Chapter Text
⌜ACT 1⌝
⌜Scene 1⌝
Enter Peter and Edmund.
PETER
Now, brother dear, do tell it to me straight:
The water silk brought to us by our friend,
Ambassador o’ Calormen to our south,
T’was worth a pretty penny by accounts.
Worth more than gold, the bond it represents
T’ween our two countries, hitherto at odds,
Now striving for a peace between the Tisroc
And myself, High King.
EDMUND
You speak the truth.
PETER
And furthermore, the talks were going well!
Our southern guests were welcomed with a feast
Befitting of the land from whence they came,
Where opulence speaks louder to their ears
Than honest words and faithful oaths besworn.
Then long we spoke--upon the morningtide--
Regarding trade and treaties ‘tween our lands.
And gifts were shared, including as I said,
The water silk which causes now such grief.
EDMUND
‘Tis as you say.
PETER
For on this day,
By chance, the silk was placed before me so,
While on my right, my quill and ink at hand;
Who could predict, upon the blare of horns
Beyond our walls, like horns of Father Time
Himself, that I should start-- Am I the type to start?
EDMUND
Nay, you are alike to stone most days.
PETER
‘Tis as you say! Yet start I did upon
That blare of horns. And doing so, my arm
Did sweep from right to left; both quill and well
Were knocked like so, and flood of blackest ichor
Was released, where’pon the water silk did capture
Every drop. Was that my fault?
EDMUND
Be calm.
The ambassador is all too mad, ‘tis true
But may as well put blame upon the blowers
Of the blasted horns that caused such grief
As blame yourself, my king.
PETER
I thank thee, Ed.
Your faith as e’er restores my shaken wits.
But how are we to fix this sorry mess?
EDMUND
I’ll tell you this: You shall make yourself scarce
For sight of you might make the matter worse.
We’ll let Calormene tempers cool, and ply
Aplenty food and drink to further soothe
Their wounded souls.
PETER
You think t’would work?
EDMUND
I know.
For am I not the smartest brother here?
PETER
‘Tis as you say.
EDMUND
And am I not a king
In my own right; a scholar, furthermore,
In trade, and all the matters of the law,
Including talks with all the foreign powers?
And am I not the best at plans and schemes
To keep our land at peace, and keep ourselves
Upon our royal thrones? And do you not
Take counsel from me night and day upon
Such matters as the water silk we speak?
PETER
Yes, yes, ‘tis true.
EDMUND
Then listen to my counsel at this hour.
Keep your head low; do not bestir the pot.
And when the time is right, and tempers cooled,
And reparations made, we shall resume
Diplomacies in your official name.
But not a word nor sight of you till then!
PETER
‘Tis understood. You’ll see not hide nor hair
Of your High King. I leave our friends in your
Most learned hands.
EDMUND
Take care, do not be caught,
‘Till water silk disaster be forgot!
They exit.
⌜Scene 2⌝
Enter Susan and the Suitor.
SUITOR
With hair like coal,
And humour droll,
Your gentle soul
Has caught me.
‘Tis like a scar
When I am far.
Your heart, a star:
Belights me.
To hear you speak,
My knees go weak,
One thing I seek:
Please wed me.
SUSAN
‘Tis like a light has shone upon your soul
For when you spake your verse, I saw quite clear:
The man you are, and whom you wish to be.
But honoured as I am to hear your verse,
I fear no spark has lit within my heart.
Good sir, I thank you for your kindly suit
But now the time has come to bid adieu.
[Aside.]
Too long this day has this man bent my ear.
Suitor exits.
My heart grows weary. Endless days are wasted
Entertaining men who seek my hand.
My beauty draws them in, like fish to bait
My throne a tempting prize to sweet the pot.
Still, not one suitor yet has caught my eye
And not one soul whom I would trust a whit
With governance and other matters smart,
Let alone to whom I’d give my heart.
Nay--that is not true, I speak a lie.
For one man once did catch my eye, so bold
And charming, like a gallant knight of old,
My heart was sold. I thought my search, so long,
Had reached an end, but he did rend my trust
For on a journey to his southern land,
In Tashbaan, heart of empire Calormen,
True colours he revealed: cruel acts I saw;
Harsh words I heard; disdain for all beneath
His lofty station. Prince he was, but now
His mask had dropped, and I, my heart betrayed,
Afraid for mine own life, and lives of those
Who travelled in my company, I fled,
And since have held my heart apart from all
Who seek my hand and throne. I am alone.
Enter Edmund.
Alone in love, at least, but at my side
My sister and my brothers dear reside.
[To Edmund.]
Ho, Edmund!
EDMUND
Susan, sister, Gentle Queen
Finished with your suitors for the day?
SUSAN
For my life. I weary of their games,
Their verses crude, their simpering, their eyes
Which follow greedy as their aims. I’m done!
EDMUND
How so? I thought you wished to find a man
To match your wits, your passion, and your spark--
SUSAN
There are no sparks, and I am quit this quest.
EDMUND
You know best.
SUSAN
And one more thing besides:
You see this hair which falleth from my head,
And down my back and almost to the floor?
EDMUND
These silken, raven locks that you, with pride,
Have grown and tended o’er these many years?
SUSAN
This shining hair, which like a glowing flame
Within the darkest room must draw all moths,
Does draw all men with eyes for naught
But power, beauty, and superficial things.
EDMUND
Your hair is like a beacon to all with eyes.
SUSAN
I would it not, such sorrow does it bring.
I’d have it off -- yes--! Begone, foul hair!
You see these shears? With sharpened blades I’ll rid
Myself of every lock, and every moth besides.
EDMUND
No, hold! Give not that look, I do not stand
Between your blades and your desire to rid
Your head of burden dark. I only wish
To lend my steady hand.
SUSAN
Then take these shears,
And shear the hair, that my beladen head
Shall lift as if from ‘neath a heavy weight.
[Edmund cuts the hair.]
There, is it gone? My head does lighter feel.
EDMUND
The job is done, and you are free, my dear.
SUSAN
My head is light! I give my brother thanks.
And now that suitors need not take my time,
Respite I’ll find outside these castle walls.
EDMUND
And what of all the hair you’ve cast aside?
SUSAN
Do with it as you will, for I care not!
No longer will it occupy my thoughts.
They exit.
⌜Scene 3⌝
Enter Lucy at one door and Tumnus the faun at another.
TUMNUS
Lucy! Valiant Queen, I find thee at last!
LUCY
Oh faithful Tumnus, my dear friend! You search?
I do not hide. My morning has been filled
With budding trees and fresh new flowers so sweet
I almost could believe the fruits were ripe
And bursting on my tongue. Oh gorgeous spring!
How glorious this Narnian day! Oh joy!
I have no cares! No duties to attend!
(For my dear brothers banished me outdoors
To tend our subjects, loyal beasts and birds,
Who dwell in orchards, gardens, and the wood.
No duty, this, to me, for would I not
Spend every hour just the same had I
No obligations in this world?)
TUMNUS
You would.
LUCY
But come, you say you searched? Now I am found.
What news have you?
Enter Peter, unnoticed.
TUMNUS
Only this: Some say
A gathering is taking place in woods
Far west of here, at Dancing Lawn, this night.
The news has reached my ear that dryad songs
Do tangle in the breeze, and naiad limbs
Are taking form along the riverbanks.
The fauns, my kin, are practicing their tunes,
Their horns and drums to play the night away.
And more than this: a wilder whisper comes
Echoing the youth-song of our god,
Promises of maenads soon to join
And Bacchus, Lord among them, at their head!
LUCY
Bacchus!
TUMNUS
As I said!
LUCY
Then we shall go!
For is it not the duty of this queen
To greet the god who dances in our wood?
Lucy and Tumnus exit.
PETER
At Dancing Lawn, in western woods, they say.
This catches at my mind, I know not why.
Perhaps, ‘tis boredom nipping at my heels,
For laying low and keeping out of sight am I.
But more than that, I do seem to recall
Rumours of a craftsman in those woods,
A master of inventions, so I’ve heard,
Though, hermit-like, he does not stray from home.
Of most import, a tool that he has made,
Like to a quill but with the ink attached!
If only this I’d had when day began
No water silk disaster would ensue!
Perhaps, a journey to this artisan,
But not as Peter, King; I’d draw the eye.
I’ll dress in rags, and pull my hat down low
And act the part of common traveller.
Yes! This master of the craft, is my next play;
I’ll trade for magic quill ‘ere end of day.
Peter exits.
⌜Scene 4⌝
Enter Edmund and the Calormene Ambassador, and servants.
EDMUND
Ambassador, our talks have gone so well
I find myself most pleased at our progress;
The minds of you and I are most aligned,
Both dedicated to the task at hand.
For do we not both wish to find a path
That honours both our lands with equal weight,
Through trade that benefits both Narnia
And empire Calormen, our Southern friend?
AMBASSADOR
Indeed, Just King, our goals are much the same:
Prosperity and wealth for both our lands.
Yet honour must be rated just as high
When inking deals. For as the poets say,
“Both truth and honour hand in hand must go;
Where one is lost, the other doth will fail.”
EDMUND
Your poets speak the words in mine own heart,
For honour is a high ideal for which
I daily strive, and truth likewise my goal.
Yet honour also comes to those of us
Who overlook the honest error made.
AMBASSADOR
But how is one to know when error made
Is honest at its heart, and not a slight?
EDMUND
‘Tis why I offer now more gifts to you,
Not gifts of welcome, those you have received,
But gifts of reparation to express
The honesty of our regrets to you
And your fine silk, of which we most admired.
These finest silver bowls of dwarven-make,
And seven bottles of sweet honey wine
Of quality the likes you will find nowhere else.
AMBASSADOR
A kingly gift, which soothes my wounded pride.
But is your King too High to make amends
By his own hands?
EDMUND
[aside]
As if his own lord,
Tisroc of the empire should e’er stoop
To confess wrong before his own subjects,
Let alone the dignitaries from
The smaller countries such as Narnia.
[To the ambassador]
While pressing matters occupy my king,
He will return, apologies most fair
Upon his lips, whence you will see
Our king has truest honour in his heart.
AMBASSADOR
One hopes his words are half as honeyed
As your own, Just King.
Ambassador departs.
EDMUND
A hope I dearly share;
Mine noble brother, High King though he is,
Can better wield a sword and lead his troops
Upon the battlefield than soothe the man
Whose wounded pride requires honeyed words!
[To the servants.]
Where can I find my brother? Time has come
To coach him in the words to calm this storm.
SERVANT
He left the Cair not long ago, my king.
EDMUND
He left? Where to?
SERVANT
It is unknown. Though tales
Have spread of Bacchus and his maenads wild
Converging in the Western Wood. The Queen,
Your sister, Lucy, travels there; mayhaps
Your brother joined her on her pilgrimage.
EDMUND
Oh, blasted Peter! Did I say to leave?
Lay low, I said to him, and nothing more.
Make ready my best horse, the fastest steed;
I’ll chase my brother down to Western Wood.
But wait! I must take care, disguise myself
That none shall interrupt me on my quest.
And did my sister not provide me hair,
Luxurious and raven black in hue,
Far longer and far darker than my own?
Already, it is known that she departs
From Cair Par’vel to distant lands unknown.
If I should wear her hair upon my head,
Then it shall look as though I were the Queen
And none shall block my path as I depart.
I’ll travel thus, to Western Wood, and find
My King, and bring him home before ‘tis found
That he and I have left. A simple quest!
‘Tis often such solution is the best.
Edmund leaves.