One-Act Plays Part 68

Child, child, try thou to sleep.

LISETTA.

For thy sake will I try.

PIA.

Aye, sleep now. I will smooth thy bed.

[_PIA begins to draw up the covers smooth. She stops suddenly to listen._]

Hist!

LISETTA.

What, good Pia?

PIA.

Footsteps. Look, it is a monk.

[_FRANCIS OF a.s.sISI comes to the door._]

FRANCIS.

I have not eaten food this day. Hast thou Somewhat that I may eat?

PIA.

Alas, poor brother, sit thee here; there's bread And cheese and lentils, eat thy store. Poor 'tis, But given in His name.

FRANCIS.

I will eat then and bless thee.

PIA.

He taketh but a crust!

FRANCIS.

It is enough. He that hath eaten long The bread of the heart hath little hunger in him.

PIA.

Sit thou and rest, poor soul.

FRANCIS.

Nay, I must go on. My daughter, child, Thou sleepest not for all thy lowered lids.

Tears quiver on thy lashes, hast thou pain?

LISETTA.

The tears of women even in dreams may fall, Good brother. Wilt thou not bide?

FRANCIS.

I must fare on.

LISETTA.

Aye, aye, the world lies open to thy hand, But unto me this twelvemonth is a death.

The flesh is dead, and dying lies my soul, Shrunk like a flower in my fevered hand.

FRANCIS [_he goes over and stands beside the bed_].

My dear.

LISETTA.

I may not see the stars rise on the hills, Nor tend the flocks at even, nor rise to do Aught of the small sweet round of duties owed To him I love; but lie a burden to him, Calling on death who heareth not.

FRANCIS.

My life hath given me words for thee to hear.

LISETTA.

Surely thy life is peace.

FRANCIS.

There is a life larger than life, that dwells Invisible from all; whose lack alone Is death. There in thy soul the stars may rise, And at the even the gentle thoughts return To flock the quiet pastures of the mind; And in the large heart love is all thou owest For service unto G.o.d and thy Beloved.

LISETTA.

Little Brother!

FRANCIS.

May you have G.o.d's peace, dear friends. Farewell.

[_He goes out. PIA stands a moment wiping her eyes, then returns to sh.e.l.ling the peas. There is a silence for a while._]

PIA.

Why dost thou look so long upon the door?

LISETTA.