(_The two_ CHILDREN _who are called the Lovers, fondly entwined, their faces livid with despair, go up to_ TIME _and kneel at his feet_.)
THE FIRST CHILD Mr. Time, let me stay behind with her!...
THE SECOND CHILD Mr. Time, let me go with him!...
TIME Impossible!... We have only three hundred and ninety-four seconds left....
THE FIRST CHILD I would rather not be born!...
THE SECOND CHILD (_beseechingly_) Mr. Time, I shall come too late!...
THE FIRST CHILD I shall be gone before she comes down!...
THE SECOND CHILD I shall never see him again!...
THE FIRST CHILD We shall be alone in the world!...
TIME All this does not concern me.... Address your entreaties to Life.... I unite and part as I am told....(_Seizing one of the_ CHILDREN.) Come!...
THE FIRST CHILD (_struggling_) No, no, no!... She, too!...
THE SECOND CHILD (_clinging to the clothes of the_ FIRST) Leave him with me!... Leave him!...
TIME Come, come, he is not going to die, but to live!... (_Dragging away the_ FIRST CHILD.) Come along!...
THE SECOND CHILD (_stretching her arms out frantically to the_ CHILD _that is being carried off_) A sign!... A sign!... Tell me how to find you!...
THE FIRST CHILD I shall always love you!...
THE SECOND CHILD I shall be the saddest thing on earth!... You will know me by that!...
(_She falls and remains stretched on the ground_.)
TIME You would do much better to hope.... And now, that is all.... (_Consulting his hour-glass_.) We have only sixty-three seconds left....
(_Last and violent movements among the_ CHILDREN _departing and remaining. They exchange hurried farewells_.)
THE BLUE CHILDREN Good-bye, Pierre!... Good-bye, Jean!... Have you all you want?... Announce my idea!... Have you got the new turnscrew?... Mind you speak of my melons!... Have you forgotten nothing?... Try to know me again I... I shall find you!... Don't lose your ideas!... Don't lean too far into space!... Send me your news!... They say one can't... Oh, try, do try!... Try to tell us if it's nice!... I will come to meet you I... I shall be born on a throne!...
TIME (_shaking his keys and his scythe_) Enough! Enough!... The anchor's raised!...
(_The sails of the galley pass and disappear. The voices of the_ CHILDREN _in the galley are heard in the distance_: "The Earth! The Earth!... I can see it!... How beautiful it is!... How bright it is!... How big it is!"... _Then, as though issuing from the depths of the abyss, an extremely distant song of gladness and expectation_.)