ACT IV THE GIANT’S CASTLE: MIDNIGHT
Reading edition
In a dim twilight of stars a castle is seen upon a rock. It is thatched with eel-skins, and there appears to be neither door nor window. The dark figures of Finn, the Climber, the Thief, the Marksman, and the Listener are presently seen stealing softly over the rocks. The other three have evidently remained with the boat. They talk in whispers.
Finn
[To Climber.]
Is this the place?
Climber
I believe so.
Finn
It’s very dark,
I cannot see your face.
Listener
Hark!
Finn
[Nervously.]
What is it?
Listener
I hear something inside,
It sounds like children’s voices.
Have you tried
The door?
Finn
There isn’t any door.
Listener
[Positively.]
I really hear
Something, I don’t know what. It sounds quite near.
Climber
If there’s no front door there must be a stair,
I’m certain he has put the child in there;
And since it must have got inside somehow,
I rather think the door is in the brow.
At any rate, I’m going to climb and see.
Finn
[Anxiously.]
Take care! The thatch is very slippery!
Listener
[Cheerfully.]
If there’s a way in, then there is no doubt
There must be just the same way to get out.
[The Climber’s figure is soon dimly seen silhouetted on the roof against the stars.]
Climber
[With a delighted exclamation.]
Just as I thought!
Finn
[Nervously.]
What?
Climber
I’ve found a door just where I thought.
Finn
Can you open it?
Climber
Oh yes, there’s not
Much difficulty there,
It comes away with prayer.
[She is seen kneeling.]
Finn
What’s that you’re saying?
Listener
Be quiet! Can’t you see she’s praying?
Climber
[Presently.]
It’s opening up!
Finn
[Eagerly.]
What is inside?
Climber
I’m looking, but I haven’t tried
My eyes yet in a night so deep.
[She calls down softly presently.]
The Giant is sound asleep!
Finn
Oh! Can you see if he’s still got the child
Inside the cap
Of the other hand?
Climber
[Delighted.]
It’s there! It’s still taking its little nap!
Finn
[Desperately.]
If only I were strong enough to creep
Inside and steal it while he is asleep!
But with this heavy box I can’t get up.
Listener
Why don’t you throw it away then altogether?
Finn
[Arrested.]
I wonder if I could? I don’t know whether—
Climber
[Calling down.]
There’s a dog here too besides, and a little pup!
Finn
Abominable! They’re sure to bark.
Listener
[Delighted.]
I say! A puppy! What a lark!
Please try and get it for me. Hark!
Finn
[Nervously.]
What is it?
Listener
I hear the Giant coming up out of his sleep.
You must be quick,
Or else you’ll stick.
Thief
[To Climber.]
I’m almost certain I could creep
And steal the child while he is sleeping,
Only I’m rather old to do much leaping;
You’d have to carry me a bit,
And let me gently down to it.
Climber
All right! There is no difficulty there.
With your support I could go anywhere.
[She swings down, takes the Thief on her back, and is presently seen on the roof letting her gently down inside the castle. The Climber is seen again kneeling.]
Finn
[Anxiously, from below.]
Oh dear! How slow she is! It’s very dark.
Why is she delaying?
Listener
Be quiet! Can’t you see she’s praying?
Hark!
Finn
[Nervously.]
What is it now?
Listener
[Joyously.]
I hear the child coming up out of his sleep.
Climber
[Calling softly down to the Thief.]
It is so deep
Inside, I can’t see where you are.
Listener
[Anxiously.]
Has she got the puppy?
Climber
[Reassuringly.]
She’ll get it all right, never fear!
Listener
[Whispering loudly.]
Good man!
I say! Can
You hand it down and let me hold its muzzle?
I guess to both of you it is a puzzle
To know at present where to put it,
And if Finn sees it probably he’ll shoot it.
Finn
[Anxiously.]
Has she got the child? I can’t endure
To wait like this.
Climber
[A trifle hesitatingly.]
I think so. I’m not sure.
Listener
Be quick! I hear the dog coming up out of her sleep.
Thief’s voice
[From within, faintly.]
Oh! Lower me again to Mother Earth,
For I in spirit have been called as far
As the secret place where her lost children are,
And I now bring them back to second birth,
Rescuing both the body and the soul
Out of the Hand of death entire and whole,
If you are strong enough to bear us back
To the same side from which we came.
Climber
[Reeling with the sudden relaxation of nervous tension.]
Alack!
I am as wearied as a falling star,
I cannot do it alone.
[At this moment the Hand is seen emerging from the roof. It grips the Climber and takes her in.]
Finn
[With a frantic cry.]
Where are
They? Oh! My God, what shall I do?
Marksman
Put your finger underneath your wisdom tooth
And find what it replies.
Finn
[Doing so.]
It says that I must tell the truth.
Marksman
[Sternly.]
Confess your previous lies!
[Finn hides his face with a groan.]
Marksman
[Gently.]
You need fear no disgrace
If you will look me in the face.
Finn
[Trembling.]
I’m thinking that there are not many here
Can look you in the face without some fear.
Marksman
[Quietly.]
If you are too shy
I cannot help you at all. You must all die.
[He turns away.]
Finn
[Clutching him by the shoulder.]
No! No! No!
[The Marksman turns and gazes at him. Finn remains upright, his eyes riveted on the Marksman’s.]
Finn
[Steadily.]
I told her I was wide enough awake.
Marksman
[Quietly.]
That was a great mistake.
Finn
I told her I could quite well do
Without her aid.
Marksman
[Quietly.]
That was untrue.
Finn
I told her that I did not feel
The slightest pain. Her dream was real,
[He points to the box.]
For overburdened with this weight
Of earth, I was in such a state
I really could not recognize
Myself reflected in her eyes.
I felt in such a deep disgrace
I could not look her in the face,
So when she brought her dream by and by
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!