Oulanem。Butweintendtomakealengthystay。
Pertini。EachdaythelessyouspendinpleasurehereWillbemyloss。
Oulanem。Oncemorewethankyouwarmly。
Pertini（callingaservant）。
Boy！Seethegentlemenuptotheirroom。
Theywishtotakesomerestaftertheirjourney;
TheyalsowanttobealoneandchangeTheirheavytravellingclothesforlighterwear。
Oulanem。Wetakeourleave，butweshallsoonreturn。（OulanemandLucindogooutwiththeservant。）
Pertini（alone，cautiouslylookinground）。
It’she，byGod，it’she;thedayhascome;
He，theoldfriendInevercouldforget，Anymorethanmyconsciencegivesmerest。
That’sexcellent！NowI’llexchangemyconscience;
Heshallbeithenceforth，yes，he，Oulanem。
So，conscience，nowmayitgowellwithyou。
Foreverynightyoustoodbeforemybed，YouwenttosleepwhenIdid，rosewithme——
Weknoweachother，man，myeyesuponit！
What’smore，Iknowthatthereareothershere;
TheyareOulanemalso，alsoOulanem！
There’sdeathringsinthatname。Well，letitringTillinitsownervileitringsitslast。
Butwait，Ihaveitnow！Asclearasair，Firmasmybones，itcomesupfrommysoul。
Hisoathstandsupinarmsbeforemyeyes！
I’vefoundit，andI’llseehefindsittoo！
Myplanismade——youareitsverysoul，Yes，you，Oulanem，areitsverylife。
WouldyouworkDestinyas’twereapuppet？
MakeHeavenaplaythingforyourcalculations？
FabricateGodsoutofyouroldspentloins？
Now，playyourpartoffpat，mylittleGod;
Butwait——waitforyourcue——leavethattome！
（EnterLucindo。）Scene2Pertini，Lucindo。
Pertini。Pray，whysomuchalone，mydearyoungsir？
Lucindo。Curiosity。Theoldfindnothingnew。
Pertini。Indeed！Yourtimeoflife！
Lucindo。No，butifeverMysoulcherishedastrongdesire，ifeverMyheartwasmovedbyapresentientyearning，ItwastocallhimFather，behisson，Thatone’swhosemanlyandimpassionedspiritCandrinkinworldsentire;whoseheartstreamsforthTheradianceoftheGods。Didyounotknowhim，ThenyoumightnotconceivethatsuchamanCouldbe。
Pertini。Itsoundsindeedmostfineandtender，WhenfromthewarmvoluptuouslipsofyouthThepraiseofAgestreamsforthliketonguesoffire。
Itsoundssomoral，likeaBiblesermon，JustlikethestoryoftheDameSusannah，OrlikethattaleabouttheProdigalSon。
ButdareIaskyouifyouknowthismanWithwhomyourheartwouldseemsocloselybound？
Lucindo。Seem？Onlysemblance——semblanceanddelusion？
Youhatemankind？
Pertini。Well，attheveryleastIamaman！
Lucindo。ForgiveifI’veoffended。
YouarefullwelldisposedtowardstheStranger，AndhewhogoesinfriendshiptotheWanderer，Hisspiritisnotlockedwithinitself。
Youseekananswer。Answeryoushallhave。
WearetogetherboundinastrangeunionDeepwoveninthebottomofourheartsWhich，evenasbrightblazingbrandsoffire，Thespiritsofhisbreastweaveroundwithradiance，Asifwell—wishingDemonsoftheLightWiththoughtfultendernesshadmatchedusboth。
ThushaveIknownhimsincelong，longago——
Solongago，thatMemoryscarcelywhispersOfourfirstmeeting。Howwefoundeachother，Iknowitnot。
Pertini。Itsoundsindeedromantic。
Andyet，mydearyoungsir，itisbutsoundThatsoundsonlytoparryarequest。
Lucindo。Isweartoit。
Pertini。Whatdoyouswearto，sir？
Lucindo。Idonotknowhim，yetindeedIknowhim。
Hehidessomemysterydeepwithinhisbreast，WhichImaynotyetknow——notnow……notyet···
Thesewordsrepeatthemselveseachday，eachhour。
Forsee，Idonotknowmyself！
Pertini。That’sbad！
Lucindo。Istandheresocutoff，soseparate。
ThepoorestwretchtakesprideinwhatheisWhen，smiling，hetellsofthelinethatborehim，Cherishinginhishearteachlittledetail。
Icannotdothis。MencallmeLucindo，Buttheycouldcallmegallowstoo，ortree。
Pertini。Whatdoyouwant，then？Friendshipwiththegallows？
Kinship，even？Well，Icanhelpyouthere！
Lucindo（earnestly）。PlaynotwithemptysyllablesandsoundsWhenIrageinwardly。
Pertini。Rageon，myfriend，Tillrageisspent。
Lucindo（indignantly）。Whatdoyoumean？
Pertini。Mean？Nothing！Iamadryhousephilistine，nomore，Amanwhosimplycallseachhouranhour，Whogoestosleepatnight—time，justtoriseWhenmorningcomesagain;whocountsthehoursUntilhe’scountedoutandtheclockstops，Andwormsbecomethehandsthatshowthetime;
AndsoontillthefinalJudgmentDayWhenJesus，withtheAngelGabriel，Pronouncingsentenceonhiswrathfultrumpet，Readsoutthelistofourrecordedsins，Andstandsusontherightorontheleft，AndrunshisGod—fistoverallourhidesTofindoutwhetherwearelambsorwolves。
Lucindo。He’llnotnameme，becauseIhavenoname。
Pertini。Wellsaid！That’showIliketohearyouspeak！
ButsinceI’mjustaplainhousephilistine，Mythoughtsarehomely，andIhandlethoughtsAsyoudostonesandsand。SoifamanCannotnamehisownfamily，butturnsUpwithanother，he’sanoff—shoot——bornOnthewrongsideoftheblanket。
Lucindo。Whatwasthat？
Thinksoonerblackthesunandflatthemoon，Andneithersendingforthoneshaftoflight，Buthereasound——asurmise——andLifeweighsit。
Pertini。Myfriend，youmustnotimprovisesowildly。
Believeme，I’mnotpronetonervousfits！
Butoff—shootsarequiteoftengreenandmessy，Yes，yes，theytaketheirownluxuriantwayAndshootupshiningtowardstheveryHeavens，Asiftheyknewthattheyhadsprungfromjoy，Begottenbynodullandslavishunion。
Forlookyou，off—shootsofthiskindaresatires;
Nature’saPoet，Marriagesitsinachair，Itscapon，andwithalltheaccessories，Itssullenfacewithgrimacingdistorted，And，lyingatitsfeet，adustyparchmentScrawledoverwiththeparson’sblasphemies，Thechurch’sdismalhallstogiveperspective，Thechurlishrabblegapinginthebackground—
Givemeoff—shoots！
Lucindo（incensed）。ForGod’ssake，that’senough！
Whatisit，man？Whatdoyoumean？Speakout;
ButbytheEternalIshallspeakwithyouWhatdoIask？Liesitnotclearbeforeme，GrinsnotHelloutofit，doesitnotriseBeforemylooklikeDeath’sownwitheredshape，Toglareatmeandmutterthreatsofstorm？
But，man，noteasily，believeyoume，Haveyouhurledfromyourwithereddevil’sfistThisblazingbrandoffireintomybreast:
Fordonotthinkyouplaydicewithaboy，FlingingthedicewithshatteringforcestraightatHischildishhead。You’veplayedtoofastwithme。
Sonow——andmarkyouthis——we’regamingcomrades。
You’vequicklymadeyourselffamiliar。OutWithallthat’sheavinginyourvilesnake’sbosom！
Andbeitmistrustonly，orderision，ThenIshallthrowitbackintoyourthroat，Andyouyourselfshallchokeyourpoisondown，AndthenI’llplaywithyou！Butspeak！Iwishit！
Pertini。Youdo？YouthinkofFaustandMephistopheles。
You’vebroodedonthemdeeply，Idaresay。
Itellyou，no。Keepyourwishtoyourself，AndI’llthrowdustintoitssillyeyes。
Lucindo。Takecare。Don’tblowupontheglowingembersUntiltheflamesblazeupandyouyourselfAreburnttocinders！
Pertini。Aphrase！Anemptyphrase！
Theonlyonetheyburnwillbeyourself！
Lucindo。Myself！Sobeit！TomyselfI’mnothing！
Butyou，oh，youmyyouthfularmsenfoldAndtwinethemselvesinfrenzyroundyourbreast。
Theabyssyawnsgapingnighttobothofus，Ifyousinkdown，smiling，I’llfollowyou，Andwhispertoyou，\"Down！Comewithme！Comrade！\"
Pertini。Itseemsyou’regiftedwithimagination。
Youhavedreamedmuchalreadyinyourlife？
Lucindo。Justso。Iamadreamer，yes，adreamer。
WhatknowledgedoIwantfromyouwhohavenone？
You’veonlyseenus，butyouknowusnot，Yethurlagainstmescornandblasphemy。
WhatamIwaitingfor？Stillmoreofyou？
Youhavenomore……butIhavemoreforyou。
Forme——guilt，poison，shame——youmustredeemit。
You’vedrawnthecircle，anditleavesnoroomFortwoofus。Nowuseyourjumpingskill。
AsFatedraws，soitdraws。Soletitbe。
Pertini。YoumusthavereadthatendingoutinclassFromsomedry，dustyhookoftragedies。
Lucindo。True，thisistragedythatweareplaying。
Comeon，now。Whereandhowyouwant。Youchoose。
Pertini。Andwhen，andeverywhere，andanytime，Andnone！
Lucindo。Coward，don’tmakeamockeryofmywords，OrI’llwritecowardacrossyourveryface，AndshoutitoutthrougheachandeverystreetAndthrashyoupublicly，ifyou’llnotfollow，IfyoudarecrackyourfeeblehackneyedjokesWhenmyheart’sbloodrunscoldwithinmyveins。
Notonewordmore;followordonotfollow，Yoursentenceispronounced，youcoward，youknave！
Pertini（incensed）。Saythatagain，boy！Saythosewordsagain！
Lucindo。Why，ifitbringsyoujoy——athousandtimes;
IfitstirsupyourgallandsetsitflowingUntilthebloodstartsfuriousfromyoureyeballs，Thenhereitisagain:youknave，youcoward！
Pertini。We’llhavethisout。Writethatuponyourbrain。
There’sstilloneplacetoknitustwotogether，AndthatisHell——Hellnotforme，butyou！
Lucindo。Whycountthesyllables，ifitcanbesettledHereonthespot。ThenflyawaytoHell，AndtelltheDevilsitwasIthatsentyou！
Pertini。Justonemoreword。
Lucindo。Whatistheuseofwords？
Ihearthemnot。Blowbubblesinthewind，Drawlineamentsonyourfacetomatchyourwords，Iseethemnot。Bringweapons，letthemspeak，I’llputmywholeheartintothem，andifItbreaksnot，then—
Pertini（interruptinghim）。
Notquitesobold，mylad，andnotsocallow！
You，youhavenotathingtolose，no，nothing！
Youareastonethat’sfallenfromthemoon，ThatsomeonesomewherescratchedonesinglewordYouspelledthelettersout:theyread\"Lucindo\"。
See！OnthatemptytabletI’llnotdareWagermyself，mylife，myhonour，all。
Youwanttousemybloodforartist’scolour？
AmItobethebrushthatlendsyoutone？
Wearetoofarremovedinrankandstation。
AmItostandagainstyouasyouare？
IknowwhatIam。Tellme，whatareyou？
Youknownot，arenot，youhavenaughttolose！
Thief—like，youseektopledgetomeanhonourThatneverinyourbastard’sbosomglowed？
Youseektoswindle，layyouremptyticketAgainstmysterlingworth，myfriend？
Notso！Firstgetyouhonour，nameandlife—
Youarestillnothing——thenI’llgladlystakeMyhonour，nameandlifeagainstyourown！
Lucindo。Sothat’sit，coward！Youwanttosaveyourskin？
You’veworkedthesumoutsoingeniously，Oh，soingeniously，inyourdullbrain？
Donotdeceiveyourself:I’llchangeyouranswer，AndIshallwritedown\"coward\"initsplace。
I’llscornyouasIwouldamaddenedbeast;
I’llshameyou，yes，shameyoubeforetheworld，Andthenyoucanexplain，withallthedetails，Toauntsanduncles，children，everyone，IcallmyselfLucindo，yes，Lucindo，Thatismyname;itmighthavebeensomeother;
Igobyit，thoughitcouldhavebeendifferent。
Whatmencallbeing，Idonotpossess;
Butyouarewhatyouare，andthat’sacoward！
Pertini。That’snice，that’sverypretty。ButsupposingIcouldgiveyouaname——youhear，aname？
Lucindo。Youhavenonameyourself，andyetyou’dgiveone，Youwhohaveneverseenme，savethisonce;
Andseeing’salie，theeternalmockeryThathoundsusdown:wesee，andthatisall。
Pertini。Good。Butwhograspsmorethanisseen？
Lucindo。Notyou。
You’veseeninallthingswhatyouare:ascoundrel。
Pertini。True;I’mnoteasilyfooledbythefirstglance。
Butthatman——hewasnotbornyesterday！
Believeme，hehasseenathingortwo。
Whatifwekneweachother？
Lucindo。Idon’tbelieveit。
Pertini。Butistherenotapoet，wondrousstrange，Agloomyaesthete，buttofridicule，Whospendshishoursinsubtlemeditation，WhowouldmakerhymesofLife，andwouldmostgladlyHimselfbeauthorofthepoemofLife？
Lucindo。Ha！Itmightwellbechance。Youdon’tdeceiveme！
Pertini。Chance！SuchisthelanguageofphilosophersWhenreasondoesn’tcometorescuethem。
Chance——it’ssoeasilysaid——onesyllable，Anameisalsochance。Anyone’snameMightbeOulanemifhehadnoother。
AndsoitispurechanceifIsocallhim。
Lucindo。Youknowhim？Heavens！Speak！InHeaven’sname！
Pertini。Youknowtheboys’reward？Itsnameis——silence。
Lucindo。Itsickensmetoaskofyouafavour，ButIbeseechyou，byallyouholddear！
Pertini。Dear？YouthinkthatIamgoingtobargain？
Acoward，youknow，isdeaftoallentreaty。
Lucindo。Youmust，then，ifyouwouldwipeoutthetauntOfcoward，youmustspeakwithoutdelay。
Pertini。Let’sduelnow，I’llfightyouasyouare。
You’regoodenoughforme，soletusfight。
Lucindo。Don’tdrivemetotheextreme，nottothatvergeWheretherearenomorebounds，whereallthingsend。
Pertini。Listentohim！Wewanttotryextremes，AsFatedraws，soitdraws。Soletitbe！
Lucindo。Ha！Istherenowayout，nohopeatall？
Hisbreastashardasiron，allfeelingwithered，Cankeredanddriedwithscorn，hemixespoisonAndrubsitinforbalsam。Andhesmiles。
Thismaybeyourlasthour，man，yes，yourlast，Seizeit，absorbit，forinlessthannotimeYou’llstandbeforeyourJudge;sobreakthechainOfyourlife’sviciousactionswithonelast，Onelastgooddeed，onesolitaryword，Aslightlybreathedasair！
Pertini。’Twaschance，goodfriend。
Believeme，Ibelieveinchancemyself。
Lucindo。InVain！——all——all——Butstop，youshallowfool，Itwon’tbesettledthatway，no，byGod！
Yoursharpeyehasdeceivedyouonceagain。
I’llcallhimhereinperson。Thenyoumaystand，Beforehim，facetofaceandeyetoeye，Justlikealittleboycaughtdoingwrong。
Youcannotholdme，man！Outofmyway！（Herushesoff。）
Pertini。Agreaterplannowrescuesyou，mylad;
Pertinican’tforget，believeyoume！
Pertini（calls）。Lucindo，ho！InHeaven’sname，comeback！（Lucindoreturns。）
Lucindo。Whatwouldyou？Offwithyou！
Pertini。There’shonourforyou！
Go，telltheworthygentlemanwequarrelled;
Youchallengedme，butbeingagoodboyAgoodboyandaverypiouschild！—
Repented，beggedforgiveness，wereforgiven。
Thenshedapioustear，andkisshishand，Andcuttherodforyourrepentantback！
Lucindo。Youdrivemetoit。
Pertini。Youletyourselfbedriven。
Thissoundsasmoralasachildren’sprimer。
DoyoubelieveinGod？
Lucindo。Confesstoyou？
Pertini。Don’tyoudemandthatIconfesstoyou？
Ishall。Butsay，doyoubelieveinGod？
Lucindo。What’sthattoyou？
Pertini。It’shardlyfashionable，SoI’dmuchliketohearyoutellmeplainly。
Lucindo。Idon’tbelievewithwhatiscalledbelief，AndyetIknowHimasIknowmyself。
Pertini。We’lltalkofthatwhenmoodandmomentsuit;
Howyoubelieveisallthesametome，Atleastyoudobelieve。Good。SwearbyHim。
Lucindo。What？Sweartoyou？
Pertini。Yes，swearyoumustthatneverWillyourtongueblabasinglesyllable。
Lucindo。ByGod，Iswearit。
Pertini。Thenswearyou’llcherishonlyfriendshipforme。
See，Iamnotsobad——onlyoutspoken。
Lucindo。ByGod，IwouldnotswearitforaworldThatIlovedyouorheldyouinesteem。
IcannotandIwillnoteverswearit，Butwhatispast，letthatbeallwipedoutAsifitwerealoathsome，evildream。
I’llplungeitdownwherealldreamsdisappearto，Deepintherollingwavesofoblivion。
ThatIwillsweartoyoubyHimthat’sholy，Fromwhomtheworldscomewhirlingupthroughspace，WhowithHisglancebringsforthEternity，Iswear！Butnowtheguerdonformyoath。
Pertini。Come！Iwillleadyoutoaquietplace，Andshowyoumanyasight:rockyravines，WherelakeshavewelledupfromvolcanicEarth，Cradlinginquietudetheirroundedwaters;
Andwheretheyearsrushpastinsilentsequence，Thenwillthestormindeedsubside，andthen—