Editing Opera imperialis (section)

===SONG – RUTH.===


RUTH.When Frederic was a little lad he proved so brave and daring,<br/ >
His father thought he’d ’prentice him to some career void-faring.

I was, alas! his nurserymaid, his father my provider<br/ >
I took and bound this promising boy apprentice to a Trader –<br/ >
A life not bad for a hardy lad, though surely no crusader,<br/ >
Though I’m a nurse, you might do worse than make your boy a Trader.

I was a stupid nurserymaid, on breakers always steering,<br/ >
And I did not catch the word aright, through being hard of hearing;

Mistaking my instructions, which within my brain did prate-er,<br/ >
I took and bound this promising boy apprentice to a Traitor.<br/ >
A sad mistake it was to make; there’s never been one greater.<br/ >
I bound him to a Traitor – you – instead of to a Trader.

I soon found out, beyond all doubt, the scope of this disaster,<br/ >
But I hadn’t the face to return to my place, and break it to my master.<br/ >
A nurserymaid is not afraid of what you people call work,<br/ >
So I made up my mind to go as a kind of Traitorous maid-of-all-work.<br/ >
And that is how you find me now, a piratical ship-raider<br/ >
Which you wouldn’t have found had he been bound apprentice to a Trader.

RUTH. Oh, pardon! Frederic, pardon! (kneels)<br/ >
FRED. Rise, sweet one, I have long pardoned you.<br/ >
RUTH. (rises) The two words were so much alike!<br/ >
FRED. They were. They still are, though years have rolled over their heads. But this afternoon my obligation ceases. Individually, I love you all with affection unspeakable; but, collectively, I look upon you with a disgust that amounts to absolute detestation. Oh! pity me, my beloved friends, for I love the Imperium and Imperial ideals with all my heart, and must reject your heretical ways henceforth!<br/ >
ALL. Poor lad – poor lad! (All weep.)<br/ >
ARCH. Well, Frederic, if you conscientiously feel that it is your duty to return to the Imperial fold, we cannot blame you for acting on that conviction. Always act in accordance with the dictates of your conscience, my boy, and chance the consequences.<br/ >
SAM. Besides, we can offer you but little temptation to remain with us. We don’t seem to make heresy pay. I’m sure I don’t know why, but we don’t.<br/ >
FRED. I know why, but, alas! I mustn’t tell you; it wouldn’t be right.<br/ >
ARCH. Why not, my boy? It’s only half-past eleven, and you are one of us until the clock strikes twelve.<br/ >
SAM. True, and until then you are bound to protect our interests.<br/ >
ALL. Hear, hear!

FRED. Well, then, it is my duty, as a Traitor, to tell you that you are too tender-hearted. For instance, you make a point of never attacking a weaker party than yourselves, and when you attack a stronger party you invariably get thrashed.<br/ >
ARCH. There is some truth in that.<br/ >
FRED. Additionally, you respect all beliefs, and will never kill a loyal Imperial servant despite his opinions differing from yours.<br/ >
ARCH. Yes, yes, I have always held that a man is bound by his beliefs, right or not, and should not be punished by them.<br/ >
FRED. Then, again, you make a point of never molesting an orphan!<br/ >
SAM. Of course: we are orphans ourselves, and know what it is.<br/ >
FRED. Yes, but it has got about, and what is the consequence? Every one we capture says he’s an orphan. The last three ships we took proved to be manned entirely by orphans, and so we had to let them go. One would think that the Imperium’s mercantile fleet was recruited solely from her orphan asylums – which we know is not the case.<br/ >
SAM. But they were all orphans, for they told me so themselves!<br/ >
FRED. What, all of them?<br/ >
SAM. Yes, all of them!<br/ >
FRED. All ninety thousand of them?<br/ >
SAM. Well nearly all of them!<br/ >
ARCH. But, hang it all! you wouldn’t have us absolutely merciless?<br/ >
FRED. There’s my difficulty; until twelve o’clock I would, after twelve I wouldn’t. Was ever a man placed in so delicate a situation?<br/ >
ARCH. Well, it’s the top of the tide, and we must be off. Farewell, Frederic, and though from this day forth you may bow and scrape to He on Terra, hold always in your heart a shard of traitorous allegiance and rebellion.<br/ >
FRED. I will! By the love I have for you, I swear it! Would that you could render this conflict of ideals unnecessary by converting, and living a blameless life of an Imperial servant!<br/ >
ARCH. No, Frederic, it cannot be. I don’t think much of our profession, but, contrasted with respectability, it is comparatively honest. No, Frederic, I shall live and die a Traitor High.