St.

Martin’s Play

A group of peasants:
“Winter is coming. It is windy and cold.
Food is scarce and so are clothes”
A girl:
“I wish we had a bit more to eat…”
A boy:
“…and wood for the fire to get it to heat”
A beggar:
“My old bones are aching and stiff with the cold.
Good people, please give me something to cover my rags.
Anything will do. Whatever you have.”
A peasant:
“We are sorry for you but cannot help.
The little we have, we need it ourselves.”

(Martin appears surrounded by 5 or 6 roman foot soldiers. His maginificant crimson

cloak covers the rear of his horse).

A soldier:
“Beggar, be gone. Get out of the way.
Martin must pass. You cannot stay.”
Martin:
“What is the matter? What does he say?”
2nd soldier:
“He says he is cold. He is only a beggar
and very old.”
Martin:
“Then I will give him a half of my cloak.
Its ample folds can cover us both.”
3rd soldier:
“O Captain, you are too kind.”
4th soldier:
“Don’t do that. You’ll feel cold yourself.”
Martin:
“I cannot feel warm if this man freezes to death.

(Martin unsheaths his sword. He takes off his cloak and cuts it in two.)

“Here you are, my friend. Wrap it around your shoulders and chest.”

Beggar:
“Thank you good lord. May Heaven reward your heart’s living strength.”

(A girl appears with a bright star on her forehead and arms uplifted eurythmically)

“The Angels have sent me from above

to praise Martin’s act of mercy and love.”

All together:
“For a thousand years and even more
Mankind will remember this:
How Martin unsheathed his sword
not to fight, but to give
a poor man a half of his cloak”.

St. Martin’s Play was written by Patricia Mendez in 2002.