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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.

Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.

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Empire: A Morality Play for Children

This play manuscript is titled Empire, 'a morality play for children' intended for Empire day commemoration.
This play manuscript is titled Empire, 'a morality play for children' intended for Empire day commemoration.
This play manuscript is titled Empire, 'a morality play for children' intended for Empire day commemoration.
This play manuscript is titled Empire, 'a morality play for children' intended for Empire day commemoration.

Details

Learning resource record

Creator:

Enid Derham and Copyright Office

Date:

1912

Citation:

A1336, 2397

Transcript

[Page 1]

[Heading:] Empire

[Subheading:] A Morality Play for Children

Written for the Victoria League of Victoria by ENID DERHAM

 

[Stamped in purple ink:] 2397

[Stamped in purple ink:] LITERARY COPYRIGHT

 

Melbourne

1912

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

[Page 2.]

THIS little allegorical play was written for the Victoria League of Victoria with the intention of providing State and other Schools with a suitable entertainment for Empire Day. The songs have been set to music by Mrs. Ewart in such a manner as to be suited either to an elaborate performance with an orchestra and a large choir or to the requirements of the smallest country school. Suggestions for simple costumes are included. Copies of this book may be obtained from the leading booksellers, or from the Hon. Secretary of the Victoria League of Victoria, 527 Collins Street, Melbourne. The proceeds of the sale will be devoted to the funds of the League.

 

[Page 3.]

[Header:] EMPIRE [Page] 3

[Heading:] DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

Time.

Britannia.

War.

France.

Joan of Arc.

America.

Discovery.

Newfoundland.

Taxation.

Canada.

Love.

New Zealand.

Justice.

Australia.

Peace.

India.

South Africa.

Soldiers, Sailors, etc.

SCENE – a wide stage, with a throne at the back, raised on steps, and suitably decorated.

[dividing line.]

 

[Heading:] COSTUMES OF CHARACTERS:

Time:-- A white wig and beard; if practicable, a bald head and forelock, a black or brown plain garment, sandals, with scythe and hour-glass.

Britannia:-- A white robe and a long blue cloak.

War:-- As a savage warrior, in red, with a long spear; Viking fashion if possible.

France:-- A white robe decorated with golden fleur-de-lys.

Joan of Arc:-- Armour, if possible; at least, page’s doublet, with shield, sword, and long fair hair.

Discovery:-- As an Elizabethan sea-rover; full breeches, tied at the knee with ribbon, short cloak and ruff, small round hat with a feather.

America:-- As a Red Indian squaw; dressed in brown fringed stuff to represent skins; ornaments of scarlet seeds.

Newfoundland:-- As a fisher-girl; with basket, a kerchief round her neck, and her skirt turned up over a bright petticoat.

Canada:-- In furs; with woollen mits [sic], and round woollen cap; she carries skates.

Taxation:-- A lean figure in shabby black, carrying in one hand a bag of money, which he jingles; in the other, white and blue legal papers, tied with pink tape.

Australia:-- In a blue Greek dress, with a crown of six stars; a wand tipped with a nugget of gold.

New Zealand:-- As a shepherdess; in a wide hat, with a sheepskin round her shoulders, and a crook.

Love:-- In white, with a wreath of red roses.

Justice:-- White robe and red cloak, a helmet, a shield, and a large cross-handled sword.

India:-- As an Indian woman; in a muslin sari, with large ear-rings [sic] and bangles.

Peace:-- A companion figure to Love, in white, with a crown of olive and a white dove on her hand.

South Africa:-- A dress of dull green, glittering with jewels.

 

[Page 4.]

[Heading:] Empire

[Subheading:] A Morality Play for Children

[dividing line.]

 

[Stage direction:] Enter Time, with his scythe and hour-glass, as Prologue:

Time:-- Mortals, take heed, for Father Time am I,

Who watch your fleeting millions spring and die.

Men like the grass and maidens like the flower

I mow at my inevitable hour,

And when I turn my hour-glass in my hands

Your haughty cities sink in desert sands,

Your galleons vanish from their busy quays

To lie forgotten in unfathomed seas,

His chains the slave, his crown the conqueror leaves,

And all alike the kindly Earth receives.

I am so old that I have learned to wait

And hearken for the secret dooms of Fate,

No haste disturbs me, and no fears appal, [sic]

Across the noises of the world they call

Whose songs shall echo when your songs are dumb,

I hear, I hear, the future myriads come.

Full many an Empire to the dust has gone,

Egypt and Rome and Greece and Babylon,

Their great world-shaking armies fallen and dead,

Their fleeting glory like a meteor fled,

And yet another, ripening to her prime,

Enters the lists to break a lance with Time,

Young and untried and all untaught is she,

And yet perchance wins immortality.

[Stage direction:] (Enter Britannia).

[Time continues:] All hail, Britannia!

 

Britannia:-- Hail, thou reverend form!

 

Time:-- Whence art thou?

 

Britannia:-- I was fashioned in a storm

Of winds and waves that beat upon the shore,

Then a voice called me, and I know no more.

 

Time:-- Called thee to what?

 

Britannia:-- It rent the clouds like flame,

And called on me to follow, and I came.

Oh, tell me why! For in my soul there move

Great thoughts, but blind.

 

Time:-- That calling thou shalt prove

On many a field hard-won and many a strand

Red with the blood of foes, in many a land

Lonely and strange and facing unknown odds

Thou shalt endure the schooling of the Gods.

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