WEBVTT

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I'll read one last play.

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This is called "Happiness."

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The atmosphere is the
atmosphere of a Greek tragedy,

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specifically The
Bacchae by Euripides,

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which, as you
remember, is about is

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about the spreading of
the Dionysiac religion

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to various parts of Greece.

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And the ruler of the
city in The Bacchae

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will not accept this
new Dionysiac religion,

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so he's torn to pieces
by his wife and friends

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when they get drunk.

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This doesn't have
anything to do with that.

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It's just that
kind of atmosphere.

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The god Happiness is in a
stark, sunny, dusty road

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entering a town.

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He carries a large
trunk or sack.

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Happiness: "I am the
god of happiness,

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and I am looking
for twenty people

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to destroy, or else with my
special powers to make happy.

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But few can stand it, few can
support the happiness power

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that I bring.

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It is too strong for most.

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I myself can barely
transport it.

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Well, I will stop in this
village, this town, this city.

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It is bigger than I thought.

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Madam, where is the mayor or
ruler or king of this place?

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For I bring happiness.

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Your ruler, once he
has my precious gift,

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can dispense it to others.

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But let him not give them too
much, for it is dangerous.

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It is dangerous,
and it can destroy."

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The ruler appears.

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"I am the ruler,
and I will take it."

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Happiness gives the
ruler happiness,

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which consists of a
great many small mirrors.

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Ruler: "Oh, I'm
staggering, dying

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under this horrible,
beautiful weight."

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Happiness: "Give it
to others, quickly.

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Unhappiness rides behind."

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Ruler: "I will.

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Aaah."

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Too late, too much, too strong.

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He dies.

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The mirrors fall and
break into many pieces.

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Townspeople: "Happiness,
Happiness, we

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want some for ourselves."

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They run out, pick up
fragments of the glass,

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eat them, and die.

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Happiness: "Disaster, again.

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Oh, misfortune.

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Now to the next
city I take my way."

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Happiness picks up his trunk,
which is as full as ever,

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and goes away.

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Thank you.

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