_The greatest possible amount of light blazes upon the Meeting House door. Thence, like a comet, Freedom comes. She is robed now in a cloak of flame and a scarlet cap of liberty crowns her. Perhaps the drums continue, perhaps the theme of triumph modulates softly beneath her shouted words._]
A VAST SHOUT OUT OF THE DEPTHS OF THE HILLS
Soldiers of Liberty, Make your arms strong! Make your hearts stout! Make your souls great!
Soldiers of Liberty, I am your dream, I am your cause, I am your destiny!
Breathe with my breath! Strike with my sword! Bleed with my blood! Be life! Be love! Be sacrifice! Be death!
I bid you stand! I bid you strike! I bid you die! Take me! Believe me! Obey me! Adore me! I am come to lead you, Soldiers of Liberty! I am come to lead you forever.
[_A tremendous huzza and the music blares forth and there is darkness again save for the lights in the houses, and upon the Chronicler. The music subsides to hesitant themes and into a lyric eloquence of dawn and cool breezes and the early light which presently steals across the tree tops. The Chronicler rises._]
You will see now, in one incalculable and everlasting instant, the nativity of a nation. The night of watching passes and the day dawns that is glory.
[_He sits. The light spreads over the scene and shows the people and the Company. Freedom has vanished._
_Captain Parker arouses himself at once._]
Those of you who are equipped, stand fast. Those of you who lack equipment, go into the Meeting House and supply yourselves. Then come back to your places.
[_There is some business of inspecting equipments. Each man looks into his powder horn and some of them try the triggers of their muskets._
_The light increases a little. The music becomes more excited._]
William Diamond, let me hear your drum. Jonathan Harrington, where is your fife?
Folly or sense, I will shoot the first man who runs.
[_The Company comes to attention in absolute silence. The line extends almost across the stage. The backs of the Minute Men cut the scene diagonally. Parker stands down stage at the lower or right end of the line. Parker and the Parson are always visible to the audience. A silence is broken only by drum taps; and by the footfalls (off stage) of marching men._