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[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:
Nietzsche implies a Götterdämmerung;

Grotesques are something that must be surpassed.
But you, their gods, for whom they are create—
Ultimate critics in Olympian chairs-
Shall laugh at their weak struggle to be-gods?
Therefore, we'll give them incarnation now,
Though many interludes suggest themselves,
War-themes, the Lithuania-. We've warned.

[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,
First like a net it shall them close enmesh,

Then you may strike, almighty gods, by me.

Let her be Woman, Temptress; he-a Knight.

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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?
Save us!" And therefore I adventure forth
With deep reluctance. We must part, bravely.
Woman. [To him, directly.]

Part, that you may seek quest where search is vain,
Beyond the decoration. .

Man. Your glory foredoomed ever to suborn!
Woman. Think not of that: yield if I tempt thee.
Capulchard. [Misinterpreting.]

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,
Again reincarnated, plead unslain.

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,
Except to gaze. You love me: let them gaze.
Why heed their laughter or their froth of tears?
Man. [Indicating Capulchard.] But-he-?
Woman.

Their priest? He too seeks but design.
Man. [Cynically, with elaborate care for the design.]
I strive my strife is futile, and I yield.

[blocks in formation]

Capulchard. [To the Audience.] Enjoy: what reck their

words,

So the design lead whither it was planned?
A little, and they forth shall fly in space,

After the manner of created things,

To plead you mercy: I will see to that.
Man. What does he mean?

Woman. [Knowing well.] It is some threat perhaps.
Capulchard. If we could draw remorse-

[Going quickly to the right edge of the decoration.]

1

[blocks in formation]

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
Could save all decoration.

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.]
The good will conquer.

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:

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