[Offering his hand.~\
Thank you for your confidence. I am rested now;
good-bye.
THE SON
You are not going out into this storm?
THE MAN
[Taking his hat and stick and moving toward
one of the windows^
The Foot of the Rainbow
Yes, I am going out into the storm, now.
THE SON
[Following him, THE SON reaches the window
first and bars the way]
There is no place to go this side of the village.
[THE HERDSMAN turns quickly and lifts his
hand. THE SON seeing him, reluctantly steps
aside, leaving the way clear. ~\
THE SON
But wait, at least you must have a coat.
[THE HERDSMAN unfolds his cloak, holding it
in both hands. THE SON takes it and folds
it lovingly about THE MAN as he steps out
into the storm. THE HERDSMAN has faced
the audience again. THE SON closes the win
dow and stands also facing the audience.]
THE SON [Troubled.]
I didn t ask him what he came here for, who he
was, nor where he was going.
THE HERDSMAN
%
There is no need; you will know.
ACT III
THE MAN THE HERDSMAN
THE WOMAN THE SON
// is early morning of the next day. The stage is
dark. High up in the distance, right, glimmering through
the blinding rain, are seen the lights from the house on
the hill. There appear to be hundreds of them, and as
the audience watches the scene, the outline of the build
ing becomes visible. Gradually the other hills are formed,
and the audience becomes conscious of the same scene as
in Act One. After a moment or two the scene grows
very still; the lights from the hill-top shining brilliantly
as the rain decreases.
A gray light lifts the blackness, and day is dawning.
On the Knoll, leaning against the oak, THE MAN stands
at the head of a low mound, which is covered with a
pall of roses.
The dawn slowly breaks into broad day, disclosing
the once barren hills, now covered with vineyards, lux
uriant and fruitful. The high hill is a marvel of land
scape work, with its winding roads and foot-paths,
borders of box and holly-hedges.
[THE MAN moves to the center and back of the
mound, facing the audience. He wears THE
HERDSMAN S cloak and carries his hat and
stick. He is serene and still, but pale, show
ing the effects of a great mental struggle^
[THE HERDSMAN enters from the corn-field,
walks to back of stage, near the Knoll.
The Foot of the Rainbow
Chimes break soft and pure into the limpid
morning air> and tell in a strain of melody ,
a quarter to the hour, during which THE
MAN and THE HERDSMAN lookat one another
in a long, earnest silence .]
THE MAN \^houghtfully^
When he is filled with joy and peace. . . . Found
his soul. . . . Love for everybody, . . . every
thing. All day yesterday those words were ring-
in my ears; but not until night, did I recognize
them, and then. . . .
THE HERDSMAN
And then ... you were rested.
THE MAN
For the first time in thirty years.
THE HERDSMAN
I saw the weary load fall from you. The pain and
sorrow which the world had put upon you, had
no more power to make you suffer.
THE MAN
I was free, . . . free. . . . My limbs, stiff and drawn
with pain, suddenly were lithe and straight again.
. . . The dull ache left my head and heart, and
my whole being seemed to rise on angels* wings
. . . and burn and glow with . . .
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE HERDSMAN
With love!
THE MAN [Uninterrupted.]
Burn and glow with love. All my struggles were
a dream that vanished ... as though they had
never been . . . and I was filled with . . .
THE HERDSMAN
With joy and peace.
THE MAN
[Still as though THE HERDSMAN had not spoken]
Filled with joy and peace. And out here through
the night, and the storm, ... I have found . . .
THE HERDSMAN
Your soul.
THE MAN
I have found, ... I do not know. It is not clear.
This absolute and all-satisfying peace which pos
sesses me; is it death? I came back to die.
THE HERDSMAN
It is life. There is no death.
THE MAN
No death ! And how I have longed for it.
[33]
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE HERDSMAN
Do you wish you had found, what you thought to
be death?
THE MAN
No, I would pass through the whole miserable ex
perience again, for one hour of this. But must I
pay for it? Will this vanish too, like all beautiful
dreams, leaving me more wretched than ever?
THE HERDSMAN
Your dreams passed away because you ceased to
want them. They no longer satisfied.
THE MAN
Yes, . . . after a time they weaned me. I sought in
vain . . . for something true.
THE HERDSMAN
You sought in vain. . . . Where? Where did you
seek?
THE MAN
Among the men . . . and women . . . of all lands.
THE HERDSMAN
And you found?
THE MAN
Deceit. . . . Cupidity. . . . Trickery. . . . Fraud, all
fraud.
[34]
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE HERDSMAN [Quickly. ]
You found what you gave.
THE MAN
I but protected myself.
THE HERDSMAN
This farm . . . brought forth only barrenness and
desolation for you . . . because . . . you hated
it. ...
[Softly and witb deep meaning. ]
. . . She, has loved it into a paradise.
THE MAN
What has that to do with men and women?
THE HERDSMAN
Everything. You met the world as you met your
home, and the result . . . was the same; . . . bar
renness and desolation.
THE MAN [Thoughtfully.]
I worked as other men worked.
THE HERDSMAN
Yes, as other men worked. I heard you lie ... and
betray confidence ... for gain. I saw you steal
... for the mere pleasure of out-doing another.
I saw you kill. . . .
[35]
The Foot of the Rainbow
[THE MAN makes a gesture of -protest. Soft
ened and repent ant i he speaks. ~\
THE MAN
I was hard. . . . Yes, I was hard . . . and cruel some
times. I am sorry for that. . . .
. . . But I was considered a worthy citizen. I was
known for my integrity, my honesty. I was
praised for my business ability, and honored for
my possessions.
THE HERDSMAN
Yes, and with all that, what have you brought here?
THE MAN
Empty hands. God help me.
THE HERDSMAN
In your world ... it was every man for himself.
That is why all things wearied you. That is why
you grew old and feeble and longed for death.
The life-giving energy does not work so.
[He pauses, and then with great tenderness J\
O man, joy taken from another can not live. It dies
when it leaves the victim, and hangs a dead weight
upon your soul. It is only when we give, that we
really live. It is only when a man forgets himself
. . . that God possesses him.
[36]
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE MAN [Broken.]
Why have I come here?
THE HERDSMAN
[Radiant with understanding]
To find the treasure.
THE MAN
Long ago, I despaired of finding the treasure.
THE HERDSMAN
It is more constant than you. It has not despaired
of you.
[Dropping to a softer tone.]
When you gave up, . . . when you stopped strug
gling and fighting, . . . see how it led you home.
Home to beauty, love, life.
THE MAN
Love has been a meaningless word to me, these
many years.
THE HERDSMAN
Love is a man s salvation, . . . and it is always wait
ing for him. ... In every man s life there is a
human love which uplifts, and finds in him its
answering note, regardless of opposition. He may
avoid it all his earthly days, but he can not wholly
escape it. It is a love that never sees, knows nor
takes account of wrong he may have done. It
[37]
The Foot of the Rainbow
believes in him always. Sometimes that salvation
is a friend; one man s love for another. More
often it is a woman; . . . usually a man s mother.
The other love ... is a passion which must be
fed, and which dies with neglect. But even that
love has been known to be pure enough to en
dure. Once in a thousand years one may be found
loyal and strong enough to prove it. Here is
such a love! Look about you. All this because
of love. First for you alone. Then it grew until
it knew no bounds; . . . limitless it rested upon
all, . . . bringing peace to heavy hearts and to crime
laden souls. It penetrated into the depths of the
earth and reared that palace on the hill. For all
who pass this way, it has filled the world with
loveliness. It was love pouring into your con
sciousness all day yesterday, that gave you free
dom and rest, last night.
[During this speech y THE MAN S countenance
changes from woe to wistfulness; from a
vague realization to a glorious understand
ing.^
THE MAN
Why should love do this for me? What have I
done for love?
THE HERDSMAN
Ah, . . . that is love s secret. It blesses always and
asks nothing in return. Let us not question why
it is so.
[38]
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE MAN
But what of those whom I have wronged? What
of those who suffer because of me?
THE HERDSMAN
I said, ... in every man s life, there is a love that
brings him peace. ... In every man s.
THE MAN
Yes, . . . but the women, . . . the one woman.
THE HERDSMAN [Thoughtfully.]
The one woman. . . . Yes, . . . you shall make full
reparation to her.
THE MAN
O then would my joy be full! But that is not pos
sible; I have come too late.
THE HERDSMAN
Too late? It is never too late.
THE MAN
But she is gone.
THE HERDSMAN
Gone where? Everybody and everything, that ever
has been, is here now. Life is, and death is not.
THE MAN
Then why do I not see her, if she is here?
[39]
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE HERDSMAN
Do you remember when you went away, how she
tried to tell you? . . .
THE MAN
\JVith quick inspiration.]
That I need not go. That I would find the treasure
here.
THE HERDSMAN
And you would not hear her.
THE MAN
I could not hear. I did not know.
THE HERDSMAN
You can not see her now for the same reason. You
do not know. It is the understanding which sepa
rates, . . . which unites.
THE MAN
When I reach her understanding, ... I shall be
hold her.
THE HERDSMAN
Yes. It will be as though you had never parted.
[The scene has been growing pinker, rosier,
brighter, until now the house on the hill
glints and gleams in the sunlight like a dia
mond palace. Glimpses of brilliant colored
flowers are seen beyond the hedges, shining
[40]
The Foot of the Rainbow
and newly washed. The vineyards show the
white and purple grapes. The yellow hay
field, tall and waving, shimmers in the sun.
The corn is seen full in the ear, and every
growing thing seems to respond to the light. ~\
THE MAN \_With glad hope.]
She is here! I could not hear her then . . . and yet
she told me all that I would do. Her words come
to me now, . . . but I could not . . . hear . . . them
. . . then. I can not see her now, but . . . she
... is here. No death! Yes, yes, I believe and I
will listen. I want to hear. ... I want to hear.
\A rainbow appears over the high hill, a
broad ribbon of prismatic colors, that fall
full upon the Knoll, ending in the pall of
roses. From the descending end of the bow,
the ribbon widens, the colors merging into
a pale shining atmosphere, enveloping THE
MAN and changing him into a being of ethe
real beauty. Beholding the rainbow, he
raises his face to the light and flings wide
his arms. The cloak falling back off his
shoulders, shows him clad in glittering mail.
His stick has become a sword, which drops
at his side; his hat a helmet, remaining in
his hand.~\
THE MAN
The Foot of the Rainbow! Here . . . with you!
Yes, you tried to tell me, but with the sound of
[41]
The Foot of the Rainbow
gold, gold in my ears, gold before my eyes, the
glamour of the world s favor; because of my gold,
... I was too dull and gross to hear. But now I
hear, now I know. You are telling me that where
I find myself, there is my treasure. You are tell
ing me that love must rule the world, and all who
fight against it are but beating and bruising their
wings. You are telling me that we must love, love,
love, . . . every human being. We must love
everything that lives and breathes in this world
and out of it, every atom beneath our feet and in
the sky above. Had I loved this barren ground
as you have, it would have flowered and blos
somed for me as it has for you, ... for them. But
now I hear. Now I see and I know.
[Folding his arms over his breast .]
Love is the treasure. It is here ... in myself.
\_Out of the effulgent mist, slowly appears the
form of THE WOMAN, clad in brilliant white.
A garment which seems not to end, but
floating away from her, becomes a part of
the mist. Each rose in the pink carpet upon
which they stand, becomes distincJ in the
dancing light. THE MAN falls to his knees
and bows before THE WOMAN in adoration.
She carries a glowing crown of stars, which
she places upon his head. The chimes joy
ously peal forth the hour, out of which har
mony the voice of THE WOMAN is heard.}
[42]
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE WOMAN S VOICE
Behold,! give it you. N The crown which was yours
before the world began. Entrusted to my care I
have kept it pure and bright, for that wondrous
day when you should call for it. My Prince,!
crown you. My Prince of Love and Truth. One
more nobleman in the court of heaven, pledged
to serve his King.
\With the last note from the chimes^ THE
WOMAN and the crown slowly fade from
sight. THE MAN rises , reaching into the mist
toward the vanishing form .]
THE MAN
With you through eternity. No death, . . . but life.
No pain, only joy forever and ever. And peace,
peace, unspeakable peace. I could not hear you
then, but I hear you now. The treasure is love.
I have found it.
THE HERDSMAN
You are wonderful!
THE MAN
And I am not to meet you, ashamed and old and
wrinkled, misshapen and full of pain, but as a
Prince, with all the ardour of youth. With a great
joy, loving you, not as a clod of earth, but as the
angels in heaven love.
[43]
The Foot of the Rainbow
\T*he rainbow vanishes, leaving the scene bril
liant with sunshine, and still, but for the
clear singing of birds in the distance. Witb
the cloak again enfolding him, THE MAN
falls across the bed of roses, face down,
among the petals in which there are no
thorns. THE SON comes out of the house,
makes his way down the winding paths,
passes along the foot of the hills and offstage
at left, back of the Knoll. ]
THE HERDSMAN
"... for as a Prince hast thou power with God and
with men and hast prevailed."Gi*.j*j*.
[THE SON enters front of stage, left. Notes
THE HERDSMAN, his shining countenance,
looks toward the Knoll, then walks to the
top of it. He bends over THE MAN and tries
to move him, then rises and speaks with
awe and dawning light. ~\
THE SON
The man who came last night! But I thought he
was old. His hair was white. This man is young
and his hair is fair.
THE HERDSMAN
Your story melted away the years. He is her Prince.
\There is a short silence. THE SON removes
his hat, stands erect and speaks into the
distance^
[44]
The Foot of the Rainbow
THE SON
My father! I am glad I was kind. Did I have the
feast prepared? Did I clothe him in the royal
garments? I think I gave him what he most de
sired. I am glad. Her Prince! They have met.
[To the Herdsman.]
And the glory of it all, is yours.
THE HERDSMAN [Quietly.]
The glory is not mine, but His that sent me.
[There is a moment s pause, when the scene is
suddenly peopled with the beginning of the
day s activity. Men and women with bas
kets appear in the grape-arbors. Gardeners
are seen among the hedges, along the roads
and among the flowers. The shouts of chil
dren and their merry laughter come from
somewhere out of the sunshine and gladness.
The ringing of the steel on the stone in the
quarries, is distinft and tuneful; and over
all a meadow lark sends out a long, alluring
note to his mate, which is answered as the
curtain slowly falls .]
CURTAIN
13
OF THE
UNIVERSITY
s OF
.
[45]
HERE ENDS "THE FOOT OF THE RAINBOW,"
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS, BY MYRTLE GLENN
ROBERTS. PRINTED FROM HAND-SET CAS-
LON TYPE, WITH DECORATIONS BY DOUG
LAS H. HILLIKER, AT THE TOMOYE PRESS
OF PAUL ELDER AND COMPANY, SAN FRAN
CISCO, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JOHN
SWART, IN THE YEAR NINETEEN
HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
LAST DATE
THIS BOOK IS
STAMPED BELOW
Nut dO ia4
NOV 6 1917
27
JUN 26 1916 .
l JANiri917
<<H7
JUL31 191$
NOV 11 1915
V
FEB
31 1917
DEC 5 1917
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY