PROGRESS: A DRAMA OF EVOLUTION 



187 



First Fish. Support the frog! I said not so! 



Broad is the world and wide tlie great Second Fish. So you support the frog in 



expanse his desires 



Of land whereon the highest hfe may flourish, And think we all should seek the land? 



Where oxygen is plenty and warm rays 



Of sun above will make us grow apace. 



r^ , . ,.117 11- r All I support is progress: 



[Crawls out on to the land and disappears from ^.^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ 



^^'"■J But not the actions of the frog. 



All progress has an aim, and I can see 

 How all the past conspired to reach an end, 

 Through toil and conflict up and down the 

 world, 

 First Fish. Where is om- frog? I heard Age upon age, was yet one purpose clear, 



him talk To make a fish. 



Of sun and air, and things above — can he 



have left us? Second Fish. This fish now made, what 



Would he risk his life on land? need of further progress? 



Second Scene 

 In the same pool. The fishes discuss 



Second Fish. Indeed he would, and has. ^^iR^t Fish. This fish now made, creation s 



Ah! foolish frog, task IS done: 



Thinking the pool not good enough he must Bright scales and fins, sharp teeth, and eyes 



go forth to^^e , . 



And roam upon the land. 'Twas ever thus Our prey. Perfect we are, and pertect must 



Since world began. Thus is creation stultified remain. 



By its creations. Making life to fit the world Scorning all change. Yet since we cs - ~ " 



whereon we live. 



Toiling toward perfection, gaining a certain 

 goal. 



To what we are through progress, we must 

 love 



The abstract thought of progress, and believe 

 OnV'to see its beings burst their bounds, 'Tis still a blessed word. 



reject the past, 

 And seek at peril of their lives some other Second Fish. Blessed for what? 



First Fish. Blessed for what? (Jh foolish 

 fish! 



First Fish. I do believe in progress; in the 



past 

 Seeking through wholesome change a worthy 



end. 



It is not what we do, but what we think 

 That makes us blessed! For what we think 

 We are; and if for reasons of our own 



It was not ill that vertebrate was born, 



Our actions do belie our inmost thoughts, 



... , -If Those thoughts still make us blessed. 



Lowly and humble, upside down, despised of ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^j^^^ ^^jp^^ ^^^ 



' past. 



So came our founder to the world. 

 Think of it, friend! and speak not ill of 

 progress. 



Yet do the deeds that serve us in our day. 



[The fishes swim away together]. 



,•* ^ ^ < 





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