Augusta Stevenson

“ The swans will kill me if I dare to approach them.
[A noise is heard in the distance.]
MOLE. They are coming! Go, while there is yet time.
DUCKLING. There is no place to go to. All winter long I was driven from moor to moor. I could not make a friend—I no longer wish to live.
[The SWANS are seen swimming down the brook.]
MOLE. They are here! Do not go to them, I pray you!
DUCKLING (shaking head) . Farewell!
[He flies to the water and swims toward the Swans. They see him and rush to meet him with outstretched wings.]
DUCKLING. Kill me! Kill me! ”

“ Quack! Quack!
MADAM DUCK. There now—are they not charming?
GRAY GANDER (looking down row) . Why, yes, they all seem graceful enough—here—wait a moment! Does that last one there belong to you?
[All the fowls look at the last Duckling.]
MADAM DUCK. Oh yes! He is larger than the others and perhaps not so pretty, but—
TURKEY (interrupting) . Make no excuses for him, madam. We can see for ourselves what he is.
GRAY GANDER. In all my life I never saw anything so ugly!
WHITE GOOSE. He is neither duck nor goose!
PLYMOUTH ROCK HEN. Nor duck nor chick! ”

“ KAREN. Mercy, Old Soldier! I pray you break your spell!
OLD SOLDIER. You forgot to say the prayers! You thought only of your red shoes!
KAREN. I will go barefoot to church!
OLD SOLDIER. You whispered "red" to the Shoemaker!
KAREN. I will never deceive my dear Grandmother again! Have pity!
OLD SOLDIER. You shall dance in your red shoes till you are pale and cold! By night and by day you shall dance; in sunshine and in rain; in snow and in sleet. Over highways and byways shall you dance; in dark swamps and on mountain tops. You shall go on dancing, dancing, dancing, forever and ever! ”

“ DUCKLING. Yes, but I am. Only, I am uglier than any duck in the world.
MOLE. You have not the voice of a duck. You do not speak with the quack of which they are so proud. And then, if you are truly a duck, why are you not with your family?
DUCKLING. They drove me out last summer because I was ugly and could not quack.
MOLE. Then why have you come back?
DUCKLING. To let the swans kill me.
MOLE. What! To let them kill you?
DUCKLING. I would rather be killed by those beautiful birds than pecked by the hens, beaten by the geese, or starved with hunger in the winter. ”

“ OLD SPARROW. The stranger is a sparrow, but still not a sparrow.
VERY OLD SPARROW. And yet she is only different by a tuft of white feathers.
YOUNG SPARROW. And such a tuft! For all the world like a loaf of bread!
VERY YOUNG SPARROW. I'd think it shame to carry such on my head!
OLD SPARROW. I fear 't will shame us all to have this stranger about.
VERY OLD SPARROW. And yet we are not ashamed to eat the crumbs this stranger brings.
OLD SPARROW. Well, 't is true she has been most kind.
VERY OLD SPARROW. 'T is a hard winter! Shall we drive away the one who finds food where we find none? ”

“ Take him to the mountains where the stinging nettles grow.
WICKED UNCLE. Mercy! Mercy!
KING. You had no mercy on brave little Eliza! Now you shall gather nettles for the rest of your life. Away with him, Guardsmen!
(The Guards take the Wicked Uncle away. The King turns to his servants.)
Let the music sound! Bring forth the queen's golden crown!
(To Eliza.)
My whole kingdom shall do you honor! This land has never seen a more beautiful thing than your love for your brothers. ”

“ WICKED UNCLE. In a cave? Alone?
KING (nodding) . Alone; spinning coats out of flax.
WICKED UNCLE. This is very strange.
(To Eliza.)
Why were you all alone in a cave, and why were you spinning coats?
(Eliza shakes her head.)
KING. She is dumb, Uncle. Not a word has she uttered since we found her.
WICKED UNCLE. Why did you bring her with you?
KING. I will make her my queen.
WICKED UNCLE (angrily) . Your queen?
KING. See how beautiful she is.
WICKED UNCLE (whispering to King) . She is a witch!
KING. Nonsense! She is as good as she is beautiful. ”

“ GRANDMOTHER. Red shoes?
KAREN (nodding) . Of beautiful red morocco. The queen let the princess stand at a window so every one could see her new shoes.
SHOEMAKER. It is all true, madam.
GRANDMOTHER. No matter; Karen is to have black shoes.
(Taking up a pair of shoes.)
Here, this pair suits me exactly.
SHOEMAKER (surprised) . But, madam, those shoes are—
KAREN (interrupting; whispering) . Hush, Shoemaker! Do not tell her. She can't see very well.
GRANDMOTHER (giving shoes to Karen) . Are they of polished leather? They shine as if they were.
KAREN. Yes; they do shine. ”

“ ALL SAILORS. What shall we do? What shall we do?
[As their anger turns to despair, Columbus is touched.]
COLUMBUS. Listen, men,—I make you this promise: if we do not see land within three days, we will return to Spain.
CAPTAIN. There, now,—that's a fair promise! Go now to your duties!
COLUMBUS. And let every man watch for land as he has never watched before!
SAILORS (pleased) . Aye, aye, sir!
[Sailors cross to a distant part of deck.]
COLUMBUS (sadly) . Alas for my plans and my hopes, if these three days bring not land! ”

“ MERCHANT. What is this? Gold pieces! As I live! Gold! gold!
[He shakes the jar again; a shower of gold pieces fall.]
MERCHANT (dropping the jar in astonishment) . A thousand pieces at least! The top of the jar only was laid with olives!
(He puts the gold into his pockets.)
To-night, when my wife is asleep, I will fill the jar entirely with fresh olives, for these show they have been disturbed. And I will make up the jar so that no one, except Ali Cogia himself, will know they have been touched. ”

“ Admit this Christopher Columbus.
(Courtier admits COLUMBUS. He kneels before the King.)
Rise, Columbus, and tell us what you seek.
COLUMBUS (rising) . Ships, sire, to prove the plans which I did send your Majesties; plans for sailing in the unknown seas.
QUEEN. They seemed to me most wise and sensible.
COLUMBUS (with joy) . Ah, your Majesty believes with me?
KING (hastily) . I'd have our Wise Men speak. Unfold your maps before them, sir.
[Columbus crosses to Wise Men and unfolds a map before them. They look at it, shake their heads and laugh.]
COLUMBUS (with dignity) . ”

“ GOODMAN. So you think what I did was right?
WIFE. What the Goodman does is always right.
THE CAT AND THE MOUSE
TIME: perhaps this minute.
PLACE: perhaps your own garret.
[MOTHER MOUSE and MISS MOUSE are in their spare room because Mother Mouse is getting ready for a journey. Miss Mouse helps her. The CAT is outside, peeping now and then through the window, but so slyly that the mice do not see her.]
MOTHER MOUSE (going) . Now mind you keep one eye on our grease-pot, child.
MISS MOUSE. That I will, dear mother!
MOTHER MOUSE. Let no one in,—no one! no one! ”

“ JESTER. With people a-standing on their heads—so!
[He stands on his head; all laugh.]
KING. Silence! Columbus, I've a mind to listen, and give you ships and money. Have you maps and charts to prove your plans?
COLUMBUS (taking maps from cloak) . Yes, sire.
KING. Wait, then, till I have spoken with my Courtiers.
[Columbus bows, retires, and unrolls maps. CAPTAIN RIVERRA crosses to Columbus; talks with him aside.]
KING (speaking softly to Courtiers) . You know, my Courtiers, that should there be new lands, great glory will be given the discoverer of them. ”

“ SNOWFLAKE. I draw the water and bring it from the brook.
SUGAR LOAF. I lay the table nicely.
SAUSAGE. What do I? Eh? What do I? I must stand over the fire. I must not only stir the dinner, I must flavor it with myself. For each of you there is one duty. For me there are plainly three.
STRAW. But, sister—
SAUSAGE (interrupting) . Don't "sister" me!
SNOWFLAKE. Sausage, dear, would you break up our pretty home?
SUGAR LOAF. And we all so happy here!
SAUSAGE. There must be a change! Some one else can stand over the fire—can stir the pot—can flavor the vegetables. ”

“ INGÉ They say 't is friendship makes them talk as they do.
MOTHER (indignantly) . Friendship! 'T is friendship, is it, to tell you not to fetch the wood?
INGÉ They say 't will spoil my hands.
MOTHER. Out upon them and their pretty talk! You shall go there no more. Do you hear me, Ingé?
INGÉ (pouting) . I hear.
MOTHER. Now take this loaf of bread to your sick aunt. Say to her 't is her Christmas gift.
INGÉ But, mother, I must cross the muddy road to go there.
MOTHER. Well, you are neither sugar nor salt.
INGÉ I'll spoil my shoes!
MOTHER. You think of your shoes, and your aunt lies ill? ”

“ MERCHANT. Now you speak of olives, you put me in mind of the jar which Ali Cogia left with me.
WIFE (pointing to a jar in another part of the room) . There is the very jar waiting for him against his return.
MERCHANT. Certainly he must be dead, since he has not returned in all this time. Give me a plate; I will open the jar, and if the olives be good, we will eat them.
WIFE. Pray, husband, do not commit so base an action. You know nothing is more sacred than what is left to one's care and trust. ”

“ ELIZA. I noticed many of the same sort growing near this cave.
FAIRY (shaking head) . You must gather only those that grow in graveyards.
ELIZA. It shall be exactly as you say, dear Fairy.
FAIRY. The nettles will make blisters on your hands.
ELIZA. I will not think of myself; I will think only of my brothers.
FAIRY. Break the nettles into pieces with your hands and feet, and they will become flax. From this flax you must spin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves. If these eleven coats can be thrown over the eleven swans, the spell will be broken. ”

“ FOURTH CITIZEN. What do we care for Wild Swans? Forward, Citizens!
FIRST CITIZEN. Back, I say! The Swans are beating us with their strong wings!
SECOND CITIZEN. Back! back, Citizens! We dare not approach the cart!
GOODY (calling to the people) . The Swans have come to save the queen! 'T is a sign from heaven that she is innocent!
WICKED UNCLE (angrily) . Be silent, old woman!
(He turns to the Executioner.)
Executioner, do your duty!
EXECUTIONER. Out of the cart, witch!
(Eliza shakes her head; takes up coats from floor of cart. The Executioner turns to the Wicked Uncle.) ”

“ CITIZENS. Hear the church bells! They ring of themselves!
KING. They ring for this sweet queen whose heart is as good as her face is beautiful. Come, Citizens! Away now to the castle! Away to the banquet-hall!
THE TWO COUNTRYMEN SCENE I
TIME: evening.
PLACE: a large city; a quiet corner with a high wall back.
[Great crowds of people are seen in the streets. The TWO COUNTRYMEN have just arrived. They find a quiet corner where they place their blankets and baskets of gourds which they carry.] ”

“ CAUZEE. If it be so, look into that jar and tell me how long it is since those olives were put into it.
[Both Merchants pretend to examine and taste the olives.]
FIRST OLIVE MERCHANT. These olives are new and good.
CAUZEE. You are mistaken. Ali Cogia says he put them into the jar seven years ago.
SECOND OLIVE MERCHANT. Sir, they are of this year's growth. There is not a merchant in Bagdad that will not say the same.
CAUZEE. Merchant, you stand accused. You must return the thousand pieces of gold to Ali Cogia.
MERCHANT. Sir, I protest—
CAUZEE (interrupting) . Be silent! You are a rogue. ”

“ INGÉ I care not for your pretty things! I go to fetch wood for my mother. I go to walk in the mud if need be. Away with you! I'll have none of you! Away, away, I say!
THE UGLY DUCKLING SCENE I
TIME: one summer morning.
PLACE: the farmyard of the Moor Farm.
[MADAM DUCK enters the farmyard with her new brood of DUCKLINGS. The other fowls approach.]
TURKEY (showing displeasure) . A new brood of ducks! Look you all—a new brood of ducks!
GRAY GANDER (also displeased) . As if there were not enough of us here already!
WHITE GOOSE (likewise displeased) . ”

“ Take him to prison, Officer.
[All the children seize the Merchant and run from the court, laughing and shouting.]
CALIPH (rising) . I know now what will be a just trial. I have learned it from the child Cauzee. Do you think I could give a better sentence?
VIZIER. I think not, if the case be as these children played it.
CALIPH. Take care to bid Ali Cogia bring his jar of olives to-morrow. And let two olive merchants attend. ”

“ MERCHANT. Surely a jar of olives is not to be guarded so carefully, year after year.
WIFE. That is Ali Cogia's affair, not ours. Besides, the olives can't be good after all this time.
MERCHANT (taking a plate) . I mean to have a taste of them, at least.
WIFE (indignantly) . You are betraying the trust your friend placed in you! I will not remain to witness it.
[She leaves the room. The Merchant crosses and takes cover from jar.]
MERCHANT (looking in jar) . My wife was right—the olives are covered with mould, but those at the bottom may still be good. ”

“ Just at midnight the queen came out. We followed her to the graveyard. "That is enough," said his Majesty, "she is a witch and must die."
[The CITIZENS rush to the gates.]
CITIZENS (calling) . See the witch!
GOODY. Is she coming?
WICKED UNCLE (looking) . Yes, she is just within the gate. She rides in an old cart drawn by an old horse—quite good enough for a witch.
[Enter the KING with servants and GUARDS. Behind them is the cart. In the cart sits ELIZA. She is spinning and weaving, never once looking up.]
GOODY. How pale she is! Bless me! She is spinning and weaving. ”

“ Silly goose!
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. I will now depart for my home. I do not desire thy company.
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. I likewise will return, and likewise I wish to journey alone.
[They take up their blankets and discover the gourds.]
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Eh?
SECOND COUNTRYMAN. Eh?
FIRST COUNTRYMAN. Let us tie them around our ankles. We may then discover whether we are ourselves.
[They tie the gourds around their ankles.]
SECOND COUNTRYMAN (joyfully) . I am myself!
FIRST COUNTRYMAN (joyfully) . And I am myself! ”

“ MAN (showing shame) . He will treat us as we have treated father!
WIFE (weeping) . 'T will serve us right!
MAN (kindly) . Father, throw that wooden dish out of the window. I am ashamed of what I have done; forgive me!
WIFE (kindly) . Father, come back to the table. I too am ashamed. Forgive me, dear father.
THE CROW AND THE FOX
TIME: yesterday noon.
PLACE: a high tree in a grove.
[MADAM CROW sits in the tree. Enter MISS CROW. She carries a large piece of cheese in her mouth.]
MADAM. O joy! O joy! Come, dear daughter, come! We'll dine as if we were queen and princess! ”

“ But the failure came because the sailors were afraid and refused to go on.
(To Columbus.)
You were thus avenged for the theft of your maps, sir.
QUEEN. Would you sail again with this man as your leader, Captain?
RIVERRA. I would, your Majesty! I believe not in the monsters and the edge.
QUEEN. Nor I! Let's provide the ships, sire.
KING. Our people would not like it—they'd grumble. And so 't would be bad for us.
[Enter MESSENGER in great haste; kneels before King and Queen.]
KING. What news do you bring? Speak!
MESSENGER. The Turks have captured the Spanish merchant ships! ”