EnterSynorixwatchfully, after himPubliusandSoldiers.Synorix.Publius!Publius.Here!Synorix.Do you remember whatI told you?Publius.When you cry “Rome, Rome,” to seizeOn whomsoever may be talking with you,Or man, or woman, as traitors unto Rome.Synorix.Right. Back again. How many of you are there?Publius.Some half a score.[Exeunt Soldiers and Publius.Synorix.I have my guard about me.I need not fear the crowd that hunted meAcross the woods, last night. I hardly gain’dThe camp at midnight. Will she come to meNow that she knows me Synorix? Not if SinnatusHas told her all the truth about me. Well,I cannot help the mould that I was cast in.I fling all that upon my fate, my star.I know that I am genial, I would beHappy, and make all others happy soThey did not thwart me. Nay, she will not come.Yet if she be a true and loving wifeShe may, perchance, to save this husband. Ay!See, see, my white bird stepping toward the snare.Why now I count it all but miracle,That this brave heart of mine should shake me so,As helplessly as some unbearded boy’sWhen first he meets his maiden in a bower.EnterCamma(with cup).Synorix.The lark first takes the sunlight on his wing,But you, twin sister of the morning star,Forelead the sun.Camma.Where is Antonius?Synorix.Not here as yet. You are too early for him.[She crosses towards Temple.Synorix.Nay, whither go you now?Camma.To lodge this cupWithin the holy shrine of Artemis,And so return.Synorix.To find Antonius here.[She goes into the Temple, he looks after her.The loveliest life that ever drew the lightFrom heaven to brood upon her, and enrichEarth with her shadow! I trust shewillreturn.These Romans dare not violate the Temple.No, I must lure my game into the camp.A woman I could live and die for. What!Die for a woman, what new faith is this?I am not mad, not sick, not old enoughTo doat on one alone. Yes, mad for her,Camma the stately, Camma the great-hearted,So mad, I fear some strange and evil chanceComing upon me, for by the Gods I seemStrange to myself.Re-enterCamma.Camma.Where is Antonius?Synorix.Where? As I said before, you are still too early.Camma.Too early to be here alone with thee;For whether men malign thy name, or no,It bears an evil savour among women.Where is Antonius? (Loud.)Synorix.Madam, as you knowThe camp is half a league without the city;If you will walk with me we needs must meetAntonius coming, or at least shall find himThere in the camp.Camma.No, not one step with thee.Where is Antonius? (Louder.)Synorix(advancing towards her).Then for your own sake,Lady, I say it with all gentleness,And for the sake of Sinnatus your husband,I must compel you.Camma(drawing her dagger).Stay!—too near is death.Synorix(disarming her).Is it not easy to disarm a woman?EnterSinnatus(seizes him from behind by the throat).Synorix(throttled and scarce audible).Rome! Rome!Sinnatus.Adulterous dog!Synorix(stabbing him withCamma’sdagger).What! will you have it?[Cammautters a cry and runs toSinnatus.Sinnatus(falls backward).I have it in my heart—to the Temple—fly—Formysake—or they seize on thee. Remember!Away—farewell![Dies.Camma(runs up the steps into the Temple, looking back).Farewell!Synorix(seeing her escape).The women of the Temple drag her in.Publius! Publius! No,Antonius would not suffer me to breakInto the sanctuary. She hath escaped.[Looking down atSinnatus.“Adulterous dog!” that red-faced rage at me!Then with one quick short stab—eternal peace.So end all passions. Then what use in passions?To warm the cold bounds of our dying lifeAnd, lest we freeze in mortal apathy,Employ us, heat us, quicken us, help us, keep usFrom seeing all too near that urn, those ashesWhich all must be. Well used, they serve us well.I heard a saying in Egypt, that ambitionIs like the sea wave, which the more you drink,The more you thirst—yea—drink too much, as menHave done on rafts of wreck—it drives you mad.I will be no such wreck, am no such gamesterAs, having won the stake, would dare the chanceOf double, or losing all. The Roman Senate,For I have always play’d into their hands,Means me the crown. And Camma for my bride—The people love her—if I win her love,They too will cleave to me, as one with her.There then I rest, Rome’s tributary king.[Looking down onSinnatus.Why did I strike him?—having proof enoughAgainst the man, I surely should have leftThat stroke to Rome. He saved my life too. Did he?It seem’d so. I have play’d the sudden fool.And that sets her against me—for the moment.Camma—well, well, I never found the womanI could not force or wheedle to my will.She will be glad at last to wear my crown.And I will make Galatia prosperous too,And we will chirp among our vines, and smileAt bygone things till that (pointing toSinnatus) eternal peace.Rome! Rome!EnterPubliusandSoldiers.Twice I cried Rome. Why came ye not before?Publius.Why come we now? Whom shall we seize upon?Synorix(pointing to the body ofSinnatus).The body of that dead traitor Sinnatus.Bear him away.
EnterSynorixwatchfully, after himPubliusandSoldiers.Synorix.Publius!Publius.Here!Synorix.Do you remember whatI told you?Publius.When you cry “Rome, Rome,” to seizeOn whomsoever may be talking with you,Or man, or woman, as traitors unto Rome.Synorix.Right. Back again. How many of you are there?Publius.Some half a score.[Exeunt Soldiers and Publius.Synorix.I have my guard about me.I need not fear the crowd that hunted meAcross the woods, last night. I hardly gain’dThe camp at midnight. Will she come to meNow that she knows me Synorix? Not if SinnatusHas told her all the truth about me. Well,I cannot help the mould that I was cast in.I fling all that upon my fate, my star.I know that I am genial, I would beHappy, and make all others happy soThey did not thwart me. Nay, she will not come.Yet if she be a true and loving wifeShe may, perchance, to save this husband. Ay!See, see, my white bird stepping toward the snare.Why now I count it all but miracle,That this brave heart of mine should shake me so,As helplessly as some unbearded boy’sWhen first he meets his maiden in a bower.EnterCamma(with cup).Synorix.The lark first takes the sunlight on his wing,But you, twin sister of the morning star,Forelead the sun.Camma.Where is Antonius?Synorix.Not here as yet. You are too early for him.[She crosses towards Temple.Synorix.Nay, whither go you now?Camma.To lodge this cupWithin the holy shrine of Artemis,And so return.Synorix.To find Antonius here.[She goes into the Temple, he looks after her.The loveliest life that ever drew the lightFrom heaven to brood upon her, and enrichEarth with her shadow! I trust shewillreturn.These Romans dare not violate the Temple.No, I must lure my game into the camp.A woman I could live and die for. What!Die for a woman, what new faith is this?I am not mad, not sick, not old enoughTo doat on one alone. Yes, mad for her,Camma the stately, Camma the great-hearted,So mad, I fear some strange and evil chanceComing upon me, for by the Gods I seemStrange to myself.Re-enterCamma.Camma.Where is Antonius?Synorix.Where? As I said before, you are still too early.Camma.Too early to be here alone with thee;For whether men malign thy name, or no,It bears an evil savour among women.Where is Antonius? (Loud.)Synorix.Madam, as you knowThe camp is half a league without the city;If you will walk with me we needs must meetAntonius coming, or at least shall find himThere in the camp.Camma.No, not one step with thee.Where is Antonius? (Louder.)Synorix(advancing towards her).Then for your own sake,Lady, I say it with all gentleness,And for the sake of Sinnatus your husband,I must compel you.Camma(drawing her dagger).Stay!—too near is death.Synorix(disarming her).Is it not easy to disarm a woman?EnterSinnatus(seizes him from behind by the throat).Synorix(throttled and scarce audible).Rome! Rome!Sinnatus.Adulterous dog!Synorix(stabbing him withCamma’sdagger).What! will you have it?[Cammautters a cry and runs toSinnatus.Sinnatus(falls backward).I have it in my heart—to the Temple—fly—Formysake—or they seize on thee. Remember!Away—farewell![Dies.Camma(runs up the steps into the Temple, looking back).Farewell!Synorix(seeing her escape).The women of the Temple drag her in.Publius! Publius! No,Antonius would not suffer me to breakInto the sanctuary. She hath escaped.[Looking down atSinnatus.“Adulterous dog!” that red-faced rage at me!Then with one quick short stab—eternal peace.So end all passions. Then what use in passions?To warm the cold bounds of our dying lifeAnd, lest we freeze in mortal apathy,Employ us, heat us, quicken us, help us, keep usFrom seeing all too near that urn, those ashesWhich all must be. Well used, they serve us well.I heard a saying in Egypt, that ambitionIs like the sea wave, which the more you drink,The more you thirst—yea—drink too much, as menHave done on rafts of wreck—it drives you mad.I will be no such wreck, am no such gamesterAs, having won the stake, would dare the chanceOf double, or losing all. The Roman Senate,For I have always play’d into their hands,Means me the crown. And Camma for my bride—The people love her—if I win her love,They too will cleave to me, as one with her.There then I rest, Rome’s tributary king.[Looking down onSinnatus.Why did I strike him?—having proof enoughAgainst the man, I surely should have leftThat stroke to Rome. He saved my life too. Did he?It seem’d so. I have play’d the sudden fool.And that sets her against me—for the moment.Camma—well, well, I never found the womanI could not force or wheedle to my will.She will be glad at last to wear my crown.And I will make Galatia prosperous too,And we will chirp among our vines, and smileAt bygone things till that (pointing toSinnatus) eternal peace.Rome! Rome!EnterPubliusandSoldiers.Twice I cried Rome. Why came ye not before?Publius.Why come we now? Whom shall we seize upon?Synorix(pointing to the body ofSinnatus).The body of that dead traitor Sinnatus.Bear him away.
EnterSynorixwatchfully, after himPubliusandSoldiers.
EnterSynorixwatchfully, after himPubliusandSoldiers.
Synorix.
Synorix.
Publius!
Publius!
Publius.
Publius.
Here!
Here!
Synorix.
Synorix.
Do you remember whatI told you?
Do you remember what
I told you?
Publius.
Publius.
When you cry “Rome, Rome,” to seizeOn whomsoever may be talking with you,Or man, or woman, as traitors unto Rome.
When you cry “Rome, Rome,” to seize
On whomsoever may be talking with you,
Or man, or woman, as traitors unto Rome.
Synorix.
Synorix.
Right. Back again. How many of you are there?
Right. Back again. How many of you are there?
Publius.
Publius.
Some half a score.
Some half a score.
[Exeunt Soldiers and Publius.
[Exeunt Soldiers and Publius.
Synorix.
Synorix.
I have my guard about me.I need not fear the crowd that hunted meAcross the woods, last night. I hardly gain’dThe camp at midnight. Will she come to meNow that she knows me Synorix? Not if SinnatusHas told her all the truth about me. Well,I cannot help the mould that I was cast in.I fling all that upon my fate, my star.I know that I am genial, I would beHappy, and make all others happy soThey did not thwart me. Nay, she will not come.Yet if she be a true and loving wifeShe may, perchance, to save this husband. Ay!See, see, my white bird stepping toward the snare.Why now I count it all but miracle,That this brave heart of mine should shake me so,As helplessly as some unbearded boy’sWhen first he meets his maiden in a bower.
I have my guard about me.
I need not fear the crowd that hunted me
Across the woods, last night. I hardly gain’d
The camp at midnight. Will she come to me
Now that she knows me Synorix? Not if Sinnatus
Has told her all the truth about me. Well,
I cannot help the mould that I was cast in.
I fling all that upon my fate, my star.
I know that I am genial, I would be
Happy, and make all others happy so
They did not thwart me. Nay, she will not come.
Yet if she be a true and loving wife
She may, perchance, to save this husband. Ay!
See, see, my white bird stepping toward the snare.
Why now I count it all but miracle,
That this brave heart of mine should shake me so,
As helplessly as some unbearded boy’s
When first he meets his maiden in a bower.
EnterCamma(with cup).
EnterCamma(with cup).
Synorix.
Synorix.
The lark first takes the sunlight on his wing,But you, twin sister of the morning star,Forelead the sun.
The lark first takes the sunlight on his wing,
But you, twin sister of the morning star,
Forelead the sun.
Camma.
Camma.
Where is Antonius?
Where is Antonius?
Synorix.
Synorix.
Not here as yet. You are too early for him.
Not here as yet. You are too early for him.
[She crosses towards Temple.
[She crosses towards Temple.
Synorix.
Synorix.
Nay, whither go you now?
Nay, whither go you now?
Camma.
Camma.
To lodge this cupWithin the holy shrine of Artemis,And so return.
To lodge this cup
Within the holy shrine of Artemis,
And so return.
Synorix.
Synorix.
To find Antonius here.
To find Antonius here.
[She goes into the Temple, he looks after her.
[She goes into the Temple, he looks after her.
The loveliest life that ever drew the lightFrom heaven to brood upon her, and enrichEarth with her shadow! I trust shewillreturn.These Romans dare not violate the Temple.No, I must lure my game into the camp.A woman I could live and die for. What!Die for a woman, what new faith is this?I am not mad, not sick, not old enoughTo doat on one alone. Yes, mad for her,Camma the stately, Camma the great-hearted,So mad, I fear some strange and evil chanceComing upon me, for by the Gods I seemStrange to myself.
The loveliest life that ever drew the light
From heaven to brood upon her, and enrich
Earth with her shadow! I trust shewillreturn.
These Romans dare not violate the Temple.
No, I must lure my game into the camp.
A woman I could live and die for. What!
Die for a woman, what new faith is this?
I am not mad, not sick, not old enough
To doat on one alone. Yes, mad for her,
Camma the stately, Camma the great-hearted,
So mad, I fear some strange and evil chance
Coming upon me, for by the Gods I seem
Strange to myself.
Re-enterCamma.
Re-enterCamma.
Camma.
Camma.
Where is Antonius?
Where is Antonius?
Synorix.
Synorix.
Where? As I said before, you are still too early.
Where? As I said before, you are still too early.
Camma.
Camma.
Too early to be here alone with thee;For whether men malign thy name, or no,It bears an evil savour among women.Where is Antonius? (Loud.)
Too early to be here alone with thee;
For whether men malign thy name, or no,
It bears an evil savour among women.
Where is Antonius? (Loud.)
Synorix.
Synorix.
Madam, as you knowThe camp is half a league without the city;If you will walk with me we needs must meetAntonius coming, or at least shall find himThere in the camp.
Madam, as you know
The camp is half a league without the city;
If you will walk with me we needs must meet
Antonius coming, or at least shall find him
There in the camp.
Camma.
Camma.
No, not one step with thee.Where is Antonius? (Louder.)
No, not one step with thee.
Where is Antonius? (Louder.)
Synorix(advancing towards her).
Synorix(advancing towards her).
Then for your own sake,Lady, I say it with all gentleness,And for the sake of Sinnatus your husband,I must compel you.
Then for your own sake,
Lady, I say it with all gentleness,
And for the sake of Sinnatus your husband,
I must compel you.
Camma(drawing her dagger).
Camma(drawing her dagger).
Stay!—too near is death.
Stay!—too near is death.
Synorix(disarming her).
Synorix(disarming her).
Is it not easy to disarm a woman?
Is it not easy to disarm a woman?
EnterSinnatus(seizes him from behind by the throat).
EnterSinnatus(seizes him from behind by the throat).
Synorix(throttled and scarce audible).
Synorix(throttled and scarce audible).
Rome! Rome!
Rome! Rome!
Sinnatus.
Sinnatus.
Adulterous dog!
Adulterous dog!
Synorix(stabbing him withCamma’sdagger).
Synorix(stabbing him withCamma’sdagger).
What! will you have it?
What! will you have it?
[Cammautters a cry and runs toSinnatus.
[Cammautters a cry and runs toSinnatus.
Sinnatus(falls backward).
Sinnatus(falls backward).
I have it in my heart—to the Temple—fly—Formysake—or they seize on thee. Remember!Away—farewell!
I have it in my heart—to the Temple—fly—
Formysake—or they seize on thee. Remember!
Away—farewell!
[Dies.
[Dies.
Camma(runs up the steps into the Temple, looking back).
Camma(runs up the steps into the Temple, looking back).
Farewell!
Farewell!
Synorix(seeing her escape).
Synorix(seeing her escape).
The women of the Temple drag her in.Publius! Publius! No,Antonius would not suffer me to breakInto the sanctuary. She hath escaped.
The women of the Temple drag her in.
Publius! Publius! No,
Antonius would not suffer me to break
Into the sanctuary. She hath escaped.
[Looking down atSinnatus.
[Looking down atSinnatus.
“Adulterous dog!” that red-faced rage at me!Then with one quick short stab—eternal peace.So end all passions. Then what use in passions?To warm the cold bounds of our dying lifeAnd, lest we freeze in mortal apathy,Employ us, heat us, quicken us, help us, keep usFrom seeing all too near that urn, those ashesWhich all must be. Well used, they serve us well.I heard a saying in Egypt, that ambitionIs like the sea wave, which the more you drink,The more you thirst—yea—drink too much, as menHave done on rafts of wreck—it drives you mad.I will be no such wreck, am no such gamesterAs, having won the stake, would dare the chanceOf double, or losing all. The Roman Senate,For I have always play’d into their hands,Means me the crown. And Camma for my bride—The people love her—if I win her love,They too will cleave to me, as one with her.There then I rest, Rome’s tributary king.
“Adulterous dog!” that red-faced rage at me!
Then with one quick short stab—eternal peace.
So end all passions. Then what use in passions?
To warm the cold bounds of our dying life
And, lest we freeze in mortal apathy,
Employ us, heat us, quicken us, help us, keep us
From seeing all too near that urn, those ashes
Which all must be. Well used, they serve us well.
I heard a saying in Egypt, that ambition
Is like the sea wave, which the more you drink,
The more you thirst—yea—drink too much, as men
Have done on rafts of wreck—it drives you mad.
I will be no such wreck, am no such gamester
As, having won the stake, would dare the chance
Of double, or losing all. The Roman Senate,
For I have always play’d into their hands,
Means me the crown. And Camma for my bride—
The people love her—if I win her love,
They too will cleave to me, as one with her.
There then I rest, Rome’s tributary king.
[Looking down onSinnatus.
[Looking down onSinnatus.
Why did I strike him?—having proof enoughAgainst the man, I surely should have leftThat stroke to Rome. He saved my life too. Did he?It seem’d so. I have play’d the sudden fool.And that sets her against me—for the moment.Camma—well, well, I never found the womanI could not force or wheedle to my will.She will be glad at last to wear my crown.And I will make Galatia prosperous too,And we will chirp among our vines, and smileAt bygone things till that (pointing toSinnatus) eternal peace.Rome! Rome!
Why did I strike him?—having proof enough
Against the man, I surely should have left
That stroke to Rome. He saved my life too. Did he?
It seem’d so. I have play’d the sudden fool.
And that sets her against me—for the moment.
Camma—well, well, I never found the woman
I could not force or wheedle to my will.
She will be glad at last to wear my crown.
And I will make Galatia prosperous too,
And we will chirp among our vines, and smile
At bygone things till that (pointing toSinnatus) eternal peace.
Rome! Rome!
EnterPubliusandSoldiers.
EnterPubliusandSoldiers.
Twice I cried Rome. Why came ye not before?
Twice I cried Rome. Why came ye not before?
Publius.
Publius.
Why come we now? Whom shall we seize upon?
Why come we now? Whom shall we seize upon?
Synorix(pointing to the body ofSinnatus).
Synorix(pointing to the body ofSinnatus).
The body of that dead traitor Sinnatus.Bear him away.
The body of that dead traitor Sinnatus.
Bear him away.
Music and Singing in Temple.