‘And so ad infinitum’ (The Life of the Insects)
Paul Selver translation
An Entomological Review, in Three Acts a Prologue and an Epilogue
BY THE BROTHERS ČAPEK
The authorized translation from the Czech by Paul Selver
FREELY ADAPTED FOR THE ENGLISH STAGE BY NIGEL PLAYFAIR AND CLIFFORD BAX
‘So, Naturalists observe, a flea Has smaller fleas that on him prey; And these have smaller still to bite ’em, And so proceed ad infinitum.’ Dean Swift.
HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
LONDON EDINBURGH GLASGOW COPENHAGEN
NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE CAPE TOWN
BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS SHANGHAI
1923
PRINTED IN ENGLAND AT THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS BY FREDERICK HALL
SCENES
PAGE
Prologue: In the Woods 5
Act I: The Butterflies 8
Act II: Creepers and Crawlers 24
Act III: The Ants 44
Epilogue: Death and Life 63
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
(In the order of their appearance)
A Tramp
A Lepidopterist
Clytie
Otto
Felix Butterflies
Iris
Victor
A Chrysalis
Mr. Beetle
Mrs. Beetle
Another Beetle
Ichneumon Fly
His Daughter
Mr. Cricket
Mrs. Cricket
A Parasite
Other Creepers and Crawlers
The Blind Timekeeper
The Chief Engineer
The Second Engineer
An Inventor
A Messenger Ants
A Signal Officer
A Journalist
A Philanthropist
The Commander-in-Chief of the Yellows, &c.
First
Second Moths
Third
First Snail
Second Snail
A Woodcutter
A Woman
School Children