Aria da Capo | Page 3

are always ready.
COTHURNUS: Play the play!
[CORYDON and THYRSIS move the table and chairs to one side out
of the way, and seat themselves in a half-reclining position on the
floor.]
THYRSIS: How gently in the silence, Corydon, Our sheep go up the
bank. They crop a grass That's yellow where the sun is out, and black
Where the clouds drag their shadows. Have you noticed How steadily,
yet with what a slanting eye They graze?
CORYDON: As if they thought of other things. What say you, Thyrsis,
do they only question Where next to pull?--Or do their far minds draw
them Thus vaguely north of west and south of east?
THYRSIS: One cannot say. . . . The black lamb wears its burdocks As
if they were a garland,--have you noticed? Purple and white--and drinks
the bitten grass As if it were a wine.
CORYDON: I've noticed that. What say you, Thyrsis, shall we make a
song About a lamb that thought himself a shepherd?
THYRSIS: Why, yes!--that is, why,--no. (I have forgotten my line.)
COTHURNUS: [Prompting.] "I know a game worth two of that!"
THYRSIS: Oh, yes. . . . I know a game worth two of that! Let's gather
rocks, and build a wall between us; And say that over there belongs to
me, And over here to you!
CORYDON: Why,--very well. And say you may not come upon my
side Unless I say you may!
THYRSIS: Nor you on mine! And if you should, 'twould be the worse
for you!

[They weave a wall of colored crepe paper ribbons from the centre
front to the centre back of the stage, fastening the ends to
COLUMBINE'S chair in front and to PIERROT'S chair in the back.]
CORYDON: Now there's a wall a man may see across, But not attempt
to scale.
THYRSIS: An excellent wall.
CORYDON: Come, let us separate, and sit alone A little while, and lay
a plot whereby We may outdo each other. [They seat themselves on
opposite sides of the wall.]
PIERROT: [Off stage.] Ehe, Pierrette!
COLUMBINE: [Off stage.] My name is Columbine! Leave me alone!
THYRSIS: [Coming up to the wall.] Corydon, after all, and in spite of
the fact I started it myself, I do not like this So very much. What is the
sense of saying I do not want you on my side the wall? It is a silly
game. I'd much prefer Making the little song you spoke of making,
About the lamb, you know, that thought himself A shepherd!--what do
you say?
[Pause.]
CORYDON: [At wall.] (I have forgotten the line.)
COTHURNUS: [Prompting.] "How do I know this isn't a trick?"
CORYDON: Oh, yes. . . . How do I know this isn't a trick To get upon
my land?
THYRSIS: Oh, Corydon, You know it's not a trick. I do not like The
game, that's all. Come over here, or let me Come over there.
CORYDON: It is a clever trick To get upon my land. [Seats himself as
before.]
THYRSIS: Oh, very well! [Seats himself as before.] [To himself.] I
think I never knew a sillier game.
CORYDON: [Coming to wall.] Oh, Thyrsis, just a minute!--all the
water Is on your side the wall, and the sheep are thirsty. I hadn't
thought of that.
THYRSIS: Oh, hadn't you?
CORYDON: Why, what do you mean?
THYRSIS: What do I mean?--I mean That I can play a game as well as
you can. And if the pool is on my side, it's on My side, that's all.
CORYDON: You mean you'd let the sheep Go thirsty?
THYRSIS: Well, they're not my sheep. My sheep Have water enough.

CORYDON: Your sheep! You are mad, to call them Yours--mine--they
are all one flock! Thyrsis, you can't mean To keep the water from them,
just because They happened to be grazing over here Instead of over
there, when we set the wall up?
THYRSIS: Oh, can't I?--wait and see!--and if you try To lead them
over here, you'll wish you hadn't!
CORYDON: I wonder how it happens all the water Is on your side. . . .
I'll say you had an eye out For lots of little things, my innocent friend,
When I said, "Let us make a song," and you said, "I know a game
worth two of that!"
COLUMBINE: [Off stage.] Pierrot, D'you know, I think you must be
getting old, Or fat, or something,--stupid, anyway!-- Can't you put on
some other kind of collar?
THYRSIS: You know as well as I do, Corydon, I never thought
anything of the kind. _Don't_ you?
CORYDON: I do not.
THYRSIS: Don't you?
CORYDON: Oh, I suppose so. Thyrsis, let's drop this,--what do you
say?--it's only A game, you know . . . we seem to be forgetting It's only
a