Page:Gilbert Original Plays.djvu/29

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A mortal shall behold our blameless state,
And learn the beauties of a sinless life!
Come, let us summon mortal Ethais.
Dar. But—
Sel. Not a word—I am resolved to this.
Neo. But sister—
Sel. Well?
Neo. (timidly).Why summon only one?
Sel. Why summon more?
Neo. The world's incredulous;
Let two be brought into our blameless land.
Then should their wondrous story be received
With ridicule or incredulity,
One could corroborate the other.
Dar. Yes—
Phyllon has gone with Ethais. Let us call
The mortal counterpart of Phyllon too—
Sel. Two mortals—two unhappy men of sin
In this untainted spot!
Loc. Well, sister dear,
Two Heralds of the Truth will spread that Truth
At the least twice as rapidly as one.
Sel. Two miserable men! Why, one alone
Will bring enough pollution in his wake,
To taint our happy land from end to end!
Zay. Then, sister, two won't make the matter worse!
Sel. There's truth in that. (After a pause). The two shall come to us.
We have deserved this fearful punishment;