Perseus the Deliverer

Scene I

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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!

 

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.

 

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

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

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

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?

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.

 

Scene II

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.

 

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.

 

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,

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

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.

 

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

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

Scene III

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.

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.

 

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

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

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

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.

 

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.

 

(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