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Show The Fate of PrexySCENE: The curtain rises upon a desolate waste, a barren, rocky seacoast where a storm is brewing. The lowering clouds and the incessant beating of the waves against the rocks produces the effect of horror and despair. The shades of night are gathering round the spot. Intermittently the lighting flashes, and reveals in shadowed form the solitary figure of a man. From time to time he moans in most melancholy dismay. And only the waves lashing against the bleak rocks make answer. Anon he speaks.PREXY:The sky is overcast, the evening lowers,And heavily the clouds bring on the night;Alas the night my last upon this earth.Why shrinks my soul back on itself,And startles at destruction?What have I done?Alas! Alack! Man's inhumanity to man!Banished am I, an outcastUpon this desolate shore,For having done as I was told to do.'Tis sad, 'tis true; 'tis true, 'tis sad!The world is too much with us,Sooner or late the right prevails and triumphs,Nor clique, nor creed, nor person can prevent.I'm here dishonered, my name and famebesmirchedBy my own acts. (Gushingly weeps.) 'Tis sad 'tis true; 'tis true 'tis sad!(His tears mingle with the raindrops; the wind shrieks and howls, and the storm rages. Anon a calm, and the shadowed form again soliloquizes.) To be or not to be; is, ain't or don't, I do not know. The whips and scorns of time I haveendured, I hate to sweat and grunt under a wearylife;To sleep-to make an end-to die- Aye, there's the rub! Is it to die, or is it to sleep? But I am sick of these conjectures, This must end them. (Puts hand onsword.)But soft! Who comes? Maud May, the fair! Nymph, well artthou remembered!MAUD MAY:How now, my lord, why weepest thou? I, too, like thee, am here exiled; Life's fitful fever'll soon be o'er. Let's end it together, my lord.PREXY: Ha, ha! Are you honest?204 |