Chapter VIII: Act V: The Green Isle Realized on Earth. Dawn

_The same as Act I, but this time there is no rainbow haze between, only a great rainbow stretching in the sky across the Hebrides seen in the distance. On a table under the trees the girl has spread all sorts of delightful fruits and cakes. She is now decorating it with flowers, and singing as she works._

SONG

I love all lovely things—
The dragon-fly’s wings,
The rainbow and the rain,
The light that comes again
Joyously like a smile,
When for a little while
God disposes the night elsewhere.

His sun is very fair,
I can catch it in my hair.
Look! It’s there! And there! And there!
Oh! the earth’s a lovely thing,
The mind of a Mighty King,
I cannot help but sing.
I cannot end my song,
God’s thought is very long.
Many years He took to make
The bracken in the brake;
He was a long time building
The fragrant yellow gilding
On the early poplar tree
When no eye was there to see.

The clouds, the atmosphere,
My breath, the water clear,
How fair and sweet they are!
Oh! hate was very far
From God’s divine intention
When these things He did mention;
When He canopied the earth
With cloud, and fire, and mirth;
When He set the privy shade
For the pheasant in the glade;
When He built the mossy nest
For the wren, His little guest;
When He taught the mind of man
By its love to find His plan.

For no one shall discover
His science, save the lover.
Oh! Life’s a lovely thing,
The mind of a Mighty King!
Emotion, will, desire,
Earth, water, air, and fire,
The elements intertwined,
With these He built the mind;
The love of green things growing,
The shadows they keep throwing
Across man’s fiery thought
Till they’re fused and merged and wrought
Into the liquid union
Of one divine communion
With God, Who made his college
An earthly place of knowledge.

I cannot help but sing,
Life’s such a lovely thing!
The catkin and the willow
God’s chosen for His pillow.
I wonder why He fashioned
A Beauty so impassioned;
I wonder why it matters
Which way the raindrop patters,
Or why a God should care
To give His creatures share
Of this delightful song.
His love must be very strong.

I cannot end my singing,
For still the starling’s winging
With a straw held in her beak
To build in the old tree-peak;
And still across the sky
The compacted clouds go by;
And when God thinks upon it
The lily’s yellow bonnet
Nid-nods delightfully
Beneath the walnut tree.
And clear, and still more clear,
In God’s mind I read and hear
That only Love shall learn
The wherefore of flower and fern,
That only Love alone
Shall live to be full-grown,
That merely Love and Wonder
Shall bring all Heaven hereunder.

[_Towards the end of the song the brown-sailed fishing-boat
is seen approaching gradually under the rainbow. As it
draws near, Finn and the Big Young Hero are seen in it with
the puppy. It touches the shore, at first unperceived of
the girl. The Big Young Hero leaps lightly from it, and
helps Finn out._]

FINN

[_Looking round bewildered._]

I recognize this place.

HERO

You have been here before.

FINN

Isn’t that the Bidean’s face?

[_Pointing to the distant hills._]

Please tell me, for I can’t stand any more.

[_He staggers, but the Hero puts an arm round him._]

There must be some mistake,
I seem
To be asleep and yet I am awake.
Is this a dream?

HERO

No, it is real.
Put up your hand and feel
Her face.

CLIMBER

[_Perceiving him, calls._]

The breakfast’s ready, I have set your place.

[_Catching sight of Finn she puts her hand to her face with
a cry of amazed delight._]

It is the man I dreamed about last night!
I didn’t know! I’m looking such a sight!
I didn’t know that you would bring a guest.

[_She puts her hand up to her head as if she were going to
fall, and the Hero puts his other arm round her._]

I’ll be all right after a little rest.
What a beautiful rainbow!

[_Pointing._]

I always knew the morning would be fine.

FINN

[_Putting his hand up in amazement to find the box is
gone._]

It’s mine!
How did it get up there?

HERO

You hoisted it on a prayer;
The Marksman’s left it in the sky to show
The right direction to the folk below.
The others are not very far behind;
Presently they will all be of your mind.

[_He points to where, far off under the bow, the sails of
Conan’s boat are dimly visible on the horizon._]

FINN

[_Wild with delight._]

Oh! I feel strong enough to turn the moon
Right round upon his other face,
And I feel ready now to sup
The stars up with a spoon.

CLIMBER

[_In an awed whisper, gazing at Finn._]

I only know I am aware
Of God for ever, everywhere.

HERO

[_Who has still an arm round either, to Finn._]

It was the Gate of Heaven that you carried.
Now it is time that you and she were married.
Since I have found you strong enough to share
Her faith that I am more than quite all there,
Ask what you will, it shall be given you
As your reward. Tell me, what is your due?

FINN

[_In a whisper._]

I am beginning now to understand!
Lord, I beseech, help Thou mine other hand.

HERO

[_Leading the two forward to the table, he takes the
Climber’s hand and places it in Finn’s._]

It has spread breakfast in my house for two,
The other place was always meant for you;
I pray you, warm it at your hearth hereunder.
What I have joined let no man put asunder.