[He touches her upon the shoulder. She steps quietly from the decoration. The Man turns. A very long silence. Capulchard watches the design with interest.] Capulchard. [Filling the silence.] Dynamic. [To the Man.] In the will lies no redress. [He grasps the lotus from the stream and offers it to the Man.] Taste of the lotus; it's forgetfulness. [The Man unconsciously, in deep thought, wanders into the forest, left.] Capulchard. Thus ends revolt. If they should strive once more- [To the lotus.] (Re-grasp the brooklet)-doubtless they will strive: Grotesques are something that must be surpassed. [He takes the Woman from where she has fallen, right, and places her at the edge of the decoration. Speaking to the Audience, but she hearing.] If still, untamed, they catch at the design, Then you may strike, almighty gods, by me. Let her be Woman, Temptress; he-a Knight. Grotesques [He places the Man, not in a knight's costume, at the left edge of the decoration. The Woman crouches at the right.] Man. I wove a path here swiftly through the trees; Did not a voice call to the great white road In peril? Woman. No. Man. It was your voice I heard. Woman. [Seeing the opportunity for a double rhythm.] Mine was a voice in silence crying, "Stay!" Capulchard. [To her.] That misses character. Man. The lifted voice Of all down-trodden pleads: "What right hath love? Part, that you may seek quest where search is vain, Man. Your glory foredoomed ever to suborn! Man. False to ourselves? Woman. Good. The gods will welcome it; That gives their picture zest. Capulchard. [With a look at the Audience.] They blas pheme you. Woman. Our honor, nay, our love, they have made sport To thrill them. I am set to tempt, that they May see you false, if yet our baffled love, There is no duty greater than our love. Yield: let them relish it. Man. Woman. They'll hear us. Ay; And let them. Cruel, they are powerless, Their priest? He too seeks but design. Capulchard. [To the Audience.] Enjoy: what reck their words, So the design lead whither it was planned? After the manner of created things, To plead you mercy: I will see to that. Woman. [Knowing well.] It is some threat perhaps. [Going quickly to the right edge of the decoration.] 1 Woman. [Muttering to him, as he glances at the Audience.] Except the gods. Beyond is naught, Man. [To her, terrified.] Do you not feel their eyesEyes that stare, waiting? We were happy. Voices. [Without.] Capulchard. [To the Audience.] They hear the voice, but only in your minds. That was a symbol merely: this is-fact. Come [He has lifted the Girl, right. She stands for an instant; then, with conventionalized movement, turns towards the Man.] Girl. [As always, controlled.] Alas, not lost, nor slain? Even that were best, Rather than find you false to the gods' will. They tell you to go forth. It might be you Woman. ✓ Girl. [Staccato.] Save? Thereby . His going would depict altruism. Man. [To the Woman.] She does not know. Nor we-surely [Looking towards the Girl almost in the manner of the early Grotesques.] The decoration there is naught-that's real, Except the gods Beyond Capulchard. [Not without disappointment.] Woman. [In passionate defiance.] Us, Our love, our life, for the pleasure of strengthless gods, If there be [She stops. The Man, with a conventionalized move ment, is approaching the Girl. With a sharp cry.] No! it is revolt, concealed! Man. Those ancient, staring eyes that will outlive The moon and stars compel us to submit. Capulchard. The puffed-up bubbles burst. Woman. [Looking toward Capulchard.] Whatever we do Ends as he planned. Man. [Apart.] Once more, unhappiness. Woman. [To herself.] Now we may conquer hope, and end all fear. [To the Man.] Unhappiness? I ask no less from them. Man. [After a moment.] What would you have me do?—I have betrayed You, even her, our love. This, penance: |