THIRD SON.  Why don’t you tell us where it is?

FARMER.  That you may dig for it.

[He goes.]

SONS.  A pot of gold!

FIRST SON.  Now I shall go to war and ride a great white horse!

SECOND SON.  Now I shall marry a princess and wear her golden crown!

THIRD SON.  Now I shall find my purse of gold, and never work again!

SCENE II

TIME:  one month later.
PLACE:  the vineyard.

* * * * *

THE THREE SONS.

* * * * *

[The ground is completely dug up.  The FIRST SON is seen digging.  He throws down his spade showing disappointment.]

FIRST SON.  I cannot find it!

(Enter SECOND SON with his spade.)

Did you find it?

SECOND SON.  No, and I have dug up every inch of our western vineyard.

[Enter THIRD SON with his spade.]

FIRST AND SECOND SONS.  Did you find it?

THIRD SON.  No, and I have dug up every inch of the eastern vineyard.

FIRST SON.  Well, you see what I have done here.

SECOND SON.  Not a vine that has not been dug about!

THIRD SON.  I cannot understand it!

FIRST SON.  The day our father died he spoke again of the pot of gold.

SECOND SON.  And told us again to dig for it.

THIRD SON.  I cannot understand it.

[They go, shaking their heads sadly.]

SCENE III

TIME:  six months later.
PLACE:  the vineyard.

* * * * *

THE THREE SONS. 
THE FRUIT MERCHANT.

* * * * *

[The MERCHANT enters the vineyard with the THREE SONS.]

MERCHANT.  You say your grapes are ripe?

FIRST SON.  They are ripe and ready to sell, sir.

SECOND SON.  Come, now, and look at them.

[They cross to the vines.]

MERCHANT.  Why, I have never seen such grapes as these!

THIRD SON.  We have never had such grapes before, sir.

MERCHANT.  How fine and large they are!

FIRST SON.  And sweet, too!  Just taste one, sir!

MERCHANT (eating a grape).  Are they all like these?

SECOND SON.  Every vine bears just such grapes.

MERCHANT.  I must have your grapes.  I will give a pot of gold for them.

SONS.  A pot of gold!

MERCHANT.  Come, will you sell?

SONS.  Aye, sir!

MERCHANT.  Then to-morrow I will bring the pot of gold and take away the grapes.

[He goes.]

SONS.  A pot of gold!

FIRST SON.  I wonder if that was father’s pot of gold.