Лорд Дансейни - Plays for Earth and Air

PELBY: Well, we’re here.

THE SPIRIT: We are come.

PELBY: Then what do you want with me?

THE SPIRIT: I have a question to put to you.

PELBY: Put it.

THE SPIRIT: What is the use of man?

PELBY: What?

THE SPIRIT: What is the use of man?

PELBY: Well really …

THE SPIRIT: Your answer. Your answer before all these.

PELBY: Well, really. I don’t know that I ever considered it.

THE SPIRIT: Your answer. ( A slight rustle as of impatience among the rest. )

PELBY: Well, there’s no difficulty in it: man civilizes; that is to say he builds cities, he makes roads, he constructs harbours, he joins up one city with another by means of ships and trains and rail–roads, he …

THE SPIRIT: That is only for man.

PELBY: For whom else?

THE SPIRIT: What use is he?

PELBY: I told you. He builds great cities. He …

THE SPIRIT: Of what use is he to any other than man?

PELBY: Well, I never gave it a thought. I don’t do a great deal of thinking. But perhaps some of these people do. The thing is perfectly obvious, even if I can’t find words for it. Do you mind asking them?

THE SPIRIT: Who will speak for man?

DOG: I will, I will, I will. Oh, I will.

PELBY: Thanks. I expect you’ll be able to put it better than I can.

THE SPIRIT ( sharply ): The use of man?

DOG: He is man: that is enough. More is not needed. More could not be needed. All wisdom is in him. All his acts are just; terrible sometimes, but always just. No use can be asked of him, only to be man. Man he is. He is man. The supreme perfection of which life is capable. Man! Man! Man!

THE SPIRIT: That’s his view. Will any other speak for him?

PELBY: I say, you fellows, speak up for the lot of us. Words aren’t in my line, you know; but speak up for us all.

THE SPIRIT: They are not men.

PELBY: Why, what are they?

THE SPIRIT: The spirits of the others. The beasts, the birds, the insects and the fishes. They are in human form so that you can perceive them: you would understand no other. But they are visible to you so that you are not judged in the darkness.

PELBY: All a lot of animals.

THE SPIRIT: Even so.

PELBY: And you?

THE SPIRIT: A spirit of air, born of the morning. A messenger taking errands from orbit to orbit.

PELBY: Well, some of them might speak up.

THE SPIRIT: Let one of them tell the use of man. It will be enough.

DOG: He needs no use. He needs no use. He is man.

THE SPIRIT: Another must speak for you.

PELBY: And if they won’t?

THE SPIRIT is silent .

PELBY: It will be the end of me, I suppose.

THE SPIRIT: The end of your whole race.

A sort of Ha goes sighing through the assembly.

PELBY: The whole race?

Again that faint Ha.

THE SPIRIT: Why not, if they’re no use?

A faint appreciative mutter.

PELBY: And two must speak for me. One has already.

DOG: I speak for man. I speak for him. I speak for him.

THE SPIRIT: Another must speak for you.

PELBY: Do you know, I’m beginning to see who they are. The gentleman who has just spoken is, I feel sure he is, he is …

THE SPIRIT: The dog.

PELBY: I thought so. I felt sure of it. And that gentleman in the black tail–coat, with his head a little on one side; and now he has put it over on the other; do you know, I feel sure he’s the crow.

THE SPIRIT: He is.

PELBY: I should like to speak to him. I have done a good deal of speaking with farmers, and I think I could make him understand.

THE SPIRIT: Speak.

PELBY: Well, what I want to say to you, sir, is: that man has cultivated an incalculable amount of land, that is to say he has ploughed it. We have not turned furrows purely and solely for our own advantage, without giving any thought to others. We know perfectly well that the plough turns up good worms, which we have never grudged to our neighbours. This is one of the uses of man. We have done this for centuries. It is only to–day that one of us asks for any recognition on account of it. I am sure you will not mind voicing that recognition…. He seems to be thinking pretty deeply, if putting his head on one side is any test.

CROW: They were good furrows; good soft earth, and full of worms.

PELBY: You’d never have got at them but for us.

CROW: They were good worms.

PELBY: The very best.

CROW: And then … there were guns.

PELBY: Oh, an occasional farmer …

CROW: Guns.

PELBY: Oh, not often. I never shot a … ( He doesn’t like to say a crow. ) I never did that sort of thing. I don’t think it sporting. I only shoot … er … ahem.

CROW: I do not speak for man.

PELBY: Well you, sir. Perhaps you’ll speak for us. You’ll excuse my asking who you are.

BEAR: I am the bear.

PELBY: O well; I have known you quite a long time. I remember you when I was only a child. In the Zoo you know. I used to throw—what?—buns to you. Well you needn’t look like that…. Well damn it I didn’t throw them at you. I don’t suppose they hurt . O well, if you will take that line about it … Well, if he won’t speak for us perhaps that gentleman will; that very tidy fellow over there, flicking the dust off the skirts of his coat. You see him? Dark hair with a good deal of grey in it. Who is he?

THE SPIRIT: The badger.

PELBY: Oh, well. Perhaps another time. Perhaps, er … Well, that gentleman with the very high forehead. I think he’d understand me.

THE SPIRIT: The African elephant.

PELBY: Ah. Then, you sir, will I think recognise the greatness of man. He certainly always regarded you very highly. You will be better able than most to estimate what he stood for, the grandeur of his aims, the …

AFRICAN ELEPHANT: He only wanted my treasure.

PELBY: I beg your pardon?

AFRICAN ELEPHANT: He was after my ivory. Man! Man, indeed!

PELBY: Oh, er, well, excuse me; it was the Indian elephant that I really wished to speak to.

THE SPIRIT: That is he.

PELBY: Where?

THE SPIRIT: There; taking his hat off and bowing to you.

PELBY: Oh, yes the large gentleman in the frock coat. Very polite of him.

INDIAN ELEPHANT: You wish, sir, to do me the honour of addressing me?

PELBY: If it is not troubling you.

INDIAN ELEPHANT: It is an honour.

PELBY: Very kind of you to say so. Well, sir, I think you appreciate the greatness of man.

INDIAN ELEPHANT: I do.

PELBY ( much relieved ): Well, that’s all right. So, perhaps you’ll say a few words on our behalf.

INDIAN ELEPHANT: He took me from the woods. I have forgiven so great a wrong, long long ago. But he took me away from the woods.

PELBY: I’m sorry. Well, I’m sorry. I can’t say more. Well, Spirit, I shall have to ask one of the others. I think I can make out a case all right. Often had to do so before; little difficulties with farmers, you know, and the hunting of half a county to organise. Well; who are they all? I bet I know that sly fellow slinking about at the back. Well, I’m not going to ask him. Hunted him all my life. And that fellow with the big gold watch–chain, and great yellow beard and long hair to match; I’m pretty sure he’s the lion.

THE SPIRIT: He is.

PELBY: I don’t think I’ll ask him. Now that I look in his eyes, he seems to have some sense of injury. I dare say he may be right. But that lady who has just arrived, and run so quietly to her place; who is she?

THE SPIRIT: The mouse.

PELBY: Well, I’ll ask her…. But then, there’s the cat. I can hardly ask them both. Where is the spirit of the cat?

THE SPIRIT: Yonder.

PELBY: Where you are pointing. I see. The comfortable lady. Do you know, I don’t quite trust her.