The Flutter of the Goldleaf; and Other Plays Part 15

_Wong Fe_

Then indeed I am your bride!

_Shun_

Heart of my body art thou, Wong Fe!

(_Holds her to his breast a moment, looking distantly out. Suddenly sees his friends approaching._)

_Shun_

We have guests?

_Wong Fe_ (_quickly springing up_)

Forgive me! Your friends are here. Prince Ching, and Makuro, from j.a.pan.

_Shun_

Makuro?

(_He throws up his right hand. In a moment_ PRINCE CHING _and_ Makuro _are seen advancing from the orchard_.)

_Wong Fe_

They have had my welcome. I leave you. (_Crosses to right, reluctantly._)

_Shun_

Return to us soon, my gold of the morning.

(_She goes out_. CHING _and the j.a.panese enter._)

_Ching_

We have waited, Yu Tai Shun. We knew that the setting sun would turn a bridegroom home.

_Makuro_

Master!

_Shun_

My friend! What brings you to China?

_Makuro_ (_with steady gaze_)

You know. I have come for you.

_Shun_ (_stubbornly, as if chidden_)

My work is done. China is free.

_Ching_

Her slavery is only beginning. You may hide your body but you cannot bury your mind under peach-blossoms.

_Shun_

The republic is established.

_Ching_

But not a democracy.

_Shun_

My work is done. Twenty years have I given to the cause of the people.

Now until I die I will toil and sing in the fields of my fathers.

(_They have gradually come to centre of room, which servants have lighted_. WONG FE _silently returns, but at a sign from_ CHING _she retreats and remains by wall, right, partic.i.p.ating in the scene that follows, though_ YU TAI SHUN _and_ MAKURO _are unaware of her presence._)

_Makuro_

Do you remember when I stood here once before, Yu Tai Shun?

_Shun_

Can you ask me that, Makuro?

_Makuro_

Why not, when you seem to have forgotten all that pa.s.sed between us? I went from that meeting with an imperishable fire in my heart. I return, and the light that kindled mine is dark. We stood here, and the words you spoke were brighter than the lamps of Siangtan that we looked down upon. Shall I repeat them, Yu Tai Shun?

(_Shun is silent._)

_Ching_

I would hear them, Makuro.

_Makuro_

The master said: "Forty centuries has China been content to plough, to sow, to reap, and with her harvest support one-quarter of the human lives on our planet. Drudgery has been her lot, frugality her virtue. Only so had she lease of breath. Now she is to unlock her mines, build ships, and roads of commerce, and with the magic of machinery set her people free. If that magic is owned by a few, there will be no freedom, but a slavery whose agony no man can tell. Every owner will be a monarch greater than the Son of Heaven to whom we bowed. We cannot shut them out by war. We can do it solely by making China a true democracy where the people themselves own the magic tools and the great ways to the markets.

To do this is the work of all who love Freedom, and I know no other G.o.ddess." Were these your words, Yu Tai Shun?

_Shun_

Yes ... my words.