Aria da Capo | Page 4

game ... a pretty serious game It's getting to be, when one of us is
willing To let the sheep go thirsty for the sake of it.
THYRSIS: I know it, Corydon.
[They reach out their arms to each other across the wall.]
COTHURNUS: [Prompting.] "But how do I know--"
THYRSIS: Oh, yes. . . . But how do I know this isn't a trick To water
your sheep, and get the laugh on me?
CORYDON: You can't know, that's the difficult thing about it, Of
course,--you can't be sure. You have to take My word for it. And I
know just how you feel. But one of us has to take a risk, or else, Why,
don't you see?--the game goes on forever! . . . It's terrible, when you
stop to think of it. . . . Oh, Thyrsis, now for the first time I feel This
wall is actually a wall, a thing Come up between us, shutting you away
From me. . . . I do not know you any more!
THYRSIS: No, don't say that! Oh, Corydon, I'm willing To drop it all,
if you will! Come on over And water your sheep! It is an ugly game. I
hated it from the first. . . . How did it start?
CORYDON: I do not know . . . I do not know . . . I think I am afraid of

you!--you are a stranger! I never set eyes on you before! "Come over
And water my sheep," indeed!--They'll be more thirsty Than they are
now before I bring them over Into your land, and have you mixing
them up With yours, and calling them yours, and trying to keep them!
[Enter COLUMBINE]
COLUMBINE: [To COTHURNUS.] Glummy, I want my hat.
THYRSIS: Take it, and go.
COLUMBINE: Take it and go, indeed. Is it my hat, Or isn't it? Is this
my scene, or not? Take it and go! Really, you know, you two Are
awfully funny!
[Exit COLUMBINE]
THYRSIS: Corydon, my friend, I'm going to leave you now, and
whittle me A pipe, or sing a song, or go to sleep. When you have come
to your senses, let me know. [Goes back to where he has been sitting,
lies down and sleeps.]
[CORYDON, in going back to where he has been sitting, stumbles over
bowl of colored confetti and colored paper ribbons.]
CORYDON: Why, what is this?--Red stones--and purple stones-- And
stones stuck full of gold!--The ground is full Of gold and colored
stones! . . . I'm glad the wall Was up before I found them!--Otherwise, I
should have had to share them. As it is, They all belong to me. . . .
Unless--
[He goes to wall and digs up and down the length of it, to see if there
are jewels on the other side.]
None here-- None here--none here--They all belong to me! [Sits.]
THYRSIS: [Awakening.] How curious! I thought the little black lamb
Came up and licked my hair; I saw the wool About its neck as plain as
anything! It must have been a dream. The little black lamb Is on the
other side of the wall, I'm sure.
[Goes to wall and looks over. CORYDON is seated on the ground,
tossing the confetti up into the air and catching it.]
Hello, what's that you've got there, Corydon?
CORYDON: Jewels.
THYRSIS: Jewels?--And where did you ever get them?
CORYDON: Oh, over here.
THYRSIS: You mean to say you found them, By digging around in the
ground for them?

CORYDON: [Unpleasantly.] No, Thyrsis, By digging down for water
for my sheep.
THYRSIS: Corydon, come to the wall a minute, will you? I want to
talk to you.
CORYDON: I haven't time. I'm making me a necklace of red stones.
THYRSIS: I'll give you all the water that you want, For one of those
red stones,--if it's a good one.
CORYDON: Water?--what for?--what do I want of water?
THYRSIS: Why, for your sheep!
CORYDON: My sheep?--I'm not a shepherd!
THYRSIS: Your sheep are dying of thirst.
CORYDON: Man, haven't I told you I can't be bothered with a few
untidy Brown sheep all full of burdocks?--I'm a merchant. That's what I
am!--And if I set my mind to it I dare say I could be an emperor! [To
himself.] Wouldn't I be a fool to spend my time Watching a flock of
sheep go up a hill, When I have these to play with?--when I have these
To think about?--I can't make up my mind Whether to buy a city, and
have a thousand Beautiful girls to bathe me, and be happy Until I die,
or build a bridge, and name it The Bridge of Corydon,--and be
remembered After I'm dead.
THYRSIS: Corydon, come to the wall, Won't you?--I