Poems of Progress | Page 8

changing pictures. I would seem
To

see myself in beautiful array
Move down the aisle upon my wedding
day;
And then I saw the modest living-room
With lighted lamp, and
fragrant plants in bloom,
And books and sewing scattered all about,

And just we two alone.
CUPID (in glee aside)
There's not a doubt
I'll land her yet!
MAIDEN
My dream kaleidoscope
Changed still again, and framed love's
dearest hope -
The trinity of home; and life was good
And all its
deepest meaning understood.
[Sits lost in a dream. Behind scenes a voice sings a lullaby, 'Beautiful
Land of Nod.' CUPID in ecstasy tiptoes about and clasps his hands in
delight.]
Another scene! a matron in her prime,
I saw myself glide peacefully
with time
Into the quiet middle years, content
With simple joys the
dear home circle lent.
My sons and daughters made my diadem;
I
saw my happy youth renewed in them.
The pain of growing old lost
all its sting,
For Love stood near--in Winter, as in Spring.
[CUPID tiptoes to door and makes a signal. MAIDEN starts up
dramatically.]
'Twas but a dream! I woke all suddenly.
The world had changed! And
now life means to me
My art--the stage--excitement and the crowd -

The glare of many foot-lights--and the loud
Applause of men, as I
cry in rage,
'Give me the dagger!' or creep down the stage
In that
sleep-walking scene. Oh, art like mine
Will send the chills down
every listener's spine!
And when I choose, salt tears shall freely flow

As in the moonlight I cry, 'Romeo! Romeo!
Oh, wherefore art thou,
Romeo?'

Ay, 'tis done
My dream of home life.
CUPID
It is but begun.
MAIDEN
The heart but once can dream a dream so fair,
And so henceforth love
thoughts I do forswear;
Since faith in love has crumbled to the dust,

In fame alone, I put my hope and trust.
[CUPID at the door beckons excitedly. Enter lover with outstretched
arms.]
CUPID
Here's one who will explain yourself to you
And make that old sweet
dream of love come true.
Fix up your foolish quarrel; time is brief -

So waste no more of it in doubt or grief.
[The lovers meet and embrace.]
CUPID (in doorway)
Warm lip to lip, and heart to beating heart,
The cast is made--My
Lady has her part.
CURTAIN
THE REVOLT OF VASHTI
(FROM THE DRAMA OF
MIZPAH)
AHASUERAS
Is this the way to greet thy loving spouse,
But now returned from
scenes of blood and strife?
I pray thee raise thy veil and let me gaze


Upon that beauty which hath greater power
To conquer me than all
the arts of war!
VASHTI
My beauty! Ay, my BEAUTY! I do hold,
In thy regard, no more an
honoured place
Than yonder marble pillar, or the gold
And jewelled
wine-cup which thy lips caress.
Thou wouldst degrade me in the
people's sight!
AHASUERAS
Degrade thee, Vashti? Rather do I seek
To show my people who are
gathered here
How, as the consort of so fair a queen,
I feel more
pride than as the mighty king:
For there be many rulers on the earth,

But only ONE such queen. Come, raise thy veil!
VASHTI
Ay! only ONE such queen! A queen is one
Who shares her husband's
greatness and his throne.
I am no more than yonder dancing girl

Who struts and smirks before a royal court!
But I will loose my veil
and loose my tongue!
Now listen, sire--my master and my king;

And let thy princes and the court give ear!
'Tis time all heard how
Vashti feels her shame.
AHASUERAS
Shame is no word to couple with thy name!
Shame and a spotless
woman may not meet,
Even in a sentence. Choose another word.
VASHTI
Ay, SHAME, my lord--there is no synonym
That can give voice to
my ignoble state.
To be a thing for eyes to gaze upon,
Yet held an
outcast from thy heart and mind;
To hear my beauty praised but not

my worth;
To come and go at Pleasure's beck and call,
While
barred from Wisdom's conclaves! Think ye THAT
A noble calling
for a noble dame?
Why, any concubine amongst thy train
Could
play my royal part as well as I -
Were she as fair!
AHASUERAS
Queen Vashti, art thou MAD?
I would behead another did he dare

To so besmirch thee with comparison.
VASHTI (to the court)
Gaze now your fill! Behold Queen Vashti's eyes!
How large they
gleam beneath her inch of brow!
How like a great white star, her
splendid face
Shines through the midnight forest of her hair!
And
see the crushed pomegranate of her mouth!
Observe her arms, her
throat, her gleaming breasts,
Whereon the royal jewels rise and fall! -

And note the crescent curving of her hips,
And lovely limbs
suggested 'neath her robes!
Gaze, gaze, I say, for these have made her
queen!
She hath no mind, no heart, no dignity,
Worth royal
recognition and regard;
But her fair body approbation meets
And
whets the sated appetite of kings!
Now ye have seen what she was bid
to show.
The queen hath played her part and begs to go.
AHASUERAS
Ay, Vashti, go and never more return!
Not only hast thou wronged
thine own true