CAPITAL
And I the same.
LABOR
And we had questions of our own to settle,
This Capital and I. Not yet, old Mars!
MARS
Ay, now. Why Capital, you have grown so great
You can work wonders over all the world.
Have you no pride, O Labor? Such a hero,
With such great shoulders and such stalwart thighs,
With such swart manhood and such virile temper,
Meseems should hear my mandate with more joy.
For both of you can learn the way of fighting
And better settle your own private quarrel
For lessons stern that I alone can teach you.
(Labor and Capital turn toward each other and take a step or two away from Mars. They are muttering and murmuring together as Flip enters.)
FLIP
May Heaven have mercy on the sheepskin degree I cribbed for in college! What say the sages? A common fear unites foes of long standing. And here, verily, are Labor and Capital discoursing earnestly together like young brides on the subject of biscuits. Are you, then, the cause of their peace, O Mars?
MARS