I want some clean air.
THE HE-ANCIENT. The air will be clean in a moment. This doll flesh that
children make decomposes quickly at best; but when it is shaken by such
passions as the creatures are capable of, it breaks up at once and
becomes horribly tainted.
THE SHE-ANCIENT. Let it be a lesson to you all to be content with
lifeless toys, and not attempt to make living ones. What would you think
of us ancients if we made toys of you children?
THE NEWLY BORN [_coaxingly_] Why do you not make toys of us? Then you
would play with us; and that would be very nice.
THE SHE-ANCIENT. It would not amuse us. When you play with one another
you play with your bodies, and that makes you supple and strong; but if
we played with you we should play with your minds, and perhaps deform
them.
STREPHON. You are a ghastly lot, you ancients. I shall kill myself when
I am four years old. What do you live for?
THE HE-ANCIENT. You will find out when you grow up. You will not kill
yourself.
STREPHON. If you make me believe that, I shall kill myself now.
THE NEWLY BORN.
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