Not which old man. We want _the_ Old Man. _Ferryman_ Who is he? The true and original Old Man. _Ferryman_ Oh! I understand. What do you want him for? For our Spring Festival. _Ferryman_ For your Spring Festival? Are you become mad? Not a sudden becoming. We have been like this from the beginning. And we shall go on like this to the end. (_They sing._) _The Piper pipes in the centre, hidden from sight. And we become frantic, we dance. The March wind, seized with frenzy, Runs and reels, and sways with noisy branches. The sun and stars are drawn in the whirl of rapture._ Now, Ferryman, give us news of the Old Man. You ply your boat from one landing stage to another. Surely you know where---- _Ferryman_ My business is limited only to the path. But whose path it is, and what it means, I have no occasion to enquire. For my goal is the landing-stage, not the house. Very well. Let us go, let us try all the ways. _(They sing.)_ _The Piper pipes in the centre, hidden from sight. Ah, the turbulent tune, to whose time the oceans dance, And dance our heaving hearts. Fling away all burdens and cares, brother, Do not be doubtful of your path, For the path wakes up of itself Under the dancing steps of freedom._ _Ferryman_ There comes the Watchman. Ask him. I know about the way; but he knows about the wayfarers. _Watchman_ Who are you? We are just what you see. That's our only description. _Watchman_ But what do you want? We want the Old Man. _Watchman_ Which old man? That eternal Old Man. _Watchman_ How absurd! While you are seeking him, he is after you. Why? _Watchman_ He is fond of warming his cold blood with the wine of hot youth. We'll give him a warm enough reception. All we want is to see him. Have you seen him? _Watchman_ My watch is at night. I see my people, but don't know their features. But, look here, every one knows that he is the great kidnapper; and you want to kidnap him! It's midsummer madness. The secret is out. It doesn't take long to discover that we are mad. _Watchman_ I am the Watchman. The people I see passing along the road are all very much alike. Therefore, when I see anything queer, it always strikes me. Just listen to him. All the respectable people of our neighbourhood say just the same thing--that we are queer. Yes, we're queer. There's no mistake about that. _Watchman_ But all this is utter childishness. Do you hear that? It's exactly what our Dada says. We have been going on with our childishness through unremembered ages. And now we have become confirmed children. And we have a leader, who is a perfect veteran in childhood. He rushes along so recklessly, that he drops off his age at every step he runs. _Watchman_ And who are you? We are butterflies, freed from the cocoon of Age. _Watchman_ [_Aside._] Mad. Raving mad. _Ferryman_ Then what will you all do now? _Chandra_ We shall go---- _Watchman_ Where?