Earth deities and other rhythmic masques / by Bliss Carman and Mary Perry King [electronic text]

THE DANCE DIURNAL.

PERSONS IN THE DANCE

• A SIBYL, who chants the Prologue.
• ... Voices off Scene.
• NIGHT.
• DAY.
• SHINE, son of Day.
• SHADOW, daughter of Night.

A small wild valley among majestic hills. Dim purple shadows break in wooded crests, Where lonely peaks support the arch of sky,— An amphitheatre canopied with stars. Above the waiting valley's lilied floor, Just clear of the invading oak and pine, The low outcropping of a granite ledge Breaks through the soil knee-high and ringed with fern, A rocky islet in the waving grass.

To this still outpost in the wilderness, Slow-moving, rapt in thought, a Sibyl comes, And halts to stand at gaze across the scene,— Veiled in the purple gray of forest boughs, A heroic figure, tall and grave, and dim Save for the glowing eyes as dark as earth, And voice reverberant as a haunted reed.

There in prophetic vision of the dusk, She who has pondered on the scroll of life, And looked upon the hour-glass of the yearsRunning away its glittering living sandsThat shall not cease while sun and stars endure, Foresees the gladdening of the dawn and chants, Accompanied by voices of the Dusk, The prologue of the Dance of Night and Day. Their chorus rises through the changing Light, And Night, in purplish blue with stars of gold, Is dimly seen to cross the glade and wait Beside the exit to the West, while Day Enters with tranquil power in gleaming gray. Night turns. They meet and dance, cross and recross, With rhythmic interchange of come and go, As vague as the procedure of a dream.

Then enters from the East in sunlit gold Immortal Shine. And Shadow from the side Of vanishing Night emerges suddenly And runs to meet him in her lilac robe. These youthful shapes of joy and tenderness, With all the ecstasy of kindling life, Dance the bright dance of Noon, while Day looks on, A patient sentinel among the trees.

As Day moves Westward, in the lessening light Shine wearies and his ardent dancing flags, Surrendering in a last caress. In the East Night reappears; and straightway tarrying Day And Shine and Shadow with returning Night Tread the soft dance of twilight and of dew. Then in the final tableau of the dusk, Shine turns away to thread the Western wood, And where Day with remembering eyes looks back, Eastward moves Night with Shadow on her breast. Then rising with a rapt and lonely chant, The Sibyl slowly passes from the scene.

THE SIBYL

(Down left front while action goes on up stage.)

(NIGHT moves slowly across stage.)

Here blue-robed and sovereign Night, Sandalled with mysterious might,

Shrouded in her star-sown veil, Passes where the moon grows pale,

Going slowly down the west On her immemorial quest.

(DAY enters and approaches NIGHT.)

Then upon the Road of Years Day unheralded appears,

Confident master of the way, Strong, inscrutable, and gray,

With the light of Paradise In his undefeated eyes.

Witching Night in her retreat Tarries on reluctant feet,

Tenderly, for by these two Heaven and earth are made anew.

(They Dance.)

Not an atom but must sway To the rhythm of Night and Day.

(Dawn lights appear and change)

New-born colors wake and stir, Light and sheer as gossamer,

Over meadow, stream, and grove, Lilac, lavender, and mauve.

Flushing crimsons flood and change O'er the summits range on range,

As with magic to and fro The diurnal dancers go,

Moving in a slow pavane Older than the breed of man.

(Light grows to a golden glow centring where SHINE enters)

Then below the paling stars Time lets down the glowing bars

From the portal of the East, And a thousand spears released

Usher in the Son of Day, On his shining princely way.

(Enter SHINE.)

Quick to meet him from the West, Stealing from her mother's breast,

(Enter SHADOW.)

Shadow in smoke-pale attire Flutters 'neath his cloak of fire.

(NIGHT slowly exits.)

O departing Night and kind, Thou must ever leave behind

Lovely Shadow here to play With the radiant child of Day!

(DAY remains calmly on scene, moving imperceptibly toward exit.)

And what dancers are these two, Shine and Shadow, gold and blue!

He is straighter than a reed; She is light as thistle seed.

Where he moves on peak or hollow, Unreluctant she will follow.

All along the river's hem Golden ripples dance with them,

While they lead the racing hours Down the aisles of nodding flowers.

Through the forest glad and green Lightly lilts their baladine.

He is reckless in his pride, As she dances by his side.

Ah, but he must fail at length, In his glory and his strength,

Like the passing race of men, While she grows but greater then,

Bending all her beauty o'er him In the twilight to adore him!

(Re-enter NIGHT)

Now the star of evening burns And the grave-eyed Night returns,

To rejoin departing Day; Shine and Shadow still delay;

And they tread the saraband Of the twilight hand in hand,

(Dance of four.)

Weaving figures in the dusk Redolent of rose and musk.

But across the Western hill Shine must pass, a wanderer still,

(Exit SHINE)

Where Day in a little while Follows with unwearying smile,

(Exit DAY)

As soft Shadow sinks from sight On the dreamful heart of Night.

(NIGHT and SHADOW begin their exit together as slowly as possible)

So I too must take my way Down the road of Night and Day,

With the music in my ears Of the dancing of the spheres.

THE SYBL makes her exit, leaving NIGHT and SHADOW still moving slowly on their course.

CURTAIN