_Custis_: What you do?
_Lincoln_: We have sent a protest.
_Custis_: No good. Must do more.
_Lincoln_: What more can we do?
_Custis_: You know.
_Lincoln_: Yes; but don't ask me for reprisals.
_Custis (gleaming)_: Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.
_Lincoln_: No, no. You must think. Think what you are saying.
_Custis_: I think of murdered black men.
_Lincoln_: You would not ask me to murder?
_Custis_: Punish--not murder.
_Lincoln_: Yes, murder. How can I kill men in cold blood for what has been done by others? Think what would follow. It is for us to set a great example, not to follow a wicked one. You do believe that, don't you?
_Custis (after a pause)_: I know. Yes. Let your light so shine before men. I trust Mista Lincoln. Will trust. I was wrong. I was too sorry for my people.
_Lincoln_: Will you remember this? For more than two years I have thought of you every day. I have grown a weary man with thinking. But I shall not forget. I promise that.
_Custis_: You great, kind friend. I will love you.
_A knock at the door._
_Lincoln:_ Yes.
SUSAN _comes in_.
_Susan_: An officer gentleman. He says it's very important.
_Lincoln_: I'll come.
_He and_ CUSTIS _rise_.
Wait, will you, Mr. Custis? I want to ask you some questions.
_He goes out. It is getting dark, and_ SUSAN _lights a lamp and draws the curtains_. CUSTIS _stands by the door looking after_ LINCOLN.
_Custis_: He very good man.
_Susan_: You've found that out, have you?
_Custis_: Do you love him, you white girl?
_Susan_: Of course I do.
_Custis_: Yes, you must.
_Susan_: He's a real white man. No offence, of course.
_Custis_: Not offend. He talk to me as if black no difference.
_Susan_: But I tell you what, Mr. Custis. He'll kill himself over this war, his heart's that kind--like a shorn lamb, as they say.
_Custis_: Very unhappy war.
_Susan_: But I suppose he's right. It's got to go on till it's settled.
_In the street below a body of people is heard approaching, singing "John Brown's Body_" CUSTIS _and_ SUSAN _stand listening_, SUSAN _joining in the song as it pa.s.ses and fades away._
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
_First Chronicler_: Unchanged our time. And further yet In loneliness must be the way, And difficult and deep the debt Of constancy to pay.
_Second Chronicler_: And one denies, and one forsakes.
And still unquestioning he goes, Who has his lonely thoughts, and makes.
A world of those.
_The two together_: When the high heart we magnify, And the sure vision celebrate, And worship greatness pa.s.sing by, Ourselves are great.
SCENE IV.
_About the same date. A meeting of the Cabinet at Washington_. SMITH _has gone and_ CAMERON _has been replaced by_ EDWIN M. STANTON, _Secretary of War. Otherwise the ministry, completed by_ SEWARD, CHASE, HOOK, BLAIR, _and_ WELLES, _is as before. They are now arranging themselves at the table, leaving_ LINCOLN'S _place empty.
Seward (coming in_): I've just had my summons. Is there some special news?
_Stanton_: Yes. McClellan has defeated Lee at Antietam. It's our greatest success. They ought not to recover from it. The tide is turning.
_Blair_: Have you seen the President?
_Stanton_: I've just been with him.
_Welles_: What does he say?
_Stanton_: He only said, "At last." He's coming directly.
_Hook_: He will bring up his proclamation again. In my opinion it is inopportune.
_Seward_: Well, we've learnt by now that the President is the best man among us.