Chapter 18

I swear to be your wife.

I swear to be your wife.

I swear to be your wife.

I swear to be your wife.

Gyges.

Pah! Why the question? I’m not conqueror yet.

Pah! Why the question? I’m not conqueror yet.

Pah! Why the question? I’m not conqueror yet.

Pah! Why the question? I’m not conqueror yet.

Rhod.

It means a combat then?

It means a combat then?

It means a combat then?

It means a combat then?

Gyges.

A combat, Queen.You hold me not so light to think I’d murder?I challenge him to fight unto the death.

A combat, Queen.You hold me not so light to think I’d murder?I challenge him to fight unto the death.

A combat, Queen.You hold me not so light to think I’d murder?I challenge him to fight unto the death.

A combat, Queen.

You hold me not so light to think I’d murder?

I challenge him to fight unto the death.

Rhod.

And if you fall?

And if you fall?

And if you fall?

And if you fall?

Gyges.

Send no curse after me,I can naught else.

Send no curse after me,I can naught else.

Send no curse after me,I can naught else.

Send no curse after me,

I can naught else.

Rhod.

Do I not fall with you?

Do I not fall with you?

Do I not fall with you?

Do I not fall with you?

Gyges.

But if I come again?

But if I come again?

But if I come again?

But if I come again?

Rhod.

Beside the altarYou find me, and prepared for either chance,Prepared as well to lay my hand in yoursAs grasp the dagger and dissolve the bondThat holds me knit unto the conquerorIf it be he.

Beside the altarYou find me, and prepared for either chance,Prepared as well to lay my hand in yoursAs grasp the dagger and dissolve the bondThat holds me knit unto the conquerorIf it be he.

Beside the altarYou find me, and prepared for either chance,Prepared as well to lay my hand in yoursAs grasp the dagger and dissolve the bondThat holds me knit unto the conquerorIf it be he.

Beside the altar

You find me, and prepared for either chance,

Prepared as well to lay my hand in yours

As grasp the dagger and dissolve the bond

That holds me knit unto the conqueror

If it be he.

Gyges.

Before the sun is sunkIt is decided. Then farewell.

Before the sun is sunkIt is decided. Then farewell.

Before the sun is sunkIt is decided. Then farewell.

Before the sun is sunk

It is decided. Then farewell.

Rhod.

Farewell—And if it give you joy learn one thing more:—You never had allured me from my homeTo wrong me thus.

Farewell—And if it give you joy learn one thing more:—You never had allured me from my homeTo wrong me thus.

Farewell—And if it give you joy learn one thing more:—You never had allured me from my homeTo wrong me thus.

Farewell—

And if it give you joy learn one thing more:—

You never had allured me from my home

To wrong me thus.

Gyges.

Rhodope! Ah, you feel it?That means I had known hotter jealousyAnd keener envy, had been given moreTo fear, since I’m a lesser man than he.And yet it gives me joy that thus you feel,And is enough for me, more than enough.

Rhodope! Ah, you feel it?That means I had known hotter jealousyAnd keener envy, had been given moreTo fear, since I’m a lesser man than he.And yet it gives me joy that thus you feel,And is enough for me, more than enough.

Rhodope! Ah, you feel it?That means I had known hotter jealousyAnd keener envy, had been given moreTo fear, since I’m a lesser man than he.And yet it gives me joy that thus you feel,And is enough for me, more than enough.

Rhodope! Ah, you feel it?

That means I had known hotter jealousy

And keener envy, had been given more

To fear, since I’m a lesser man than he.

And yet it gives me joy that thus you feel,

And is enough for me, more than enough.

[Exit.

Rhod.

Now bridal garb and deathly shroud—come on!

Now bridal garb and deathly shroud—come on!

Now bridal garb and deathly shroud—come on!

Now bridal garb and deathly shroud—come on!

[Lesbiarushes in and throws herself atRhodope’sfeet.

Lesbia.

O Gracious One—forgive! My thanks, my thanks!

O Gracious One—forgive! My thanks, my thanks!

O Gracious One—forgive! My thanks, my thanks!

O Gracious One—forgive! My thanks, my thanks!

Rhod.(lifting her up).

I think you will not thank me, hapless child,Yet—in the end! Yes, Lesbia, in the end!

I think you will not thank me, hapless child,Yet—in the end! Yes, Lesbia, in the end!

I think you will not thank me, hapless child,Yet—in the end! Yes, Lesbia, in the end!

I think you will not thank me, hapless child,

Yet—in the end! Yes, Lesbia, in the end!


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