Class t SsSQ g Book .H r o-3~ P 3 TO Gop\Tight]s^^ X4)8 COPYRIGHT DEPOSm THE PATH TO PEACE BY JARRET CHAVOUS A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS WITH PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE CLEVELAND EDW. WARREN PUBLISHING CO, Puhlisners ^«&«> Copyright, 1918 hy J ARRET CHAVOUS OCT !l 1918 4 DEDICATION TO THOSE WHO HAVE BLED AND DIED UPON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE GREAT WAR, FROM WHOSE MARTYRED DUST MUST SPRING THE BLESSED TREE OF UNIVERSAL PEACE; AND TO THEIR WIVES, MOTHERS, SWEETHEARTS AND SISTERS, WHOSE TEARS WILL NOURISH AND ENDOW IT WITH ETERNAL LIFE. FOREWORD I have followed with much concern— who has not?— the various stages of the great world war. And I have often found myself wondering what will be the final result of this gigantic carnival of death and destruction. When the smoke shall have cleared away and the great guns are again silent; when a world no longer war- mad shall, with corrected vision, begin to realize the enormity of its losses — what then? Will there be found no trace of that most human of all human emotions — revenge'? Can the deep, red hate that is now being drilled into the minds of men, wom.en and children be blotted out. forgotten in a night? Will the end of the zvar find a fertile soil for the permanent and universal peace toward zvhich the world gazes with such high hopes? With some such thoughts as these running thru my mind, I attended a local theater some months ago. The play was "Every- wonian." It told a very beautiful story of Everywoman's quest in search of Love. The production was beautifully staged and accom- panied with suitable music. I was very much impressed. What wonders, I argued, might not a play of this type accomplish immediately after the warl Think of a great spectacle presented thruout the warring countries, teaching the lesson that real victory comes not with war but with the elimina- tion of hate and greed and the substitution of love and a willingness to be of service to our fellowmen :" What hardened hearts might be softened, what bitter memories erased! The idea became so much a part of my daily thoughts that I resolved to attempt — The Path to Peace. "The Path to Peace" is not pacifist propaganda. It was con- ceived and written solely for use after the war. To be of service, however, the play would require months of preparation before the probable end of hostilities, and the services of a corps of zealous workers under a capable and efficient leader. I submit my little book to all who may become interested in its contents and its aim. The Author. SYNOPSIS PROLOGUE A battlefield A rT n\TTr ^ SCENE ONE Same as in Prologue Ai^i UiNi.. . . . I scEj^E TWO Faith's cell in the prison ACT TWO Throne-room of King War ACT THREE Before the house of Death A rT Trni tp 5 SCENE ONE The banquet-room ALl ^'-'UK...|5(~,£j^£ T^^Q Tj^^ j^^j^^ ^^ p^^^g EPILOGUE Same as in Prologue CAST OF CHARACTERS LIFE—a soldier. TRUTH— his friend. FAITH ] HOPE y— children of Truth. CHARITY J PEACE — an exiled queen. LOVE— an exile. VICTORY—? WAR — king of vices. DEATH— his daughter. IGNORANCE— his counselor. HATF ) GREED r^'' generals. FEAR — the courier. JEALOUSY— the herald. CRIME— the jailer. FOLLY— the jester. WANT ] PESTILENCE ;— court attendants . DOOM J OTHERS : VIRTUES: HEALTH, ABUNDANCE, MODESTY, INNOCENCE, CONTENTMENT, HAPPINESS, ABSTINENCE, PRUDENCE, ETC. VICES : GOSSIP, VANITY, PAIN, LUST, DOUBT, DESPAIR, GRIEF, DISSIPATION, BRAZENNESS, ETC SOLDIERS. REMARKS LIFE wears the uniform of a soldier thruout the play. He is young and good to look upon, TRUTH wears a cap and gown similar to that of a monk. He is old and repulsive until the banquet scene, when there is a great change. (See stage directions.) FAITH is a handsome youth of about eighteen years. His garb is neat and unpretentious. PEACE, HOPE and CHARITY are all beautiful maidens clothed in simple white robes. LOVE wears the dress of a peasant youth. WAR wears the royal robes of a king. He is very old and almost Wind. DEATH wears very beautiful gowns. Her black hair is worn loose and falls to her knees. IGNORANCE is tall, lean and awkward. He is garbed appropri- ately in a dull green. HATE is a proud, assertive fellow. He is lean and spare but ex- tremely neat about his person. GREED is fat and grasping. His elegant uniforms arc ever in a soiled condition. FEAR is small, lean and bow-legged. He goes about always in a crouching lope. CRIME is extremely loud and vulgar. FOLLY is an ugly hunchback with a very small head and an exceed- ingly large stomach. THE OTHERS : MALES — Health, Happiness, Abstinence, Contentment, Pain, Doubt, Dissipation, Doom, Jealousy. FEMALES — Abundance, Prudence, Innocence, Modesty, Lust, Gossip, Vanity, Despair, Brazenness, Want, Pestilence, Grief. (Must appear in dress and features symbolic of their respective names.) PROLOGUE 10 Scene: A battlefield at sundown. The slope is strewn with dead and dying. Two abandoned cannon on the brow of the hill contribute to the grim aspect of the scene. From afar can be heard the din and roar of battle. As the Curtain Rises: Two wounded soldiers lie in left cen- ter. One, First Soldier, lies face down in a pool of his own blood; the other, Second Soldier, against the base of a cannon, silent and still. The dissimilarity of their uniforms — which are made up to represent no particular nations — proclaims them enemies. F. SOLDIER (Calls weakly.) Water ! Water ! (All is again silent save the low rumble of cannon in the dis- tance. Amid an extra loud crash a third soldier, LIFE, enters left. He is wounded in the thigh and supports himself by using an old rifle as a crutch. A sword, dangling at his side, marks him an officer. Although badly wounded, the joy of battle still stirs in his blood as he looks off down the hill toward the dis- iant fray. His uniform is similar to that of F. Soldier.) LIFE See! See! They fly! They fly! Like frightened hares before the hunter's aim They scurry o'er the fields and thru the wood I On ! On ! My comrades, on ! The day is ours 1 Kill ! Slay them all and let not one escape ; Around me here a thousand comrades lie Whose every drop of blood cries out revenge! (He starts.) What's this ! I grow more faint I My head's awhirl As if a thousand demons me possessed. I'm losing blood! My wounds, bleeding afresh, Like open spigots pour upon the ground Great pools of blood. All's in a haze 1 (Sinks to earth.) 11 F. SOLDIER (Calls weakly) LIFE (Fails to notice.) I must sit here and rest awhile. (Louder) Water 1 Oh ! Water— F. SOLDIER Water! Water 1 LIFE Aye, comrade? F. SOLDIER Water 1 LIFE Water ? My canteen's full up to the neck, Filled from a spring now red with human blood. (Assists him to drink.) There, now; drink deep, 'twill help to bear you up. (Drinks himself.) Good water! clear and cool. What's better, friend. To give a man his courage back again ? Where wounded, comrade? F. SOLDIER Right here in my breast. LIFE (Examines wound.) A hellish hole ! but keep your courage up, I've seen men live with greater wounds than that. 12 F. SOLDIER Nay, nay ; my battle's fought, my day is done, And I go home before tomorrow's sun. S. SOLDIER (Calls weakly.) Water ! Water I F. SOLDIER Who calls for water now? LIFE (Angrily.) An enemy, a foe, a cursed dog! I'd see his very soul in deepest hell Before I'd much as moisten his dry lipsl F. SOLDIER Poor fellow I let him drink. Water I Water I LIFE Nay — not one drop! S. SOLDIER LIFE (To Second Soldier.) If you would have a drink, Drink blood, red blood that you did help to spill ; There is no dearth of it upon this hill. My comrades freely give it up to you, Since they will nevermore have use for it. F. SOLDIER Comrade, my time is come; I'm going fast. LIFE Keep up your courage. 13 F. SOLDIER Nay. I feel it here. (Hand to heart.) There's someone waiting for me — Will you take A message to her? LIFE Aye. I'll do my best. F. SOLDIER Tell her I fell with face toward the foe, With brave and fearless comrades by m)^ side, And died in a friend's arms at eventide Thinking — of — her — (Abrupt silence.) (No answer.) LIFE Comrade ! Comrade I Comrade ! (First Soldier is beyond human aid. He quietly passes away in the arms of his comrade.) Dead ! (Covers the dead soldier with his coat.) Rest in peace, my comrade, rest in peace. Your sweetheart knew, aye many months before, The sacred message you would have me bring; For in your eyes love must have read the thing The day you parted at her cottage door. Your day is o'er, your battle fought and won. What care you now what greets tomorrow's sun ; What battle rages or whose cause is lost; Who lives; who dies; who's wounded; what's the cost? So rest in peace — S. SOLDIER Water! 14 LIFE — The peace of sleep That knows no cruel morn of wakening; The peace that knows no sorrow, knows no strife ; The peace that is eternal — peace in death! (Thoughtfully.) But still there's One who willed us "peace on earth," (Cynically.) So I've been told. . . . Peace! . . . Here? (Laughs scornfully.) I wonder where. (He sinks into unconsciousness. The low rumble of heavy guns continues in the distance.) (CURTAIN.) 15 ACT ONE 16 SCENE ONE Scene: The savie as at end of Prologue. As the Curtain Rises: The distant booming of cannon slowly resolves itself into a low, sweet, strain of music borne on the night winds. A dim ray of light appears above the form of LIFE. As it gradually grozvs brighter, HOPE is discovered kneeling at his side. LIFE (Calls.) Peace 1 HOPE Brother! . . . Soldier 1 LIFE (Regains consciousness.) Nurse, I'm glad you've come. I grew so weak and faint from loss of blood That I was forced to stop and rest awhile, Then I did fall asleep. HOPE You called for Peace. LIFE I am wounded. A prying bit of shell Chose me for prey and buried itself here. I want a surgeon and a soldier's cot. HOPE ? You called for Peace. I come to guide you there. LIFE (Smiling cynically.) The path to peace, methinks has ne'er been trod 17 By living feet. None save the dying see Its dim archways, its windings by the Sea Of All-forgetfulness. Death holds the key And does exact a kiss on his cold lips Ere one can enter the eternal gates. HOPE Not so, O Life ! There is a way to find A peace that is eternal — here on earth. Come, I will lead you there. LIFE (Angrily.) Speak not in jest! Who then are you to say where peace is found? HOPE My name is Hope and I am ever found Where there is Life. Whene'er I lead the way Shadow is sunshine, night is like the day. The weary traveler, burdened, in despair, Sees through the mists the goal still standing there. LIFE (With the aid of his improvised crutch, has regained his feet. He gazes in awe.) Ah ! you are Hope ! and know the way to peace — To peace on earth — and you will show me there? (Joyfully.) I'll go with you ! TRUTH (Appears before him.) Hear then the words of Truth. (LIFE starts.) For I must warn you — should you give up Hope, Lose Faith, or fail to follow words of Truth, Listen to Ignorance, heed tales of Fear, Kneel before War — then do you court with Death. 18 LIFE I seek for Peace alone. HOPE O father Truth! I found him on a bloody battlefield Bestrewn with dying comrades. From afar The fiendish battle raged ; Greed drove them on, Hate laughed the while he urged them to the fray, And Life, I heard cry out for Peace. LIFE True Peace. Be merciful, O Truth! show me the way. TRUTH The pathway leads within. (At a zuave of his hand a great cave opens in the side of the hill. Great clouds of smoke and fire issue forth. LIFE cringes in fear.) Will you still go? LIFE What lies within the cave ? TRUTH The path to Peace! Here lies the kingdom of Human Virtues And Vices. LIFE Oh I TRUTH The king is man-ordained. That vice or virtue man the most upholds, That one is king — the others, subjects all. And when a vice is king, ill fare the virtues, And likewise, when a virtue's king, the vices. 19 LIFE Who is king now? TRUTH King War sits on the throne. Faith, Innocence and all the virtues are Imprisoned in a vile dungeon, HOPE Ohl TRUTH And this day poor, sweet Charity is tried — HOPE My sister Charity! TRUTH This very day She will be brought before the throne of War For begging alms upon the market-place. Death walks the streets unfettered, Peace and Love Have flown. And were it not that I am Truth And cannot be o'ercome, I, too, would feel The butt of War's disfavor. All depends Upon your efforts here. If War prevails, Then you would have it so. If Peace returns, Yours is the glory. LIFE (Stands hesitant.) Ah I The path to Peace I HOPE (Takes him by the hand.) Come, then ; we enter. LIFE I will go with you. (They enter the cave. Truth follows.) (CURTAIN.) 20 SCENE TWO Scene: The cell of FAITH. There is a small window at the top of cell wall and a bench in one corner. A pile of straw on the floor serves as a bed. As the Curtain Rises: FAITH is discovered lying on the bed of straw. The stage is in semi-darkness but gradually grows brighter as the scene progresses. FAITH (Sings.) Darkness closes over me, Leaden hours creep by, But the morn will come to me 'Cross a blushing sky. (Shuffling footsteps are heard without as the song ends. DISSIPA- TION, the keeper, enters the corridor with broom and lantern.) DISSIPATION Keep still, I say! Always you sing that song. (He enters the cell and throws the broom at the feet of the youth.) There, take that broom. Make yourself useful here, (He finds a seat upon the bench and industriously mops his brow as if he were hard at work.) The king shows me but little favor here, There's too much work, too little sport. (To Faith, zvho still kneels.) Get up ! FAITH (Sweeps.) I am so hungry, give me food — DISSIPATION (Angrily.) What! Food? 21 What substance can a virtue find in food Which vices relish and grow fat upon? (With a smirk.) Now had you said as much about, say — drink, I might have opened up my heart — and flask. (He laughs loudly as he produces a flask, which the youth refuses.) No? . . . Thanks! . . . Here's to your health. (Drinks.) Give me the broom! (Exits mopping his brow.) Work! Always work! Such evil days for me! HOPE (Calls without.) Faith! Ah, 'tis Hope! Faith! FAITH HOPE FAITH Here! HOPE 'Tis Hope and Life! FAITH (Joyfully.) Life! Life is come! (LIFE and HOPE enter by way of window in cell wall. Brother and sister embrace.) HOPE O Faith! FAITH My sister Faith ! 22 HOPE Life comes to set you free. LIFE Aye, that I will And Peace restore unto her own again. (Footsteps are heard without.) FAITH Sh! Dissipation comes! LIFE The keeper? FAITH Aye. (As the keeper reels drunkenly dotvn the corridor, LIFE, reach- ing thru the bars, deals him a blow with the rifle that leaves the old man unconscious upon the floor. HOPE procures the keys thru the bars and opens the door of the cell. DOOM enters, unnoticed, notes the situation and departs hurriedly. LIFE sinks upon the bench, his improvised crutch having been rendered useless by the blow.) HOPE Come, Life. LIFE Nay, I am lost ; my crutch is gone. FAITH Arise. LIFE My crutch — my wounds FAITH Arise! I say. Faith heals your wounds ; Hope waits to lead the way. 23 LIFE Faith heals, you say? I'll put you to a testl See! Here I rise. (Astonishment as he rises.) How strange ! I do not feel The pains that did afflict me sorely. See! See ! I am up 1 No blood ! no wounds ! no pains ! (To Faith.) What manner magic this that v/orks and weaves Such wondrous changes! I will go with you! (A great commotion is heard zvithoiit. Enter crowd of vices led by DOOM.) DOOM (Pointing to LIFE zvhose features are hidden in the seim-dark- ness of the cell.) There I There he is ! 1ST VICE The murderer. LIFE (To FAITH and HOPE, who are very much frightened.) Fear not. 2D VICE Seize them ! (Vices obey.) 3D VICE (As LIFE comes forward.) 'Tis Life 1 ALL Life? 2D VICE True! 24 1ST VICE Go easy then. 2D VICE Take him before the king. 4TH VICE (Angrily.) Aye ! He has slain Our old friend Dissipation ! ALL To the king! 2D VICE (To DOOM.) Speed! Notify the king, (Exit DOOM.) 1ST VICE Away with them. (All f.rit savr DISSIPATION, 3d, and 4th VICES.) 4TH VICE They've murdered Dissipation. 3D VICE Is he dead? DISSIPATION (Regains consciousness.) Not dead, but dying — for a flask. (As one is produced.) Ah friend! (He ga::es about in a dazed manner.) Struck by a youth — 4TH VICE (Laughing.) Methinks no youth is Life. 25 DISSIPATION Life? 3D VICE Aye. They've taken him before the king, DISSIPATION Assist me then; I'll go and testify. (He exits supported by his two friends.) (CURTAIN) 26 ACT TWO «7 Scene: The throne-room of King War. There is a door at left and one at right. A stairway leads to a small balcony over right door zvhich in turn connects, by a small door, with a larger outer balcony. The room and furnishings are one grand display of splendor and magnificence. The throne stands left center. Three large windows, with drawn curtains, open in different directions. As the Curtain Rises: Enter FOLLY, left, and FEAR, right. FEAR Ho, fool! FOLLY (Pretends not to understand.) So? I'll announce you. (Goes about crying.) Fool ! Sir Fool 1 FEAR (Sneering.) Folly grows dull receiving kingly favor ; Your poor brain shrivels as your stomach bulges. FOLLY 1 could name one v/ith neither brains nor belly, Whose knees, in sympathy, pretend a weight Not there. FEAR (Angrily.) Old fool! FOLLY (Bowing low.) Aye. 28 (Calls out.) Fool ! Sir Fool ! Old Fool ! (FEAR, in anger, draws his sword but replaces it as bugle sounds without.) Ah ! Jealousy, the herald ! Note you, sire. How quick the king responds when you're announced. (Enter JEALOUSY, followed by War and his following. The old king is seized with a sudden faintness as he enters the room. IGNORANCE assists.) IGNORANCE This way, my lord. COURTIERS O king ! O glorious king ! (The vices throw aside the great curtains. A deep rumbling is heard zvithout.) WAR What sounds are these? A rumbling in the eastl DOUBT (At east window.) The roar of cannon, O most noble king. WAR The west? DESPAIR (At west window.) A glow that lightens all the sky. WAR A city's burning! Say what's in the north. GRIEF (At north window.) A mammoth cloud rolls up to fill the sky. 29 WAR True signs of busy cannon. And the south? (All listen toivard audience.) A silence as of death. IGNORANCE A sighing wind. WAR (Gleefully.) The dirge of nature to a dying world. My fortune grows apace! What ho! my slaves! Bring all my treasures in that I may count Their fast increasing millions! Bring them all. (WANT and PESTILENCE spring to do his bidding.) Ignorance! Most wise chief counselor, Tell me what tidings from the front today; What news comes from my generals Hate and Greed? IGNORANCE Stories of glorious conquests, mammoth spoils, Have come but now — brought by your courier, Fear. (To FEAR.) Speak up, good Fear, and tell us all you know. WAR Ah! creeping, stealthy Fear. FEAR Most glorious king! 1 bear a message from your generals That they will soon arrive — ere set of sun — That all the splendors from my unskilled tongue Would suffer in the telling, and that they Will come in person to acquaint your ear With endless tales of carnage, blood and tears. 30 WAR With much impatience will I them await. (To IGNORANCE.) See to good Fear, that food he hath and wine. Give him a cot to rest his weary limbs. See to it, FEAR O king I O most glorious king! (Enter WANT with great silver urn — about 5 ft. in height- drawn by armed guards.) WAR Ah, faithful Want! you come first with your store; What do you bring that pleases old King War? WANT Numberless lives. WAR (As PESTILENCE enters with large golden urn.) And you, sweet Pestilence? PESTILENCE Numberless broken hearts, O noble king. WAR Numberless lives! Numberless broken hearts! With yet the jjloody carnage just begun! And these poor mortals — fools that cannot see Beyond their noses, brother against brother, Each striving to exterminate the other — Do nothing more than mount my treasures higher. (To IGNORANCE.) What business? IGNORANCE Sir, your worthy jailer, 31 Bold Crime, has here another prisoner To bring before you. Charity's her name. WAR So! Charity a prisoner? Bring her in. (At an order from CRIME, CHARITY is brought in. Her wrists are bound with chains; her face, arms and gown are covered with dirt.) COURTIERS Ah, Charity! CRIME Your Majesty, I bring A beggar whom I just this morning past Found begging ahns upon the market-place. FOLLY A beggar? Charity! who's sworn to give! (Laughter.) WAR Speak up then, beggar; what is your defence? CHARITY I ask not alms ; I only want my friends. I am alone, Faith and my sister Hope I have not seen for many, many days; Peace too has flown, and Love no longer sings His song upon the market. Happiness And Modesty and all my many friends You have imprisoned. Truth has gone away, I know not where. (She sobs.) (With sarcasm.) CRIME A very sorry tale. 32 FOLLY (To WAR as all laugh.) She is so lonely ! Place her with her friends, Sire, in a dungeon dark. She would be pleased. True friendship asks no better test than that. WAR So let it be. Keep v/atch for Hope. CRIME Aye, sir. WAR If Truth we cannot crush — we'll use his friends. (CRIME leads CHARITY away. Trumpets sound without.) FEAR They cornel The generals come! CROWD (Without.) Hate! Greed! Hate! Greed! (The generals enter and kneel at the throne.) HATE O king of kings ! GREED O sovereign of sovereigns! WAR Arise! my faithful generals. Fear has brought Promise of wondrous tales to greet mine ear ; Tell me in detail and leave nothing out. How seemed the outcome when you came away? HATE O king of kings ! it was a glorious day I The battle on ere night had passed away, 33 And waxing ever hotter, hotter grew Until the sun uprising in the east, Grew pale lest here some rival had appeared Purposing to outshine him from the heavens. GREED It was a glorious sight, O king. It seemed A fiery furnace bedded in the hills, Men's souls for fuel. HATE A huge volcano with A mighty crater breathing liquid flames. GREED A seething caldron bubbling over blood. HATE A very hell on earth ! And as I stood Upon a neighboring hill and urged them on, It seemed that nature might have gone astray And earthward sent a storm wherein the clouds Were dark, thick, rolling from the cannon's mouth. GREED The thunder's roar — the cannon's. The lightning — HATE (Supplies.) The bursting of the giant bombs in air, The rushing winds — the scream of shrapnel shells. WAR (Eagerly.) And for the falling of refreshing rain — The pat, pat of the leaden messengers, Bringing sad news to hearts of men. 34 HATE Aye. GREED Aye. WAR A glorious day! What spoils from such sport? GREED Thousands of lives. Millions of broken hearts. HATE A thousand mothers weep for dying sons; As many wives will wait and watch in vain For valiant husbands who will ne'er return. Sisters weep for brothers; sweethearts for lovers; And many friends have bidden sad farewell To friends departing never to return. WAR True! True! A glorious day — IGNORANCE What news! FOLLY Hear! Hear! WAR For your brave deed I both of you commend, And do declare a feast this selfsame eve Spread in the banquet-room. You, Pestilence And Want, see to it that my will is done. (WANT and PESTILENCE bow and depart. Great commo- tion without. DOOM, rushing in, foils at the foot of the throne.) DOOM (Breathlessly.) My lord ! My lord ! 35 WAR (Peering about.) Who's there? IGNORANCE (To DOOM.) What is it? Speak 1 DOOM The prison ! Life is come ! They bring him here ! WAR What say you — Life? DOOM Aye, sir. WAR What brings him here? IGNORANCE Some trick of Truth ; for now there comes to me An old, old tale, long spread about by Truth, That Life would come some day in search of Peace. WAR In search of Peace! (After some thought.) Come, Doubt! DOUBT Most noble king I WAR Find you my daughter ; bid her so berobe Herself as a high princess to appear, Then mask her face and bring her straightway here. DOUBT Aye, sir. (Departs.) Tonight WAR (To IGNORANCE.) 'Twill not be long my daughter comes Clothed in disguise. We'll call her "Victory," Swearing thru her alone can Peace be found. IGNORANCE I see great promises in such a plan. I'll spread the news about. (He goes about among courtiers.) WAR (Calls.) Lust! LUST Sire! WAR I'll have you entertain us with your dance While at the feast. LUST Aye, sir. (Angry shouts are heard without.) IGNORANCE They bring him now 1 WAR We'll greet him all. (Enter vices with LIFE, FAITH and HOPE.) COURTIERS All hail! All hail to Life! (The captors are at a loss to understand the great welcome accorded their prisoner. They draw away from him, fearing to displease their king.) 37 (Feigning great joy.) Thrice welcome, Life! WAR LIFE My greetings, O King War! I come with my good friends in search of Peace. WAR (To FAITH and HOPE, who shrink in terror.) Ah! Faith and Hope! TRUTH (Appears.) And Truth. (Vices shout in anger.) IGNORANCE Sh ! Silence all 1 TRUTH Where vice abounds Truth is no welcome guest, I know full well. But 'tis decreed by One More powerful than all your wicked hosts, That Truth must ever roam about the world, Invincible to all ; a friend to all Who'll hear his words and heed his good advice. Listen to Truth, O Life ! Heed words of Truth. (Disappears.) WAR (To LIFE.) Let me advise you. Truth is no good friend. He is beloved by no one. His advice Is seldom welcome. He is far too rude In holding up your faults and weaknesses To meet the public gaze and ridicule. Seek you a good friend — here is one for you. 38 His name is Ignorance; he counsels well. He numbers not your faults like your friend Truth. IGNORANCE (Bowing low to LIFE.) I am your servant, sir. WAR He is your friend. IGNORANCE Did I not meet you in your wayward youth? We were good friends and many were the times You would run off from school to play with me. LIFE Now that you speak I do remember you. (They converse together. Enter DEATH and attendant.) DEATH (Startled.) Life! IGNORANCE Shi WAR (Aside to DEATH.) Play you the part of Victory. IGNORANCE (To LIFE.) But see ! the Princess Victory is come. LIFE (Amazed at her great beauty despite the mask which she wears.) Ah, Victory! IGNORANCE The daughter of the king. 39 LIFE Then it is true that Victory comes with War? IGNORANCE And Peace comes only after Victory — A Peace that is eternal. LIFE (Kneels at her feet.) Victory ! VICTORY Arise, O Life, 'tis Victory who should kneel. (He arises, speechless with admiration.) WAR (To LIFE.) Tonight a banquet's to be given here In honor of my generals, Hate and Greed. HATE Ah, Life and I have met ofttimes before. GREED He is a dear and lifelong friend of mine. WAR And we would be much pleased to have you wait And show us favor by your presence there. LIFE The honor I accept. I should be pleased To drink a roaring toa.st to Victory. WAR So let it be. (To IGNORANCE.) Let the court be dismissed. 40 IGNORANCE The court's dismissed. Anon we meet again Around the banquet-board. (All exit except WAR, HATE, GREED, LIFE, IGNORANCE, DEATH and attendant. Confident that LIFE is now in their power, the vices imprison FAITH and FIOPE on the balcony. DOOM is left on guard.) HATE (Assists WAR from the throne.) Go slow, my lord. GREED (Same.) Take care, my lord, take care. WAR I'm growing old. (To LIFE, who beckons to DEATH'S attendant.) I will expect you in the banquet-room. LIFE I will not fail my lord. (To IGNORANCE.) Wait yet awhile. (To attendant.) I would a word with your sweet mistress have, Now that the court is clear. Say this to her : "Since I have gazed upon sweet Victory, Peace loses all her many charms for me, And I am loath to start upon my way." (Attendant bows and departs.) How true of form she is! What wondrous grace! What would I give to glimpse the pretty face Behind her mask! IGNORANCE (Calls.) Good Life ! 41 LIFE (Oblivious to all as attendant signals.) Ah, Victory I She promises to wait and speak with me 1 (He goes to the princess. At this point a pantomime of great importance takes place upon the balcony. FAITH slays the guard DOOM and substitutes his — DOOM'S — dress for the garb of HOPE, then carrying the body to the outer balcony, hurls it to the pavement below. HOPE, in the rags of the slain guard, takes his place upon the stairway.) IGNORANCE j (To WAR.) I It seems your daughter, sir, has turned his head, 'J When she is near he's neither eyes nor ears i For aught but her. WAR 'Tis good! We'll lead him on. You, Ignorance, must keep upon his ear A constant din of words; he cannot then Give ear to words of Truth who's ever near. (To his generals.) I'll go now. Aye, my lord. HATE WAR (To IGNORANCE, who starts forward.) Stay. Hate and Greed Will their old king support. Stay you with Life. (To LIFE, who still speaks with DEATH.) I leave you with your good friend Ignorance Until the banquet hour ; I'll see you then. LIFE 'Tis well, my lord. Methinks with Ignorance 42 'Twill profit me to spend a pleasant hour, (Exit HATE, GREED and WAR. To IGNORANCE.) Wait you until I speak to Victory. (To DEATH.) Still would I love to glimpse the pretty face Which I am sure the mask stands duty for. DEATH You ask too great a boon. But very few Are privileged to look on Victory's brow. LIFE But just one glimpse — just one? DEATH Nay. I am off. (She exits eoquettishly; attendant follozvs.) LIFE Victory ! Victory ( Rettirning.) ATTENDANT My mistress bids Me say that should you come before her house At set of sun tonight, then she will be, As is her wont, upon the balcony. There, if you'll come, you'll find her; and, what's more, She swears the visit there will be well worth Your coming. LIFE Say to her that I will come. (To IGNORANCE, as attendant exits.) Victory — Victory — where does she live? I would go there tonight at set of sun. IGNORANCE An hour yet. 43 LIFE (Impatiently.) One hour seems one year. Show me the house. I'll sit before her door And cool impatience looking thereupon. (A great commotion is heard without. Enter crozvd of vices with the body of DOOM.) FIRST VICE 'Tis Hope ! I know her gown. SECOND VICE How came she there? FIRST VICE That I know not ; but as I stood without, 1 saw some one upon the balcony, And as he neared the edge he raised this form High o'er his head and, ere I could call out, Hurled it dov^'nward to the stones below. THIRD VICE The balcony ! ALL The ba.wny 1 SECOND VICE (As they reach the balcony.) Here's Doom. (To HOPE.) Vv^ho has slain Hope? (HOPE points to FAITH.) FAITH i slew my sister. ALL Faith! 44 THIRD VICE A murderer 1 FIRST VICE Come. Off with him to prison, (They descend with captive. LIFE and IGNORANCE ap- proach.) IGNORANCE What brawl is this? FIRST VICE A murderer. LIFE Faith! FIRST VICE (Startled.) He slew his sister Hope and cast her down From yonder balcony. LIFE (Aside.) Hope dead! IGNORANCE Away I (To HOPE as crowd exits.) Here, Doom I Be you attendant upon Life. See to his needs; supply his every want. So says the king. Your duties start at once. (HOPE bows low.) Come, Life. Let us to Victory's door. LIFE (Dazedly.) True. True. (They exit, followed by HOPE.) (CURTAIN.) 45 Aye. ACT THREE 46 Scene: The street before the house of DEATH. A bar- ren tree stands left within easy reach of a balcony over street door. A skull and crossbones adorn the door as a knocker. There is a small bench at the tree's base. As the Curtain Rises: Enter FEAR, who knocks loudly. (Within.) Who knocks? DEATH FEAR The courier. I bring to you A message from the king. DEATH (Appears on balcony.) What message this That bids you knock so loudly on my door? Speak where you are, since no one else is near. What says the king, my father? FEAR He did bid Me say that Life comes soon to pay his court. That you should lead him on with taunt and dare ; Bid him to prove the deep love he declares, And when you've brought him to the proper place, Name as a proof the death of his friend Truth, By his own hand to be committed. DEATH FEAR And charging him with insincerity, Urge on the deed if he should hesitate. 47 Ahl DEATH Say to the king, my father, his command His daughter will most faithfully obey. FEAR I take your message straightway to the king. (Exit DEATH. Enter CRIME with CHARITY in chains.) CRIME Hallo! Hallo! How fares the courier, Fear? FEAR Most well, bold Crime. Times are most fearful now, Today spells not the tales tomorrow brings. The virtues are imprisoned ; Life, but now, Is woven in a web of circumstance That bids fair to his own destruction. (Notices CHARITY.) Ah! What have you here? CRIME This is sweet Charity, Who does request a dungeon cot and fare. That she may still be faithful to her friends. (Enter crowd of vices with FAITH in chains.) VANITY Here's Charity! DISSIPATION What now ! the wench would weep I CHARITY (Sobbing.) I want my friends. PAIN (Pushes FAITH forward as all laugh.) Here, then. 48 FAITH O Charity! CHARITY O Faith I Dear Faith I DISSIPATION See I What a happy pair I CRIME (As all laugh.) A sorry lot. Let's off with them to prison To join their friends. FEAR Who knows? — perhaps a feast Awaits them in their cell. DISSIPATION And sparkling wine I CRIME (Laughs loudly.) Deliver us from all such luxuries! (Kicks CHARITY.) Up, wench. Your couch awaits you farther on. FEAR (Looking off stage.) Go quick! Life comes I 'Tis best they were not seen. (To vices.) We'll greet him, all. (Exit CRIME with FAITH and CHARITY. Enter LIFE, IGNORANCE and HOPE.) ALL All hail to Life! All hail! LIFE Good friends, I thank you all for kindnesses— 49 DISSIPATION A speech I ALL Speech 1 FEAR Aye, a speech 1 DISSIPATION Bring yonder bench. LIFE (To IGNORANCE, as he mounts bench.) I hardly know what I can say to them, (To crowd.) I am no orator. So dull a wit Would, in the framing of a fancy speech. Be as a man who, in a quicksand caught, By all his struggling only finds he sinks Deeper and deeper in the loathsome mass. VANITY Methinks his speech shows not so dull a wit. LIFE But still I feel I should know discontent Without an introduction to you all. BRAZENNESS (Advances impudently.) My name is Brazenness. I know you well. I've helped you out of many escapades. LIFE (Laughingly.) And helped me back into as many more. 50 DISSIPATION I wonder if you still remember me, Old Dissipation? LIFE That I do full well. And you will find that I am not averse To the renewal of our acquaintance. DISSIPATION I must admit I was quite struck by you. (Laughs loudly at his joke.) VANITY I, Vanity. LIFE You were my wife's best friend. GOSSIP And I, Gossip. I was her dearest chum. (The women exchange scornful glances.) LUST And I am Lust. LIFE Keep silent, little fool! Be not unwise to tell tales out of school. PAIN I am called Pain. LIFE (Shudders.) You gave me quite a chill. You always came to call when I was ill. DOUBT I — I am Doubt. 51 LIFE (To Despair.) And you? DESPAIR I am Despair. LIFE (To IGNORANCE.) I've met them all before, but some, I fear, Have proven most unwelcome visitors. VANITY Come! let's be off. It nears the banquet-hour. IGNORANCE You counsel well. We'll see you there ere long. (All exit save LIFE, IGNORANCE and HOPE.) LIFE (Impatiently.) Now let us to the house of Victory. IGNORANCE This is the place ; yonder the balcony. LIFE This is the place! (As IGNORANCE starts off stage.) Nay I do not leave me yet ! IGNORANCE I will await you down the street a way. (Exits, but returns immediately to hide beneath the balcony.) LIFE A dreary looking place for one so fair! A dark and gloomy aspect hangs about, 52 As if within some evil spirit lurked. . . . How to approach? A pebble? No .... I'll call. Victory 1 Sweet Victory! DEATH (Appears on balcony, but pretends not to see him.) I thought 1 heard a call. It must have been the wind Sighing that it must roam a night so dark. LIFE Not now ! Since Victory's come it grows to light ! But one glance from those sparkling eyes of thine And I'm persuaded that the stars are out. A smile — the moon pours down its silvery light, A word — day comes amidst the pale of night. DEATH Is that you, Life? I swore you would not come. Being refused perusal of my face. LIFE He were a fool who failed to court the bud, Fearing the rose be not in hiding there. DEATH You make an art of flattery. LIFE Ah, no ! Speaking of you, there's written no such word. And were I given to name your many charms, Befitting words so quick to greet my lips Would, in this time of dire necessity, Die in my throat when I but gazed at you. DEATH The eyes of Life must be deep, piercing wells, 53 That to their gaze a mask is penetrable; \ Else how were he so sure of my fair face — l What inner sight is his to read my charms? i LIFE I What need have I of eyes to read my heart \ That pulses with a faster, steadier stroke '' At mention of your name? What good is sight When all my soul cries out to be with you? Think you if bees were blind they'd miss the flowers And wander aimlessly o'er hill and dale? Or needs the brook an eye to find its bowers Adown the steep and rugged mountain trail? Nay! DEATH True ! . . . Say more of brooks — and bees — and flowers. LIFE Aye. Like the brook, my heart has found its course, And, rushing with a happy, joyous shout, Makes of a waste a paradise of flowers. DEATH The bees! What of the bees? Found they the flowers? LIFE And like the bee, my soul has found its bloom, And there would sip in love's sweet ecstasy Till, honey-drunk, she could not fly away. But lie imprisoned behind its petal-bars, Buzzing contentment with a cell so sweet. DEATH How like a poet? LIFE Nay, how like a lover. 54 DEATH What's this? LIFE I love you ! Ah I do not draw back I It comes a passion burning in my breast, And like a mighty, roaring forest fire Consumes my very soul. DEATH Comes love like that? LIFE I am not versed in the ways of love, And cannot tell how it to others comes; But I do know too well how it found me. DEATH A proof of this great love. LIFE A proof indeed ! Name, then, the proof that you would have me give, And what to others seems impossible I swear to me will be most tractable. DEATH I know not how to frame it, yet would say it; And if you love me as you say is true, It were an easy task. LIFE Givie me the task. DEATH Tell me once more how you do love, and why. LIFE I love you! How? With all my soul! And why? 55 Enough that you are you and I am I ! Need you another reason? 'Twill suffice If you but let me gaze into your eyes, Or touch your fingers to my burning lips ; For I do fear the touch of your sweet lips, Clinging to mine as ivy on a wall, Would in the fiery passion of their meet, Leave us both weak and faint and sure to die, Quitting this paradise. DEATH Enough ! Enough I You are too much a poet. LIFE Name the proof. DEATH You have a friend I like not. He contrives Great schemes against my father, old King War, With evil purpose to o'erthrow the throne And hold it for himself and all his friends. LIFE You speak of Truth? DEATH Aye, Truth. LIFE He is my friend. But for his aid I should not have found you. DEATH What now! my faithful lover shields his friend Ere he's attacked! Is love so sensible? Indeed ! this love of yours stands little proof. LIFE I love you! I declare it! Name the proof. 56 DEATH Slay Truth—I like him not. LIFE (Startled.) What do you ask I Slay Truth f Name any other proof but that! Slay Truth ! Slay Truth. (Kneeling.) Have mercy, Victory. (Peeved.) DEATH LIFE You ask too great a thing. DEATH You begged a proof And, being given it, cry out against it ; And whispering with a coward's bated breath Plead for a task less fraught with consequence. Weak is the love that lends such small support, LIFE (Passionately.) I do love you ! I'll do the thing you ask Though it prove my undoing. That I swear. DEATH Ah ! well said, Life. Your love has stood the test, And as a fitting gift for your reward I, too, would whisper something in your ear. Come closer. LIFE Aye, dear love. My ears do burn, 57 And with an eagerness to hear your words, ^ Threaten to leave and in the perfumed air To hover around your lips expectantly. (Spies the barren tree.) j The naked tree! I'll use it for a mount, And ere the word is finished be with you. | (At the edge of the balcony.) i What is it, sweet? DEATH (Whispers.) I love you, too. LIFE You? . . Mef Say it again ! DEATH I love you. LIFE (Joyously.) And again! For if the word's as sweet upon your lips As hearing it is to these ears of mine, Then will the end of time still find us here, You whispering and I still listening. A kiss I DEATH Not now! LIFE A glimpse of your sweet face ! DEATH When you slay Truth. 58 LIFE Aye, Truth. I am resolved Tonight I'll slay him! in the banquet-room. (IGNORANCE steals away, but returns with heavy footsteps.) DEATH Some one approaches. LIFE I am loath to go. DEATH And I. to have you. Listen. IGNORANCE (Calls ivithout.) Life! OLife! DEATH 'Tis Ignorance, I know his voice. LIFE (As a branch breaks under his zvcight.) What's this! DEATH Ah! LIFE Nothing, dear. This bare, decaying branch Protests that I should hold a spot so sweet, And envious, would assist me in descent. (He descends.) IGNORANCE (Without.) Life! DEATH Are you safely down? 59 LIFE Aye, safely down, But longing to come back again to you. DEATH 'Twill not be long ; I will see you again. Do not forget the proof. LIFE I'll not forget; Then you, sweet Victory, are mine to keep. To have, to hold, to love — to love! . . . IGNORANCE (Without.) O Life! LIFE I come, O most impatient Ignorance. (To DEATH.) Until tonight, my love. DEATH Until tonight. (Exit LIFE, IGNORANCE and HOPE. DEATH laughs softly to herself.) (CURTAIN.) 60 ACT FOUR 61 SCENE ONE j Scene: The banquet-room. At one end of the large ban- \ quet-table are a dais and chair for the king. The dishes are of polished silver and gold and appear to contain only smoke and fire. A great iron door at left connects with the prison. As the Curtain Rises: WANT and PESTILENCE are dis- covered directing preparations for the banquet. WANT (Opening a large dish that emits smoke and fire.) See ! what a pudding for the king ! PESTILENCE But lookl You've let it all away. Fill it again. (Enter GREED.) GREED Ho, Pestilence! How long before we dine? PESTILENCE Not long; the king is now upon the way. (Enter HATE, CRIME, FEAR and IGNORANCE.) HATE (To IGNORANCE.) You say he swears to slay this Truth tonight? IGNORANCE Aye, I did hear him promise, for I stood Close by, with purpose to o'erhear it all. GREED 'Tis good, for Life alone can do the trick. FEAR I dread the consequence of such an act. 62 HATE Cheer up, O Fear ! You give us all the creeps With your vaporings of apprehension. (Enter LUST.) What! Here is Lust. Why come so early, miss? LUST I am to give my dance tonight. CRIME (Pointing to a very small parcel in her hand.) What's this? LUST My costume. CRIME (Sneering.) So? You should berobe yourself In lighter garments. (Laughter.) LUST Pish ! I dance for Life — Not fools like you. (Exits.) FEAR An independent brat. (Trumpets sound without.) IGNORANCE The king! (Enter WAR and foil Giving.) ALL The king! The king! Hail to the king I 63 WAR (To IGNORANCE.) Where is my daughter? IGNORANCE On the way, my lord. WAR How work our plans on Life? IGNORANCE Most well, my lord. But just an hour ago I heard him swear To slay his friend tonight, with his own sword. Here in the banquet-room. (Looking left.) Your daughter comes. WAR Watch you for Life. (To DEATH, who enters.) My daughter. DEATH Sire? WAR All's well? DEATH Aye. He did promise everything I asked. Reluctant he, but I did lead him on, Disdaining his bold speech, swearing that he Must render me some proof of his great love, Till he at last claimed naught impossible And swore to do my bidding. WAR I must needs Commend you for the wisdom shown therein. 64 IGNORANCE (Looking off stage.) He comes ! We'll all together shout his name. (Enter LIFE and HOPE.) ALL All hail to Life! All hail to Life! All hail! LIFE (Well pleased at his reception.) Good friends ! for after greeting such as yours I am convinced that you are all my friends — IGNORANCE True! True, good Life ! HATE LIFE I have, this very day, Made the decision here to cast my lot Among you. GREED Good ! We welcome you, dear friend. LIFE (Gazing lovingly at DEATH.) Since Ignorance came first, I need not add : This day has brought me untold happiness. GREED (Interrupts cheering.) Come to the eats ! There's time for seriousness When all's consumed and all are surfeited. Come, Want! Come, Pestilence! The feast is served. (They sit. LIFE finds a place beside his new love. WANT and PESTILENCE direct the feast.) 05 LIFE Ahl DEATH You have not forgotten? LIFE Nay — the proof. The time is fitting when the feast is done. I am prepared. See this. (Discloses a sword beneath his mantle.) DEATH A sword! LIFE 'Tis mine. Oft in the battle I have swung it true. A fitting thing to prove my love for you. GREED What ho! There's sport. Lust is to give her dance. WAR Where is the wench? HATE Here. GREED Here she is. LUST Old fools I Could you not hold your tongues till I did eat? CRIME Go to, you brat! Prepare to entertain. (Exit LUST.) 66 LIFE (Aside.) What strange consumption this — of smoke and fire I HATE (To LIFE.) What, sir, you do not eat. GREED Be not afraid. LIFE In truth, for food I feel no strong desire, And I would rather talk with Victory Than all your daintiest morsels to consume. GREED What now! the words of Victory fill you up? Vain, foolish, silly words are those of love. Methinks 'twould serve to turn my stomach sour. DEATH You're not in love, for who would love fat Greed? (Laughter. LUST enters in costume and begins a characteristic dance of about five minutes' duration.) HATE Look you! My lady comes out for the dance. PAIN A graceful wench. DOUBT A pretty face. CRIME A form! VANITY She, too, knows Life. 67 DESPAIR I've heard they were close friends. VANITY How close? DESPAIR (Laughing.) I know not. Gossip told it me. Where is she now? VANITY DESPAIR Here on my right. BOTH Gossip! (They continue an animated conversation unheard by the audi- ence. As the dance ends, LIFE and DEATH take the lead in a series of court dances. TRUTH, hooded and masked, appears left. He is erect of form and shows, beneath his surplice, the play of a healthy, muscular body. The dance ends abruptly.) LIFE A late comer. DEATH A stranger ! WAR (To IGNORANCE.) Who comes here? IGNORANCE I know him not. WAR We'll ask him to the feast, Then he must put aside the mask to eat. 68 LIFE He seems a stranger here. WAR (To IGNORANCE.) Speak you to him. IGNORANCE (To TRUTH.) I bid you welcome, stranger, to our board, And tho the fare be humble, I am sure You'll find enough to meet your stomach's needs. (To others.) Make place! A place! A stranger's at our board. HATE Here's room enough. GREED Here's room. Come stranger — here. TRUTH Place me a seat 'twixt Hate and grasping Greed, And I am no more in my element Than are the stars deep buried in the sea, Or coral lying on the desert sands. HATE (Angrily.) Effrontery I GREED An insult ! WAR (Amid shouts of anyer.) Silence all! (Covdcscrndhiyly.) Good stranger, since you like not Hate nor Greed, Choose you another place. 69 IGNORANCE Choose for yourself. TRUTH The festal board of War lends me no place. HATE More insult! GREED More effrontery 1 WAR O Crime? (Aside to CRIME.) Tell me, bold Crime, wliat virtues are abroad? CRIME Truth, Peace and Love. The others are in chains. WAR Peace is a maiden; Love is not so bold. Then it is Truth who shows himself to us I (To IGNORANCE.) Say to my daughter that the time has come For her fair lover. Life, to keep his bond. (IGNORANCE zvhispers to DEATH.) DEATH (To LIFE.) It may be Truth who comes to us disguised. LIFE Nay. Truth is old and gray and bent with age ; But still, to please you, I will question him. (To TRUTH.) Good sir, since you have spurned our company, Do us the honor to disclose your name And what your business in the realms of War. 70 TRUTH M}' name is written o'er the universe. It ripples in the wave ; it cleaves the light, If you have eyes, you'll see it in the night That falls about you; in each leaf and flower; In rock and wood ; in sunshine and in shower ; In verdant valleys filled with waving grain ; In wildernesses, mountains, deserts, plains ; In springtime's verdure, summer's bloom and blow In autumn's tints and winter's quiet snows. If you have ears, you'll hear it in the strains Of heavenly music; in the thunders deep; In mother voice that lulls the babe to sleep ; In childhood's laughter ; in the robin's song. The lion roars it as he creeps along The wooded river. In the wild mob's cry ; The rush of winds across a storm-swept sky. On earth, above, beneath, he sees and hears My name whom Heaven has given eyes and ears. DEATH I'm sure 'tis Truth. LIFE I grow suspicious, too. GREED (To TRUTH.) You speak in riddles, sir. HATE More insult. GREED Aye. IGNORANCE (Aside to LIFE.) 'Tis Truth ! Prove now your love for Victory. 71 HATE (To TRUTH.) Since you have spurned our friendship, scorned our feast, Prove then your sword's as skilled in arts of war As are your lips in framing fancy words. (HATE and GREED draw swords.) WAR Slay him! HATE Out with your shining blade ! (Meanwhile LIFE has stolen up from behind and with the battle cry of "Victory!" attempts to plunge the sword into the body of TRUTH. There is a great display of fire. The sword is broken into a thousand pieces, and LIFE is hurled by an un- seen force against the far wall. The stage is in darkness, save for a constant play of lightning overhead. The vices huddle together in fear. DEATH rushes back to escape. LIFE, fearing the loss of his new-found siveetheart, reels after her. Her mask and robes fall and before him leers the skeleton, DEATH, in all its ghasttiness. It disappears thru the door. LIFE falls at the feet of TRUTH.) LIFE (As TRUTH puts aside the mask.) O Truth, forgive. (The old king, at a glimpse into the face of TRUTH, reels from the throne. The two generals assist him back into his seat.) TRUTH Up ! Up ! There's work to do. LIFE I? there still hope for me? HOPE (Still in the rags of DOOM.) Aye. I am Hope. 72 LIFE (Laughs hysterically.) You Hope I (Angrily.) Fool! Think you this a time for jest? HOPE Nay. I am Hope. LIFE (Recognises her.) Ah I You are Hope I Sweet Hope I How came you by these vile rags of Doom? HOPE That first day on the balcony— LIFE I see! Faith slew him! HOPE Aye. LIFE And in this vile disguise You followed me. (Kneeling.) Have you still in your heart Room to forgive a wretch so base as I ? HOPE The heart of Hope is all-forgiving. FAITH (Calls zmthout.) Lifel HOPE Hear you? Faith calls, 73 LIFE Faith? FAITH Life! HOPE Behind that door He lies in chains ; and likewise Qiarity, LIFE I'll set them free. (As he approaches the door, the two generals intercept him with drawn swords.) Aside, sirs! Stand aside I TRUTH (Presents his sword to LIFE.) The sword of Truth. HATE (To GREED.) Defend that side. GREED FAITH LIFE Aye. Life! (To HATE and GREED.) You still refuse! Then will 1 fight my way. Up with your swords ! I'll win my way to Faith. (An exciting encouttter then takes place. HATE and GREED are both slain. War topples from the throne and, dragging him- self to the feet of TRUTH, dies in agony and rage. LIFE opens the great door. FAITH, ragged and bleeding, falls into his arms.) O Faith I 74 FAITH O Life, we feared so much for you I LIFE This time we shall find Peace. (Ciiarity enters in same unkempt condition.) Ah, Charity! (A great commotion is heard without.) HOPE The liberated virtues. Hear them shout. (Enter crowd of virtues.) TRUTH Off with their chains. (LIFE springs to obey. He comes first to HAPPINESS.) HAPPINESS Off with our chains, good Life. TRUTH Unfetter Happiness. Place them on Grief. (LIFE changes the chains from virtues to vices as directed by TRUTH.) The shackles worn by Modesty, give Lust. The chains worn by Abundance, fall to Want, And Pestilence awaits the chains of Health. To Doubt, Despair, Pain, Gossip, Vanity And all the rest mete out the selfsame fate. And to the old and arch-vice Ignorance Give chains of double strength. Upon his head Falls all the wrath of Truth. But for his wiles Peace had forever reigned. Off! Off with them! (The vices are driven thru the door into the prison.) (Enter LOVE.) Ah I Love returns. (They embrace.) 75 LIFE (Kneeling.) O Love! can you forgive? LOVE Arise, O Life. Forgiveness is well earned. Look you I the happy virtues all about. MODESTY Love! FAITH We missed you so. PRUDENCE We thought you lost. LOVE 1 have been living in a wilderness Since forced to flee before the reign of War. Peace, too, is there. LIFE Peace? LOVE In a wild-rose bower She waits and watches. All's so restful there, Our hut is nestled on a sloping hill, Where grasses nod and flowers bloom and blow And robins sing; and far, far down below A laughing brook sings love songs to the trees, Whose branches answer in the evening breeze. And in a crib of roses by the door — But wait, I'll let you see. I'll tell no more. LIFE And will you show me to this home of Peace? 76 LOVI' Aye. HAPPINESS Seel Abundance has prepared a feast. CONTENTMENT A feast of love. HAPPINESS Come. There's abundance here. LIFE There's something here to eat — not smoke and fire. HEALTH Fall to! Enjoy yourselves. Health bids you so. ABSTINENCE Aht HAPPINESS Innocence will give her dance for us. PRUDENCE Good ! HAPPINESS Silence! Innocence will dance. CONTENTMICNT She comes. (The dance of INNOCENCE. It ends with great applause.) LIFE A pretty dance. (To LOVE.) Now to the home of Peace! LOVE Go you before. (LIFE starts left. He stops in amazement as he looks off stage.) LIFE Ah! I can see her nowl How strange! The mountains move toward me. Seel A dream! Still closer yet she comes. I see The roses in her hair, the vine-clad bower ! She smiles ! She beckons ! I will go to her 1 (He exits, joyously calling: "Peace! Peace!" The others follow.) (CURTAIN.) 78 SCENE TWO Scene: The abode of Peace. A vine-covered hut stands on the brow of the hill. The time is spring; flowers grow in abundance; birds sing everywhere. There is an old-fashioned well at left and a small rose-covered crib stands beside the door. As the Curtain Rises: PEACE stands beside the crib. She holds in her hand a cluster of wild roses. LIFE (Calls zvithout.) Peace 1 Peace! Peace! Peace! I come! I come to you 1 (She beckons joyfully. LIFE enters and embraces her.) PEACE Ah, Life! Dear Life! LIFE At last I've found true Peace. PEACE I've waited long and watched. LIFE We'll never part. Promise me, Peace, that we shall never part. PEACE That lies with you, O Life. Heed words of Truth, Be faithful unto Love, be true to Peace, And she will ne'er forsake you. LIFE I'll be true. PEACE But you are faint! Come, drink here at the well. (LIFE drinks at the well LOVE enters and embraces PEACE.) 79 LOVE Sweet Peace I PEACE Strong, noble Love. LOVE Now Life is come ^ And we are free to go back home again ; ' (Looking toward crib.) , Yet has our sojourn here brought us great joy. | (Goes to Life.) * Ah, Life! TRUTH (Enters.) Peace 1 Peace, my daughter 1 PEACE Father, see I I plucked a rose when early morning's light Bent down to kiss the sleeping fxowers to bloom, And placed it in my window; there it grew Sweeter and sweeter, spreading its perfume About me. TRUTH Ah, my daughter, you should know Where there is Peace, all flowers must sweeter grow. PEACE But just this morn I passed that way again. And where I left that ragged, bruised stem These flowers grew — ten — every one of them. (She holds up the rose cluster.) TRUTH The prints of your small fingers on the stem t 80 \ PEACE I'll give them all to Life. (She presents them to Life.) A gift from Peace. LOVE A sweet reward for trials overcome. LIFE (Holding up the roses as the virtues enter.) Look you, good friends, a sweet reward is mine. Wild roses plucked by Peace! I'll form a crown And crown her queen again. (He fashions a crown of roses and places it on her head.) VIRTUES Long live the queen ! LIFE Look you — the queen of queens! VIRTUES The queen of queens! PEACE 'Tis sweet to be a queen and wear a crown, But, Life, I hold the crown belongs to you, Since thru your efforts Peace has been restored. (Returns the crozvn.) Yours is the victory. LIFE Ah, Victory! They gave me Death and called her Victory. Where then is found that vague, elusive one Whom men call Victory? Who knows the way? HAPPINESS Not I. 81 Nor I. Nor I. HEALTH ABUNDANCE TRUTH Peace knows the way. LOVE (To PEACE, who clings to him in modesty.) We'll show him. PEACE Aye. LOVE (To LIFE.) Come. We will show you there. (They lead him to the crib beside the door. He gases in won- der.) LIFE (Joyfully.) This Victory? A new-born babe! TRUTH Aye, true! And born of Peace and Love. VIRTUES (Crowding about.) Ah, Victory! LIFE An offering- of roses I will give. She wakes I She smiles ! (He falls upon his knees with the offering in his outstretched arms. The light grows dimmer and dimmer, until the stage is in total darkness. LIFE is still heard whispering.) Victory ! Victory ! (CURTAIN.) 82 EPILOGUE 83 Scene: Same as in Prologue. As the Curtain Rises: The stage is in total darkness. LIFE is still heard whispering, "Victory! Victory!" as at the end of preceding act. The time is early morning. As the stage grad- ually lightens, LIFE is discovered kneeling as at the close of ■ Act Four. In his outstretched arms is seen the canteen instead of the crozvn of roses; zvhere once stood the crib of VIC- TORY is the weakened form of the enemy of the Prologue. LIFE whispers in a vague and disconnected manner. Fie slowly comes from the unreal back again into the real. His countenance lightens as the true understanding comes to him. S. SOLDIER Water ! Water ! LIFE (Laughs joyously.) I know ! I know ! (He supports the weakened form of the enemy upon his knee and puts the canteen to his lips. The roar of guns gives way to an infinite silence. Slowly then the sounds of nature return: a cricket chirps, a bird sings, a rooster crows, a dog barks, etc. As LIFE assists the soldier to his feet, a glorious sun tops the distant hills.) The light! (They move down the hill together.) (CURTAIN.) 84 i