Virgil Junior High School - Forum Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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THE AENEID SAVED By BILLIE Com: THE CAST VIRGIL ........ ................... ......... J a ck Rinker V.-XRIUS ........ ........ B illie Cole Tucca ......... .........,.., J ack Jaffe SUISUO ........... ........ G eorge Scott PLAUTUS ...,... ...,... . .g .... ....... T om Nichols NIESSENGER ..........,........,....,....................... Bob Schwartz - Scene l takes place in a garden in a villa near Brindisi on an after- noon about l950 years ago. At rise of curtain a slave is discovered adjusting Virgil's couch. Slave: Are you comfortable? Are the pillows arranged to suit you? Ifirgils This is Well. You may go and rest yourself now. fSlave bows himself out right.J - Virgil: This is Brindisi. Is it possible that only a few short weeks ago I set sail from this very harbor, rejoicing in my determina- tion to finish the greatest work of my career in Greece amid the cul- ture of the ancients? But alas, I fear it will remain incomplete! The cold hand of death is already upon me. No longer am I able to think clearly. VVhy is my mind filled with minor thoughts? Never before has my mind been so cluttered. Somehow I am filled with sweet memories of my youth on my father's farm. I remember the simple life, the hard work, the ways of life in the province, and the flowers, the beautiful flowers. Their sweet aroma and beauty come back to me yet. There was always happiness and strength then. There was the will to do, the ambition to work, and the striv- ing toward the top. Now I am aware of nothing but hot beating sun, sultry nights, and arrested ambition. I shall never be able to finish the Aeneid, I know. This group of words that is the slender l48l

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June 30, 63 B.C.-We graduated again. I got the highest honors. I had a headache today. .I have them often. Oct. 21, 63 B.C.-I went to a funeral today. I did not like it. I think it is not the right Way to conduct a funeral. Mar. 3, 62 B.C.-I have been watching the games at the Coliseum. It seats eighty-seven thousand people. Oct. 15, 62 B.C.-I had a birthday party today. AI am eight years old. I don't like this kind of a diary, so I am not going to Write any more of my life. flj Capsa-a round box used to carry a boy's books to school. It is like our brief case. C21 One of the characteristics of Virgil was that he was shy. Q31 Another of the characteristics of Virgil was his gentleness and kindness. I wondered who it could be. He was born in the year of seventy B.C. Virgil! That's who he is. I certainly would not sell the manu- script for any amount of money. Wouldn't you like to have the manuscript? A r i471

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thread by which my memory will be upheld will never be ready for the people. For I have nothing to live for but this, and it is not enough. I yearn for the real happiness. No love is held in store for me. No family obeys me, as their paternal ruler. No mother's heart quickens when she hears of good fortunes and fame. No father looks with quiet pride upon my deeds. No sister chatters to her friends of my writings. No brother boasts among his fellows of my works. All are gone that once loved me, and nonehave come to take their places. True, I have my friends, but when I pass 1 know that they will not grieve deeply. Here, far away from the scenes of my childhood and youth I waste away, neither caring nor trying to live. For all is gone that once spurred me on to higher things. My life is almost gone, for even now my heart is quivering and my eyes are dimming. CI-Ioarsely now and desperately he speaks slowly and with great eifortj. The Aeneid must never be presented to the people of Rome as it is. It is not worthy of them. fHe rises up and calls.j Plautus, Plautus, bring your writing materials. CEnter the slave right.j Plautus: I am here, master. Virgil: Sit down, and take this letter to Varius, my friend in Rome. CSlave draws up stool, sits down and makes ready a wax tab- let and stilus.J Varius, my friend, I feel that my life is closing. Before I die I should like this last wish to be granted. All my un- published works, including the Aeneid, I should like to be destroyed. I trust you with this duty, my friend, for I know that you will carry it out. I feel this will be my last communication with you, so I wish the divine to bestow upon you all their blessings. Sign my name and despatch a runner to Rome at once with it. Slave: As you wish. CBows himself out.j s Virgil sinks back, exhausted. CURTAIN Scene Z is in the garden of Virgil's house at Posilipo another after- noon about a week later. Varius and Tucca are sipping wine and talking quietly. There is a dispute although the actors do not raise their voices out of respect to the dead Virgil. Varius: But, my dear Tucca, it is his last wish. Should we be so unkind to his memory as to disobey this? fHe holds out a wax tablet.J Remember, he trusted me to carry it out. Of course, as it is not your duty, you can think of numerous excuses, but, as I said, it is mine! Tucca: In the name of Apollo! Shall we stand by and see this, the greatest work of Roman literature, destroyed, or shall we do our duty and present it to the people? I49l