_Dada_

There is another verse that makes it clearer:

_There are numerous stars in the midnight sky, Which hang in the air for no purpose; If they would only come down to earth, For the street lighting they might be useful._

I see we must make clearer our meaning. Catch him. Let's raise him up, shoulder high, and take him back to his den.

_Dada_

Why are you so excited to-day? Have you any particular business to do?

Yes, we have very urgent business,--very urgent indeed.

_Dada_

What is your business about?

We are out to seek a play for our Spring festival.

_Dada_

Play! Day and night, play!

(_They sing._)

_We are free, my friends, from the fear of work, For we know that work is play,--the play of life.

It is Play, to fight and toss, between life and death; It is Play that flashes in the laughter of light in the infinite heart; It roars in the wind, and surges in the sea._

Oh, here comes our Leader. Brothers--our Leader, our Leader.

_Leader_

Hallo! What a noise you make!

Was it that which made you come out of doors?

_Leader_

Yes.

Well, we did it for that very purpose.

_Leader_

You don't want me to remain indoors?

Why remain indoors? This outer world has been made with a lavish expenditure of sun and moon and stars. Let us enjoy it, and then we can save G.o.d's face for indulging in such extravagance.

_Leader_

What were you discussing?

This:

(_They sing_.)

_Play blooms in flower and ripens in fruit In the sunshine of eternal youth.

Play bursts up in the blood-red fire, and licks into ashes the decaying and the dead._

Our Dada's objection was about this play.

_Dada_

Shall I tell you the reason why?

Yes, Dada, you may tell us, but we shan't promise to listen.

_Dada_

Here it is:

_Time is the capital of work, And Play is its defalcation.

Play rifles the house, and then wastes its spoil, Therefore the wise call it worse than useless._

_Chandra_

But surely, Dada, you are talking nonsense. Time itself is Play.

Its only object is Pas-time.

_Dada_

Then what is Work?

_Chandra_

Work is the dust raised by the pa.s.sing of Time.

_Dada_

Leader, you must give us your answers.

_Leader_

No. I never give answers. I lead on from one question to another.

That is my leadership.

_Dada_