One-Act Plays Part 73

SONG [_begins very softly, and, forgetting, sings louder to the end_].

_A lover rode to Amiens town (All on an April day); He looked not up, he looked not down But fixed his gaze on Amiens town (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_The cuckoo sang above his head (All on an April day); The blossoming trees were white and red, Yet still he never turned his head (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_The dappled gra.s.s with daisies strewn (All on an April day) Was trodden by his horse's shoon; He heeded not those daisies strewn (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_He wore a ragged surcoat green (All on an April day) But no device thereon was seen.

Nor blazon on that surcoat green (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_He rode in by the Eastern Gate (All on an April day); Though poor and mean was his estate Kings have gone through that Eastern Gate (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_He stood by the Cathedral door (All on an April day) And watched of ladies fair a score Pa.s.s in through the Cathedral door (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_A knot of ribbon at his feet (All on an April day) And one swift smile, such radiance sweet Fell with the ribbon at his feet (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_He hid the token in his breast (All on an April day) Yet to his lips full oft he prest The ribbon hidden in his breast (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

_A lover rode to Amiens town (All on an April day), A beggar wore a starry crown And a King rode out of Amiens town (Sing hey!--the Lover's Way)._

[_After the 4th verse enter DANCE, who dances through the remaining verses._]

[_Enter SERVICE hurriedly._]

SERVICE. How now, what noise is this? Thou knowest, Song, thy voice may not be heard at all, and ye children too, ye will get sent away.

Sure, that ye will. Here am I sent packing off to seek for the Wise Woman Poetry. The heralds too are up and down the land with proclamations. Go in, go in; Douce-coeur is wandering with the Gray Stranger in the garden, and when she comes, may want your company.

[_Enter POETRY._]

POETRY.

I am the mouthpiece of the Eternal G.o.ds, And in my voice, that down the ages rings, Men hear the ceaseless heart-beats of the world.

Without me all that has been would have died And lain forgotten in a silent grave.

The present echoes what I once have sung, The future holds the secrets I have read.

SERVICE. Hail, and well met! I was but starting forth to seek thee.

Thou who hast the wisdom of all time mayst help us in our hour of need; an evil spell has been cast about the Princess, and how it is to be broken, none of us know.

POETRY.

Good Service, tell me all; for I presume, Despite the tender care which through her life Has shielded Douce-coeur like a ring of steel, That to her side some foe has won his way And dimmed the peaceful mirror of her soul.

SERVICE. Yea, truly, one evening as the sun was setting a woman clad in long gray robes entered the Palace gates and meeting the Princess on the terrace walk led her down among the cypresses. They sat long together in the twilight and ever since Douce-coeur is changed. No smile curves her lips, the sunlight is gone from her face, and she goes always with veiled head, and sad unseeing eyes. I heard but now her companions are to be sent away. Joy, Laughter, Song and Dance, all to be banished. This is the Gray Woman's doing, but why, no man can say.

POETRY.

The stranger in gray robes of whom ye speak Is Sorrow's self, whose other name is Pain.

She comes, and when she comes none may resist.

Against her none have power to bar their gates.

Ye who have always cherished Douce-coeur And guarded her from knowledge of the World, Have left her ignorance a prey to pain.

Thus night has fallen on a tender heart That never saw the shadows for the sun.

Queen Sorrow, who can hide the stars of heaven, Has torn the golden veil from top to hem, And in the outer darkness Douce-coeur stands, Seeing no rift to tell of light eclipsed, Knowing no key to all the mystery.

SERVICE. The King, her father, has sent proclamations forth that whoso can bring back the smiles to Douce-coeur's lips, the sunshine to her face, whoso can win her from the Gray Woman's side, on him shall half the kingdom be bestowed and Douce-coeur's hand in marriage. The Heralds have gone crying this abroad, and we have word three suitors are traveling here post-haste.

POETRY.

I know not who these suitors chance to be But not by them may Sorrow be cast out.

One only holds a mightier spell than hers, And I will send my constant messenger To seek him to the ends of all the Earth.

Come to me, Child, who holdst Eternal Youth.

[_Enter HOPE._]

HOPE. Didst call me, Poetry?

POETRY. Yea, child of my Heart, Go out into the wilderness for me.

Find me the Stranger in a Pilgrim's garb Around whose head the song birds pipe their lays, Beneath whose feet the withered flowers revive.

Say, "In the Court of Youth Queen Sorrow reigns And shadows lie like night on Douce-coeur's heart."

HOPE.

In the great Court of Youth, Queen Sorrow reigns And shadows lie like night on Douce-coeur's heart.

POETRY.

Bid him come hither. Haste thee on thy way.

[_Exit HOPE. Trumpet music. Herald heard off. "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!"_]

SERVICE. Here comes the Herald!

[_Enter HERALD repeating "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!"_]

HERALD [_facing audience_]. Know all whom it may concern throughout this realm, that as One has come and brought darkness on the Land, to all good people is this Proclamation made. Whoso can drive the Gray Woman forth, whoso can free the Princess Douce-coeur from her spell, whoso can bring back the sunshine to the Land, unto him will be given the half of the kingdom, and the Hand of the Princess Douce-coeur in marriage. Given on this day of June. "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!"

[_Exit HERALD. "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" dies away in the distance._]

[_Music. Enter JOY, LAUGHTER, SONG and DANCE, followed by PRINCESS DOUCE-COEUR and SORROW._]

SORROW.

Ye children of the Court, your hour has struck.

Your doom of banishment has been p.r.o.nounced, For where I am there can ye never be.

SONG.

Douce-coeur, I pray thee hear me. Let me sing One of the old songs that we loved--may be The memory of those happy days will rise And lift the weight of sadness from thy face.

POETRY.

Douce-coeur, I charge thee, listen. All the past Of Childhood calls thee in the voice of Song.

DOUCE-COEUR.

Sing if thou wilt. Those days were long ago.

SONG.

_I stood beside the lilac bush While all its blossoms rained on me, I watched the white wraith of a moon Turn to pale gold above the sea._