One-Act Plays Part 72

XII. _Service_ Soft yellow shaded to brown at bottom of skirt and sleeves.

Front panel of dark green forming part of head drapery.

XIII. _Sorrow_ Gray.

XIV. _Herald_ Dark red and gold.

_PROLOGUE_

[_Enter a JESTER._]

Good people, of your gentle courtesy, I pray your patience, now, and list to me.

Before you I will here present to-day A story told in the medieval way.

Now sad--now merry--here and there a song, While through it all a meaning runs along.

On this side is the Court of Youth where dwells A Princess who is held by magic spells.

On that is the vast Otherworld from whence The great Immortals come for her defense.

Betwixt the greater and the lesser Power, That duel that goes on from hour to hour Throughout the ages, I would have you see Depicted in this pa.s.sing phantasy.

[_Music of Masque begins._]

The players come and I had best away; I'll come back afterwards and end my say.

THE MASQUE OF THE TWO STRANGERS[51]

[Footnote 51: I am indebted to Miss Italia Conti for the original scenario of the Masque, and to former Editors of _Vanity Fair_ and _The Crown_ for permission to reprint the two songs which were published in their journals.--ALIX EGERTON.]

CHARACTERS

JOY.

LAUGHTER.

SONG.

DANCE.

SERVICE.

POETRY.

HOPE.

JOY.

PRINCESS DOUCE-COEUR.

SORROW.

FAME.

RICHES.

POWER.

LOVE.

_JOY and LAUGHTER run in laughing, chase each other round the stage and pelt each other with flowers._

LAUGHTER [_flinging herself on the ground, breathless_].

Ah, it is good to run and laugh again.

I am so weary of these somber days.

JOY.

And I of sitting silent in the house.

We used before to have such merry games, Now Douce-coeur will not even smile.

LAUGHTER [_mysteriously_].

She says that she will never laugh again.

JOY.

And when I called to her to come and play At hide-and-seek down in the rose-garden, She said her playing days were over now.

LAUGHTER.

It seems so strange. Only a while ago We played at ball across the laurel hedge, And when the ball fell in the fountain-court And rolled into the water, floating out To where the lilies lay half closed in sleep, 'Twas she who went in barefoot, with her dress Kilted above her knees, and laughed to feel The flicking of the golden fishes' tails.

She said her pink toes looked like coral sh.e.l.ls, And splashed the water just to see it shine Like diamonds in the sun upon my hair.

A while ago she was a child with us.

JOY [_sighs_].

Laughter, I like not living at the Court. [_Starting._]

Someone is coming.

[_They run and hide behind a seat. SONG enters, humming to herself and twisting flowers into a garland. JOY and LAUGHTER spring out upon her and catch hold of her hands one on each side._]

LAUGHTER. Why, 'tis only Song.

For three days now we have not heard thy voice.

SONG.

No, Douce-coeur says life is too sad for songs.

Yet music is a gift of the high G.o.ds And like the birds I sing or I must die.

JOY [_coaxingly_].

Sing us a ballad while we are alone.

Old Service is asleep beside the well And will not hear thee.

SONG [_sitting on the seat_].

Well, what shall I sing?

How would you like "All on an April Day?"

JOY [_clapping her hands_].

About the knight who rode to Amiens Town?

LAUGHTER.

Then will we sing the refrain, Joy and I.