The Prelude

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      SCENE: A plantation of thin young trees, in a misty and rainy twilight; some woodland blossom showing the patches on the earth between the stems.

      THE STRANGER is discovered, a cloaked figure with a pointed hood. His costume might belong to modern or any other time, and the conical hood is so drawn over the head that little can be seen of the face.

      A distant voice, a woman's, is heard, half-singing, half-chanting, unintelligible words. The cloaked figure raises its head and listens with interest. The song draws nearer and PATRICIA CARLEON enters. She is dark and slight, and has a dreamy expression. Though she is artistically dressed, her hair is a little wild. She has a broken branch of some flowering tree in her hand. She does not notice the stranger, and though he has watched her with interest, makes no sign. Suddenly she perceives him and starts back.

      PATRICIA. Oh! Who are you?

      STRANGER. Ah! Who am I? [Commences to mutter to himself, and maps out the ground with his staff.]

      I have a hat, but not to wear;I wear a sword, but not to slay,And ever in my bag I bearA pack of cards, but not to play.

      PATRICIA. What are you? What are you saying?

      STRANGER. It is the language of the fairies, O daughter of Eve.

      PATRICIA. But I never thought fairies were like you. Why, you are taller than I am.

      STRANGER. We are of such stature as we will. But the elves grow small, not large, when they would mix with mortals.

      PATRICIA. You mean they are beings greater than we are.

      STRANGER. Daughter of men, if you would see a fairy as he truly is, look for his head above all the stars and his feet amid the floors of the sea. Old women have taught you that the fairies are too small to be seen. But I tell you the fairies are too mighty to be seen. For they are the elder gods before whom the giants were like pigmies. They are the Elemental Spirits, and any one of them is larger than the world. And you look for them in acorns and on toadstools and wonder that you never see them.

      PATRICIA. But you come in the shape and size of a man?

      STRANGER. Because I would speak with a woman.

      PATRICIA. [Drawing back in awe.] I think you are growing taller as you speak.

      [The scene appears to fade away, and give place to the milieu of ACT ONE.]