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Page 69
STRANGER. That means: she's already married again, and my children
have a stepfather. Who is he?
BEGGAR. Whoever he is, don't murder him; for he's not to blame for
taking in a forsaken woman.
STRANGER. My children! O God, my children!
BEGGAR. I notice you didn't foresee what's happened; but why not
look ahead, if you're so old and such an enlightened man of the
world.
STRANGER (beside himself). O God! My children!
BEGGAR. Enlightened men of the world don't weep! Stop it, my son.
When such disasters happen men of the world ... either ... well,
tell me. ...
STRANGER. Shoot themselves!
BEGGAR. Or?
STRANGER. No, not that!
BEGGAR. Yes, my son, precisely that! He's throwing out a
sheet-anchor as an experiment.
STRANGER. This is irrevocable. Irrevocable!
BEGGAR. Yes, it is. Quite irrevocable. And you can live another
lifetime, in order to contemplate your own rascality in peace.
STRANGER. You should be ashamed to talk like that.
BEGGAR. And you?
STRANGER. Have you ever seen a human destiny like mine?
BEGGAR. Well, look at mine!
STRANGER. I know nothing of yours.
BEGGAR. It's never occurred to you, in all our long acquaintance,
to ask about my affairs. You once scorned the friendship I offered
you, and fell straightway into the arms of boon companions. I hope
it'll do you good. And so farewell, till the next time.
STRANGER. Don't go.
BEGGAR. Perhaps you'd like company when you get out of prison?
STRANGER. Why not?
BEGGAR. It hasn't occurred to you I mightn't want to show myself in
_your_ company?
STRANGER. It certainly hasn't.
BEGGAR. But it's true. Do you think I want to be suspected of
having been at that immortal banquet in the alchemist's honour, of
which there's an account in the morning paper?
STRANGER. He doesn't want to be seen with me!
BEGGAR. Even a beggar has his pride and fears ridicule.
STRANGER. He doesn't want to be seen with me. Am I then sunk to
such misery?
BEGGAR. You must ask yourself that, and answer it, too.
(A mournful cradle song is heard in the distance.)
STRANGER. What's that?
BEGGAR. A song sung by a mother at her baby's cradle.
STRANGER. Why must I be reminded of it just now?
BEGGAR. Probably so that you can feel really keenly what you've
left for a chimera.
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