Second Chinese. Here comes our black man.
[The Second Negro returns, somewhat agitated, with water but without his lantern. He hands the jug to the Third Chinese. The First Chinese from time to time strikes the instrument. The Third Chinese, who faces the left, peers in the direction from which the negro has come.]
Third Chinese. You have left your lantern behind you.
It shines, among the trees,
Like evening Venus in a cloud-top.
[The Second Negro grins but makes no explanation. He seats himself behind the Chinese to the right.]
First Chinese. Or like a ripe strawberry
Among its leaves. [They laugh.]
I heard to-night
That they are searching the hill
For an Italian.
He disappeared with his neighbor's daughter.
Second Chinese [confidently]. I am sure you heard
The first eloping footfall,
And the drum
Of pursuing feet.
First Chinese [amusedly]. It was not an elopement.
The young gentleman was seen
To climb the hill,
In the manner of a tragedian
Who sweats.
Such things happen in the evening.
He was
Un misérable.
Second Chinese. Reach the lady quickly.
[The First Chinese strikes the instrument twice as a prelude to his narrative.]
First Chinese. There are as many points of view
From which to regard her
As there are sides to a round bottle.