Plays of Near & Far Part 13

[_They nod dumb heads gravely._

CURTAIN.

SCENE III

_On the base of Aether Mountain._

_Right, heather sloping up to left, which is rugged with tumbled grey rocks._

_Further left all the scene is filled with the rising bulk of Aether Mountain._

_Low down, far off and small in the background to the right appears a little palace of pure gold._

_Enter right the_ QUEEN _running untired and nimble, unchecked by those grey rocks._

_Following her the tired_ PRINCES _come._

ZOON _is no longer last, but about fourth, and gaining._

MELIFLOR _leads._

MELIFLOR: Permit me, great lady. My hand over the rocks. Permit ...

[_He falls and cannot rise._

MOOMOOMON: Permit me. (_He falls too._) These rocks; it is these rocks.

XIMENUNG (_going wearily_): Great lady. A moment. One moment, great lady. Allow me.

[_But_ ZOON _does not speak. Exeunt L. the Queen and those Princes that have not fallen. The curtain falls on stragglers crossing the stage._

CURTAIN.

SCENE IV

_The Summit._

_On the snow on the pinnacle of Aether Mountain, with only bright blue sky all round and everywhere, recline_ QUEEN ZOOMZOOMARMA _and the_ PRINCE OF ZOON.

THE QUEEN: You had known no love before, First of a Hundred?

PRINCE OF ZOON: There is no love on earth, O Queen of all.

QUEEN: Only here.

ZOON: Pure love is only here on this peak lonely in heaven.

QUEEN: Would you love me elsewhere if we went from here?

ZOON: But we will never go from here.

QUEEN: No, we will never leave it.

ZOON: Lady, look down. (_She looks._) The earth is sorrowful. (_She sighs._) Cares. Cares. All over the wide surface we can see are troubles; troubles far off and grey, that harm not Aether Mountain.

QUEEN: It looks a long way off and long ago.

ZOON (_wonderingly_): Only to-day we came to Aether Mountain.

QUEEN: Only to-day?

ZOON: We crossed a gulf of time.

QUEEN: It lies below us, all drowsy with years.

ZOON: Lady, here is your home, this peak that has entered heaven. Let us never leave your home.

QUEEN: I knew not until to-day of Aether Mountain. None had told me.

ZOON: Knew you never, lady, of love?

QUEEN: None had told me.

ZOON: This is your home; not Earth; no golden palace. Reign here alone, not knowing the cares of men, without yesterday or to-morrow, untroubled by history or council.

QUEEN: Yes, yes, we will return no more.

ZOON: See, lady, see the Earth. Is it not as a dream just faded?

QUEEN: It is dim indeed, grey and dream-like.

ZOON: It is the Earth we knew.

QUEEN: It is all dream-like.

ZOON: It is gone; we can dimly see it.

QUEEN: Was it a dream?