That plant so strange and rare.
The peasants whispered, under their breath,
“’Tis the beautiful Ladye Clare.
She seeks the heart that she threw away;
She is creeping on bended knee
To her lover’s castle, that frowning stands,
Where the Rhine runs down to the sea.”[10]
TABLEAUX.

1. Drawing room scene. Ladye Clare stands in foreground. Furniture should be as elegant as possible.

2. Ladye Clare at left of center, in easy chair; Knight half kneels in front of her; both side-face to audience; Ladye’s hand extended to Knight, who is in the act of raising it to his lips.

3. Ladye stands at right of center, head erect, Knight again kneeling--but in reverse position.

4. Ladye in center, sitting with head bowed on center table, over which her arms are thrown.

5. Ladye at left, half way back on stage; Knight entering with long strides from left of foreground, each looking intently at the other.

6. “Ladye’s bower.” Couch at left, with handsome cushions and spread; vases filled with flowers, bric-a-brac, pictures, etc., adapted to a young lady’s room. Ladye Clare in easy chair at right; handkerchief pressed to her eyes by right hand, while left falls over arm of chair.

7. Same scene--Page entered back of couch, in listening attitude, cap held in hand in front of him, facing Ladye, who waves him away with right arm, hope in her face.

8. Same scene.--Ladye sits on couch; Page stands in center front, with head down, cap held behind him--in full view of audience.

9. Ladye on couch, half reclining, white spread thrown over her; hair hanging loosely (face should be powdered); expression of disappointment; Page stands at entrance, reluctant to intrude or to give his message.

10. Grave in center of foreground, covered with green vines and cut flowers. Peasants at either end, and in background. Stones (boards covered with white paper) may be placed at head and foot of grave.