Fleet Foot throws herself down, weeping bitterly.
Strong Arm touches her head gently with his hand.
Strong Arm. Tears are but idle. Sit up, my daughter, and tell me what caused the death of my son.
Fleet Foot (controlling herself by a great effort). Far away in the forest we found a small tree covered with beautiful fruit. See, father, there is some of it at your feet. (Strong Arm picks up a fruit and examines it, while Fleet Foot continues her story.) Rash Daring wanted to eat some of the fruit as soon as we found it; but I persuaded him to gather it and carry it home for you to see, for I feared it was poisonous because, with many monkeys in the neighboring trees, not one fruit on the small tree had been bitten or plucked. On our way home I ran ahead of my brother. Suddenly he cried aloud. I hastened back and found him lying on the ground in great pain. He told me that he had eaten some of the fruit and suffered greatly. I ran to the brook for water, but he could not drink it. Then I called you.
Strong Arm. Yes, the fruit is poison. Would that we could purchase our experience at a smaller cost! O my son! my son!
As Strong Arm speaks the sentence, “Would that we could purchase,” etc., the light burns brightly.
Curtain
As the curtain falls, Education, bearing her lamp and leading Any City, steps before it.
Any City. But, Education, I do not understand! Your light burned aloft; but there was no school!