APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there
GENESIS 1-3 (NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION)
The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was
formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of
God was hovering over the waters.
3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was
good, and he separated the light from the darkness.5 God called the light “day,” and
the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the
first day.
6
And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from
water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the
water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening,
and there was morning—the second day.
9
And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry
ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered
waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
11
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on
the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was
so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and
trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was
good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
14
And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from
the night and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and
let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was
so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser
light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the
sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light
1
was morning—the fourth day.
20
And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the
earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the
sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in
it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw
that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number
and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there
was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the
livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each
according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their
kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along
the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they
may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all
the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the
earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over
every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth
and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all
the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move
along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green
plant for food.” And it was so.
31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and
there was morning—the sixth day.
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
Chapter 2
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the
seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and
made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Adam and Eve
4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when
the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
5
Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for
the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the
ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the
ground. 7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8
Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the
man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—
trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden
were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10
A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into
four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire
land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic
resin and onyx are also there.)13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds
through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs
along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take
care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any
tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him.”
2
19
Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the
birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and
whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave
names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall
into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then
closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he
had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23
The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
24
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they
become one flesh.
25
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Chapter 3 The Fall
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had
made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in
the garden’?”
2
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the
garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle
of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that
when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing
good and evil.”
6
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to
the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also
gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA 3

17
of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree
together and made coverings for themselves. about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
8
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in “Cursed is the ground because of you;
the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of through painful toil you will eat food from it
the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” all the days of your life.
10 18
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
hid.” and you will eat the plants of the field.
11 19
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree By the sweat of your brow
that I commanded you not to eat from?” you will eat your food
12
The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from until you return to the ground,
the tree, and I ate it.” since from it you were taken;
13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” for dust you are
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” and to dust you will return.”
14 20
So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Adam[l] named his wife Eve,[m] because she would become the mother of all the
“Cursed are you above all livestock living.
21
and all wild animals! The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed
You will crawl on your belly them. 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing
and you will eat dust good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the
all the days of your life. tree of life and eat, and live forever.”23 So the LORD God banished him from the
15
And I will put enmity Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove
between you and the woman, the man out, he placed on the east side[n] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a
and between your offspring[j] and hers; flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
he will crush[k] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
16
To the woman he said, GENESIS 22: 1-9
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; Abraham Tested
with painful labor you will give birth to children. 22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
Your desire will be for your husband, “Here I am,” he replied.
and he will rule over you.”
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
2 15
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to
the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will
show you.”
3
Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him
two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt
offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham
looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with
the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come
back to you.”
6
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he
himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac
spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt
offering?”
8
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my
son.” And the two of them went on together.
9
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there
and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on
top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his
son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham!
Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know
that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He
went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his
son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said,
“On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
4
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time16 and said, “I
swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not
withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the
seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and
through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed
me.”
19
Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for
Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.
LUKE 10: 25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked,
“what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as
yourself.’]”
28
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he
was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away,
leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and
when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he
came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as
he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on
him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he
put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA 5

next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ SONNET 29 BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the When, in disgrace with fortune and menʼs eyes,
hands of robbers?” I all alone beweep my outcast state,
37
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
THE LORD, THE PSALMIST’S SHEPERD Desiring this manʼs art and that manʼs scope,
A PSALM OF DAVID With what I most enjoy contented least;
1
The Lord is my shepherd, Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
I shall not want. Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures; (Like to the lark at break of day arising
He leads me beside quiet waters. From sullen earth) sings hymns at heavenʼs gate;
3
He restores my soul; For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
He guides me in the paths of righteousness That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
For His name's sake.

4
Even though I walk through the Or valley of deep darkness valley of the shadow of ON HIS BLINDESS BY JOHN MILTON
death, When I consider how my light is spent
I fear no Or harm evil, for You are with me; Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. And that one talent which is death to hide
5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
You have anointed my head with oil; To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My cup overflows. My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
6
Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
And I will Another reading is return to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait”
A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS FILIPINO BY NICK JOAQUIN (1)
The play is about Manila before the outbreak of World War II. The Marasigan
family composed of the dying Don Lorenzo el Magnifico and his two spinster
daughters, 43-y/o Candida and 40-y/o Paula are still living in their old ancestral
house located inside Intramuros, the walled city located inside the city.
FIRST SCENE
(EXPOSITION - RISING ACTION)
Candida and Paula meet again, after more than 10 years, Bitoy a son of one of their
papa’s regular visitors during Sunday’s terulias. Tony arrives and is followed by
members of media who are asking to see the painting. They want to borrow the
painting for exhibition in an art gallery but the sisters do not agree.
The house is already in its decayed state and the two daughters are now collecting
bills. Their only hope now is to sell the famous painting that their dying father
painted and given to them as a gift called “Portrait of an Artist as Filipino.” The
characters in the painting are Aeneas carrying at his back his father Anchises as they
flee the burning Troy.
However, instead of the actual faces of these Greek mythological characters are the
actual faces of young and old Lorenzo.
So, it is like the young Lorenzo carrying the now old himself.
"a simple illustration of the youth that tries to help his elder to survive in spite the
destruction that happens around them. He tries to save the culture, the tradition,
the ethnicity that our forefathers had established in our way of life as a Filipino."
The play is divided into 3 scenes:
6
SECOND SCENE
(RISING ACTION - CLIMAX)
The Marasigans are visited by the an old-time friend family headed by Senator
Perico. During the visit, the elder Marasigans, Manolo and Pepang, are also there.
They all want the sisters to donate the painting to the government, the two to live
with their elder siblings while getting pension money from the government and for
Don Lorenzo to be taken to the hospital. Again, the sisters do not agree.
THIRD SCENE
(CLIMAX - FALLING ACTION - DENOUEMENT)
The portrait is gone. Why? Who took it? Who is Tony to the sisters? How do the
sisters feel for each other? They’ve been living together all their lives but do they
really love each other? Is Don Lorenzo, who has not been seen since the start of
Scene 1, really inside the bedroom? Is he still alive or already dead? What will
happen to the three of them if they will not leave the house and the Japanese comes
to invade the city?
THIRD SCENE
(CLIMAX - FALLING ACTION - DENOUEMENT)
The third and last scene was opened by Bitoy’s monologue. He said that two months
after the Sunday of October, the feast of Naval, the old Manila was wholly
obliterated and the only remains left were only stored in his memory; in the minds of
the youth.
THIRD SCENE
(CLIMAX - FALLING ACTION - DENOUEMENT)
Tony kept on convincing the sisters. He even had flirted with Paula, regardless her
older age for the sake of the commission he could get of selling the painting to his
client who decided to raise his bid five times than before. The sisters realized the
freedom they could have, the places they could travel, with that money.
THIRD SCENE
(CLIMAX - FALLING ACTION - DENOUEMENT)
Candida and Paula finally realized the reason behind the painting that their father
had given to them; that it was a gift of congratulation of releasing them for having
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA 7

their faith back. Characters:

Candida and Paula Marasigan – spinster daughter of Don Lorenzo
THIRD SCENE Pepang – their elder married sister
(CLIMAX - FALLING ACTION - DENOUEMENT) Manolo – their eldest brother
In the end, they destroyed the painting. They felt regretful at first. Tony cursed them, Bitoy Camacho – a friend of the family
for not giving him the chance to have the change he desired. Manolo and Pepang Tony Javier – a lodger at the Marasigan house
desperately craved to destroy the house because it is their conscience and they hate Pete – a Sunday magazine editor
it. They are like the Filipinos who took their backs from our homeland. They thought Eddie – a writer
that it should be reconstructed under the restriction of the people whom they Cora – a news photographer
believe where better, the foreigners. Susan and Violet – vaudeville artist
Don Perico – a senator
THIRD SCENE Doña Loleng – Don Perico’s wife
(CLIMAX - FALLING ACTION - DENOUEMENT) Patsy – their daughter
And finally, Don Lorenzo came out of his room. Elsa Montes and Charlie Dacanay – friends of Doña Loleng
Don Alvaro and Doña Upeng his wife
THIRD SCENE Don Pepe
(CLIMAX - FALLING ACTION - DENOUEMENT) Don Miguel and Doña Irene his wife
In the end, Candida, Paula and Don Lorenzo died horribly with the house, but they Don Aristeo friends of Marasigan’s
were not completely perished, as Bitoy spoke for the very last time. As he declared Watchman ,detective, policemen
his last line, he put all his heart on every word he delivered that it might sting in the
minds of the youths, of the next generations. I promise to preserve! While I live, you Unfolding
live! this dear city of our affections shall rise again! To remember and to sing: that is Don Perico, Manolo, and Pepang, forces Paula & Candida to surrender the Portrait to
my vocation. the government and sell the old house
Active Plot
A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS FILIPINO BY NICK JOAQUIN (1) Paula & Candida explain to Don Perico why they don't want to accept the offer, and
the latter soon understand. But still continue to argue it with Manolo and Pepang.
FRAMEWORK
Beginning: Middle
At the sala of Marasigan's house, Candida explained that the Artist, her father, -Since Manolo and Pepang can't convince their sisters to do what they want, Pepang
painted himself as HE IS NOW - and as he used TO BE IN THE PAST told Manolo about the gossips of w/c Paula and Candida were involved. The two
were said to be flirting with their boarder Tony.
Settings: -the siblings misunderstanding grown deeper.. their issues regarding the portrait, the
Set in the living room of the Maralinga house in Intramuros just before the World house, and the gossips were still unresolved.
War II. -Tony came by, making Paula and Candida confused and to think twice
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
Climax
-Paula, as convinced by Tony, leaves the house with the portrait
-media people got to know that the portrait was missing
-the watchman, detective, and cops came, they mistakenly suspected Candida as a
spy.
-Candida blamed herself why Paula is missing.. that her selfishness destroys other
people lives
-Paula and Candida were fooled by Tony
Discovery
-Pepang and Manolo found out what's the reason behind Don Lorenzos Conditon.
-Candida and Paula discovered how they will get their father's forgiveness. They also
discovered that they were just being fooled by Tony.
Ending
-the portrait were cut into pieces, destroyed, and was burned
-Candida & Paula were forgiven by their father
-they found their faith, freedom, and courage again
GOD SEES THE TRUTH, BUT WAITS BY LEO TOLSTOY
In the town of Vladimir lived a young merchant named Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov. He
had two shops and a house of his own.
Aksionov was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond
of singing. When quite a young man he had been given to drink, and was riotous
when he had had too much; but after he married he gave up drinking, except now
and then.
8
One summer Aksionov was going to the Nizhny Fair, and as he bade good-bye to his
family, his wife said to him, "Ivan Dmitrich, do not start to-day; I have had a bad
dream about you."
Aksionov laughed, and said, "You are afraid that when I get to the fair I shall go on a
spree."
His wife replied: "I do not know what I am afraid of; all I know is that I had a bad
dream. I dreamt you returned from the town, and when you took off your cap I saw
that your hair was quite grey."
Aksionov laughed. "That's a lucky sign," said he. "See if I don't sell out all my goods,
and bring you some presents from the fair."
So he said good-bye to his family, and drove away.
When he had travelled half-way, he met a merchant whom he knew, and they put up
at the same inn for the night. They had some tea together, and then went to bed in
adjoining rooms.
It was not Aksionov's habit to sleep late, and, wishing to travel while it was still cool,
he aroused his driver before dawn, and told him to put in the horses.
Then he made his way across to the landlord of the inn (who lived in a cottage at the
back), paid his bill, and continued his journey.
When he had gone about twenty-five miles, he stopped for the horses to be fed.
Aksionov rested awhile in the passage of the inn, then he stepped out into the porch,
and, ordering a samovar to be heated, got out his guitar and began to play.
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
Suddenly a troika drove up with tinkling bells and an official alighted, followed by
two soldiers. He came to Aksionov and began to question him, asking him who he
was and whence he came. Aksionov answered him fully, and said, "Won't you have
some tea with me?" But the official went on cross-questioning him and asking him.
"Where did you spend last night? Were you alone, or with a fellow-merchant? Did
you see the other merchant this morning? Why did you leave the inn before dawn?"
Aksionov wondered why he was asked all these questions, but he described all that
had happened, and then added, "Why do you cross-question me as if I were a thief
or a robber? I am travelling on business of my own, and there is no need to question
me."
Then the official, calling the soldiers, said, "I am the police-officer of this district, and
I question you because the merchant with whom you spent last night has been
found with his throat cut. We must search your things."
They entered the house. The soldiers and the police-officer unstrapped Aksionov's
luggage and searched it. Suddenly the officer drew a knife out of a bag, crying,
"Whose knife is this?"
Aksionov looked, and seeing a blood-stained knife taken from his bag, he was
frightened.
"How is it there is blood on this knife?"
Aksionov tried to answer, but could hardly utter a word, and only stammered: "I--
don't know--not mine." Then the police-officer said: "This morning the merchant was
found in bed with his throat cut. You are the only person who could have done it.
The house was locked from inside, and no one else was there. Here is this blood-
9
stained knife in your bag and your face and manner betray you! Tell me how you
killed him, and how much money you stole?"
Aksionov swore he had not done it; that he had not seen the merchant after they
had had tea together; that he had no money except eight thousand rubles of his
own, and that the knife was not his. But his voice was broken, his face pale, and he
trembled with fear as though he went guilty.
The police-officer ordered the soldiers to bind Aksionov and to put him in the cart.
As they tied his feet together and flung him into the cart, Aksionov crossed himself
and wept. His money and goods were taken from him, and he was sent to the
nearest town and imprisoned there. Enquiries as to his character were made in
Vladimir. The merchants and other inhabitants of that town said that in former days
he used to drink and waste his time, but that he was a good man. Then the trial
came on: he was charged with murdering a merchant from Ryazan, and robbing him
of twenty thousand rubles.
His wife was in despair, and did not know what to believe. Her children were all quite
small; one was a baby at her breast. Taking them all with her, she went to the town
where her husband was in jail. At first she was not allowed to see him; but after
much begging, she obtained permission from the officials, and was taken to him.
When she saw her husband in prison-dress and in chains, shut up with thieves and
criminals, she fell down, and did not come to her senses for a long time. Then she
drew her children to her, and sat down near him. She told him of things at home,
and asked about what had happened to him. He told her all, and she asked, "What
can we do now?"
"We must petition the Czar not to let an innocent man perish."
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
His wife told him that she had sent a petition to the Czar, but it had not been
accepted.
Aksionov did not reply, but only looked downcast.
Then his wife said, "It was not for nothing I dreamt your hair had turned grey. You
remember? You should not have started that day." And passing her fingers through
his hair, she said: "Vanya dearest, tell your wife the truth; was it not you who did it?"
"So you, too, suspect me!" said Aksionov, and, hiding his face in his hands, he began
to weep. Then a soldier came to say that the wife and children must go away; and
Aksionov said good-bye to his family for the last time.
When they were gone, Aksionov recalled what had been said, and when he
remembered that his wife also had suspected him, he said to himself, "It seems that
only God can know the truth; it is to Him alone we must appeal, and from Him alone
expect mercy."
And Aksionov wrote no more petitions; gave up all hope, and only prayed to God.
Aksionov was condemned to be flogged and sent to the mines. So he was flogged
with a knot, and when the wounds made by the knot were healed, he was driven to
Siberia with other convicts.
For twenty-six years Aksionov lived as a convict in Siberia. His hair turned white as
snow, and his beard grew long, thin, and grey. All his mirth went; he stooped; he
walked slowly, spoke little, and never laughed, but he often prayed.
In prison Aksionov learnt to make boots, and earned a little money, with which he
bought The Lives of the Saints. He read this book when there was light enough in the
10
prison; and on Sundays in the prison-church he read the lessons and sang in the
choir; for his voice was still good.
The prison authorities liked Aksionov for his meekness, and his fellow-prisoners
respected him: they called him "Grandfather," and "The Saint." When they wanted to
petition the prison authorities about anything, they always made Aksionov their
spokesman, and when there were quarrels among the prisoners they came to him to
put things right, and to judge the matter.
No news reached Aksionov from his home, and he did not even know if his wife and
children were still alive.
One day a fresh gang of convicts came to the prison. In the evening the old prisoners
collected round the new ones and asked them what towns or villages they came
from, and what they were sentenced for. Among the rest Aksionov sat down near the
newcomers, and listened with downcast air to what was said.
One of the new convicts, a tall, strong man of sixty, with a closely-cropped grey
beard, was telling the others what be had been arrested for.
"Well, friends," he said, "I only took a horse that was tied to a sledge, and I was
arrested and accused of stealing. I said I had only taken it to get home quicker, and
had then let it go; besides, the driver was a personal friend of mine. So I said, 'It's all
right.' 'No,' said they, 'you stole it.' But how or where I stole it they could not say. I
once really did something wrong, and ought by rights to have come here long ago,
but that time I was not found out. Now I have been sent here for nothing at all... Eh,
but it's lies I'm telling you; I've been to Siberia before, but I did not stay long."
"Where are you from?" asked some one.
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
"From Vladimir. My family are of that town. My name is Makar, and they also call me
Semyonich."
Aksionov raised his head and said: "Tell me, Semyonich, do you know anything of the
merchants Aksionov of Vladimir? Are they still alive?"
"Know them? Of course I do. The Aksionovs are rich, though their father is in Siberia:
a sinner like ourselves, it seems! As for you, Gran'dad, how did you come here?"
Aksionov did not like to speak of his misfortune. He only sighed, and said, "For my
sins I have been in prison these twenty-six years."
"What sins?" asked Makar Semyonich.
But Aksionov only said, "Well, well--I must have deserved it!" He would have said no
more, but his companions told the newcomers how Aksionov came to be in Siberia;
how some one had killed a merchant, and had put the knife among Aksionov's
things, and Aksionov had been unjustly condemned.
When Makar Semyonich heard this, he looked at Aksionov, slapped his own knee,
and exclaimed, "Well, this is wonderful! Really wonderful! But how old you've grown,
Gran'dad!"
The others asked him why he was so surprised, and where he had seen Aksionov
before; but Makar Semyonich did not reply. He only said: "It's wonderful that we
should meet here, lads!"
These words made Aksionov wonder whether this man knew who had killed the
merchant; so he said, "Perhaps, Semyonich, you have heard of that affair, or maybe
you've seen me before?"
11
"How could I help hearing? The world's full of rumours. But it's a long time ago, and
I've forgotten what I heard."
"Perhaps you heard who killed the merchant?" asked Aksionov.
Makar Semyonich laughed, and replied: "It must have been him in whose bag the
knife was found! If some one else hid the knife there, 'He's not a thief till he's
caught,' as the saying is. How could any one put a knife into your bag while it was
under your head? It would surely have woke you up."
When Aksionov heard these words, he felt sure this was the man who had killed the
merchant. He rose and went away. All that night Aksionov lay awake. He felt terribly
unhappy, and all sorts of images rose in his mind. There was the image of his wife as
she was when he parted from her to go to the fair. He saw her as if she were present;
her face and her eyes rose before him; he heard her speak and laugh. Then he saw
his children, quite little, as they: were at that time: one with a little cloak on, another
at his mother's breast. And then he remembered himself as he used to be-young and
merry. He remembered how he sat playing the guitar in the porch of the inn where
he was arrested, and how free from care he had been. He saw, in his mind, the place
where he was flogged, the executioner, and the people standing around; the chains,
the convicts, all the twenty-six years of his prison life, and his premature old age. The
thought of it all made him so wretched that he was ready to kill himself.
"And it's all that villain's doing!" thought Aksionov. And his anger was so great
against Makar Semyonich that he longed for vengeance, even if he himself should
perish for it. He kept repeating prayers all night, but could get no peace. During the
day he did not go near Makar Semyonich, nor even look at him.
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
A fortnight passed in this way. Aksionov could not sleep at night, and was so
miserable that he did not know what to do.
One night as he was walking about the prison he noticed some earth that came
rolling out from under one of the shelves on which the prisoners slept. He stopped
to see what it was. Suddenly Makar Semyonich crept out from under the shelf, and
looked up at Aksionov with frightened face. Aksionov tried to pass without looking at
him, but Makar seized his hand and told him that he had dug a hole under the wall,
getting rid of the earth by putting it into his high-boots, and emptying it out every
day on the road when the prisoners were driven to their work.
"Just you keep quiet, old man, and you shall get out too. If you blab, they'll flog the
life out of me, but I will kill you first."
Aksionov trembled with anger as he looked at his enemy. He drew his hand away,
saying, "I have no wish to escape, and you have no need to kill me; you killed me
long ago! As to telling of you--I may do so or not, as God shall direct."
Next day, when the convicts were led out to work, the convoy soldiers noticed that
one or other of the prisoners emptied some earth out of his boots. The prison was
searched and the tunnel found. The Governor came and questioned all the prisoners
to find out who had dug the hole. They all denied any knowledge of it. Those who
knew would not betray Makar Semyonich, knowing he would be flogged almost to
death. At last the Governor turned to Aksionov whom he knew to be a just man, and
said:
"You are a truthful old man; tell me, before God, who dug the hole?"
Makar Semyonich stood as if he were quite unconcerned, looking at the Governor
and not so much as glancing at Aksionov. Aksionov's lips and hands trembled, and for
12
a long time he could not utter a word. He thought, "Why should I screen him who
ruined my life? Let him pay for what I have suffered. But if I tell, they will probably
flog the life out of him, and maybe I suspect him wrongly. And, after all, what good
would it be to me?"
"Well, old man," repeated the Governor, "tell me the truth: who has been digging
under the wall?"
Aksionov glanced at Makar Semyonich, and said, "I cannot say, your honour. It is not
God's will that I should tell! Do what you like with me; I am your hands."
However much the Governor! tried, Aksionov would say no more, and so the matter
had to be left.
That night, when Aksionov was lying on his bed and just beginning to doze, some one
came quietly and sat down on his bed. He peered through the darkness and
recognised Makar.
"What more do you want of me?" asked Aksionov. "Why have you come here?"
Makar Semyonich was silent. So Aksionov sat up and said, "What do you want? Go
away, or I will call the guard!"
Makar Semyonich bent close over Aksionov, and whispered, "Ivan Dmitrich, forgive
me!"
"What for?" asked Aksionov.
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
"It was I who killed the merchant and hid the knife among your things. I meant to kill
you too, but I heard a noise outside, so I hid the knife in your bag and escaped out of
the window."
Aksionov was silent, and did not know what to say. Makar Semyonich slid off the
bed-shelf and knelt upon the ground. "Ivan Dmitrich," said he, "forgive me! For the
love of God, forgive me! I will confess that it was I who killed the merchant, and you
will be released and can go to your home."
"It is easy for you to talk," said Aksionov, "but I have suffered for you these twenty-
six years. Where could I go to now?... My wife is dead, and my children have
forgotten me. I have nowhere to go..."
Makar Semyonich did not rise, but beat his head on the floor. "Ivan Dmitrich, forgive
me!" he cried. "When they flogged me with the knot it was not so hard to bear as it
is to see you now ... yet you had pity on me, and did not tell. For Christ's sake forgive
me, wretch that I am!" And he began to sob.
When Aksionov heard him sobbing he, too, began to weep. "God will forgive you!"
said he. "Maybe I am a hundred times worse than you." And at these words his heart
grew light, and the longing for home left him. He no longer had any desire to leave
the prison, but only hoped for his last hour to come.
In spite of what Aksionov had said, Makar Semyonich confessed, his guilt. But when
the order for his release came, Aksionov was already dead.
THE HIGHWAYMAN BY ALFRED NOYES
PART ONE
13
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
He’d a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin.
They fitted with never a wrinkle. His boots were up to the thigh.
And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,
His pistol butts a-twinkle,
His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard.
He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred.
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord’s black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord’s daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim the ostler listened. His face was white and peaked.
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord’s daughter,
The landlord’s red-lipped daughter.
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say—
“One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I’m after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.”
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA
He rose upright in the stirrups. He scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair in the casement. His face burnt like a brand
As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;
And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,
(O, sweet black waves in the moonlight!)
Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.
PART TWO
He did not come in the dawning. He did not come at noon;
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon,
When the road was a gypsy’s ribbon, looping the purple moor,
A red-coat troop came marching—
Marching—marching—
King George’s men came marching, up to the old inn-door.
They said no word to the landlord. They drank his ale instead.
But they gagged his daughter, and bound her, to the foot of her narrow bed.
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!
There was death at every window;
And hell at one dark window;
For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.
They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest.
They had bound a musket beside her, with the muzzle beneath her breast!
“Now, keep good watch!” and they kissed her. She heard the doomed man say—
Look for me by moonlight;
Watch for me by moonlight;
I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way!
She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years
Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold, on the stroke of midnight,
14
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!
The tip of one finger touched it. She strove no more for the rest.
Up, she stood up to attention, with the muzzle beneath her breast.
She would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;
For the road lay bare in the moonlight;
Blank and bare in the moonlight;
And the blood of her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love’s refrain.
Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horsehoofs ringing clear;
Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The red coats looked to their priming! She stood up, straight and still.
Tlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer. Her face was like a light.
Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight,
Her musket shattered the moonlight,
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him—with her death.
He turned. He spurred to the west; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o’er the musket, drenched with her own blood!
Not till the dawn he heard it, and his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord’s daughter,
The landlord’s black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.
Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high.
Blood red were his spurs in the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat;
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
APOLINAR | GARCIA | ROMINA 15

And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat. “I gat eels boiled in broo: mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”
. . .
“What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randall my son?
And still of a winter’s night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?”
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, “O they swelled and they died: mother, make my bed soon,
A highwayman comes riding— for I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”
Riding—riding—
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door. “O I fear ye are poisoned, Lord Randall my son!
O I fear ye are poisoned, my handsome young man!”
Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard.
“O yes, I am poisoned: mother, make my bed soon,
He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred.
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down.”
But the landlord’s black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord’s daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

LORD RANDALL BY ANONYMOUS

“Oh where ha’e ye been, Lord Randall my son?
O where ha’e ye been, my handsome young man?”
“I ha’e been to the wild wood: mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

“Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randall my son?

Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?”
“I dined wi’ my true love; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

“What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randall my son?

What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?”