Гімн
Part One
Thereaplayisshownuponthestage,withtwogreatchorusesfromtheHomeoftheActors,whichspeakandansweralltogether,intwogreatvoices.Theplaysareabouttoilandhowgooditis.ThenwewalkbacktotheHomeinastraightcolumn.Theskyislikeablacksievepiercedbysilverdropsthattremble,readytoburstthrough.Themothsbeatagainstthestreetlanterns.Wegotoourbedsandwesleep,tillthebellringsagain.Thesleepinghallsarewhiteandcleanandbareofallthingssaveonehundredbeds.
Thushavewelivedeachdayoffouryears,untiltwospringsagowhenourcrimehappened.Thusmustallmenliveuntiltheyareforty.Atforty,theyarewornout.Atforty,theyaresenttotheHomeoftheUseless,wheretheOldOneslive.TheOldOnesdonotwork,fortheStatetakescareofthem.Theysitinthesuninsummerandtheysitbythefireinwinter.Theydonotspeakoften,fortheyareweary.TheOldOnesknowthattheyaresoontodie.Whenamiraclehappensandsomelivetobeforty-five,theyaretheAncientOnes,andthechildrenstareatthemwhenpassingbytheHomeoftheUseless.Suchistobeourlife,asthatofallourbrothersandofthebrotherswhocamebeforeus.
Suchwouldhavebeenourlife,hadwenotcommittedourcrimewhichchangedallthingsforus.Anditwasourcursewhichdroveustoourcrime.WehadbeenagoodStreetSweeperandlikeallourbrotherStreetSweepers,saveforourcursedwishtoknow.Welookedtoolongatthestarsatnight,andatthetreesandtheearth.
