UC-NRLF CO _9 r6 >^ -^ x|r 4>: ^, ),^ ><^ ,«y ><§K X^ »<^ p i^ PRUNELLA OR LOVE IN A DUTCH GARDEN PRUNELLA OR LOVE IN A DUTCH GARDEN BY LAURENCE HOUSMAN AND GRANVILLE BARKER NEW YORK DUFFIELD AND COMPANY 1913 ^ ^^^' Mummers, Romp, Tawdry, iuiuixkiij r Coquette,^ ^Ul4. Tenor, a hired Singer. ^^kA.iA 3_, ^rf-iKl^uurfni.. Prunella, h'^ Prim, Prude, Privacy, Queer, Quaint, ) ' - i^J-± ]il ') ^^''^'■''■^^ 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gardener. \ lli^Vi ^ Boy. Love, a Statue. her Aunts. } their Servants. 5754S4 PRUNELLA ACT I Scene. — A garden enclosed hy high hedges cut square. To the light a statue of Love, with viol and borv, stands over a fountain. To the left is a house with prim 7vindows, the centre one projecting over a porch in which hangs a caged canarij. The three gardeners are discovered at work, tnmming the hedges and nailing up creepers. Behind the jurtliei hedge the Boy's voice is heard. Boy. O you naughty, naughty birds, now will you Come into my garden, and I '11 kill you ! 1st Gar. Well, what d'you say the weather 's going to be? 2nd Gar. Weather ain't up to much, it seems to me. 3rd Gar. It s up to mischief, though : Making things grow A deal too fast. These hedges — since we cut 'em last — Don't seem As if they know'd as a straight line could mean Anything ! No ; they 're all elbows and knees, Perking 'emselves about just as they please ! Oweasy things be trees I PRUNELLA ACT I Boy. O you naughty little pests, now fly, please 1 Don't come making nests in my trees ! 1st Gar. Well, what 's to be done now ? 2nd Gar. I thought as how — While we was on it, gettin' things to shape — 'T might be a good plan just to give a scrape To this old fountain. 3rd Gar. Ah ! you thought that ? Well, Then don't you do it ! 2nd Gar. Oh ! why not ? 3rd Gar. I tell You — doiCt you do it ! 't 's not to be touched, so there ! 2nd Gar. Well, it can rot then ! 3rd Gar. You haven't been here So long as I have 1 if you had you 'd know. 2nd Gar. Oh, indeed, oh ? [Boy th?'ows cap. Now then ! now then 1 Boy. Please, Mister Gardener, I Was only throwing it at a butterfly ! 3rd Gar. Then just you leave the butterflies alone : They mind their business — and you mind your own ! It 's scaring birds is what you 've got to do. Boy. They's scared enough now, mister; — they seed you Come into the garden. 2 PRUNELLA 8rd Gar. Eh ? look 'ere, look 'ere ! act i You keep that sauce for your own chop ! D' ye hear ? Now come and pick this rag up ! Don't be slow 1 What 's coming to the boy now I don't know. 1st Gar. It 's just his youth. 3rd Gar. Hisijouth/ Hi! Here a minute ! Closer . . . that pocket there . , . what you got in it ? Boy. Got? What? 3rd Gar. Why, this. This 'at ! 1st Gar. Lord love yer, look at that I Boy. 'A picked it up. 3rd Gar. Picked it up, did you ? Where ? Boy. Please, Mr. Gardener, down — down at the fair. 3rd Gar. Oh, so it 's the fair you 've been to, have you, then ? Boy. Yes, please, Mr. Gardener, I — went — but I — I come back agen. 3rd Gar. Who was it told you to go ? Boy. Please, Mister, I— I went to see the mummers. 1st Gar. Mummers? My I 3rd Gar. And you been brought up so respectable, And b'longing here I What did you go for ? Boy. Well,— You see they was going away to-day, some one told me — 3 PRUNELLA ACT I And I just couldn't 'elp it ! I just 'ad to see If they was like — like what I 'd thought they'd be. An' oh, they was, they was and more so ! There Was a lot of 'orses and ponies, all polished-shinin', just like my 'air Of a Sunday ; an' acrobats, pink-in-the-skin, an' clowns All tumbling about : and ladies, oh ! — what had gowns Too short for their legs ! and, my word, didn't they kick! And there was a lot of fiddlers fiddling so quick You couldn't stop to breathe for listening; and fairies with wings, And folk what had sugar-plum things Stuck all over them ! Oh, and they played The fool to the life ! 1st Gar. Did they now — did they ? 8rd Gar. Well ? Boy. Made you feel you wished you was silly your- self—like as you was ever so. 3rd Gar. Well ? Boy. Then — then I come away. 3rd Gar. Then, now you \_Points him back to his work. Boy. Yes, Mister Gardener. 3rd Gar. Head Gardener. Boy. 'Ead Gardener. 4 PRUNELLA 1st Gar. Oh, I 've seed life in my time too ! act i 3rd Gar. Yes. An' you just encourage that boy. 1st Gar. / do ? 3rd Gar. I 'm feared at 'eart you 're unregenerate, Jeremy ! 2nd Gar. Ah ! what was you up by the gate So long about this morning ? 1st Gar. I ? 2nd Gar. — If not To see them mummers pass ; more 'n one lot Went by wi' a band just about breakfast-time. 1st Gar. Ay, so they did. 2nd Gar. And you there ? 1st Gar. Eh ! Well, I 'm Fond of a bit of music and a game. 3rd Gar. What, at your age ? O Jeremy, think shame Of harbouring of such thoughts ! 2nd Gar. [_Smffing.'] Ah, ha ! 3rd Gar. WeU ? What are ye up to there, my Samuel ? What 's come on you ? 2nd Gar. There 's summat I can smell The shape of here ! 3rd Gar. What sort of shape '11 it be ? 2nd Gar. Our dinner 1 Pigs'-pudding ! 3rd Gar. Good ! 5 PRUNELLA ACT I 1st Gar. Ay I though for me— 1 prefer chitterlings. 8rd Gar. Ah ! I don't know I I dunno. Chitterlings m their place don't go So bad ; but if you was to ask me straight What I 'd have first, if it should be my fate To die to-morrow, why I think T 'd most Choose tripe and onions ! 1st Gar. Peter, add a roast Potato, and I 'm with you ! Boy. Please, misters, say Ain't 'am and eggs your notion of heaven ? 3rd Gar. Eh ? My notion is you 'd better get on away Back to your work — wasting your time all day Listening to what 's not meant for your ears ! 2nd Gar. Well, That talk 's made me feel sorry for mysel' — Hungry. How goes the time ? 3rd Gar. It ain't nigh twelve. Not yet. [Sighs, Enter Queer, caj-rying small table. 2nd Gar. Oh, good-morning, ma'am,— miss, 1 should say. Queer. No, you shouldn't : you should wait till you 're spoken to ! 3rd Gar. Quite right, Mrs. Queer ! Patcher, learn your place ! PRUNELLA Queer. I didn't ask you to speak ! act I 3rd Gar. You did not, Mrs. Queer, but the sweet- ness of your looks tempted me to hutter a hobservation. Queer. Ha ! [Queer arranges things, and exit abruptly. 2nd Gar. What 's put her out ? 3rd Gar. Thought of old times, maybe I 2nd Gar. Eh, but she needn't vent it off on me. 1st Gar. Here ! did she have Her disappointments ever ? 3rd Gar. I don't know. I don't know. 2nd Gar. Ah, you 've your suspicions, though ! 1st Gar. When did it happen ? 3rd Gar. If it did happen — and I don't say so — But yet I don't say no — 'twas at the time AVhen that French gentleman -gardener come along, — Him as put up that fountain. It was then As most things happened that ever happened here. 1st Gar. Oh, ho, so that's how it come? What does it mean ? 2nd Gar. That stands for Cupid. Cupid's the French for love. Re-enter Queer. Queer. In a few minutes' time your mistresses 7 PRUNELLA ACT I Are coming to sit here : and they 11 expect Quiet and no disturbance while Miss Prunella Is doing her lessons. Mister Gardeners, You had better begin to work ! it 's getting late ! lExit. 3rd Gar. Ah, she don't like our looking at this here . . . No . . . Yes, as I say, 'twas that French artist chap — * Gardener architect ' as he called hisself — Who put that up. Well, — it was never any Affair of mine. 1st Gar. And what else did he do ? 3rd Gar. Well, — we don't make a boast of it, you see, — But it was 'e Run off with the youngest of 'em — Miss what's 'er-name ? — AYith INIiss Prunella's mother, as she became. 1st Gar. O-oh ! Was Miss Prunella his daughter, then ? 3rd Gar. I don't know. 2nd Gar. What — didn't they marry when — When — er — 3rd Gar. I dunno. 1st Gar. Come, out with it, man I What do you know ? 3rd Gar. Well, twenty years ago, That Frenchman, he come here ; and he began 8 PRUNELLA Chopping and changing, doing things on his own — act i Improving what he 'd better have left alone, If you ask me. 'Twas he put on the shelf That graven-image o' Cupid — carved it himself: And — Miss— Priscilla 2nd Gar. Ah ! 3rd Gae. She used to come And watch him at it. 1st Gar. Oh ! so that was how ! 3rd Gar. Ah ! that was it. Then she grows pale and thin, And melancholy-like ; — you know the way That sort of thing takes people — walked about With a book in her hand, holding it upside down Pretending to be reading of it — watching him. 2nd Gar. And he a-watchins: her ? 3rd Gar. Ay, ay ! Before He made the sign, she was in love with him. And just as full of it as any goose Is with the stuffing. 1st Gar. Did nobody find out ? 3rd Gar. Ah, p'raps Miss Privacy knew — Or guessed : but she was soft — she didn't say Anything to the others. And then, one day, Just when the statue was finished — she and him — Miss Priscy and her Frenchman-architect — Took and run off together. No one knows What happened after that. 9 PRUNELLA ACT I 2nd Gar. Well, they must know Something: or where does Miss Prunella come in? 3rd Gar. She come Just a year afterwards, as small and young As they make 'em — found lying at the door Tied up in black ribbon, with a letter written By Miss Priscilla just before she died. Saying the child was hers. But more than that I don't know, I don't know. 2nd Gar. Well, a poor business that was to be sure! And what for, eh ? for love ! — Cupidity 1 * Stupidity ' / call it. I love my love With a D — I want my dinner ! 1st Gar. So that's where Miss Prunella gets her ways. Is it ? Why, there ! I 've seen her hanging round That fountain by the hour, all sad and pale And star-gazing at nothing : — ^just as you say Her mother used to do. 3rd Gar. Oh, ay I she 's like Her mother : a deal too like her to please me. If we don't look out, she '11 go falling in love With the first pretty fellow she sets eyes upon ; And then the deuce to pay ! Boy. Please, Mister Gardener, I saw Miss Prunella looking at 7?ie yesterday — the saddest, sorrowfullest 10 PRUNELLA look you ever saw. It made me blush all down act i into my clothes. Oh 1 [Breaks of. Enter Prunella. S/ie is studying a hook and carrying a satchel of work on her arm. Occasionally she half closes the hook, and raises her head to mutter a piece off by heart; then halts and looks down again. 1st and 2nd Gardeners go round hedge. Oh, hark, naughty bhds, what 1 11 do t' you ; Go out of my garden, or I '11 shoot you ! Prunella [Repeating each line twice ove7'']. Not to allow my thoughts to stray — Not to allow my thoughts to stray Beyond the duties of each day — Beyond the duties of each day: Thus only can I hope to be — Thus only can I hope to be A type of maiden modesty — A type of maiden modesty. Now I know that. 3rd Gar. Hem ! Prunella. What are you doing there ? 3rd Gar. Giving Nature a lesson, miss. Prunella. What are you teaching her ? 3rd Gar. To keep straight I 111 let her know who's master while / '?« here. Prunella. And if you didn't, what would happen ? 11 PRUNELLA ACT I 3rd Gar. Why, she 'd kick over the traces and be off her own way in no time. She 's bad enough as it is, always getting herself [clips'] out of shape, and trying to be different to what you make her. [C/i/w.] Well, that you can't help, you've just got to come along and put it right. \_Clips.~\ First she '11 run to leaf — that you can't help — then she '11 run to seed — that you can't help — then she goes stalky [clips] rots herself — dies and stinks. None of it you can't help. Prunella. What can you do, then ? 3rd Gar. Oh, you — you — can make things uncom- fortable for her ; you can show her what she ought to be, and keep her in her place — make her toe the line. That 's what a garden 's for, that 's where gardening comes in. Prunella. Oh dear ! here are my aunts already ! 3rd Gar. Yes, miss. Prunella. Lessons ! I 'm sure I 'm growing too old for lessons. 3rd Gar. No, miss — no one grows too old for lessons. Enter Prim, Privacy, and Prude, followed by Queer and Quaint. The Gardeners retire behind hedge, and commence to woi'k. Prim. Prunella, it is lesson- time. Are all your lessons learned ? 12 PRUNELLA Prunella. Yes, Aunt Prim. act i Privacy. Quaint, is the outer gate shut ? Quaint. Yes, ma'am. [Prunella stands apart, conning her lesson. Prude. Indeed, I hope so ; to-day it 's very neces- sary. You had better double-lock it, and draw down all the blinds looking towards the road. Prunella. Why, Aunt Prue, people will think there 's some one dead in the house ! Prude. They had better do so, Prunella, if it will induce them to moderate their conduct while passing our premises. I have already beheld more than I care to recount to you. Privacy. I heard a disturbance outside. Prunella {^Leaning forward with a little curiosity]. Oh, yes Prim. Prunella, deport yourself! Privacy [To Quaint]. You had better bring me the key of the gate. Quaint. Yes, ma'am. [Eojtt, Prim [To Queer]. To-day we shall not be at home to any one. Prude. Who will call ? No one can venture into the streets. Prunella. Why can't they, Aunt Prude ? Prude. Never mind, Prunella ! Prim. Tell the gardeners to see that nobody in- trudes, [^^ii Queer. 13 PRUNELLA ACT I Boy O you naughty, naughty bnds, now will you Come into my garden, and I '11 kill you ! [Quaint i^eturns with the key, and exit into house. Prunella wanders toward the hedge. PuiM. Prunella, get your needlework, And bring your little chair : Assume the task you wish to shirk, And come and sit down here ! Gaudeners \_Looking round hedge']. And go and sit down there ! Prude. But please to do it decently, No, do not cross your feet ; These habits have come recently. Correct them, I entreat ! Gardeners \_As before']. Correct them, we entreat ! Privacy. Count ten before you say a thing, Think of each word you use. Be careful how you weigh a thing. And mind your P's and Q's. Gardeners. And mind your \_Clock strikes ' Cuckoo ' twelve times. The Gardeners stop speaking and begin to count on their fingers and feet. Boy [Behind hedge]. O you naughty, naughty birds ; now — oof ! . . . \^A dinnei^-bell is heard. 3rd Gar. Dinner I 14 PRUNELLA 2nd Gak. Dinner ! act i 1st Gar. Dinner! {^Boy I'uns past. 2nd Gah. That boy gone — forward as usual ! \_Exeiint. Prude. Prunella, regulate yourself! Prim. It is time to begin lessons. Have you learned your verses ? [Prunella hands the hook. You had better stand while you recite. Prunella. What is my task to-day ? Behold The dawn arises decked in gold ; Bird, beast, and fish awake to run Their daily rounds beneath the sun. Shall I alone neglect to ask The frightful question, ' What 's my- Prim. Vital question. Prunella. Shall I alone neglect to ask The vital question, ' What 's my task ? ' Ah, no ! the Power which placed me here. Directs me still to persevere ; To find, removed from dust and heat, Materials for a life complete, And to pursue with taste subdued The gentle paths of rectitude ; To keep my temper well controlled. To be content — do as I 'm told. Not to allow Prude. Prunella, retreat the sash ! Prim. * Not to allow ' — continue. Prunella ! 15 PRUNELLA ACT I Prunella. Not to allow . . . To keep my temper well controlled To be content — do as I 'm told. Not to allow Oh, I Ve forgotten it all now ! Retreating the sash put it all out of my head. Prim. You must learn it again. Privacy. Prunella, I have not known this happen before ! You had better carry the book indoors. Bring The Gentle Reader with you when you return. \_Exit Prunella. Prim. Do you think she has noticed any- thing ? Privacy. Seen anything ? Oh, I hope not. Prude. I think it possible. Privacy. I fancy the fair must be breaking up to- day. Prude. Three or four bodies of the rabble have already passed along the road. Prim. Our road ? Prude. I heard — I almost saw them. I 'm sure it is a death-trap to any young girl's modesty to look out of window while such characters are abroad. Prim. Hadn't we better all go indoors ? We are too close to the road here. Prude. But we must be careful not to be abrupt or to seem purposeless. 16 PRUNELLA Prude. If we made any sudden move, Prunella's act i curiosity might be aroused. Prim. I think it is aroused already. Prude. Well, she certainly showed a peculiar in- telligence about the blinds. She seemed to me to wish to have them up. [Pruneui.a returns from the house. Privacy. Hush ! here she comes. Prim. I observe a strange agitation in her manner. Prude. She 's concealing something. \_The INIummers' music in the distance. Prim. Privacy — there are the mummers again ! Privacy. Dear me ! But quite in the distance. Prim. But she '11 hear them — she must Prude. She 's taking notice — she 's taking notice ! Privacy. Oh, distract her attention! Prim. How ? Prude. INIake conversation ! Prim. Ah ! — it 's the gardeners' dinner-hour Privacy. They will have finished soon. Prude. It looks as if there 'd be a shower This afternoon. Priini. I hope you put away your books ? Prunella. Yes. Prim. Closed the drawer again ? Prunella. Yes. Prim. Quite sure ? Prunella. Yes. B 17 PRUNELLA ACT I Prude. It really looks As if there would be rain. Prim. Prunella, do not cross your feet. Don't turn them so much out ! Prude. Really I do think from the heat Thunder must be about. \_A slight pause. Prim. Ah ! They have passed by. Privacy. Dear child, she has noticed nothing. Prude. Innocence is a beautiful thing, Privacy. [Prim yawns. Prude. Really, Prim ! Prim. I am sorry — I think it is more nervousness than fatigue. Prude. Reading, Prunella ! — Open your Gentle Reader. Turn to ' The Moon.' No — no. Prunella — do not waste your energy in turning pages. Discover the whereabouts of the passage by means of the Index — placed in the book for that purpose. [Privacy yawns. Prude. Oh, Privacy ! Privacy. I beg your pardon. Prude \_To Prunella]. Have you found 'The Moon ' ? Prunella. Yes, Aunt. Prude. Then begin. Read slowly and sit straight. \^She starts a yawn, but checks it.'] No — 'twas not yawning. 18 PRUNELLA Prunella. * The JMoon.' To-day, gentle reader, we act i will look at the moon, in order to consider its character, its condition, and its constituents, so far as they are known. The moon is much larger than the uninstructed would suppose ; it is nearly a quarter of a million miles away from our globe, which will give you some idea of its size. Thus the fastest crow would take nearly four years to fly from here to the moon, without any pause for refreshment by the way, and the kingly eagle would not accomplish the task under three. Let facts like these, gentle reader, stir your wonder at Creation's mighty plan, and stimulate modesty at your own exceeding insignificance. Prude. ' Modesty,' Prunella ; you had better make a note. Prunella [Makes a note]. The moon has from time immemorial been the subject of foolish fables, all of which are untrue. The fact that the contours of its surface somewhat resemble the human countenance has given rise to an ignorant superstition that the moon contains a man. Gentle reader, there is no man in the moon, nor is it in the least probable that any form of life can exist there. It is true that the moon presents to our eyes only one-half of its surface ; no one has ever seen the further side of the moon. Prim. Prunella, why do you stop reading ? 19 PRUNELLA ACT I Prunella. No one has ever seen the further side of the moon ! It is probably just the same in all respects as the one we know. [ The Aunts begin to nod.'] The moon completes the circuit of the earth once in every lunar month. If uninfluenced by superior gravity the moon, once started, would have gone on in a straight line for ever ; any change that has come about is proportional to the earth's attraction, and lies in the direction of that attraction. [^Distant music comes neare?' ; Prunella stops to listen and goes on again. The Aunts sleep.'] The earth influences the moon, at- tracting it by its superior gravity. Once it formed a part of the earth, but breaking away, it chose a course of its own and lost all its heat and vitality. The moon may, therefore, fitly be held up as an object-lesson to all young people. It once committed a rash act for which it is now paying the penalty. \_31usic again comes nearer ; on the other side of the hedge are voices and laughter. Prun- ella stops to listen. Over the hedge a shower of confetti falls upon the sleeping Aunts. Prunella turns in timid alarm. Outside a toy bugle is blown on tivo notes rather like a cuckoo, and a drum is banged. Prude S^Avoakening]. What was that noise ? Prunella. I don't know. \_More noise without. 20 PRUNELLA Prim. Oh ! oh ! Those dreadful people 1 act i Entei^ Queer and Quaint, rujining. Queer and Quaint. O ma'am, ma'am, ma'am I The mummers are going by ! They 've been throwing up at the windows and knocking at the gate, and there are lots more of them coming up the road. Privacy. Come, let us go in at once. Prim. We must retire. Prude. Queer, Quaint, bring in the chairs ! Privacy. Prunella, my dear, don't sit so ! Get up I [Prunella gets up all in a dream ; her lap is full of needlex^ork, thimbles, scissors, etc., ivhichfcdl upon the ground. Prim. Tut ! tut ! what carelessness ! Gather them up quickly, and come ! \_Another blast outside. Prude. Oh-h-h ! [Rujis.^ \_E.veunt the Aunts. [Queer and Quaint pick up the chairs. Queer. What are you going to do ? Quaint. I 'm going to pull down the top-floor blinds. I won't have people looking into my room. Queer [JFith understanding of idiat opportunity a top) ivindow afhrdsl. Ah ! And I believe my win- dow is open. Ignorance ain't innocence ; it 's well to know these things — then you can avoid 'em. 21 PRUNELLA ACT I Privacy [^Returning], Prunella, I have dropped the gate key. Find it and bring it in. Then retire to your room and stay there till you are sent for. [Exit Privacy. Prunella prepares to fol- loxv, takes up the key, then after a momenfs hesitation gets on her stool and looks over the hedge. Through the bottom of the hedge creeps Pierrot. Half -way through he stops. Pierrot. Cuckoo ! [Prunella looks doxvn and sees him. There is a long pause. Prunella. Was it you made that noise just now ? Pierrot \_Nodding and smiling at her']. Nice noise, wasn't it ? [Prunella shakes her head very seriously. He comes light th'ough the hedge. Prunella \_Scared~\. Naughty white boy, you must go away ! Pierrot. No, pretty Dutch doll, let me stay ! Prunella. You mustn't call me names. Pierrot. You called me names. Prunella. I didn't. Pierrot. You did — a horrid, nasty name. Prunella [Approaching him, half fascinated]. Tell me — what in the world are you ? Pierrot [Going on his knees in a mock attitude of prayer and talking very fast, as if in a great hurry to tell his tale and get pardon for inti'uding]. Oh, 22 PRUNELLA I 'm nothing : I 'm nothing in the world but a act I poor Pierrot. I 'm an orphan, I haven't got a home, I haven't got a friend, I haven't got a leg to stand on, I haven't got a bed to sleep in, I haven't had a bit to eat, and I haven't had a drop to drink for three whole hours. [^Changing Iris maimer, seeing that he has made an impression on her.'] There, now you know all about me, — as much as I know myself, almost. Oh, I 'm so giddy, I can't stand. If you don't look sweet at me, I shall be dead in a minute. Prunella. But how did you come here ? AVho are you ? Pierrot. Dropped like a bird. I 'm the man in the moon. Prunella. Don't be silly. There's no man in the moon. I 've been taught that. Pierrot. Ah ! Don't you believe all the things you 're told ! Prunella. But that 's in a book. Pierrot. Never read books. I never do. Prunella. Don't you learn things ? Pierrot. I know all that 's worth knowing. And now I '11 tell you something. [Draws nearer and looks into her eyes while he points to himself.'] The moon has a round face, two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. That's science. You thought I didn't exist ; but — I 've come true. That often happens. 23 PRUNELLA ACT I Prunella. But why did you come here at all ? Pierrot. Looked at you through the hedge till my heart beat a hole in it ! Now I 've lost it. Prunella. What ? Pierrot. JMy heart. Prunella. How? Pierrot. Flown ! Up into that tree, just over your head. Can't you hear it crying ' Sweet, sweet, sweet ! ' — like a hungry bird, eh ? Throw it a crumb ! Throw it a crumb ! There ! did you hear that ? Prunella [^Shaking her head incredulously]. Why don't you call it back again ? Pierrot. Ah! it won't come to my calhng— not now ! But if you were to call, if you were to say, ' Sweetheart, sweetheart, come ! ' why, I shouldn't wonder Prunella. Oh, you oughtn't to be here, you must go away ! Pierrot. Why must I ? Prunella. Because nobody like you ever comes here. Pierrot. Would you like them to come ? Prunella. Them ! Is there any one else like you in the world ? Pierrot. One or two. You don't believe it ? I 'm flattered. But truth before all things. I '11 prove it. [TFhistles.'] Scaramel ! Scaramell But not 24 PRUNELLA quite like me — we are rather a mixed lot, we act i aren't all as white as we are painted. Enter S caramel. Here is one, now ! ^ly man Scaramel. Do you not see the likeness ? Scaramel. At your service, if it 's my master's. Prunella. What does he mean by that ? Pierrot. That 's his creed — it 's what he lives by. Prunella. He 's not like you at all. I don't like him. Pierrot. But that 's rather foolish. For if every one were just like me, you 'd see too much of me, then. Scaramel. Master, she 's very young. Pierrot. Well? Scaramel. Otherwise charming as usual. Prunella. Oh, please send him away ! If you will send him away you may stay, — ^just for a little. Pierrot. What 's that you have in your hand ? Prunella. A key. Pierrot. It 's a very pretty key. May I look at it? Keys fascinate me. I like to guess what they open. Prunella. Oh, yes. [Hands him the key, Pierrot. Now this isn't a watch key. Scaramel. Nor a bed key. Pierrot. It 's not a small key. Scaramel. No ; it 's a large key. 25 PRUNELLA ACT I Prunella. It 's the key of the garden gate. Pierrot. Is it really ? Scaramel, this is the key of the garden gate. Well, a gate has its uses, eh, Scaramel ? Ah ! [Scaramel runs off with the key. Prunella. Thank you for sending him off. Pierrot. Don't mention it, pray. Prunella. But what have you done with the key? Pierrot. Didn't you see me put it down my back to prevent my nose bleeding. Prunella. Was your nose bleeding ? Pierrot. Child, child, I said to prevent it bleeding. Let us talk of something else. I don't like this place. It 's too straight. I don't like it. Pruneli>a. It 's my home. Pierrot. Do you love it ? Prunella. Why — yes. Pierrot. Why has your house shut its eyes ? Tliat 's wilfully foolish. Now I '11 tell you a story about a house I once kncAv — very like this. Prunei>la. Really like this ? Pierrot. Where somebody lived very like you. Prunella. Some one like me ? Pierrot. Asleep, on the edge of a town Where the high-road ran by, Stood a house with the blinds all drawn down, As if waiting to die. 26 PRUNELLA And everything there was so straight act t With high walls all about ! And a notice was up at the gate. That told Love to keep out. But Love cannot read, — he is blind ; So he came there one day And knocked ; but the house was unkind. It turned him away ! But lo, when the gates were all closed, When the windows were fast. At night while the householders dozed, Love entered at last. Prunella. Oh, you recite quite nicely, better than I do. [Peals of laughter a?^e heard outside and cries o/"' Pierrot! Pierrot! Pierrot!' which come nearer. Pierrot. Thank you, but I have a deal of practice. Prunella. Oh, listen ! What 's this ? Pierrot. Friends of mine. Here they come. Look at 'em : Rollicking, rackety ! Enter Kennel, Callow, ^Iouth, Hawk. All Four. Here we come. Look at us : Rollicking, rackety ! Kennel. Kennel! 27 PRUNELLA ACT I Callow. Callow I Mouth. Mouth! Hawk. Hawk I Enter Scaramel. Pierrot. Scaramel, good — you 're an excellent servant. Kennel and Callow. Tawdry and Doll. Enter Tawdry and Doll. Scaramel. Here they are, pretty dears. Tawdry and Doll. Here we are, pretty dears. Mouth and Hawk. Romp and Coquette ! Enter Romp and Coquette. Romp and Coquette. Last through the gate. Pierrot. Dance round me ! Mouth. Jump, little Tawdry, Jump so high 1 Doll. Here 's a fine garden. Hawk. Let 's pull it to pieces. Coquette \_Seetng Prunella]. Oh ! Callow, Mouth, Doll. Oh ! All. Oh! Prunella [Quietly']. Oh, you are funny ! Pierrot. These are my friends. Now attention : Callow ! Callow. Yes, I 'm very young. Pierrot. Doll ! Doll. They say my heart 's of sawdust. 28 PRUNELLA Pierrot. Hawk ! act i Hawk. I pounce ! Tawdry. Oh, not on me ! Pierrot. That 's Tawdry — JMouth ! Mouth. Greedy 's my other name. Pierrot. Romp ! Romp. I 'm the jolly girl. Pierrot. Kennel, and Coquette ! Kennel. I make no pretence to being nice. Coquette. I 'm here to waste his time. Pierrot. Now, what 's your name ? Prunella. Of course I 'm Prunella. Pierrot. Well, I 'm Pierrot. All. Now you know. Prunella. Pierrot 's a pretty name. \^She grows suddenly frightened.!^ I think you 'd better go away. Pierrot. Oh, but that isn't polite of you. Prunella. I don't think my aunts would be pleased. Pierrot. That shows their bad taste. Prunella. Oh, please go I — make haste ! Pierrot. No, we shan't. Prunella. Then I must. [Begins to run, Pierrot. Catch my butterfly, catch my butterfly I [ They circle round her. All. Butterfly I Butterfly! Hawk. No, you 're a chrysalis. Romp. Wait till the sun warms. 29 PRUNELLA ACT 1 Callow. Then you shall fly away. Tawdry. Fly with us— not from us. Prunella. Oh, please stop — you make me so giddy. Pierrot. Scaramel, bring her to me ! Prunella. Go right away ! Oh, what do you want ? Pierrot. What do I want ? Scaramel. Master, what do you want ? All. What do we want ? Pierrot. Well, I 'm hungry. Prunella. Oh, are you ? I 'm sorry. I '11 fetch you some bread in a minute. All. Bread — dry bread ? Oh, no. Prunella. And butter. Scaramel. Bread and butter, miss ! Prunella. Well, cake. Pierrot. Neither bread, nor butter, nor cake. Prunella. Then you can't be really hungry. Pierrot. Call it thirst. My lips are dry. Give me — give me a kiss. All. Give him, oh give him a kiss. Doll. Do give him a kiss. Scaramel. You 're to give him a kiss. Prunella. That won't cure hunger and thirst. Pierrot. It '11 cure my hunger and thirst. Prunella. A kiss ? Pierrot. Just a kiss. Prunella. But that 's nothing. I kiss people often — regularly. 30 PRUNELLA All. Regularly — oh ! act i ScARAMEL. Never do things regularly, Pierrot. To love — it 's everything. Prunella. To love ? All. Love. Prunella. What is making you look so unhappy ? Pierrot. Love. Prunella. Is it love that has made you so pale ? Pierrot. Just love ! \_The I'cst of the Mummers begin to adapt themselves to his mood and come, stepping solemnly, and listen. Sad music is heai'd. Prunella. Alas ! How sad a sight you are in truth I Is love a thief, that you have lost your youth ? Why, you have turned quite white : Your very clothes would seem to share your grief! Pierrot. Yes, they went white when I did. Prunella. When was that ? Pierrot. Just now, when I first saw you from the other side of the hedge. Prunella. You went white then ? Pierrot. As white as I could ; I wasn't nearly so white till I saw you. At times I was so black I ought to have been called Nero instead of Pierrot. Ah! Now, don't be frightened — I wasn't quite black, just a little bit off colour here and there, a sort of magpie. You like magpies, don't you ? — women always do. 31 PRUNELLA ACT I Prunella \_Innocentlif\. I never had a magpie. Pierrot. Ah ! I wish I had you in my nest ! Oh-h ! [As he leans towcu'ds her, Prunella instinc- tively draws back, and screens her face. Sud- denly Pierrot /a//5 into Scarai^iel's ai^ms. Prunella. What 's the matter ? Coquette. He 's going to faint. Tawdry. He has fainted. Doll. I think he 's going to die. Romp. He 's dead. Prunella. No, he isn't. Don't say such cruel things ! Coquette. Well, it will be your doing. Prunella. No, no ! Doll {^Taking Prunella by the arm, and pointii^g]. Oh, poor Pierrot ! Look at him, look ! All [Gather round, crying]. O you poor, poor, poor Pierrot ! [Pierrot lies in Scaramel's aims with eyes shut, and sighs. Pierrot [Faintly]. Yes, I hear what you are say- ing. That's me, that's me. Will nobody find me a remedy ? Prunella. Oh, do, do, somebody find him a remedy 1 Coquette. Somebody ? All. Find him a remedy somebody, Somebody, somebody do ! From the way he 's been taken, 32 PRUNELLA Unless I 'm mistaken, act i That somebody ought to be you. [To Prunella. What is his malady ? Nobody, Nobody, nobody knows ; Unless, by your pardon, [2^o Prunella. You live in a garden, With nothing that properly grows I Find him a remedy somebody, etc. \_T/iey seize Prunella, and lead her iqj to him. Pierrot. Let her alone I Let her go ! Force is no remedy. S CARAMEL. No. Pierrot. So the story will never come true ? Prunella. What do you want me to do ? Pierrot. The man in the moon Came down too soon. And lost his heart to a maiden ; With hunger and drouth. She burnt his mouth, And left him heavily laden. Doll. ] Tawdry. - Oh, cruel I Coquette. Prunella. Do you mean me ? Pierrot. Kiss me ; then you will see. Prunella. But why do you wish for it so ? Pierrot. Kiss me — then you will know. c 33 PRUNELLA ACT I All. Kiss him — then you will know. [She kisses Jdvi. He meets the kiss passion- ately, holding her fast. She is ovej'w helmed , breaks frojji him, and runs into the house. Pierrot. And now — she knows. \_A pause. Coquette steals up to Pierrot. Coquette. Was it nice ? Pierrot. Get away ! Rojip. O Callow — wilt and die, and I '11 kiss you to life ! Hawk. Oh, I 'm lost to this earth. Rescue me, Tawdry, with your cherry lips ! Pierrot. Scaramel, turn them away 1 ScARAMEL. Pack, baggages, pack ! Kennel. On the road again — master of my master ? Scaramel. Yes. No, wait without. Doll. Well, since we 've seen the show Mouth. What a pretty piece of fooling ! Scaramel. Must I tell you twice ? Tawdry. Save me. Hawk ! Hawk. By all means — my pigeon. [Carries her off. The Others. Back we go — off we go, etc. [They run off. Scaramel. Master ! We are alone : we three. Pierrot. We three ? Scaramel. You, and I, and the Key. Pierrot. The Key ? Scaramel. It 's the key of the garden gate. 34 PRUNELLA Pierrot. What might it unlock for her ! act i ScARAMEL. Well, master— let's be getting on our way. Pierrot. Once more. S CARAMEL. I '11 drop it here. Pierrot. No, give it me ! ScARAiviEL. INIagic attends on us. This house has been blind and deaf. The magic 's fading now. Vi-EunoT [To himself]. To-night, to-night 1 ScARAMEL. Did you speak ? Pierrot. I am tempted — Scaramel. ScARAMEL. Always yield to temptation. Pierrot. Then to-night Boy [Behind hedg-e]. O you naughty, naughty birds, now will you ? Come into my garden, and I '11 kill you ! [Pierrot pockets the key, and exit through hedge. O you naughty little pests, now fly, please ! Don't come making nests in my trees ! [Scaramel yb//oii.s Pierrot. Curtain. 35 PRUNELLA ACT II The same scene, night-time. The moon is rising away to the right of the stage. Its light crosses the top of the hedge, and strikes the head of the fountain-statue. The sound of keys and locking of gates is heard. Ttvo gardeners enter with lanterns and keys. All lights are out in the house. 1st Gar. Ay, they are all a-bed. 2nd Gar. I 'm about ready for mine. 1st Gar. [Going off\ It 's going to be a clear night. 2nd Gar. Ay, full moon. [Exeunt. 'Enter Pierrot and Scaramel. Pierrot. Scaramel. Scaramel. Master. Pierrot. Have you a ladder about you ? Scaramel. No, master. Pierrot. That is very careless, to come out at night without a ladder. Scaramel. Master, doubtless one can be procured. Pierrot. One must be procured. Scaramel. I hope, master, you are not doing this deliberately. Pierrot. Give me my guitar. Scaramel. Your guitar ? 36 PRUNELLA Pierrot. I bought it. Scaramel, I feel very happy act ii to-night. Scaramel. Anticipation is always delightful. Pierrot. And she shall be happy too. Scaramel. She shall fulfil her little destiny. Pierrot. I think she is different from any other. Scaramel. You always think that, master. Pierrot \_Offended]. I am sure she is quite different from every other. Scaramel. O master, promise me you will be selfish. Pierrot. Scaramel, have you ever known me forget myself? Scaramel. Master, you are almost all I could wish. Pierrot. Now for my serenade. Am I in voice to-night ? Scaramel. The best that money could buy. Pierrot. Tenor or baritone ? Scaramel. Both. Pierrot. To-night I will sing tenor. Scaramel. Three times for a tenor, twice for a baritone. [Scaramel claps three times. Enter a Tenor. Pierrot. Is this it ? Scaramel. This is it. Pierrot. Can it speak as well ? Scaramel. I never inquired. 37 PRUNELLA ACT II PiEBROT [To Tenor]. Plcasc remember, sir, that I pride myself on my voice. Tenor. Your voice ? Pierrot. Oh, you can speak ? Tenor. You?- voice ! Pierrot. Well, I 've paid for it. Now, Scaramel, leave me to sing. [Exit Scaramel. Tenor [Sings']. How now, everywhere up in air stars stare : On the roof shines the moon. Little bird in your nest, are you there ? Up, song, to her chamber go : say low, * Down below. Thy love begs a boon.' Little bird in your nest, are you there ? Pierrot. How strange my voice sounds to-night. Tenor [Sings]. Sleep, sleep, for Love's sake let her wake. Say, ' Take no rest ! ' Little bird in your nest, are you there ? Tame heart, take heat, go beat in the small sweet breast. Little dove, bird of Love, are you there ? Hour of night, at her bower go beat : say, ' Sweet, now rise ! ' Time flies ! O Love, are you there ? Undo and renew to the night the light of your bright blue eyes I 38 PRUNELLA For the man in the moon is here. act ii Do you hear ? He is here ! Pierrot. Now stand back ! [^Irle takes the Tenor's place.'] Well ? Well ? Well ? ? ? Hasn't she heard? Won't she answer? I sang that as finely as ever I sang it. Come here, Tenor. Ah, I understand. This means nothing to you — you don't care a jot. You sing what you 're paid to sing, not a note more. You professionals will be the ruin of art. Don't answer me, sir. Off with you ! \_Exit Tenor ; exit Pierrot. Enter Scaramel, folloived by Mouth and Hawk hi^inging gardener s Boy captive. ScARAMEL. Bring him along, bring him along ! Boy. Here, I say ! You are pinching of me I ScARAMEL. Are you pinching him. Hawk ? Hawk. No, but I will. Boy. I '11 yell. ScARAMEL. Don't let him yell. Mouth \_Putting his hand over Boy's month']. Now then. [Hawk pinches him ; an inarticidate sound. Boy. I did yell — inside myself; oh, and it hurts ! ScARAMEL. That 's all right. Boy. Ho, lor' ! Why, you be the mummers. I thought you was thieves. ScARAMEL. Impudent bumpkin ! Pinch him again I 39 PRUNELLA ACT II Boy. Naow ! Steady on, steady on. Why, I was lookin' for you when you found me. Ha, ha ! All. Ba-a-a-a. Boy. I want to run away with you and be a mummer. All. Oh! Callow. That will be nice. Boy. I 'm glad you 're glad. What 's your name ? Callow. Christopherothchilyoctopusomegatommy- rotempusemulsio Smith. Boy. It 's a nice little name. I '11 get you to write it down. Mouth. What shall we do with him ? ScARAMEL. What can you do, clodhopper ? Kennel. Can you sing ? Can you dance ? ScARAMEL. Can you find us a ladder ? Boy. What for? ScARAMEL. Don't ask silly questions. Hawk. Why, for fun. Boy. There 's one by the shed. ^ S CARAMEL. Fetch it. Boy. To the right, round the corner. ScARAMEL. Quietly. \_Exeunt three of the Mummers. ScARAMEL. And so, my innocent young friend, you want to see the world ? Boy. Ah, what I says is, give me Life. ScARAMEL. Have you money ? 40 PRUNELLA Boy. No ; I '11 earn it by playing the fool. act ii ScARAMEL. Quite likely. Boy. Just as you do. S CARAMEL. Now you CEu't comc alone. Boy. Can't I? ScARAMEL. Not with US ; you must bring a maid with you. Boy. Oh, I can wait on myself. ScARAMEL, Come, is there no pretty maid in the house — one that you 'd like to see Life with for a bit? Boy. Oh, now I take you. ScARAMEL. Whose window is that ? Boy. Oh, that 's Aunt Prude's. I won't have her. She snores. Quiet now, and you 'II hear her. ScARAMEL. The next ? Boy. That 's a passage. ScARAMEL. Well, the one beyond ? Boy. Never you mind. I '11 have her if she '11 come. We must wait till to-morrow to ask. ScARAMEL. That's Miss Prunella's? Boy. You are quick. ScARAMEL. Thank you, that's what I wanted to know. Hawk. What now ? ScARAMEL. Oh, tie him up somewhere safe and quiet. [ScARAMEL goes to fetch Pierrot. The ladder is brought on. 41 PRUNELLA ACT II Boy. Tie me up somewhere ? Hawk. No, nonsense I you re one of us now. Dare- devil 's your name. Boy. No, it isn't. Hawk. And now 's your time to carry her off. Boy. What! Wake her up at this time o' night ? Mouth. There 's the ladder against her window. Kennel. Now serenade her. Boy. Sera Kennel. Sing to her. Boy. My ! That 'd wake her. Callow. Then up you go. Mouth. And in at the window. Boy. Oh, I 'm feared she 'd think I was intruding. Hawk. Bah ! you re afraid. Boy. No, I ain't. But is it good manners ? I 've been brought up well. Mouth. First you must sing. Here 's my mandolin. Boy. What must I sing ? Callow. That your heart is fluttering like a little dicky-bird. Boy. I don't think I know that one. Mouth. What do you know ? Boy. Well, will this do? 'O you naughty, naughty birds, now will you ' [Pierrot comes in, follozved by Scaramel. Pierrot. What 's this ? 42 PRUNELLA Boy. Now, you put me off. act ii ScARAMEL. Put him safe somewhere, didn't I tell you? Hawk. Come now, you shall finish it later. Boy. ' Come into my garden, and I '11 ' — what are you doing ? Kennel. Truss him tight. Boy. This ain't part of the game. Mouth. Yes, it is. Boy. This ain't seeing Life. Callow. Oh yes, it is. Boy. Now you let me go, or I '11 holler. Hawk. Oh no, you won't. [G^ig'^ him. ScARAMEL. Now listcu to me, my rustic friend. You 're a clod, and must stay a clod. Don't be flying, or you '11 come to grief. Can you hear me ? That 's right. Think it over till morning under the hedge. Now roll him away. [They roll him up to the hedge. Hawk. Roly-poly gardener's boy. Mouth. Safe like a hedgehog. Callow. Good-night. Mouth. Sleep well. ScARAMEL \_To Pierrot]. Yes, master, that's her window. Pierrot. Ah, my bird, Be not too tame ! ScARAMEL. Master, we wait your word. 43 PRUNELLA ACT II Pierrot. Come, comrades, then, stand back into the shade ! Round us, night opens her sweet ears afraid. Dusk in her eyes. Now call ! and like a snare Send invitation up through the soft air. To that well-feathered nest that lacks its pair ! All [Sing']. Sleeper, awake, arise, look out ! Hawk. The night owl calls and bats are about. All. And we call too. Come down, Pierrette ! Romp. Here in our midst there 's sport and to spare. Coquette. Here with us there's a heart to share. Tawdry. Lie-a-bed, lie-a-bed, why d' you stay there. All. What means waiting ? Come down, Pierrette ! Kennel. Here over morals the moon throws a shade. Mouth. Here with us there 's a game to be played. Hawk. Here where the merry-thought waits for the maid. All. Why are you waiting ? Come down, Pierrette ! Callow. Come and find comfort, come down, down, down! Doll. So we are to have another queen again? Will you serve her ? Coquette. Perhaps — as she deserves. Tawdry. I '11 not. Romp. Ah, you 're jealous. 44 PRUNELLA Tawdry. I ? What for ! A mere penny-toy like act ii her? Pierrot. The curtain stirred ! ScARAMEL. Back there into the shade ! [ They all shrink hack into the shade. Pierrot remains alone. Prunella opens her win- dow. Prunella. Who is there ? Who are you ? Pierrot. The man in the moon. Prunella. Oh ! Why have you come back ? Pierrot. You called me ! I came soon. Prunella. I ? Pierrot. You called me in a dream ; and in a dream I came. Prunella. No — for I have not slept. Pierrot. You are asleep now. Will you not come down ? Prunella. Asleep ? Pierrot. Will you come down ? Prunella. How can I come ? Pierrot. See ! Out here waiting for you is a ladder of dreams. Come down, and the dream will come true ! \_Pauscs. She makes no sign. Shall I come up and be your dream ? Speak, give me a sign ! [^She shakes her head. Then come down, and be mine ! Prunella. Ah, but I dare not ! Oh, what would they say if they knew ? 45 PRUNELLA ACT II PiEREOT. They would say nothing. They won't mind, they are asleep too. People when sleeping come out of their shells and find wings : Dreaming, they wake to a world full of beautiful things. They become wise, they open their eyes and can see; They become happy and young, they become free! Prunella. Pierrot, is it you, is it you that is saying all that; or is the world talking to me in its sleep ? Pierrot. It is the world, Pierrette, and Love ! Prunella. Just now I heard voices calling me from below, and now I seem to hear them again. Pierrot. Tell me what they say ? Prunella. All the things I have ever said to my- self and wished to be true. The trees say, * Come and hide in us ! ' The grass says, ' Come and walk on me ! ' The dewdrops say, ' Come and dance with us ! ' And the air is like milk and honey to my lips as I lean out and breathe. Pierrot. And the moon says, * I am full of love, and my beams bring happiness I ' Prunella [Sighs]. Ah ! Pierrot. Pierrette, it is already time for us to say good-bye. 46 PRUNELLA Prunella. Where are you going now ? act ii Pierrot. To my playground, the world : where the gardens have no hedges and the roses no thorns, and where all birds fly free. Pierrette, Pierrette, come out of your cage ! Come down ! Pruxella. I — I must ! For a moment — for a moment only ! Pierrot. Life 's but a moment. [Pierrot makes a signal to Scaramel, ivho gives him Doll's cloah. He runs with it lip the ladder and receives Prunella in his arms. Doll. Pff ! I m cold ! It was I said I 'd be nice to her, and now they take my cloak. Callow \_Emh7-acing her']. Let me warm it again 1 Doll. I don't want you. Cali^ow. None of me ? Oh, feel my heart ! Romp. Oh, look, he 's bringing her down ! All. Pierrette, Pierrette ! [Pierrot and Prunella advance; he holds up his hand for silence. They all stop and become solemn. Prunella stands very still. Pierrot. Now you are come, tell me what 's in your mind. Prunella. The love I fear to lose, the love I find : Those who might miss me — those whom I might miss. 47 PRUNELLA ACT II Pierrot. Forget, let the rest go ! Remember this I [IGsses he?' on the lips. Prunella. Ah ! Pierrot. Flower of night, flower of night I Come and stand within the light. And look into the heavens above. Where the moon hangs like a hive. And the stars are all alive ; For the stars are the bees of love. Flower of night, flower of night I My love and my delight ! Oh, come, and we will be there soon ! AVhere the night waits warm. And the bees all in a swarm Are hanging honey up to the moon I Flower of light, dear delight, Let our bed be there to-night ! Oh, come, and we will sleep there soon ! And there we will dwell, Two hearts in one cell. And eat up all the honey in the moon. \_While the song goes on, the rest have crept away, finger on Up, leaving the lovers alone. Now they creep from behind the hedges, re- peating the last line. A murmur of ' Queen- bee, Queen-beef lises. Pierrot. Why do you stand so still ? 48 PRUNELLA Pruneli>a. It is too far act ii For me to go. PiERUOT. Why, what a child you are ! Do far things frighten you ? Prunella. Where should I be In the great empty world ? Pierrot. You 'd be with me. Prunella. Always ? Pierrot. Yes, practically always. Come I Prunella. No, loose my hands, let be ! I must go home. Pierrot. Thy home is Love. Sweetheart, speak truth and tell : At this cold fountain learn Love's oracle ! \_Hc leads he?^ to the fountain: all the JMummers wrap themselves in cloaks and follow in procession; they stand looking on, while Pierrot and Prunella advance towards the statue. Pierrot. Here turned to stone The God of Flame Stands all alone, And mocks his name : Bereft of breath He stands and looks like death I Mute on his viol Lies his bow ; D 49 PRUNELLA ACT II As on a dial Here shadows show, — O heavy crime ! — The waste, the waste of time I Prunella [Kneeling]. O stony youth, IVIute lips, blind eyes, Reveal the truth ! Awake, arise ! Tell me, oh, tell. If Love indeed be well I [Pause. Love xvakes. He draws his bow across his viol a fid speaks. Love. Yea, hearken to the lips of Love 1 Where he abideth all is well, His eyes do move the stars above, He holds the Heavens beneath his spell ; And in thy heart thou hear'st the chime Of Love whose feet shall outrun time. [The Mummers make a circle about the lovers, and move slowly round them in solemn pro- cession. Prunella. I hear the sound, I must obey I Ah, where am I since yesterday ? Pierrot. Years, and a hundred leagues away 1 Prunella. There I find thee, O swiftest foot on earth 1 50 PRUNELLA Pierrot. So runs my wish: [7b hmself.] —which act ii yesterday had birth. Prunella [Turning- to look back at her window]. Yet see, look there : how desolate it seems I Let me go back and gather up my dreams, Where I have slept so well ! Pierrot. You must forget Your former dreams, now you are Pierrette. Prunella. Why force me thus to go ? Pierrot. Nay, you are free. Prunella. Let me stay here ! Pierrot. Then do not come with me. [Pause, See yonder star, and yonder see ! And, up above, the milky way I But yonder is the star for thee, Where we shall be ere dawn of day, — Up hill, down dale, and far away. Prunella. One hangs on yonder cypress spray : Nay, look how pale and wan for proof He hangs, imploring me to stay ! And one goes down behind the roof. Where shall I be ere dawn of day ? Pierrot. Years, and a hundred leagues away ! [A dance begins round the two lovers. At intervals Love strikes a note on his viol which gives the beat to the other music. The Coluvibines take off Prunella's cloak 51 PRUNELLA ACT II and reveal her as a Pierrette. They pelt her zvith white blossoms, till she seems a cloud of Jioxvers. At the end of the dance Pierrot advances and ci'owns her with a wreath of flowers. Pierrot. What you have dreamed to-night, do not forget. Farewell, Prunella ! Prunella. I am — Pierrette I [Love strikes a note on his viol. Prunella throws up her a?^ms in a gesture of sur- render, and flies into Pierrot's arms. He lifts her bodily and caj^iies her away. There is a burst of laughter from the Mummers : they pelt the statue with flowers, and romp off. After a minute enter the two gardeners with heavy staves and a lanteim. The cuckoo clock in the house stiikes three. They search round timorously and scratch their heads. One of them sees the open window and ladder, and mounts to look in- to the empty chamber. The gardeners Boy rolls out from under the hedge, frightening the other gardener terribly. Love draws his bow, and strikes a triumphant note. The gardener dashes towards him and stiikes him with his staff. The bow falls broken from Love's hand. 52 PRUNELLA ACT III Three years have elapsed. Sunset. The garden is overgrown, weedy, and neglected. The fountain is moss-grown and thick with creepers. The house-shutters are closed all hut one or two ; a notice ' To Let ' stands near. The Boy is discovered dragging gardening tools across the stage in a listless and desultory fashion, piling them on a bench, or packing them into an open hand-barrow. Boy [Shtgs dolefullij]. My father said, my father said : What did my father say ? * So long as you stands on yer 'ead You 're sure to find yer way ! ' 'UUo ! there 's that bird again. \Vaits till he sees me pack my clappers and then he begins of 'imself. Sh ! Sh ! You just get out till I'm gone ! Take that, and say I told yer ! [Throws stone, and then begins to wheel away hand-barrow. Three years ago he told me so : But when my thoughts do run, Then all the work I 'ad to do I 'as to leave undone. 53 PRUNELLA ACT III Quaint {^Entering fi'om house]. Boy I here, boy I Leave the spade. Boy. Boy yerself ! Who are you talking to ? Quaint. Why don't you come when you are called ? Boy. If you requires to attrack my notice, you better say * Mister Gardener ' ; else I mayn't 'ear yer. Quaint. Pooh ! Boy. When you come into my garden, you acts according. I don't come and poke my 'ead into the 'ouse and say, ' Gal ! old gal ! ' do I ? Gar- dener 's what I am now — same as I 'm always telling yer. Quaint. Fine gardener indeed I Boy. 'Ead gardener. Quaint. Well, I doubt if the new owner '11 take you on, when he sees the state the garden is in now. Have you taken all the tools down to the cottage ? Boy. If you 'd eyes in yer 'ead you'd see. 'T 's what I 'm doing now. Quaint. Mistress informed me to tell you that she wants all the flowers from JNliss Prunella's garden taken. You'd better come back for them after- wards : leave the spade ! Boy. Leave the garden ! There 's missis's bell a- hollering for yer I You go, or you '11 catch it. Quaint. Pho I 54 [Exit into house. PRUNELLA Boy [Trails across to bench, leaves broom, and takes act hi spade with him, crossing in front of statue']. What are you looking at me for ? — ain't said nothing to you. [Retires up with hand-barrow. Enter Privacy followed by Quaint : she descends slowhf and enters the garden. Quaint locks the door and signals confemptiioiishj to Boy to go. Privacy sighs. Quaint echoes her with exaggerated senti- ment to convey sympathy and attract approval. Exit Boy sloivly, imitating Quaint's sigh as he goes.] Quaint. Hem I Privacy. Have you the keys ? Is everything locked now? Quaint. Everything that would lock, ma'am! Some of the keys won't work. Privacy. Oh, it doesn't matter. There's nothing here that any one would want to take. Quaint. Are we to wait and give the keys to the gentleman ? Privacy. Yes, he will be here presently. Quaint. Well, I do wonder, if he 's such a rich gentleman as they say he is, how ever he can care to come and live in such a place — as it is now. Privacy. He does not intend to live here. Quaint. Oh, if he only means to die here, the place '11 suit him well enough! [Softening.] I 55 PRUNELLA ACT III beg your pardon, ma'am, I didn't mean anything. It wasn't that I was thinking about — though what 's a black dress for, if it isn't to make you hang your head like a tear-drop ? No, ma'am, it 's only this lonesomeness gets so on one's nerves. I wonder you could bring yourself to stay as long as you have. Privacy. I had recollections to keep me here. Quaint. Ah, my poor mistresses ! They wouldn't have wished to see you here, with the place like this — all so shamefaced as it looks now 1 Privacy. I had other reasons. Quaint. Quaint. I dare say you had, ma'am. Most people have reasons for doin"; foolish thinsfs. Privacy. I thought that some day Prunella might come back, and I could not bear the thought of her finding nobody here — or only strangers. Quaint. Oh, don't trouble yourself, ma'am ! She won't come back. She has forgotten you. She doesn't care ! — going off like that with a lot of giddy-gaddles. Privacy. Perhaps it was we who drove her away. Quaint. I don't think she took much driving. Privacy. We old maids forget what youth is like. Perhaps — without meaning to — we made life too hard for her. Quaint. Ah, well, she has got the making of that in her own hands now, and they're about full, I'll 56 PRUNELLA be bound. Psh ! You were always softer than act hi the others. I never heard them say a word. I 'd hke to have seen her daring to put her nose in here while they were alive ! Privacy. Hush I [A bell rmgs. Privacy looks agitated.'] Quaint. Good lud ! ma'am, why do you start like that ? Now you 're all of a tremble. Privacy. I always think and hope Quaint. The gate always stands open, ma'am. She 'd never ring the bell. Privacy. No, she 'd never ring the bell. The gate stands open always, and at night a lamp has burnt. Quaint. Shall I go, ma'am ? Privacy. Of course. This must be he. [Quaint goes. How poor the place is ; weeds are everywhere. Dead leaves beneath one's feet, rustling like memories : Poor, restless ghosts of unforgotten time. Entei^ Pierrot and Scaramel, shown in by Quaint. Privacy. Sir, you are very punctual. Pierrot. Am I punctual, Scaramel ? ScARA]viEL. Master, we have accompHshed twenty- one miles in fifty-five minutes. Pierrot. That seems slow. So this is the place I remember. 57 PRUNELLA ACT III Privacy. You have been here before ? Pierrot. Once upon a time. A charming dull spot. But changed, but changed. Privacy. You don't find what you expected ? Pierrot. Scaramel, did I expect anything? ScARAMEL. My master now makes it his rule never to expect anything. So he is never disap- pointed. Pierrot. You wonder, madam, what my interest in buying such a place can be. I once picked up here, by chance, a treasure, a trinket, which I have since lost. Privacy [ With sudden intuitioii]. Prunella ? Pierrot. I beg your pardon. Privacy. Prunella, Prunella, Prunella ! Pierrot. I had forgotten her name. Scaramel. We called her by some other. Privacy. It was you, it was you I Pierrot. Yes, it was I. Privacy. Where is she now? Pierrot. I often wonder. Privacy. Oh, we forgave her going ; almost we would have forgiven you the theft. But you are heartless. Pierrot. That is true. How did you find it out ? No matter. Every one finds me out now. Privacy. But tell me all you know. Pierrot. Tell her, Scaramel. 58 PRUNELLA ScAHAMEL. Madam, the story is not interesting act hi unless my telling make it so ; and there is much that you may not understand. I think we may claim that we educated her. Her education, madam, was very deficient ; she had been much neglected. Life was a dead letter to her. We tanght her everything. She learned to dance, to laugh, to sing, to love. For a time it seemed that there was nothing she could not learn. She loved my master very faithfully, and my master accepted the situation like a man. He has a tender heart, he likes to see happy faces around him, and so he took a step which — not through his own fault — led to a little misunderstanding. Pierrot. Scaramel, I am disposed to tell this my- self. But stay near me : I may need prompting. What was that original remark I made about women the other day, Scaramel ? Scaramel. Master, you said they puzzled you. Pierrot. Ah ! It is still true. They are so illogical. Think, madam, she said she loved me and yet she left me ! Well, you shall hear. For two years — it was two years, was it not, Scaramel ? — for two happy years we had wandered together from place to place, seeing the world — foreign countries, and people, and gay towns. We danced, we laughed, we sang. We were married — she had wished it. [He shrvgs.'] People laughed when I told them 59 PRUNELLA ACT III that. * Pierrot married ! ' they said, ' Oh no ! — unless he has married a dozen.' But we were married — that was what made things difficult. I wasn't used to being married — it 's outside my habits altogether : it was strange, and everybody laughed so. And one day it seemed so fooUsh that I — went away and left her. Privacy. You said that she left you. Pierrot. Ah, not then, not then ! That was later. I left her — saying nothing : it is so much easier to say nothing when you 've nothing to say. But before I went I had given her a lot of money, and a lot of pretty things, dresses, trinkets, bon-bons — everything I could think of to make her happy — except — my love. \_He begins to be carried away by his story, and to lose his pose of indiffer- ence.'] I took that with me. And presently I found I couldn't get rid of it ; and it grew heavier and heavier, till my heart began to — what did my heart begin to do, Scaramel ? ScARAJViEL. Your heart became bad company, Master. Pierrot. Yes, it was quite distressing ! I couldn't amuse myself: I couldn't dance, or laugh, or sing. It always came and caught me by the throat, and said, or seemed to say, ' You thief I you fool ! ' I tried cures ; but they were no good. And so, and so — at last I went back to see if the cure was there. 60 PRUNELLA Privacy. Yes ? act hi Pierrot. I had been gone a whole year ; but I came back again. You see, now — it was not I who left her; she didn't wait for me long enough. There was the little house, just as I had left it : she hadn't taken a penny, she hadn't touched a thing. Even the last thing I gave her before I went I found lying covered over with dust inside the empty house which I opened with my own key. And in the garden was a small stone, and on it was written : ' Here lies — Pierrette.' Privacy. Who was * Pierrette ? ' Pierrot. You may explain that, Scaramel. Scaramel. Pierrette was the name of my master's love for her. She probably goes by some other name now, if she is still alive. To us, of course, she chose to die. What may have happened since Privacy. You neither know nor care. ScARAJViEL. It was an episode. Privacy. I thank you for the story, sir. ScARAiviEL. Not at all. INIy master rather likes to relate it. I notice it grows late. We expect guests. They are almost due. Privacy. I will leave you in full possession. My maid will hand you the keys. [Quaint talks to Scaramel. 61 PRUNELLA ACT III Pierrot. JNIadam, this seems almost like turning you out. Privacy. INIy means no longer permit me to live where I would wish. Pierrot. That is a pity ! — not to be able to do as one wishes. And you have grown to be a part of the place : its atmosphere clings round you. Do you mean to go — quite away ? Privacy. To a cottage beyond the gates. I dare not go as far as I would wish. She might return. Pierrot. She — might — return. Scaramel! Have you any ? [Scarajviel gives him his pu7'se.'] I fear you are poor ? Privacy. IMy poverty is not of your making, and my sorrow money will not buy from me. I will intrude no longer. [Ea^it Privacy. Pierrot. Really, Scaramel, have you no re- partee ? ScARAaiEL. Master, I was not listening. Pierrot. Then that was as well. Give me the key of the house. Scaramel [To Quaint]. Give me the key of the house. Quaint. There are the keys. Scaramel. Which is it ? Pierrot. Quickly, quickly. Scaraaiel. Is it a large key ? 62 PRUNELLA Quaint. No, it s a small key. \_He finds a key.'] act hi That is the key of the garden gate. Pierrot and Scaramel [Gidlfily startled]. Eh ? Quaint. That 's the house key. [Pierrot takes it. Pierrot. It 's not a watch-key, nor a bed-key, not a watch-key, nor a bed-key. [Goes into house. ScARAMEL. Dear me, now ! Quaint. Your master's mad, I don't mind telling you. ScARAMEL. Original, my good woman : at the most, eccentric. It suits him. Quaint. And he 's a villain. Scara:mel. My good w^oman, if you were a little more up in the world Quaint. And if you were a little more up in the world — upon a ten-foot gallows, you and your master too — the w^orld'd be sweeter. He's a rogue. ScARAMEL. If you wcrc more up in the ivays of the world, you 'd know^ that it 's usual for us to abuse our own masters, not each other's. Quaint. Well, my mistress is a fool, but he's a scoundrel. What 's he come back here for ? ScARAMEL. Would you understand if I said ' to lay a ghost ' ? Quaint. No, I shouldn't. ScARA3iEL. Then I won't tell you. Quaint. Ghost indeed ! He 's little better himself 1 63 PRUNELLA ACT III A whited sepulchre 's what he is. Silkworms '11 eat him ! I can see his angling skeleton grinning out of him already. Yours too. Yours is a black one. Whalebone. ScARAMEL. My good woman, you have no dignity. Masters aren't worth quarrelling about. They mean wages, nothing more. There are good places and bad places. Now, I 'm busy : you 'd better go ! Quaint. Well, you 11 find your place some day. [^Points down.'] \_Exit Quaint. ScARAMEL \_Smiling]. Now that's a woman's way of saying it, and neat too. Well, I must buck ; there 's a lot to be done ! E7ite7^ Kennel. Callow [^Outside], O you little moulting birds, now will you ? Come into my garden, and I '11 kill you ! Enter Callow. Kennel. What ho, Scaramel ! Hark to this belated youth ! Scaramel. That 's just what he is, a belated youth. Where are the rest ? Kennel. How should I know ? Lost their way, most likely. 64 PRUNELLA ScARAMEL. Well, you 've found yours. You are in act in luck. Re-enter Boy, with spade on shoulder. Boy. Why, it 's the mummers ! Callow. Who's that? What has he ffot in his hand ? Kennel. A spade ! Callow. Who are you ? Boy. Me ? 'Im as you tied up and put under the 'edge that night. Saucy 'ounds you was, too ! ScARAMEL. And what are you here for now ? Boy. 'Ere for now ? Why, I '11 tell yer— what I 'as to tell everybody— I 'm 'ead gardener here now ; and I 'm diggin' 'oles to bury you in — 'ead down- wards — make yer 'air grow, same as mine — so you won't know yerselves. [Departing with dignity. Callow and Kennel [Laughing foolishly']. Hee- hee 1 Hee-hee ! Won't know ourselves, eh ? [They stop abruptly. Boy [Eeturning']. Say, I 'm glad I didn't come with you when you ast me. Why, you are only a lot of scarecrows after all ! Good-night, bawly 'eads ; sleep well, and don't let the ghosts wake yer before it 's time. [Exit. Callow. Ghosts ? I don't like that fellow. Kennel. No ; and he doesn't like us. Cai.low. Once he wanted to come with us. PRUNELLA ACT 111 Kennel. Times have changed. Come, scarecrow I Callow. What, you little jays and jackdaws, will you Come into my garden, and I '11 kill you ! [Pierrot comes out of the house, and passes without ohsei^ving them ; they enter it. ScARAMEL. Have you any further orders, master ? Pierrot [Abstractedly]. Oh, go to Scaramel, ask him I [Scaramel stai^ts. [Pierrot goes towards fountain. Scaramel, who was that spoke to me just then ? Scaramel. IMaster, the air of this place is not good for you. Would it not be better if Pierrot. If you changed it? Yes, change it, Scaramel, change it by all means, if you can. Clear it of its vapours, tell the sun to rise, and the birds to sing ! Enter Hawk and Mouth with Tawdry. Tawdry. Lud, it 's a weary way here. Mouth. I don't think much of the place, now we Ve got there. Hawk. Why, then it 's as well I can't see it. Scaramel. Come, you '11 feel better by supper-time. Mouth. No, my appetite 's gone. Scaramel. But you 're still greedy. Mouth. I 'm losing my teeth. Tawdry. Times have changed. 66 PRUNELLA Hawk. Times have changed. act hi IVIouTH. Times have changed. [They go into the house. ScARAMEL. Master! Pierrot. Alone at the end of the day. As the sick world grins by, Stands this house ScARA^iEL. Master! Pierrot. Eh ? ScARAMEL. The company arrives. Pierrot. My friends? ScARAJViEL. Your guests. Pierrot. Not the same thing, is it, Scaramel ? ScARA3iEL. You will remember, sir, we are out of friends for the moment. [Doll 7'uns on. Doll. Oh, I 'm lost, I 'm lost in this ugly garden. They 've left me all alone. Pierrot. Are you afraid ? Doll. Yes, very. Pierrot. What sort of company d' you want ? Doll. I 'm not particular. Pierrot. No, truly. There 's the house, get inside. Doll. Won't you come ? Pierrot. Not yet. [Doll goes in, Pierrot. Who 's that old woman ? Scaramel. INIaster, that's Doll with the painted smile and her little turned-in toes. You remember her ? Pierrot. She has grown old. 67 PRUNELLA ACT III ScARAMEL. Then there 's Hawk, and Callow, and Kennel, and Mouth. Pierrot. Faithful followers of my purse. ScARAMEL. Master, they must live. Pierrot. They call it living. ScARAMEL. Then there 's Coquette. Pierrot. Ah, she 's been precious in her time. ScARAJViEii. H'm ! her modesty 's down at ankle now, like a slipt garter. Romp 's a little heavier on the bounce than she used to be. Tawdry's much as usual, but dressed worse than ever, and costing more. The old faces, master, as you desired ? Pierrot. Well, if they '11 help me to remember, or to forget. Either way, either way. ScARAiNiEL. H'm ! \_He goes into the house ; laughter is heard, Pierrot \Sits listless by fountain, and gazes all round and up at house']. How now — \_Fingers his guitar doubtfully. How now, everywhere, up in the air, stars stare I Little bird in your nest, are you there ? \_Lets his guitar fall dejectedly. No answer ! \_After a pause he takes up his guitar again. Sleep, sleep, for God's sake let her wake I say, ' Take no rest ' 1 \_He breaks off. 68 PRUNELLA I forget, I forget the words that once came of act hi themselves. Re-enter Scahamel, with Ms fiddle. [Angrily.'] Scaramel, there's no tune in these strings. They are rusty. Scaramel. INIaster, everything 's rusty here, it seems to me. Nothing goes right, everything wants oiling. I shall have more on my hands than I can do. Pierrot. Get the others to help you. Scaramel. They are no good. One can't rouse them. I think they want a new master. Pierrot. Oh yes, find them one by all means. What 's the matter ? Scaramel. Kennel 's guttering to his end. Callow's brain is softening — what 's left of it. Mouth has become a jibberer ; you can hear him now I Hawk's as blind as a bat. Not one of them's what he used to be. We are growing old, master. Pierrot. Do you remember, Scaramel, that night ? ScARA]\iEL. INIaster, I remember many nights. At what hour shall dancing begin ? Pierrot. Ah, how tender she was ! How fresh and young ! Scaramel. INI aster, at what hour ? Pierrot. Oh, when you like, when you like ! She stood by me here at this fountain. Do you remember, Scaramel ? 69 PRUNELLA ACT III ScAKAMEi.. I wiU remember anything you wish, master, as soon as we have made all the arrange- ments. Pierrot. S caramel, I believe this stone remembers more than you. You are very selfish, Scaramel. Life to you is a meal ; and there you sit at it, with a napkin tucked up from your waist to your chin, and you shut your eyes and open your mouth and eat. And when you get up from it, all your mind will be like a bill of fare ; just a list of the things you have eaten. Scaramel. Possibly, master. The wines to-night are Pierrot. Ah ! [^T'urns away in disgust, and strikes his hand on the fountain. O Love, your fountain has run dry. And have you lost your tongue ? Speak, stone! You see, Scaramel, lie won't answer me now. Scaramel. Love never does answer, master, if you treat it too seriously. Pierrot. That night this stone thing seemed to have life and speech ! The water sang to us, and music seemed to come, one knew not whence. Scaramel, have you noticed the statue's bow is broken ? I wish it repaired. See to it. Scaramel. Instantly, master I [He lays his fiddle-bow in its hand. 70 PRUNELLA Pierrot. Here turned to stone act hi The God of Flame Stands all alone, And mocks his name. Bereft of breath He stands and looks like death. \^A pause. That was not the music of it. ScARAMEL. Master, there will be musicians. Pierrot. But they 're mechanical. Hark to that bird, the last in this garden, I think. Sweet, sweet, sweet, throw it a crumb. ScARAMEL. Five courses for supper. Three wines. And the dancing. [He begins to count on his fingers. Pierrot. Ah, there again. Sweet, sweet, sweet! No, Bitter sweet, bitter sweet, bitter, bitter, bitter ! Yes, that fits best. So you 've learned the word too, have you, little bird ? Have you been round the world and loved more than you meant to, and come back again, and found your- self all alone ? And forgetting — forgetting — No. Scaramel ! Scaramel ! [As he remembers. Alone, at the end of the day While the gay world ran by, Stood a house with a heart of decay. Almost ready to die. 71 PRUNELLA ACT III And everything there seemed to wait ; For the hedges were thin ; And a notice was up at the gate, Begging Love to come in. But Love cannot read — he is blind, So he came there one day ; And deeming the owner unkind, He went his own way. No, no ! For the doors were set wide. And the windows unfast, And at night, while the householder sighed, Love entered at last. [A gong is heai'd. Pierrot \_Panic-strickeii]. What 's that ? ScARAMEL. Supper is served. Pierrot {^Recoveiing himself \ That matters most. [Pierrot goes in, followed by S caramel. Daylight passes into dark. Intermezzo. Enter Prunella. She sinks down, uttei'ly worn out. Re-enter Scarajiel. Scaramel. What are you doing here, beggar-girl ? Prunella. I 've come home. Scaramel. Some mistake, I think. Prunella. Scaramel! Scaramel. That's my name, and no property of yours. Prunella. Don't you remember me ? 72 PRUNELLA SCAEA3IEL. No. ACT III Enter Doll and Coquette. Doll. Scaramel ! Scaramel ! Coquette. Don't stay away. Doll. He 's so strange to-night. Coquette. You understand him. [^EcTit Scaramel. Prunella. Coquette ! Doll ! Coquette and Doll. Who 's this ? Prunella. Don't you remember me ? Coquette and Doll. No. Prunella. I was Prunella, I am Pierrette. Coquette and Doll. Say it again. Prunella. Oh I Enter Tawdry and Romp. Tawdry. Doll and Coquette ! Romp. You 're to come back. Coquette. No. Come and look here. Doll and Coquette. She was Prunella, she is Pierrette. We don't remember her, do we ? Taavdry and Doll. No. Prunella. You loved me once, you said you loved me. Tawdry and Romp. Did we ? Coquette. When was that ? Romp. Was it yesterday ? Doll. Or the day before ? 73 PRUNELLA ACT III Coquette. I only just remember yesterday. Tawdry. I can't remember the day before ; I never could. Doll. Nor I. Romp. And as for last week Coquette. Or last month, or last year. Doll. Why, I always forget how old I am. Coquette and Doll. We 're very sorry. Romp and Tawdry. But it can't be helped, can it ? Prunella. But what are you doing here ? This is my home. Doll and Coquette. Is it ? Tawdry and Romp. We don't know. Prunella. This was my home. Coquette. Perhaps it has forgotten you too. Doll. You 're very ragged. Prunella. I am poor. Tawdry. And pale. Prunella. I 'm weary. Romp. And downcast. Prunella. I 'm disappointed. All Four. No wonder that we can't remember you. Prunella. I have come so far, and now, no welcome. Romp. Are you hungry too ? Prunella. I dare say. Romp. Well, if I were you I 'd get some food from somewhere. You '11 feel better then ! [Scaramel comes back. 74 PRUNELLA ScARAMEL. Now, baggages, you 're called for. act hi Prunella. S caramel, where 's your master ? ScARAMEL. In the house. Prunella. I must see him. ScARAMEL. Oh, indeed, no ! He wouldn't remember you. Besides, he never lets me remind him of unpleasant things while he is at supper. Prunella. Then where is my home ? Coquette. She 's come a long way. Romp. She 's poor. Tawdry. She 's very tired. Doll. And disappointed. Prunella. Where are those I once lived with — those who loved me ? Scaramel. Dead, I dare say. Prunella. Dead ? Coquette. Now she '11 cry. Doll. Oh, how unpleasant. Tawdry. I can't bear seeing people cry. Romp. If she means to cry, she must be sent away. Scaramel. Baggages, get in ! Doll. I do detest these scenes. Tawdry. So inconsiderate. Coquette. People should keep their self-respect. Romp. I gave her very good advice. But then I 'm worldly wise. [.They go into the house, Scaramel. Now, you'd better be getting along, beggar-girl. 75 PRUNELLA ACT III Prunella. Where? ScARAMEL. That 's your business, isn't it ? Far be it from me to interfere. Prunella. I 'm weary. ScARAMEL. You Can sit down outside. Prunella. I 'm weary of life. ScARAMEL. Ah, that 's what all you useless people say. Prunella. Useless? ScARAMEL. JSIy girl, no doubt you 've been pretty in your time. . . . Well, good looks as a livelihood don't last. . . . Stir about, find some other occupa- tion. ... It 's useless maundering there about what 's gone ! Prunella. Does nothing last ? ScARAMEL. Nothing I know of. Prunella. Does love never last ? ScARAMEL. Now don't you know it doesn't ? Prunella. Yes, I know. No, I deny that; for my love has lived, — will live for ever though I die! Scaramel. Yes, but what 's tlie use ? Prunella. — As I pray to die. Scaramel. Ah, dying isn't so easy either. Prunella. In the spring my life began ; In the summer — liappiness ! In the autumn let me die. Scaramel. Yes, it 's a depressing time of year, and 76 PRUNELLA such an untidy one. Consider this garden. Look act hi here, young woman, here 's a way for you to be useful. If you want to earn twopence — well, say threepence — find a broom and sweep up here. It 's more than the market value of the work, but no matter. Only be gone by the time we 've finished supper, for really you 're not fit to be seen. D'ye hear? Oh well, gratitude is out of fashion. If you want the money, go round for it to the back door. [Scaramel goes. Prunella [Stands dazed for a while and then speaks']. No one remembers me. [She looks round for a broo7fi ; finding it, she begins to sweep up the leaves. Then her eyes fall on thefoimtain. To the Statue.] Oh yes ! you — you — you must remember me, For it was you ! It was you ! Why did you speak ? Had you no pity for a heart so weak As mine? Nay, Love, what made you do this wrong ? You spoke, and all the world became a song, And all my heart a bird that heard its mate Calling and crying to it disconsolate. Bidding me come ! Say you remember me ! [A burst of laughter, clapping of hands, and cries of 'Bravo' are heard from the house. 77 PRUNELLA ACT III She turns to the Statue in a frenzy, and falls, beating her hands against the stone. O stony youth ! Dumb lips, blind eyes, Tell me the truth, Awake, arise ! Say, where does folly dwell, if Love be wise ? [She Jails half senseless at his feet. Love draws his bow over his viol, and speaks. Love. Nay, hearken to the lips of Love ! Where Love endureth, all is well. He lighteneth the stars above. He holds the heavens beneath his spell. Even in thy grief abides the sound Of Love that girds the whole world round. Prunella. Dark is that world henceforth about me ! Love. Yet, Couldst thou so will it, yet would thy heart forget Its love ? \_A pause : she sobs. Nay, nay, — so long hast thou been wise — Forsake not wisdom now ! Prunella. Oh that mine eyes Could fail as daylight fails, and all my breath IVIelt into air and leave me alone with death 1 Hast thou no well of waters here, where I May drown my sorrow ? 78 PRUNELLA Love. Nay, my bed is dry act hi For lack of true love's tears. Prunella. Here at thy brink My long-stored griefs shall give thee tears to drink ! Love. And having wept thy fill, what gift might best Afford thee comfort ? Prunella. I would be at rest Where under earth or sea it lies most deep I Love. Here lay thee down ! Cover thyself and sleep ! 1 11 be thy watcher. Here shalt thou forget. Past griefs and present. Good-night, Pierrette ! [Pause : she goes to the fountain. Prunella. Good-night, Love, and good-night, sorrow ! l^She lies down and covei's herself tvith leaves. Love. Good-night, Pierrette! Pierrette, good- morrow I [Sleep music. The light fades from Love's face. INIummers rush on, laughing. Here we come. Several. - Look at us ; Rowdy and rackety ! Kennel. Life 's none so bad after supper. Callow. Wine, wine is my only love. Doll. And me, and me, and me. 79 PRUNELLA ACT III Callow. You 're a good second. Hawk. I can see now ; oh ! most extraordinary- things. Mouth. Here we come ! Tawdry. Look at us ! Romp. Rowdy and rackety ! ScARAMEL. That's right. Be merry! Sing louder! Sing louder 1 You 're paid for it, aren't you ? Kennel. As my joints unstiffen so I kick, kick, kick. Mouth. Jump little Tawdry, jump so high. Doll. What a wretched old garden ! Hawk. Who pulled it to pieces ? [Pierrot enters. Pierrot. Ah, right, right, right ! This is youth, this is youth ! ScARAMEL. Is this as you wish it ? Pierrot. Is this as it was ? SCARAMEL. Almost. Pierrot. Ah, true. She is not here. ScARAMEL. Won't ouc of thcsc do ? Pierrot. Which ? S CARAMEL. Doll? CoqUCttC ? Pierrot. If she were dead, would not her ghost haunt this garden ? ScARAMEL. Master ! Doll. Oh, how unpleasant! Coquette. Don't frighten us. Doll. Things were becoming so pleasant again. 80 PRUNELLA Pierrot. I wonder, could we raise it ? act hi ScARAMEL. ]Master, be warned I Mouth. Here we are ! Tawdry. Look at us ! Callow. Rowdy and • Pierrot. Sh ! With due preparation. That was her window. See, I remember. Romp. Oh, don't you do it! Hawk. What 's all this ? I 'm going blind again. Mouth. No, the night has fallen. Pierrot. A ladder against the window just as once upon a time. ScARAMEL. Master, we don't believe in ghosts. Pierrot. Scaramel, I'm getting tired of your beliefs. Do as you 're told. Also there must be moonlight. Scaramel. There 's no moon to-night. Pierrot. Are you sure ? Put out the torches. Doll. Oh, not the dark, please ! Coquette. We 're very much afraid. Pierrot. No moon ? are you sure ? Memory and magic surround us. \_2'he torches are put out.] We awake. [Moonlight.] It seems long since I saw the moon. Now quietly, quietly about your business — go. [The Mummers go off. Scaramel. Master, let me tell you, this is very foolish. F 81 PRUNELLA ACT III Pierrot. How good to be foolish again ! [ScARAMEL goes after the others. Pierrot is left alone and despondent. Love. O you naughty, naughty bird, now will you? Come into my garden, and I '11 kill you 1 Pierrot [Ttirns about, sta?iled]. Who called ? I thought that I heard some one cry * Pierrot ! Pierrot, come out and die ! * Is no one here at all ? [He goes towards house. Love. No one. Pierrot. Who 's there ? What is this echo answering me in air ? [He turns. Love nods to hbn. Pierrot shrinks back, shivering with fear. Love. So you have come back ? Pierrot [Recovering his courage^. So you are awake again ? Love. It wasn't you who woke me ! Pierrot. Now, where is she ? Say 1 Love. What, have you lost her ? Pierrot. Well, I let her go. Love. Wasn't that careless ? Pierrot. Careless, no 1 Love. Cruel, then ? Pierrot. Yes, to myself. Love. Oh, self, self, self, still self! Pierrot. That is my burden ; take it from me 1 82 PRUNELLA Love. Do you forget that I am stone ? Call act hi her. Pierrot. I have called — secretly. Love. Not from your heart, only for vanity. Pierrot. All, all is vanity ! Love. So you have found that out. Well, you re still tolerably young. There 's hope in youth. Good-night, Pierrot. Pierrot. Where is she ? Answer me, speak, speak, I say ! Love. How can I, when I 'm stone, you fool ? Pierrot. You fool ! [He sinks down in des2)aif\ [The ^lummers i^eturn with the ladder. Hawk. Quietly, quietly. Here comes the ladder. Kennel. Rickety, rackety. Mildewed and cobweby, Half the rungs broken. Mouth. Bats bodies hung on it, Owls made a roost of it. Rats' teeth have gnawed it : There in a corner we found it forgotten. Callow. Quietly, quietly. Hawk. Up to the window there, Rear it and leave it. Romp. Who means to venture there ? Coquette. Who will go up on it ? Tawdry. Who will come down on it ? 83 PRUNELLA ACT III Doll. Nobody — nobody. Pierrot. Nobody — nobody. Hawk. Who is to tap at the wuidow now ? Calloav. I won't knock at an empty house. Romp. Ghosts might hear us and hang out their heads. Mouth. Li long white night-caps wagging their skulls. Doll. Oh, don't ! You frighten me I Pierrot. Hush ! Kennel. Yes, I liear something. Pierrot. See ! Hawk, Mouth, Doll, Romp. See, it opens. Coquette. Yes. ^louTH. No one is there ! Kennel. But the window is opening. Scaramel. INIaster, master, it is only the wind. Pierrot. AYell, it 's an ill wind that blows no man good. ScARAMEi>. That old ladder won't bear you I Pierrot. Let it break ! Scaramel. IMaster ! are you insured ? Pierrot. Go ! to the Devil who sent you ! Take your wage ! [ElvU Scaramel. All. Sleeper, undo your door, look out ! The night wind blows, there are ghosts about, — Ghosts underground and ghosts in air I 84 PIERROT'S SERENADE (FROM 'PRUNELLA') Laurence Housman. Moderato. :J:gs=;:| Joseph Moorat. un poco pill inosso. P 1 r pp B^it ^^Sa= *= i 1-^- -J-:^ "-^"T" S-- ifi: zM:! :^: =qg=qv=1^ -P-^-P --iL-^-^-li*- ^^^i:. ?=£ :t=: How now, ev-ery-where up in air stars stare : On the roof shines the :=i: :=]: =1= :«:^1:S:^ IJ--T- lirt- * VS:i- :^: -^ — ^v-> J=^: =iv Lit -tie bird in your nest, are you there, are you there? fi^-^ _p_^. ^\ i=P=P: i f p==^ 1 ::^ i:^ =1: t :=;: (^f:^ =1= ten. --N- -fi^- '^^ Up, song, to her cham - ber go : say low. Down be low, Thy i^: :-n .^__K_>__jv :^=i: :^=S: i=i^=i=: :=t2=^=i^=^: love begs a boon.' Lit - tie bird in your nest, are you there, are you ^— i^f— f= — ^ 1 F ^' = — ^r— f 3" 1^ piu mosso. ^ /^7?/<7. ;;z/ /> :=i: =]=]s: Say, :i:i=:i: :*=^ V^W- ' Take no rest ! ' :l^z#*zzt^=:^=t^=&= -^=^ t^—;^-ziz '^^^^M=i^E^ Lit - tie bird in your nest, are you -. > > j^ . — h s- cres. accel. dove, bird of Love, are you there, are you there? I v\ \ I ^ _\ I u' I I r /^ 7 — == -~ ~ 7'itar. cres. 'P accel. appassionato. 4L- ^^^^Si=ii :iq: :> dim. Hour of night, at her bow - er go beat: say, 'Sweet, now a - rise," Time flies! O r-| 1 i=J:=l=J==t=^:z=:aa=:^J iti 4^: i; 1^=1^ ]v:-q: -P— ^ :qv -K — K Love, are you there. S^F are you there ? Un - do and re - ^rj^ /tJ^n jS^i i^h-^^71 ^*r-^^ :& -T 1 :::=t= -r :t: i J^^L :t==i: m^^^mm :n=?s^ =ls=1»»-=lv: zz^z -9- \- new to the night the light of your bright blue eyes ! 3z=i^z= J-: := J=;ij|— J=:i^=* For the man in the moon is f ^Z^. tEZ^E3E3Z3ZEZE:EBZ dim. ?;{/" /r;?. here. lSi=^ Do you hear? He is here! Do you hear? He is here! s r^i ^— I — \—m-^ t: I I L_^ --ZX- 111 V. ^' =Z]=q: =4: ::fc :a b -'^A^-^^ — \ 1 — I — T'^-i-H — I— -n-o PRUNELLA Pierrot. Little bird, in your nest, are you there ? act hi All. Under the leaves small skeletons hang, — Skeleton leaves where the birds once sang. Come down now, and be one of the gang ! Pierrot. Love, Love, are you there ? are you there ? All. Ferret her out, however decayed. Old and decrepit : here once lived a maid : — Honey her heart was. Pierrot. Love, are you there ? All. Walls are to climb and windows to break. Sleep all day, but at night lie awake. Lest under the shadow thieves enter and take ! Pierrot. Sleep, sleep, for God's sake let her wake ! Love, Love, are you there ? [Rushes up ladder. No one is there, I am alone. Pierrette I Pierrette ! Pierrette I Coquette. Come away ! Taavdry. I daren't look. Doll. He frightens me. [Prunella rises from the fountain. Romp. Oh, look, look, look I Doll. Oh, let 's get away I Coquette. It is her ghost ! Tawdry. Look, she is coming up out of the ground. Oh! 85 ACT III PRUNELLA ' Oh yes, it is she ! It is she I Several. Don't stay here any longer I Let's run, let 's run I [Exeunt all except Pierrot and Prunella. Prunella. Pierrot, come down ! Pierrot, lift up your head. Come from your cage, come down I Pierrot, they said That you did not remember me at all I And yet out of my sleep I heard you call My name ! And when you called — I came. [He descends, and stands gazing at her motionless. Pierrot [JVJiispei's']. Pierrette! Pierrette I Prunella. It is I, Pierrot I Pierrot. Living or dead, which art thou ? Prunella. Wouldst thou know, Draw near and see I \_A pause. Pierrot tiies to advance, hut fails. Pierrot. Pierrette, my feet are slow For very shame : better on knees to go. [He kneels. Now — if thou livest — for a sign stretch out Thy hand toward me I Leave me not in doubt I [She remains motionless. So, is it so ? To meet when parted most I Dead, thou art dead I And there now stands thy ghost. 86 PRUNELLA Alas, sweet ghost ! what dost thou here with act hi me. Robbing the dead of thy dear company ? Go back where peace is; for no peace dwells here. Prunella. I stay with Love to look on thee, my dear. Pierrot. Can death such pity to the dead be- queath ? I have no right of breath where thou dost breathe ; No cause to look on life, except thou see The light of day which I destroyed for thee. Prunella. A little weeping, Pierrot, does not blind The eyes of love. Pierrot. Ah me, too bitter kind. Too ghostly gentle in thy speech thou art 1 Peace be to thy sweet soul ! Prunella. Peace to thy heart ! Living or dead, I love thee. Pierrot. Say, then, why Camest thou here ? To tell me I must die ? Is it to-night ? {Eagerly. Prunella. To-night were choice made free, Wouldst thou give up thy life to come to me? Pierrot. Yea, I will come. Yea, I will come ! {He 7ises to his feet, 87 PRUNELLA ACT III Pruxeixa. Beware I If you but touch me, all I am, you share For life, or death ! So choose as you would be! Pierrot. I will do so. Yea, let the worms eat me. If now in that pure breast corruption eats I Thou smilest, am I dead ? — It beats ! It beats ! Prunella. For thee, only for thee. Quick to thy nest, Thou weary wandering bird, and there take rest 1 [Pierrot drops his head on to her breast^ and sobs. Nay, nay, lift up thy head, look not so ill ! Earth is sweet under us, the stars shine still. Look how they number them ! Look how they glow ! Pierrot. It is for Pierrette — not for Pierrot ! [Light begins to increase in the garde7i, and the singing of birds is heard. Prunella. Hush I hush ! the birds are waking in the night ; They sing of thee and me, and our delight ! Pierrot. 'Tis not the birds : it is the stars that sing; Nay, not the stars, nor any mortal thing, 88 PRUNELLA Either in earth beneath or heaven above ; act hi The song thou hearest is the song of Love ' Hark ! Look ! [ They turn to the Statue, xdiich is again flooded with light. Love's head is raised, and he pUiys upon his viol, while all the garden grows loud with song.] THE END 89 Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. OCT 17 1933 OCT 18 1933 OCT 19 1933 MAY 24 1935 \\M"N 9. r» ^936 Apr 8 1939 3/^^ 4/^/. ^ NOV % 9 13G3 DEC 2001 JUN 27 19 39 ^ .^ y .^ 1 1 NOV 15 19 8 8 LD 21-100m-7,'33 • ^ c 575484 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY "H UC. BERKELEY LIBRARIES ill coob7ma45 ^ uJkL