One-Act Plays Part 70

Wilt thou not read one song of these to me?

PIA.

Close then thine eyes and rest.

[_LISETTA closes her eyes. A shepherd's pipe far-off and faint begins to play; from this on to the end of the play you can hear the shepherd's pipe. PIA takes up at random a sheet of the ma.n.u.scripts.

She sighs a great sigh, and begins to mimic LISETTA's voice._]

THE BALLAD OF THE RUNNING WATER

O music locked amid the stones, Beside the--amid the--

LISETTA.

Read on--and thou hast told me day by day Thou couldst not read.

PIA.

I read from hearing thee from day to day Repeat the verses.

LISETTA.

Fie! Give them to me here.

[_She takes the paper and holds it in her hands on her breast, and reads without looking at it._]

_O music locked amid the stones, My love hath spoken like to thee,_

Pia, think you--Pia, do you not hear The mowers and the reapers in the fields Singing the evening song, and the twilight pipes?

The twilight is the hour when hearts break!

How many lonely twilights will there be Ere G.o.d will spare me?

PIA [_kneeling_].

Hush, child, hush, darling!

[_LISETTA turns her face to the window by the bed. PIA strokes her hand and sings softly:_]

_Firefly, firefly, come from the shadows--_

There!--he is coming now, I hear his steps Upon the gravel road. Good-night, sweet child, I'll get me home.

LISETTA.

Pia, good-night once more.

[_PIA slips away. GUIDO enters softly. The twilight is gone and the moon falls through the window over the bed. The hill outside is bright with moonlight._]

GUIDO [_softly_].

Asleep, Lisetta?

LISETTA.

Guido! Ah, I have need of naught, Guido.

Thou needst not leave yet the pleasant air.

GUIDO.

Lisetta, my love, I have been long from thee.

LISETTA.

Let not that trouble thee, my needs are few, And Pia is most kind.

GUIDO.

So little I may do.

LISETTA.

Thou hast already served to weariness.

[_He kneels beside her bed._]

GUIDO.

My love, I have been long from thee, but now I will not leave thee any more. Oh, G.o.d, Let these kisses tell my heart to her.

LISETTA.

Guido, my love, perhaps I dream of thee!

Perhaps G.o.d sends a dream to solace me.

GUIDO.

Along the stream I went and where it crossed Bevagna road--where the chestnut grows, thou knowest-- Lisetta, I saw him.

LISETTA.

Yes, yes, I know, whom sawest thou?

GUIDO.

The brother, Francis of a.s.sisi.

LISETTA.

Guido, sawest thou him?