Clair de Lune Part 1

Clair de Lune.

by Michael Strange.

ACT I

SCENE 1

[_An old park with avenues of trees leading away in all directions. Directly in background of stage there is a sheet of water fringed by willow and poplar trees. On the right and left is a high box hedge formed in curves with the top clipped in grotesque shapes mostly of birds. A statue is placed in the centre of each hedge, and beneath the statues are seats._

_When the curtain rises several courtiers are discovered wandering or sitting about. There is much laughing and whispering behind fans._]

2D COURTIER

What an extraordinary evening! How calm the water is! It makes the swans look exactly like topaz clouds reflecting in a t.i.tanic mirror.

A LADY

Yes. The sky is just as clear as the Queen's ear-rings of aquamarine.

A storm could hardly blow up out of such blueness, so the masque is bound to be heavenly.

3D COURTIER [_approaching_]

I hate to interrupt your celestial jargon with human speech, but does anybody know whether Phedro has been able to find the Prince and give him the Queen's command?

LADY [_answering with frigid distinction_]

Probably not, but the Prince can never be found and is always forgiven. It is much to be loved in secret by a----

1ST COURTIER [_laying finger on his lips_]

Hush!

2D COURTIER [_reprovingly_]

At court one must try not to think aloud or one is perhaps overheard by--[_makes the motion of a blade across his throat_].

2D LADY

O nonsense! Why, Phedro confides in everybody, and so n.o.body ever believes him. Yet he is always quite right.

2D COURTIER

He puts his nose into the dust that is swept out of great corners.

Indeed he looks in unthinkable places, and finds the incredible.

1ST COURTIER

Do you know what he told me lately?

LADY

I am ailing with curiosity.

1ST COURTIER

It was a fantastic tale about one of our own lot. Indeed about one wearing strawberry leaves and with two very young sons growing up, and she, apparently imagining the younger to be the living likeness, growing plainer every day, of a former indiscretion, gives directions to her favourite lackey to get rid of this wrong one and he, from spleen, gives the honest child away. The lady dies shortly after; the father never suspects anything. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d inherits, so the entire tragedy was in vain.

3D COURTIER

Fear is always absurd. You should be quite sure you are found out first; even then you have only to look rather sharply at anyone you fear in order to reduce _Him_. Indeed, the best of defences is presumption upon the brotherhood of sin.

A LADY

O how true!

PHEDRO

[_A person of shifty, wizened visage enters. In a jocular tone._]

What is "O how true?" [_He glances about him._] You are all looking very _en rapport_ with the Almighty. In fact as if He had been telling you secrets. Did they concern me? I am always a prey to the desire of hearing what is said--just before and just after I am in a room.

1ST COURTIER

[_With much pomposity hiding his embarra.s.sment._]

We were commanded to be in attendance on the Queen. Could you find Prince Charles? You were sent to find him, were you not?

PHEDRO [_nodding to the right_]

I have achieved my significant purpose. The Prince is playing at croquet with the d.u.c.h.ess, and says when the Queen arrives to let him know.

1ST COURTIER

He is very casual. How very indiscreet of him!--to show so plainly his pa.s.sion for the d.u.c.h.ess.

PHEDRO

Oh no! Mountains cannot knock one another down. They can only be blown up, from underneath [_smiles enigmatically_].

1ST COURTIER

You are difficult to follow.

PHEDRO

My lord, I am speaking in metaphor. It is a dodge I learned from the poets.