Part 52 (1/2)

_A._ It may not be right to say so, but his decision seems to have been taken because of his jealousy.

_B._ Yes, that is true. I wonder why he has commanded us to prepare only one cross.

_A._ Perhaps it is his plan to save one of them.

_B._ I don't think that could be done very well.

_A._ But someone said the master told the girl that he would save her life if she would only desert the young man for him.

_B._ That may be so. Perhaps he intends to crucify the young man first in the presence of the girl so as to break her obstinate spirit and thus gain her love.

_A._ That may be so.

_B._ It is said that the young man has already repented of his love for the girl. But she was not at all frightened when the punishment was announced and she was informed that she was to be crucified. The man, on the contrary, at once turned white and almost fainted when he heard the judgment pa.s.sed upon him.

_A._ But a woman is much braver in love affairs than a man.

_B._ You speak as though you had had experience!

_A._ Ha! Ha! Ha!

_B._ Perhaps the master wishes to kill the young man in as cruel a manner as possible.

_A._ Hus.h.!.+ The lord is here! We are now obliged to remain silent and witness a living drama.

_B._ And we have a dreadful task to perform.[1]

Though this omits nothing in the way of necessary information, how colorless it is! When we note how perfectly either A or B could speak the lines of the other, we see where the difficulty lies. The lines lack all characterization. The history of the drama shows that while the facts of a play may be interesting in themselves, they are much more interesting to an audience which hears them as they present themselves to well-defined characters of the story. It is axiomatic that sympathy quickens interest. Take a much better known ill.u.s.tration of the same point. The left-hand column gives the opening lines of the first quarto, _Hamlet_. The right-hand column shows the opening of the second quarto.

_Enter Barnardo and Francisco, _Enter two Centinels_ two Centinels_

_1._ Stand: who is that? _Barnardo._ Whose there?

_2._ Tis I. _Francisco._ [Nay answere me.]

Stand and unfolde your selfe.

_Bar._ Long live the King.

_Fran._ Barnardo.

_Bar._ Hee.

_1._ O you come most carefully upon your watch. _Fran._ You come most carefully upon your houre.

_Bar._ Tis now strooke twelfe, get thee to bed Francisco.

_Fran._ For this relief much thanks, [tis bitter cold,] And I am sick at heart.

_Bar._ Have you had quiet guard?

_Fran._ [Not a mouse stirring.]

_Bar._ Well, good night: _2._ And if you meete Marcellus If you doe meete Horatio and and Horatio, Marcellus, The partners of my watch, bid The rivals of my watch, bid them them make haste. make hast.