The Promise Of May
by Alfred Lord TennysonGenre: Drama
Setting: England
Format of Original Source: Play
Recommended Adaptation Length:
Candidate for Adaptation? Not Likely
EXCERPT:
EVA (with a wild cry). Philip Edgar!
HAROLD. The phantom cry! You–did you hear a cry?
DORA. She must be crying out ‘Edgar’ in her sleep.
HAROLD. Who must be crying out ‘Edgar’ in her sleep?
DORA. Your pardon for a minute. She must be waked.
HAROLD Who must be waked?
DORA. I am not deaf: you fright me. What ails you?
HAROLD. Speak.
DORA. You know her, Eva.
HAROLD. Eva! [EVA opens the door and stands in the entry. She!
EVA. Make her happy, then, and I forgive you. [Falls dead.
DORA. Happy! What? Edgar? Is it so? Can it be? They told me so. Yes, yes! I see it all now. O she has fainted. Sister, Eva, sister! He is yours again–he will love you again; I give him back to you again. Look up! One word, or do but smile! Sweet, do you hear me? [Puts her hand on EVA’S heart. There, there–the heart, O God!–the poor young heart Broken at last–all still–and nothing left To live for. [Falls on body of her sister.
HAROLD. Living … dead … She said ‘all still. Nothing to live for.’ She–she knows me–now … (A pause.) She knew me from the first, she juggled with me, She hid this sister, told me she was dead– I have wasted pity on her–not dead now– No! acting, playing on me, both of them. They drag the river for her! no, not they! Playing on me–not dead now–a swoon–a scene– Yet–how she made her wail as for the dead!
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