the groves plays of bohemian club vol3

7/31/2019 The Groves Plays of Bohemian Club Vol3

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GIFT OF

University of California Berkeley

THE GROVE PLAYS

OF THEBOHEMIAN CLUB

Of Volume s /, //, and III of this Collectededition of

e been printed on hand-madepaper,

of which this set is

THE FALL OF UG

THE FAIRIES


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The GROVE PLAYS ofTHE BOHEMIAN CLUB

EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION BYPORTER GARNETT

VOLUME III

AUTHORS

RUFUS STEELE J. WILSON SHIELS

FRANK PIXLEY FREDERICK S. MYRTLE

CHARLES TEMPLETON CROCKER

COMPOSERS

HERMAN PERLET UDA WALDROP

EDWARD F. SCHNEIDER H. J. STEWART

JOSEPH D. REDDING

ILLUSTRATIONS BY

MAYNARD DIXON

AND PROM PHOTOGRAPHS

SAN FRANCISCO: PRINTED FOR THE


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BOHEMIAN CLUB AT THE PRESS OFTHE H. S. CROCKER COMPANY, 1 9 I 8

COPYRIGHT, 1918BY THE BOHEMIAN CLUB

*.

CONTENTS

THE FALL OF UG (1913) i

NEC-NATAMA (1914) ........ 69

APOLLO (1915) ......... 123

GOLD (1916) 175

THE LAND OF HAPPINESS (1917) ...... 237

[v]

B'

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


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ILLUSTRATIONS

THE FALL OF UG

The Fairies ....

NEC-NATAMA

The Dance of the Priests .

APOLLO

Maleficus ....

GOLD

Destiny, Evil Impulse, and Good Impulse

THE LAND OF HAPPINESS

Fei-Yen-Fah and the Fox-God

FROM


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FACING PAGE

. 123

. 1752 37

FACING PAGE30

. 102

. 150

. 218

. 252

[vii]

THE PLAYS

THE ELEVENTH GROVE PLAY

[PERFORMED ON THE NINTH NIGHT OF AUGUST, 1913]

THE FALL OF UG


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Masque of Fear

BY

RUFUS STEELE

WITH A NOTE ON THE MUSICBY THE COMPOSER

HERMAN PERLET

RUFUS STEELESIRE

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

IT is inconceivable that our grove should notalways havebeen the meeting place extraordinary of the menwhooccupied the country roundabout. Our lace-hung,purple-coated trees were, to the first men who knewthem, as awe-somely venerable as they are to us. Always theymusthave played the patriarchs to every movingcreature. The

yester-men knew their appeal. A cycle can havebrought


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no change in that appeal, but only in men'sprogress to-ward interpretation. I believe that earnestnessand evenperiodicity marked the coming to this grove ofyesterday'spretenders to its mastery ; that then, as now,men courtedwitness everlasting to the best deed that theyknew.

And who can doubt which deed it was the yester-peoplecalled their best ? All early records of man'smelancholyworship show him. struggling to appease theTerrible.What first brought men into this temple groveexcept somesober ceremony to ease the common curse somerite bywhich they sought to relegate old Fear ?

Our trees have gazed on immemorial exorcismsmeant toset men's spirits free. For us to-day they staythe snuffingblasts; they let us strike the flints ofbrotherhood to startour splendid flicker in the mist of dread. Butthose menof yesterday they also had their hopefulflints. Whatwas their magic like ? How did they cozen ormake war on

Fear?


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What might the trees remember if devoutlyimportuned ?By light of moon, on wind-swept morn and in thesolitudeof rain I teased them for the tale. At lengththe redmothers could no more deny a child the thing hebegged.

[3]

THE GROVE PLAYS OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUB

When I had turned the vision into stumblingwords, Perlet,I called Perlet, who, hearing with the blessedear, singsin the sweeter key and he sat with me and allthe thingswe witnessed wrote he down in language of thesoul. Ourjoy lies in the sharing of the tale. And if thepatient onethat harks to us to Perlet's telling and tomine reaps buta tinkling of the ear, and fails to see withinward eye sometwitching of the mortal veil, then are wefaulty messengers,for we ourselves stood at the veil and as westood wethought the pall was snatched away.

Our vision touched a night that reeked withperfume as


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of ruddy grapes. It was the season when inthese woodsthe year seems verily to stand still. Spring'sreckless prom-ise had been met and overpaid in leafy green ;it seemed asif the crisping hand of autumn might never comeat all. Inthat same glade of dreams we call the stage Isaw the y ester-men good, swart progenitors they wereforegather in athrong. The place I barely recognized for nosweet hill-side vista rose above. A peak of grayish rockwalled allthat range through which our hearts to-day lookup toheaven. A rock it was but more. Some force hadhewedthe rock into a semblance every shudderingmortal knewto be the demon god of fear. And on the perfectnight (Iknow not in what century it was for these treeshave nosense of time) men gathered to affirm theirendless subju-gation to the god.

A monstrous tinge of hope was theirs. Somefaith fixedby their dim forefathers told these men that ifthey yearlysacrificed their fairest youth to Fear, the

people should bespared some measure of the daily toll they paid


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the god.And in the rites that my eyes looked upon theking's ownson, by strange concatenation of events, wasdrawn to diethe Prince who loved to live!

A struggle followed such as none might everknow saveone called on to die the death of fear. ThePrince's fatherfailed him, and his friends the only priestlycounsel was

[4]

THE FALL OF UG

submission ! The brave youth sought a promisefrom thegod himself that his death be the last thatroyal bloodshould pay the final measure of demand. Andthen,the stony image belching no reply, the Princerebelled andlifted up his eyes, and marveling at theassurance of theredwood tops, he prayed the grim old sentinelsto becomehis aids.

Since man began the trees had stood confessors

to hiswoe; a youth's beseeching eyes drew all the


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consolationthat they knew.

They calmed him for a little space and openedhis mor-tal senses to woodland music and to fairycreatures whosefeet behaved on insubstantial air as thoughthey trippedthe ground.

Of course the beauty that assuaged could notannul thePrince's plight. The monster pressed again. Thefriendlytrees, their feet fast in the bowels of theearth, no stepmight take. And yet they served. The anguishedyouthabout to die in sacrifice saw trees no more;what had beentrees were now red fingers, nameless in theirsize and ur-gency, uppointing him a strange and certain wayof peace.

In a cataclysm fell old rocky Fear; but therejoicingPrince fell not. He saved his people too. Itmust havebeen that Fear was not eternal ; that menthemselves hadhewn its horrid form !

One would have thought the demon god was

vanishedfrom the world. And yet, the rumor runs, his


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visibleportion lost in dust, old Fear has latterlycontrived somegross perpetuation of himself within the humanbreast.

What exorcism now ? Or must we stop at thosesweetrites that set our camp-fire sputtering in themist of dread ?

The Prince might tell. But the Prince, alas,has gone.Long since has gone the last of those who sawthe marvelthat befell when Faith upturned her eyes andEssencecalled to Essence whence they sprang. Allliving things inall the living world are changed.

[s]


But stay! The trees the lone imperishablesremain.The very trees that heard the Prince's call andgave suchanswer back shall watch our play that tells thestory of thePrince. Unchanged they look down on the waning,wondering world. Good brother, can it be that

now, asthen, they wait on tiptoe to uppoint a wanderer


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to his for-feitless estate that they stand tirelessthrough all time,until the last sad princeling lifts his eyesand voice to claimthe eternal secret as his own?

RUFUS STEELE.

ARGUMENT

A YOUNG Prince and his hunting companionsfollow astag through a forest on Midsummer Day. Theypause before a colossal stone figure of Ug, thegod of fear,which has long blocked the white path leadingheavenwardup the hill. The people, it develops, come herethis verynight for the annual human sacrifice to Ug. ThePrincelaughs his scorn of the god of fear and, almostat the samemoment, the ominous sunset shadow of thecolossus fallson the young man.

Evening comes as the princely party pass on inpursuitof the stag. Furred and feathered denizens ofthe woodappear. Trip, the brown-faced fairy master of

the grove,swings to the tail of a huge bear, but gives up


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his teasingto take his music lesson from a bird.

When the moon floods the place servitors arriveto pre-pare for the rites. Their mortal eyes are blindto Trip, butthey see Ug all too plainly. Trip amuseshimself by addingto their terror. Upon their departure Tripwarns colossalUg that he may not always dominate mankind, andcon-jures up a procession of the fallen gods offear who at onetime or another have blighted man's joyousworld. Whenmen wrestled with their fear, Trip declares,each dreadfulone vanished.

As Trip runs off after his bear a party ofpriests arrive anda neophyte learns from the others the legend ofthe an-cient pact which forces them to sacrifice ayouth on eachMidsummer Night, and of how Ug always sends ablood-red dawn to show that he is appeased. Apatriarch priestrecites a mythical promise of a finalsacrificial night when

[7]


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GROVE PLAYS OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUB

r *?!/rvl***2f(ie Victim: shall lift his eyesand call some power not ofgarth *td kid him some power that shall utterlydestroyold Ug and send a white dawn to swallow up thered intoken of a nobler day.

Husbandmen, shepherds, huntsmen, warriors,king,high priest, prince, jester, scribe, nobles,lords the worldin fact arrive and in a mighty chorus voicetheir trem-bling tribute to the god.

The King names as the new defenders of great Uga listof youths who have done valiantly. At the chiefwarrior'sdemand the name of the proud young prince isadded tothe list. It is hardly intended that the Princeshall standwith other defenders before the table of secretstones bywhich Ug makes his choice of a victim, but atthe jester'staunt the Prince leaps from the throne steps toclaim hisplace and presently the blackened stone fallsto his royal

hand!


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The King protests, and so does the Prince,though notthrough fear of death. The high priest allowsno question-ing of Ug's choice. The Prince calls his fatherto lead inrebellion against old Ug. The high priestforces from theKing's unwilling lips a story that shows theterrible con-sequences of revolt. The wretched Princeconsents to die.Fanatics perform their wild dance of ritual.The com-pany leaves the victim to his prayers while itfeasts in aglade near by. The departing high priest offersthe Princesophist consolation; the jester offers liquor,with a songthat tells him why men drink.

The deserted Prince begs Ug to promise that noothervictims shall come after him, and when noanswer comes,the Prince turns away and gropes helplesslyamong thetrees. His hands encounter a mighty trunk. Hesees forthe first time how calmly the tree standsamidst the hor-rors of this place. In ecstasy he calls to theunseen spiritof the trees to bring him balm. That very call

unseals thePrince's eyes to Trip, who drops down from the


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air. The

[8]

THE FALL OF UG

fairy tells the story of the friendly trees. Hecalls Ug amere rock that men with their evil imaginingsand lack offaith have carved into a terror-god. The Princeproteststhe awful reality of Ug, when Trip mounts tothe shoulderof the colossus and lifts a nestling dove fromthe terrifyingbeak.

The Prince's ears are opened so that he hearsthe fairiesas they pipe and call. Good Trip reveals thetalismanickey growing at their feet which enables thePrince to seethe dainty woodfolk as they play and spurn theground.The transported Prince desires to fetch theKing andpriests and all the company to share hissparkling vision,but Trip reminds him sadly that blindness bindsall ofthem, since none has ever lifted up his eyes

and called.


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Shouts tell that the company is returning tosacrifice thevictim. The Prince beseeches Trip to remain,but thefairy declares this useless. He is touched bythe Prince'splight and before he whisks away gives thewisest coun-sel he knows he bids the needy youth anoint hiseyesonce more with faith and look where the redwoodfingerspoint him.

The Prince tries to make his people understandsome-thing of what has been revealed to him, butfails utterly.In discouragement he disrobes for thesacrifice. Red dawnis already showing in the hideous face of Ug.The nakedyouth is lifted high by the priests to betossed into Ug'sarms, from which he must drop into the flames.SuddenlyTrip's pipe is heard close by. The Prince isaroused. Hestruggles out of the priests' grasp, leaps to arock and liftsup his soul to the god where point the redwoodhands, de-claring the ancient promise of deliverance nowfulfilled inhim.

The forest trembles with the thunder of Ug's


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doom.Lightning rends the colossus. Great Ug sinksdown in bitsof dust. The whited path to heaven, which solong heheld fast, is seen to lead on to the joyoussummit of the

[9]


mount. Celestial beings in majesty descend tocommunewith men. As the throng moves upward over theveryspot where once was Ug the world chorus ofrejoicing growsuntil it fills all space.

The red dawn that once spoke Ug's sway isswallowedin a crystal morn, the breaking of a day ofwhich thehearts of men had hardly dared to dream.

[10]

CAST OF CHARACTERS


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THE PRINCE

FIRST COMPANION

SECOND COMPANION

FIRST SERVITOR

SECOND SERVITOR

TRIP, a fairy

THE PATRIARCH PRIEST

FIRST PRIEST

SECOND PRIEST

A YOUNG PRIEST

THE HIGH PRIEST

THE KING

A JESTER

A SCRIBE

THE CHIEF HUNTSMAN

THE CHIEF WARRIOR

A BEAR


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MR. RALPH L. PHELPSMR. FREDERICK THOMPSONMR. MARK R. DANIELSMR. FREDERICK L. BERRYMR. RUSSELL D. HOLABIRDMR. W. H. SMITH, JR.MR. JOHN HOUSMANMR. ROBERT C. NEWELLMR. HENRY L. PERRYMR. SPENCER GRANTMR. R. M. HOTALINGMR. E. C. FORDMR. MACKENZIE GORDONMR. HARRY H. SMITHMR. JEROME B. LANDFIELDCAPT. HARRY S. HOWLANDMR. FRANK L. CORBUSIER

GODS OF FEAR

SET, MOLOCH, MEDUSA, HUITZILOPOCHTLI, TIAMAT,BAAL,KALI, HYDRA, ATE, HECATE, MINOTAUR, RUDRA


Lords, Nobles, Servitors , Husbandmen,Shepherds, Huntsmen,Warriors, Dancers, Fairies, Celestial Beings ,Voices of Woodjolk

PLACE : A forest of redwood-trees.TIME: The days when men fought with spears.


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Production directed by MR FRANK L. MATHIEU.

Setting designed and executed by MR. DOUGLASTILDEN, DR. W. A.BRYANT, MR. GRANVILLE REDMOND and MR. WYATT H.ALLEN.

Costumes designed by MR. FRANK VAN SLOUN.

Properties designed and executed by DR. HARRYP. CARLTON andMR. HARRY S. FONDA.

Dances devised and directed by MR. GEORGE B. DELONG.Flying directed by MR. W. H. SMITH, JR.

Lighting by MR. EDWARD J. DUFFEY.\

Musical Director, MR. HERMAN PERLETChorus Master, MR. JOHN DE P. TELLER

THE FALL OF UG

^4 \%Casque of Fear

An open space at the foot of a steep hill in aforest of red-wood-trees. The trunks of the trees, limbless

to a considerableheight, are like mighty pillars supporting the


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mass of darkgreen foliage. Ferns of unusual size, vines,mosses andflowers , such as love sunshine that hasfiltered through loftytreetops, mask the hillside's rugged lines andspread a varie-gated carpeting. The time is late afternoon ofMidsummerDay. A white road, entering from one side andturning upthe hill, is completely blocked by a crudelycarved, colossalstatue of Ug, the god of fear. The grey stonefigure, althoughin a sitting posture, is about seven times theheight of a man.Not only does it bar the ascending path orroad, but it castsupon the hillside above it a shadow suggestiveof dangers un-seen. The long, cruel beak of Ug is open andmenacing. Theforelimbs extend outward and downward; thehuman sacrificecast upon the upturned palms must roll off anddrop into thepit beneath, where the fire burns atsacrificial times. Thecolossus dominates the scene with the gloom oftragedy, eventhough the litter of limbs and leaves upon anincense altar anda crude throne set against a great treeindicate that there has

been no recent human occupancy of the place.


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[A stag bounds across the stage and makes offthroughthe thicket. A huntsman s horn is heard, thenshouting. The PRINCE enters, running, in pur-suit of the stag. He gazes eagerly in thedirectiontaken by the animal. Four of his Companions

[13]


arrive just as the PRINCE, appearing to catchsight of the stag, lets an arrow fly from hisbow.*fhe FIRST COMPANION slips and falls. Hedoes not rise, and puts his hand to his knee asifin pain.

THE PRINCE(striking his bow disgustedly)

Child's work! The eager shaft o'ersped themark.The stag enheartened scents the peaks. Comeall!Such noble quarry calls for noble chase.

\ffhe PRINCE beckons to his Companionsimpatientlyand starts off. All but the FIRST COMPANIONprepare to follow him.

FIRST COMPANION


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Pray hold! My knee refuses to go on.

THE PRINCE

Then wait us here. Our backs shall be yoursteedsWhen yonder antlered stag rides on them too.

FIRST COMPANION

Forsake me not ! Though dying would I runEre I alone in such a place remain.

THE PRINCEYour hurt is soon forgot. What ails thisplace ?

[The Companions exchange glances.

SECOND COMPANION

Good Prince, do you not see our friend liesprone

Beneath the very beak of awful Ug,

Who here blockades the path that leads toheaven ?

THE FALL OF UGTHE PRINCE (gazing at the colossus)

Naught but the stag I saw. Why heed old Ug ?

This ancient god of fear no terror holdsSave for some guileless shepherd or a child.


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SECOND COMPANION

Have you forgot this is Midsummer Day ?That on this very night we send through flamesA youth to join his soul with awful Ug ?

THE PRINCEThe yearly sacrifice had slipped my mind.

FIRST COMPANION

The Prince forgets because his eyes are spared.We have observed how on Midsummer NightThe King, his father, sends him forth while allAre at the feast; nor bids him stay to feedHis eyes upon the human offering

That marks the coming of the blood-red dawn.

THE PRINCE

Well said. Though full I know the rites thatfetchThe King, the priests and people here thisnight,The final scene I ne'er have looked upon;Nor have I feared this god of fear. Too sweetThe mad pursuit of butterflies and stags ;Too dear the all engrossing cup of lifeTo waste a thought on creatures such as this.When I am king I swear old Ug must fall !

SECOND COMPANION (with alarm)


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Oh hear him not, great Ug; the Prince butjests.No man that breathes but knows the sting offear.

[15]

THE GROVE PLAYS OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUBTHE PRINCE

Fear not for me but stay! Perchance this night

Myself shall learn to know the dread of Ug.

My birthday anniversary it is ;

The boy no more am I ; behold the man !

And by the King's decree the sacrifice

No more shall be withholden from my eyes.

[The PRINCE, turning toward the colossus, snapshisfingers in derision and laughs.

To-night I stay to laugh my scorn of thee !

FIRST COMPANION

The Prince must learn as learns the humblestmanHow limitless the power of mighty Ug.

\_Forgetting his knee, he scrambles to his


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feet.

E'en at this moment as the day declinesAm I reminded that we must beware.Who here that does not know the legend well.Who does not know that man or beast or birdUpon whom Ug's strange sunset shadow fallsSome hideous service for Ug must perform ?

THE PRINCE

Have done, have done! Save nightmares for thenight.Quick mend your knee. Meanwhile let me divertOur thoughts to things that better fit ouryouth.A game I know, a game of skill and speed.Let yonder tree be goal: let one stand here:Another fend the crossing to the tree:Myself shall judge and leader be. This rockShall serve my twice exalted station well.

(climbing upon the rock)Prepare to run as I direct. Prepare

[16]

THE FALL OF UG

[As the PRINCE stands upon the rock, a deepshadowenvelops him. Cries of " Ob! " " Ob-b-b! " fromthe Companions.

FIRST COMPANION


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Ug's sunset shadow has enwrapped the Prince!

THE PRINCE(leaping down and picking up his bow)

Enough, enough of childish omens, friends.To-night we must attend this cheerless place.Let's now away to fresh our minds and hearts.The challenge of the stag calls to our skill :Ere daylight dies our bows must bring him down.Forget old Ug! Let ardor wing our feet.

[The PRINCE runs into the forest followedrapidly byall the others.

INTERMEZZO

Night follows day. twilight comes , thendarkness, thenmoonlight. Tbe transition is interpretedmusically. 'Thenative denizens of the wood appear. 'The musictells the storyof the life and mystery of the forest.

By daylight, darkness, and moonlight, mysticallights andshadows play over mighty Ug. During thedarkness the fire-flies dance about his head. In full moonlightUgs face isseen in weird and awful aspect. Behind and

above the co-lossus is the dense shadow Ug casts upon the


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blockaded pathto heaven.

Squirrels play on the redwood trees. A covey ofquailwhirls up from the leaves. Rabbits hop about. Acoyoteslinks along. The hoot of an owl and the screamof a panther

[17]


are heard. A huge BEAR appears. TRIP, a brown-facedfairy,swings to the BEAR'S tail and teases the beastat every step. Abird appears upon the limb of a tree and beginsto sing. TRIPis caught by the singing. He allows the BEAR tolumber offwhile he raises to his lips a small pipedangling from his neckand takes his music lesson from the bird. Whenthe lesson isended the bird flies away.

TRIP (laughing and skipping about)

Rocky peak and lily dellKnow my skipping footsteps well.From the whitening columbine,

From the trilliums making wine,From the vale of flowering fern,


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From the hill where poppies burnLately did my pathway twine,Twisted like clematis vine.Morning cup with bees I sharedWhen by foxglove wells I fared.When at noon the shadows fledThimble-berries gave me bread.All the long, mad afternoonWanton laurels coaxed my tune;Danced and swayed till great-eyed deerThrough woodwardias leapt in fear.When the moon drave out the sunLoath was I to end the fun.Sweet Midsummer Night holds swayTrip bids all the woods be gay!

\Four Servitors enter.Mortals come! That see not meBlind to fairy folk they be!

[TRIP skips here and there ', inspecting theServitors atclose range. Their actions show them to be en-tirely unconscious of his presence.

[18]

THE FALL OF UGFIRST SERVITOR

Here sits great Ug. The place we must prepare

Ere come the priests and king and all the

train.


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Master you of war and strife;

Life was yours, you swallowed life.

When men wrestled with their fear,

Lo, they saw you disappear.

[HUITZILOPOCHTLI disappears and TIAMAT emerges.

Tiamat! Your horrid spell


Golden Babylon knew well.Order, peace and equal lawKnow no more your dragon jaw!

[TIAMAT disappears and BAAL emerges.

Baal! Where your ancient flail ?Silent now Phoenicia's wail;No more does she sacrificeTo the father of all lies!

[BAAL disappears and KALI, HYDRA, ATE, HECATE,MINOTAUR, and RUDRA emerge in rapid succes-sion from the rock.

Kali ! Bloody queen of Ind,Your destruction none could mend.Hydra! How your heads could frame

Terrors past all 'depth or name!Ate! How your poisoned times


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Stung the Greek to reckless crime!Hecate! How pain-racked ThraceSucked its witchcrafts from your face!Minotaur! Your Cretan valeBurst with human victims' wail.Rudra! How you smote with storms!How you all lashed with alarms !Ug, behold their broken spell!Ug, take heed how each one fell !When men wrestled with their fear,Lo, all false gods disappear!

[As RUDRA disappears after the others, the BEARisseen again. TRIP pursues, and goes out of sightswinging to the tail of the baffled beast, ^hePATRIARCH PRIEST, a YOUNG PRIEST, and twoother Priests enter, ^he PATRIARCH PRIEST andthe two halt before the colossus and make the

THE FALL OF UG

sign of Ug by extending their arms straight outat the sides on a level with their shoulders ,thenbringing the left hand to rest over the heart,thenclapping the right hand upon the left, and ',finally ,letting the head drop forward upon the breast.The YOUNG PRIEST, standing behind, watchesand imitates them.

THE YOUNG PRIEST


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The very earth proclaims that this is Ug,Among whose priests a neophyte am I.I know him, yet ne'er saw I him before.

FIRST PRIEST

Though never saw you this colossal form

That here locks fast the path to higher joys,

Ne'er saw you day since from the womb yousprang,

But Ug lurked close behind your elbow joint.

Unseen, he fretted you in cradle days.

When she who bore you, tore you from herbreasts

And bade you walk, Ug set the path with thorns.

The youth chafed oft at yoke upon his neck ;

The man finds fear encysted in his heart.

THE YOUNG PRIESTHow say you this who knew me not in youth ?

FIRST PRIEST

Alas, the heavy tale of one fits all.

No man complains that Ug has passed him by.

THE YOUNG PRIEST


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Since day by day we pay, what drives us nowTo lay the richest gift of all a youthUpon the altar of insatiate Ug ?

[33]

THE GROVE PLAYS OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUBFIRST PRIEST

Know, son, that in the mystic dawn of things,

Ere magic had been stirred into this soil,

And Nature's womb still held these ancienttrees,

The fathers of our fathers' fathers' sires

Knew tongue, now lost, in which they spake withUg

And with a compact sued some meed of peace.

Though great Ug would not yield the whitedpath,

By iron oath he bound himself to sink

His beak but lightly into mortal hearts,

Nor ever take his fill of human woe.

And for this boon our fathers pledged

themselves


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And all their children's children's sons tocome

Here in the fullness of midsummer moon

And send through flame to join his soul with Ug

A youth, by Ug marked for such sacrifice.

A thousand moons of soft Midsummer Night

Have lit the strict performance of our bond;

A thousand times, as stood the victim forth,

A blood-red dawn has shown great Ug appeased.

THE YOUNG PRIEST

And shall there be no end of sacrifice

And dawns that seem to bathe the world in blood?

FIRST PRIEST

No end shall be while faithful priests of UgDemand enforcement of the changeless law.

THE PATRIARCH PRIEST

Hear me in my great age.Now memory illumes the tale the priest,My father, told me, which, long since, thepriest,

His father, had told him. A myth it was,A legend shaped mayhap at Fancy's wheel


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THE FALL OF UG

And yet so rich in promise was the tale,

So freighted with the rarest gems of hope,

That even now it leaps upon my tongue.

The prophecy says naught of fixed time.

Told in some season long forgot, it leaps

Through cycles to a strange Midsummer Night

When Ug calls loudly for his human toll ;

And then, so runs the tale, because the youth,

About to pass into the flames, uplifts

His eyes and voice, some wondrous visionswaits,

And when the seeing youth beseeches aid

Some warrior, not of earth, his lance driveshome ;

Rends mighty Ug to nameless bits of dust,

Nor leaves one fragment to rekindle fear.

And down the freshly opened path to heaven


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Celestial beings come to walk with men.

Comes dawn, the strangest ever born of night:

Ug's ancient beams reach out their crimsonhands,

When lo, there breaks a dawn all crystal white

That overcomes the last false beam of blood

And wraps the world in joy ineffable. . . .

A dream! A dream! But such a treasure dream!

[Overcome with emotion, the PATRIARCH PRIESTsinks down.

FIRST PRIEST(manifesting disbelief and impatience)

Save for your age we would not hear your taleA dream that sees our calling snatched away.

[Lights are seen through the trees approachingfromthe east.

SECOND PRIESTThe hour is near ; the throngs approach thisplace.

arty of Husbandmen enter, singing. hey carry



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stalks of corn, fruits, and huge bunches ofgrapesslung from shoulder poles.

HUSBANDMEN (singing)

From fields all green and glowing

We sons of Nature come.Where living streams are flowingThere may be found our home.The fertile soil doth yield usReward on stalk and tree.When Ug from blight doth shield us

Glad husbandmen are we.

[The Husbandmen dispose themselves upon theground. Lights are seen coming down the hill.A party of Huntsmen enter, singing. 'Theycarry long bows, quivers of arrows, and thecar-casses of game.

HUNTSMEN (singing)

The hills are our dominion.

The beast of secret lair,The bird of swiftest pinion

Yield to the bow and snare.A thousand dangers, lurking

Along the tangled trail,Will find us never shirking;


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The huntsmen do not quail.

\jThe Huntsmen dispose themselves. Lights areseenapproaching from the west. A party of Shep-herds enter, singing. They carry live lambs andeach has a crook.

SHEPHERDS (singing)

Mid meadows sweet with grasses,Through sylvan shadows cool

THE FALL OF UG

The flock serenely passesTo rest beside the pool.No lamb is left to wanderUpon the hillside steep;The wolf is watching yonder,

The shepherd guards his sheep.[As tbe Shepherds dispose themselves lights areseenapproaching from the east. A party of Warriorsenter, singing. 'They wear hemlets and carrylances and shields and spoils of warfare.

WARRIORS (singing)

Let justice guide our lances,

Let Courage steel our hearts.Where evil's banner dances


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There loose our winged darts.Let victory behold us

Where battle-axes fall;Let honor still enfold us

Or let death claim us all.

\Husbandmen, Huntsmen, and Shepherds rise andmingle with the Warriors.

ALL (singing)

Let all the world assemble,

Come all men to this place.We wait the words that tremble

Upon Ug's dreadful face.For us no mad rebelling;

Obedient we stand.Ug's call is all-compelling;

The world is in his hand.

\_Lights are seen approaching on the mainhighway.Cries of "The King!


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ported on the shoulders of eight bearers. Lordsand Nobles, a SCRIBE and a JESTER accompanythe palanquin. The KING is assisted to mountthe throne, while Priests conduct the HIGHPRIESTto a seat beside the incense altar. Servitorsplacelogs in the sacrificial pit. Torches are set uptosupplement the moonlight. The JESTER skipsabout, taunting this one and that, and finallysettles at the KING'S feet. The incense altarismade to send up a column of smoke.

THE KING(glancing about questioningly)

The Prince ! The Prince ! Where hides my son,the Prince ?

THE CHIEF HUNTSMAN

We met his youthful party just at eve.

A stag fled high among the distant peaks.

"I '11 fetch him down!" exclaimed the Prince,then led

Where none of slower foot might follow him.

We left his faithful huntsmen at the pass.

They '11 bear his load I swear he '11 fetch the

stag.


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[Lights are seen coming down the mountain and ahorn is heard.

The Prince's horn! Its tone proclaims his kill!

\The PRINCE enters followed by his fourCompanions,who carry a stag suspended from a pole. TheCHIEF HUNTSMAN leaps forward, takes thePRINCE'S hand and strikes him on the shoulderin commendation. Other Huntsmen crowd aboutthe stag. The PRINCE is accorded a cordial re-ception.

THE FALL OF UG

THE PRINCE(saluting the KING and also the HIGH PRIEST)

Your pardon, sire, and yours, if long I have

Delayed the ceremonies of the night.

[The PRINCE leaps up the steps of the throne,kissesthe hand of the KING, and sinks at his feet.TheHIGH PRIEST stands before the colossus andraises his arms. All the other Priests stand athis back and lift their arms.

THE HIGH PRIESTHail, mighty Ug!

CHORUS OF PRIESTS


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Hail, Ug, hail!

[The salutation and chorus are repeated threetimes,then all the Priests but the HIGH PRIEST moveto one side.

THE HIGH PRIEST

Peace to this place and hour.Midsummer holds the world in charmed thrall.The mantling softness of these stately woodsEnchants the aisles of every lesser grove.Gone are the rains and floods. Asleep theblasts.The winds chant only dulcet threnodies.Clothed are the meadow pastures with whiteflocks;The valleys covered o'er with ripening corn.Each great and little breast of Nature dripsWith honey and with milk. All paths drop fat.It is the hour of harvest and reward.The husbandman receives his cheerful toll.The tree throws back its acorn to the ground.The fold that was protected yields its lamb.Fear has but nibbled at our hearts the year


Great Ug awaits his promised recompense.(stretching bis bands toward tbe Shepherds)The Shepherds bow before Ug's form.

[ The Shepherds advance until they stand infront of


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Ug y and fling down their lambs. They make tbesign of Ug and kneel upon one knee, showinggrave agitation. The JESTER has climbed to aneminence from which he watches the Shepherdsin wonder and mockery.

THE JESTER

Oh, see our frightened shepherds bow and weep:They are as bold as any newborn sheep!

THE HIGH PRIESTThe husbandmen their reverence pay.

[Tbe Husbandmen advance, fling down their cornandgrapes, make the sign of Ug,and kneel behindtbeShepherds.

The huntsmen are defenseless fawns.

[Tbe Huntsmen advance, fling down their game,makethe sign of Ug, and fall upon one knee behindthe Husbandmen.

To Ug alone the warriors kneel.

[Tbe Warriors advance and throw down theirtrophies.Then, after making the sign of Ug, they fallupon one knee. The JESTER continues his showof scorn.

THE JESTER


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O wafting warriors ! Are you also boundTo grovel ? 'Ware of spiders on the ground!

[30]

THE FALL OF UGTHE HIGH PRIEST

Nor holds the world lord, prince or august king

Who dares deny Ug's never ending sway.

[The Lords, the Nobles and the SCRIBE kneelbehindtbe others, making the sign of Ug. 'Then thePRINCE. The KING lays aside crown and scepterand kneels with the others. The JESTER skips upthe throne steps, puts on the crown, grasps thescepter, and seats himself upon the throne.

THE JESTER

Their hearts to senseless god of stone theyfling:I 'm no such fool. Forsooth, let me be king!

THE HIGH PRIEST

Fool of all fools, before Ug smites you down,Prone on the ground and chew repentant dust!

[Two Priests leap up the throne, remove thecrown and

scepter and fling the JESTER to the groundwhere


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he grovels. 'The HIGH PRIEST signals and theSECOND PRIEST rises and sings the Song of Ug,the entire assemblage singing the chorus.

SECOND PRIEST (singing)

Out of the terrible night,

Out of the chasm unknown,Lacking a star or a light,

Sweeps from the caverns a moan.Over the rim of the world

Darkness in travail writhes low,Straight from her womb there is hurled

Ug, bastard scion of Woe.Oh, see how all mortals are bending;

The jewel each wears is a tear;Man's homage is given unending


To Ug, god of fear, to Ug, god of fear, to Ug,god of fear !

CHORUS

O Ug, our poor courage lies quaking!

O Ug, be not deaf to our prayer!

O Ug, crush us not with thine aching.


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Ug, spare! Ug, spare! Ug, spare! Ug, spare!

Spare! Spare! Spare! Ug, spare! Ug, spare!

SECOND PRIEST

Deep in the breast of mankind,

Close by the chamber of soul,Chiefest of treasures enshrined,

Joy of Life points man his goal.Swift as a fiend from the dark

Fear comes with sword and with chainMan is left fettered and stark,

Joy of Life ravished and slain.Oh hark, how all mankind is moaning;

A flood rushes from the world's tear;Forever men turn with their groaning

To Ug, god of fear, to Ug, god of fear, to Ug,god of fear!

CHORUS

O Ug, our poor lives we are giving!

O Ug, be not deaf to our prayer!O Ug, slaughter not Joy of Living.

Ug, spare! Ug, spare! Ug, spare! Ug, spare!

Spare! Spare! Spare! Ug, spare! Ug, spare!


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\fThefinal chorus ends with all on their faces,there-after the assemblage relaxes and distributesitselfas before. Servitors pass through with littersloaded with meats and fruits for the feast. The

[3*]

THE FALL OF UG

JESTER filches a horn bottle from a Utter andtakesa drink.

THE JESTER

Ho, ho! My belly is an empty waste:

Let 's to the feast in yonder glade make haste.

THE HIGH PRIEST

Peace, fool. Tempt not again Ug's vengefulhand.Moon shadows mark the hour of fateful choice.The patient eyes of Ug light with desire.Our bravest youth shall stand before the godLike snowy lambs that he may choose his own.Who are Ug's new defenders ? Who the youthThat have done valiantly ?

THE SCRIBE

(unrolling a scroll handed him by the KING andreading)


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These has the King set down :Among the husbandmen, Althone and Weg,Who cunningly led water to the vinesUntil the grapes nigh burst their purple skins.Of shepherds, Tord and Kim are named. All knowThey scorned their lives to save the fold fromwolves.Mikail and Elam are the huntsmen's boast:Their arrows gone, with stones they slew twobears.Of warring men are Jud and Shed enrolled:They fetched a woman captive from a caveWhen hostile spears fell like the autumn rain.Thus ends the list of those the King acclaims.

\Each of the young men, as his name is called,leaveshis companions and leaps forward. The PRINCE,when his name is not read, sinks his head inhishands.

[33]


THE JESTER (after a pull at the bottle)

He names me not, yet death I often dare:I tease the sleeping King's nose with a hair!

[Roaring at bis own joke, the JESTER is seized

andthrust aside.


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THE KING

(indicating the defenders of Ug)

The leafen chaplets set upon their brows:Their fame be higher than these trees are high.

THE CHIEF WARRIOR

Pray hold!

How may the scroll of brave youth be completeSave when my lord, the Prince, leads all therest ?How often have I seen him hew his wayIn battle and with righteous lance drive backThe foe that numbered him full five to one!

THE KING

Not through his own, but through another's eyesA father may see virtue in his son.Arise, O Prince, a proud defender thou!

[The PRINCE rises joyfully. He does not go downtojoin the others, being detained by his father shand. Priests deck each young man with laureland with a ceremonial vestment.

THE HIGH PRIEST

Bring forth the table of the secret stonesThat speak the changeless, wordless will of Ug.

[A table or rack having stone slabs upright


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upon it isbrought in and set before the colossus. All the

[34]

THE FALL OF UG

defenders excepting the PRINCE gather besidethetable.

Great Ug, the blossom of our race beholdThe noblest and the proudest of our youth.Regard them well, the fairest lamb approve:Affix thy seal upon him with the darkeningstone.

\fthe defender s> lifting tbeir arms to Ug ybegin tomarch around the table. 'The JESTER runs outclose to them> then looks back at the throne.

THE JESTER

What brave defender is the kingly son ?He dares not share the risk the others run!

THE PRINCE

A fool's wise words ! My rightful place I claim;Defender I, and, after that, the Prince.

\Leaping down the steps, the PRINCE takes hisplace


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with the defenders. 'The KING rises and then

sinks doubtfully to his seat.

THE KING

It matters not if he be there or here:

Not Ug would rob the throne to feed his maw.

\he defenders resume their march around thetableof stones.

THE HIGH PRIEST

Lift each the stone that calls unto his hand.Ye only play at choosing: Ug's the choice.These stones be all as white as wool is white,Yet when Ug's favored youth lifts up a stoneAnd turns it so that all our eyes may see,Behold, it shall be black as raven's wing:Ug's tongue it shall become to speak his will.

[35]


\Each defender in turn lifts a stone andholding italoft, slowly turns it around. As the underside

of his stone is seen to be white a cry ofrelief


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breaks from each defender s friends. At lengththe PRINCE lifts a stone carelessly p , holdsit abovehis head and turns it around. The under side isseen to be black. 'The PRINCE starts in amaze-ment and lets the stone fall.

THE HIGH PRIESTUg's choice has fallen on the Prince !

\fhe sign is recognized and consternationseizes thecompany. Cries of " the Prince! ^he Prince!""It cannot be!" and "It must be so!" are heard.he PRINCE falters. he KING, all but over-come^ starts up and is about to protest whentheHIGH PRIEST stops him with an imperativegesture.

Ug speaks ! Let none oppose ; let nonecommend !

THE KING

What dread mistake is here ? Not Ug himselfMay claim the Prince and heir for sacrifice!

THE HIGH PRIEST

The Prince that was is vanished from our eyes:Behold the lamb Ug chooses as his own!

(turning to the PRINCE)Salute the fatal tablet with a kiss

That all may know you do consent to die.


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\fthe FIRST PRIEST raises the stone from thegroundand presents it to the PRINCE, who dashes itdown again.

[36]

THE FALL OF UGTHE HIGH PRIESTDoes noble youth so fear to look at Death ?

THE PRINCE

Who says the King's son is afraid to die ?Think you kind Nature has bestowed on meMy father's flesh, bone of his bone, and yetWithheld the faultless courage of his heart ?

THE HIGH PRIEST

Then why this strange reluctance ? Would youdareDefy the pact our fathers made with Ug ?

THE PRINCE

Hear me, high priest:

About me now I feel a throng of youths

As they outstretch their pleading hands to me.

Souls are they of Ug's countless victims past.

Souls of Ug's countless victims yet to come.


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And all as one they claim my tongue to curse

This unavailing slaughter to an end.

FIRST PRIESTThe poor Prince raves ; fear has transformedthe lad.

THE JESTERThe Prince is sane, and all the rest be mad.

THE HIGH PRIESTPeace, boy. While earth shall last Ug must bepaid.

THE PRINCE

If obligation pend, let Ug stand forthWith lifted lance, or human champion nameAnd I will war with all my strength and life

[37]


To pay his debt in measure that shall leaveNo stern remainder for our sons to pay.

THE YOUNG PRIEST

What said the Patriarch to us ? He toldHow on some mystic night the victim should

Behold a vision seldom seen of men,And from the vision draw some spirit aid


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That should forever rend Ug from our path.

THE HIGH PRIEST

Heed not the tale, an empty, time-worn dream.It tells of Ug in dust upon the groundSee how Ug still predominates the world!Come, boy, kiss yonder stone. We would proceed.

[The FIRST PRIEST again picks up the fatalstone >

but the PRINCE, giving him no heed, turns tothe

KING.

THE PRINCE

My being cries to know a better fate.Speak, father ; say that old Ug is not so !

THE KING

My son !

My crown, my scepter would I swift exchangeFor answer that would satisfy your prayer.My reason at Ug's bold pretensions scoffs ;My living senses cry that Ug is true.Ug I deny, and straight my ears resoundWith groans of mortals in the grip of fear.Ug I deny, and straight my eyes beholdSome yet more dreadful festers of his darts.

, THE PRINCEMy father and my King, if Ug be so,


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[38]

THE FALL OF UGThen lead us in rebellion 'gainst old Ug!

THE HIGH PRIEST

Ha, ha ! That foolish word long since I heard.Speak, King, and tell him what rebellion means.

THE KING (cowering)I have no words to say.

THE HIGH PRIESTSpeak now! I voice great Ug's command!

THE KING

(hesitatingly, as be comes down from thethrone)

The high priest's words are flames that meltthe locks

On secrets ne'er intended for my son.

Hear now confession of that man who drained

Rebellion's cup down to the poisoned dregs.

Mature was I when lifted to the throne,

And holding steadfast to the good in men ;


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My people served I with a strong delight.

Succumbed our foes or fled before our fame.

At length none dared intrigue against ourpeace;

No shackles knew our hearts save Ug's alone.

Long pondered I upon my fancied strength,

Then swore to bring destruction on great Ug.

Midsummer Night was nigh. Farwell I bade

That hyacinth of womankind, my queen,

And drew to this accustomed place resolved

That with the hour of sacrifice at hand

Defiance I .should thunder to Ug's claim

And rend him with my men from heaven's path.

THE HIGH PRIESTBehold, the memory moves Ug not at all !

[39]

THE GROVE PLAYS OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUBTHE KING

E'en as I drew to loose my verbal boltA runner breathless sank and gasped his news


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My queen, the twin soul of my soul, was dead!Our son, not yet expected, had been born.The weakened mother, clutching him to breast,Her eyes wild with the light of prophecy,Screamed that Ug's hideous stamp was on herchild!She died, herself slain by the darts of fear.

THE HIGH PRIESTThus laughed Ug at the hand that threatened him!

THE KING

A score of years and each year like a scoreHave I watched o'er the son, nor once forgotThe sword by spider thread swung in suspense ;Nor ever have I smiled save when false hopeLied that my faith in prophecy was fled.To-night I drave forebodings from my heartTo-night Ug calls my son to sacrifice!And louder now than voice of her long dead,And louder than the wretched victim's prayer,And louder than a father's wailing soulThe universe exclaims, "Ug is supreme!"

[The PRINCE, all but overcome by bis father sstory ,

approaches the KING and falls upon his neck.

The FIRST PRIEST comes close with the fatal

stone. He waits a little while, then rouses the

PRINCE by plucking his sleeve.


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THE HIGH PRIEST

Revolt no more. The common weal demandsThat you shall play the debtor for us all.

[40]

THE FALL OF UG

[The PRINCE releases the KING, who slowlyremountsthe throne, The PRINCE looks around uncer-tainly. All await his action. With a gesture ofhopeless resignation he seizes the stone,presseshis lips to it and lets it fall to the ground.'Thedefenders bring a white robe and put it on thePRINCE. Removing the garlands from theirnecks, they hang seven about the neck of thePRINCE. The FIRST and SECOND PRIESTSspread a rug before the colossus, and twodefend-ers escort the PRINCE to it, where he sinks andburies his face in his arms. A figure, almostnude, but loaded with dazzling barbaric orna-ments, glides upon the upper level before Ug,andbegins a curious writhing of the body. Threeothers, similarly costumed, follow him upon theupper level, while a dozen appear upon thelowerlevel. A fanatical dance is performed as a

solemnpart of the ceremony before Ug. The dance is


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wild and furious, reaching a frenzy. As it endsthe dancers whirl away.

THE HIGH PRIEST(addressing the PRINCE upon the rug}

Now are you sealed unto the sacrifice.

A little while we feast. When we return

Be full prepared to pass into Ug's flames.

[ The KING leaves the throne. The Noblessupport himas he goes away in the direction of the feast.Allthe company follow except the HIGH PRIEST andthe JESTER. The HIGH PRIEST goes over to thebowed PRINCE.

THE HIGH PRIESTDeath is the changeless fortune of mankind.

[41]


To some it comes as last of countless stormsThat bent and marred but could not fell untilThe sap of life had brittled with the years.To others death comes in the quiet noon:The troubled axe they leave in half-hewn logMust marvel while it rots. To others still

Death is a breath that shuts the door of lifeOn eyes still round with wonder at the view.


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Some chew the cud until the bitter's gone;Some never know the cud is aught but sweet.If called in youth or called in age, all menSwear solemnly the other way were best.Peace, boy. What privilege to die for thoseDoomed but to live!

[The PRINCE gives no sign that be has heard.The

HIGH PRIEST departs. The JESTER advances,

bottle in hand.

THE JESTER

Forget Old Graybeard, boy ; his trade is woe.What sophistry can make you glad to go ?Or what, forsooth, should make you glad to stay?Grief is your certain portion either way.The fool is wise, he quick accepts the rule;The wise man long denies it he 's the fool.Forgetfulness alone can scoff man's plightGood liquor is the very salve of live !

[The JESTER tries to force his bottle upon thePRINCE.He is thrust away and, moving about, he sings.

THE JESTER (singing)

When the sweets of the world have been captured;

When joys are plucked ripe from the tree;And the senses no longer enraptured


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And love is of things that have been ;Then the grape sheds its blood without stintingAnd the mortal forgets his resenting,Sees his sky glow again with new tinting

Good wine is the solace of men !

So fill up the bowl to the brim, etc.

\fthe JESTER, walking unsteadily, departs inthedirection taken by all the others. The PRINCE,left alone, gets up, lifts a spear a Warriorhas leftbehind and stands before the colossus.

THE PRINCE

O mocking monster that befouls the world,Dare but expose some vulnerable joint

[43]


And though fiends straight devour me will Idrive

This iron lance to end thy cursed spell.

\he PRINCE hurls the lance and it strikesagainst the

colossus, ^he lance is shattered to -pieces bythe


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That smites fear's shackles from your steadfastknees ?

O trees, how lift the head ?Assurance is your crown;

[44]

THE FALL OF UG

You only bow not down.What secret frees your hearts from palsieddread ?

Sweet spirit of this grove,

Let mortal share thy calm.

My soul cries for thy balm.Come to me, nameless messenger of love!

[A flute ripples briefly , bigb up the bill. Itrepeatsoff at one side, then off at tbe other, thennear thePRINCE. TRIP, the fairy, is seen flying. Hispipe still at bis lips, he alights upon a rock.

TRIP

As ye called me so come I ;Bid me stay or swift I fly.

THE PRINCE


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Stay! Stay! O living fairy, who are you?

TRIP

Ho, ho ! Ask the snakes and snailsHow I twist their lazy tails!Ask the squirrel in the treeWould he store nuts but for me ?Ask the linnet, quail or jayI command them when to lay.When I speak, madrona treeDons a purple robe for me.Master I of birds and bees,Friend, companion of the trees.Flock I guard, and herd and droveLord and spirit of this grove!Fear me, mortal, fear my whip!

[Lifting a branch above his bead be threatens,then

[45]


flings it away and clasps his arms abouthimselfin ecstasy.

Hi! I love you! I am Trip!

THE PRINCE

Sweet Trip, full often have I roamed this wood:How falls it that we never met till now ?


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TRIP

Oft as in this grove you've strayedTrip has faithful shadow played;Sometimes followed where you led,Often flitted on ahead.I have whistled, you have slept;I have piped and you have wept.In the bush I've teased the bear;Lured your foolish arrows there;After you mad bruin wentIt was I who stole the scent!

THE PRINCEAlas, alas, not once saw I your form!

TRIP

Change has come to you, not me ;Faith has made your eyes to see.

THE PRINCEWhere be your home ; not near this dreadfulspot ?

TRIP

Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful blindEyes of men who will be blind![He dances about with merriment^ then sobersandgoes on.

[46]


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THE FALL OF UG

Home? Ah, mortal, you shall seeHow Trip grew a homing tree.Once a sapling all unblestCame into the grove to rest.Full ten thousand moons have spedSince I found it all but dead;Barkless, leafless, white with pain,Summer zephyrs might have slain.Called I humming-birds and bees,Bade them whisk to farthest leas.Flower, bush and vine run rifeSent me each one drop of life.Lo, the sapling bent its head,Quaffed and flushed a living red.At my word the beaked birdfolkWove a warm, majestic cloak;Teeth of squirrels wise and oldWorked expansion in each fold.Leaves were wanting, in their placeSpiders spun the rarest lace.Came the day my tree in easeSang to soothe the orphan breeze;Came the splendid night at last,It defied the winter blast."Grow!" I cried. It lifted high,Pillared up the tired sky.I dreamed immortalitySee my deathless redwood tree!

THE PRINCE

Strange is the secret of your life, old tree,

Grown by a fairy for his castle home.


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Rocks are deaf, the rock stayed on.

Lack of faith like subtle darts

Set men trembling in their hearts.

Yon dread face they graved through tears

With the chisels of their fears.

With their evil thoughts alone

They drave life into this stone;

With impure imaginings

Raised a god of countless stings.

THE PRINCE

Say not a simple stone bars heaven's path.What stone could cast such shadow black asdoom,And peopled mayhap by such awful shapesThat Ug in contrast is most fair ?

TRIPI know panther, mouse and bee;

[48]

THE FALL OF UG

Awful shapes are strange to me.


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Nameless monsters Trip would find

Hi, let's see what hides behind!

[TRIP passes through the air to the shoulder ofthecolossus, shades his eyes with his hand andpeersearnestly into the shaded hillside above.

Not a monster rolls in sight;Nothing is but lack of light.When you stand beside his headAwful Ug is all but fled.

THE PRINCE

Deride not great Ug to his face. Beware !He holds the world's heart in his iron beak.

TRIP

Is it fearful to be near ?

What this strange, soft sound I hear ?

[TRIP climbs to where he can lay a hand on thebeakythen draws back in mock fright. He repeatsthis,looking playfully down at the PRINCE. Hethrusts his hands into the beak and draws outsomething which he hides under both handsagainst his breast while he laughs andchuckles.

While this beak holds men dismayed


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See what nests here unafraid![TRIP tosses into the air a dove he had liftedfrom its* nest in Ug y s beak and the bird flies away.TRIPdrops back to the ground near the PRINCE.

Music comes to cheer your heart:Hear the nightly chorus start.

THE PRINCEAh, gentle Trip, mock not my tortured plight.

[49]

THE GROVE PLAYS OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUBNo music hear I save the cricket's dirge.

TRIP

Hist now ! Let your mood be ripeT is some far off fairy's pipe.

\Eoth listen with band to ear.

THE PRINCEAlas, no sweet tones greet my dreary ear!

TRIP

Deaf your ear to woodland sighsWith long listening to men's lies.Hi! There sounds the call again

Now the answer from yon glen !


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THE FALL OF UG

Open now to fresh delight ;Share the harmony of night.\fThe music runs through the woods. Trip dancesabout, charmed that the PRINCE is able to hear.

THE PRINCEIt seems I hear who never heard before!

TRIP

Now from hill and cavern dim

Shall uplift the woodfolk hymn.

Sing, ye sounding forest, sing!

Ring, ye living redwoods, ring!

[The haunting, wordless song of the woodfolk isheardin one place, then in another, and the rippleof itruns along the hill. Finally it is heard comingfrom every side, with indescribable effect.

THE PRINCE

I should have sworn my faculties complete,Yet deaf was I and knew it not untilThe wondrous music of the forest nightRevealed and healed and left me lacking naught.

TRIP


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Fairies fly away and the vision fades rapidly.

THE PRINCE

My key IVe lost! Quick, give it back ! But stayThe King, the priests, the company I callThat all may share this vision of delight.

TRIP

Ho, ho! Blindness binds them all.When did they look up and call ?Smallest fairy knows no fearWhen the fiercest man be near.When mad mortals hurl their bestInto Ug's consuming breast,Fairies join their unheard criesTo the woe of him who dies.Even now their eyes are dewThey prepare to weep for you.

THE PRINCE

Your words recall me to my bitter fate.

E'en now approaching shouts proclaim my hour.

The hope that had sprung up was but a dream.

TRIP

Hi ! What know you of your dreams ?What is true and what but seems ?Learn which is reality;Therein lies the golden key.

[53]


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[Shouting is beard.THE PRINCE

They come! Stay, gentle Trip, desert me not.When my sad eyes must close in hideous deathLet their last vision rest on you, else IUpon the threshold turn to curse the world.

TRIP

Trip must fade nor linger on.

Come your people, I am gone.

How might you hold me in view

When their blindness may blind you ?

This my last injunction be:

Heed my mystic redwood tree.

When Ug scourged, you called and lo,

Now you know what fairies know !

More than fairies know you need

Seek and find some higher meed.

When men wrestle with their fear


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Often does the path grow clear.

Faith once more your eyes anoint

Look where redwood fingers point!

[At his final word TRIP flies away y passingout ofsight directly over the head of the colossus.'ThePRINCE runs appealingly to the spot where thefairy stood. The shouting grows louder. TheKING enters and is escorted to the throne. ThePriests, led by the HIGH PRIEST, take theirplaces. The company is quickly composed asbefore. The PRINCE appears to see somethinginvisible to the others.

THE PRINCE

Look, king and priests; look, warriors,huntsmen, all.See how the fairy master of this grove laughsdown

[54]

THE FALL OF UG

In scorn of all our bootless sacrifice !

Fear Ug no more ! Great Ug is but a stone !

Oh, see you not sweet Trip ? Ask him to tell!


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THE HIGH PRIEST

Peace, lad, fear has distraught your mind.

Stand boldly as the kingly son should stand,

Nor shame us with your monstrous dread ofdeath.

THE PRINCEWhat words of mine could make you understand ?

THE HIGH PRIESTFar spent the night; make ready for the rites.

[Priests direct Husbandmen and others inplacingadditional logs in the sacrificial pit and theflamesare lighted.

THE PRINCEI see and hear; you all be blind and deaf!

THE CHIEF WARRIOR

Oh, falter not nor forfeit our esteem:

True valor scoffs at fate and laughingly dies.

THE PRINCE

Illusion's victim worse than Ug's am I.They think me coward, else they call me fool.

THE HIGH PRIESTLay off the garlands. Aid him to prepare.


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[Priests offer to assist the PRINCE to removethe gar-lands from about his neck y but he motions themaway.

[55]


THE PRINCEMy hands suffice: straight I disrobe my soul.

[He lifts off a garland and holds it in hishands.

Let this be love of father, home and friends:My dearest tie melts at the touch of Ug.

[He pitches the garland into the sacrificialpit, thenlifts another from his neck.

This be ambition; how its roses flamed

Ere Ug's foul breath turned every petal sere!

[He flings the garland into the pit and liftsoff another.

This be sweet charity; it was a robe

That hid the world's defects from trusting eyes

Until Ug's hand displayed the horrid truth.


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[He flings the garland into the pit and liftsthe re-maining four from his neck.

Fair hope was this; a lily stung by frost:This truthfulness, this pride, this loyalty.Ug's fetid blasts touch all their purity.

[He flings all the garlands into the pit, thentears off his

white robe, standing nude but for a breech-cloth

and sandals.

This garment be outrageous joy of life,A mocking pretense that enfolds all men,Yet at the first rude plucking rends apart

[Rending the robe he throws it aside.

And leaves us naked to such foe as Ug!

THE HIGH PRIEST

We wait with ready sacrifice that Ug.May speak his promise of a blood-red dawn.

[56]

THE FALL OF UG

THE YOUNG PRIEST


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Pray let the patriarch recall his tale:Mayhap he will pronounce the season comeWhen red dawn shall be swallowed up by whiteIn token that Ug's day at last be done.

[While speaking the YOUNG PRIEST has advancedtothe PRINCE, though looking at and imploring thePATRIARCH PRIEST who moves his head doubt-fully. The HIGH PRIEST seizes the YOUNGPRIEST and hurls him to the ground at one side.The HIGH PRIEST lifts his hands and all but thePRINCE /#// upon their faces. At length thefaceof the colossus begins to glow with red.

THE HIGH PRIESTRed dawn is nigh. Ug calls for sacrifice !

[Priests and others seize the PRINCE and lifthis nakedform above their heads, preparatory to castingitupon the outstretched palms of Ug,from whichit will bound into the pit of flame. At thismoment TRIP'S pipe is heard loudly ripplingsomewhere close at hand. The sound startles thePRINCE and arouses him to desperate action. Hestruggles out of the hands of the Priests,springsto the top of a rock and with his back to thecolos-sus, raises his arms to heaven.

THE PRINCE

O god of truth, where point the redwood hands,


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to beckon and to sweep downward toward the com-pany of people. The latter lift their arms inglad-ness and, led by the PRINCE, commence to climbupward. As they pass over Ugs former seat theybegin to sing a World Hymn of rejoicing. Thechorus is caught up by many unseen choirs inremote places until all the world seems to bevoicing its rapture.

THE WORLD HYMN

The Lord made the earth and the fulnessthereof;

By His hands were the deep places laid ;The strength of the mountains the breath of Hismouth;

In His palm are the mighty seas weighed.He spake and the wilderness wept with newrain ;

From the dry ground the water-springs came.He looked on the earth and it trembled withjoy;

The hilltops He touched into flame.

Let the floods clap their hands, let the windsshout theirpraise ;

Let the mountains bow low and be furled;

[58]


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THE FALL OF UG

The Lord from His high sanctuary hath come;

His lightnings enlighteneth the world.The gods of the nations are idols of clay;The sun hath our Lord full arrayed:The Lord lifts His voice, let the nations bedumb

"Lo, man in mine image is made:"Dominion be his over earth and himself:"The eyes of his faith none shall bind."When perfect love casteth out fear from myson,

"Lo, in him be the infinite mind!"Let all the nations and all the peoplesRejoice and be glad.Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!

[The last vain impulse of fallen Ug is seen intheoccurrence of his red dawn . The redilluminationseems for a brief space to drive Ugs colorfulsug-gestion into all the earth , but meaning andmotivehave gone, and presently a new and strange sub-limity creeps into the breaking of the day. Tomen's unaccustomed eyes the novel rays at firstare green, but as they overcome and swallow up

the old manifestation of blood, it is seen thatthe


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promise is indeed fulfilled, that crystal dawniscome to enwrap the hearts of those escaped fromUg in nameless glory and in endless peace.

[59]

NOTE ON THE MUSIC

BY HERMAN PERLET

AFTER close study of Mr. Steele's play Irealized thatUg could claim no single country as his own,but thathis awful power held the world and dominatedall nations,savage and civilized, alike. Consequently inthe music Ihave not adhered to any one form, style orschool, buthave written with a free hand, breakingtheoretical rulesat pleasure in order to get most thoroughlyinto theatmosphere of the book. Since Ug dominates theheartsof all the characters, Ug must have anunmistakable and

powerful theme which rings out in commandingtones


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at all times. It must be ever in the ear aswell as inthe mind and heart. This Ug theme is asfollows:

It is used in many forms and developments. Itis heardat the beginning of the Prelude, beingannounced by theentire brass choir; again it proclaims itspower when theworld gathers before the colossus to do homage,this wildharmonization introducing the entrance of theclans:

[61]


In the Song of Ug the motive frequently appearsin theaccompaniment of the" song, while the chorususes it instill another form:

^


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(

- n , 4

^=N=

3 'lick

'- f-^:

H

- M '-J r

x>vuv Wevtfviruvoe/ &*

; t i Tj 1 1

1^

^~

r r f[ . i =


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-

t=- 1 !=! g

L iH

' F

-^ i ^^1 J 1

-$

-^-4^-^

: i


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1?

I !

's

Thus the motive appears and reappears,sometimes inwarning and again in jealous frenzy, as thoughUg himselffeared that the truth might be learned by hisslaves andhis power lost for all time.

In the Prelude, after the triumphantdeclaration of theUg motive, the atmosphere changes to one ofcalm, in ashort episode sung by three French horns:


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fij&i

^ t M

femi < > j.>

HP

In this is denoted the natural peace and calmof theGrove. Through it is heard a mournful voice(the coranglais) pleading with broken heart forrecognition. Itis the voice of Truth begging that it belistened to andheeded, but no one and no thing pays attentionto it saveonly the evening breeze that seems to followthe mournfulstrain in its wanderings, looking for a mind orheart toreceive it:

[62]

THE FALL OF UG


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and piccolo, the theme being as follows:

* f !

I U U

-tx^- ^X ^X i

[63]

-J 1


The next number of importance is the entranceof thegroups. In this we have first the motive of theHusband-men (tenors):

^


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f

;

Next is the motive of the Huntsmen (firstbasses) :

The Shepherds (second tenors) follow, theirsong beingaccompanied by the pastoral music of the pipes:i

W

* 4

H la

Last of the groups come the Warriors (secondbasses) :


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Then comes an ensemble of all the groups, withthe Ugmotive dominating.

The Dance of the Fanatics is based upon a wild,weirdmotive, suggestive of a barbaric religiousfrenzy.

In the Drinking Song of the Jester, the motiveof therefrain is the same in each occurrence, whilethe versesthemselves are foreign to each other. This isthe motiveof the refrain :

THE FALL OF UG

The distracted Prince, left alone before Ug towhom heis soon to be sacrificed, dares Ug to meet himin combat:

{


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be the lastsacrifice demanded, whereupon the Prince willgladly leapinto the flame:

5S

i

XU

S

\!7t j : .

[65]



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Receiving no reply, the Prince turns away indespair anddiscovers the trees. He looks at their upward-pointingshafts, and it is during his appeal to themthat we hearonce more the mournful, earnest appeal of themotive ofTruth, beseeching the Prince to heed it:

Trip's joyous motive is suddenly heard again,before hereveals himself to the Prince:

[66]

THE FALL OF UG

Next, the call of the fairies is heard. Thenthe fairiesappear and dance and gambol and dart throughthe air onsilken wings. The birds of the forest lendtheir notes tothe musical rhythm ; the friendly quail take

flight to clearthe way for the fairy dancers, and through the


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dance birdsare heard calling as if expressing theirapproval:

p

J rt f^=F^

*

-J

J t ^

^-

_^iii^

E= 1


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-*fn

^

^Mn

4^4

T kf tl |

-i fi : 4-


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pf

to

-1

\^-


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The finale, which is the next number of musicalimport-ance, is announced by the tympani in solemn,measuredtone as the Prince is being prepared for hisdeath. Thevoices of two bassoons add greater color ofsadness:

CLfJLoccvvo i

lUfc.

m

m

If

[HM

nt


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While the Prince is in the depths of despair,the Truthmotive is again heard begging for recognition.The youthseems to feel its unknown strength andinfluence. The


Priests are seized with fear as the Princelifts his voice inprayerful declaration. Thunder and lightningensue. AsUg is demolished, the Truth motive rings uptriumphantly.Light, Truth's counterpart, floods the placewhere oncedarkness reigned, and the World Hymn ofrejoicing isheard:

The motive of Truth sings on in overwhelmingmajesty.Fear is vanquished.

M


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m

68

NEC-NATAMA

THE DANCE OF THE PRIESTS

THE TWELFTH GROVE PLAY

[PERFORMED ON THE EIGHTH NIGHT OF AUGUST, 1914]

NEC-NATAMA

(COMRADESHIP)

Forest "Play

BY

J. WILSON SHIELS

WITH A NOTE ON THE MUSIC

BY THE COMPOSER


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UDA WALDROP

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE PROLOGUE

THE PRIEST MR. G. F. HERR

A WHITE MAN MR. AMEDE JOULLIN

THE LOVE WOMAN MR. HARRIS C. ALLEN

THE HATE WOMAN MR. GEORGE B. DE LONG

FIRST TORTURER MR. HENRY S. BATES

SECOND TORTURER MR. J. D. FLETCHER

FIRST FIRE LIGHTER MR. A. F. LAWTON

SECOND FIRE LIGHTER MR. CARL BUNDSCHU

THE SPEAR THROWER MR. JEROME B. LANDFIELD

THE ARROW AIMER MR. STEWART L. RAWLINGS

THE KNIFE MAN MR. G. S. POMEROYHate Indians, War "Dancers

THE PLAY

THE HIGH PRIEST MR. RALPH L. PHELPS

AN AGED PRIEST MR. H. McD. SPENCER


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FIRST ASSISTANT PRIEST MR. E. T. HOUGHTON

SECOND ASSISTANT PRIEST MR. FRANCIS J.BRUGUIERE

THIRD ASSISTANT PRIEST MR. H. B. BLATCHLY

FOURTH ASSISTANT PRIEST MR. W. H. ROBINSON

[71]


FIFTH ASSISTANT PRIEST MR. CHARLES F. BULOTTI

A NEOPHYTE MR. AUSTIN W. SPERRY

FIRST GUARD OF THE HOLY POOL MR. SCOTTHENDRICKSSECOND GUARDOFTHEHOLY POOL MR. E. L. TAYLORTHE GREAT HATE CHIEF MR. WILLIAM P. HORN

AN INFERIOR CHIEF MR. R. M. HOTALING

THE SILENT ONE MR. FRANK L. CORBUSIER

A RUNNER MR. J. B. BRADY

THE GUARD OF THE RIVER TRAIL DR. BENJAMIN M.STICK

THE GUARD OF THE TRAIL OF THESETTING SUN MR. C. H. LAMBERTON

THE MAIDEN OF THE GENTLE


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PEOPLE MR. HAROLD K. BAXTER

THE LOVE WOMAN MR. HARRIS C. ALLEN

THE DREAMER MR. MARSHALL DARRACH

FIRST WOODSMAN MR. BUSH FINNELL

SECOND WOODSMAN MR. JOSEPH S. THOMPSON

THIRD WOODSMAN MR. RALPH SLOAN

A VOICE MR. MACKENZIE GORDON

Love-Longing Indians, Hate Indians, WarDancers, Hate EravesBoys, Water-Spirits y Voices of the Treefops,other Voices

PLACE: The Prologue A redwood forest. The PlayThe same.TIME: Long ago. Many years are supposed toelapse between thePrologue and the Play.

Production directed by MR. FRANK L. MATHIEU.

Setting designed and executed by MR. GEORGE E.LYON, DR. W. A.BRYANT, and MR. E. C. FORD.

NEC-NATAMA

Costumes designed by MR. AME'DE'E JOULLIN.


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Properties designed and executed by DR. HARRYP. CARLTON andMR. HARRY S. FONDA.

Dance devised and directed by MR. GEORGE B. DELONG.Lighting by MR. EDWARD J. DUFFEY.

Musical Director, MR. UDA WALDROP.Chorus Master, MR. E. D. CRANDALL.

[73]

NEC-NATAMA

(COMRADESHIP)THE PROLOGUE

A redwood forest. A waterfall flows down awooded bill-side^ over a huge rock and ends splashing in apool. Whenthe world was created (so runs the Indianfaith) Great Handfashioned his features upon the rock, and itwas made sacred;then the pool mirrored his face and was madeholy. Once,

in the dead past, a mighty wind laid low atree. It fell to


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the hillside, over the Sacred Rock.

From the hilltop to the glade below flowersbloom in radi-ant beauty and faintly fill the air with sweetscent. Thebirds sing and all is bathed in summer light.

Suddenly this fair place is flooded withIndians. Theystart an irregular torture dance and arefrenzied with thedesire to impart to the faggots their hate. AWHITE MAN isdragged before them. He is noble and, mindlessof all thisintense throbbing hate, gazes in adoration atthe trees andthe beauty of the summer scene. By gesture heshows hislove of nature and gives his fellowship andforgiveness.The PRIEST, seated upon the rock-throne, willhave none of it,and commands the impatient Indians to proceedwith thetorture. They take him, with hate-haste, to theblackenedtorture stake and there they lash him; somebuild a fire;others leap into the dance and carry thefaggots back to theflames; others fill rude cups at the waterfalland either holdthem just outside their victim 's reach, or

dash the water to


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[75]


the ground; others try to spear him, but thespear-beads bluntand fall at every thrust; others endeavor toshoot arrows atthe martyr, but the bowstrings break. Theystand amazedand try again. The squaws gloat and incitefurther deviltry.Great is the wrong they do this man, this loverof all thingsbeautiful, and lo! the spiritual LOVE WOMAN ofthe tribe(fragile in form, delicate of feature, clothedin simple white,a white eagle's feather in her hair) comes outof the waters,over the fallen tree and gives her love to him.She standsmotionless, with arms outstretched as ifholding a cup filledto overflowing with her love. The eyes of theman at thestake light with understanding and byexpression tells herthat he takes the full measure of her love. ThePRIEST, fol-lowing the eye of the WHITE MAN, sees thisgoddess of tribe-love and with a wild fling of his arms commands

the Indiansto cease the dance and to put out the fire; for


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flowing in the wind, and, with a despairinggesture from heroutspread arms, vanishes from the grove. TheHATE WOMAN

[76]

NEC-NATAMA

stands supreme, The white chief turns to blessLove uponthe trail when lo! the HATE WOMAN meets hiseye. Shedances and holds out her permissive arms. Heisfascinated yhe hesitates; control is yet within him. But atfast, throwingaway his reverent mien and dashing aside theworshipingIndians who seek to stay him, he stridesroughly towardher while she waits for him, confident with thepride ofvictory. When he reaches her, and just as he isabout totake her in his arms, the grove is thrown intocompletedarkness.

Love has left the grove and the doom has come.He hasthrown away conscience and Hate is triumphant.The water-

fall no longer flows. The flowers fade. Thebirds are still.


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[77]


HATE WOMAN. The fascination of the WHITE MAN.Theapproach of darkness. The fading of theflowers. The cessa-tion of the waterfall over the Sacred Rock. Theflight of con-science from the WHITE MAN. The WHITE MAN'Sflightup the hill to the HATE WOMAN. The coming ofdarkness.

[78]

THE PLAY

scene is the same as in the Prologue, butwithout sun-light. All is gloom within the glade. Unkindtime has beenat work. All is sullen. The black stake standsin the ashesof past tortures. The hillside is peopled withbusy HateIndians. They make bows, arrows and spears. A

squawis seen weaving a war head-dress; another is


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Ah ! Love, fly back upon the breeze.

[79]


\he music changes and two Indian boys boundforth upon an upper trail, running here andthere in vicious play. 'They separate and chaseeach other until they spy the Love-Longing In-dians at the Holy Pool. They pause and plot inwhispers; then with cunning and under cover,they sneak to within throwing distance and casta stone into the Holy Pool. 'The incidentalmusicceases. They boys run off laughing through thewoods. This action startles the Love-LongingIndians. 'The FIRST GUARD lifts his spear toaim and slay.

THE AGED PRIESTKill not!

FIRST GUARD (still aiming)They foul the Holy Pool.

SECOND GUARD

Fast they run. Try no more, (drawing an arrow)If theycome again they will not grow to follow theGreat HateChief.

THE NEOPHYTE


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Let all things live. So orders the High Priest.

FIRST GUARD(pointing to the workers on the hill)

See. They live to kill.

THE AGED PRIESTHot is their war-blood.

[so]

NEC-NATAMASECOND GUARD

They hunt well. To trail elk and deer is betterthanto gather acorns.

THE NEOPHYTE

We hunt far to gather nuts. Here nothing grows.(pointing to the Holy Pool) See, no lilieslive. Why isthis?

THE AGED PRIESTThe Great Spirit is angry.

THE NEOPHYTETell of this.

THE AGED PRIEST

Many moons ago. Not within the time of three


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tribes.A great spirit, the Love Woman, dwelt with thelilies inthis Holy Pool. No brave had sight of her.Unseen, shecreated love and gave it to our people. Unseen,calledthe sun to grow the flowers. Unseen, madeflowers giveup heavy scent to twilight air. Unseen, calledlove-lightto the moon. So, by love alone our people weremadeready for the Mighty One. All praised her. Allwaspeace, power and just vengeance. When, lo! shefled. . . .All was changed. . . . We watch for her return.

THE NEOPHYTE (witb reverence)I watch!

\He crouches at the pool.

SECOND GUARD(pointing with his spear to Hate Indians)

They do not watch.

[81]

THE GROVE PLAYS OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUBTHE AGED PRIEST

They have no faith. They are Hate braves. They


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fol-low the Great Hate Chief.

FIRST GUARDI followed once.

SECOND GUARDAnd I. Big war-man. Good chief for us.

THE AGED PRIESTNo. He runs wild.

THE NEOPHYTE

He is like the panther, all strength and fight.Hehastes for blood.

FIRST GUARD

No one finds food, or foe, if keen he seeksnot. Doesthe hound kill the deer, if he scent like thevillage dog ?

SECOND GUARD

If they fight he fights back. It is good forthe tribethat he hates keen.

THE AGED PRIEST

Hate is good to guard life. Hate is bad to makefight,

without cause. The Great Hate Chief travels farto make


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fight. So the Great Spirit is angry and theLove Womanhas fled. Heard you the Grove

the groves plays of bohemian club vol3

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