Standard Selections Part 80

[_Exit_ HARDCASTLE.

PYGMALION AND GALATEA

W. S. GILBERT

ACT I, SCENE I

CHARACTERS: Pygmalion, an Athenian sculptor; Cynisca, his wife; Galatea, an animated statue.

SCENE: Pygmalion's studio; several cla.s.sical statues are placed about the room; at the back a cabinet containing a statue of Galatea, before which curtains are drawn concealing the statue.

PYG. It all but breathes--therefore it talks aloud!

It all but moves--therefore it walks and runs!

It all but lives, and therefore it is life!

No, no, my love, the thing is cold, dull stone, Shaped to a certain form, but still dull stone, The lifeless, senseless mockery of life.

The G.o.ds make life, I can make only death!

Why, my Cynisca, though I stand so well, The merest cut-throat, when he plies his trade, Makes better death than I with all my skill!

CYN. Hush, my Pygmalion! the G.o.ds are good, And they have made thee nearer unto them Than other men; this is ingrat.i.tude!

PYG. Not so; has not a monarch's second son More cause for anger that he lacks a throne Than he whose lot is cast in slavery?

CYN. Not much more cause, perhaps, but more excuse.

Now I must go.

PYG. So soon, and for so long?

CYN. One day, 'twill quickly pa.s.s away!

PYG. With those who measure time, by almanacs, no doubt, But not with him who knows no days save those Born of the sunlight of Cynisca's eyes; It will be night with me till she returns.

CYN. Then sleep it through, Pygmalion! But stay, Thou shalt not pa.s.s the weary hours alone; Now mark thou this--while I'm away from thee, There stands my only representative; [_Withdrawing curtains._ She is my proxy, and I charge you, sir, Be faithful unto her as unto me!

Into her quietly attentive ear Pour all thy treasures of hyperbole, And give thy nimble tongue full license, lest Disuse should rust its glib machinery; [_Advancing._ If thoughts of love should haply crowd on thee, There stands my other self, tell them to her, She'll listen well; nay, that's ungenerous, For she is I, yet lovelier than I, And hath no temper, sir, and hath no tongue; Thou hast thy license--make good use of it.

Already I'm half jealous--there!

[_Draws curtain concealing statue._

It's gone.

The thing is but a statue after all, And I am safe in leaving thee with her; Farewell, Pygmalion, till I return. [_Exit._

PYG. "The thing is but a statue after all!"

Cynisca little thought that in those words She touched the key-note of my discontent.

True, I have powers denied to other men; Give me a block of senseless marble--Well, I'm a magician, and it rests with me To say what kernel lies within its sh.e.l.l; It shall contain a man, a woman, a child, A dozen men and women if I will.

So far the G.o.ds and I run neck and neck, Nay, so far I can beat them at their trade; I am no bungler--all the men I make Are straight limbed fellows, each magnificent In the perfection of his manly grace; I make no crook-backs; all my men are G.o.ds, My women, G.o.ddesses, in outward form.

But there's my tether--I can go so far, And go no farther--at that point I stop, To curse the bonds that hold me sternly back.

To curse the arrogance of those proud G.o.ds, Who say, "Thou shalt be greatest among men, And yet infinitesimally small!"

GALATEA [_from behind curtain_]. Pygmalion!

PYG. Who called?

GAL. Pygmalion!

[PYGMALION _tears away curtain and, discovers_ GALATEA _alive_.

PYG. Ye G.o.ds! It lives!

GAL. Pygmalion!

PYG. It speaks!

I have my prayer! my Galatea breathes!

GAL. Where am I? Let me speak, Pygmalion; Give me thy hand--both hands--how soft and warm!

Whence came I? [_Descends._

PYG. Why, from yonder pedestal.

GAL. That pedestal! Ah, yes, I recollect.

There was a time when it was part of me.

PYG. That time has pa.s.sed forever, thou art now A living, breathing woman, excellent In every attribute of womankind.

GAL. Where am I, then?

PYG. Why, born into the world By miracle.

GAL. Is this the world?

PYG. It is.

GAL. This room?

PYG. This room is portion of a house; The house stands in a grove, the grove itself Is one of many, many thousand groves In Athens.

GAL. And is Athens then the world?

PYG. To an Athenian--Yes--

GAL. And I am one?

PYG. By birth and parentage, not by descent.

GAL. But how came I to be?