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Promonius
and Constanes
Written
June 8, 1968
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Background: In
the spring of 1968, I was a junior at Oberlin College. Final
exams were over, and most of my classmates had left for home.
It was Saturday, June 8, two days before the graduation ceremony for
the seniors.
But
I was still there. As the WOBC station director, I was among
the students deemed to have important work to do through the
Commencement weekend.
However,
I also had free time. I had recently snapped these photos, and
that day I started this quasi-Shakespearean dialogue. |
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Enter
Promonius and Constanes separately.
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PRO. |
Good
Constanes! I trust you fare as well
As
doth this glorious day! 'Tis fair indeed. |
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CON. |
It
is, Promonius. Ere now, in truth,
Mine
eyes have ne'er beheld a sky more deep,
A
sun more brilliant, nor a gentler breeze.
Methinks
the gods have set aside this day
To
honor that which is most dear to them,
The
qualities which some say are the gods:
Love,
beauty, light, joy, happiness, and peace.
No
lesser day could speak so clear as this. |
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PRO. |
'Tis
true. Yet I perceive that you have not
The
happiness that such a day should bring.
Th'
unhinder'd sun doth strike your countenance,
But
there his rays expire. There are no clouds
Above
to mar the perfect azure dome,
But
here's a cloud below. If I may ask,
Why
are you out of tune with this fair day?
Does
its sweet music please you not? |
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CON. |
Nay, friend;
For
truly I am happy, in a way.
The
private thoughts that now do trouble me
Arise
from this: All days are not this fair.
That
which is honor'd now will someday cease,
And
I — and we shall find ourselves alone
'Neath
rainy skies, without a sun to shine.
But
that is future. As for now, 'tis clear,
And
I must not detract with gloomy thoughts.
How
is thy day? |
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PRO. |
As brilliant as the gods
Ordained
it be. Have thou, perchance, observed
The
wond'rous preparations going forth
For
two days hence, when all the knights depart?
Their
four years' sojourn here is now complete,
And,
trained in all the art of chivalry
As
only this renown'd castle can train men,
They
now proceed to their own ventures bold.
The
castle bids them glorious farewell
The
first day of next week. |
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CON. |
Promonius,
Forget
not altogether that we too
Shall
be departing here a twelvemonth hence. |
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PRO. |
I
do remember, and anticipate
The
joyous parture eagerly. Thus now
I
gladly view the ceremonious acts
And
celebrations which, when next performed,
Will
signal my commencement into that
Which
we here please to style “the reál world.”
'Tis
then that life begins, dear Constanes!
Behind
these knights, who ride so grandly forth
But
two days hence, lie all the jousting games;
Ahead
lies combat! No more fighting sham,
But
actual battles with an actual share
Of
glory for the man who conquereth! |
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CON. |
And
with an actual share of bitterness
For
those who try the battle and who lose. |
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PRO. |
What's
this? Again the cloud? Mar not, my friend,
This
joyous time with your forebodings sad.
Nay,
go to Tappan, there to see the lights
That
will illuminate the ancient square.
Or
visit the knights' quarters as they test
The
fit of their fine sable robes and helms,
Which
they will wear on that commencement day.
There
is excitement there; all hearts do glow. |
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CON. |
Pray
tell, be the young Earl of Pillsbury
Among
them? |
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PRO. |
Yes, he is; Lord Winston too.
'Tis
strange that thou shouldst ask. |
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The
references were to actual members of the Class of ’68. I
had further plot development in mind, but this is where I stopped. |
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