Can I do aught for you? The question’s foolish,I feel it—yet——
Can I do aught for you? The question’s foolish,I feel it—yet——
Can I do aught for you? The question’s foolish,I feel it—yet——
Can I do aught for you? The question’s foolish,
I feel it—yet——
Rhod.
My girl, you cannot murder,And he who cannot murder can for meDo nothing more——
My girl, you cannot murder,And he who cannot murder can for meDo nothing more——
My girl, you cannot murder,And he who cannot murder can for meDo nothing more——
My girl, you cannot murder,
And he who cannot murder can for me
Do nothing more——
Lesbia.
Oh, Sovereign Lady!
Oh, Sovereign Lady!
Oh, Sovereign Lady!
Oh, Sovereign Lady!
Rhod.
’Tis so.You fix me with wide eyes, you cannot grasp itThat such a word should come from out my mouth.Yes, Lesbia, is it I, it is RhodopeThat warned you maids so oft, and checked your motionTo filch with meddling hand Death’s dismal officeThough but a spider’s life were set at stake.I’ve not forgot it, but ’tis of the timeWhen in fresh morning dew I laved my limbsAnd in the streams of sunshine basked them dry;But now I bay for blood, now naught of meSurvives but what the gods will find is needfulThat to avenge which time long since I was!
’Tis so.You fix me with wide eyes, you cannot grasp itThat such a word should come from out my mouth.Yes, Lesbia, is it I, it is RhodopeThat warned you maids so oft, and checked your motionTo filch with meddling hand Death’s dismal officeThough but a spider’s life were set at stake.I’ve not forgot it, but ’tis of the timeWhen in fresh morning dew I laved my limbsAnd in the streams of sunshine basked them dry;But now I bay for blood, now naught of meSurvives but what the gods will find is needfulThat to avenge which time long since I was!
’Tis so.You fix me with wide eyes, you cannot grasp itThat such a word should come from out my mouth.Yes, Lesbia, is it I, it is RhodopeThat warned you maids so oft, and checked your motionTo filch with meddling hand Death’s dismal officeThough but a spider’s life were set at stake.I’ve not forgot it, but ’tis of the timeWhen in fresh morning dew I laved my limbsAnd in the streams of sunshine basked them dry;But now I bay for blood, now naught of meSurvives but what the gods will find is needfulThat to avenge which time long since I was!
’Tis so.
You fix me with wide eyes, you cannot grasp it
That such a word should come from out my mouth.
Yes, Lesbia, is it I, it is Rhodope
That warned you maids so oft, and checked your motion
To filch with meddling hand Death’s dismal office
Though but a spider’s life were set at stake.
I’ve not forgot it, but ’tis of the time
When in fresh morning dew I laved my limbs
And in the streams of sunshine basked them dry;
But now I bay for blood, now naught of me
Survives but what the gods will find is needful
That to avenge which time long since I was!
Lesbia.
Your Consort then knows naught? A vengeancerCan ne’er be lacking to the Queen of Lydia.
Your Consort then knows naught? A vengeancerCan ne’er be lacking to the Queen of Lydia.
Your Consort then knows naught? A vengeancerCan ne’er be lacking to the Queen of Lydia.
Your Consort then knows naught? A vengeancer
Can ne’er be lacking to the Queen of Lydia.
Rhod.
It seems so—yet——Nay, I will know, and soon.Go, Lesbia, and call me Karna hither.
It seems so—yet——Nay, I will know, and soon.Go, Lesbia, and call me Karna hither.
It seems so—yet——Nay, I will know, and soon.Go, Lesbia, and call me Karna hither.
It seems so—yet——Nay, I will know, and soon.
Go, Lesbia, and call me Karna hither.
Lesbia.
You mean I am to bear him word from you?
You mean I am to bear him word from you?
You mean I am to bear him word from you?
You mean I am to bear him word from you?
Rhod.
That’s with the past.
That’s with the past.
That’s with the past.
That’s with the past.
Lesbia.
But—but—your veil—you’ll wish it!
But—but—your veil—you’ll wish it!
But—but—your veil—you’ll wish it!
But—but—your veil—you’ll wish it!
Rhod.
Nay, nay!
Nay, nay!
Nay, nay!
Nay, nay!
Lesbia.
I shudder! Oh! ’Tis the first time.
I shudder! Oh! ’Tis the first time.
I shudder! Oh! ’Tis the first time.
I shudder! Oh! ’Tis the first time.
[Exit.
Rhod.
The friend he cannot sacrifice; thereforeHe spares the wife. Else could he not endure it!
The friend he cannot sacrifice; thereforeHe spares the wife. Else could he not endure it!
The friend he cannot sacrifice; thereforeHe spares the wife. Else could he not endure it!
The friend he cannot sacrifice; therefore
He spares the wife. Else could he not endure it!
[Lesbiareturns withKarna.
Karna, you know the oath that you had swornWhat time your Lord, my King-descended Father,Gave you his daughter at the Golden Gate.Though still I sat upon my elephant,Though deeply I was shrouded in my veil,Yet well I noted everything that passedNor have forgot one word that then you spoke.
Karna, you know the oath that you had swornWhat time your Lord, my King-descended Father,Gave you his daughter at the Golden Gate.Though still I sat upon my elephant,Though deeply I was shrouded in my veil,Yet well I noted everything that passedNor have forgot one word that then you spoke.
Karna, you know the oath that you had swornWhat time your Lord, my King-descended Father,Gave you his daughter at the Golden Gate.Though still I sat upon my elephant,Though deeply I was shrouded in my veil,Yet well I noted everything that passedNor have forgot one word that then you spoke.
Karna, you know the oath that you had sworn
What time your Lord, my King-descended Father,
Gave you his daughter at the Golden Gate.
Though still I sat upon my elephant,
Though deeply I was shrouded in my veil,
Yet well I noted everything that passed
Nor have forgot one word that then you spoke.
Karna.
Nor I, and hope I’ll keep my faith’s account.
Nor I, and hope I’ll keep my faith’s account.
Nor I, and hope I’ll keep my faith’s account.
Nor I, and hope I’ll keep my faith’s account.
Rhod.
Then search out Grecian Gyges, bear him wordThat I would see him.
Then search out Grecian Gyges, bear him wordThat I would see him.
Then search out Grecian Gyges, bear him wordThat I would see him.
Then search out Grecian Gyges, bear him word
That I would see him.
Karna.
You!
You!
You!
You!
Rhod.
Bestir yourselfLest so he should escape. Set on his tracksIf he has fled, and bring him here again.Ere night has come before me he must stand!
Bestir yourselfLest so he should escape. Set on his tracksIf he has fled, and bring him here again.Ere night has come before me he must stand!
Bestir yourselfLest so he should escape. Set on his tracksIf he has fled, and bring him here again.Ere night has come before me he must stand!
Bestir yourself
Lest so he should escape. Set on his tracks
If he has fled, and bring him here again.
Ere night has come before me he must stand!
Karna.
I shall deliver him, alive or dead.
I shall deliver him, alive or dead.
I shall deliver him, alive or dead.
I shall deliver him, alive or dead.
[Exit.
Lesbia.
Say what is this? You think ’tis Gyges?
Say what is this? You think ’tis Gyges?
Say what is this? You think ’tis Gyges?
Say what is this? You think ’tis Gyges?
Rhod.
Gyges!
Gyges!
Gyges!
Gyges!
Lesbia.
He’s done your feelings hurt?
He’s done your feelings hurt?
He’s done your feelings hurt?
He’s done your feelings hurt?
Rhod.
Done blasphemous insultUpon the Holiest, brought the heaviest curseFrom heaven upon my head, the selfsame curseWhich all the gods are loath to set at launchBecause it strikes alone the sinless man.’Tis he that schools me murder.
Done blasphemous insultUpon the Holiest, brought the heaviest curseFrom heaven upon my head, the selfsame curseWhich all the gods are loath to set at launchBecause it strikes alone the sinless man.’Tis he that schools me murder.
Done blasphemous insultUpon the Holiest, brought the heaviest curseFrom heaven upon my head, the selfsame curseWhich all the gods are loath to set at launchBecause it strikes alone the sinless man.’Tis he that schools me murder.
Done blasphemous insult
Upon the Holiest, brought the heaviest curse
From heaven upon my head, the selfsame curse
Which all the gods are loath to set at launch
Because it strikes alone the sinless man.
’Tis he that schools me murder.
Lesbia.
Never he!I swear it to you!
Never he!I swear it to you!
Never he!I swear it to you!
Never he!
I swear it to you!
Rhod.
How can you?
How can you?
How can you?
How can you?
Lesbia.
O Queen,I too have had my lesson, and I knowThat he would rather sunder soul from bodyThan do you hurt.
O Queen,I too have had my lesson, and I knowThat he would rather sunder soul from bodyThan do you hurt.
O Queen,I too have had my lesson, and I knowThat he would rather sunder soul from bodyThan do you hurt.
O Queen,
I too have had my lesson, and I know
That he would rather sunder soul from body
Than do you hurt.
Rhod.
Even so?
Even so?
Even so?
Even so?
Lesbia.
I have for youA word—his very message. Oh how bitter,How bitter pain this word brought when I heard it!Now ’tis half joy. I am to tell you from himHe’s not so much as looked at me—He loves you!Now ask yourself—is’t possible?
I have for youA word—his very message. Oh how bitter,How bitter pain this word brought when I heard it!Now ’tis half joy. I am to tell you from himHe’s not so much as looked at me—He loves you!Now ask yourself—is’t possible?
I have for youA word—his very message. Oh how bitter,How bitter pain this word brought when I heard it!Now ’tis half joy. I am to tell you from himHe’s not so much as looked at me—He loves you!Now ask yourself—is’t possible?
I have for you
A word—his very message. Oh how bitter,
How bitter pain this word brought when I heard it!
Now ’tis half joy. I am to tell you from him
He’s not so much as looked at me—He loves you!
Now ask yourself—is’t possible?
Rhod.
He loves me!Then it is certain.
He loves me!Then it is certain.
He loves me!Then it is certain.
He loves me!
Then it is certain.
Lesbia.
How?
How?
How?
How?
Rhod.
Come tell me, fool!Can a man love what he has never seen?If Gyges saw me—say, when did he see me?
Come tell me, fool!Can a man love what he has never seen?If Gyges saw me—say, when did he see me?
Come tell me, fool!Can a man love what he has never seen?If Gyges saw me—say, when did he see me?
Come tell me, fool!
Can a man love what he has never seen?
If Gyges saw me—say, when did he see me?
[Lesbiaputs her hand before her eyes.
Now say, as maiden, whether he must die!
Now say, as maiden, whether he must die!
Now say, as maiden, whether he must die!
Now say, as maiden, whether he must die!