The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aria da Capo, by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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Title: Aria da Capo

Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5790]
Posting Date: May 31, 2009

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARIA DA CAPO ***

Produced by David Starner

ARIA DA CAPO

A PLAY IN ONE ACT

Copyright, 1920

By Edna St. Vincent Millay

Printed in the U. S. A.

PERSONS

Pierrot

Columbine

Cothurnus, Masque of Tragedy

Thyrsis -\
Shepherds
Corydon -/

[Scene: A stage]

[The curtain rises on a stage set for a Harlequinade, a merry
black and white interior. Directly behind the footlights, and
running parallel with them, is a long table, covered with a gay
black and white cloth, on which is spread a banquet. At the
opposite ends of this table, seated on delicate thin-legged
chairs with high backs, are Pierrot and Columbine, dressed
according to the tradition, excepting that Pierrot is in lilac,
and Columbine in pink. They are dining.]

COLUMBINE: Pierrot, a macaroon! I cannot _live_ without a macaroon!

PIERROT: My only love,
You are _so_ intense! . . . Is it Tuesday, Columbine?--
I'll kiss you if it's Tuesday.

COLUMBINE: It is Wednesday,
If you must know . . . . Is this my artichoke,
Or yours?

PIERROT: Ah, Columbine,--as if it mattered!
Wednesday . . . . Will it be Tuesday, then, to-morrow,
By any chance?

COLUMBINE: To-morrow will be--Pierrot,
That isn't funny!

PIERROT: I thought it rather nice.
Well, let us drink some wine and lose our heads
And love each other.

COLUMBINE: Pierrot, don't you love
Me now?

PIERROT: La, what a woman!--how should I know?
Pour me some wine: I'll tell you presently.

COLUMBINE: Pierrot, do you know, I think you drink too much.

PIERROT: Yes, I dare say I do. . . . Or else too little.
It's hard to tell. You see, I am always wanting
A little more than what I have,--or else
A little less. There's something wrong. My dear,
How many fingers have you?

COLUMBINE: La, indeed,
How should I know?--It always takes me one hand
To count the other with. It's too confusing.