help.
The thought doth bring me trepidation, for
I have relie’d upon their counsel wise.
Be with me here in spirit, if not form,
Good Obi-Wan and Yoda—masters true.
O life, O Fate! I would I knew my place,
My time, my end, my destiny complete—
But I cannot see why or how life is.
Because the past is not a perfect guide,
And since the future still remains unknown:
My fate shall I meet in the present tense.
[A sound is heard.
But soft, I hear slow footsteps drawing near.
Enter
D ARTH V ADER .
VADER
The Force is with thee now, young Skywalker,
In troth—but thou art not a Jedi yet.
LUKE
[
aside:
] ’Tis Vader, and ’tis Fate. Let it begin.
[They duel.
Enter
C HORUS .
CHORUS
O mighty duel, O action ne’er surpass’d:
The lightsabers do clash and glow like fire.
Darth Vader in the villain’s role is cast,
While Luke’s young temper turneth soon to ire.
They flash and fly like dancers in a set,
Yet never dance did know such deadly mood.
Luke tires, and soon his brow begins to sweat,
Whilst Vader doth attack with strength renew’d.
VADER
Forsooth, young one, ’tis plain thou hast learn’d much.
LUKE
Thou shalt find me full of surprises yet!
VADER
Thy destiny doth lie with me, Skywalker.
Your teacher Obi-Wan did know ’twas true.
LUKE
Thou liest, O thou villain cruel and cold.
[They duel, and Luke falls into the carbon freezing machine.
VADER
[
aside:
] ’Twas far too simple, trapping him within.
Perhaps the boy is not as powerful
As my great Emperor and I did think.
[Luke leaps out of the carbon freezing machine.
LUKE
I am not captur’d yet, thou lord of hate.
Thou must another evil scheme derive
To catch me in thy snares. For I am quick,
And move with all the power of the Force.
VADER
Impressive, most impressive, worthy lad,
Thine Obi-Wan hath taught thee well, and thou
Hast master’d all thy fears. Now, go! Release
Thine anger, for thy hate alone can strike
Me down! [
Aside:
] Now ’tis the moment to provoke
His inner rage. Come walls, machines, and parts
And come at him from ev’ry side. He’ll be
Made weak, and in his weakness darkness find!
[Darth Vader uses the Force to strike Luke with nearby objects.
LUKE
Alas, I fall—O Fate, be on my side!
[Luke falls out a window.
VADER
The battle goes exactly as foreseen.
The boy is powerful and skill’d, ’tis true,
But his young powers are no match for mine.
It seems that Obi-Wan was weak with age,
For this boy’s training still is incomplete.
He shall be turnèd yet, for I still hold
The news that shall undo him utterly.
He thinks the speed of my lightsaber and
My power to send objects hurtling at
Him are the worst that I can muster, but
My greatest weapon yet shall break his soul,
Not touch his body. He shall know the truth.
But even as I plan to share with him
The story of his father, I must pause.
The strange confusion I before have felt
Hath come again into my mind. What is’t?
I know no better Fate for him and me
Than to be join’d in service to my Lord
And Emperor. So why am I confus’d?
Enough of this now, Vader: finish it.
The boy shall turn or he shall be destroy’d.
[Exit Darth Vader. Luke begins to climb through the window.
LUKE
O pain, O bitter weariness. I did
Not know the power of the Force till now—
Till it, to purpose rank, was turn’d on me!
Now for my very life I grasp and hold
Unto the precipice whereon I cling.
Be with me now, O Ben, restore my strength.
I see that Vader hath ta’en flight, yet it
Is plain he doth but wait for his next chance.
Some hope remains, e’en now, amidst my fear—
He may yet be defeated, all’s not lost.
I have regain’d my footing, and may rest
Until the fight must be resum’d. Now quick:
Look deep within your heart, Luke, and recall
The teachings of your gentle master Yoda.
Breathe deeply and call on the Force, that it
May show to thee the path that thou must take.
O, give me strength to win this
The thought doth bring me trepidation, for
I have relie’d upon their counsel wise.
Be with me here in spirit, if not form,
Good Obi-Wan and Yoda—masters true.
O life, O Fate! I would I knew my place,
My time, my end, my destiny complete—
But I cannot see why or how life is.
Because the past is not a perfect guide,
And since the future still remains unknown:
My fate shall I meet in the present tense.
[A sound is heard.
But soft, I hear slow footsteps drawing near.
Enter
D ARTH V ADER .
VADER
The Force is with thee now, young Skywalker,
In troth—but thou art not a Jedi yet.
LUKE
[
aside:
] ’Tis Vader, and ’tis Fate. Let it begin.
[They duel.
Enter
C HORUS .
CHORUS
O mighty duel, O action ne’er surpass’d:
The lightsabers do clash and glow like fire.
Darth Vader in the villain’s role is cast,
While Luke’s young temper turneth soon to ire.
They flash and fly like dancers in a set,
Yet never dance did know such deadly mood.
Luke tires, and soon his brow begins to sweat,
Whilst Vader doth attack with strength renew’d.
VADER
Forsooth, young one, ’tis plain thou hast learn’d much.
LUKE
Thou shalt find me full of surprises yet!
VADER
Thy destiny doth lie with me, Skywalker.
Your teacher Obi-Wan did know ’twas true.
LUKE
Thou liest, O thou villain cruel and cold.
[They duel, and Luke falls into the carbon freezing machine.
VADER
[
aside:
] ’Twas far too simple, trapping him within.
Perhaps the boy is not as powerful
As my great Emperor and I did think.
[Luke leaps out of the carbon freezing machine.
LUKE
I am not captur’d yet, thou lord of hate.
Thou must another evil scheme derive
To catch me in thy snares. For I am quick,
And move with all the power of the Force.
VADER
Impressive, most impressive, worthy lad,
Thine Obi-Wan hath taught thee well, and thou
Hast master’d all thy fears. Now, go! Release
Thine anger, for thy hate alone can strike
Me down! [
Aside:
] Now ’tis the moment to provoke
His inner rage. Come walls, machines, and parts
And come at him from ev’ry side. He’ll be
Made weak, and in his weakness darkness find!
[Darth Vader uses the Force to strike Luke with nearby objects.
LUKE
Alas, I fall—O Fate, be on my side!
[Luke falls out a window.
VADER
The battle goes exactly as foreseen.
The boy is powerful and skill’d, ’tis true,
But his young powers are no match for mine.
It seems that Obi-Wan was weak with age,
For this boy’s training still is incomplete.
He shall be turnèd yet, for I still hold
The news that shall undo him utterly.
He thinks the speed of my lightsaber and
My power to send objects hurtling at
Him are the worst that I can muster, but
My greatest weapon yet shall break his soul,
Not touch his body. He shall know the truth.
But even as I plan to share with him
The story of his father, I must pause.
The strange confusion I before have felt
Hath come again into my mind. What is’t?
I know no better Fate for him and me
Than to be join’d in service to my Lord
And Emperor. So why am I confus’d?
Enough of this now, Vader: finish it.
The boy shall turn or he shall be destroy’d.
[Exit Darth Vader. Luke begins to climb through the window.
LUKE
O pain, O bitter weariness. I did
Not know the power of the Force till now—
Till it, to purpose rank, was turn’d on me!
Now for my very life I grasp and hold
Unto the precipice whereon I cling.
Be with me now, O Ben, restore my strength.
I see that Vader hath ta’en flight, yet it
Is plain he doth but wait for his next chance.
Some hope remains, e’en now, amidst my fear—
He may yet be defeated, all’s not lost.
I have regain’d my footing, and may rest
Until the fight must be resum’d. Now quick:
Look deep within your heart, Luke, and recall
The teachings of your gentle master Yoda.
Breathe deeply and call on the Force, that it
May show to thee the path that thou must take.
O, give me strength to win this
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