DON: You've poisoned me in earnest. . . . I feel so cold. . . .
So cold . . . this is a very silly game. . . .
Why do we play it?--let's not play this game
A minute more . . . let's make a little song
About a lamb. . . . I'm coming over the wall,
No matter what you say,--I want to be near you. . . .

[Groping his way, with arms wide before him, he strides through
the frail papers of the wall without knowing it, and continues
seeking for the wall straight across the stage.]

Where is the wall?

[Gropes his way back, and stands very near THYRSIS without
seeing him; he speaks slowly.]

There isn't any wall,
I think.

[Takes a step forward, his foot touches THYRSIS' body, and he
falls down beside him.]

Thyrsis, where is your cloak?--just give me
A little bit of your cloak! . . .

[Draws corner of THYRSIS' cloak over his shoulders, falls
across THYRSIS' body, and dies.]

[COTHURNUS closes the prompt-book with a bang, arises
matter-of-factly, comes down stage, and places the table over
the two bodies, drawing down the cover so that they are hidden
from any actors on the stage, but visible to the audience,
pushing in their feet and hands with his boot. He then turns
his back to the audience, and claps his hands twice.]

COTHURNUS: Strike the scene! [Exit COTHURNUS.]

[Enter PIERROT and COLUMBINE.]

PIERROT: Don't puff so, Columbine!

COLUMBINE: Lord, what a mess
This set is in! If there's one thing I hate
Above everything else,--even more than getting my feet wet--
It's clutter!--He might at least have left the scene
The way he found it ... don't you say so, Pierrot?

[She picks up punch bowl. They arrange chairs as before at ends
of table.]

PIERROT: Well, I don't know. I think it rather diverting
The way it is.

[Yawns, picks up confetti bowl.]

Shall we begin?

COLUMBINE: [Screams.] My God!
What's that there under the table?

PIERROT: It is the bodies
Of the two shepherds from the other play.

COLUMBINE: [Slowly.] How curious to strangle him like that,
With colored paper ribbons.

PIERROT: Yes, and yet
I dare say he is just as dead. [Pauses. Calls.]
Cothurnus!
Come drag these bodies out of here! We can't
Sit down and eat with two dead bodies lying
Under the table! . . . The audience wouldn't stand for it!

COTHURNUS: (Off stage.) What makes you think so?--
Pull down the tablecloth
On the other side, and hide them