Little plays of StFrancis; a dramatic cycle from the life and legend of StFrancis of Assisi . come Thou unto me ! I faint, for Thee I thirst. Now, lest I waste. Let me be filled with thee ! Sweet Saviour, haste. Lift Thou me up. . Give me Thy cup ... To taste ! [A marvellous brightness falls upon the face ofFRANCIS; the air becomes blue and stands in a golden shower, gazing intentlybefore him. Slowly he lifts and extends hisarms in the form of the Cross. His voice be-comes faint with joy and ravishment. O Day-star from on high. Out of yon Eastern sky. How swiftly Thou dost fly ! . .
Little plays of StFrancis; a dramatic cycle from the life and legend of StFrancis of Assisi . come Thou unto me ! I faint, for Thee I thirst. Now, lest I waste. Let me be filled with thee ! Sweet Saviour, haste. Lift Thou me up. . Give me Thy cup ... To taste ! [A marvellous brightness falls upon the face ofFRANCIS; the air becomes blue and stands in a golden shower, gazing intentlybefore him. Slowly he lifts and extends hisarms in the form of the Cross. His voice be-comes faint with joy and ravishment. O Day-star from on high. Out of yon Eastern sky. How swiftly Thou dost fly ! . . And lo, with hands stretched wide. Like my Lord, ere He died, In form most glorified. Thou comest! . . From what height ? O blessed, holy sight! O Light of Light! [He stands entranced in ecstasy. The dawn liesgolden about him. From the world belowcomes a loud singing of birds. The mist fadesand begins to disappear ; behind him is see7ifaintly the cell with its door open. Earthappears again. Slowly he lets down his hands,which bear the marks of the Passion, CURTAIN 257 BROTHER SIN. A large cell containing table,chair, stool, and writing ma-terials. Before the crucifix,to one side of which hangsa curtain, Brother Leostands in an attitude oj deepdejection. Brother Juniper^entering fiom the outer door,halts abruptly and standswatching him. Leo beatshis breast; his lips move fastin prayer, but no sound comes from them. Suddenly he stops, and with a despairing gesture draws the curtain across the crucifix. LEO. So—SO shall it be with me for ever ! [Moving away, he sits down at the table, his headbowed, his hands clenched before him. juniper,approaching softly, stands looking at Brother Leo. . [He waits: slowly IuEOraises his head.] Shall I tell thee what thou art ?LEO. Aye ! If thou canst. JUNIPER. Thou art a fool, [leo is about tospeak.] Here ! Do not answer ! for thy wits arebetter than mine : and if thou talk I shall bebeaten. On holy obedience I charge thee, speak
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectfrancisofassisisaint
