ACT ONE SCENE
TWO
The same. The
Draper still putting out wares.
Jasper
(happily
to himself)
Another sun-spun day
filled with fine promise,
The joyful promise
of good profit found
By fleecing foolish
customers. As ever
My plans are
purposed to perfection, for
My shepherds shear
four-footed sheep, while I
The woolly-headed
ones who wish to buy.
(Jasper continues
to arrange cloths. Vulpes enters top stage right. He pauses.)
Vulpes
(musing)
First I consider
need. What weaving hue
Best pleases free
and flighty fancy’s choosing?
Should it be spread
of light, heart-soothing blue,
Like wide and airy
sky's infinitude?
Or white as is the
carpet of fresh snow
That biting winter
lays on all below?
Or maybe flame-brave
red of sunset's gown?
Or sober beauty of
an earth-born brown?
Perhaps the calm and
growing garb of green,
Of grass and forest,
draws regard when seen?
(Vulpes
starts to cross over.)
For Marguerite, say,
two yards and a half;
For me, let's see, a
happy three or more...
Say, possibly a
generous four...that is,
That is, in sum…
( Suddenly
realizing he is at the draper's)
God-given
day, good friend!
And how spins life
with you, good Jasper, now,
Upon this bright and
merry-minded morning?
Jasper (with
a falsely melancholic air)
So, so, good Vulpes.
Yes; so, so. You know
I am not
bitter-mouthed. I am not one
To carp at life with
hard-complaining tongue.
Yet still it forms
no simple task to find
Necessities in these
most narrow times-
These times when
opportunity's a beggar
At tight-faced
circumstance's door; these times
When we who once
were proud of purse must watch
That we don't fall
and pass to common poor.
But that’s enough
of weight and worry’s way.
How's life with you?
You seem spun light in spirit.
Vulpes
Indeed, my friend,
that’s so. My spirit’s light
Because my pockets
pull so golden-heavy.
I do not doubt your
keen, fine ears have caught
The whisper on the
gossip of the winds,
Soft rumour of my
recent win: the case,
Word-wise with wit,
I won some weeks ago.
Jasper
No, no. Can't claim
I have.
Vulpes
What!
Really? Well,
Tales of good
fortune travel on tired feet,
While those of ruin
ride on fiery steeds…
But nevertheless
that bodes for me no bother.
I do not wish to bar
my fortune's state
To curious and
common gaze. Still, how's
Your health, my
friend, how goes the living power?
Jasper
Oh, holding, saints
be praised, still holding out.
Vulpes
Good faith be
praised! Just as your father flourished!
He never knew an
hour of wasteful illness
In all the bustle of
his days. Now there,
I say, there was a
proper one for you!
(Vulpes peers at
Jasper)
And now to see it…
now to look at you,
You are the very
pattern of your pater,
His very likeness.
Yes, he was a rare,
Old raven. So much
like you. God save his soul!
Jasper
Amen.
Vulpes
Yes,
many were ripe times when he
Held forth upon the
future course of things…
A shrewd and crafty
one he seemed to be!
The "weather-vane"
we named him, for he ever
Would swing to point
the way the winds were blowing.
Jasper
He was a tough but
honest business man
And people liked to
buy from him, you know.
Vulpes
Yes, many's the time
I took from him myself.
Oh, he was one to
trust to his own judgement.
But spins it not
with wonder! You possess
The firm set of his
mouth, his scheme of eyes,
The ears acute, that
bravely searching nose.
Was ever father
blessed with such a double.
Oh, even his blunt
chin. Remarkable!
So many merry times
we listened to
His moral tales or
shared a harmless jest.
If there breathed
more like him they'd live more trust,
Less thievery and
low conniving.
(Vulpes starts to
finger some cloth)
My,
my,
A brave cloth you
have here. So soft and strong.
Jasper
It's very fine. A
weave from my own sheep.
Vulpes
I'd spun no plans to
purchase such as this
On this particular,
life-praising day.
Yet this close-woven
cloth is excellent-
Most truly tempting
to the eyes and touch,
Most rightly
pleasing to a true discernment.
Such blue-hued
beauty shines as praise to that
Most careful craft
that forms the dyer's art.
Jasper
Like any work of
gleaming craftsmanship
It's rather costly…
you can understand…
But for a family
friend…
Vulpes
(interrupting)
Indeed,
you know
It fires special
fancy at first sight.
My case has gifted
my poor purse with eighty
Gold-gleaming coins
and I can see that you
Are sure to share in
some of their abundance.
The colour- ah, like
rarest art for vision!
Jasper
Good, golden coins.
Well, if I cut it hard,
Just for a family
friend (it's worth more, mind you),
Perhaps I’d let
you rob me for, let's say,
Just four and twenty
shillings for a yard.
Vulpes
What! Four and
twenty shillings for a yard!
Jasper
By all that's tall
in truth, I tell you this-
It costs me all of
that just to replace.
Vulpes
Oh, that amount
amounts to much. Too much!
For though I’ve
moment’s wealth I cannot waste,
Like rough and
spendthrift winds that shake gold leaves
From autumn trees to
leave a winter bareness;
So I can’t spend
without clear thought on cost
And end too soon
with rubbing empty hands.
Jasper
Perhaps you don’t
appreciate how prices
Have soared beyond
the safety of all sense.
So many beasts
expired from cruel frost
Or fell before the
lash of blizzard fury,
This long,
ice-bitter winter past, so many!
Vulpes
But surely we were
blessed by hours of sun
On many chains of
golden days that cheered
The mildest season
which I well-remember?
Jasper (quickly)
Oh, no. Oh, no, my
friend. For on the far,
Far higher fields it
showed another face:
A winter wild and
heightened by the heights.
Those slopes were
ever slashed by wind so harsh
It was itself like
knives of ice unseen,
With long, long
nights that froze each singing stream.
And thus, in certain
consequence, all costs
Have rapid-climbed
like sudden storm’s arising.
Yes, it has been
misfortune’s very making
And I have found my
loss more than I feared.
Why, fleeces that
once cost but seven shillings
Are now worth
twenty. That's the open truth.
Vulpes
(grandly)
Be that the nature
of our costly days,
Then I shall buy.
One must accept the changes
Of proper
circumstance and passing time.
Jasper
Amen. That is a
truth. How much have you
A fancy to be taking
for your needs?
Vulpes
Let's see- four
yards for me, some for my wife,
Let's say- two and a
half, and with the hat
Let's guess at
seven.
Jasper
(measuring
the cloth)
Thus
I’ll start true measure.
If one's the sun
above- that shines on you
Then that is two…
and also shines on me
Then that is
three…then earth below, what’s more,
Is four… and air
that keeps us all alive
Is five… while
life’s a mix of many tricks
And that is six…
yet still we ever hope
For high reward in
heaven… so that’s seven!
Vulpes
No doubt you’re
well aware that honest care
Proscribes a
slipshod measure that’s not strict.
Jasper
Perhaps you'd like
it taken once again?
Vulpes
No. Worry not. For
one must always lose
Or gain a little in
this dealing world.
How much therefore
is owed in total now?
Jasper
Well, seven yards at
four and twenty shillings,
Just let me reckon
rightly for a moment…
(Jasper fiddles
with an abacus)
That is one hundred
and eighty eight in all.
(Jasper cuts the
cloth)
Vulpes
(after
calculating for a moment)
One hundred and
sixty eight, I think you mean.
Jasper
(pushing back two beads on abacus)
Oh, yes. Of course.
Quite quickly rightly reckoned.
I cannot think what
made me stumble so.
Vulpes
Fine, fine. Of
course, for simple safety’s sake
I do not bare such
large amounts with me.
I had not planned to
purchase such a prize
When I set out upon
this shining day.
So sooner started,
sooner done. I shall
Return as fast as
reasoned, fair intention
Is able to instruct
my willing legs
With sparkling
pockets filled with settling coins.
(Vulpes makes to
go, but suddenly stops as if struck by an idea.)
No, no. I’m
blessed by better thought than that.
You've never caught
excuse to call on us,
So here's a golden
chance for you to change
And taste of timely
hospitality.
Come share some
juicy goose and bubbling wine-
A good chat and a
filling midday meal.
You surely can't
refuse me that.
Jasper
A
drink?
Vulpes
And goose. My wife
was roasting fine, rich fowl
When I set out to
greet this friendly day.
To taste the truth,
I feel this meal will be
A favour of true
flavour for the tongue,
A gift, a feast, a
marvel for the mouth.
Indeed, you’ll
find your goose well-cooked, I fancy.
Jasper
All right. That
reasons well with me. Meanwhile
On your return
please ready worthy money
And I’ll be
pleased to take your pleasing offer
And carry your
most-splendid cloth with me.
Vulpes
Oh, no. Oh, no. No
problem there, my friend!
(Vulpes scoops
the cloth up under his arm)
Jasper
No doubt your meal
will draw my many thanks
As table’s bounty
tasting of the best.
Yet now, my dear,
old friend, you must allow
That I should bear
the burden of this cloth.
(Jasper tries to
take back the cloth)
Vulpes
(evading
him)
No, no, dear friend!
I must insist that I
Shall save you all
the labour of this load.
(Vulpes stops
suddenly and looks serious)
Or do I here detect
a drop of doubt?
Trust is that
high-born virtue, that which binds
This turning world
in harmony- or so
I’ve ever felt and
thought. Indeed, I fear
I cannot carry out
my buying trade,
If there's no trust
between us now, dear brother.
(Vulpes offers
back the cloth )
Jasper
Do not believe that
I have no belief
In honest dealing,
dearest brother! Of course,
I trust you truly
for I know you know
That I would never
fear default, for I
Trust I would
always find a way to reach
An owing purse. The
law is guarantee
For honoured traders
such as I. So see
The counted gold is
gathered there for me.
Vulpes
In truth, all worthy
pay shall come to you.
Yet first you shall
full-marvel at your meal.
You know, your
father never passed our place
Without familiar
greeting: "How go your stars?"
Or "what is
stewing now, you crafty rascal?"
Ah, well, I must be
off. See you at noon.
Jasper
All right, dear
friend. I’ll be with you quite soon.
In fact, I smell
sweet-roasting goose already.
Still please be sure
my rightful money's ready.
For if it's not,
dear friend, you'd best beware,
I'll drag you to the
court and when I'm through,
I’ll end up
wringing twice as much from you!
Vulpes
My friend, my
friend, feel not the slightest fear.
All you deserve will
doubtlessly appear.
(Jasper exits
via his shop)
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