THE POEM.
A LITTLE DRAMA IN FOUR SCENES.
1598.
I dedicate this play * to the gentleman who, on the evening of June 24th, 1898, turned back
in Shaftesbury Avenue to give a halfpenny to a little girl, and thereby suggested to me the idea
here rendered.
SCENES, Piercy.
J, THE ANGEL oF Pity. I am sad to-night. I am very lonely in
Tl. ‘Tum ANGEL OF LOVE. this place.
If. THe ANGEL OF DEATH.
IV. ‘THe FORM OF ‘THE FOURTIL WAS LIKE VAUGHAN.
THE S ¥ Gop.! ,
THE SON OF Go Chere are plenty of people about.
PERSONS. PERCY.
PERCY BRANDON (a Poet) People—mere shells, husks of the golden
Esmé VAUGHAN. Wheat that might grow even here.
Mr. VAUGHAN (her father).
Mr. BRANDON (father of Percy). VAUGHAN.
A FRIEND TO VAUGIIAN,
Why do you stay here?
Butler, Footmen, etc., etc. y y y
PERCY,
SCENE I. I cannot think at home.
Shaftesbury Avenue, 8.30 pm. A gentleman VAUGHAN.
walking with a friend, both in evening
dress. A little ragged girl. A young
man. The gentleman stops and gtves
Why think, if thinking makes you sad?
the little girl « halfpenny. The young PERCY.
man suites. That I may write. I have not long to
The gentleman notices the smtle, and sees live, and I must write, write always.
how great a sadness underlies tt.
FRIEND [asede lo Vaughan).
VAUGHAN | I] me semble quwil a faim.
[Zurning to the young man.) | PERCY.
AND you — what are you doing here?
Iam hungry for a little love, a little pity.
Excuse my rudeness—you seem so sad. By ‘ pry
To-night you have shown me your soul, and
1 See Daniel iii. 25. ‘I am not hungry any more.
* Like all plays of this form, it may be read as a delicate idyll or a screaming parody,
according to the nature and mood of the reader.
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