SOUL OF MAN
Labor and Capital, be well content
To lend me but yourselves. I ask no money.
I lay no tax upon you as did Mars.
And I do promise you an opulent peace,
Wrought out with right goodwill between you soon
For I know well what others do not know,
But should discover by your present plight,
That you must ever win or lose together,
Sharing each other’s burden and reward
And I do promise sweet regeneration
Your broken selves shall be made whole again
When you have helped the people set me free....
(Capital and Labor discuss the offer.)
FLIP
What will you do for me, O Soul of Man, whom I can see and perceive at last? I have lost many rich relations in this war and profited nothing—wherefore I wear mourning! But if I turn my wit to good account by making men’s anger funny, what will you do for me?
SOUL OF MAN
Your name, I’ll change, and you yourself, good Flip,
You shall be my own Humor, kindly spoken,
And my strong Reason leading men to Truth—
But look who comes with face of Galahad
And thews of Ajax, wearing spotless white—
(Enter Religion, a new personality, athletic and beautiful, wearing a short white garment with the symbols of the great religions wrought in gold upon the hem and carrying a shining cross. All the people turn and look and with one accord make obeisance.)
THE PEOPLE
Religion.... O Religion.... Religion!