_The immense halls of the Azure Palace, where the children wait that
are yet to be born. Infinite perspectives of sapphire columns supporting
turquoise vaults. Everything, from the light and the lapis-lazuli
flagstones to the shimmering background into which the last arches run
and disappear, everything, down to the smallest objects, is of an unreal,
intense, fairy-like blue. Only the plinths and capitals of the columns,
the key-stones, a few seats and circular benches are of white marble or
alabaster. To the right, between the columns, are great opalescent doors.
These doors, which_ TIME _will throw back towards the end of the
scene, open upon actual life and the quays of the Dawn. Everywhere,
harmoniously peopling the hall, is a crowd of_ CHILDREN _robed in
long azure garments. Some are playing, others strolling to and fro, others
talking or dreaming; many are asleep, many also are working, between the
colonnades, at future inventions; and their tools, their instruments, the
apparatus which they are constructing, the plants, flowers and fruit which
they are cultivating or plucking are of the same supernatural and luminous
blue as the general atmosphere of the Palace. Figures of a taller stature,
clad in a paler and more diaphanous azure, figures of a sovereign and
silent beauty move among the_ CHILDREN _and would seem to be angels.
_Enter on the left, as though by stealth, gliding between the columns in
the foreground_, TYLTYL, MYTYL _and_ LIGHT. Their arrival causes
a certain movement among the_ BLUE CHILDREN, _who come running up on
every hand, form a group around the unwonted visitors and gaze upon them
with curiosity_.
MYTYL
Where are Sugar, the Cat and Bread?...
LIGHT
They cannot enter here; they would know the future and would not obey....
TYLTYL
And the Dog?...
LIGHT
It is not well, either, that he should know what awaits him in the course
of the ages....I have locked them all up in the vaults of the church....
TYLTYL
Where are we?...
LIGHT
We are in the Kingdom of the Future, in the midst of the children who are
not yet born. As the diamond allows us to see clearly in this region which
is hidden from men, we shall very probably find the Blue Bird here....
TYLTYL
Certainly the bird will be blue, since everything here is
blue....(_Looking all around him_.) Heaven, how beautiful it all
is!...
LIGHT
Look at the children running up....
TYLTYL
Are they angry?...
LIGHT
Not at all....You can see, they are smiling, but they are surprised....
THE BLUE CHILDREN (_running up in ever-increasing numbers_)
Live children!...Come and look at the little live children!...
TYLTYL
Why do they call us the little live children?
LIGHT
Because they themselves are not alive yet....
TYLTYL
What are they doing, then?...
LIGHT
They are awaiting the hour of their birth....
TYLTYL
The hour of their birth?...
LIGHT
Yes; it is from here that all the children come who are born upon our
earth. Each awaits his day.... When the fathers and mothers want children,
the great doors which you see there, on the right, are opened and the
little ones go down....
TYLTYL
What a, lot there are! What a lot there are!...
LIGHT
There are many more.... We do not see them all.... There are thirty
thousand halls like this, all full of them.... Just think, there are enough
to last to the end of the world!... No one could count them....
TYLTYL
And those tall blue persons, who are they?...
LIGHT
No one exactly knows.... They are believed to be guardians.... I have heard
that they will come upon earth after men.... But we are not allowed to ask
them....
TYLTYL
Why not?...
LIGHT
Because it is the earth's secret....
TYLTYL
And may one talk to the others, the little ones?...
LIGHT
Certainly; you must make friends.... Look, there is one who is more curious
than the rest.... Go up to him, speak to him....
TYLTYL
What shall I say to him?...
LIGHT
Whatever you like, as you would to a little playfellow....
TYLTYL
Can I shake hands with him?...
LIGHT
Of course, he won't hurt you.... But come, don't look so constrained.... I
will leave you alone, you will be more at ease by yourselves.... Besides, I
want to speak to the tall blue person....
TYLTYL (_going up to the_ BLUE CHILD _and holding out his hand_)
How do you do?... (_Touching the_ CHILD'S _blue dress with his
finger_.) What's that?...
THE CHILD (_gravely touching_ TYLTYL'S _hat_)
And that?...
TYLTYL
That?... That is my hat.... Have you no hat?...
THE CHILD
No; what is it for?...
TYLTYL
It's to say How-do-you-do with.... And then for when it rains or when it's
cold....
THE CHILD
What does that mean, when it's cold?...
TYLTYL
When you shiver like this: brrrr! brrrr!... When you blow into your hands
and go like this with your arms....
(_He vigorously beats his arms across his chest_.)
THE CHILD
Is it cold on earth?...
TYLTYL
Yes, sometimes, in the winter, when there is no fire....
THE CHILD
Why is there no fire?...
TYLTYL
Because it's expensive and it costs money to buy wood....
THE CHILD
What is money?...
TYLTYL
It's what you pay with....
THE CHILD
Oh....
TYLTYL
Some people have money and others have none....
THE CHILD
Why not?...
TYLTYL
Because they are not rich.... Are you rich?... How old are you?...
THE CHILD
I am going to be born soon.... I shall be born in twelve years.... Is it
nice to be born?...
TYLTYL
Oh, yes!... It's great fun!...
THE CHILD
How did you manage?...
TYLTYL
I can't remember.... It is so long ago!...
THE CHILD
They say it's lovely, the earth and the live people!...
TYLTYL
Yes, it's not bad.... There are birds and cakes and toys.... Some have them
all; but those who have none can look at them....
THE CHILD
They tell us that the mothers stand waiting at the door.... They are good,
aren't they?...
TYLTYL
Oh, yes!... They are better than anything in the world!... And the grannies
too; but they die too soon....
THE CHILD
They die?... What is that?...
TYLTYL
They go away one evening and do not come back....
THE CHILD
Why?...
TYLTYL
How can one tell?... Perhaps because they feel sad....
THE CHILD
Has yours gone?...
TYLTYL
My grandmamma?...
THE CHILD
Your mamma or your grandmamma, I don't know....
TYLTYL
Oh, but it's not the same thing!... The grannies go first; that's sad
enough.... Mine was very kind to me....
THE CHILD
What is the matter with your eyes?.... Are they making pearls?...
TYLTYL
No; it's not pearls....
THE CHILD
What is it, then?...
TYLTYL
It's nothing; it's all that blue, which dazzles me a little....
THE CHILD
What is that called?...
TYLTYL
What?...
THE CHILD
There, that, falling down....
TYLTYL
Nothing, it is a little water....
THE CHILD
Does it come from the eyes?...
TYLTYL
Yes, sometimes, when one cries....
THE CHILD
What does that mean, crying?...
TYLTYL
I have not been crying; it is the fault of that blue... But if I had cried,
it would be the same thing....
THE CHILD
Does one often cry?...
TYLTYL
Not little boys, but little girls do.... Don't you cry here?...
THE CHILD
No; I don't know how....
TYLTYL
Well, you will learn.... What are you playing with, those great blue
wings?...
THE CHILD
These?... That's for the invention which I shall make on earth....
TYLTYL
What invention?... Have you invented something?...
THE CHILD
Why, yes; haven't you heard?... When I am on earth, I shall have to invent
the thing that gives happiness....
TYLTYL
Is it good to eat?... Does it make a noise?...
THE CHILD
No; you hear nothing....
TYLTYL
That's a pity....
THE CHILD
I work at it every day.... It is almost finished.... Would you like to see
it?...
TYLTYL
Very much.... Where is it?...
THE CHILD
There, you can see it from here, between those two columns....
ANOTHER BLUE CHILD (_coming up to_ TYLTYL _and plucking his sleeve_)
Would you like to see mine, say?...
TYLTYL
Yes, what is it?...
THE SECOND CHILD
The thirty-three remedies for prolonging life.... There, in those blue
phials....
A THIRD CHILD (_stepping out from the crowd_)
I will show you a light which nobody knows of!... (_He lights himself
up entirely with an extraordinary flame_.) It's rather curious, isn't
it?...
A FOURTH CHILD (_pulling_ TYLTYL'S _arm_)
Do come and look at my machine which flies in the air like a bird without
wings!...
A FIFTH CHILD
No, no; mine first! It discovers the treasures hidden in the moon!...
THE BLUE CHILDREN (_crowding round_ TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _and all crying
together_)
No, no, come and see mine!... No, mine is much finer!... Mine is a
wonderful invention!... Mine is made of sugar!... His is no good!... He
stole the idea from me!...
(_Amid these disordered exclamations, the_ LIVE CHILDREN _are
dragged towards the blue workshops, where each of the inventors sets his
ideal machine going. There ensues a cerulean whirl of wheels, disks,
flywheels, driving-wheels, pulleys, straps and strange and as yet unnamed
objects shrouded in the bluey mists of the unreal. A crowd of odd and
mysterious mechanisms dart forth and hover under the vaults or crawl at the
foot of the columns, while_ CHILDREN _unfold charts and plans, open
books, uncover azure statues and bring enormous flowers and gigantic fruits
that seem formed of sapphires and turquoises_.)
A LITTLE BLUE CHILD (_bending under the weight of some colossal blue
daisies_)
Look at my flowers!...
TYLTYL
What are they?... I don't know them....
THE LITTLE BLUE CHILD
They are daisies!...
TYLTYL
Impossible!... They are as big as tables!...
THE LITTLE BLUE CHILD
And they smell so good!...
TYLTYL (_smelling them_)
Wonderful!...
THE LITTLE BLUE CHILD
They will grow like that when I am on earth....
TYLTYL
When will that be?...
THE LITTLE BLUE CHILD
In fifty-three years, four months and nine days....
(_Two_ BLUE CHILDREN _arrive, carrying, like a lustre hanging on a
pole, an incredible bunch of grapes, each larger than a pear_.)
ONE OF THE CHILDREN (_carrying the grapes_)
What do you say to my fruits?...
TYLTYL
A bunch of pears!...
THE CHILD
No, they are grapes!... They will all be like that when I am thirty.... I
have found the way....
ANOTHER CHILD (_staggering under a basket of blue apples the size of
melons_)
And mine!... Look at my apples!...
TYLTYL
But those are melons!...
THE CHILD
No, no!... They are my apples and they are not the finest at that!... They
will all be alike when I am alive.... I have discovered the system!...
ANOTHER CHILD (_wheeling a blue barrow with blue melons bigger than
pumpkins_)
What do you say to my little melons?...
TYLTYL
But they are pumpkins!...
THE CHILD WITH THE MELONS
When I come on earth, the melons will be splendid!... I shall be the
gardener of the King of the Three Planets....
TYLTYL
The King of the Three Planets?
THE CHILD WITH THE MELONS
The great king who for thirty-five years will bring happiness to the Earth,
Mars and the Moon.... You can see him from here....
TYLTYL
Where is he?...
THE CHILD WITH THE MELONS
There, the little boy sleeping at the foot of that column.
TYLTYL
On the left?...
THE CHILD WITH THE MELONS
No, on the right.... The one on the left is the child who will bring pure
joy to the globe....
TYLTYL
How?...
THE CHILD (_the one that first talked to_ TYLTYL)
By means of ideas which people have not yet had....
TYLTYL
And the other, that little fat one with his fingers to his nose, what will
he do?...
THE CHILD
He is to discover the fire that will warm the earth when the sun is paler
than now....
TYLTYL
And the two holding each other by the hand and always kissing; are they
brother and sister?...
THE CHILD
No; they are very comical....They are the Lovers....
TYLTYL
What is that?...
THE CHILD
I don't know.... Time calls them that, to make fun of them.... They spend
the day looking into each other's eyes, kissing and bidding each other
farewell....
TYLTYL
Why?...
THE CHILD
It seems that they will not be able to leave together...
TYLTYL
And the little pink one, who looks so serious and is sucking his thumb,
what is he?...
THE CHILD
It appears that he is to wipe out injustice from the earth....
TYLTYL
Oh!...
THE CHILD
They say it's a tremendous work....
TYLTYL
And the little red-haired one, who walks as if he did not see where he was
going, is he blind?...
THE CHILD
Not yet; but he will become so....Look at him well; it seems that he is to
conquer Death....
TYLTYL
What does that mean?...
THE CHILD
I don't exactly know; but they say it's a great thing....
TYLTYL (_pointing to a crowd of_ CHILDREN _sleeping at the foot of
the columns, on the steps, the benches, etc_.)
And all those asleep, what a number of them there are asleep!... Do they do
nothing?...
THE CHILD
They are thinking of something....
TYLTYL
Of what?...
THE CHILD
They do not know yet; but they must take something with them to earth; we
are not allowed to go from here empty-handed....
TYLTYL
Who says so?...
THE CHILD
Time, who stands at the door.... You will see when he opens it.... He is
very tiresome....
A CHILD (_running up from the back of the hall and elbowing his way
through the crowd_)
How are you, TYLTYL?...
TYLTYL
Hullo!... How does he know my name?...
THE CHILD (_who has just run up and who now kisses_ TYLTYL _and_
MYTYL _effusively_.)
How are you?... All right?... Come, give me a kiss, and you too, Mytyl.
It's not surprising that I should know your name, seeing that I shall be
your brother.... They have only just told me that you were here.... I was
right at the other end of the hall, packing up my ideas.... Tell mummy that
I am ready....
TYLTYL
What?... Are you coming to us?...
THE CHILD
Certainly, next year, on Palm Sunday.... Don't tease me too much when I am
little.... I am very glad to have kissed you both beforehand.... Tell daddy
to mend the cradle.... Is it comfortable in our home?...
TYLTYL
Not bad.... And mummy is so kind!...
THE CHILD
And the food?...
TYLTYL
That depends.... We even have cakes sometimes, don't we, Mytyl?...
MYTYL
On New Year's Day and the fourteenth of July.... Mummy makes them....
TYLTYL
What have you got in that bag?... Are you bringing us something?...
THE CHILD
I am bringing three illnesses: scarlatina, whooping-cough and measles....
TYLTYL
Oh, that's all, is it?... And, after that, what will you do?...
THE CHILD
After that?... I shall leave you....
TYLTYL
It will hardly be worth while coming!...
THE CHILD
We can't pick and choose!...
(_At that moment, a sort of prolonged, powerful, crystalline vibration is
heard to rise and swell; it seems to emanate from the columns and the opal
doors, which are irradiated by a brighter light than before_.)
TYLTYL
What is that?...
THE CHILD
That's Time!... He is going to open the gates!...
(_A great change comes over the crowd of_ BLUE CHILDREN, _Most of
them leave their machines and their labours, numbers of sleepers awake and
all turn their eyes towards the opal doors and go nearer to them_.)
LIGHT (_joining_ TYLTYL)
Let us try to hide behind the columns.... It will not do for Time to
discover us....
TYLTYL
Where does that noise come from?...
A CHILD
It is the Dawn rising.... This is the hour when the children who are to be
born to-day go down to earth....
TYLTYL
How will they go down?... Are there ladders?...
THE CHILD
You shall see.... Time is drawing the bolts....
TYLTYL
Who is Time?...
THE CHILD
An old man who comes to call those who are going....
TYLTYL
Is he wicked?...
THE CHILD
No; but he hears nothing.... Beg as they may, if it's not their turn, he
pushes back all those who try to go....
TYLTYL
Are they glad to go?...
THE CHILD
We are sorry when we are left behind, but we are sad when we go.... There!
There!... He is opening the doors!...
(_The great opalescent doors turn slowly on their hinges. The sounds of
the earth are heard like a distant music. A red and green light penetrates
into the hall_; TIME, _a tall old man with a streaming beard, armed
with his scythe and hourglass, appears upon the threshold; and the
spectator perceives the extremity of the white and gold sails of a galley
moored to a sort of quay, formed by the rosy mists of the Dawn_.)
TIME (_on the threshold_)
Are they ready whose hour has struck?...
BLUE CHILDREN (_elbowing their way and running up from all sides_)
Here we are!... Here we are!... Here we are!...
TIME (_in a gruff voice to the_ CHILDREN _defiling before him to go out_)
One at a time!... Once again, there are many more of you than
are wanted!... It's always the same thing!... You can't deceive
me!...(_Pushing back a_ CHILD.) It's not your turn!... Go back and
wait till to-morrow.... Nor you either; go in and return in ten years.... A
thirteenth shepherd?... There are only twelve wanted; there is no need for
more; the days of Theocritus and Virgil are past.... More doctors?... There
are too many already; they are grumbling about it on earth.... And
where are the engineers?... They want an honest man, only one, as a
phenomenon.... Where is the honest man?... Is it you?... (THE CHILD _nods
yes_.) You appear to me to be a very poor specimen!... Hallo, you, over
there, not so fast, not so fast!... And you, what are you bringing?...
Nothing at all, empty-handed?... Then you can't go through.... Prepare
something, a great crime, if you like, or a fine sickness, I don't care ...
but you mast have something.... (_Catching sight of a little_ CHILD
_whom the others are pushing forward, while he resists with all his
strength_.) Well, what's the matter with you?... You know that the hour
has come.... They want a hero to fight against injustice; you're the one:
you most start....
THE BLUE CHILDREN
He doesn't want to, sir....
TIME
What?... He doesn't want to?... Where does the little monster think he
is?... No objections, we have no time to spare....
THE CHILD (_who is being pushed_)
No, no!...I don't want to go!... I would rather not be born!... I would
rather stay here!...
TIME
That is not the question.... When the hour comes, it comes!... Now then,
quick, forward!...
A CHILD (_stepping forward_)
Oh, let me pass!... I will go and take his place!... They say that my
parents are old and have been waiting for me so long!...
TIME
None of that!... You will start at your proper hour, at your proper
time.... We should never be done if we listened to you.... One wants to
go, another refuses; it's too soon or it's too late.... (_Pushing back
some_ CHILDREN _who have encroached upon the threshold_.) Not so
near, you children!... Back, you inquisitive ones!... Those who are not
starting have no business outside.... You are in a hurry now; later, when
your turn comes, you will be frightened and hang back.... Look, there are
four who are trembling like leaves.... (_To a_ CHILD _who, on the
point of crossing the threshold, suddenly goes back_.) Well, what is
it?... What's the matter?...
THE CHILD
I have forgotten the box containing the two crimes which I shall have to
commit....
ANOTHER CHILD
And I the little pot with my idea for enlightening the crowd....
A THIRD CHILD
I have forgotten the graft of my finest pear!...
TIME
Run quick and fetch them!... We have only six hundred and twelve seconds
left.... The galley of the Dawn is already flapping her sails to show that
she is waiting.... You will come too late and you won't be born!... Come,
quick, on board with you!... (_Laying hold of a_ CHILD _who tries to
pass between his legs to reach the quay_.) Oh, no, not you!... This is
the third time you've tried to be born before your turn.... Don't let me
catch you at it again, or you can wait forever with my sister Eternity;
and you know that it's not amusing there!... But come, are we ready?... Is
every one at his post?... (_Surveying the_ CHILDREN _standing on the
quay or already seated In the galley_.) There is still one missing....
It is no use his hiding, I see him in the crowd.... You can't deceive
me!... Come on, you, the little fellow whom they call the Lover, say
good-bye to your sweetheart....
(_The two_ CHILDREN _who are called the Lovers, fondly entwined,
their faces livid with despair, go up to_ TIME _and kneel at his
feet_.)
THE FIRST CHILD
Mr. Time, let me stay behind with her!...
THE SECOND CHILD
Mr. Time, let me go with him!...
TIME
Impossible!... We have only three hundred and ninety-four seconds left....
THE FIRST CHILD
I would rather not be born!...
TIME
You cannot choose....
THE SECOND CHILD (_beseechingly_)
Mr. Time, I shall come too late!...
THE FIRST CHILD
I shall be gone before she comes down!...
THE SECOND CHILD
I shall never see him again!...
THE FIRST CHILD
We shall be alone in the world!...
TIME
All this does not concern me.... Address your entreaties to Life.... I
unite and part as I am told....(_Seizing one of the_ CHILDREN.)
Come!...
THE FIRST CHILD (_struggling_)
No, no, no!... She, too!...
THE SECOND CHILD (_clinging to the clothes of the_ FIRST)
Leave him with me!... Leave him!...
TIME
Come, come, he is not going to die, but to live!... (_Dragging away
the_ FIRST CHILD.) Come along!...
THE SECOND CHILD (_stretching her arms out frantically to the_ CHILD
_that is being carried off_)
A sign!... A sign!... Tell me how to find you!...
THE FIRST CHILD
I shall always love you!...
THE SECOND CHILD
I shall be the saddest thing on earth!... You will know me by that!...
(_She falls and remains stretched on the ground_.)
TIME
You would do much better to hope.... And now, that is all....
(_Consulting his hour-glass_.) We have only sixty-three seconds
left....
(_Last and violent movements among the_ CHILDREN _departing and
remaining. They exchange hurried farewells_.)
THE BLUE CHILDREN
Good-bye, Pierre!... Good-bye, Jean!... Have you all you want?... Announce
my idea!... Have you got the new turnscrew?... Mind you speak of my
melons!... Have you forgotten nothing?... Try to know me again I... I shall
find you!... Don't lose your ideas!... Don't lean too far into space!...
Send me your news!... They say one can't... Oh, try, do try!... Try to
tell us if it's nice!... I will come to meet you I... I shall be born on a
throne!...
TIME (_shaking his keys and his scythe_)
Enough! Enough!... The anchor's raised!...
(_The sails of the galley pass and disappear. The voices of the_
CHILDREN _in the galley are heard in the distance_: "The Earth! The
Earth!... I can see it!... How beautiful it is!... How bright it is!... How
big it is!"... _Then, as though issuing from the depths of the abyss, an
extremely distant song of gladness and expectation_.)
TYLTYL (_to_ LIGHT)
What is that?... It is not they singing.... It sounds like other voices....
LIGHT
Yes, it is the song of the mothers coming out to meet them....
(_Meanwhile_, TIME _closes the opalescent doors. He turns to take
a last look at the hall and suddenly perceives_ TYLTYL, MYTYL
_and_ LIGHT.)
TIME (_dumbfoundered and furious_)
What's that?... What are you doing here?... Who are you?... Why are you not
blue?... How did you get in?... (_He comes forward, threatening them with
his scythe_.)
LIGHT (_to_ TYLTYL)
Do not answer!... I have the Blue Bird.... He is hidden under my cloak....
Let us escape.... Turn the diamond, he will lose our traces.... (_They
slip away on the left, between the columns in the foreground_.)
CURTAIN