FIRST IDOLATER (_pointing upward mockingly_): I see a cloud in the sky; it grows. Perchance, it is your flood. Who knows? Get into the ark lest it wet your toes. ALL THE IDOLATERS (_laughing_): Get into the ark lest it wet your toes. (_They dance out with_ JAPHETH.) NOAH (_arms upraised_): Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, For the hour of her desolation cometh! (_Turns to other sons._) Have done, ye men and women all, Hie ye, lest the water fall. Of clean beasts, seven shall be, Of unclean, two; thus God bade me; The flood is nigh, I plainly see; Wherefore hasten ye, And see now that each beastie be in stall. (SHEM _and_ HAM _go out._ NOAH _turns his back and laments_): And Japheth hath forsaken me--my son! O my son Japheth, O my son, my son! NOAH'S WIFE (_mocking_): Why dost thou grieve? The Lord hath promised thee, Thou shalt be saved and all thy family. NOAH (_turning_): Yea, it is well, and God doth not deceive. He will return again, I do believe. HAM (_returns_): The animals are in the ark, Save those which Shem now bringeth. Hark! Hear ye the roaring and the bark? (_Loud roarings heard outside._) (_Enter_ SHEM _with procession of animals._ HAM _aids him drive the animals. First of all enters a solitary_ DRAGON.) NOAH: Where is your mate, good Dragon? Tell me--where? DRAGON (_with a mournful flap of his claw_): She is eating up the village over there. She bade me ask how many there would be Within the ark? NOAH: My sons, their wives and me. DRAGON: I cannot add. NOAH: In all there will be eight. DRAGON (_mournfully_): Alack, alack, good Noah, it is fate. I fear she would not enter if she knew. She eats a man a day; ye are too few. WIVES (_to_ NOAH, _with horror in their faces_): O father! DRAGON: Do not fear; too few ye be, And eke too thin, to suit my wife and me. (_Crawls out._) SHEM (_bringing other animals up_): Sir, here are monkeys, frogs and bears, Kangaroos, giraffes and hares, Elephants also in pairs. (_Goes out._) (_The_ BEAR _sits down facing audience, and scratches his nose. The_ MONKEY _runs away; he is brought back. The other_ MONKEY _climbs on roof of ark and pulls the ear of_ GIRAFFE _as that beast looks out of window. They drag the_ ELEPHANT _in with great difficulty._ NOAH _counts off the animals as they enter._) NOAH: Enter monkeys--frogs--bears-- Kangaroos--giraffes--hares-- Elephants also in pairs-- Stop! Stop! Too many rabbits far there be. [Illustration: A SON OF NOAH] RABBIT (_one of a group of little white rabbits_): O sir, I only brought my family. (_Weeps._) NOAH: Where are the lions? (_One_ LION _stalks in;_ WIVES _flee._) Thou art late; turn ye, O Lion; seek your mate. (_Whereupon the_ LION _shall turn to audience and roar_ _until his mate shall run to him, and both shall enter the ark together._)