Chapter IV: Act IV: Dramatis Personae

_Francos:_ . . . . . . _Governor General of a Province._
_Quezox:_ . . . . . . _Resident Delegate of the Province._
_Seldonskip:_ . . . . _Secretary of the Governor General._
_Commissioners_
_Halstrom:_ . . . . . _Aide to the Governor General._

_Scene I. Garden of the Palace._

_Francos (Soliloquizes):_ Methinks the poet of the past who scrolled
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"
Indeed were wise and kenned whereof he wrote.
His keen imagination doth amaze
And fill my mind with wonder at his full
Discernment of the most unhappy lot
Which great responsibility doth load
Upon the shoulders of betroubled men
Whom fate relentless hath before ordained
To, like the pack-horse, patiently, each day,
Upbear most galling burden, born of cares
Which do encompass the affairs of state.
When in the Nation's forum I did sit,
Like to a minnow in a mighty pool,
I did disport, and, nourishing no care,
Found naught to mar the pleasures born each day.
But now there looms before me mountain high
Questions of mighty import to the state
Which I must quickly and with wisdom solve
Without the bell mare's chime to charm mine ear.
On whose sound judgment dare I now rely?
Whose honor, on grave issues, can I trust?
Shall I use Quezox blindly as a staff
On which to lean, as on my path I grope?
Or shall I ope' mine ear to those entrenched
Behind official desks, with knowledge armed
And primed for combat, when I shall disclose
The policy profound, by wisdom sired?
Alas, I find that I must war with friends,
Who seem enamored with the tricky foe,
And by long contact they infected be
By doctrines both heretical and vile.
Of those who legal robbery do make
A vehicle to stuff their bellies full
I must beware; for it doth to me seem
That long and double squinting at the law
Impairs their moral sight for all but fees;
Hence deep entanglements might be the goal
To which their slimy tongues would shrewdly guide
That from disturbance, they might profit reap.
Alas, what to me seemed but pigmy state
Now looms up mightily before mine eye,
And like the feathered mother with her brood
Must I my many cares each day enwing
And from the circling hawk with hungry eye
Protect and shelter, till mature, they grow.
But this commission! We must shrewd select
Such pliant men as will our pleasure work;
For we ken not what yeast in working deep
Within the inexperienced minds of those
Foregath'ring soon to fashion laws to meet
The pressing needs of our embarrassed state.
I feel mayhap, that seeds of self were sown
Within the willing hearts of those who long
Have profit made at this poor State's expense;
Which seeds have grown into a mighty tree
That hides behind its fol'age justice sweet
So deep within those shades that e'en the sun
Of righteousness reveals its presence not.
For such compassion's bowels ne'er should yearn,
And yet mine eyes behold a handiwork
Which were the offspring but of earnest zeal;
Yet since example's perfect work is done,
The pattern to oblivion's shades we'll cast.
But I to mine uneasy couch will hie.
The morrow's cares may feed upon their day!

_(Slowly retires)_

_Scene. Governor's office._

_Francos:_ Good Halstrom, to my mind uncertainty
Is but a mental sore, which cancer like,
Doth spread its roots until the surgeon's knife
With sharp incision shall the curse remove.
So must I cross the Rubicon and strike
The foe in parts most vulnerable.
Caesar, from the deep cavern of his mind,
Hath fashioned, with a statesman's ready hand,
A plan which we must now inaugurate,
Amid the cruel jeers of all who long
Have watched the workings of the dark hued mind
Excepting only such as office seek.
_Halstrom:_ My Liege, thy look doth seem to answer woo
And my stern schooling bids me to obey,
But it were act from gross presumption born
To, from my lowly post, advice bestow.
_Enters
Seldonskip:_ Well Gov'nor, standing just outside the door
There are two chaps who loudly make the claim
That they are sure expected at this hour
To hobnob with you on some public stunt.
_Francos:_ Hold, Seldonskip! Thy tongue unruly wags
Like to the shuttle on its weaving way
To fashion fabric of but little worth
'Twere well to throttle it or else belike
A pebble small, in gear of great machine
Disaster grave may work to wheels of state.

_(Seldonskip retires.)_

_Turns to
Halstrom:_ Good Halstrom, quick I prithee do repair
To outer chamber and with pleasant mien
Escort these high officials with all state
Unto our presence, when I will undo
The mischief, by soft words clothed with a smile.
_(Enters Quezox: Speaks):_
Most honored Francos, I had closed mine ear
But Seldonskip like to a jackass brayed
And I perforce did catch his words distraught,
Which seemed to fling an insult in thy face.
And cast contempt upon our worthy sons.
If concord sweet shall lend us helping hand
I fear me much this yokel must go hence
For he doth gag us with his silly tongue!
_Francos:_ Patience, good Quezox. Heed no idle word;

_(Warningly)_
It falls upon thine ear, and then 'tis gone;
'Tis but a breath of air which into naught
Doth vanish. Can'st thou, thy finger on it
Put and say 'tis here? Alas, it like a
Heavenly orb doth shoot its comet way
An then twere gone. It was, but now 'tis not!
Hence it were folly, "Nothing," to pursue.
_Quezox:_ They keen philosophy falls on mine ear
Like music, as it trickles from thy brain;
But still the wound remains which venomed tongue
Hath deeply stung upon my memory.
But thou hast said: an uttered thought is dead.
Perhaps 'tis so, but in the human heart,
There lingers long a mem'ry, blessed indeed,
Of those preceding us to that long home
Where, be it utter darkness which prevails,
Or light supernal with celestial ray,
Yet death hath not erased from mental scroll
The image which th' Eternal painted there.
_(Enters Halstrom):_ The twain are gone, my Liege, but to the page
They for mañana did bespeak return.
_Francos:_ Tis well!
Good gentlemen, my mind doth backward flit
On wings of happy mem'ry to that hour
When we, amid the plaudits of the hosts,
Did well proclaim to all the happy words
Which Caesar to expectant ears did send.
My heart doth overflow, when I recall
The ecstasy that spoke in thunder tones
And like to period rhetorical
Did ever punctuate each proper pause.
Quick did I note in what well ordered ranks
Our party friends did form before the stand.
_Quezox:_ But, noble Sire, methought I in each eye
Discovered greedy looks which portend ill.
_(Enters Seldonskip)_
Unless their hungry hopes are satisfied
By wellfilled bellies of official food.
If this discernment doth not truth belie
It points prophetic to a scramble sharp
To wear the cast off shoes of those who now
Do suck the life blood from our downtrod race.
_Seldonskip:_ You bet they'll scramble and they'll scramble hard,
An why not tell me? 'Tis all in the game!
_(Francos to Seldonskip):_ Again that tongue, in thoughtless prattle wags.
It seems that every opening of thy mouth,
Doth point to utterance in words uncouth
Which clothe some folly in a tattered garb.
_(Quezox to Francos):_ And yet most noble sire, my bowels of
Discernment do fierce gripe me with the fear
That in the rambling words this youth hath tongued
Much bitter truth may deeply hidden be.
_Francos:_ Fear not! Caesar hath wise discerned that all
Who long have on these Islands made their home
Are blinded by self-interest, which doth,
As colored glass speaks lies unto the eye,
Befool their judgment; which may honest be.
And hence 'twere better from abroad to bring
More open minds to fill important posts
For the brief time until we do depart
And leave all matters in thy trusty hands
Which will upbuild a strong, Yea! mighty state.

_(Seldonskip aside):_ A mighty state! Ha! Ho! I think I see
The natives jumping round from tree to tree
Feeding on coconuts and dressed with old
Plug hats and wearing coats of Tam'ny cut!
_Quezox:_ 'Twere well! Those vultures who among us dwell,
While pleading loving friendship, shrewdly plan
Like to the feathered tribes, to gather down
_(Walks out):_ From careless wings to feather their own nests.
_(Francos turning to Seldonskip):_
I must in candor voice my perturbed thoughts
Anent the strained relation which doth seem
To liken to a ship with cable taut
Which surging waves are threat'ning quick to snap.
Twixt thee and Quezox. Thou, mine eye doth speak,
Art like dry powder, ready to ignite
When Quezox looseth tongue which like a flint
Doth spark the fuse to quick explosion work.
_Seldonskip:_ But on my life if he should touch the fuse
He'd mighty quick know that there's "something doing."
_(Francos appealingly):_
O, Peace, sweet Peace, I pray thee to draw near
And hover o'er me, lest I go distraught.