SCENE I. _The building place of the Ark.

(_The three_ SONS _of_ NOAH _enter and work upon the ark with hammer and nails, or any building tools. Occasionally comes a distant cry of_, "Ho, ho! Ark-builders!" _They look up impatiently. Presently some impish_ CHILDREN _run in._)

FIRST CHILD (_jeeringly_): Ark-builders, ark-builders, where is your wit?

SECOND CHILD: Ark-builders, ark-builders, when do you flit?

(SHEM AND HAM _drop their tools and chase the children out, following them._ JAPHETH _continues his work at the door. Presently the children reappear, entering from the other side._)

CHILDREN (_laughing merrily and pointing at ark_): Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

(JAPHETH _goes inside and slams the door._)

THIRD CHILD: Ark-builder, ark-builder, come out again.

CHILDREN: Ark-builder, ark-builder, where is your rain? (_They run out._)

(NOAH _comes out of the door and looks anxiously up at the sky. The_ MESSENGER _enters_; NOAH _bends prostrate._)

MESSENGER: God, who all this world has wrought, Heaven and earth and all of naught, Sees his people in deed and thought Are lost in sin. Man that he made he will destroy, Saving a few who are his joy, And have his servants been. Noah, a righteous man thou be, A ship hast thou ma-de me, Of trees dry and stout. Three hundred cubits is it long, And fifty broad to make it strong, Of height fifty, lest it be wrong, Thus measure it about. One window's made with skill and wit, A cubit of length and breadth is it; A door upon the side doth sit, For to come in and out. Destroy-ed all the world shall be, Save thou, thy wife and children three; And their three wives also with thee, Shall live without a doubt.

(_The_ MESSENGER _goes._)

NOAH (_rising and raising arms to heaven_): O Lord, I thank thee; thou art kind, That savest me from all man-kind.

(_Calls._)

Haste ye, children; God doth call. Hie ye, lest the water fall. Shem, Ham, Japheth, come ye here! Haste ye, haste ye, son-nes dear.

(JAPHETH _enters from within ark_; SHEM _and_ HAM _enter shaking their fists angrily at_ IDOLATERS _without, who mock and jeer._)

IDOLATERS (_without_): Ho, ho! Ark-builders! Ark-builders, ho, ho!

SHEM: Father, the people mock at us and jeer. They say, "See Noah and his son-nes dear! Where is the flood of which they have such fear?"

NOAH: Aye, let them mock, for God hath said to me: "_Thy_ house shall live; the rest shall swallowed be E'en in the mighty belly of the sea."

JAPHETH: But, father, art thou sure?

NOAH (_sternly_): Well? Sure of what?

JAPHETH (_hastily_): Nay, nay, I see I'm wrong; I question not.

NOAH: Doubt not, for God hath given a sign. Now let your wives bring food and wine, Water and fodder for the kine, And work right busily.

(_All work busily. The_ WIVES _enter carrying pitchers and platters of fruits._ NOAH'S WIFE _enters leisurely, carrying a distaff, or a plate of fruit._)

NOAH'S WIFE: Noah, my husband, dost thou then believe That the good God would so his children grieve, And drown them all? Thou dost thyself deceive.

NOAH: I do believe it.

NOAH'S WIFE: Nay, how comes it, when The world is drowned that _we_ be sav-ed then, That we alone be saved of living men?

NOAH: Because to no false gods we've bowed the knee, Therefore God hath said to me: "Thou and thy family shall sav-ed be."

NOAH'S WIFE: And must our friends and all our kindred die? I cannot save myself and hear their cry. If they cannot be saved, no more will I.

NOAH: Peace, woman, go within. (_Points sternly._)

NOAH'S WIFE: I will not go.

NOAH: Then stand without and watch the waters flow. Thou wilt be glad to enter soon, I know. (_She seats herself beside ark and munches apple or plies distaff._) Hark, what was that?

HAM (_sullenly_): 'Tis the idolaters; they make them merry With worship of false gods--and all contrary To the true God's command.

NOAH: How long, O Lord, how long must we Listen to this mockery? O let the flood appear on sea and land!

(_Music. Enter the_ IDOLATERS _carrying an idol of gold. They sing and dance about it._)

UNISON. CHORUS _"Soldiers' Chorus" from Faust_

[Song: Pour out the wine to the gods of old; Praise be to gods that are fair and bold! Glo-ry to gods that our eyes be-hold! Hail to the gods! The earth-lov-ing gods! The gods of gold! ]

Arrangement Copyright, 1911, by The Cable Company

(_One_ IDOLATER _pours out a libation of wine._ NOAH _strides forward and knocks over idol. The_ IDOLATERS _huddle back._)

NOAH: Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination to the Lord!

IDOLATERS: Sacrilege!

NOAH: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the stall! Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out!

SONS (_loudly_): Amen!

IDOLATERS: Woe! Woe! Woe! (_They surge forward._)

FIRST IDOLATER: Upon them!

SECOND IDOLATER: Scatter them!

THIRD IDOLATER: Destroy them!

FOURTH IDOLATER: No! (_He pushes others back._) It is the old ark-builder. Very sad! Cursing of other men hath made him mad.

A MAIDEN (_holding out her hand to_ JAPHETH): Come, join in the dance; Be glad and sing. For the juice of the grape Is a pleasant thing, And hath sweet fragrance. Be glad and sing.

(_The_ IDOLATERS _start out_, JAPHETH _following._)

NOAH'S WIFE: My son, and dost thou leave me?

NOAH: Go thy ways. Thou shalt repent thee before many days.

FIRST IDOLATER (_pointing upward mockingly_): I see a cloud in the sky; it grows. Perchance, it is your flood. Who knows? Get into the ark lest it wet your toes.

ALL THE IDOLATERS (_laughing_): Get into the ark lest it wet your toes. (_They dance out with_ JAPHETH.)

NOAH (_arms upraised_): Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, For the hour of her desolation cometh!

(_Turns to other sons._) Have done, ye men and women all, Hie ye, lest the water fall. Of clean beasts, seven shall be, Of unclean, two; thus God bade me; The flood is nigh, I plainly see; Wherefore hasten ye, And see now that each beastie be in stall.

(SHEM _and_ HAM _go out._ NOAH _turns his back and laments_): And Japheth hath forsaken me--my son! O my son Japheth, O my son, my son!

NOAH'S WIFE (_mocking_): Why dost thou grieve? The Lord hath promised thee, Thou shalt be saved and all thy family.

NOAH (_turning_): Yea, it is well, and God doth not deceive. He will return again, I do believe.

HAM (_returns_): The animals are in the ark, Save those which Shem now bringeth. Hark! Hear ye the roaring and the bark?

(_Loud roarings heard outside._)

(_Enter_ SHEM _with procession of animals._ HAM _aids him drive the animals. First of all enters a solitary_ DRAGON.)

NOAH: Where is your mate, good Dragon? Tell me--where?

DRAGON (_with a mournful flap of his claw_): She is eating up the village over there. She bade me ask how many there would be Within the ark?

NOAH: My sons, their wives and me.

DRAGON: I cannot add.

NOAH: In all there will be eight.

DRAGON (_mournfully_): Alack, alack, good Noah, it is fate. I fear she would not enter if she knew. She eats a man a day; ye are too few.

WIVES (_to_ NOAH, _with horror in their faces_): O father!

DRAGON: Do not fear; too few ye be, And eke too thin, to suit my wife and me. (_Crawls out._)

SHEM (_bringing other animals up_): Sir, here are monkeys, frogs and bears, Kangaroos, giraffes and hares, Elephants also in pairs. (_Goes out._)

(_The_ BEAR _sits down facing audience, and scratches his nose. The_ MONKEY _runs away; he is brought back. The other_ MONKEY _climbs on roof of ark and pulls the ear of_ GIRAFFE _as that beast looks out of window. They drag the_ ELEPHANT _in with great difficulty._ NOAH _counts off the animals as they enter._)

NOAH: Enter monkeys--frogs--bears-- Kangaroos--giraffes--hares-- Elephants also in pairs-- Stop! Stop! Too many rabbits far there be.

RABBIT (_one of a group of little white rabbits_): O sir, I only brought my family. (_Weeps._)

NOAH: Where are the lions? (_One_ LION _stalks in;_ WIVES _flee._) Thou art late; turn ye, O Lion; seek your mate.

(_Whereupon the_ LION _shall turn to audience and roar_ _until his mate shall run to him, and both shall enter the ark together._)

(_If so be that any child shall cry or whimper when he heareth the lion roar, then shall the lion remove his mask and say_, "Good child, be not afraid.")

NOAH: Now all are in, I plainly see The ark can nowise fuller be, Save should my son return to me.

(JAPHETH _enters running._)

JAPHETH (_kneeling_): Lo, I have sin-ned against thee; I pray forgiveness heartily, And do repent me sore.

NOAH (_embracing him_): Haste ye, haste ye, son-ne dear! The sky grows dark; the flood is near; And waters 'gin to roar.

(_The waters begin to rise. This may be shown by a painted curtain, by folds of green tarlatan or in any way the wisdom of the producer may suggest._ NOAH'S WIFE _begins to look uneasy and regards the sky._)

NOAH: Good wife, wilt thou enter now?

NOAH'S WIFE (_hastily_): Yes, good Noah, yes, I trow!

(_She runs up gang-plank._)

NOAH (_to sons_): Draw the plank; make all fast. The flood cometh quick at last.

(_They draw up plank; then_ SHEM _points to distance. Two_ TORTOISES _enter, panting. With grins, the sons shove out the plank and_ TORTOISES _enter ark. They close the door and window. Enter a_ WOMAN _of the_ IDOLATERS. _carrying a baby. She enters between the flood-curtain and the ark._)

WOMAN (_cries_): Good Noah, I repent me of my sin! O ope the door, good man, and take me in! O ope the door!

NOAH (_looking out of window_): Call on your gods to lift you from the wave. Are your gods helpless that they cannot save?

WOMAN (_holding up baby_): Yet save my child!

NOAH'S WIFE (_at the window_): Yea, save the child we must; For God is merciful as well as just.

NOAH: Cry to the gods of gold to give release. I am forbid to save you; go in peace.

(_He closes the window; she sinks with her child behind the waves. The water rises; those within the ark chant a psalm._)

NOAH (_chanting_): The floods have lifted up, O Lord, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves;

ALL (_chanting_): Above the noise of many waters, And mighty breakers of the sea, The Lord on high is mighty.