They say that liberty’s a noble boon;I know it not, being snatched as child for spoil,And yet one must give thanks for noble boons,So for my liberty I give you thanks.
They say that liberty’s a noble boon;I know it not, being snatched as child for spoil,And yet one must give thanks for noble boons,So for my liberty I give you thanks.
They say that liberty’s a noble boon;I know it not, being snatched as child for spoil,And yet one must give thanks for noble boons,So for my liberty I give you thanks.
They say that liberty’s a noble boon;
I know it not, being snatched as child for spoil,
And yet one must give thanks for noble boons,
So for my liberty I give you thanks.
Gyges.
Are you contented, Sire?
Are you contented, Sire?
Are you contented, Sire?
Are you contented, Sire?
Kan.
I’m thunderstruck!
I’m thunderstruck!
I’m thunderstruck!
I’m thunderstruck!
Gyges(toLesbia).
And since it seems you know not where your motherWeeps yearning tears, or where your sire’s house standsEnter, until you find it, into mine,’Tis yours; I’ll rob it only of my sword.
And since it seems you know not where your motherWeeps yearning tears, or where your sire’s house standsEnter, until you find it, into mine,’Tis yours; I’ll rob it only of my sword.
And since it seems you know not where your motherWeeps yearning tears, or where your sire’s house standsEnter, until you find it, into mine,’Tis yours; I’ll rob it only of my sword.
And since it seems you know not where your mother
Weeps yearning tears, or where your sire’s house stands
Enter, until you find it, into mine,
’Tis yours; I’ll rob it only of my sword.
[ExitLesbia.
Kan.
What means this, Gyges?
What means this, Gyges?
What means this, Gyges?
What means this, Gyges?
Gyges.
Sire, my thanks that youHave wished me bring this work to the rounding finish;Yet yours it stays to the end.
Sire, my thanks that youHave wished me bring this work to the rounding finish;Yet yours it stays to the end.
Sire, my thanks that youHave wished me bring this work to the rounding finish;Yet yours it stays to the end.
Sire, my thanks that you
Have wished me bring this work to the rounding finish;
Yet yours it stays to the end.
Kan.
You wish, it seems,To see just once the Heraclid aroused;Then have a care, his sleep is not so sound!
You wish, it seems,To see just once the Heraclid aroused;Then have a care, his sleep is not so sound!
You wish, it seems,To see just once the Heraclid aroused;Then have a care, his sleep is not so sound!
You wish, it seems,
To see just once the Heraclid aroused;
Then have a care, his sleep is not so sound!
Gyges.
Can I to-day offend you?
Can I to-day offend you?
Can I to-day offend you?
Can I to-day offend you?
Kan.
No—forgive!But go forthwith and take from out my hoardDouble the measure of your squandered present.Your deed has vexed me, and it hurts me still.
No—forgive!But go forthwith and take from out my hoardDouble the measure of your squandered present.Your deed has vexed me, and it hurts me still.
No—forgive!But go forthwith and take from out my hoardDouble the measure of your squandered present.Your deed has vexed me, and it hurts me still.
No—forgive!
But go forthwith and take from out my hoard
Double the measure of your squandered present.
Your deed has vexed me, and it hurts me still.
Gyges.
Be gracious if I cannot meet your wish.Such trash is changed like magic to a load,And when, with all this gold and precious stones,The beauteous slave-girl came to swell the treasure,I used the slender whiteness of her neckAnd hung thereon the precious vanities.I can employ naught further than my sword,But if you will be gracious unto meMake me a present of your foemen’s heads;I’ll make their tale complete to the very last.
Be gracious if I cannot meet your wish.Such trash is changed like magic to a load,And when, with all this gold and precious stones,The beauteous slave-girl came to swell the treasure,I used the slender whiteness of her neckAnd hung thereon the precious vanities.I can employ naught further than my sword,But if you will be gracious unto meMake me a present of your foemen’s heads;I’ll make their tale complete to the very last.
Be gracious if I cannot meet your wish.Such trash is changed like magic to a load,And when, with all this gold and precious stones,The beauteous slave-girl came to swell the treasure,I used the slender whiteness of her neckAnd hung thereon the precious vanities.I can employ naught further than my sword,But if you will be gracious unto meMake me a present of your foemen’s heads;I’ll make their tale complete to the very last.
Be gracious if I cannot meet your wish.
Such trash is changed like magic to a load,
And when, with all this gold and precious stones,
The beauteous slave-girl came to swell the treasure,
I used the slender whiteness of her neck
And hung thereon the precious vanities.
I can employ naught further than my sword,
But if you will be gracious unto me
Make me a present of your foemen’s heads;
I’ll make their tale complete to the very last.
Kan.
O Gyges, you are other than you were!
O Gyges, you are other than you were!
O Gyges, you are other than you were!
O Gyges, you are other than you were!
Gyges.
I am so, Sire.
I am so, Sire.
I am so, Sire.
I am so, Sire.
Kan.
You love!
You love!
You love!
You love!
Gyges.
You saw that maiden?I could have hewn her piecemeal! Do I love?
You saw that maiden?I could have hewn her piecemeal! Do I love?
You saw that maiden?I could have hewn her piecemeal! Do I love?
You saw that maiden?
I could have hewn her piecemeal! Do I love?
Kan.
You love Rhodope!
You love Rhodope!
You love Rhodope!
You love Rhodope!
Gyges.
Sire, ’tis only this—I cannot serve you more.
Sire, ’tis only this—I cannot serve you more.
Sire, ’tis only this—I cannot serve you more.
Sire, ’tis only this—
I cannot serve you more.
Kan.
Go, if you must.It grieves me, but I dare not now refuse you,And since you will not take a gift from meI cannot keep a present of your making.Here is your ring.
Go, if you must.It grieves me, but I dare not now refuse you,And since you will not take a gift from meI cannot keep a present of your making.Here is your ring.
Go, if you must.It grieves me, but I dare not now refuse you,And since you will not take a gift from meI cannot keep a present of your making.Here is your ring.
Go, if you must.
It grieves me, but I dare not now refuse you,
And since you will not take a gift from me
I cannot keep a present of your making.
Here is your ring.
Gyges.
Give me your sword instead.
Give me your sword instead.
Give me your sword instead.
Give me your sword instead.
Kan.
I thank you that you show such noble mind.
I thank you that you show such noble mind.
I thank you that you show such noble mind.
I thank you that you show such noble mind.
[Is about to go.
Gyges.
There’s something yet (takes a jewel from his breast)—this (proferring it).
There’s something yet (takes a jewel from his breast)—this (proferring it).
There’s something yet (takes a jewel from his breast)—this (proferring it).
There’s something yet (takes a jewel from his breast)—this (proferring it).
Kan.
Why, what——
Why, what——
Why, what——
Why, what——
Gyges.
Well you know it.
Well you know it.
Well you know it.
Well you know it.
Kan.
Rhodope’s diamond!
Rhodope’s diamond!
Rhodope’s diamond!
Rhodope’s diamond!
Gyges.
I took the thing,From there upon her neck—forgive the deed!It is atoned.
I took the thing,From there upon her neck—forgive the deed!It is atoned.
I took the thing,From there upon her neck—forgive the deed!It is atoned.
I took the thing,
From there upon her neck—forgive the deed!
It is atoned.
Kan.
Is this your hand, Erinnyes?Oh, verily ye are most light of sleep!
Is this your hand, Erinnyes?Oh, verily ye are most light of sleep!
Is this your hand, Erinnyes?Oh, verily ye are most light of sleep!
Is this your hand, Erinnyes?
Oh, verily ye are most light of sleep!
Gyges.
You’re bitter ’gainst me.
You’re bitter ’gainst me.
You’re bitter ’gainst me.
You’re bitter ’gainst me.
Kan.
No, not you. Farewell,But never must we see each other more.
No, not you. Farewell,But never must we see each other more.
No, not you. Farewell,But never must we see each other more.
No, not you. Farewell,
But never must we see each other more.
[Exit.
Gyges.
Never! I go forthwith. Then where’s the goal?Come, come—what was my quest before this LydianCountered my path? Forgot so soon? Why no!There was the lure that drew me to old NileWhere men with yellow skins and slitten eyesBuild for dead monarchs everlasting houses.Then ho for the old road! I’ll give a spellTo some poor wretch down there who’s wearied out.
Never! I go forthwith. Then where’s the goal?Come, come—what was my quest before this LydianCountered my path? Forgot so soon? Why no!There was the lure that drew me to old NileWhere men with yellow skins and slitten eyesBuild for dead monarchs everlasting houses.Then ho for the old road! I’ll give a spellTo some poor wretch down there who’s wearied out.
Never! I go forthwith. Then where’s the goal?Come, come—what was my quest before this LydianCountered my path? Forgot so soon? Why no!There was the lure that drew me to old NileWhere men with yellow skins and slitten eyesBuild for dead monarchs everlasting houses.Then ho for the old road! I’ll give a spellTo some poor wretch down there who’s wearied out.
Never! I go forthwith. Then where’s the goal?
Come, come—what was my quest before this Lydian
Countered my path? Forgot so soon? Why no!
There was the lure that drew me to old Nile
Where men with yellow skins and slitten eyes
Build for dead monarchs everlasting houses.
Then ho for the old road! I’ll give a spell
To some poor wretch down there who’s wearied out.