JAPAN
Cripple. Shall I do a dance?
The Other Two. Good! Good!
Cripple (sings and dances).
Sweet boy, hey and ho!
Little drummer boy!
Rap a tap, smiles and joy;
Tap a rap, soft and coy;
Chichi ta-popo!
Does it speak, is it dumb,
Little boy and drum?
The Other Two. Fine! Fine! Come along; each in turn. Now, Mute, a dance.
Mute. Away I go! (Sings and dances.)
The joiner's daughter wears a gown,
A gown that put men's hearts to proof.
Planes and chisels run adown
Her shapely shoulders; at her waist
Adze and mallet deftly traced,
With cunning trick of warp and woof.
Aye, but see you, saw and file
Enter not this maiden's style.
Line and rule she doth disdain.
Round her skirt's edge shavings curl;
Blows the spring breeze, puff and whirl!
Love, the time to part is here;
Waits the swift ship at the pier.
Maiden, will he come again?
The Householder is seen approaching.)
Householder. The infirm folks are looking after things in my absence, but somehow I feel uneasy. I'll get home quickly. (Getting near.) What can this mean? Sounds of a revel! (Enters in the midst of the singing and dancing.) Here! Hulloa! The blindman's eyes
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