the sylvan scene The change of Philomel, by the barbarous king So rudely forced; yet there the nightingale 100 Filled all the desert with inviolable voice And still she cried, and still the world pursues,   “Jug Jug” to dirty ears. And other withered stumps of time Were told upon the walls; staring forms Leaned out, leaning, hushing the room enclosed. Footsteps shuffled on the stair. Under the firelight, under the brush, her hair Spread out in fiery points Glowed into words, then would be savagely still. 110    “My nerves are bad to-night. Yes, bad. Stay with me.   “Speak to me. Why do you never speak. Speak.   “What are you thinking of? What thinking? What?   “I never know what you are thinking. Think.”    I think we are in rats’ alley Where the dead men lost their bones.    “What is that noise?”                                The wind under the door.   “What is that noise now? What is the wind doing?”                                Nothing again nothing. 120                                                                     “Do   “You know nothing? Do you see nothing? Do you remember   “Nothing?”       I remember Those are pearls that were his eyes.   “Are you alive, or not? Is there nothing in your head?”                                                                       But   O O O O that Shakespeherian Rag—   It’s so elegant So intelligent 130   “What shall I do now? What shall I do?”   I shall rush out as I am, and walk the street   “With my hair down, so. What shall we do tomorrow?   “What shall we ever do?”                                        The hot water at ten. And if it rains, a closed car at four. And we shall play a game of chess, Pressing lidless eyes and waiting for a knock upon the door. When Lil’s husband got demobbed, I said—   I didn’t mince my words, I said to her myself, 140 HURRY UP PLEASE IT’S TIME Now Albert’s coming back, make yourself a bit smart. He’ll want to know what you done with that money he gave you To get yourself some teeth. He did, I was there. You have them all out, Lil, and get a nice set, He said, I swear, I can’t bear to look at you. And no more can’t I, I said, and think of poor Albert, He’s been in the army four years, he wants a good time, And if you don’t give it him, there’s others will, I said. Oh is there, she said. Something o’ that, I said. 150 Then I’ll know who to thank, she said, and give me a straight look. HURRY UP PLEASE IT’S TIME If you don’t like it you can get on with it, I said. Others can pick and choose if you can’t. But if Albert makes off, it 

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