 | Lock And Key |  |
I.
The Abode of the Godmother, who is seated on a throne, holding an orbed sceptre.Lady Godmother.
The Lady Godmother am I,
Dwelling between the earth and sky;
Lady of night, and noon, and morn;
To every man and woman born
Below, I am the godmother.
Ah, how my puzzled children err!
To every one a gift I make,
But must not speak, for that would break
The law that forces me to give,
As godmother to all that live.
78
The meaning that my gifts do bear;
And all my messengers are dumb,
Though countless thousands go and come.
Enter Dumb Messenger, who makes a gesture of submission and willingness.
Thou canst not speak, but thou canst hear.
Dumb Messenger. (A gesture of assent, and a movement suggestive of flying.)
Lady Godmother.
Maid Innocent to me is dear.
Dumb Messenger. (A gesture of assent and submission).
Lady Godmother.
With this gift be thou swiftly sped,
And place it by her cradle's head.
[She gives him a small golden cabinet. He receives it, with obeisances, and departs.
Chorus,
without.
Through the night, or through the day,
Silent angel, find thy way.
Do not wake the mother mild,
Do not wake the little child:
Only bear the gift to her
From the Lady Godmother.
79
She the Lady's gift will know;
She shall hearken and shall seek
For the angels that may speak.
Bear the gift, then, messenger,
From the Lady Godmother.
Lady Godmother.
Maid Innocent, receive my gift!
And when the dream begins to lift,
And when the day begins to break,
And when to the wide world you wake,
And speaking angels round you flit—
Your dower—what will you make of it?
| Lock And Key | |