Children's Classics in Dramatic Form - Part 4
Library

Part 4

SECOND BLIND MAN. He laughs at you and the others.

THIRD BLIND MAN. He does not laugh at me!

FOURTH BLIND MAN. I say he laughs at you and the others.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT]

FIFTH BLIND MAN. You cannot say he laughs at me!

SIXTH BLIND MAN. He laughs at all of you! He knows I spoke the truth.

[_He goes._]

OTHER BLIND MEN. Hear him! Hear him!

[_They go their different ways, shaking their fingers angrily at each other._]

THE STAG AND THE FAWN

SCENE I

TIME: _last autumn._ PLACE: _the forest._

THE STAG.

THE FAWN.

[_The_ STAG _and_ FAWN _enter the forest._]

FAWN. Here is a pool!

STAG. We will stop and drink.

FAWN. I see your horns in the water, father.

STAG. Ah, yes!

FAWN. They look like a strong tree down there.

STAG. They are strong! And are they not beautiful, child?

FAWN. They make you very grand, dear father!

STAG. No king with his crown looks grander!

FAWN. I see your feet in the water, father.

STAG. Do not speak of my feet, child!

FAWN. Why not? They are small and slender.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

STAG. But they look so weak. I do not like my feet at all. I wish they were different.

(_A Hunter's horn is heard._)

Come, child, come!

SCENE II

TIME: _an hour later._ PLACE: _another part of the forest._

THE STAG.

THE FAWN.

THE HUNTER.

[_The_ STAG _is caught in a thicket by his horns. The_ FAWN _looks at him pityingly._]

FAWN. A man is near! I hear him running!

STAG. I cannot free myself!

FAWN. Ah, if you only had no horns!

STAG. Or if they were only not so strong and not so grand!

FAWN. Your feet could save you then, dear father.

STAG. Go, child, and let your feet save you.

FAWN. I cannot bear to leave you, father!

STAG. Go save yourself! Go, go!

[_The faun goes. The_ HUNTER _enters._]