ANOTHER YOUTH. Lilies. THE NEWLY BORN [_to Acis_] What is your name? ACIS. Acis. THE NEWLY BORN. I love you, Acis. I must have you all to myself. Take me in your arms. ACIS. Steady, young one. I am three years old. THE NEWLY BORN. What has that to do with it? I love you; and I must have you or I will go back into my shell again. ACIS. You cant. It's broken. Look here [_pointing to Strephon, who has remained in his seal without looking round at the birth, wrapped up in his sorrow_]! Look at this poor fellow! THE NEWLY BORN. What is the matter with him? ACIS. When he was born he chose a girl two years old for his sweetheart. He is two years old now himself; and already his heart is broken because she is four. That means that she has grown up like this Ancient here, and has left him. If you choose me, we shall have only a year's happiness before I break your heart by growing up. Better choose the youngest you can find. THE NEWLY BORN. I will not choose anyone but you. You must not grow up. We will love one another for ever. [_They all laugh_]. What are you laughing at? THE SHE-ANCIENT. Listen, child-- THE NEWLY BORN. Do not come near me, you dreadful old creature. You frighten me. ACIS. Just give her another moment. She is not quite reasonable yet. What can you expect from a child less than five minutes old? THE NEWLY BORN. I think I feel a little more reasonable now. Of course I was rather young when I said that; but the inside of my head is changing very rapidly. I should like to have things explained to me. ACIS [_to the She-Ancient_] Is she all right, do you think? _The She-Ancient looks at the Newly Born critically; feels her bumps like a phrenologist; grips her muscles and shakes her limbs; examines her teeth; looks into her eyes for a moment; and finally relinquishes her with an air of having finished her job._ THE SHE-ANCIENT. She will do. She may live. _They all wave their hands and shout for joy._ THE NEWLY BORN [_indignant_] I may live! Suppose there had been anything wrong with me? THE SHE-ANCIENT. Children with anything wrong do not live here, my child. Life is not cheap with us. But you would not have felt anything. THE NEWLY BORN. You mean that you would have murdered me! THE SHE-ANCIENT. That is one of the funny words the newly born bring with them out of the past. You will forget it tomorrow. Now listen. You have four years of childhood before you. You will not be very happy; but you will be interested and amused by the novelty of the world; and your companions here will teach you how to keep up an imitation of happiness during your four years by what they call arts and sports and pleasures. The worst of your troubles is already over. THE NEWLY BORN. What! In five minutes?