_Blanche._ I, madam, on Abstract Philosophy. There, I propose considering at length Three points--the Is, the Might Be, and the Must. Whether the Is, from being actual fact, Is more important than the vague Might Be, Or the Might Be, from taking wider scope, Is, for that reason, greater than the Is, And lastly, how the Is and Might Be stand Compared with the inevitable Must.
_Prin._ The subject’s deep--how do you treat it, pray?
_Blanche._ Madam, I take three Possibilities, And strike a balance then between the three, As thus--the Princess Ida Is our head-- The Lady Psyche Might Be--Lady Blanche-- Neglected Blanche--inevitably Must. Given these three hypotheses--to find The actual betting against each of them! Come, girls! [_Exeunt LADY BLANCHE and STUDENTS._
_Prin._ (_looking after her_). Ambitious fool. And do you think you can Provide this college with a head. Go, go! Provide yourself with one--you want it more!
_Enter LADY PSYCHE, over bridge, conducting HILARION, FLORIAN, and CYRIL._
_Lady P._ Here is the Princess Ida’s favorite grove, And here’s the Princess. (_To PRINCESS._) These are ladies three Who join our College.
_Hilar._ (_aside to CYRIL_). Gods! how beautiful!
_Prin._ What special study do you seek, my friend?
_Hilar._ (_enraptured_). Madam, I come that I may learn to live, For, if I come not here, I die!
_Prin._ (_laughing_). Indeed? Your case is desperate! We welcome you. We meet at luncheon--until then, farewell! [_Exit PRINCESS._
_Flori._ (_aside to HILARION_). When Psyche sees my face, I’m confident She’ll recognize her brother Florian. Let’s make a virtue of necessity, And trust our secret to her gentle care. (_HILARION assents._) (_aloud_) Psyche! Why don’t you know me--Florian? (_PSYCHE amazed._)
_Psyche._ Oh, my dear, What are you doing here--and who are these?
_Hilar._ I am that Prince Hilarion to whom Your Princess is betrothed--I come to claim Her promised love--your brother Florian, here, And Cyril--come to see me safely through.
_Psyche._ The Prince Hilarion!--Cyril too! How strange! My earliest playfellows!
_Hilar._ (_astonished_). Why let me look! Are you that learned little Psyche who At school alarmed her mates because she called A buttercup “ranunculus bulbosus”?