124 LITERATURE AND DRAMA 



life promised you so little. I was promised all that earth can 

 give rank, learning, beauty, wealth, power, love, even virtue- 

 all were to be mine. I believed they were mine already 

 would be mine eternally. Was that a sin ? Surely not, only a 

 child's folly. I wished for what was good and beautiful. I 

 thought poets knew the truth; they told me of Love. I dreamt 

 that one day he would build me a charmed palace where nothing 

 foul could enter. I saw the first stones laid. I cannot explain 

 all. For a little while I was in fairy-land now I am back 

 on earth, where I will rather be food for worms than that man's 

 wife. 



Gris. You are sorely wounded ; but will you fly in your first 

 battle ? 



Filo. Death is no coward's choice. Why should I bear 

 misery ? If I had any hope yes, I would bear some pain ; but 

 without hope how can I ? And there is none. 



Gris. Experience would give you faith instead of hope. 



Filo. Faith ! faith in what ? 



Gris. In God in man even in yourself. 



Filo. Is that the lesson your life has taught you ? 



Gris. It is. 



Filo. Then I have not been told the truth. I heard that 

 you were made a wife in mockery ; that your husband first 

 murdered your children, and then, in sheer wantonness, divorced 

 you and cast you out a beggar. Is this not true ? 



Gris. That would seem the truth to many. 



Filo. How could experience of such a life give you faith ? 



Gris. Your words make no true picture of the life I see when 

 I look back. 



Filo. Show me what you see. I cannot wait for more expe- 

 rience. Let me learn from yours. There is not much time, 

 but if you will tell me your real life I will wait till the day 

 breaks. No one ever told me what they really felt. I think 

 you will. If I knew what you meant by faith, perhaps I might 

 believe. 



Gris. Then you would live. 



Filo. No, no ! Let me rest : I am tired ; I long for rest. 

 Tell me your life, and I shall forget my miserable self a little 

 while. I will believe that I am dead already, and that you are 



