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Act II
The audience-chamber in the Palace of Cepheus. Cepheus and Cassiopea, seated.
CASSIOPEA What will you do, Cepheus?
CEPHEUS This that has happened Is most unfortunate.
CASSIOPEA What will you do? I hope you will not give up to the priest My Iolaus’ golden head? I hope You do not mean that?
CEPHEUS Great Poseidon’s priest Sways all this land: for from the liberal blood Moistening that high-piled altar grow our harvests And strong Poseidon satisfied defends Our frontiers from the loud Assyrian menace.
CASSIOPEA Empty thy treasuries, glut him with gold. Let us be beggars rather than one bright curl Of Iolaus feel his gloomy mischiefs.
Page – 369 CEPHEUS I had already thought of it. Medes! Medes enters. Waits Polydaon yet?
MEDES He does, my lord.
CEPHEUS Call him, and Tyrian Phineus. Medes goes out again. CASSIOPEA Bid Tyre save Andromeda’s loved brother from this doom; He shall not have our daughter otherwise.
CEPHEUS This too was in my mind already, queen. Polydaon and Phineus enter. Be seated, King of Tyre: priest Polydaon, Possess thy usual chair.
POLYDAON Well, King of Syria, Shall I have justice? Wilt thou be the King Over a peopled country? or must I loose The snake-haired Gorgon-eyed Erinnyes To hunt thee with the clamorous whips of Hell Blood-dripping?
CEPHEUS Be content. Cepheus gives nought But justice from his mighty seat. Thou shalt Have justice.
Page – 370
POLYDAON I am not used to cool my heels About the doors of princes like some beggarly And negligible suitor whose poor plaint Is valued by some paltry drachmas. I am Poseidon’s priest.
CEPHEUS The prince is called to answer here Thy charges.
POLYDAON Answer! Will he deny a crime Done impudently in Syria’s face? ‘Tis well; The Tyrian stands here who can meet that lie.
CASSIOPEA My children’s lips were never stained with lies, Insulting priest, nor will be now; from him We shall have truth.
CEPHEUS And grant the charge admitted, The ransom shall be measured with the crime.
POLYDAON What talk is this of ransom? Thinkst thou, King, That dire Poseidon’s grim offended godhead Can be o’erplastered with a smudge of silver? Shall money blunt his vengeance? Shall his majesty Be estimated in a usurer’s balance? Blood is the ransom of this sacrilege.
CASSIOPEA Ah God!
Page – 371 CEPHEUS (in agitation) Take all my treasury includes Of gold and silver, gems and porphyry Unvalued.
POLYDAON The Gods are not to be bribed, King Cepheus.
CASSIOPEA (apart) Give him honours, state, precedence, All he can ask. O husband, let me keep My child’s head on my bosom safe.
CEPHEUS Listen! What wouldst thou have? Precedence, pomp and state? Hundreds of spears to ring thee where thou walkest? Swart slaves and beautiful women in thy temple To serve thee and thy god? They are thine. In feasts And high processions and proud regal meetings Poseidon’s followers shall precede the King.
POLYDAON Me wilt thou bribe? I take these for Poseidon, Nor waive my chief demand.
CEPHEUS What will content thee?
POLYDAON A victim has been snatched from holy altar: To fill that want a victim is demanded.
CEPHEUS I will make war on Egypt and Assyria And throw thee kings for victims.
Page – 372
POLYDAON Thy vaunt is empty. Poseidon being offended, who shall give thee Victory o’er Egypt and o’er strong Assyria?
CEPHEUS Take thou the noblest head in all the kingdom Below the Prince. Take many heads for one.
POLYDAON Shall then the innocent perish for the guilty? Is this thy justice? How shall thy kingdom last?
CEPHEUS You hear him, Cassiopea? he will not yield, He is inexorable.
POLYDAON Must I wait longer?
CEPHEUS Ho Medes! Medes enters. Iolaus comes not yet. Medes goes out. CASSIOPEA (rising fiercely) Priest, thou wilt have my child’s blood then, it seems! Nought less will satisfy thee than thy prince For victim?
POLYDAON Poseidon knows not prince or beggar. Whoever honours him, he heaps with state And fortune. Whoever wakes his dreadful wrath, He thrusts down into Erebus for ever.
Page – 373 CASSIOPEA Beware! Thou shalt not have my child. Take heed Ere thou drive monarchs to extremity. Thou hopest in thy sacerdotal pride To make the Kings of Syria childless, end A line that started from the gods. Thinkst thou It will be tamely suffered? What have we To lose, if we lose this? I bid thee again Take heed: drive not a queen to strong despair. I am no tame-souled peasant, but a princess And great Chaldea’s child.
POLYDAON (after a pause) Wilt thou confirm Thy treasury and all the promised honours, If I excuse the deed?
CEPHEUS They shall be thine. He turns to whisper with Cassiopea. PHINEUS (apart to Polydaon) Dost thou prefer me for thy foeman?
POLYDAON See In the queen’s eyes her rage. We must discover New means; this way’s not safe.
PHINEUS Thou art a coward, priest, for all thy violence. But fear me first and then blench from a woman.
POLYDAON Well, as you choose. Iolaus enters.
Page – 374 IOLAUS Father, you sent for me?
CEPHEUS There is a charge upon thee, Iolaus, I do not yet believe. But answer truth Like Cepheus’ son, whatever the result.
IOLAUS Whatever I have done, my father, good Or ill, I dare support against the world. What is this accusation?
CEPHEUS Didst thou rescue At dawn a victim from Poseidon’s altar?
IOLAUS I did not.
POLYDAON Dar’st thou deny it, wretched boy? Monarch, his coward lips have uttered falsehood. Speak, King of Tyre.
IOLAUS Hear me speak first. Thou ruffian, Intriguer masking in a priest’s disguise, —
POLYDAON Hear him, O King!
CEPHEUS Speak calmly. I forbid All violence. Thou deniest then the charge?
Page – 375 IOLAUS As it was worded to me, I deny it.
PHINEUS Syria, I have not spoken till this moment, And would not now, but sacred truth compels My tongue howe’er reluctant. I was there, And saw him rescue a wrecked mariner With his rash steel. Would that I had not seen it!
IOLAUS Thou liest, Phineus, King of Tyre.
CASSIOPEA Alas! If thou hast any pity for thy mother, Run not upon thy death in this fierce spirit, My child. Calmly repel the charge against thee, Nor thus offend thy brother.
PHINEUS I am not angry.
IOLAUS It was no shipwrecked weeping mariner, Condemned by the wild seas, whom they attempted, But a calm god or glorious hero who came By other way than man’s to Syria’s margin. Nor did rash steel or battle rescue him. With the mere dreadful waving of his shield He shook from him a hundred threatening lances, This hero hot from Tyre and this proud priest Now bold to bluster in his monarch’s chamber, But then a pallid coward, — so he trusts In his Poseidon!
Page – 376
POLYDAON Hast thou done?
IOLAUS Not yet. That I drew forth my sword, is true, and true I would have rescued him from god or devil Had it been needed.
POLYDAON Enough! He has confessed! Give verdict, King, and sentence. Let me watch Thy justice.
CEPHEUS But this fault was not so deadly!
POLYDAON I see thy drift, O King. Thou wouldst prefer Thy son to him who rules the earth and waters: Thou wouldst exalt thy throne above the temple, Setting the gods beneath thy feet. Fool, fool, Knowst thou not that the terrible Poseidon Can end thy house in one tremendous hour? Yield him one impious head which cannot live And he will give thee other and better children. Give sentence or be mad and perish.
IOLAUS Father, Not for thy son’s, but for thy honour’s sake Resist him. ‘Tis better to lose crown and life, Than rule the world because a priest allows it.
POLYDAON Give sentence, King. I can no longer wait, Give sentence.
Page – 377 CEPHEUS (helplessly to Cassiopea) What shall I do?
CASSIOPEA Monarch of Tyre, Thou choosest silence then, a pleased spectator? Thou hast bethought thee of other nuptials?
PHINEUS Lady, You wrong my silence which was but your servant To find an issue from this dire impasse, Rescuing your child from wrath, justice not wounded.
CASSIOPEA The issue lies in the accuser’s will, If putting malice by he’ld only seek Poseidon’s glory.
PHINEUS The deed’s by all admitted, The law and bearing of it are in doubt. (to Polydaon) You urge a place is void and must be filled On great Poseidon’s altar, and demand Justly the guilty head of Iolaus. He did the fault, his head must ransom it. Let him fill up the void, who made the void. Nor will high heaven accept a guiltless head, To let the impious free.
CASSIOPEA Phineus, —
PHINEUS But if The victim lost return, you cannot then
Page – 378
Claim Iolaus; then there is no void For substitution.
POLYDAON King, —
PHINEUS The simpler fault With ransom can be easily excused And covered up in gold. Let him produce The fugitive.
IOLAUS Tyrian, —
PHINEUS I have not forgotten. Patience! You plead that your mysterious guest Being neither shipwrecked nor a mariner Comes not within the doom of law. Why then, Let Law decide that issue, not the sword Nor swift evasion! Dost thou fear the event Of thy great father’s sentence from that throne Where Justice sits with bright unsullied robe Judging the peoples? Calmly expect his doom Which errs not.
CASSIOPEA Thou art a man noble indeed in counsel And fit to rule the nations.
CEPHEUS I approve. You laugh, my son?
IOLAUS I laugh to see wise men
Page – 379 Catching their feet in their own subtleties. King Phineus, wilt thou seize Olympian Zeus And call thy Tyrian smiths to forge his fetters? Or wilt thou claim the archer bright Apollo To meet thy human doom, priest Polydaon? ‘Tis well; the danger’s yours. Give me three days And I’ll produce him.
CEPHEUS Priest, art thou content?
POLYDAON Exceed not thou the period by one day, Or tremble.
CEPHEUS (rising) Happily decided. Rise My Cassiopea: now our hearts can rest From these alarms. Cepheus and Cassiopea leave the chamber. IOLAUS Keep thy knife sharp, sacrificant. King Phineus, I am grateful and advise Thy swift departure back to Tyre unmarried. He goes out. POLYDAON What hast thou done, King Phineus? All is ruined.
PHINEUS What, have the stripling’s threats appalled thee, priest?
POLYDAON Thou hast demanded a bright dreadful god For victim. We might have slain young Iolaus: Wilt thou slay him whose tasselled aegis smote
Page – 380 Terror into a hundred warriors?
PHINEUS Priest, Thou art a superstitious fool. Believe not The gods come down to earth with swords and wings, Or transitory raiment made on looms, Or bodies visible to mortal eyes. Far otherwise they come, with unseen steps And stroke invisible, — if gods indeed There are. I doubt it, who can find no room For powers unseen: the world’s alive and moves By natural law without their intervention.
POLYDAON King Phineus, doubt not the immortal gods. They love not doubters. If thou hadst lived as I, Daily devoted to the temple dimness, And seen the awful shapes that live in night, And heard the awful sounds that move at will When Ocean with the midnight is alone, Thou wouldst not doubt. Remember the dread portents High gods have sent on earth a hundred times When kings offended.
PHINEUS Well, let them reign unquestioned Far from the earth in their too bright Olympus, So that they come not down to meddle here In what I purpose. For your aegis-bearer, Your winged and two-legged lion, he’s no god. You hurried me away or I’ld have probed His godlike guts with a good yard of steel To test the composition of his ichor.
POLYDAON What of his flaming aegis lightning-tasselled?
Page – 381 What of his winged sandals, King?
PHINEUS The aegis? Some mechanism of refracted light. The wings? Some new aerial contrivance A luckier Daedalus may have invented. The Greeks are scientists unequalled, bold Experimenters, happy in invention. Nothing’s incredible that they devise, And this man, Polydaon, is a Greek.
POLYDAON Have it your way. Say he was merely man! How do we profit by his blood?
PHINEUS O marvellous! Thou hesitate to kill! thou seek for reasons! Is not blood always blood? I could not forfeit My right to marry young Andromeda; She is my claim to Syria. Leave something, priest, To Fortune, but be ready for her coming And grasp ere she escape. The old way’s best; Excite the commons, woo their thunderer, That plausible republican. Iolaus Once ended, by right of fair Andromeda I’ll save and wear the crown. Priest, over Syria And all my Tyrians thou shalt be the one prelate, Should all go well.
POLYDAON All shall go well, King Phineus. They go.
Page – 382
A room in the women’s apartments of the Palace. Andromeda, Diomede, Praxilla.
ANDROMEDA My brother lives then?
PRAXILLA Thanks to Tyre, it seems.
DIOMEDE Thanks to the wolf who means to eat him later.
PRAXILLA You’ll lose your tongue some morning; rule it, girl.
DIOMEDE These kings, these politicians, these high masters! These wise blind men! We slaves have eyes at least To look beyond transparency.
PRAXILLA Because We stand outside the heated game unmoved By interests, fears and passions.
ANDROMEDA He is a wolf, for I have seen his teeth.
PRAXILLA Yet must you marry him, my little princess.
Page – 383 ANDROMEDA What, to be torn in pieces by the teeth?
DIOMEDE I think the gods will not allow this marriage.
ANDROMEDA I know not what the gods may do: be sure, I’ll not allow it.
PRAXILLA Fie, Andromeda! You must obey your parents: ’tis not right, This wilfulness. Why, you’re a child! you think You can oppose the will of mighty monarchs? Be good; obey your father.
ANDROMEDA Yes, Praxilla? And if my father bade me take a knife And cut my face and limbs and stab my eyes, Must I do that?
PRAXILLA Where are you with your wild fancies? Your father would not bid you do such things.
ANDROMEDA Because they’ld hurt me?
PRAXILLA Yes.
ANDROMEDA It hurts me more To marry Phineus.
Page – 384 PRAXILLA O you sly logic-splitter! You dialectician, you sunny-curled small sophist, Chop logic with your father. I’m tired of you. Cepheus enters. ANDROMEDA Father, I have been waiting for you.
CEPHEUS What! you? I’ll not believe it. You? (caressing her) My rosy Syrian! My five-foot lady! My small queen of Tyre! Yes, you are tired of playing with the ball. You wait for me!
ANDROMEDA I was waiting. Here are Two kisses for you.
CEPHEUS Oh, now I understand. You dancing rogue, you’re not so free with kisses: I have to pay for them, small cormorant. What is it now? a talking Tyrian doll? Or a strong wooden horse with silken wings To fly up to the gold rims of the moon?
ANDROMEDA I will not kiss you if you talk like that. I am a woman now. As if I wanted Such nonsense, father!
CEPHEUS Oh, you’re a woman now? Then ’tis a robe from Cos, sandals fur-lined Or belt all silver. Young diplomatist,
Page – 385 I know you. You keep these rippling showers of gold Upon your head to buy your wishes with. Therefore you packed your small red lips with honey. Well, usurer, what’s the price you want?
ANDROMEDA I want, — But father, will you give me what I want?
CEPHEUS I’ld give you the bright sun from heaven for plaything To make you happy, girl Andromeda.
ANDROMEDA I want the Babylonians who were wrecked In the great ship today, to be my slaves, Father.
CEPHEUS Was ever such a perverse witch? To ask the only thing I cannot give!
ANDROMEDA Can I not have them, father?
CEPHEUS They are Poseidon’s.
ANDROMEDA Oh then you love Poseidon more than me! Why should he have them?
CEPHEUS Fie, child! the mighty gods Are masters of the earth and sea and heavens, And all that is, is theirs. We are their stewards. But what is once restored into their hands
Page – 386 Is thenceforth holy: he who even gazes With greedy eye upon divine possessions, Is guilty in Heaven’s sight and may awake A dreadful wrath. These men, Andromeda, Must bleed upon the altar of the God. Speak not of them again: they are devoted.
ANDROMEDA Is he a god who eats the flesh of men?
PRAXILLA O hush, blasphemer!
ANDROMEDA Father, give command, To have Praxilla here boiled for my breakfast. I’ll be a goddess too.
CEPHEUS Praxilla!
PRAXILLA ‘Tis thus She talks. Oh but it gives me a shivering fever Sometimes to hear her.
CEPHEUS What mean you, dread gods? Purpose you then the ruin of my house Preparing in my children the offences That must excuse your wrath? Andromeda, My little daughter, speak not like this again, I charge you, no, nor think it. The mighty gods Dwell far above the laws that govern men And are not to be mapped by mortal judgments. It is Poseidon’s will these men should die Upon his altar. ‘Tis not to be questioned.
Page – 387 ANDROMEDA It shall be questioned. Let your God go hungry.
CEPHEUS I am amazed! Did you not hear me, child? On the third day from now these men shall die. The same high evening ties you fast with nuptials To Phineus, who shall take you home to Tyre. (aside) On Tyre let the wrath fall, if it must come.
ANDROMEDA Father, you’ll understand this once for all, — I will not let the Babylonians die, I will not marry Phineus.
CEPHEUS Oh, you will not? Here is a queen, of Tyre and all the world; How mutinous-majestically this smallness Divulges her decrees, making the most Of her five feet of gold and cream and roses! And why will you not marry Phineus, rebel?
ANDROMEDA He does not please me.
CEPHEUS School your likings, rebel. It is most needful Syria mate with Tyre. And you are Syria.
ANDROMEDA Why, father, if you gave me a toy, you’ld ask What toy I like! If you gave me a robe Or vase, you would consult my taste in these! Must I marry any cold-eyed crafty husband
Page – 388 I do not like?
CEPHEUS You do not like! You do not like! Thou silly child, must the high policy Of Princes then be governed by thy likings? ‘Tis policy, ’tis kingly policy That made this needful marriage, and it shall not For your spoilt childish likings be unmade. What, you look sullen? what, you frown, virago? Look, if you mutiny, I’ll have you whipped.
ANDROMEDA You would not dare.
CEPHEUS Not dare!
ANDROMEDA Of course you would not. As if I were afraid of you!
CEPHEUS You are spoiled, You are spoiled! Your mother spoils you, you wilful sunbeam. Come, you provoking minx, you’ll marry Phineus?
ANDROMEDA I will not, father. If I must marry, then I’ll marry my bright sun-god! and none else In the wide world.
CEPHEUS Your sun-god! Is that all? Shall I not send an envoy to Olympus And call the Thunderer here to marry you? You’re not ambitious?
Page – 389 PRAXILLA It is not that she means; She speaks of the bright youth her brother rescued. Since she has heard of him, no meaner talk Is on her lips.
CEPHEUS Who is this radiant coxcomb? Whence did he come to set my Syria in a whirl? For him my son’s in peril of his life, For him my daughter will not marry Tyre. Oh, Polydaon’s right. He must be killed Before he does more mischief. Andromeda, On the third day you marry Tyrian Phineus. He goes out hurriedly. DIOMEDE That was a valiant shot timed to a most discreet departure. Parthian tactics are best when we deal with mutinous daughters.
PRAXILLA Andromeda, you will obey your father?
ANDROMEDA You are not in my counsels. You’re too faithful, Virtuous and wise, and virtuously you would Betray me. There is a thing full-grown in me That you shall only know by the result. Diomede, come; for I need help, not counsel. She goes. PRAXILLA What means she now? Her whims are as endless as the tossing of leaves in a wind. But you will find out and tell me, Diomede.
DIOMEDE I will find out certainly, but as to telling, that is as it shall please me — and my little mistress.
Page – 390 PRAXILLA You shall be whipped.
DIOMEDE Pish! She runs out. PRAXILLA The child is spoiled herself and she spoils her servants. There is no managing any of them. She goes out.
Page – 391
An orchard garden in Syria by a river-bank: the corner of a cottage in the background. Perseus, Cydone.
CYDONE (sings) O the sun in the reeds and willows! O the sun with the leaves at play! Who would waste the warm sunlight? And for weeping there’s the night. But now ’tis day.
PERSEUS Yes, willows and the reeds! and the bright sun Stays with the ripples talking quietly. And there, Cydone, look! how the fish leap To catch at sunbeams. Sing yet again, Cydone.
CYDONE (sings) O what use have your foolish tears? What will you do with your hopes and fears? They but waste the sweet sunlight. Look! morn opens: look how bright The world appears!
PERSEUS O you Cydone in the sweet sunlight! But you are lovelier. CYDONE You talk like Iolaus.
Page – 392 Come, here’s your crown. I’ll set it where ’tis due.
PERSEUS Crowns are too heavy, dear. Sunlight was better.
CYDONE ‘Tis a light crown of love I put upon you, My brother Perseus.
PERSEUS Love! but love is heavy.
CYDONE No, love is light. I put light love upon you, Because I love you and you love Iolaus. I love you because you love Iolaus, And love the world that loves my Iolaus, Iolaus my world and all the world Only for Iolaus.
PERSEUS Happy Cydone, Who can lie here and babble to the river All day of love and light and Iolaus. If it could last! But tears are in the world And must some day be wept.
CYDONE Why must they, Perseus?
PERSEUS When Iolaus becomes King in Syria And comes no more, what will you do, Cydone?
CYDONE Why, I will go to him.
Page – 393 PERSEUS And if perhaps He should not know you?
CYDONE Then it will be night. It is day now.
PERSEUS A bright philosophy, But with the tears behind. Hellas, thou livest In thy small world of radiant white perfection With eye averted from the night beyond, The night immense, unfathomed. But I have seen Snow-regions monstrous underneath the moon And Gorgon caverns dim. Ah well, the world Is bright around me and the quick lusty breeze Of strong adventure wafts my bright-winged sandals O’er mountains and o’er seas, and Herpe’s with me, My sword of sharpness.
CYDONE Your sword, my brother Perseus? But it is lulled to sleep in scarlet roses By the winged sandals watched. Can they really Lift you into the sky?
PERSEUS They can, Cydone.
CYDONE What’s in the wallet locked so carefully? I would have opened it and seen, but could not.
PERSEUS ‘Tis well thou didst not. For thy breathing limbs Would in a moment have been charmed to stone
Page – 394 And these smooth locks grown rigid and stiffened, O Cydone, Thy happy heart would never more have throbbed To Iolaus’ kiss.
CYDONE What monster’s there?
PERSEUS It is the Gorgon’s head who lived in night. Snake-tresses frame its horror of deadly beauty That turns the gazer into marble.
CYDONE Ugh! Why do you keep such dreadful things about you?
PERSEUS Why, are there none who are better turned to stone Than living?
CYDONE O yes, the priest of the dark shrine Who hates my love. Fix him to frowning grimness In innocent marble. (listening) It is Iolaus! I know his footfall, muffled in the green. Iolaus enters. IOLAUS Perseus, my friend, —
PERSEUS Thou art my human sun. Come, shine upon me; let thy face of beauty Become a near delight, my arm, fair youth, possess thee.
IOLAUS I am a warrant-bearer to you, friend.
Page – 395 PERSEUS On what arrest?
IOLAUS For running from the knife. A debt that must be paid. They’ll not be baulked Their dues of blood, their strict account of hearts. Or mine or thine they’ll have to crown their altars.
PERSEUS Why, do but make thy tender breast the altar And I’ll not grudge my heart, sweet Iolaus. Who’s this accountant?
IOLAUS Poseidon’s dark-browed priest, As gloomy as the den in which he lairs, Who hopes to gather Syria in his hands Upon a priestly pretext.
CYDONE Change him, Perseus, Into black stone!
PERSEUS Oh, hard and black as his own mood! He has a stony heart much better housed In limbs of stone than a kind human body Who would hurt thee, my Iolaus.
IOLAUS He’ld hurt And find a curious pleasure. If it were even My sister sunbeam, my Andromeda, He’ld carve her soft white breast as readily As any slave’s or murderer’s.
Page – 396 PERSEUS Andromeda! It is a name that murmurs to the heart Of strength and sweetness.
IOLAUS Three days you are given to prove yourself a god! You failing, ’tis my bosom pays the debt. That’s their decree.
CYDONE Turn them to stone, to stone! All, all to heartless marble!
PERSEUS Thy father bids this?
IOLAUS He dare not baulk this dangerous priest.
PERSEUS Ah, dare not! Yes, there are fathers too who love their lives And not their children: earth has known of such. There was a father like this once in Argos!
IOLAUS Blame not the King too much.
CYDONE Turn him to stone, To stone!
IOLAUS Hush, hush, Cydone!
Page – 397 CYDONE Stone, hard stone!
IOLAUS I’ll whip thee, shrew, with rose-briars.
CYDONE Will you promise To kiss the blood away? Then I’ll offend Daily, on purpose.
IOLAUS Love’s rose-briars, sweet Cydone, Inflict no wounds.
CYDONE Oh yes, they bleed within.
IOLAUS The brow of Perseus grows darkness!
PERSEUS Rise, And be my guide. Where is this temple and priest?
IOLAUS The temple now?
PERSEUS Soonest is always best When noble deeds are to be done.
IOLAUS What deed?
PERSEUS I will release the men of Babylon
Page – 398 From their grim blood-feast. Let them howl for victims.
IOLAUS It will incense them more.
PERSEUS Me they have incensed With their fierce crafty fury. If they must give To their dire god, let them at least fulfil With solemn decency their fearful rites. But since they bring in politic rage and turn Their barbarous rite into a trade of murder, Nor rite nor temple be respected more. Must they have victims? Let them take and slay Perseus alone. I shall rejoice to know That so much strength and boldness dwells in men Who are mortal.
IOLAUS Men thou needst not fear; but, Perseus, Poseidon’s wrath will wake, whose lightest motion Is deadly.
PERSEUS Mine is not harmless.
IOLAUS Against gods What can a mortal’s anger do?
PERSEUS We’ll talk With those pale merchants. Wait for me; I bring Herpe my sword.
CYDONE The wallet, Perseus! leave not the dear wallet! Perseus goes out towards the cottage.
Page – 399 IOLAUS My queen, have I your leave?
CYDONE Give me a kiss That I may spend the hours remembering it Till you return.
IOLAUS (kissing her) Will one fill hours, Cydone?
CYDONE I fear to ask for more. You’re such a miser.
IOLAUS You rose-lipped slanderer! there! Had I the time I would disprove you, smothering you with what You pray for.
CYDONE Come soon.
IOLAUS I’ll watch the sun go down. In your dark night of tresses. Perseus returns. PERSEUS Come.
IOLAUS I am ready.
CYDONE Stone, brother Perseus, make them stone for ever. Perseus and Iolaus go out.
Page – 400 (sings) “Marble body, heart of bliss Or a stony heart and this, Which of these two wilt thou crave? One or other thou shalt have.” “By my kisses shall be known Which is flesh and which is stone. Love, thy heart of stone! it quakes. Sweet, thy fair cold limbs! love takes With this warm and rosy trembling. Where is now thy coy dissembling? Heart and limbs I here escheat For that fraudulent deceit.” “And will not marble even grow soft, Kissed so warmly and so oft?” Curtain
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