_Dada_
There is another verse that makes it clearer:
_There are numerous stars in the midnight sky, Which hang in the air for no purpose; If they would only come down to earth, For the street lighting they might be useful._
I see we must make clearer our meaning. Catch him. Let"s raise him up, shoulder high, and take him back to his den.
_Dada_
Why are you so excited to-day? Have you any particular business to do?
Yes, we have very urgent business,--very urgent indeed.
_Dada_
What is your business about?
We are out to seek a play for our Spring festival.
_Dada_
Play! Day and night, play!
(_They sing._)
_We are free, my friends, from the fear of work, For we know that work is play,--the play of life.
It is Play, to fight and toss, between life and death; It is Play that flashes in the laughter of light in the infinite heart; It roars in the wind, and surges in the sea._
Oh, here comes our Leader. Brothers--our Leader, our Leader.
_Leader_
Hallo! What a noise you make!
Was it that which made you come out of doors?
_Leader_
Yes.
Well, we did it for that very purpose.
_Leader_
You don"t want me to remain indoors?
Why remain indoors? This outer world has been made with a lavish expenditure of sun and moon and stars. Let us enjoy it, and then we can save G.o.d"s face for indulging in such extravagance.
_Leader_
What were you discussing?
This:
(_They sing_.)
_Play blooms in flower and ripens in fruit In the sunshine of eternal youth.
Play bursts up in the blood-red fire, and licks into ashes the decaying and the dead._
Our Dada"s objection was about this play.
_Dada_
Shall I tell you the reason why?
Yes, Dada, you may tell us, but we shan"t promise to listen.
_Dada_
Here it is:
_Time is the capital of work, And Play is its defalcation.
Play rifles the house, and then wastes its spoil, Therefore the wise call it worse than useless._
_Chandra_
But surely, Dada, you are talking nonsense. Time itself is Play.
Its only object is Pas-time.
_Dada_
Then what is Work?
_Chandra_
Work is the dust raised by the pa.s.sing of Time.
_Dada_
Leader, you must give us your answers.
_Leader_
No. I never give answers. I lead on from one question to another.
That is my leadership.
_Dada_