THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

476The Harmony of VirtueIID INSHAHPerizade, Perizade, let us not return to earth, but remain for everin Mazinderan. I have seen the earth and it is changed. Howwise wert thou, my angel!P ERIZADEWhat didst thou see or hear, beloved?D INSHAHI saw a world stripped of beauty. Mean and clumsy were thebuildings, or pretentious and aimed at a false elegance. Miles ofbrick, with hardly a bit of green here and there, these are thecities. Ever a raucous roar goes up from them, the glint of furnacesand the clang of metal; a dull, vicious smoke clouds thesky; the gardens are blasted and there is no beauty in them. Menwear a hideous dress uglier than their joyless faces and awkwardlimbs. It is a world of barbarians; the gnomes have comeup from under the earth to work in the sunlight.P ERIZADEDinshah, this is sorrowful news, for go we must. Do you notknow that these urgings are the signal?D INSHAHYes, my Perizade, but not to this hideousness did our hearts moveus to resort, but to the towers and gardens of Iran.P ERIZADEIt may be, Dinshah, that we go down to make the world oncemore what it was, a place of beauty, song and delight. Surely, ifwe enter into the world you describe, we shall not be content toleave it till it is utterly changed into the likeness of our desire.D INSHAHI think you are right, Perizade, as you always are. Let us thenarise and go.