SCENE THIRD.--Grounds of Castle Adamant;

Waterfall and Stream, crossed by rustic bridge; GIRL-STUDENTS discovered grouped about the stage, occupied with philosophical instruments, &c.

ADA	I shall be quite alone, dear, in my rooms, So come and spend a long, long evening--do! And bring your steam-engine!
CHLOE		Oh, that I will!
	And you shall show me all your nice new things-- That quadrant--and the anemometer; And oh, that darling, darling dumpy-level I've heard so much about!
LYDIA		My love, I see
	You've got another new theodolite. (aside to CHLOE) That's the fifteenth this month! The one I use Went out of fashion half a year ago! Oh, I've a bit of scandal! What d'you think? Melissa found a billet-doux, concealed In that Egyptian mummy we unrolled Last night. Just think of that!
Enter MELISSA, from bridge, running.
MELISSA		I say, my dear,
	I have such news for you! I've just been shown The robe for doctors of divinity. Oh, it's the sweetest thing!--Magenta silk, Trimmed with chinchilla, bouilloné, behind, Gored to the figure though; and on the skirt, Two rows of Cluny lace as deep as that!
CHLOE	Oh my! How lovely!
MELISSA		Then the trencher cap
	Is amber satin, trimmed with Cluny lace And rows of pearls; and round the outer edge The tiniest, tiniest rosebuds in the world!
ADA	(to Chloe). It's much more lovely than the legal gown-- Green grenadine, with rûchings down the front, That we shall wear.
CHLOE	(pouting). I shall give up the law And go into the church! I've always felt A serious longing for a pastor's life; Besides, I'm dark, and look a fright in green!
SACHA.	Take care, here's Lady Blanche. How stern she looks!
Enter LADY BLANCHE, L., GIRLS study vigorously.
BLANCHE	Attention, ladies, while I read to you The Princess Ida's list of punishments: The first is Sacharissa. She's expelled.
ALL	Expelled!
BLANCHE		Expelled--because, although she knew
	No man of any kind may see these halls, She dared to bring a set of chessmen here!
SACHA.	(in tears). I meant no harm--they're only men of wood!
BLANCHE	They're men with whom you give each other mate-- And that's enough! The next is Sylvia--
SYLVIA		Oh!
BLANCHE	Sylvia is rusticated for a month Because, in spite of all our college rules Upon the point, she dared to put three rows Of lace insertion round her graduate's gown! Phyllis will lose three terms, for yesterday, When, looking through her drawing book, I found A sketch of a perambulator!
ALL	(shocked).	Oh!
BLANCHE	Double perambulator, shameless girl! That's all at present. Now, attention please, Your principal, the Princess, comes to give Her usual inaugural address, To those young ladies who joined yesterday.
(March.--Enter the PRINCESS, over bridge, attended by eight "daughters of the plow." All courtesy profoundly.)
PRINCESS	Women of Adamant--fair neophytes, Who pant for the instruction we can give, Attend, while I unfold a parable: The elephant is stronger than the man, Yet man subdues him. Why? The elephant Is elephantine everywhere but here (tapping forehead), And Man, who's brain is to the elephant's As Woman's brain to Man's--that's rule of three-- Conquers the foolish giant of the woods, As Woman, in her turn, shall conquer Man, In mathematics Woman leads the way! The narrow-minded pedant still believes That two and two make four! Why, we can prove-- We women, household drudges as we are-- That two and two make five--or three--or seven-- Or five-and-twenty, as the case demands! Finance? Why, I've heard clever men declare, Their bankers' balance being overdrawn, They don't know where to turn for ready cash, Yet willfully ignoring all the while That remedy unfailing--draw a check! Diplomacy? The wily diplomate Is absolutely helpless in our hands: He wheedles monarchs--Woman wheedles him! Logic? Why, tyrant man himself admits It's waste of time to argue with a woman! Then we excel in social qualities-- Though man professes that he holds our sex In utter scorn, I'll undertake to say If you could read the secrets of his heart, He'd rather be alone with one of you Than with five hundred of his fellow-men! In all things we excel. Believing this, Five hundred maidens here have sworn to place Their foot upon his neck. If we succeed, We'll treat him better than he treated us, But if we fail--oh then let hope fail too! Let no one care one penny how she looks! Let red be worn with yellow--blue with green, Crimson with scarlet--violet with blue! Let all your things misfit, and you yourselves At inconvenient moments come undone! Let hair-pins lose their virtue; let the hook Disdain the fascination of the eye,-- The bashful button modestly evade The soft embraces of the button hole! Let old associations all dissolve, Let Swan secede from Edgar--Grant from Gask, Sewell from Cross--Lewis from Allenby-- In other words, let Chaos come again! Who lectures in the Upper Hall to-day?
BLANCHE	I, madam, on Abstract Philosophy. There, I propose considering at length Three points--the Is, the Might Be, and the Must. Whether the Is, from being actual fact, Is more important than the vague Might Be, Or the Might Be, from taking wider scope, Is, for that reason, greater than the Is, And lastly, how the Is and Might Be stand Compared with the inevitable Must.
PRIN.	The subject's deep--how do you treat it, pray?
BLANCHE	Madam, I take three Possibilities, And strike a balance then between the three, As thus--the Princess Ida Is our head-- The Lady Psyche Might Be--Lady Blanche-- Neglected Blanche--inevitably Must. Given these three hypotheses--to find The actual betting against each of them! Come, girls!
		[Exeunt LADY BLANCHE and STUDENTS.
PRIN.	(looking after her). Ambitious fool. And do you think you can Provide this college with a head. Go, go! Provide yourself with one--you want it more!
Enter LADY PSYCHE, over bridge, conducting HILARION, FLORIAN, and CYRIL.
LADY P.	Here is the Princess Ida's favorite grove, And here's the Princess. (To PRINCESS.) These are ladies three Who join our College.
HILAR.	(aside to CYRIL). Gods! how beautiful!
PRIN.	What special study to you seek, my friend?
HILAR.	(enraptured). Madam, I come that I may learn to live, For, if I come not here, I die!
PRIN.	(laughing).	Indeed?
	Your case is desperate! We welcome you. We meet at luncheon--until then, farewell!
		[Exit PRINCESS.
FLORI.	(aside to HILARION). When Psyche sees my face, I'm confident She'll recognize her brother Florian. Let's make a virtue of necessity, And trust our secret to her gentle care.
		(HILARION assents.)
	(aloud) Psyche! Why don't you know me--Florian?
		(PSYCHE amazed.)
PSYCHE	Why, Florian!
FLORI.		My sister!
PSYCHE		Oh, my dear,
	What are you doing here--and who are these?
HILAR.	I am that Prince Hilarion to whom Your Princess is betrothed--I come to claim Her promised love--your brother Florian, here, And Cyril--come to see me safely through.
PSYCHE	The Prince Hilarion! -- Cyril too! How strange! My earliest playfellows!
HILAR.	(astonished).	Why let me look!
	Are you that learned little Psyche who At school alarmed her mates because she called A buttercup "ranunculus bulbosus"?
CYRIL	Are you indeed that Lady Psyche, who At children's parties drove the conjurer wild, Explaining all his tricks before he did them?
HILAR.	Are you that learned little Psyche, who At dinner parties brought into dessert Would tackle visitors with "you don't know Who first determined longitude--I do-- Hipparchus 'twas, B.C. one sixty three!" Are you indeed that little Psyche then?
PSYCHE	That small phenomenon in truth am I! But gentlemen, 'tis death to enter here-- My vow will make me speak. What shall I do? This palace is a rat trap--we the bait-- And you the foolish victims!
CYRIL		Be it so--
	A prisoned rat, before he dies the death, Has liberty to nibble at the bait! (kisses her).
PSYCHE	Forbear, sir--pray--you know not what you do! We have all promised to renounce mankind.
HILAR.	But on what grounds do you, fair Psyche, base This senseless resolution?
PSYCHE		Senseless? No!
	It's based upon the grand hypothesis That as the Ape is undeveloped Man, So Man is undeveloped Woman.
HILAR.		Then,
	This, of all others, is the place for us!
Enter MELISSA unperceived, at back; she listens in astonishment.
	If Man is only undeveloped Woman, We men, if we work very hard indeed, And do our utmost to improve ourselves-- May in good time be women! Though I own Up to this point (as far as I'm aware) The metamorphosis has not commenced.
MELISSA	(coming down). Oh, Lady Psyche! --
PSYCHE	(startled). What--you heard us, then? Oh, all is lost!
MELISSA		Not so; I'll breathe no word.
	(Advancing in astonishment to FLORIAN.) How marvelously strange! And are you then, Indeed young men?
FLORI.		Well, yes--just now we are;
	But hope, by dint of study, to become, In course of time, young women!
MELISSA	(eagerly).	No! no! no!
	Oh, don't do that! Is this indeed a man? I've often heard of them, but till this day Never set eyes on one. They told me men Were hideous, idiotic, and deformed! They're quite as beautiful as women are! (patting FLORIAN'S cheek) Their cheeks have not that pulpy softness which One gets so weary of in womankind! Their features are more marked, and oh! Their chins (feeling his chin) How curious!
FLORI.		I fear it's rather rough.
MELISSA	Oh, don't apologize--I like it so! But I forgot; my mother, Lady Blanche, Is coming--and her eyes are very keen-- She will detect you, sir!
HILAR.		Oh, never fear!
	We saw her ladyship an hour ago; She seemed to have suspicions of our sex, And showed us robes, and gave us needlework, As though to test us. Well, we did the work Like seamstresses--and named the various stuffs, As if we'd spent a full apprenticeship At Swan and Edgar's!
Enter LADY BLANCHE. Exeunt the three GENTLEMEN with LADY PSYCHE.
BLANCHE	(aside to MELISSA). Here, Melissa--hush! Those are the three new students?
MELISSA	(confused).	Yes, they are--
	They're charming girls!
BLANCHE	(sarcastically). Particularly so! So graceful, and so very womanly; So skilled in all a girl's accomplishments!
MELISSA	(confused). Yes very skilled!
BLANCHE		You stupid little fool!
	Awhile ago, I placed before their eyes, Some Cluny lace--they call it Valenciennes-- Hemming is stitching--so at least they say-- A gusset is a gore--a tuck's a flounce-- Merino's cotton--linen's calico-- Poplin is silk, and rep is corduroy! I bade them hem a pocket handkerchief-- They placed their thimbles on their forefingers! And set about their work as clumsily As if they had been men, in girls' disguise!
MELISSA	(trembling). You surely wrong them, Mother dear, for see--(picking up a case from floor) Here is an étui dropped by one of them-- Containing scissors, needles, and----
BLANCHE	(taking it from her, and opening it). Cigars!!! Why these are men! And you knew this, you cat!
MELISSA	Oh, spare them--they are gentlemen, indeed, The Prince Hilarion--betrothed long since To Princess Ida--with two trusted friends! Consider, Mother, he's her husband now! And has been, twenty years! Consider, too, (insidiously) You're only second here--you should be first-- Assist the Prince's plan, and when he gains The Princess Ida's hand, you will be first! You will design the fashions--think of that! And always serve out all the punishments! The scheme is harmless, Mother--wink at it!
BLANCHE	The prospect's tempting! Well, well, well, I'll try-- Though I've not winked at any thing for years! 'Tis but one step towards my destiny-- The mighty Must! Inevitable Shall!
		[Exit LADY BLANCHE.
MELISSA	Save for a while at least!
Enter FLORIAN.
FLORI.		Melissa here?
MELISSA	Oh, sir, you must away from this at once, My mother guessed your sex--it was my fault, I blushed and stammered so, that she exclaimed: "Can these be men" (then seeing this) "Why these----" "Are men!" she would have added, but "are men" Stuck in her throat! She keeps your secret, sir, For reasons of her own; but fly from this, And take me with you--that is--no, not that!
FLORI.	I'll go--but not without you.(Bell.) Why, what's that?
MELISSA		The luncheon bell.
FLORI.		I'll wait for luncheon, then.
	See, here's Hilarion with the stern Princess, And Cyril with my sister Psyche, too.
Enter CYRIL with PSYCHE, and HILARION with PRINCESS, LADY BLANCHE, also all the other GIRLS, over bridge, bearing luncheon, which is spread. They all sit down and eat, CYRIL drinking freely.
PRIN.	You say you know the Court of Hildebrand? There is a prince there--I forget his name.
HILAR.	Hilarion?
PRIN.		Exactly. Is he well?
HILAR.	If it is well to droop and pine and mope-- To sigh, "Oh, Ida! Ida!" all day long-- "Ida! my love! my life! Oh, come to me!"-- If it is well, I say, to do all this, Then Prince Hilarion is very well.
PRIN.	He breathes our name? Well, it's a common one! And is the booby comely?
HILAR.		Pretty well.
	I've heard it said that if I dressed myself In Prince Hilarion's clothes (supposing this Consorted with my maiden modesty), I might be taken for Hilarion's self. But what is this to you or me, who think Of all mankind with unconcealed contempt?
PRIN.	Contempt? Why, damsel, when I think of man, Contempt is not the word!
CYRIL	(getting tipsy).	I'm sure of that;
	Or, if it is, it surely should not be!
HILAR.	(to CYRIL). Be quiet, idiot, or they'll find us out!
CYRIL	The Prince Hilarion's a goodly lad!
PRIN.	You know him, then?
CYRIL		I rather think I do!
	We were inseparables.
PRIN.		Why, what's this?
	You loved him then? (horrified).
CYRIL		We did--and do--all three!
	And he loves us sincerely in return!
HILAR.	(confused). Madam, she jests--(aside to CYRIL.) Remember where you are!
CYRIL	Jests? Not at all--why, bless my heart alive, You and Hilarion, when at the Court, Rode the same horse!
PRIN.		Astride?
CYRIL		Of course--why not?
	Wore the same clothes--and once or twice, I think Got tipsy in the same good company!
PRIN.	Well, these are nice young ladies, on my word--
CYRIL	(to FLORIAN). Don't you remember that old laughing song, That he and we would troll in unison, At the Three Pigeons--just when daylight broke? I'll give it you!
	Song, CYRIL, Air--Laughing Song from "Manon Lescaut."
	A young and earnest reader, Once with a special pleader, Was reading for the bar, Ha! ha! ha! ha! A budding luminary, Particularly wary, As lovers often are, Ha! ha! ha! ha! He met a lady bright, ha! ha! 'Twas very late at night, ha! ha! There shone no moon nor star, Ha! ha! ha! ha! Her head lay on his shoulder, And what d'you think he told her?( You'll never guess, I know. I scarcely like to tell you, For fear it should repel you-- Come, whisper, whisper low! No! no! no! no! no! no! no! no! Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! They threaded many mazes, Of buttercups and daisies, They wandered very far, Ha! ha! ha! ha! So amiable he found her, He put his arms around her, And she opposed no bar, Ha! ha! ha! ha! He squeezed her little fin, ha! ha! He chucked her little chin, ha! ha! And christened her his star, Ha! ha! ha! ha! Her head lay on his shoulder, And what d'you think he told her? You'll never guess, I know-- I'll hazard it and tell you, Although it may repel you-- Come, whisper, whisper low! No! no! no! no! no! no! no! no! Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! (After song he lights a cigarette.)
PRIN.	Infamous creature--get you hence away!
HILAR.	Dog! Here is something more to sing about! (Strikes him.)
CYRIL	(sobered). Hilarion--are you mad?
PRIN.	(astonished).	Hilarion? Help!
	Why these are men! Lost! Lost! betrayed! undone! (running on to bridge). Girls, get you hence--man-monsters, if you dare Approach one step--I--ah! (loses balance and falls.)
PSYCHE		Oh! Save her, sir!
BLANCHE	It's useless, sir, you'll only catch your death. (HILARION springs in.)
SACHA.	He catches her--
MELISSA		And now he lets her go--
	Again she's in his grasp--
PSYCHE		And now she's not!
	He seizes her back hair--
BLANCHE		And it comes off!
PSYCHE	No.--no--she's saved! She's saved! She's saved! She's saved!
(HILARION is seen swimming with the PRINCESS in one arm--he swims to a bank and the PRINCESS and he are brought to land.)
PRIN.	You've saved our lives and so have saved your own, But leave this palace--men in women's clothes!
Enter LYDIA, running.
	Why, what's the matter now?
LYDIA		King Hildebrand,
	Holding your father captive, sends to say That if Hilarion suffers any harm, Your father's life will pay the penalty, Moreover--if you do not yield yourself, According to the tenor of your oath, He will attack you ere to-morrow's dawn-- And force compliance!
PRIN.		Will he so, indeed?
	We'll teach these men a lesson. (To HILARION.) Get you gone! You saved our lives--we thank you for it--go! Arm, Amazons! We'll show these gentlemen, How nobly Woman vindicates her claim To equal individuality! Arm! Arm! This is our opportunity.
The three GENTLEMEN are thrust forth by the AMAZONS. Tableau.

Last updated November 9, 1997