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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
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 33. /lO 
 
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 Copyright, 1913, by 
 
 JAMES EDWARD DOOLEY 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 ©CI.A.'i51402 
 
IGofa^ a MnnnBttipt 
 
 TO MY MOTHER 
 MARGARET FRANCES DOOLEY 
 
THOSE OF THE SCENE. 
 
 Dreamjoy (A youthful poet) . 
 
 Norma {The little botanist sister). 
 
 LovELOST {A night reveler). 
 
 Di VINA {A fair lady) . 
 
 Immopen {The spirit of the song). 
 
 The twelve daughters of Immopen 
 
 {The singers of the song). 
 
THE ANNOUNCER OF THE SCENE 
 WITHIN. [A diminutive page.] 
 
 Behold the scene! 
 
 'Tis that of home, 'tis one of love, 
 
 Where the dreamer and the sister dwell. 
 
 The first hath beauty of Apollo's youth, 
 
 And lights of glory hold his spirit face. 
 
 The sister hath the haloed head. 
 
 And golden strands top virtue's brow. 
 
 But Nature, molding perfect form. 
 
 Didst turn aside her head as passing sorrow 
 
 spake. 
 And left its work thus incomplete. 
 He dreams of worlds beyond the sun. 
 She loves the faded flowers she saves. 
 The bright watch fire she keeps. 
 The potted winter flowers they grow. 
 And to the window's light they turn their heads. 
 The likeness of the summer hills the little hands 
 Draw out and forlorn walls adorn. 
 Bound by the brightest birches of the wood. 
 The light of man's endeavor is about, 
 
 5 
 
In volumes strong, and from the manteled 
 
 shelves 
 Looks down from out the busts of plastered 
 
 white, 
 As there in lonely solitude they stand. 
 The countenance of the poet and the statesman 
 
 grand. 
 From latticed window small on summer day, 
 Looks in the sun. 
 
 'Tis now tight closed to winter's wind, 
 And falling snow, and from the table 
 Comes the artificial light, 
 For day 'tis dead, and it is night. 
 
THE ANNOUNCER OF THE SCENE 
 WITHOUT. [A diminutive page.] 
 
 Hark to the wake of the storm ! 
 
 To the blow of the snow, and the wail of the 
 
 wind. 
 'Tis the passion of nature arising so wild, 
 Its own spirit beyond its control! 
 Behold the great trees but the notes of the wind. 
 As each forest's a string to this great instrument's 
 
 ring. 
 As it strikes a great chord on the world ! 
 All the dead leaves and the sleeping flowers of 
 
 the hills, 
 All the green grasses laid 'way to rest, 
 Wait but the great white spread of the snow, 
 That old Nature doth hold to her breast. 
 'Tis about to descend and cover this withered 
 
 form 
 To its dream. Hear the night song of the wind ! 
 Its complaint, that 'twas but born of a breeze. 
 'Tis but the purifying spirit holds sway ! 
 
 7 
 
That scatters the dead, and the useless and worn 
 
 out away! 
 Oh, what a strong wild song is the storm of the 
 
 snow! 
 Oh, swiftest traveler, what speed canst thou 
 
 claim, doth thou know! 
 What exultation spirit thus grand! Nature's 
 
 great heart! 
 Thou doth play havoc with mortals here two. 
 They respond to thine spirit, both out of control 
 
 like thee, 
 Which carries them forth in thy clasp, to their 
 
 destiny. 
 Thus we shall see when thine great breast it is 
 
 stilled. 
 When the storm in their little form is at rest, is 
 
 outworn. 
 
LOVE'S MANUSCRIPT. 
 
 [Dream JOY and Norma are discovered. He is 
 seen writing at his table, she is pasting in her 
 scrapbook pressed and faded flowers. Faintly 
 a song is heard from without between the wailing 
 of the wind and the drifting of the snow.] 
 
 The Song. 
 
 Summer it sleeps by the way, 
 Snow flowers of winter are here, 
 
 Shrouded the hillsides ere day, 
 
 That cover the leaves dead and sere. 
 
 Seek them and you shall find, 
 
 Peeping as stars through the snow. 
 
 Is not old winter then kind 
 That giveth sweet flowers to grow? 
 
 Norma. 
 
 What beauty sleeps in flowers so dead, 
 What breath of past perfume, 
 
 9 
 
O brother of mine. 
 
 See how each would raise its tiny head, 
 
 As if its own beauty to consume, 
 
 sweet brother of mine. 
 
 And yet hear the winter's wind its wail, 
 Without while silent falls the snow. 
 He's far in his dreams away ! 
 No wonder little flowers they fail, 
 And wait 'the spring in which to grow. 
 My brother, mine brother, say I, 
 Lost in his work and his joy. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 
 Ah, sister sweet. 
 
 Didst I hear thee speak? 
 
 Norma. 
 Aye! 
 
 1 did speak to thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 
 Wilt thou but repeat? 
 In truth it is I didst hear 
 Thee speak. 
 
 Though my thoughts be 
 Ever afar, I will always 
 
 10 
 
Hear thine call, mine 
 
 Sweet sister. 
 
 Of what speakest thou? 
 
 Norma. 
 
 I spake of fair flowers that 
 Sleep in snow beds soft bound, 
 Covered with white snow so deep 
 That they do hear not a sound. 
 Oh, brother, thine work is it done? 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 
 Nay, little one, 'tis now 
 As always, but here just begun. 
 But thou shalt see more anon, 
 As sweet sister thou art to me. 
 
 Norma. 
 
 What tellest thou my brother now, 
 Tellest thou of flowers that sleep 
 In lonely bowers to-night? 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Nay, I tell of worlds beyond the stars. 
 Peopled with spirits of love. 
 And of a wonderous soul that dwells 
 
 11 
 
Here like to them. 
 
 But I'll cease this the while, 
 
 And seek for food and for keep, 
 
 The hungred phantom dispel from the door. 
 
 I go to work more on this night. 
 
 As I have ever before, 
 
 For the time it draws on. 
 
 And empty is our purse and our store. 
 
 Thus must I be gone. 
 
 Norma. 
 And leave me thus alone? 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 
 I do return to thee, my sister sweet, 
 With money and good things to eat, 
 For to-day is the day of reward 
 For my work. 
 
 Norma. 
 ril work my needle fine, 
 O brother of mine, 
 To the song of the chime 
 Of the bells from the lovely 
 Spires that point to the sky. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Keep the fire full in the grate, 
 
 12 
 
For I may return to thee late, 
 
 And I'll welcome the cheer of the blaze, 
 
 Have no fear. 
 
 Norma. 
 Mine watch for thee will I keep, 
 As the tea-urn I'll fill, 
 And I'll wait by the window so still, 
 For the sound of thine step through the snow 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Thus it is, sweet sister, I go. 
 Come here and unto mine heart, 
 And let me enfold thee. 
 Ah, heaven's fair grace 
 Doth cover thine face with its light. 
 And though nature unkind to thine 
 Poor little form, thine soul it left 
 Whole with thy kiss. 
 
 Norma. 
 Ah, brother of mine, 
 Thine soul it is fair, 
 Thine thoughts are the 
 Snowfiakes that fall. 
 Happy I'd be to only see thee, 
 
 13 
 
And to hold on mine sight 
 Thine fair brow. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 God keep us for all in his care. 
 
 Norma. 
 My thoughts they will burn of thee, 
 Till thou doth return to me. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Thus am I gone. 
 Close the door on the storm, 
 And the snow. And farewell! 
 
 [Exit Dreamjoy, door C] 
 
 Norma. 
 He's gone on the storm, 
 And the wind. 
 O send him, God blessed. 
 To the end of his quest. 
 As I hear his last steps fade away. 
 
 [She si7igs.] 
 
 Guide by the hand, thou 
 
 Light, that so surely 
 
 Carries us past 
 
 The shadows of harm. 
 
 Keep him and hold him, 
 
 14 
 
In thine love forever, 
 Wrapped in thine garments 
 Of heart love so warm. 
 I must the little flowers 
 To sleep, my prettiest ones, 
 And place them safe away, 
 Until the coming of the day. 
 Yes, mine little loves, 
 I'll keep thee safe. 
 
 [She starts a bar of the above song 
 and stops suddenly as there is 
 music from without.] 
 [The song without.] 
 
 Beauty is purity borne on the night winds. 
 
 Peace fall upon thy virtuous door. 
 Enfolded with love thought we leave here 
 the message 
 Of angels that give of their bounteous 
 store. 
 
 Norma. 
 Yes, yes, I hear thee, 
 I'll not fail the fire for him. 
 Nor the warm quaff that shall melt 
 Way the cold from his heart. 
 O mine little birds, 
 
 15 
 
I'd almost forgotten thee; 
 
 The crumbs I save for thee thus, 
 
 I have them, I'll place them 
 
 Safe in the shelter of the sill, 
 
 As thou wakest me ever with thy 
 
 Cheery chirp, chirp, and cry. 
 
 Awake, awake! arise 'tis light, 'tis day! 
 
 Thou doth make me shudder, O storm ! 
 
 [Opens the window.^ 
 God keep thee safe, mine little birds, 
 And the crumbs I have left thus for thee. 
 He will keep thee safe, 
 So hath He said, and thus wilt it be! 
 How tired do I grow on this night, 
 How the hours they draw long. 
 And the wind it grows strong, 
 As the snow it flies high. 
 Still do I hear thee sing, 
 
 [Faint singing without.] 
 Sing, then, sing me to sleep, 
 Hush, then, hush me to rest, 
 In guidance and love doth thou keep, 
 Bring me the peace that doth bless. 
 Is it not well to have 
 This good bed, and on this wild storm. 
 Praise God for all this. 
 
 16 
 
Keep of mine brother, Great Light! 
 
 I cannot mine promise then keep, 
 
 In awakeness await his return, 
 
 I'll cuddle my cot so cosy and warm, 
 
 He'll find me here sleeping, 
 
 Tired with mine waiting 
 
 His happy good night. 
 
 [She falls off to sleep on her little 
 couch singing fainter and fainter 
 ''Guide by the hand.'' The storm 
 rages without.] 
 
 LovELOST [without]. [A muffled voice.] 
 
 [Honk, honk, of an automobile 
 in the distance and receding.] 
 Beat thou, O biting blast! 
 Wail then, thou wildest of winds! 
 
 Norma. 
 When was the wind so wild? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 I will yet conquer thee. 
 Mine spirit is thine terror, 
 O storm ! 
 
 Norma. 
 How like to the human voice 
 
 17 
 
Art thou in thy sounds, O storm ! 
 Be thou kind to my brother, 
 Whilst I sleep, sleep, sleep. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 I will yet conquer thee ! 
 
 Norma. 
 Good night, my little flowers, 
 Sweet sleep, good night! 
 
 [She sleeps.] 
 
 LovELOST [Entering from the blast. Door C] 
 Shelter for a wasting spirit! 
 What a fiend sends me thus, 
 And unto a storm beaten night. 
 That's as wild as the fire that 
 Consumes me within. 
 I'll find her, though she defies 
 Me a thousand such storms. 
 She'll not elude, I'll pursue, 
 Not in vain ! 
 
 She says I have drunken too much 
 Of wild life, that she'd marry a fool 
 Rather than marry of me. 
 Fool that I am, fool that she be, 
 I know of her heart, — 'tis the boyish 
 
 18 
 
Dreamer she loves that lives with 
 
 A sister, I'm told. I thinketh this 
 
 Be the place, if in mine drunkness 
 
 I make no mistake. 
 
 What a joke that would be! 
 
 Let me see! It's deserted, there's 
 
 No one about, it's dingy, and damp 
 
 As a cell of the devil's abode, 
 
 Though it's a place from the storm 
 
 And the wild winter's night. 
 
 [Wild whistles the wind.] 
 O what a blast! 
 
 Born of a restless spirit like to me! 
 She's out upon this storm, 
 She'll come here to this place. 
 She swore that she would, 
 'Tis a wager of life, and the soul 
 Of a woman its prize. She meaneth all 
 Things that she says! 
 I'll await her arrival unto this hell, 
 She'll wonder how 'tis I'm the 
 First on the scene. 
 A strange wonder her beauty, 
 Her fine spirit it crushed out mine pride. 
 She felled mine proud tree, 
 When she mirrored me true to myself. 
 
 19 
 
Hush mine true touch I do feel 
 
 Her light crush on the snow, 
 
 [Honky honk, honk, in the distance 
 almost indistinctly.] 
 
 As she comes through the wail 
 
 Of these winds. Behind this old 
 
 Corner of chimney I'll wait, 
 
 Behind this dim shadow of light. 
 
 My sympathizing fair lady, for thee. 
 
 [He conceals himself behind in the 
 chimney corner as Divina enters 
 after knocking lightly on the door 
 that has not been tightly closed.] 
 
 Divina. 
 
 O what a night is this ! 
 
 Alas, why do I do all this? 
 
 Again I'm alone! O my weak heart! 
 
 O my weak breast ! O what am I living ! 
 
 O what is my mind ! He's not here! 
 
 He is gone, he is absent from home. 
 
 O my deep breath ! Keep thee down 
 
 Mine rising spirit! 
 
 Stay mine tempestuous soul ! 
 
 Be thou a calm, O storm! 
 
 Here dwelleth mine dreamer of dreams! 
 
 20 
 
Ah, how simple, how few are his needs. 
 How happy is he in all his creations. 
 Since I beheld him the night in the street, 
 By the glare of the many lights, 
 I've builded o'er him many a dream. 
 As I've tossed for him sleepless my nights. 
 His purity that I readeth through his 
 Fair face, the light that lives behind 
 His great eyes, breaketh mine heart, 
 As from pride it hath melted away. 
 Now I only want him and his love. 
 O why of the world shouldst we care? 
 
 [Slight noise.] 
 Hush! I'll be still, he may sleeping 
 Be here, and learn of my offering of love. 
 Hush! What have we here ! 
 
 [At the cot turning back the curtain.] 
 Why, behold it is a fair child! 
 What beauty doth cover this face, 
 And, sleeping, how rare is the smile. 
 How peaceful thine sleep, little one. 
 No jealous thoughts thee profane. 
 Thou art where love is so sure. 
 Thy dreams must be virtuous dreams of hope, 
 As here it reigneth alone, 
 On thine little throne. [Whistling of the wind.] 
 
 21 
 
O what a night! 
 
 Hush, I think that I hear, — 
 
 back, turn thee back, foolish fear, 
 It is only the wind that's speaking 
 Unkind through the storm. 
 
 So I'll let thee sleep on, little one. 
 
 LovELOST [Stepping from his concealment.] 
 
 1 am thy wind, and thy storm! 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Thou! And art here! [Suppressing a shriek] 
 Yet why do I shriek? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Thou knowest why, 
 And full well! 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 When comest thou here? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Before thee, I awaited 
 Thine pro testings of love, 
 For thine adored young 
 Dreamer of dreams. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 It is well. Thou knowest 
 
 22 
 
Now I meaneth the words 
 That I speak! 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 He's down in the dust, 
 He's out of thine world, 
 Mine proud lady. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 His heart is the heart 
 Of the high, of the pure. 
 And his mind is like 
 Clear evening stars. 
 Why followest thou me? 
 I have done with thee ! 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 I didst not follow, 
 I cameth before. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 Yet in spirit thou 
 Persueth me still. 
 Tell me what is thine will. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Thou knowest mine will. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 For that I care not. 
 
 Too oft did I tell this to thee. 
 
 23 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 Yet thou wilt mine will. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Nay I canst not that. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Come mine is the wine of life 
 
 With its fire ; mine is the passion 
 
 Of joy with its devil-may-care! 
 
 For a love that's as deep as 
 
 The depths of the sea, 
 
 That sleeps in the glass 
 
 From cares so free! 
 
 Mine days are impassioned with thine! 
 
 Come, be of my kind ! 
 
 When I'd enfold thee unto 
 
 This heart that is mine. 
 
 We'll drink it, and dance it 
 
 And live it away! 
 
 Come, what doth thou say ! 
 
 I'll challenge the world 
 
 For my mate, for my love. 
 
 I'll build all to the image 
 
 Of thee, fairest dove. 
 
 If thou wilt live it and laugh 
 
 It away with me here. 
 
 24 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 Thou knowest I cannot 
 
 Return thine fierce fire. 
 
 Thine heart steeped in 
 
 That music of song. 
 
 Mine love is that of the higher, 
 
 It dwells not in lands 
 
 Such as thine of the sun, 
 
 But is kept midst pure snows 
 
 And winter's chaste ice. 
 
 In this alone doth my thought, 
 
 Doth my spirit belong. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Come, I'd press thee 
 
 As ever, and unto this heart. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 What wouldst thou thus again ! 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Yes, but again. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Away ! With a word I defend ! 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Stay, thou art to be mine, 
 And for all! 
 
 25 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 I say thou shalt away. 
 
 [She throws him from her.] 
 
 Norma. [In her sleep.] 
 I'll keep of the fire, 
 As I do the sweet flowers. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Who, whence was that? 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Hush! be thou still. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 'Tis nothing but the storm of life! 
 
 Fool that I am ! What a passion 
 
 Is me! 'Tis again that she casteth away! 
 
 Nothing I seek for I find, 
 
 Nothing I hope for I gain, 
 
 Nothing a world cares for me. 
 
 I've lived out the gay lights of life! 
 
 I'm out on the wild night's blast! 
 
 The false faces of friends of a day. 
 
 No places they welcome with outstretching 
 
 hands, 
 None children to crawl on my knee. 
 I've not even the world its good will. [Wind.] 
 
 26 
 
O hear that wild wind ! 
 
 Why it was only to-day, a poor drunkard 
 
 Didst say, didst but say unto me, 
 
 That I was far worse than he, 
 
 For he had given the world 
 
 Something from out of his hands, 
 
 That made it better that he here had lived. 
 
 O what of life is me ! 
 
 O for those lost broken nights. 
 
 To have them, to live them again! 
 
 for those hollow years! 
 Away from me, thou blasting 
 Retrospection's picture I see, 
 Stayest thou for all away, 
 That thou mightest leave me 
 
 [Casts a silver mounted flask into the 
 fire.] 
 And never return ! 
 
 Norma. [Half waking, half sleeping.] 
 
 1 hear thee! 
 
 Yes, I'll make everything ready 
 For thine cold heart. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Hush ! Doth thou not know 
 That thou art in a stranger's place. 
 
 27 
 
I say thou must away! 
 
 Thou hast awakened the child 
 
 From her sleep, 
 
 Rash reveler that thou art. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Eh, what! 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Odeai:! 
 
 Doth thou not understand that? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Eh, who was that? 
 
 Norma. [Coming forward.] 
 Alas! Who is here, 
 Who disturbs our abode? 
 What is this I behold? 
 What wrong do I do? 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Peace, child, and have thee no fear. 
 
 Norma. 
 Why comest thou here? 
 O how you frightened me 
 Out of my dream. 
 
 28 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 Mine apology hast thou 
 For such an unseemly call. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Wilt thou be silent? 
 
 Norma. 
 I do feel a great fear. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 I do feel the shame 
 
 Of the guilty, poor child. 
 
 But fear not, I'll explain 
 
 This bad lot — why we came. 
 
 I'm thine friend, so will 
 
 He be, I am sure. 
 
 I came out on this night 
 
 In search for to find 
 
 The youth with the glorious 
 
 Face that's divine, 
 
 And eyes like the stars in the sky, 
 
 And the way that is kind. 
 
 Norma. 
 A brother of mine. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 He is brother to thee? 
 
 29 
 
Norma. 
 True is he. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Indeed, 'tis plain that I see, 
 By thy face that was chiseled 
 In light. 
 
 Norma. 
 He's out on the storm. 
 But returns ere the morn is begun. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 I'll wait his return. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Thus I wait upon thee. 
 
 Norma. 
 Who, then, is he? 
 He appeareth not well 
 On this night. 
 Why cometh he here? 
 
 DiVINA. 
 A suitor to me, 
 That's been fed by the fiend, 
 And his wild wasting fire. 
 
 Norma. 
 O! O! 
 
 30 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 Do not fear, little one, 
 He'll not harm thee! 
 
 Norma. 
 Who art thou, may est I ask? 
 I love thine fair face. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Didst ne'er hear thine brother 
 Then speak of a lady, a sweet 
 One he held to his heart? 
 
 Norma. 
 Of such I ne'er heard 
 Him speak, heard him tell, 
 Though I think he holds love 
 To his heart, to his dreams. 
 But he spake of it nothing to me. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Nothing to thee? 
 
 Norma. 
 Nothing to me. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 'Tis well. 
 
 Norma. 
 Nay, both sit thee down, 
 
 31 
 
I'll furnish refreshment 
 For thee and be kind. 
 Thou canst not return 
 On this storm beaten wind. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Thou art sweet, 
 Thou art kind. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 I give thanks to thee. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 keep him in spirit thus mild. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Bring to me wine. 
 
 Norma. 
 Sir, we've nothing but tea. 
 You'll be patient the while, 
 And I'll be of service to thee. 
 
 [She puts the tea on the fire.] 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 1 say bring to me wine. 
 
 DiviNA [At the window.] 
 How wild is the wind! 
 How deep and how strange 
 
Moveth mine spirit, to its 
 Song out of tune, out of rhyme, 
 How like to the drifting snow! 
 Stay mine love leaping soul. 
 Come to me, mine absent fire. 
 
 unfailing spirit of righteous 
 Truth, that knows of no wrong. 
 Of no erring light, 
 
 Lead me and keep me so well 
 In thine care, that I falter 
 And faileth not, o'er this night. 
 Subdueth the storm that enfoldeth 
 About me, and here wouldst destroy. 
 And like unto thine gentle flake-like falling 
 Snow, softly layeth thine spirit o'er 
 Mine soul in this wild scene. 
 Make it like thine love light, 
 Glow in peace. 
 
 Norma. 
 'Twill soon be ready! 
 
 1 have other things, too, for thee. 
 
 [Norma goes room R. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Haste! Canst thou not haste? 
 I'm cold on this night, 
 
 33 
 
From the storm and the snow. 
 
 This fire burneth low, 
 
 And giveth forth here no heat, 
 
 This light burneth dim, 
 
 'Tis weak like mine spirit, 
 
 All's bleak like mine heart. 
 
 All's dark and promiseth naught. 
 
 I'll add cheer to these dingy 
 
 Old walls that seemeth a hell. 
 
 O who couldst here dwell, 
 
 That's been bred to the day 
 
 And the light? 
 
 What have we here? Rubbish no doubt! 
 
 Like unto the rest! There, burn! 
 
 [Throws into the fire the leaves of the 
 manuscript that are on the table 
 left vacant hy Dreamjoy.] 
 Burn on the fire and give me 
 Good cheer, while I wait for to see 
 This fair lover of thee, my fair 
 Night adventurer now that thou art ! 
 Ha! Ha! Now we'll have heat; 
 
 [The manuscript begins to burn.] 
 Now we'll have flame! 
 Now we'll have light to see! 
 Burn thou to dust, to ashes, 1 say, 
 
 34 
 
Chase these dark shadows away, 
 
 That here wouldst devour me as I am their prey. 
 
 Maketh this prison to glow, 
 
 Bright with a light, 
 
 Like a torch that's been 
 
 Cast in some cave. 
 
 Or in some catacomb far under Rome. 
 
 Norma. 
 [Re-entering, sees the papers burn- 
 ing and pulls some of them from 
 the fire.] 
 
 O! O! Mine poor soul. 
 
 What hast thou done, cruel man! 
 
 Thou hast cast all his life 
 
 To the fire, to the fiend. 
 
 Thou hast burned here the thoughts 
 
 Of divine, O brother of mine. 
 
 And with it thou breaketh 
 
 Mine heart for all time. 
 
 All his soul to the flames,^ — 
 
 He never can write them again. 
 
 What shall I say, what shall I do? 
 
 I can't tell him, 'twill kill him, I know. 
 
 Thou hast burned here, 'tis true, 
 
 And to ashes and dust! 
 
 35 
 
O heartless flame! Alas, alas! 
 
 Cruel fire, why so consume! 
 
 O the pity of me ! Give them back ! 
 
 Leave but on the ashes the imprint behind, 
 
 why canst I not save him a line? 
 
 [Some are burned.] 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 What meanest thou, child? 
 
 Norma. 
 Canst thou not see. 
 Mine brother's grand thoughts 
 Burn away. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Arise, mine fair unfortunate child, 
 
 1 offendeth here thus. 
 And let me repair of mine 
 Error that burns on the grate. 
 And heaves up thine heart so wild. 
 This will repair of thine loss. 
 
 [Lays his purse on the table.] 
 
 Norma. 
 There is no repair. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 I'll repair with a kiss 
 From mine lips. 
 
 36 
 
Norma. 
 Nay, thee do I shun, 
 Thou cruelest man. 
 To mine brother I'll tell 
 All these things on his return. 
 
 [Honk, honk, honk, honk, of an 
 approaching aiitomohile.] 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Cease, as thou breaketh mine heart. 
 
 Reckless, passionate, libertine 
 
 That thou art. 
 
 Other happiness thou here 
 
 Wouldst destroy. 
 
 Shame that the peace, 
 
 Of these poor thou'dst annoy! 
 
 So I depart as I came 
 
 Through the storm, and alone. 
 
 Come, mine little one, here. 
 
 Do not weep thee so hard. 
 
 And in silence so still. 
 
 For to see such tears falling 
 
 From thine fair eyes. 
 
 It doth mine own heart o'erfill, 
 
 Again and again with tears and with pain. 
 
 37 
 
Norma. 
 He worked so hard and 
 Great love for me, 
 And thus again are his pure 
 Efforts in vain. 
 Will it always be just the same? 
 
 brother, how great thine despair. 
 
 D I VINA. 
 
 Cease of thy sobs, cease 
 
 Of thy weeping, fair child. 
 
 I'll return to thee soon, 
 
 And with joy that shall 
 
 Brighten thine life and 
 
 Thine gloomy day. Fare thee well, 
 
 Until then. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 'Tis mine pleasure, fair lady. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 1 hath said alone! 
 
 Norma. 
 O stay of the storm. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Sweet child, I am gone! 
 
 [DiVINA exits door C] 
 
 38 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 Again hath thou mine apologies, 
 Fairest heart, mine actions. 
 Mine courtesies are not to the 
 Height of thy standard of good 
 Graces upon this fair night. 
 
 Norma. [At the window.] 
 Peace unto thee, mine 
 Fair lady, good friend. [Honk, honk.] 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Give to me wine. 
 
 Norma. 
 Thou wouldst to the storm. 
 Nothing couldst stay the spirit 
 Behind thine bright eye. 
 Sweet brother, why tarry so long? 
 Return, wipe mine tears away. 
 How shall I tell of the loss to thee. 
 The thoughts of its tale 
 Doth suffer and choke up 
 Mine speech, up mine heart. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Shall I not have a fire 
 E'en here to comfort me? 
 
 39 
 
Norma. 
 I do feel a great fear, 
 His spirit's so wild, 
 It's just like the storm, 
 In its fury outside. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Bring to me wine. 
 
 Norma. 
 How he doth rage. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Thou shalt pay the penalty 
 
 For all this. [The storm is in its fury.] 
 
 The wine of love ! 
 
 The wine of life ! 
 
 Norma. 
 Mine brother's sweet help 
 To me now. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Give me if it's, only of tea. 
 
 Norma. 
 He knows not what 
 He says, what he does. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Am I to be denied all comforts, 
 
 40 
 
All hopes of life? Where am I now? 
 What have I done, how do I live? 
 What sort of a place am I in? 
 
 true I canst not well forget — 
 *Tis the dreamer's abode so strange. 
 
 Norma. 
 God help me and still of the storm! 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 1 say, little one. 
 
 Come thou here unto me. 
 Wilt thou not speak with me? 
 
 Norma. 
 Keep of mine spirit in Thee. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Wilt thou not speak with me? 
 
 Norma. 
 I care not to converse 
 With thee thus, thine thoughts 
 They go low, mine spirit flies high, 
 Sir, all days. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Come thou to me. 
 
 41 
 
Norma. 
 Nay, thee do I fear, 
 Thine fierce ways. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Mine ways, sayest thou? 
 
 Norma. 
 Just so, sir. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Say, give to me but a kiss. 
 
 Thou art as fair as a shade grown 
 
 Flower, half starved with the 
 
 Want of the sun. Pray from me 
 
 Do not run, do not shrink thus 
 
 Away, pretty one. [There's a lull in the storm.] 
 
 Norma. 
 No! No! 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Crippled, deformed, say the devil 
 Say I to such luck. I thought 
 A jewel I'd found by thy face 
 In this dark hole of the world. 
 
 Norma. 
 Perhaps thou hast found one, 
 And knoweth it not. 
 
 42 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 What's thy name? 
 
 Norma. 
 I've a pet name, sir, 
 Norma, my brother calls me. 
 By that name you may call me, sir. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Norma. 
 
 Dwellest thou here alone? 
 
 Norma. 
 Mine brother and me. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Who, what is he? 
 
 Norma. 
 A poet, a song singer is he. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 The devil you say. 
 Is he in love? 
 
 Norma. 
 What say est thou, sir? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Hearest thou not me? 
 I repeat, is he in love? 
 
 43 
 
Norma. 
 Nay, sir, he is not. 
 Or rather your pardon 
 I'll say, I will ask. 
 'Tis true he is in love, 
 And with but me. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 In love with his sister, 
 Say the devil say I. 
 
 Norma. 
 Yes, sir, it is true. 
 Canst thou not understand that? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 I meaneth love he other than thee? 
 
 Norma. 
 That, sir, I can't tell thee, 
 I keep not his heart, 
 I know not his mind. 
 He only can answer to that. 
 If he doth, 'tis his secret 
 Alone. Once he told me he 
 Loved all the world, but 
 He incurred all its hate. 
 
 44 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 He is right. 
 
 What keepeth thine brother awa}^? 
 
 Norma. 
 To his work on the night. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Poor poet is he that M^orks 
 With the night, 
 When he should be at home, 
 With his pen and to write. 
 
 Norma. 
 Sir, you are right. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Of course am I right. 
 
 Norma. 
 He's so out of harmony, sir. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Eh! [The wind.] 
 
 Give to me wine, I am cold, 
 
 Have you nothing to warm 
 
 A traveler out on this night, 
 
 On this storm, with this fiend. 
 
 His spirits to cheer, 
 
 45 
 
From the wail of these wild 
 Winds that I hear? 
 
 Norma. 
 Nothing, sir, but the tea. 
 That's been steeped with the heat. 
 I wouldst give it before, 
 I'll get it again for thee, 
 Just the same. Peace to thee 
 The while. [Goes for the tea.] 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Thou art sweet. 
 Thou art kind. 
 There's a heart there 
 That's fine though it's 
 Warped to the dark. 
 
 Norma. 
 [With the tea. He drinks the tea.] 
 There's improvement 
 In thee, sir. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 What sayest thou? 
 
 Norma. 
 In better, happier times 
 To thee, stranger, sir. [She drinks of tea.] 
 
 46 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 Thou art bred in high spirit. 
 Who's out of place here, 
 Is it you or is it me? 
 
 Norma. 
 Both, sir, should I say. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Nay, the trouble's with me. 
 
 Norma. 
 Thinketh thou so, good sir? 
 Thou knowest best. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 That I do. 
 
 Of what age art thou? 
 
 Thou art, yet thou art not, a child. 
 
 Norma. 
 Strange is thy question 
 And of age, sir, to me. 
 Still in maidenhood's morning, 
 That looks forward to 
 Motherhood's brightest noonday. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Thou art as sweet in reply 
 
 47 
 
As the wild thrush in his morning 
 Song. 
 
 Norma. 
 Osir! 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 'Tis true. Wilt thou 
 Sit on my knee? 
 Nay, do not fear me. 
 Though I be cast in the 
 Folly of life, 
 
 Still to good breeding I keep. 
 So fear nothing from me, 
 Little light. 
 
 Norma. 
 I do not fear thee the long since. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Then sit here by me, 
 Thine face is as fair 
 As the flowers of the spring. 
 Come, tell me what art thou. 
 I canst not be wild, 
 Nor filled with a fire. 
 When thou art anear. 
 What is it that calmeth 
 Mine spirit, mine breast? 
 
 48 
 
Norma. 
 Sir, I know not what 
 That canst be. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Yet 'tis thee. 
 
 Norma. 
 I know not what it be, 
 Unless 'tis mine own 
 Natural self. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Now hast thou said it all. 
 Hast thou a love? 
 
 Norma. 
 Why doth thou ask 
 That and of me? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 I did but ask it of thee. 
 
 Norma. 
 I think thou hast had 
 Many a love. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Aye, many a love 
 That was false unto me. 
 
 Norma. 
 And thou wert so true 
 
 49 
 
To them all, 
 
 what sorrow hast thou ! 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 1 was false unto all the same, 
 For they were to me. 
 
 Norma. 
 O how couldst that be! 
 
 what a sad plight for thee! 
 And still thou lovest again, 
 The bright lady so fair, 
 With the love in her face, 
 And the beautiful hair, 
 
 And whose voice was the song 
 Of the morning. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Whom meanest thou? 
 
 Norma. 
 Why, the lady that's left 
 Thee alone and is gone. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Gone, say est thou, then 
 
 1 must follow on. 
 
 50 
 
Norma. 
 What, wouldst thou, too, 
 To the storm? [The wind is wild.] 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 No, let her begone, 
 
 I'll stay, I'll visit with thee. 
 
 Norma. 
 With me, sir? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Aye! Hast thou any 
 Love, little one? 
 
 Norma. 
 None, as I've told, but a 
 Brother to me. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Come, thou must have had 
 
 One on some other day. 
 
 To that thou canst not 
 
 Say to me, nay, this bleak night. 
 
 Wilt thou tell it to me? 
 
 Norma. 
 But he's gone far, far away. 
 
 51 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 Then some one hath 
 Loved thee of old? 
 
 Norma. 
 A false love like to thine. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Tell it to me. 
 
 Thou canst trust me, I'm sure. 
 
 Norma. 
 Thou ne'er wilt tell, 
 Though thou art mastered 
 By wine, though ruled by the fiend, 
 Though boastful with 
 Passion's fierce fire? 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Thine secret I'll ne'er betray. [The wind again.] 
 
 Norma. 
 I believe and I'll tell 
 It to thee. Hush thou ! 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 There's no one anear, 
 
 52 
 
Norma. 
 I've held it so long to my 
 Heart, it's a weight and a burden 
 Unto my breast, and a fear that 
 Never stays down. 
 
 L0VEL0.ST. 
 'Twill make thine weight light. 
 To tell thine sad plight, 
 And open thine heart unto me. 
 
 [A song far away.] 
 
 Norma. 
 'Twas in spring. Hush thou ! 
 I looked for the flowers 
 On the hills in the sun. 
 As I knew that mine own love 
 To me he must come and 
 Carry me way with his song. 
 I gathered mine hands filled 
 With flowers of all hue, sweet 
 And beauteous with sunshine and dew. 
 O what a fair morning for flowers! 
 Their faces my memory still holds. 
 And I saw in the face of each flower 
 Mine own love, and each flower it 
 Answered to me he would come. 
 
 53 
 
I went to the hills each bright morn, 
 
 As the sweet birds they told 
 
 Their love songs. And with their songs 
 
 And the promise of flowers came my love, 
 
 For, as I gathered the blossoms away, 
 
 I looked up and beheld his fair face. 
 
 He handed his flowers unto me. 
 
 My hopes and the tales that the flowers 
 
 Had told me, had come to my life 
 
 And before my full sight. 
 
 A youth in his beauty was he. 
 
 He pressed me 'mid flowers to his heart. 
 
 His fervor he breathed from his 
 
 Buoyant young breast, and his loved soul 
 
 It answered to mine. O thou, my love! 
 
 He swore he'd be true as all 
 
 The stars are, and together we gathered 
 
 Fresh flowers. 
 
 I kept of his image in my heart. 
 
 His vision I held to the sky. 
 
 He loved me for love. 
 
 That no one canst see. 
 
 He loved me for love. 
 
 That no one canst tell. 
 
 But it all like the spring went away. 
 
 O winter's sad heart. 
 
 54 
 
Why this to me! 
 
 A mother's proud scorn it soon 
 
 Fell upon mine imperfect and 
 
 Weeping frail form. 
 
 He never couldst see me the more. 
 
 They had stolen mine loved one away. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Whence away, little one? 
 
 Norma. 
 Unto lands far away, 
 And to loves that were gay. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Speak thou, tell me the more. 
 
 Norma. 
 And the prodigal son 
 Became he. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 Art thou sure? 
 
 Norma. 
 So sure. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 And doth thou love 
 Thy prodigal still? 
 
 55 
 
Norma. 
 I loveth mine love, 
 I will always love of my love, 
 Wherever, whatever he be. 
 Here, come thou with me. 
 See, still I gather 
 The spring flowers fair. 
 I press them as he used 
 To me to his breast. 
 Here is one, smell of its 
 Sweet perfume. 
 'Tis not all dead, nay by far, 
 And its beauty hath not all 
 Passed away. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Hush ! Hold thou my soul no more. 
 
 Keep thee whole, my breaking heart. 
 
 Come, my own love, to my breast. 
 
 Who couldst deny thee the more ? 
 
 I was the prodigal youth of the spring, 
 
 I was thine own love true 
 
 That the flowers didst bring. 
 
 Thou of lost days, mine real world 
 
 To me, from one that's grown burdened 
 
 And false. 
 
 O weighty the follies of others 
 
 56 
 
That knew not my heart, 
 
 In their blindness what seed 
 
 Didst they sow. 
 
 Again thou hast saved me 
 
 The night and the dark, 
 
 Thou hast found me to keep me at last. 
 
 The false glitter of life it doth pass. 
 
 The glory of life thou comest again. 
 
 I've found mine lost soul. 
 
 My lost life of lost years, 
 
 Though melting mine poor heart it weeps. 
 
 Thou shalt dwell on the future with me. 
 
 Thou shalt gaze on a fairer sun. 
 
 'Tis love's virtues alone that 
 
 Can break a stout heart. 
 
 That's been torn by the thorns 
 
 We pass through. 
 
 Norma. 
 Thou mine lost flowers 
 Of the spring. 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 Thou the flowers of a summer say 
 Come. The gleam of a fairer sky. 
 Thou mine silent cries for 
 The bright sunshine. 
 
 57 
 
Come, why do we tarry, O love, 
 
 Why do we stay? Let us be gone. 
 
 My lone home with its firesides decay. • 
 
 With its absence of flowers, 
 
 With a heart out of tune, 
 
 And a hair that too early turns gray. 
 
 O thou lost spirit of love, 
 
 Do I find thee! 
 
 Keep thee thus close to my breast. 
 
 I'll nourish thine soul holding form. 
 
 Thou shalt mine lost hearthstone 
 
 Keep warm and for all. 
 
 [He wraps her in his great coat.] 
 
 Norma. 
 Whither so soon away? 
 
 LOVELOST. 
 
 To mine home, to mine heart. 
 
 Norma. 
 
 brother of mine, 
 
 1 canst not forget, 
 I love him so. 
 He's so good to me. 
 
 58 
 
LOVELOST. 
 
 I forge tteth not him, 
 In mine joy. 
 He'll work only his 
 Pen on the night. 
 
 Norma. 
 
 mine own love, 
 
 1 am of thee, 
 
 I knew thou wouldst 
 Come again to me. 
 
 LoVELOST. 
 
 O my fair new day, 
 
 Thou hast all of mine heart. 
 
 [He carries her away in Ms arms; 
 it grows gradually dark Jor the light 
 burns out slowly and she sings.] 
 Guide by the hand, thou 
 Light, that so surely 
 Carries us past 
 The shadows of harm. 
 Keep him and hold him 
 In thine love forever, 
 Wrapped in thine garments 
 Of heart love so warm. 
 [Exit of LovELOST and Norma. Door C] 
 59 
 
[Darkness. The scene is unchanged. The door 
 has been left open, the light and the fire go out 
 and then there is a faint light. Immopen staiids 
 in the place left vacant by the poet, and with 
 him are his twelve daughters. He holds a 
 flower in his hand for a pen with which the 
 writes.] 
 
 Immopen. 
 
 Speak thou, mine creations of love, 
 
 Sing thou, mine bright thoughts of light. 
 
 Give thou thine pure gifts of song, 
 
 Cover here mine increasing glories 
 
 With thine spirit. 
 
 To the youth, to his hopes, to his wish. 
 
 Reward, and faileth not thine perfect 
 
 Harmony. 
 
 And look thou to love. 
 
 The Chorus. 
 
 True love is not lost, 
 True love liveth ever. 
 The tide and the wave 
 They return to the shore. 
 They that do scatter 
 
 60 
 
Those bright thoughts 
 Before them, shall 
 Reap of them flowers, 
 We give ever more. 
 
 [They scatter flowers and sweet per- 
 fume.] 
 
 Immopen. 
 
 [Writing the song in the air with the 
 flower he holds in his hand.] 
 Give back to the youth, 
 His lost song. 
 Sing it o'er whilst I 
 Write it in flowers. 
 Nothing that's love is 
 Here lost to mankind, 
 And his reward shall 
 Be treasured hours. 
 For as virtue he keeps 
 For each thought give a flower, 
 For as beauty he loves. 
 Let him sing. 
 As 'tis thine joy to give. 
 So only this way I live, 
 I'm sustained when I give 
 Unto those who seek me. 
 
 61 
 
The First. 
 
 It is me that I give of love peerless and pure, 
 All the thoughts that in me are stainless and 
 sure. 
 
 The Second. 
 
 It is me that I mold them so faultless of form, 
 I give forth from mine heart that's but waiting 
 to warm. 
 
 The Third. 
 
 It is me that I guideth as with heavenly hand. 
 As he tells of the blessings of the flowers' lovely 
 land. 
 
 The Fourth. 
 
 It is me that weaves garlands of purest perfume. 
 That lifteth his thoughts and from ransom 
 resume. 
 
 The Fifth. 
 
 The softest and sweetest of snow trodden sounds, 
 I give to his words that he breaketh no bounds. 
 
 The Sixth. 
 
 I guide him past places where sin sinks in shame, 
 And holdeth before him true love's fanning 
 flame. 
 
 62 
 
The Seventh. 
 I take him to scenes where love holdeth sweet 
 
 sway, 
 And whisper that he mayest carry them always 
 away. 
 
 The Eighth. 
 I walk him 'mid vales where greenest grasses 
 
 they grow. 
 And the fairest of flowers their blossoms they 
 blow. 
 
 The Ninth. 
 I tell him of worlds past sweet silent star, 
 And lift him aloft as they answer afar. 
 
 The Tenth. 
 I picture all his dawns of a heavenly hue, 
 That are blended by love thoughts into brightest 
 of blue. 
 
 The Eleventh. 
 I shade infinite these with a bright lasting light, 
 As he approacheth and climbeth the supernal 
 sight. 
 
 The Twelfth. 
 I findeth for him a loved spirit so rare. 
 That the higher and brighter their lives' love 
 may fare. 
 
 63 
 
The Chorus. 
 We cover all with our light, 
 With our thoughts and our song, 
 We loveth the youth of the stars, 
 And his glorious promise of love, 
 
 Him we'll not fail, 
 
 Him will we keep, 
 Always and ever under our care. 
 
 Immopen. 
 
 Scatter him thine love flowers of song, 
 
 Sing on, then, thou child of light, 
 
 Wroughteth by fire. 
 
 As higher thou climbeth. 
 
 Thine mountains of love. 
 
 For nothing shall be 
 
 Unto thee here denied. 
 
 As long as thou keepeth thine 
 
 Pure heart. 
 
 Here cometh the youth, 
 
 Fade by the light, 
 
 Yet leave him thine spirit's perfume. 
 
 That he may writeth again of his song. 
 
 [They are faded away. The light is 
 again dim, the fire burns low, and 
 Dreamjoy is standing in the open 
 doorway.] 
 64 
 
Dreamjoy. [Entering from without, door C] 
 How wild is the storm, 
 How whitened the streets! 
 The door it was opened, 
 How cold is the room. 
 In hath drifted the snow. 
 How silent, how still, 
 Is all here within. 
 Norma sound sleepeth away to 
 Her bed with tired waiting. 
 How cold and how drear, 
 The fire burneth away and 
 The light slinketh so dim. 
 A strange spirit it moves me within, 
 And chilleth mine limbs. 
 'Tis the same 'bout the room, 
 'Tis the feeling of change, 
 'Tis the touch of some wrong, 
 'Tis the same that I felt 
 As I came through the storm, 
 From mine work thus early away. 
 I'll brighten the room 
 With a lasting good cheer. 
 
 And give to the dimness a light. [Goes to grate.] 
 Illusion again! [A light flashes .] 
 
 Nay keep that away. 
 
 65 
 
'Tis ashes! Mine lines art 
 Heaped on the fire! Away! 
 No, that cannot be, let me see! 
 
 [The light flashes again.] 
 Yes, alas it is true! 
 Mine purest of lines have been 
 Heaped on the fire away. 
 I'd felt it, I'd known it 
 This long hour past. 
 O Norma, where wert thou? 
 Couldst thou not understand? 
 They have stolen mine grand words away. 
 O immortal song! 
 
 Who was to me so unjust, so unkind, 
 Why do me this wrong? 
 O Immopen, where wert thou then? 
 Why wert thou not here to save and defend? 
 
 the world for a friend. 
 
 1 can never think them over again, 
 Not just the same. 
 
 They were the highest of my heart, 
 And my mind, and now they art lost, 
 To all life to all time. 
 Norma, where's Norma? 
 What hast thou done! 
 She, too, is gone! 
 
 66 
 
[Looks into room R., holding some 
 of the burned leaves of the manu- 
 script in his hand.] 
 Save me all of mine loves 
 At the once have been taken away. 
 
 [There is a knock at the door C] 
 Hush, what was that! [Another knock.] 
 
 Whoever thou art thou mayest 
 Come in, e'en though thou be'st 
 The worst of the fiends. 
 
 [DiviNA enters and standshef ore him.] 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Knowest thou me, 
 Mine sweet friend? 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Thee! 
 
 D I VINA. 
 
 Aye, thou doth know me. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 I know thee but of a dream. 
 But by none other name. 
 O doubleth the shock 
 Of mine heart. 
 Why art thou here? 
 Whence comest thou? 
 
 67 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 I holdeth good tidings for thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Speak thou in haste, I'm 
 In sorrow so deep that 
 It giveth me pain. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 What is thine loss, 
 Mine fair boy? 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 My sister I cannot here find. 
 She is lost, she is gone! 
 You'll pardon, I must haste 
 Me away. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Do not haste, v/ait on me, 
 And brusheth thine tears away. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Anon, I'm in trouble. 
 And hence must be gone. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 I know and can tell thee all. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Canst thou tell me 
 Of Norma, my friend? 
 
 68 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 Aye, and thine other 
 Loss, too, here as well. 
 
 Dream JOY. 
 O tell me it was not thee 
 In love that destroyed 
 Mine immortal lines that 
 Were built mid the skies. 
 
 speak thou! 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 What if it were me? 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 That couldst not be, 
 They were written alas, 
 They were written to thee. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 How sure art thou 
 Of all thine ground ? 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 
 1 know by thine face so fair. 
 From thine eyes, from thine look, 
 From thine beauty so rare, 
 
 It was not and couldst not 
 Be thee. 
 
 69 
 
DiVINA. 
 List and I'll tell the 
 Tale of thine loss, 
 About thee, about me, 
 And at last about she 
 That is gone. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 I'll await while mine heart 
 Beateth high for to hear. 
 
 time, that's so strange unto me! 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Come, sitteth thou here while 
 
 1 tell. For 'tis all of thine 
 Fair dream of love. 
 
 'Tis all of to-day. 
 
 A youth that loves virtue, 
 
 And lives purity's way, 
 
 A sister that's sweet as the 
 
 Flowers that she loves. 
 
 And both are the reward of 
 
 Pure deeds that speak fair. 
 
 A heritage waits upon thee 
 
 But for these. 
 
 A lover's warm heart burns for thee. 
 
 'Tis chaste like the crystal like snow. 
 
 70 
 
She' hath kept of her love, 
 
 For a vsoul that Is true, 
 
 And did spiirneth all false 
 
 Suitors away. Forever away ! 
 
 No adventurous spirit claimeth 
 
 Her mind, but she answereth 
 
 Her inward soul. 
 
 This night was she followed 
 
 On the wind and the storm, 
 
 But her sex it will suffer 
 
 And give for all time, 
 
 That her love may a happiness find. 
 
 A pursuer didst find her in thine 
 
 Own abode, as she dreamed in thine 
 
 Absence of thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 And all this for me, 
 Do I dream, do I sleep? 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 But the pursuer found 
 That his love, too, was here. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 What sayest thou? 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 He didst find her. 
 
 71 
 
Dreamjoy. 
 Norma, thine own love true. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 He hath carried her off 
 
 In his arms to his home, 
 
 Wrapped in his garments so heavy 
 
 And warm, that the snow angel 
 
 Seeing, touched them and lulled 
 
 Of the storm. 
 
 She his first love, his lost love 
 
 Of the days that are gone, 
 
 Alas, those that ne'er come again. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Lovelost, the rake. 
 The prodigal son. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 He'll rake then no more 
 Of that fire that is dead. 
 For she's burned it away on her heart. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Speak thou on! 
 O night that's so full, 
 Both of joy and of tears. 
 
 72 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 In his drunken delusion, 
 
 For the thing he wouldst have, 
 
 He destroyed thine immortal lines. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 O why didst I not stay. 
 Away from the storm ! 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 'Tis as well, 
 
 Thou hast others to bless. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Let me but speak. 
 Yet how am I to tell, 
 My full mind, my full heart, 
 How shall I speak of mine love, 
 To mine love, from out of this breast. 
 Thine spirit it wraps me 
 With a garment divine. 
 Thy presence is joy, 
 It is my life's lost wine. 
 O the waiting, the hoping, 
 Hath double the bliss. 
 As I'd enfold, as I'd live. 
 As I'd dwell in thine kiss. 
 
 73 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 \In his arms.] 
 Mine real thoughts, 
 
 [A faint song far away.] 
 Mme real dreams of thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Thine sweet lips are to me, 
 Like the bliss of a song 
 Borne on the morning's wing, 
 From out of a sleeping 
 Summer's sun. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Mine thou art to be, 
 
 Body, soul, aye, the all of thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 How long mine quest, 
 O how high have I builded for thee. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 What sorrows, yet what 
 Dreams for thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 O thou perfect song of life. 
 For Nature hath made of thee 
 Her song. 
 
 74 
 
DiVINA. 
 
 And thou the perfect instrument 
 O'er which the song is played. 
 That wakes it to its harmony, 
 And makes its beauty live. 
 
 Dream JOY. 
 Under suns, under silent stars 
 With thee. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Aye! All shall be for thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Hush, be thou still and list. 
 
 [Faint music without.] 
 The beautiful lines again fall, 
 On my memory like flowers 
 From some fair maiden's hands. 
 'Tis the description of woman 
 Divine. Pure love and pure form, 
 And pure spirit combined, 
 The goddess of all of her kind. 
 I'll write them again ere they 
 Be lost and erased, from off of 
 The world's wasting shore. 
 List by the windowpane. 
 As they repeat. 
 
 75 
 
And I write them again. 
 
 [He writes them. Then reads them.] 
 
 The Lines. 
 O hair that is gold, 
 O brow of the sun, 
 
 eyes of eternal blue, 
 All the classics of time 
 
 1 read in thy face. 
 
 O breast of immortal song, 
 O voice of awakened day, 
 O tear-hidden glance. 
 All of thine kind pause 
 At thy musical sound. 
 
 O hand of pure song, 
 O fingers of art, 
 O goddess of touch, 
 All spirits of song hath 
 Breathed in thy cast of light. 
 
 O step of blown leaf, 
 
 O thought's hidden wing, 
 
 O symbol of love. 
 
 All thine joys wouldst I know. 
 
 Mine spirit thou lifteth to thee. 
 
 [He gives her the lines.] 
 
 76 
 
There they art to be thine, 
 
 As I've read them, 
 
 So keep them with thee. 
 
 O how the night it hath 
 
 Worn itself 'way, 
 
 The wind it hath ceased, 
 
 The storm it hath passed. 
 
 And the dawn it comes on, 
 
 Faint and cold o'er the 
 
 Storm shrouded hills. 
 
 I'll heap up the fire, 
 
 For the time 'twixt the dawn 
 
 And the sun is so drear. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 O answered promise, 
 Thou wind, thou art stilled. 
 Thou storm, thou art passed, 
 Thou hast faded, art silenced away, 
 E'en as the rake and his little love 
 Beginneth their day. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 And our day. 
 How shall we then begin? 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 As thou shalt speak. 
 
 77 
 
Dreamjoy. 
 Thou shalt lead me. 
 
 Nay thou must, 
 Thou shalt lead. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 
 Then thou must, 
 Thou shalt guide. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 As thou leadeth I'll be 
 
 Guide unto thee. 
 
 Where thou wouldst 
 
 Stumble and fall, 
 
 Together we'll try and o'er 
 
 Steeps where the voices of angels 
 
 Shall speak. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 And when at last the winter's 
 Snow shall fall upon our heads, 
 What then, O thou who promiseth 
 So fair to bide thus with me here? 
 
 a 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Then as now I am of thee, 
 
 And beyond this, aye the beyond, 
 
 I shall be the same with thee. 
 
 78 
 
Dreamjoy. 
 Beyond another, and another, 
 And the still brighter morning. 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 Ever and all with thee. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Behold the day! 
 Thou art for me! 
 Hold to mine hand, 
 Press to mine heart. 
 Keep to mine breast, 
 Mine spirit moves on! 
 
 DiVINA. 
 
 As thou pointeth the way, 
 rU guide and keep where 
 Thou wouldst stumble and fall. 
 
 Dreamjoy. 
 Then we are ready. 
 The light it calls, 
 As they lead us over, 
 As they lead us on, 
 See, behold them there, 
 They, too, art passing along. 
 
 79 
 
 [A faint song.] 
 
[There is a song in the Epilogue by 
 the snow angel.] 
 
 The Song. 
 
 I am the perfect song 
 
 Of the snow, 
 
 So pure and so white, 
 
 So fair and so rare, 
 
 From out of the crystal air. 
 
 I was born on 
 
 The wind from out of my 
 
 Mother's breast, 
 
 Folded mid her golden hair. 
 
 Mine crystals are the 
 
 Crystals of love. 
 
 They fall like the thoughts 
 
 Of peace, and melt away 
 
 The heart of the world. 
 
 I am the beauteous she 
 
 Snowbird's song. 
 
 The thoughts of the morning, 
 
 That wake truth to the day, 
 
 When the night, 
 
 Has been weary and long. 
 
 [The Scene is closed.] 
 
 80 
 
AUG 21 1913 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 017 400 960 4