Part 25 (2/2)

Not all here yet-- But they must come To this suns.h.i.+ne-- To these mountains-- To these birds and trees-- To the music-- To the Land of Health, The Land of Happiness-- They may be gay _there_-- Sometimes-- Sometimes-- But _that_ is a fool's Paradise-- My old Kingdom-- And I must lead them up To this new land Of hope and joy.

(CURTAIN FALLS)

TWO DOCTORS AT AKRAGAS

BY

FREDERICK PETERSON

CHARACTERS

AKRON EMPEDOCLES PANTHEIA

TWO DOCTORS AT AKRAGAS

[_Atlantic Monthly_, 1911.]

_Akron_

She has been dead these thirty days.

_Empedocles_

How say you, thirty days! and there is no feature of corruption?

_Akron_

None. She has the marble signature of death writ in her whole fair frame. She lies upon her ivory bed, robed in the soft stuffs of Tyre, as if new-cut from Pentelikon by Phidias, or spread upon the wood by the magic brush of Zeuxis, seeming as much alive as this, no more, no less.

There is no beat of heart nor slightest heave of breast.

_Empedocles_

And have you made the tests of death?

_Akron_

There is no bleeding to the p.r.i.c.k, nor film of breath upon the bronze mirror. They have had the best of the faculty in Akragas, Gela, and Syracuse, all save you; and I am sent by the dazed parents to beseech you to leave for a time the affairs of state and the great problems of philosophy, to essay your ancient skill in this strange mystery of life in death and death in life.

_Empedocles_

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