How joy was found a fantasy

I put her off. Trying to deny My God, I told a fearful lie. MARKSMAN [_Tranquilly._] She never believed it, and she marked it die Dwindling slowly away As the light grew stronger and the grey Faded for ever from the windows. [_He points to the faint line of green, which is now showing on the horizon._] In the cottages they will soon be putting out all the lamps And going about their work in unreflected light. FINN [_Springing up with a cry of joy._] What! Is it really all right? MARKSMAN [_Quietly._] Yes, quite; You’ve told me all that I require To set you free. FINN [_Now a different man._] If God be true no man can be a liar. Come, follow me. LISTENER Where are you going? FINN [_Eagerly and joyously._] I’m going after the Climber, Her point of view’s sublimer. I’m going to throw away my bow. [_He casts the box from him._] MARKSMAN [_Picking up the box._] Take care, you’ve not much yet on which to go! FINN [_Radiantly._] I cannot fall, The way she chose is practical! LISTENER Since you have let her in for this, no doubt You’re bound to find a way to get her out. MARKSMAN [_Turning on a little electric torch to light Finn._] It’s still a little dark to-night. I’ve put things in the proper light For you, but it strikes me I’ll have to clear up more before you’ll see Her way out of the difficulty. [_Finn reaches the roof in safety, and calls down anxiously._] FINN Are you there? Are you there? CLIMBER [_Calling faintly from within._] Oh! Have you come? I knew you’d not be long, I’d noticed you were getting very strong. He’s tied me hand and foot. I cannot move, I’ve found the Thief and he are hand in glove! FINN No matter! I’m entirely of your mind. I’ll find My way inside and get you out just now. CLIMBER [_Anxiously._] The door is just behind your brow. FINN [_Hitting his forehead._] I’ve got it! [_His figure is seen against the dim twilight kneeling._] LISTENER Be quick! I hear the Giant coming up out of his sleep! [_The Hand takes in Finn._] CLIMBER’S VOICE [_With a muffled cry of despair._] Too late! Too late! My God, what shall I do? MARKSMAN [_Hurriedly, calling from below._] Put your finger under your wisdom tooth and tell me what it replies. CLIMBER’S VOICE It says that I must tell the truth! MARKSMAN [_Very sternly._] What! You as well! Confess your previous lies! CLIMBER’S VOICE It is so dark I cannot see your face, I feel that I’m in very deep disgrace. Alas! I told him that I was asleep! MARKSMAN Your error there was truly very deep. CLIMBER I thought that I was strong enough To return alone. MARKSMAN What utter stuff! CLIMBER [_Desperately._] I said I thought he was in pain; The pain was mine, for in my brain I felt a tugging and a stress I could not understand, unless One in the likeness of a man Had summoned me to Heaven. I ran, I climbed, I reached the topmost stair, And found that I was not all there, For if I’d left the earth behind I should have gone out of my mind, Since God requires a soul and body too To make the substance of His dream come true. I understood God did devise To make this earth His Paradise; I saw our second birth was got Just out of earth by happy thought, But fearful that a Truth so glad Would seem an impudence half-mad, I made him think that God’s design Was just a silly dream of mine. MARKSMAN [_Quietly._] He always believed your dream; He marked it grow Out upon his sleep with bewildered joy, Until at last, just like a little boy, He put his hand up in the dark to feel Her face, and found he had touched something real. [_He opens the box and takes the rainbow from it._] In the cottages they have put out all the lamps, And go about their work in unreflected light. LISTENER [_Excitedly._] The Giant is coming up out of his sleep for the last time, and he is bringing the dog with him! MARKSMAN [_Quietly._] I am not afraid of myself, you need not shout, For I am strong enough to bear them out. [_At this moment the Hand rises again from the chimney. The Marksman is seen stringing the rainbow and letting fly an arrow, which transfixes the Hand. There is terrible darkness for a moment, the stars fall from the sky and the moon turns crimson, leaving pitchy night. With a loud crash the walls of the castle fall away, and in a serene silent splendour of purple and crimson the dawn rises over the sea, revealing the Big Young Hero standing upon the rock with the child in his arms. The Climber and Finn are in each other’s arms, the Thief is holding the puppy._] MARKSMAN They have all come up out of their sleep for ever! LISTENER [_With a great cry of joy._] I always knew this would happen! She’s got the puppy too! ACT V THE GREEN ISLE REALIZED ON EARTH. DAWN _The same as Act I, but this time there is no rainbow haze between, only a great rainbow stretching in the sky across the Hebrides seen in the distance. On a table under the trees the girl has spread all sorts of delightful fruits and cakes. She is now decorating it with flowers, and singing as she works._ SONG I love all lovely things— The dragon-fly’s wings, The rainbow and the rain, The light that comes again Joyously like a smile, When for a little while God disposes the night elsewhere. His sun is very fair, I can catch it in my hair. Look! It’s there! And there! And there! Oh! the earth’s a lovely thing, The mind of a Mighty King, I cannot help but sing. I cannot end my song, God’s thought is very long. Many years He took to make The bracken in the brake; He was a long time building The fragrant yellow gilding On the early poplar tree When no eye was there to see. The clouds, the atmosphere, My breath, the water clear, How fair and sweet they are! Oh! hate was very far From God’s divine intention When these things He did mention; When He canopied the earth With cloud, and fire, and mirth; When He set the privy shade For the pheasant in the glade; When He built the mossy nest For the wren, His little guest; When He taught the mind of man By its love to find His plan. For no one shall discover His science, save the lover. Oh! Life’s a lovely thing, The mind of a Mighty King! Emotion, will, desire, Earth, water, air, and fire, The elements intertwined, With these He built the mind; The love of green things growing, The shadows they keep throwing Across man’s fiery thought Till they’re fused and merged and wrought Into the liquid union Of one divine communion With God, Who made his college An earthly place of knowledge. I cannot help but sing, Life’s such a lovely thing! The catkin and the willow God’s chosen for His pillow. I wonder why He fashioned A Beauty so impassioned; I wonder why it matters Which way the raindrop patters, Or why a God should care To give His creatures share Of this delightful song. His love must be very strong. I cannot end my singing, For still the starling’s winging With a straw held in her beak To build in the old tree-peak; And still across the sky The compacted clouds go by; And when God thinks upon it The lily’s yellow bonnet Nid-nods delightfully Beneath the walnut tree. And clear, and still more clear, In God’s mind I read and hear That only Love shall learn The wherefore of flower and fern, That only Love alone Shall live to be full-grown, That merely Love and Wonder Shall bring all Heaven hereunder. [_Towards the end of the song the brown-sailed fishing-boat is seen approaching gradually under the rainbow. As it draws near, Finn and the Big Young Hero are seen in it with the puppy. It touches the shore, at first unperceived of the girl. The Big Young Hero leaps lightly from it, and helps Finn out._] FINN [_Looking round bewildered._] I recognize this place. HERO You have been here before. FINN Isn’t that the Bidean’s face? [_Pointing to the distant hills._] Please tell me, for I can’t stand any more. [_He staggers, but the Hero puts an arm round him._] There must be some mistake, I seem To be asleep and yet I am awake. Is this a dream? HERO No, it is real. Put up your hand and feel Her face. CLIMBER [_Perceiving him, calls._] The breakfast’s ready, I have set your place. [_Catching sight of Finn she puts her hand to her face with a cry of amazed delight._] It is the man I dreamed about last night! I didn’t know! I’m looking such a sight! I didn’t know that you would bring a guest. [_She puts her hand up to her head as if she were going to fall, and the Hero puts his other arm round her._] I’ll be all right after a little rest. What a beautiful rainbow! [_Pointing._] I always knew the morning would be fine. FINN [_Putting his hand up in amazement to find the box is gone._] It’s mine! How did it get up there? HERO You hoisted it on a prayer; The Marksman’s left it in the sky to show The right direction to the folk below. The others are not very far behind; Presently they will all be of your mind. [_He points to where, far off under the bow, the sails of Conan’s boat are dimly visible on the horizon._] FINN [_Wild with delight._]