COLOMBINE
Reading edition
A FANTASY
AND OTHER VERSES
LONDON BENN AND CRONIN, LTD. CRAVEN HOUSE, KINGSWAY, W.C. 1911
Copyright: Entered at Stationers’ Hall, December 1911. Acting Rights strictly Reserved.
COLOMBINE.
COLOMBINE A FANTASY BY REGINALD ARKELL WITH SOME DRAWINGS BY FREDERICK CARTER.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
“Colombine” was first performed at Clavier Hall, Hanover Square, W., on Thursday, 7th December 1911, with the following cast:
Dan’l (an old man) Mr. B. Butler.
Nathan’l (a boy) Mr. A. E. Filmer.
(By permission of Miss Lillah McCarthy)
Harlequin Mr. Reginald Bach.
Pierrot Mr. Mark Hannam.
(By permission of Miss Lillah McCarthy)
Colombine Miss Ethel Evans.
The play was produced by Mr. A. E. Filmer.
SCENE
A Roman Camp on the summit of Cissbury Beacon in the South Downs. A fairy ring occupies the foreground. All round are beech trees. The time is evening.
PROLOGUE
There are circles of green upon Cissbury Hill, Where the Pharisees dance—so they say; Revelling merrily round it until The dawn over Ditchling is gray. And travellers lost upon Cissbury Hill— (Pixy-led folk who stray) Seated on toad-stools, with fairy folk sup, But here, in Haymarket, the roadway is up. There are circles of beech upon Cissbury Hill, Where the leaves of a lifetime decay; Hiding the memories, lingering still, Of Rome’s indisputable sway. And under the beech-leaves of Cissbury Hill, Throbs the heart of the downland alway. While dreaming of chieftains and warriors in woad, You’re lighting your pipe in the Charing Cross Road.
