Two Slatterns and a King

A Moral Interlude

Edna St. Vincent Millay

• Publisher: Read & Co. Classics
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781528717762
• eBook ISBN: 9781528790871
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: American Drama
• Index: Literature

Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) was an American playwright, Pulitzer Prize-winning lyrical poet, and feminist activist. One of the most celebrated poets in American history, Millay is hailed as the twentieth century's most skilful sonnet writers who expertly married modern attitudes with traditional forms of expression. Though most famous for her poetry, she was an accomplished playwright and wrote numerous successful plays and verse dramas. First published in 1921, "Two Slatterns and a King - A Moral Interlude" is a one of such dramas written by Millay and produced at Vassar college. Written in regular four-foot couplets, it draws upon fairy tales and revolves around a king who is searching for a suitable wife. Though he is desirous of the tidiest women in the land, a series of curious mishaps result on his marrying Slut and not Tidy. Other notable works by this author include: "Second April" and "The Lamp and the Bell". Read & Co. Books is republishing this collection of classic verse drama now in a new edition complete with a biography of the author by Carl Van Doren.

TWO
SLATTERNS AND A KING

PROLOGUE

I am that cunning infidel

By men called CHANCE,—you know me well.

It is through me you met your wives;

Through me your harvest blights or thrives;

And one and all, through me, to-day

Hither you came to see the play,

Which if your favor still you lend,

As now, so on until the end,

You shall be taught what way a King

Though a sublime and awful thing

And even wise, may come to be

A laughing-stock,—and all through me!

[Exit]
[Enter KING.]

King

I am the King of all this land

I hold a sceptre in my hand;

Upon my head I wear a crown;

Everybody stands when I sit down. (Sits)

CHANCE

(Appearing to audience; he is invisible throughout the play to the other players in it.) Excepting me,—please bear in mind

I sit whenever I feel inclined. (Sits)

KING

Although my lands are wide and long,

My walls right thick, my armies strong,

I am not wholly satisfied.

CHANCE

That is because you have no bride.

KING

Who speaks?—Come forth and, if you dare,

Say once again what causes my care!

Why I am discontent with life!

CHANCE

It is because you have no wife.

KING

A woman in my royal house!

A woman! A wife! A bride! A spouse!

Bold stranger, this is not the cure,

For a woman I could never endure!

CHANCE

Per-CHANCE to-morrow you will find

You have altered your imperial mind.

[Exeunt KING and CHANCE severally.]
[Enter TIDY.]

TIDY

I am TIDY, I have been

All my life both neat and clean.

From my outside to my in

Clean am I unto my skin.

Every day into a bucket

My hands I dip, my head I duck it;

And if the water plenty be

I sometimes wet ...

Table of contents

• EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY
• PERSONS
• TWO SLATTERNS AND A KING