The Lamp and the Bell   By: Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950)

A Drama In Five Acts

By Edna St. Vincent Millay

Written on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding of the Vassar College Alumnae Association

Dedicated to '1917'

Lorenzo, King of Fiori Julia Lovejoy Cuniberti '11 Mario, King of Lagoverde Valerie Knapp '20 Guido, Duke of Versilia, Illegitimate nephew to Lorenzo Louisa Brook Jones '07

Giovanni Katherine Jones '20 Luigi Muriel Izard '17 Anselmo Lucia Cole Waram '01 Raffaele Eleanor Kissan '20 Gentlemen at the court of Lorenzo

Fidelio Geneva Harrison '20 Jester at the court of Lorenzo

Giuseppe Eleanor Fatman Morgenthau '13 Agent for the Duke's estates

Cesco Gertrude Taylow Watkins '07 Horatio Lucille Stimson Harbey '09 Townsmen of Fiori

Beppo Marcell Furman Newburg '19 A little boy, son to Guiliana

Rigo Ruth Delepenha '17 Louis Emily Gallagher '21 Little boys, sons to Leonora

Clerk Lucy Madeira Wing '96

Messenger Esther Saville Davis '06

Octavia, Lorenzo's second wife Montgomery Cooper '09

Beatrice, "Rose Red," Clifford Sellers '21 Daughter to Lorenzo by a former marriage

Bianca, "Snow White," Lois Duffie '20 Daughter to Octavia by a former marriage

Laura Frances Stout Kellman '17 Carlotta Kathleen Millay Young ex '21 Francesca Dorothy Comstock '19 Viola Lillian White '18 Lilina Caroline Goodrich '16 Lela Sylvia Brockway '20 Arianna Margaret Hughes '18 Claudia Janet Lane '18 Clara Jeanette Baker '18 Lucia Ellen Hasbrouck '15 Ladies at the Court of Lorenzo

Grazia Eleanor Ray Broeniman '99 Nurse to Beatrice and Bianca

Giulietta, servant to Bianca Virginia Archibold '17 "Little Snow White" Gretchen Tonks "Little Rose Red" Joy Macracken '36

Leonora Catherine Barr '20 Giuliana Mabel Hastings Humpstone '94 Clara Olive Remington '19 Giovanitta Caroline Curtis Johnson '83 Anna Frances Haldeman Sidwell '84 Eugenia Helen Hoy Greeley '99 Townsmen of Fiori

Eleanora A little girl, daughter to Leonora

Gilda Ruth Benedict '20 A little girl, sister to Beppo

Adelina, another little girl Maiserie MacCracken '31 Nurse Edith Ward

Pierrot Harlequin Pant Aloon Polichinello Colombine Strolling players

Courtiers, Ladies in Waiting, Soldiers, Pages, Musicians, Towns people, Children

PROLOGUE

[Anselmo and Luigi]

ANSELMO. What think you, lies there any truth in the tale The King will wed again?

LUIGI. Why not, Anselmo? A king is no less lonely than a collier When his wife dies, And his young daughter there, For all her being a princess, is no less A motherless child, and cries herself to sleep Night after night, as noisily as any, You may be sure.

ANSELMO. A motherless child loves not, They say, the second mother. Though the King May find him comfort in another face, As it is well he should the child, I fancy, Is not so lonely as she is distraught With grief for the dead Queen, and will not lightly Be parted from her tears.