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      PERSONS.
    • The Bridegroom .
    • A Procession of priests and acolytes.
    • The Best Man .
    • The Sacristan .
    • Eight Painted Windows .

The sacristy of the church of St. Judas. Time: ten minutes before noon. A pealing of bells is heard.

The sacristy is a great octagonal room of sculptured stone; its groined vaulting is upheld by one central column which is wreathed from base to capital with a band of pale carven flowers, and its eight windows — broad and high, trefoiled and quatrefoiled — flood both floor and roof with an endless dapple and ripple of variegated light. Under one of these windows an open door leads into the church. Through this doorway one sees the chancel banked with flowers; and above the decorous murmur of a thousand tongues one hears the tones of the organ and the voices of the choir-boys.

Present in the sacristy: the Bridegroom and his Best Man . Both are in full uniform; each wears white gloves and carries a sword.

The Bridegroom
( gaily ).

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 34 chars.

The Best Man
( with constraint ).

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 28 chars.

The Bridegroom
( fastening his glove ).

Note: Contains 14 words in 2 sentences using 59 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 17 words in 2 sentences using 86 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 14 words in 2 sentences using 70 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 48 chars.

The Bridegroom
( unfastening his glove ).

Note: Contains 7 words in 1 sentence using 27 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 8 words in 3 sentences using 42 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 11 words in 2 sentences using 54 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 8 words in 1 sentence using 41 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 29 words in 3 sentences using 148 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 7 words in 2 sentences using 30 chars.

The Bridegroom
( refastening his glove ).

Note: Contains 24 words in 1 sentence using 114 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 27 words in 3 sentences using 142 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 87 words in 7 sentences using 460 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 33 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 16 words in 2 sentences using 89 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 2 words in 1 sentence using 8 chars.

[The First of the Eight Windows comes to life; there is a flux of color and of outline among its mullioned lights. Gradually two figures among its ranks of churchly warriors become strangely secularized; they raise their crossed swords on high, while their left hands meet in a clasp of friendship. The colors upon the pavement shift in correspondence, and from the church, or from spaces far above and beyond it, there come the tones of the Ecce, quam bonum
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 17 words in 1 sentence using 93 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 19 words in 1 sentence using 91 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 12 words in 1 sentence using 65 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 12 words in 1 sentence using 76 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 101 words in 9 sentences using 524 chars.

The Best Man
( vaguely ).

Note: Contains 2 words in 1 sentence using 12 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 113 words in 6 sentences using 607 chars.

The Best Man
( as before ).

Note: Contains 3 words in 1 sentence using 16 chars.

[The Second of the Eight Windows is endowed with a moving consciousness. Ten honorable Knights rise in a semicircle and look down, with an open apprehension in their pure young eyes, upon the pair beneath. An indignant diapason rolls in from the organ, and distant voices are heard to chant the In quo corriget?
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 37 words in 3 sentences using 213 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 4 words in 1 sentence using 31 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 34 words in 5 sentences using 197 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 3 words in 1 sentence using 22 chars.

[The Knights look into one another's eyes and shake their heads and turn away their faces.]
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 45 words in 3 sentences using 243 chars.

[The Third Window sets itself in motion. A band of chaste young Damsels brush forward through ranks of tall and rigid lilies and curve their lustrous palms before their ears to hear the coming words of ill-report. Voices (not theirs) intone the words of the Noli oemulari
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 34 words in 2 sentences using 164 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 3 words in 1 sentence using 17 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 16 words in 1 sentence using 90 chars.

[The Damsels blush, and stoop to hide their faces among the lilies. But their blushes are repeated upon the pavement.]
The Best Man .

Note: Contains 2 words in 1 sentence using 7 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 20 words in 4 sentences using 102 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 3 words in 1 sentence using 18 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 17 words in 4 sentences using 93 chars.

[The Fourth Window . An army with banners. The leaders of the host rest on their swordhilts and gaze downward with satirical and contemptuous smiles. Above the ranks rise flags of scarlet and purple that flaunt in airy derision and dapple the sculptured pillar.]
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 35 words in 4 sentences using 204 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 32 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 21 words in 2 sentences using 121 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 7 words in 2 sentences using 38 chars.

[The Leader of the Army lifts a foreshortened sword, and makes a movement as if of warning. But neither of the pair interprets his movement, for neither sees it.]
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 19 words in 6 sentences using 109 chars.

[The Fifth Window . A rising of the sheeted Dead. The sun, half hidden by a passing cloud, but partly penetrates the dull and spectral panes.]
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 71 words in 5 sentences using 380 chars.

[The sun reappears. The Dead throw back their cowls. Their eyes sparkle, their cheeks are flushed with life. They raise their full-fleshed hands in benediction.]
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 9 words in 2 sentences using 47 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 36 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 29 words in 6 sentences using 158 chars.

[The Sixth Window . A trio of female figures — Love, Truth and Purity — entwined in one another's arms. Their eyes are startled; their garments quiver and scintillate in reds and ambers and pale greens. Their mouths open, but whether in condemnation or in defense it is too soon to say. From that quarter, or from another, there comes the chant: Iniquos odio habui
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 37 words in 7 sentences using 205 chars.

[The Sacristan enters.]
The Sacristan .

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 49 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 7 words in 1 sentence using 42 chars.

The Sacristan .

Note: Contains 10 words in 1 sentence using 60 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 53 chars.

[The Sacristan closes the door leading into the church, and retires by means of a second one opposite. Through walls, or doors, or windows are heard the words: Quare fremuerunt gentes?
The Best Man .

Note: Contains 10 words in 1 sentence using 52 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 28 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 4 words in 1 sentence using 18 chars.

[The Seventh Window . The Seven Cardinal Virtues; they change, with a slow but relentless movement of color, of outline, of feature, into the Seven Deadly Sins. This transformation, like all the others, passes unheeded.]
The Best Man .

Note: Contains 8 words in 2 sentences using 38 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 2 words in 1 sentence using 11 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 16 words in 1 sentence using 87 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 25 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 13 words in 2 sentences using 64 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 21 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 26 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 14 words in 2 sentences using 73 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 10 words in 1 sentence using 51 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 11 words in 3 sentences using 64 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 28 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 4 words in 1 sentence using 16 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 22 words in 5 sentences using 134 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 29 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 22 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 1 word in 1 sentence using 3 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 31 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 2 words in 1 sentence using 8 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 1 word in 2 sentences using 7 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 12 words in 3 sentences using 50 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 49 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 4 words in 4 sentences using 29 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 39 words in 7 sentences using 179 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 29 chars.

[The Deadliest of the Seven Sins hides her face; it is too hideous for contemplation.]
The Best Man .

Note: Contains 32 words in 4 sentences using 163 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 32 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 66 words in 9 sentences using 340 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 9 words in 2 sentences using 41 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 4 words in 1 sentence using 21 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 8 words in 1 sentence using 41 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 6 words in 1 sentence using 30 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 8 words in 1 sentence using 36 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 7 words in 1 sentence using 29 chars.

[The sculptured wreath entwined round the great central column writhes in descending spirals, like a vast serpent.]
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 12 words in 1 sentence using 57 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 5 words in 1 sentence using 20 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 41 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 20 words in 2 sentences using 88 chars.

The Bridegroom
( drawing his sword ).

Note: Contains 11 words in 2 sentences using 50 chars.

[The chimes begin to ring. A sound of rumbling wheels and trampling hoofs is heard outside. A procession of, priests and acolytes crosses the sacristy on the way into the church. They pause at the signs of combat.]
The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 39 words in 7 sentences using 194 chars.

[The procession traverses the sacristy and moves on toward the high altar. The Bridegroom shuts the door behind it. The Best Man , springing forward, thrusts him from it, and then stands staunchly with his own back against its panels.]
The Best Man .

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 50 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 28 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 22 words in 2 sentences using 100 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 14 words in 2 sentences using 67 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 28 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 14 words in 2 sentences using 64 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 9 words in 2 sentences using 43 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 44 words in 7 sentences using 200 chars.

The Best Man .

Note: Contains 22 words in 3 sentences using 119 chars.

The Bridegroom .

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 29 chars.

The Eighth Window . The Angelic Host trumpeting from the clouds, while Lucifer plunges headlong toward the Pit: the wonder is that he can fall so long, so fast, so far.

When the Bridegroom opens the door into the church, the Bride is seen coming up the aisle, while the choirboys and the organ unite in a resounding Gloria. Upon the floor of the sacristy lies the body of a man in a pool of blood. As the Bride and the Bridegroom meet before the altar rail, the Eight Windows , dappling the floor of the sacristy with a thousand varied splotches of color — (but there is one, broader and brighter than them all) — shudder back convulsively to their pristine selves.

CC-BY-4.0
Lizenzvertrag
Holder of rights
Mathias Göbel
Citation Suggestion for this Object
TextGrid Repository (2024). American Drama. At Saint Judas's. At Saint Judas's. American Drama Corpus. Mathias Göbel. https://hdl.handle.net/21.11113/0000-0014-A2E6-F