[_They nod dumb heads gravely._
CURTAIN.
SCENE III
_On the base of Aether Mountain._
_Right, heather sloping up to left, which is rugged with tumbled grey rocks._
_Further left all the scene is filled with the rising bulk of Aether Mountain._
_Low down, far off and small in the background to the right appears a little palace of pure gold._
_Enter right the_ QUEEN _running untired and nimble, unchecked by those grey rocks._
_Following her the tired_ PRINCES _come._
ZOON _is no longer last, but about fourth, and gaining._
MELIFLOR _leads._
MELIFLOR: Permit me, great lady. My hand over the rocks. Permit ...
[_He falls and cannot rise._
MOOMOOMON: Permit me. (_He falls too._) These rocks; it is these rocks.
XIMENUNG (_going wearily_): Great lady. A moment. One moment, great lady. Allow me.
[_But_ ZOON _does not speak. Exeunt L. the Queen and those Princes that have not fallen. The curtain falls on stragglers crossing the stage._
CURTAIN.
SCENE IV
_The Summit._
_On the snow on the pinnacle of Aether Mountain, with only bright blue sky all round and everywhere, recline_ QUEEN ZOOMZOOMARMA _and the_ PRINCE OF ZOON.
THE QUEEN: You had known no love before, First of a Hundred?
PRINCE OF ZOON: There is no love on earth, O Queen of all.
QUEEN: Only here.
ZOON: Pure love is only here on this peak lonely in heaven.
QUEEN: Would you love me elsewhere if we went from here?
ZOON: But we will never go from here.
QUEEN: No, we will never leave it.
ZOON: Lady, look down. (_She looks._) The earth is sorrowful. (_She sighs._) Cares. Cares. All over the wide surface we can see are troubles; troubles far off and grey, that harm not Aether Mountain.
QUEEN: It looks a long way off and long ago.
ZOON (_wonderingly_): Only to-day we came to Aether Mountain.
QUEEN: Only to-day?
ZOON: We crossed a gulf of time.
QUEEN: It lies below us, all drowsy with years.
ZOON: Lady, here is your home, this peak that has entered heaven. Let us never leave your home.
QUEEN: I knew not until to-day of Aether Mountain. None had told me.
ZOON: Knew you never, lady, of love?
QUEEN: None had told me.
ZOON: This is your home; not Earth; no golden palace. Reign here alone, not knowing the cares of men, without yesterday or to-morrow, untroubled by history or council.
QUEEN: Yes, yes, we will return no more.
ZOON: See, lady, see the Earth. Is it not as a dream just faded?
QUEEN: It is dim indeed, grey and dream-like.
ZOON: It is the Earth we knew.
QUEEN: It is all dream-like.
ZOON: It is gone; we can dimly see it.
QUEEN: Was it a dream?