Transcriber’s Note: Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like this_. “ro” was changed to “to” ... desire to run ... COLOMBINE A FANTASY AND OTHER VERSES _LONDON_ BENN AND CRONIN, LTD. CRAVEN HOUSE, KINGSWAY, W.C. 1911 _Copyright: Entered at Stationers’ Hall, December 1911. Acting Rights strictly Reserved._ [Illustration: COLOMBINE.] [Illustration: COLOMBINE A FANTASY BY REGINALD ARKELL WITH SOME DRAWINGS BY FREDERICK CARTER.] [Illustration] AUTHOR’S NOTE “COLOMBINE” was first performed at Clavier Hall, Hanover Square, W., on Thursday, 7th December 1911, with the following cast: Dan’l (an old man) MR. B. BUTLER. Nathan’l (a boy) MR. A. E. FILMER. (_By permission of Miss Lillah McCarthy_) Harlequin MR. REGINALD BACH. Pierrot MR. MARK HANNAM. (_By permission of Miss Lillah McCarthy_) Colombine MISS ETHEL EVANS. The play was produced by MR. A. E. FILMER. SCENE A ROMAN CAMP on the summit of Cissbury Beacon in the South Downs. A fairy ring occupies the foreground. All round are beech trees. The time is evening. [Illustration] PROLOGUE There are circles of green upon Cissbury Hill, Where the Pharisees dance--so they say; Revelling merrily round it until The dawn over Ditchling is gray. And travellers lost upon Cissbury Hill-- (Pixy-led folk who stray) Seated on toad-stools, with fairy folk sup, _But here, in Haymarket, the roadway is up_. There are circles of beech upon Cissbury Hill, Where the leaves of a lifetime decay; Hiding the memories, lingering still, Of Rome’s indisputable sway. And under the beech-leaves of Cissbury Hill, Throbs the heart of the downland alway. While dreaming of chieftains and warriors in woad, _You’re lighting your pipe in the Charing Cross Road_. [Illustration] COLOMBINE _An old man and a boy are seen talking; both are labourers. The old man, who is seated, speaks_: DAN’L. Well, Nathan’l. NATHAN’L. Well, Dan’l. DAN’L. There’s little use in stopping here much longer. NATHAN’L. Not as I can see. DAN’L. Like my old eyes, the sun don’t grow no stronger. NATHAN’L. And I wants my tea. DAN’L. Do ee, lad? NATHAN’L. Ah, main bad. DAN’L. Which means ’tis time to go, I reckons. NATHAN’L. That’s a proposition as I seconds. DAN’L. Come on then, let’s be moving. Tip us yer daddle.