Chapter 19

Ch.Show us some work of thine which thou didst makeThy very self.Ul.See then this silver snake.Fear not. Come near and mark him well: my trade is,Or was, I should say, in such nice devices.’Twill coil and curl, uncoil, dart and recoil.[Showing.The Chorus crowd about him, when enter unperceived by him Achilles and Deidamia.Deid.Come, come, there never hath been one like him here.Hark! see the girls: they crowd and chatter roundAs greedily as birds being fed. I bade them choose991Each one a present, but I took the best,This ruby brooch. Look at it: ’tis for thee.Let me now put it on thee. I’ll unclaspThy robe and set it in the place of the other.Ach.Nay, Deidamia, unfasten not my robe!Deid.Why, ’twould not matter if he looked this way.Ach.Nay, prithee.—Deid.Well, thou must take my gift.Ach.Then must I give thee somewhat in return.Deid.But ’tis my will to-day to give to all.1000Ach.Then let me take my choice, some smaller thing.Deid.Come then ere all is ransacked.Ach.(aside).I scarce escapedThe uncovering of my magic coat.—[They go to Ulysses.Ul.Come buy,Needles for your broideries rare,Dainty bodkins silver-hafted.Pins to fix your plaited hair,Ivory-headed and golden-shafted.Ach.What hast thou in thy pack for me, old man?Ul.There’s nought but trifles left me, lady, now,As dice and dolls; the very dregs of the box.Deid.Athenian owls. And who’s this red-baked ladyClothed in a net?Ul.Princess, ’tis Britomartis,1011The Cretan goddess worshipped at Ægina.Deid.This little serpent too?Ul.Nothing to thee:But the Erechtheidæ use to fasten suchAbout their children’s necks. Nay, not a babeIs born but they must don him one of these,Or ever he be swaddled or have suck.Deid.This blinking pygmy here, with a man’s bodyAnd a dog’s head, squatting upon a button ...What’s he?Ul.’Tis an Egyptian charm, to ban1020The evil spirits bred of Nilus’ slime.Deid.And this?Ul.That. See, ’tis a Medusa, lady,Cut in an oyster-shell, with flaming snakes.Deid.These are all nothings. Thou must have the brooch.See, now ’tis thine; thou hast it. (Pins it upon Achilles’ robe.)(To Ul.) What is its price?(To Ach.) Nay, be content.Ul.To thee I’ll sell it, lady,For a tenfold weight of gold.Ach.Oh! ’tis too much.Spend not such store on me. And for the ruby,’Tis dark and small.Ul.The purple is its merit:1030Were it three times the size and half the tint,’Twere of slight cost.Ach.So might I like it better.And that—what’s that, which thou dost put aside?Is that a toy?Ul.Nay, lady; that is no toy.’Tis a sharp sword. But I will show it theeFor its strange quality: the which methinksMight pass for magic, were’t not that an Arian,Late come to Sardis, knows the art to make it.Tho’ wrought of iron, look ye, ’tis blue as flint,And if I bend it, it springs back like a bow:’Tis sharper too than flint; but the edge is straight,And will not chip. Nay, touch it not; have care!Ach.Pray, let me see it, and take it in my hand.[Takes it and comes to front.Ul.(aside). This should be he.Ach.(aside).My arm writhes at the touch.Ul.There is a hunter, with his game, a lion,1045Inlaid upon it: and on the other sideTwo men that fight to death.Ach.’Tis light in the hand.Deid.(to Ach.). Canst thou imagine any use for this?Ach.(to Deid.). Not when thy father dies?Ul.Ladies, have care.For if the sword should wound you, I were blamed.Ach.Why, thinkest thou ’tis only bearded menCan wield a sword? The queen of the AmazonsCould teach thee something maugre thy white hair.Ul.(aside). The game hath run into the snare;He is mine.Ach.See, Deidamia, here’s my choice; buy this1055If thou wilt give me something; thou dost likeThe ruby; if thou wilt let me give thee that,Thou in return buy me this little sword.Deid.Such presents are ill-omened, and ’tis saidWill shrewdly cut in twain the love they pledge.Ach.But we may make a bond of this divider.Deid.Wilt thou in earnest take it for thy choice?Ach.If thou wert late in earnest, thou couldst doNo better than arm all thy girls with these.The weapon wins the battle, and I thinkWith such advantage women might be feared.(To Ul.) Old man, I like thy blade; and I will have it.I see ’twould thrust well: tell me if ’tis mettleTo give a stroke. Suppose I were thy foe,And standing o’er thee thus to cut thee down1070Should choose to cleave thy pate. Would this sword do it?Ul.(aside). He knows me![Pulling off his beard and head-dress and leaping up.Achilles!Deid. and Ch.Help! help! treachery![They fly.Diomede comes out of bushes where he stands unseen by Achilles.Ach.Beardless—and smooth of face as tongue:In voiceGentle, but sturdy of body: ruddy locks,And restless eye .. Ulysses!Ul.Thou hast it.1075Ach.I knew that thou wert here, but looked to meet theeWithout disguises, as an honest man.Ul.Thou needest a mirror, lady, for thyself.Ach.(suddenly casts off his long robe and appears inshining armour, still holding the sword).Behold!.... Be thou my mirror!Ul.If I be not,’Tis shame to thee, the cause of my disguise.Ach.I own thee not. I knew thee for a prince,But seeing thee so vilely disfigured ...Ul.Stay!1081We both have used disguise: I call for judgmentUpon the motive. Mine I donned for valour,And care for thy renown; thine was for fear.Ach.Fear! By the gods: take up thy beard again,And thy mock dotage shield thee.Ul.Nay, Achilles;If I spake wrong I will recall the word.Ach.Thou didst unutterably lie. Recall it.Ul.Wilt thou then sail to Aulis in my ship?Ach.I can sail thither and not sail with thee.Ul.But wilt thou come?Ach.I answer not to theeBecause thou questionest me: but since I knowWhat will be, and hear thee in ignoranceSlander fair names, I tell thee that AchillesWill come to Aulis.Ul.Wherefore now so long1095Hast thou denied thyself to thy renown?Ach.Thou saidst for fear; nor hast recalled the word.Ul.’Twas first thy taunt which drew my mind from me:But, if it wrong thee, I recall the word.Ach.I think thou hast judged me by thyself, Ulysses.When thou wast summoned to the war,—who wertNot free to choose as I, but bound by oathTo Menelaus to help him,—what didst thou?Why thou didst feign; and looking for disguiseThy wit persuaded thee that they who knew theeWould never deem that thou wouldst willinglyMake mock of that: so thou didst put on madness,Babbling and scrabbling even before thy friends:And hadst been slavering on thy native rocks1110Unto this day, had not one fellow thereLightly unravelled thee, and in the furrow,Which thou with dumb delusion, morn and eve,Didst plough in the sea sand (that was thy trick),He placed thy new-born babe. That thou brok’st downThen in thine acting, that thou drav’st not onThe share thro’ thine own flesh, is the best praiseI have to give thee.Ul.Distinguish! if I feigned,’Twas that I had a child and wife, whose tiesOf tenderness I am not ashamed to own.1120Ach.I say thou wentest not unto this warBut by compulsion, thou, that chargest meWith fear. ’Tis thou that art the stay-at-home,Not I; my heart was ever for the war,And ’gainst my will I have been withheld: that thouMistakest in this my duty for my leaning,Is more impeachment of thy boasted wits,Than was thy empty husbandry. Are notThe Argive chiefs more subject, one and all,To this reproach of fear? Why need they me1130A boy of sixteen years to lead them on?Did they lack ships or men, what are my peopleIn number? who am I in strength? what rankHave I in Hellas? Where’s the burly Ajax?Where is the son of Herakles? and NestorThe aged? Teucer and Idomeneus?Menestheus, Menelaus? and not leastWhere’s Diomede?Dio.(coming forward). By chance he’s here.Ach.Ah! nowI hear a soldier’s voice. Brave Diomede,I give thee welcome, tho’ thou comest behind.Dio.Hail, son of Thetis, champion of the Greeks!Ach.Anon, anon. What dost thou here? Wert thou1141Sat in an ambush or arrived by chance,As thou didst say?Dio.By heaven I cannot tell.I serve Ulysses, and he serves the gods:If thou’rt displeased with them, gibe not at me.Ach.I see the plan—The pedlar here in front,The lion behind. And so ye thought to seize me.Ul.Have we not done it?Ach.Nay.Ul.Thou canst not scape.Ach.I give that back to thee.Ul.What wilt thou now?1150Ach.Diomede and I have swords: thou mayst stand byUntil ’tis time thou show me how to escape.I’ll drive you to your ship.Ul.(aside to Dio.).Answer him not. He cannot leave the isle:When the king learns of our discoveryHe must deliver him up. Let’s to the palace.Dio.(to Ul.). Nay, I must speak—Ul.Thou wilt but anger him.He will yield better if we cross him not.Dio.(to Ach.). Brave son of Thetis, I’d not yieldto theeIn any trial of strength, tho’ thou be clad1160In heavenly armour; but I came not hereTo fight, and least with thee: put up thy sword.And since I heard thee say thou wilt to Aulis,Our mission is accomplished, nought remainsBut to renounce our acting, and atoneFor what we have ventured. First I speak thee freeTo follow thine own way. Unless the kingOr other here be in thy secrecy,None know but we, nor shall know: be it thy will,My lips are sealed, and in whatever elseThou wilt command me, I shall be glad to obey.Ach.Thank thee, good Diomede. What saith Ulysses?1171Ul.I’ll do whate’er will knit thee to our cause.(Aside.) Yet shall men hear I found thee.Ach.Return then to your ship; and when UlyssesIs there restored proceed ye to the court.But what in the surprise and consequenceOf my discovery to the king, as wellAs to some others may arise, I know not;Nor can instruct your good behaviours further.1180Time grants me but short counsel for myself.Ul.We too should study how to meet the king.Ach.Stay yet, Ulysses. Thou hast parted hereWith goods appraised to them that meant to buy.I have a full purse with me. Be content,Take it. I’d give as much for the little sword.Now let me do this favour to the ladies.Ul.(taking). ’Tis fit, and fairly done. I did not thinkTo go off robbed. The sword is worth the gold.1189We part in honest dealing. Fare thee well.Dio.(aside). Thrashed like a witless cur!(To Ach.)Farewell, Achilles.An hour hence we will meet thee at the palace.[Exeunt Ul. and Dio.Ach.In spite of warning taken in a silly trap,By the common plotter! Thus to be known Achilles—To have my wish forced on me against my willHath rudely cleared my sight. Where lies the gain?The dancing ship on which I sailed is wreckedOn an unlovely shore, and I must climbOut of the wreck upon a loveless shore,Saving what best I love. ’Tis so. I seeI shall command these men, and in their service1201Find little solace. I have a harder taskThan chieftainship, and how to wear my armsWith as much nature as yon girlish robe:To pass from that to this without reproachOf honour, and beneath my breastplate keepWith the high generalship of all the GreeksMy tenderest love. ’Tis now to unmask that,And hold uninjured. I’ll make no excuseTo the old king but my necessity,And boldly appease him. Here by chance he comes.Enter hurriedly Lycomedes and Abas.Lyc.Was it not here, they said?1211An insolent ruffian: Let me come across him!By heav’n, still here! And armed from head to foot!(To Ach.) Young man,—as now thou’lt not deny to be—Thou’st done—ay, tho’ thou seem of princely make—Dishonour and offence to me the kingIn venturing here to parley with the princessIn mock disguise, for whatsoever cause,Strangely put on and suddenly cast off,1220I am amazed to think. I bid thee tell meWhat was thy purpose hither.Ach.O honoured king,Tho’ I came here disguised I am not heThou thinkest.Lyc.Nay I think not who thou art.All wonders that I have seen are lost in thee.Ach.Thou takest me for Ulysses.Lyc.Nay, not I.Ach.I am Achilles, sire, the son of Thetis.Lyc.Achilles! Ah! Thou sayst at least a nameThat fits thy starlike presence, my rebukeNot knowing who thou wert. But now I see thee1230I need no witness, and forget my wonderWherefore the Argives tarry on the shoreAnd the gods speak thy praise. Welcome then hither,Achilles, son of Thetis; welcome hither!And be I first to honour thee, who wasMost blamèd in thine absence.Ach.Gracious sire,Thy welcome is all kingly, if it bearForgiveness of offence.Lyc.To speak of that,Another might have wronged me, but not thou.1239Tho’ much I crave to learn both how and whyThou camest hither. Was’t in the Argive ship?Ach.Nay, king, I came not in the Argive ship:Nor am I that false trespasser thou seekest.Lyc.Whether then hast thou mounted from the deep,Where the sea nymphs till now have loved and held theeFrom men’s desire; or whether from the skyHath some god wrapt thee in a morning cloud,And laid thee with the sunlight on this isle,Where they that seek should find thee?Ach.A god it wasBrought me, but not to-day: seven times the moonHath lost her lamp with loitering, since the night1251She shone upon my passage; and so longI have served thee in disguise, and won thy love.Lyc.So long hast thou been here! And I unknowingHave pledged my kingly oath—The gods forbid—Ach.Yet was I here because a goddess bade.Lyc.Have I then ever seen thee?Ach.Every hourThou hast seen me, and sheltered me beneath thy roof.But since thou knewest me not, thy royal wordWas hurt not by denial.Lyc.Who wert thou? Say.1260Ach.I was called Pyrrha.Lyc.O shame.Ach.Yet hearken, sire!Lyc.Wast thou the close attendant of my daughter,Her favoured comrade, and she held it hid’Neath a familiar countenance before me,So false unto her modesty and me?Alas! alas!Ach.O sire, she hath known me but as thou, and lovedNot knowing whom.Lyc.Thou sayst she hath not known?Ach.For ’twas a goddess framed me this disguise.Lyc.And never guessed?Ach.Nay, sire. Nor blame the goddessWhom I obeyed: nor where I have done no wrong,1271Make my necessity a crime against thee.Lyc.Can I believe?Ach.’Tis true I have loved her, sire:And by strange wooing if I have won her love,And now in the discovery can but offerA soldier’s lot,—she is free to choose: but theeFirst I implore, be gracious to my suit,Nor scorn me for thy son.Lyc.My son! Achilles!This day shall be the feast-day of my year,Tho’ I be made to all men a rebuke1280For being thy shelter, when I swore to allThou wert not here. Now I rejoice thou wert.Come to my palace as thyself: be nowMy guest in earnest: we will seal at onceThis happy contract.Ach.Let me first be knownUnto the princess and bespeak her will.Lyc.She is thine, I say she is thine. Stay yet; that pedlar,Was he Ulysses?Ach.So he stole upon us;And when I bought this sword he marked me out.Lyc.I cannot brook his mastery in deceit.Where is he now?Ach.I sent him to the ship,1290To find a fit apparel for thy sight.Lyc.Would I had caught him in his mean disguise!Ach.So mayst thou yet. Come with me the short wayAnd we will intercept him.Lyc.Abas, follow.Thou too hast played a part I cannot like.Ab.My liege, I have but unwittingly obeyed.I have no higher trust.Lyc.Now obey me.[Exeunt.Enter Deidamia and Chorus.Deid.Pyrrha, where art thou, Pyrrha?Ch.She turned not back.—They are not here.—She would not fly.—Deid.Pyrrha, Pyrrha!1300Ch.She hath driven the ugly pedlar and his packHome to his ship—would we had all been by!Would we had joined the chase!Deid.He was no pedlar: I could see his faceWhen he pulled off his beard.Ch.There as she stood,Waving the sword, I fearedTo see a mortal stroke—He hath fled into the wood—Had he no sword too, did none spy,1310Beneath his ragged cloke?Deid.Alas, alas!Ch.What hast thou found?Deid.Woe, woe! alas, alas!Pyrrha’s robe torn, and trampled on the ground.See! see! O misery!Ch.’Tis hers—’tis true—we see.Deid.Misery, misery! help who can.Ch.I have no help to give.—I have no word to say.1320Deid.Gods! do I liveTo see this woe? The manLike some wild beast hath dragged her body away,And left her robe. Ah, see the gift she spurned,My ruby jewel to my hand returned;When forcing my accordShe chose the fatal sword.The fool hath quite mistook her play.Ch.He will have harmed her, if she be not slain.Ah, Pyrrha, Pyrrha!1330Why ran we away?Deid.Why stand we here?To the rescue: follow me.Ch.Whither—our cries are vain.Maybe she lieth now close byAnd hears but cannot make reply.’Tis told how men have boundThe mouths of them they bore away,Lest by their cryThey should be found.—1340Spread our company into the woods around,And shouting as we go keep within hail.—Or banding in parties search the paths about:If many together shoutThe sound is of more avail.Once more, together call her name once more.(Calling.) Pyrrha—Pyrrha!Thetis(within).Ha!Deid.An answer. Heard ye not?Ch.’Twas but the nymph, that from her hidden grot1350Mocks men with the repeated syllablesOf their own voice, and nothing tells.Such sound the answer bore.Deid.Nay, nay.Hark, for if ’twere but echo as ye say’Twill answer if I call again.(Calls.) Pyrrha, come! Pyrrha, come!Thetis(within). I come, I come.Deid.Heard ye not then?Ch.I heard the selfsame sound.Deid.’Twas Pyrrha. Why she is found.1360I know her voice. I hear her footing stir.Ch.True, some one comes.Deid.’Tis she.Enter Thetis.Pyrrha! O joy.Th.Why call ye her?Deid.Pyrrha! Nay.And yet so like. Alas, beseech thee, ladyOr goddess, for I think that such thou art,Who answering from the wood our sorrowing callNow to our sight appearest,—hast thou regardFor her, whom thou so much resemblest, speak1368And tell us of thy pity if yet she livesSafe and unhurt, whom we have lost and mourn.Th.’Tis vain to weep her, as ’twere vain to seek.Whom think ye that ye have lost?Deid.Pyrrha, my Pyrrha.As late we all fled frighted by a man,Who stole on us disguised, she stayed behind:For when we were got safe, she was not with us.So we returned to seek her; but alas!Our fear is turned to terror. Lady, see!This is her garment trampled on the ground.Th.And so ye have found her. There was never moreOf her ye have callèd Pyrrha than that robe.1380The golden-headed maiden, the enchantress,And laughter-loving idol of your heartsHad in your empty thought her only being.When ye have played with her, chosen her for queen,And leader of your games, or when ye have satRapt by the music of her voice, that sangHeroic songs and histories of the gods,Or at brisk morn, or long-delaying eve,Have paced the shores of sunlight hand in hand,’Twas but a robe ye held: ye were deceived;1390There was no Pyrrha.Ch.What strange speech is this?Was there no Pyrrha? What shall we believe!Deid.Lady, thy speech troubles mine ear in vain.Th.’Tis then thine ear is vain; and not my speech.Deid.My ears and eyes and hands have I believed,But not thy words. A moment since I held her.What wilt thou say?Th.That eyes and hands and earsDeceived thy trust, but now thou hearest truth.Deid.Have we then dreamed, deluded by a shadeFashioned of air or cloud, and as it seemsMade in thy likeness, or hath some god chosen1401To dwell awhile with us in privityAnd mutual share of all our petty deeds?Say what thy dark words hint and who thou art.

Ch.Show us some work of thine which thou didst makeThy very self.

Ch.Show us some work of thine which thou didst make

Thy very self.

Ul.See then this silver snake.Fear not. Come near and mark him well: my trade is,Or was, I should say, in such nice devices.’Twill coil and curl, uncoil, dart and recoil.[Showing.

Ul.See then this silver snake.

Fear not. Come near and mark him well: my trade is,

Or was, I should say, in such nice devices.

’Twill coil and curl, uncoil, dart and recoil.[Showing.

The Chorus crowd about him, when enter unperceived by him Achilles and Deidamia.

Deid.Come, come, there never hath been one like him here.Hark! see the girls: they crowd and chatter roundAs greedily as birds being fed. I bade them choose991Each one a present, but I took the best,This ruby brooch. Look at it: ’tis for thee.Let me now put it on thee. I’ll unclaspThy robe and set it in the place of the other.

Deid.Come, come, there never hath been one like him here.

Hark! see the girls: they crowd and chatter round

As greedily as birds being fed. I bade them choose

Each one a present, but I took the best,

This ruby brooch. Look at it: ’tis for thee.

Let me now put it on thee. I’ll unclasp

Thy robe and set it in the place of the other.

Ach.Nay, Deidamia, unfasten not my robe!

Deid.Why, ’twould not matter if he looked this way.

Ach.Nay, prithee.—

Deid.Well, thou must take my gift.

Ach.Then must I give thee somewhat in return.

Deid.But ’tis my will to-day to give to all.

1000Ach.Then let me take my choice, some smaller thing.

Ach.Then let me take my choice, some smaller thing.

Deid.Come then ere all is ransacked.

Ach.(aside).I scarce escapedThe uncovering of my magic coat.—[They go to Ulysses.

Ach.(aside).I scarce escaped

The uncovering of my magic coat.—[They go to Ulysses.

Ul.Come buy,Needles for your broideries rare,Dainty bodkins silver-hafted.Pins to fix your plaited hair,Ivory-headed and golden-shafted.

Ul.Come buy,

Needles for your broideries rare,

Dainty bodkins silver-hafted.

Pins to fix your plaited hair,

Ivory-headed and golden-shafted.

Ach.What hast thou in thy pack for me, old man?

Ul.There’s nought but trifles left me, lady, now,As dice and dolls; the very dregs of the box.

Ul.There’s nought but trifles left me, lady, now,

As dice and dolls; the very dregs of the box.

Deid.Athenian owls. And who’s this red-baked ladyClothed in a net?

Deid.Athenian owls. And who’s this red-baked lady

Clothed in a net?

Ul.Princess, ’tis Britomartis,1011The Cretan goddess worshipped at Ægina.

Ul.Princess, ’tis Britomartis,1011

The Cretan goddess worshipped at Ægina.

Deid.This little serpent too?

Ul.Nothing to thee:But the Erechtheidæ use to fasten suchAbout their children’s necks. Nay, not a babeIs born but they must don him one of these,Or ever he be swaddled or have suck.

Ul.Nothing to thee:

But the Erechtheidæ use to fasten such

About their children’s necks. Nay, not a babe

Is born but they must don him one of these,

Or ever he be swaddled or have suck.

Deid.This blinking pygmy here, with a man’s bodyAnd a dog’s head, squatting upon a button ...What’s he?

Deid.This blinking pygmy here, with a man’s body

And a dog’s head, squatting upon a button ...

What’s he?

Ul.’Tis an Egyptian charm, to ban1020The evil spirits bred of Nilus’ slime.

Ul.’Tis an Egyptian charm, to ban1020

The evil spirits bred of Nilus’ slime.

Deid.And this?

Ul.That. See, ’tis a Medusa, lady,Cut in an oyster-shell, with flaming snakes.

Ul.That. See, ’tis a Medusa, lady,

Cut in an oyster-shell, with flaming snakes.

Deid.These are all nothings. Thou must have the brooch.See, now ’tis thine; thou hast it. (Pins it upon Achilles’ robe.)(To Ul.) What is its price?(To Ach.) Nay, be content.

Deid.These are all nothings. Thou must have the brooch.

See, now ’tis thine; thou hast it. (Pins it upon Achilles’ robe.)

(To Ul.) What is its price?

(To Ach.) Nay, be content.

Ul.To thee I’ll sell it, lady,For a tenfold weight of gold.

Ul.To thee I’ll sell it, lady,

For a tenfold weight of gold.

Ach.Oh! ’tis too much.Spend not such store on me. And for the ruby,’Tis dark and small.

Ach.Oh! ’tis too much.

Spend not such store on me. And for the ruby,

’Tis dark and small.

Ul.The purple is its merit:1030Were it three times the size and half the tint,’Twere of slight cost.

Ul.The purple is its merit:

Were it three times the size and half the tint,

’Twere of slight cost.

Ach.So might I like it better.And that—what’s that, which thou dost put aside?Is that a toy?

Ach.So might I like it better.

And that—what’s that, which thou dost put aside?

Is that a toy?

Ul.Nay, lady; that is no toy.’Tis a sharp sword. But I will show it theeFor its strange quality: the which methinksMight pass for magic, were’t not that an Arian,Late come to Sardis, knows the art to make it.Tho’ wrought of iron, look ye, ’tis blue as flint,And if I bend it, it springs back like a bow:’Tis sharper too than flint; but the edge is straight,And will not chip. Nay, touch it not; have care!

Ul.Nay, lady; that is no toy.

’Tis a sharp sword. But I will show it thee

For its strange quality: the which methinks

Might pass for magic, were’t not that an Arian,

Late come to Sardis, knows the art to make it.

Tho’ wrought of iron, look ye, ’tis blue as flint,

And if I bend it, it springs back like a bow:

’Tis sharper too than flint; but the edge is straight,

And will not chip. Nay, touch it not; have care!

Ach.Pray, let me see it, and take it in my hand.[Takes it and comes to front.

Ach.Pray, let me see it, and take it in my hand.

[Takes it and comes to front.

Ul.(aside). This should be he.

Ach.(aside).My arm writhes at the touch.

Ul.There is a hunter, with his game, a lion,1045Inlaid upon it: and on the other sideTwo men that fight to death.

Ul.There is a hunter, with his game, a lion,

Inlaid upon it: and on the other side

Two men that fight to death.

Ach.’Tis light in the hand.

Deid.(to Ach.). Canst thou imagine any use for this?

Ach.(to Deid.). Not when thy father dies?

Ul.Ladies, have care.For if the sword should wound you, I were blamed.

Ul.Ladies, have care.

For if the sword should wound you, I were blamed.

Ach.Why, thinkest thou ’tis only bearded menCan wield a sword? The queen of the AmazonsCould teach thee something maugre thy white hair.

Ach.Why, thinkest thou ’tis only bearded men

Can wield a sword? The queen of the Amazons

Could teach thee something maugre thy white hair.

Ul.(aside). The game hath run into the snare;He is mine.

Ul.(aside). The game hath run into the snare;

He is mine.

Ach.See, Deidamia, here’s my choice; buy this1055If thou wilt give me something; thou dost likeThe ruby; if thou wilt let me give thee that,Thou in return buy me this little sword.

Ach.See, Deidamia, here’s my choice; buy this

If thou wilt give me something; thou dost like

The ruby; if thou wilt let me give thee that,

Thou in return buy me this little sword.

Deid.Such presents are ill-omened, and ’tis saidWill shrewdly cut in twain the love they pledge.

Deid.Such presents are ill-omened, and ’tis said

Will shrewdly cut in twain the love they pledge.

Ach.But we may make a bond of this divider.

Deid.Wilt thou in earnest take it for thy choice?

Ach.If thou wert late in earnest, thou couldst doNo better than arm all thy girls with these.The weapon wins the battle, and I thinkWith such advantage women might be feared.(To Ul.) Old man, I like thy blade; and I will have it.I see ’twould thrust well: tell me if ’tis mettleTo give a stroke. Suppose I were thy foe,And standing o’er thee thus to cut thee down1070Should choose to cleave thy pate. Would this sword do it?

Ach.If thou wert late in earnest, thou couldst do

No better than arm all thy girls with these.

The weapon wins the battle, and I think

With such advantage women might be feared.

(To Ul.) Old man, I like thy blade; and I will have it.

I see ’twould thrust well: tell me if ’tis mettle

To give a stroke. Suppose I were thy foe,

And standing o’er thee thus to cut thee down

Should choose to cleave thy pate. Would this sword do it?

Ul.(aside). He knows me![Pulling off his beard and head-dress and leaping up.

Ul.(aside). He knows me!

[Pulling off his beard and head-dress and leaping up.

Achilles!

Deid. and Ch.Help! help! treachery![They fly.

Deid. and Ch.Help! help! treachery!

[They fly.

Diomede comes out of bushes where he stands unseen by Achilles.

Ach.Beardless—and smooth of face as tongue:In voiceGentle, but sturdy of body: ruddy locks,And restless eye .. Ulysses!

Ach.Beardless—and smooth of face as tongue:

In voice

Gentle, but sturdy of body: ruddy locks,

And restless eye .. Ulysses!

Ul.Thou hast it.

1075Ach.I knew that thou wert here, but looked to meet theeWithout disguises, as an honest man.

Ach.I knew that thou wert here, but looked to meet thee

Without disguises, as an honest man.

Ul.Thou needest a mirror, lady, for thyself.

Ach.(suddenly casts off his long robe and appears inshining armour, still holding the sword).

Ach.(suddenly casts off his long robe and appears in

shining armour, still holding the sword).

Behold!.... Be thou my mirror!

Ul.If I be not,’Tis shame to thee, the cause of my disguise.

Ul.If I be not,

’Tis shame to thee, the cause of my disguise.

Ach.I own thee not. I knew thee for a prince,But seeing thee so vilely disfigured ...

Ach.I own thee not. I knew thee for a prince,

But seeing thee so vilely disfigured ...

Ul.Stay!1081We both have used disguise: I call for judgmentUpon the motive. Mine I donned for valour,And care for thy renown; thine was for fear.

Ul.Stay!1081

We both have used disguise: I call for judgment

Upon the motive. Mine I donned for valour,

And care for thy renown; thine was for fear.

Ach.Fear! By the gods: take up thy beard again,And thy mock dotage shield thee.

Ach.Fear! By the gods: take up thy beard again,

And thy mock dotage shield thee.

Ul.Nay, Achilles;If I spake wrong I will recall the word.

Ul.Nay, Achilles;

If I spake wrong I will recall the word.

Ach.Thou didst unutterably lie. Recall it.

Ul.Wilt thou then sail to Aulis in my ship?

Ach.I can sail thither and not sail with thee.

Ul.But wilt thou come?

Ach.I answer not to theeBecause thou questionest me: but since I knowWhat will be, and hear thee in ignoranceSlander fair names, I tell thee that AchillesWill come to Aulis.

Ach.I answer not to thee

Because thou questionest me: but since I know

What will be, and hear thee in ignorance

Slander fair names, I tell thee that Achilles

Will come to Aulis.

Ul.Wherefore now so long1095Hast thou denied thyself to thy renown?

Ul.Wherefore now so long1095

Hast thou denied thyself to thy renown?

Ach.Thou saidst for fear; nor hast recalled the word.

Ul.’Twas first thy taunt which drew my mind from me:But, if it wrong thee, I recall the word.

Ul.’Twas first thy taunt which drew my mind from me:

But, if it wrong thee, I recall the word.

Ach.I think thou hast judged me by thyself, Ulysses.When thou wast summoned to the war,—who wertNot free to choose as I, but bound by oathTo Menelaus to help him,—what didst thou?Why thou didst feign; and looking for disguiseThy wit persuaded thee that they who knew theeWould never deem that thou wouldst willinglyMake mock of that: so thou didst put on madness,Babbling and scrabbling even before thy friends:And hadst been slavering on thy native rocks1110Unto this day, had not one fellow thereLightly unravelled thee, and in the furrow,Which thou with dumb delusion, morn and eve,Didst plough in the sea sand (that was thy trick),He placed thy new-born babe. That thou brok’st downThen in thine acting, that thou drav’st not onThe share thro’ thine own flesh, is the best praiseI have to give thee.

Ach.I think thou hast judged me by thyself, Ulysses.

When thou wast summoned to the war,—who wert

Not free to choose as I, but bound by oath

To Menelaus to help him,—what didst thou?

Why thou didst feign; and looking for disguise

Thy wit persuaded thee that they who knew thee

Would never deem that thou wouldst willingly

Make mock of that: so thou didst put on madness,

Babbling and scrabbling even before thy friends:

And hadst been slavering on thy native rocks

Unto this day, had not one fellow there

Lightly unravelled thee, and in the furrow,

Which thou with dumb delusion, morn and eve,

Didst plough in the sea sand (that was thy trick),

He placed thy new-born babe. That thou brok’st down

Then in thine acting, that thou drav’st not on

The share thro’ thine own flesh, is the best praise

I have to give thee.

Ul.Distinguish! if I feigned,’Twas that I had a child and wife, whose tiesOf tenderness I am not ashamed to own.

Ul.Distinguish! if I feigned,

’Twas that I had a child and wife, whose ties

Of tenderness I am not ashamed to own.

1120Ach.I say thou wentest not unto this warBut by compulsion, thou, that chargest meWith fear. ’Tis thou that art the stay-at-home,Not I; my heart was ever for the war,And ’gainst my will I have been withheld: that thouMistakest in this my duty for my leaning,Is more impeachment of thy boasted wits,Than was thy empty husbandry. Are notThe Argive chiefs more subject, one and all,To this reproach of fear? Why need they me1130A boy of sixteen years to lead them on?Did they lack ships or men, what are my peopleIn number? who am I in strength? what rankHave I in Hellas? Where’s the burly Ajax?Where is the son of Herakles? and NestorThe aged? Teucer and Idomeneus?Menestheus, Menelaus? and not leastWhere’s Diomede?

Ach.I say thou wentest not unto this war

But by compulsion, thou, that chargest me

With fear. ’Tis thou that art the stay-at-home,

Not I; my heart was ever for the war,

And ’gainst my will I have been withheld: that thou

Mistakest in this my duty for my leaning,

Is more impeachment of thy boasted wits,

Than was thy empty husbandry. Are not

The Argive chiefs more subject, one and all,

To this reproach of fear? Why need they me

A boy of sixteen years to lead them on?

Did they lack ships or men, what are my people

In number? who am I in strength? what rank

Have I in Hellas? Where’s the burly Ajax?

Where is the son of Herakles? and Nestor

The aged? Teucer and Idomeneus?

Menestheus, Menelaus? and not least

Where’s Diomede?

Dio.(coming forward). By chance he’s here.

Ach.Ah! nowI hear a soldier’s voice. Brave Diomede,I give thee welcome, tho’ thou comest behind.

Ach.Ah! now

I hear a soldier’s voice. Brave Diomede,

I give thee welcome, tho’ thou comest behind.

Dio.Hail, son of Thetis, champion of the Greeks!

Ach.Anon, anon. What dost thou here? Wert thou1141Sat in an ambush or arrived by chance,As thou didst say?

Ach.Anon, anon. What dost thou here? Wert thou1141

Sat in an ambush or arrived by chance,

As thou didst say?

Dio.By heaven I cannot tell.I serve Ulysses, and he serves the gods:If thou’rt displeased with them, gibe not at me.

Dio.By heaven I cannot tell.

I serve Ulysses, and he serves the gods:

If thou’rt displeased with them, gibe not at me.

Ach.I see the plan—The pedlar here in front,The lion behind. And so ye thought to seize me.

Ach.I see the plan—The pedlar here in front,

The lion behind. And so ye thought to seize me.

Ul.Have we not done it?

Ach.Nay.

Ul.Thou canst not scape.

Ach.I give that back to thee.

Ul.What wilt thou now?

1150Ach.Diomede and I have swords: thou mayst stand byUntil ’tis time thou show me how to escape.I’ll drive you to your ship.

Ach.Diomede and I have swords: thou mayst stand by

Until ’tis time thou show me how to escape.

I’ll drive you to your ship.

Ul.(aside to Dio.).Answer him not. He cannot leave the isle:When the king learns of our discoveryHe must deliver him up. Let’s to the palace.

Ul.(aside to Dio.).

Answer him not. He cannot leave the isle:

When the king learns of our discovery

He must deliver him up. Let’s to the palace.

Dio.(to Ul.). Nay, I must speak—

Ul.Thou wilt but anger him.He will yield better if we cross him not.

Ul.Thou wilt but anger him.

He will yield better if we cross him not.

Dio.(to Ach.). Brave son of Thetis, I’d not yieldto theeIn any trial of strength, tho’ thou be clad1160In heavenly armour; but I came not hereTo fight, and least with thee: put up thy sword.And since I heard thee say thou wilt to Aulis,Our mission is accomplished, nought remainsBut to renounce our acting, and atoneFor what we have ventured. First I speak thee freeTo follow thine own way. Unless the kingOr other here be in thy secrecy,None know but we, nor shall know: be it thy will,My lips are sealed, and in whatever elseThou wilt command me, I shall be glad to obey.

Dio.(to Ach.). Brave son of Thetis, I’d not yield

to thee

In any trial of strength, tho’ thou be clad

In heavenly armour; but I came not here

To fight, and least with thee: put up thy sword.

And since I heard thee say thou wilt to Aulis,

Our mission is accomplished, nought remains

But to renounce our acting, and atone

For what we have ventured. First I speak thee free

To follow thine own way. Unless the king

Or other here be in thy secrecy,

None know but we, nor shall know: be it thy will,

My lips are sealed, and in whatever else

Thou wilt command me, I shall be glad to obey.

Ach.Thank thee, good Diomede. What saith Ulysses?1171

Ul.I’ll do whate’er will knit thee to our cause.(Aside.) Yet shall men hear I found thee.

Ul.I’ll do whate’er will knit thee to our cause.

(Aside.) Yet shall men hear I found thee.

Ach.Return then to your ship; and when UlyssesIs there restored proceed ye to the court.But what in the surprise and consequenceOf my discovery to the king, as wellAs to some others may arise, I know not;Nor can instruct your good behaviours further.1180Time grants me but short counsel for myself.

Ach.Return then to your ship; and when Ulysses

Is there restored proceed ye to the court.

But what in the surprise and consequence

Of my discovery to the king, as well

As to some others may arise, I know not;

Nor can instruct your good behaviours further.

Time grants me but short counsel for myself.

Ul.We too should study how to meet the king.

Ach.Stay yet, Ulysses. Thou hast parted hereWith goods appraised to them that meant to buy.I have a full purse with me. Be content,Take it. I’d give as much for the little sword.Now let me do this favour to the ladies.

Ach.Stay yet, Ulysses. Thou hast parted here

With goods appraised to them that meant to buy.

I have a full purse with me. Be content,

Take it. I’d give as much for the little sword.

Now let me do this favour to the ladies.

Ul.(taking). ’Tis fit, and fairly done. I did not thinkTo go off robbed. The sword is worth the gold.1189We part in honest dealing. Fare thee well.

Ul.(taking). ’Tis fit, and fairly done. I did not think

To go off robbed. The sword is worth the gold.

We part in honest dealing. Fare thee well.

Dio.(aside). Thrashed like a witless cur!(To Ach.)Farewell, Achilles.An hour hence we will meet thee at the palace.[Exeunt Ul. and Dio.

Dio.(aside). Thrashed like a witless cur!

(To Ach.)Farewell, Achilles.

An hour hence we will meet thee at the palace.

[Exeunt Ul. and Dio.

Ach.In spite of warning taken in a silly trap,By the common plotter! Thus to be known Achilles—To have my wish forced on me against my willHath rudely cleared my sight. Where lies the gain?The dancing ship on which I sailed is wreckedOn an unlovely shore, and I must climbOut of the wreck upon a loveless shore,Saving what best I love. ’Tis so. I seeI shall command these men, and in their service1201Find little solace. I have a harder taskThan chieftainship, and how to wear my armsWith as much nature as yon girlish robe:To pass from that to this without reproachOf honour, and beneath my breastplate keepWith the high generalship of all the GreeksMy tenderest love. ’Tis now to unmask that,And hold uninjured. I’ll make no excuseTo the old king but my necessity,And boldly appease him. Here by chance he comes.

Ach.In spite of warning taken in a silly trap,

By the common plotter! Thus to be known Achilles—

To have my wish forced on me against my will

Hath rudely cleared my sight. Where lies the gain?

The dancing ship on which I sailed is wrecked

On an unlovely shore, and I must climb

Out of the wreck upon a loveless shore,

Saving what best I love. ’Tis so. I see

I shall command these men, and in their service

Find little solace. I have a harder task

Than chieftainship, and how to wear my arms

With as much nature as yon girlish robe:

To pass from that to this without reproach

Of honour, and beneath my breastplate keep

With the high generalship of all the Greeks

My tenderest love. ’Tis now to unmask that,

And hold uninjured. I’ll make no excuse

To the old king but my necessity,

And boldly appease him. Here by chance he comes.

Enter hurriedly Lycomedes and Abas.

Lyc.Was it not here, they said?1211An insolent ruffian: Let me come across him!By heav’n, still here! And armed from head to foot!(To Ach.) Young man,—as now thou’lt not deny to be—Thou’st done—ay, tho’ thou seem of princely make—Dishonour and offence to me the kingIn venturing here to parley with the princessIn mock disguise, for whatsoever cause,Strangely put on and suddenly cast off,1220I am amazed to think. I bid thee tell meWhat was thy purpose hither.

Lyc.Was it not here, they said?1211

An insolent ruffian: Let me come across him!

By heav’n, still here! And armed from head to foot!

(To Ach.) Young man,—as now thou’lt not deny to be—

Thou’st done—ay, tho’ thou seem of princely make—

Dishonour and offence to me the king

In venturing here to parley with the princess

In mock disguise, for whatsoever cause,

Strangely put on and suddenly cast off,

I am amazed to think. I bid thee tell me

What was thy purpose hither.

Ach.O honoured king,Tho’ I came here disguised I am not heThou thinkest.

Ach.O honoured king,

Tho’ I came here disguised I am not he

Thou thinkest.

Lyc.Nay I think not who thou art.All wonders that I have seen are lost in thee.

Lyc.Nay I think not who thou art.

All wonders that I have seen are lost in thee.

Ach.Thou takest me for Ulysses.

Lyc.Nay, not I.

Ach.I am Achilles, sire, the son of Thetis.

Lyc.Achilles! Ah! Thou sayst at least a nameThat fits thy starlike presence, my rebukeNot knowing who thou wert. But now I see thee1230I need no witness, and forget my wonderWherefore the Argives tarry on the shoreAnd the gods speak thy praise. Welcome then hither,Achilles, son of Thetis; welcome hither!And be I first to honour thee, who wasMost blamèd in thine absence.

Lyc.Achilles! Ah! Thou sayst at least a name

That fits thy starlike presence, my rebuke

Not knowing who thou wert. But now I see thee

I need no witness, and forget my wonder

Wherefore the Argives tarry on the shore

And the gods speak thy praise. Welcome then hither,

Achilles, son of Thetis; welcome hither!

And be I first to honour thee, who was

Most blamèd in thine absence.

Ach.Gracious sire,Thy welcome is all kingly, if it bearForgiveness of offence.

Ach.Gracious sire,

Thy welcome is all kingly, if it bear

Forgiveness of offence.

Lyc.To speak of that,Another might have wronged me, but not thou.1239Tho’ much I crave to learn both how and whyThou camest hither. Was’t in the Argive ship?

Lyc.To speak of that,

Another might have wronged me, but not thou.

Tho’ much I crave to learn both how and why

Thou camest hither. Was’t in the Argive ship?

Ach.Nay, king, I came not in the Argive ship:Nor am I that false trespasser thou seekest.

Ach.Nay, king, I came not in the Argive ship:

Nor am I that false trespasser thou seekest.

Lyc.Whether then hast thou mounted from the deep,Where the sea nymphs till now have loved and held theeFrom men’s desire; or whether from the skyHath some god wrapt thee in a morning cloud,And laid thee with the sunlight on this isle,Where they that seek should find thee?

Lyc.Whether then hast thou mounted from the deep,

Where the sea nymphs till now have loved and held thee

From men’s desire; or whether from the sky

Hath some god wrapt thee in a morning cloud,

And laid thee with the sunlight on this isle,

Where they that seek should find thee?

Ach.A god it wasBrought me, but not to-day: seven times the moonHath lost her lamp with loitering, since the night1251She shone upon my passage; and so longI have served thee in disguise, and won thy love.

Ach.A god it was

Brought me, but not to-day: seven times the moon

Hath lost her lamp with loitering, since the night

She shone upon my passage; and so long

I have served thee in disguise, and won thy love.

Lyc.So long hast thou been here! And I unknowingHave pledged my kingly oath—The gods forbid—

Lyc.So long hast thou been here! And I unknowing

Have pledged my kingly oath—The gods forbid—

Ach.Yet was I here because a goddess bade.

Lyc.Have I then ever seen thee?

Ach.Every hourThou hast seen me, and sheltered me beneath thy roof.But since thou knewest me not, thy royal wordWas hurt not by denial.

Ach.Every hour

Thou hast seen me, and sheltered me beneath thy roof.

But since thou knewest me not, thy royal word

Was hurt not by denial.

Lyc.Who wert thou? Say.

1260Ach.I was called Pyrrha.

Ach.I was called Pyrrha.

Lyc.O shame.

Ach.Yet hearken, sire!

Lyc.Wast thou the close attendant of my daughter,Her favoured comrade, and she held it hid’Neath a familiar countenance before me,So false unto her modesty and me?Alas! alas!

Lyc.Wast thou the close attendant of my daughter,

Her favoured comrade, and she held it hid

’Neath a familiar countenance before me,

So false unto her modesty and me?

Alas! alas!

Ach.O sire, she hath known me but as thou, and lovedNot knowing whom.

Ach.O sire, she hath known me but as thou, and loved

Not knowing whom.

Lyc.Thou sayst she hath not known?

Ach.For ’twas a goddess framed me this disguise.

Lyc.And never guessed?

Ach.Nay, sire. Nor blame the goddessWhom I obeyed: nor where I have done no wrong,1271Make my necessity a crime against thee.

Ach.Nay, sire. Nor blame the goddess

Whom I obeyed: nor where I have done no wrong,

Make my necessity a crime against thee.

Lyc.Can I believe?

Ach.’Tis true I have loved her, sire:And by strange wooing if I have won her love,And now in the discovery can but offerA soldier’s lot,—she is free to choose: but theeFirst I implore, be gracious to my suit,Nor scorn me for thy son.

Ach.’Tis true I have loved her, sire:

And by strange wooing if I have won her love,

And now in the discovery can but offer

A soldier’s lot,—she is free to choose: but thee

First I implore, be gracious to my suit,

Nor scorn me for thy son.

Lyc.My son! Achilles!This day shall be the feast-day of my year,Tho’ I be made to all men a rebuke1280For being thy shelter, when I swore to allThou wert not here. Now I rejoice thou wert.Come to my palace as thyself: be nowMy guest in earnest: we will seal at onceThis happy contract.

Lyc.My son! Achilles!

This day shall be the feast-day of my year,

Tho’ I be made to all men a rebuke

For being thy shelter, when I swore to all

Thou wert not here. Now I rejoice thou wert.

Come to my palace as thyself: be now

My guest in earnest: we will seal at once

This happy contract.

Ach.Let me first be knownUnto the princess and bespeak her will.

Ach.Let me first be known

Unto the princess and bespeak her will.

Lyc.She is thine, I say she is thine. Stay yet; that pedlar,Was he Ulysses?

Lyc.She is thine, I say she is thine. Stay yet; that pedlar,

Was he Ulysses?

Ach.So he stole upon us;And when I bought this sword he marked me out.

Ach.So he stole upon us;

And when I bought this sword he marked me out.

Lyc.I cannot brook his mastery in deceit.Where is he now?

Lyc.I cannot brook his mastery in deceit.

Where is he now?

Ach.I sent him to the ship,1290To find a fit apparel for thy sight.

Ach.I sent him to the ship,1290

To find a fit apparel for thy sight.

Lyc.Would I had caught him in his mean disguise!

Ach.So mayst thou yet. Come with me the short wayAnd we will intercept him.

Ach.So mayst thou yet. Come with me the short way

And we will intercept him.

Lyc.Abas, follow.Thou too hast played a part I cannot like.

Lyc.Abas, follow.

Thou too hast played a part I cannot like.

Ab.My liege, I have but unwittingly obeyed.I have no higher trust.

Ab.My liege, I have but unwittingly obeyed.

I have no higher trust.

Lyc.Now obey me.[Exeunt.

Enter Deidamia and Chorus.

Deid.Pyrrha, where art thou, Pyrrha?

Ch.She turned not back.—They are not here.—She would not fly.—

Ch.She turned not back.—

They are not here.—She would not fly.—

Deid.Pyrrha, Pyrrha!1300

Ch.She hath driven the ugly pedlar and his packHome to his ship—would we had all been by!Would we had joined the chase!

Ch.She hath driven the ugly pedlar and his pack

Home to his ship—would we had all been by!

Would we had joined the chase!

Deid.He was no pedlar: I could see his faceWhen he pulled off his beard.

Deid.He was no pedlar: I could see his face

When he pulled off his beard.

Ch.There as she stood,Waving the sword, I fearedTo see a mortal stroke—He hath fled into the wood—Had he no sword too, did none spy,1310Beneath his ragged cloke?

Ch.There as she stood,

Waving the sword, I feared

To see a mortal stroke—

He hath fled into the wood—

Had he no sword too, did none spy,1310

Beneath his ragged cloke?

Deid.Alas, alas!

Ch.What hast thou found?

Deid.Woe, woe! alas, alas!Pyrrha’s robe torn, and trampled on the ground.See! see! O misery!

Deid.Woe, woe! alas, alas!

Pyrrha’s robe torn, and trampled on the ground.

See! see! O misery!

Ch.’Tis hers—’tis true—we see.

Deid.Misery, misery! help who can.

Ch.I have no help to give.—I have no word to say.1320

Ch.I have no help to give.—

I have no word to say.1320

Deid.Gods! do I liveTo see this woe? The manLike some wild beast hath dragged her body away,And left her robe. Ah, see the gift she spurned,My ruby jewel to my hand returned;When forcing my accordShe chose the fatal sword.The fool hath quite mistook her play.

Deid.Gods! do I live

To see this woe? The man

Like some wild beast hath dragged her body away,

And left her robe. Ah, see the gift she spurned,

My ruby jewel to my hand returned;

When forcing my accord

She chose the fatal sword.

The fool hath quite mistook her play.

Ch.He will have harmed her, if she be not slain.Ah, Pyrrha, Pyrrha!1330Why ran we away?

Ch.He will have harmed her, if she be not slain.

Ah, Pyrrha, Pyrrha!1330

Why ran we away?

Deid.Why stand we here?To the rescue: follow me.

Deid.Why stand we here?

To the rescue: follow me.

Ch.Whither—our cries are vain.Maybe she lieth now close byAnd hears but cannot make reply.’Tis told how men have boundThe mouths of them they bore away,Lest by their cryThey should be found.—1340Spread our company into the woods around,And shouting as we go keep within hail.—Or banding in parties search the paths about:If many together shoutThe sound is of more avail.Once more, together call her name once more.(Calling.) Pyrrha—Pyrrha!

Ch.Whither—our cries are vain.

Maybe she lieth now close by

And hears but cannot make reply.

’Tis told how men have bound

The mouths of them they bore away,

Lest by their cry

They should be found.—1340

Spread our company into the woods around,

And shouting as we go keep within hail.—

Or banding in parties search the paths about:

If many together shout

The sound is of more avail.

Once more, together call her name once more.

(Calling.) Pyrrha—Pyrrha!

Thetis(within).Ha!

Deid.An answer. Heard ye not?

Ch.’Twas but the nymph, that from her hidden grot1350Mocks men with the repeated syllablesOf their own voice, and nothing tells.Such sound the answer bore.

Ch.’Twas but the nymph, that from her hidden grot

Mocks men with the repeated syllables

Of their own voice, and nothing tells.

Such sound the answer bore.

Deid.Nay, nay.Hark, for if ’twere but echo as ye say’Twill answer if I call again.(Calls.) Pyrrha, come! Pyrrha, come!

Deid.Nay, nay.

Hark, for if ’twere but echo as ye say

’Twill answer if I call again.

(Calls.) Pyrrha, come! Pyrrha, come!

Thetis(within). I come, I come.

Deid.Heard ye not then?

Ch.I heard the selfsame sound.

Deid.’Twas Pyrrha. Why she is found.1360I know her voice. I hear her footing stir.

Deid.’Twas Pyrrha. Why she is found.

I know her voice. I hear her footing stir.

Ch.True, some one comes.

Deid.’Tis she.

Enter Thetis.

Pyrrha! O joy.

Th.Why call ye her?

Deid.Pyrrha! Nay.And yet so like. Alas, beseech thee, ladyOr goddess, for I think that such thou art,Who answering from the wood our sorrowing callNow to our sight appearest,—hast thou regardFor her, whom thou so much resemblest, speak1368And tell us of thy pity if yet she livesSafe and unhurt, whom we have lost and mourn.

Deid.Pyrrha! Nay.

And yet so like. Alas, beseech thee, lady

Or goddess, for I think that such thou art,

Who answering from the wood our sorrowing call

Now to our sight appearest,—hast thou regard

For her, whom thou so much resemblest, speak

And tell us of thy pity if yet she lives

Safe and unhurt, whom we have lost and mourn.

Th.’Tis vain to weep her, as ’twere vain to seek.Whom think ye that ye have lost?

Th.’Tis vain to weep her, as ’twere vain to seek.

Whom think ye that ye have lost?

Deid.Pyrrha, my Pyrrha.As late we all fled frighted by a man,Who stole on us disguised, she stayed behind:For when we were got safe, she was not with us.So we returned to seek her; but alas!Our fear is turned to terror. Lady, see!This is her garment trampled on the ground.

Deid.Pyrrha, my Pyrrha.

As late we all fled frighted by a man,

Who stole on us disguised, she stayed behind:

For when we were got safe, she was not with us.

So we returned to seek her; but alas!

Our fear is turned to terror. Lady, see!

This is her garment trampled on the ground.

Th.And so ye have found her. There was never moreOf her ye have callèd Pyrrha than that robe.1380The golden-headed maiden, the enchantress,And laughter-loving idol of your heartsHad in your empty thought her only being.When ye have played with her, chosen her for queen,And leader of your games, or when ye have satRapt by the music of her voice, that sangHeroic songs and histories of the gods,Or at brisk morn, or long-delaying eve,Have paced the shores of sunlight hand in hand,’Twas but a robe ye held: ye were deceived;1390There was no Pyrrha.

Th.And so ye have found her. There was never more

Of her ye have callèd Pyrrha than that robe.

The golden-headed maiden, the enchantress,

And laughter-loving idol of your hearts

Had in your empty thought her only being.

When ye have played with her, chosen her for queen,

And leader of your games, or when ye have sat

Rapt by the music of her voice, that sang

Heroic songs and histories of the gods,

Or at brisk morn, or long-delaying eve,

Have paced the shores of sunlight hand in hand,

’Twas but a robe ye held: ye were deceived;

There was no Pyrrha.

Ch.What strange speech is this?Was there no Pyrrha? What shall we believe!

Ch.What strange speech is this?

Was there no Pyrrha? What shall we believe!

Deid.Lady, thy speech troubles mine ear in vain.

Th.’Tis then thine ear is vain; and not my speech.

Deid.My ears and eyes and hands have I believed,But not thy words. A moment since I held her.What wilt thou say?

Deid.My ears and eyes and hands have I believed,

But not thy words. A moment since I held her.

What wilt thou say?

Th.That eyes and hands and earsDeceived thy trust, but now thou hearest truth.

Th.That eyes and hands and ears

Deceived thy trust, but now thou hearest truth.

Deid.Have we then dreamed, deluded by a shadeFashioned of air or cloud, and as it seemsMade in thy likeness, or hath some god chosen1401To dwell awhile with us in privityAnd mutual share of all our petty deeds?Say what thy dark words hint and who thou art.

Deid.Have we then dreamed, deluded by a shade

Fashioned of air or cloud, and as it seems

Made in thy likeness, or hath some god chosen

To dwell awhile with us in privity

And mutual share of all our petty deeds?

Say what thy dark words hint and who thou art.

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