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580
ROBERT LOWELL
(The
CLERGYMAN
draws a sword and throws down the scabbard.
Many of the
PEOPLE,
including the
PROSTITUTE,
draw swords and
throw the scabbards rattling across the stage. They draw
MAJOR
MOLINEUX
on stage in a red cart. He is partly tarred and feathered;
one cheek is bleeding; his red British uniform is torn; he shakes with
terror.)
ROBIN
Dh my kinsman, my dear kinsman,
they have wounded you!
CLERGYMAN
Forget him!
MAN WITH MASK
Throw the boy from Deerfield out,
he pities Major Molineux.
CLERGYMAN
No, let him stay, he is just a boy.
(ROBIN,
unthinking, holds the flag in front of him, while his eyes are
fixed in horror and pity on the figure of the
MAJOR.
The
Boy,
un–
consciously, too, mingles among the crowd without thinking. Some–
one asks him to give him some dirt to throw at the
MAJOR
and he
unthinkingly picks up some from a basket, and hands it to the
TAVERN
KEEPER,
who throws it at the
MAJOR.)
ROBIN
(With a loud cry, but unconsciously waving the flag in his grief.)
Oh my poor kinsman, you are hurt!
CROWD
Don't tread on me! Don't tread on me!
(The
MAJOR
slowly staggers to his feet. Slowly he stretches out his
right arm and points to
ROBIN')
MAJOR MOLINEUX
Et tu, Brute!
TAVERN KEEPER
The Major wants to teach us Latin.
(The
CROWD
laughs, and
ROBIN,
once more without thinking, laughs
too, very loudly. The
TAVERN KEEPER
goes to the
MAJOR
and hands
him a Rattlesnake flag.)
TAVERN KEEPER
You're out of step, Sir. Here's your flag.