Grenadier. And now Peace is proclaimed, let us tell each other
what we used to do before we became warriors.

Cossack. I cultivated a piece of ground in the steppes and took
care of my old mother.

Highlander. I brought up my daughter by farming a piece of
ground which I had cleared on my native heath.

Hussar. I lived with my wife on the piece of land which we
cultivated.

Grenadier. I tilled a piece of ground also, and supported my
sister. It seems that we were all four of the same way of life. How did
we come to kill one another?

Cossack. The Czar spoke, and I marched.

Highlander. Parliament voted for war, and I marched.

Hussar. Our princes cried, "To arms!" and I marched.

Grenadier. As for me, my comrades cried, "To arms!" and I put
on my best sabots. But after all, what have we against each other? Where
was the quarrel between our respective ploughshares? (_To the_
Hussar.) You, for instance, who began, what did you come into
my country for?

Hussar. We came to destroy brigands.

Grenadier. Brigands! That is to say, my unfortunate self, and
other labourers like you and me. After this, well might we be made to
sing about

"Vile blood soaking our furrows!"

I see now this "vile blood" was yours, my friend, and that of brave men
like you. Cursed be those who forced us to fight together!

Hussar. Cursed be the contrivers of War!

War (_advancing_). Shame on you, degraded warriors! Your very
wives would disown you. (_The_ Dead _gaze fixedly._) You are
silent! What have you to answer?

Peace. The Dead do not reply. (_Points with her hand to the
stage entrance._) These shall answer for them.

_Enter_ Four Veiled Women.

[_One of the_ Veiled Women _slowly advances. When in front of
the stage she lifts her veil, and is seen by the audience. The others
afterwards do the same._

First Woman. Oh, my brother! where are you now? If you are ill,
who nurses you? If you are wounded, who watches over you? If you are a
prisoner, who comforts you? If you are dead--Alas! every night I go to
rest weeping, because I have had no news of you; and every morning I
awake dreading to receive it. We were so happy! We lived so comfortably
together! and now I sit at our little table, with your empty place
before me, and cannot eat for looking at it. Yet I made you promise to
come back when we said good-bye. Ah! unkind! Why are you so long in
fulfilling your promise?

[_She closes her veil and crosses to one side