Title:  Aria da Capo

Author:  Edna St. Vincent Millay

Release Date:  May, 2004 [EBook #5790] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on September 1, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK aria da Capo ***

This etext produced by David Starner.

ARIA DA CAPO

A PLAY IN ONE ACT

Copyright, 1920

By Edna St. Vincent Millay

Printed in the U. S. A.

PERSONS

Pierrot

Columbine

Cothurnus, Masque of Tragedy

Thyrsis -\
         Shepherds
Corydon -/

[Scene:  A stage]

[The curtain rises on a stage set for a Harlequinade, a merry black and white interior.  Directly behind the footlights, and running parallel with them, is a long table, covered with a gay black and white cloth, on which is spread a banquet.  At the opposite ends of this table, seated on delicate thin-legged chairs with high backs, are Pierrot and Columbine, dressed according to the tradition, excepting that Pierrot is in lilac, and Columbine in pink.  They are dining.]

Columbine:  Pierrot, a macaroon!  I cannot live without a macaroon!

Pierrot:  My only love,
You are so intense! . . .  Is it Tuesday, Columbine?—­
I’ll kiss you if it’s Tuesday.

Columbine:  It is Wednesday,
If you must know . . . .  Is this my artichoke,
Or yours?

Pierrot:  Ah, Columbine,—­as if it mattered! 
Wednesday . . . .  Will it be Tuesday, then, to-morrow,
By any chance?

Columbine:  To-morrow will be—­Pierrot,
That isn’t funny!

Pierrot:  I thought it rather nice. 
Well, let us drink some wine and lose our heads
And love each other.

Columbine:  Pierrot, don’t you love
Me now?

Pierrot:  La, what a woman!—­how should I know? 
Pour me some wine:  I’ll tell you presently.

Columbine:  Pierrot, do you know, I think you drink too much.

Pierrot:  Yes, I dare say I do. . . .  Or else too little. 
It’s hard to tell.  You see, I am always wanting
A little more than what I have,—­or else
A little less.  There’s something wrong.  My dear,
How many fingers have you?

Columbine:  La, indeed,
How should I know?—­It always takes me one hand
To count the other with.  It’s too confusing. 
Why?

Pierrot:  Why?—­I am a student, Columbine;
And search into all matters.

Columbine:  La, indeed?—­
Count them yourself, then!