No. Oh, to be in the dark!
No. Oh, to be in the dark!
No. Oh, to be in the dark!
No. Oh, to be in the dark!
Lesbia.
Then curses on the pride of heart that held me,This very day of all, so far from her!And now—O Goddess, she is Thine this hour,Incline her heart, I cannot do so more!
Then curses on the pride of heart that held me,This very day of all, so far from her!And now—O Goddess, she is Thine this hour,Incline her heart, I cannot do so more!
Then curses on the pride of heart that held me,This very day of all, so far from her!And now—O Goddess, she is Thine this hour,Incline her heart, I cannot do so more!
Then curses on the pride of heart that held me,
This very day of all, so far from her!
And now—O Goddess, she is Thine this hour,
Incline her heart, I cannot do so more!
Hero.
Yes, Pure and Chaste and Holy, do this thing ...And is’t not strange as well that she should chooseNo more the ever-blithesome AphroditeFor witness, but the stern-faced HestiaBefore whose gaze the greenest garland dries?
Yes, Pure and Chaste and Holy, do this thing ...And is’t not strange as well that she should chooseNo more the ever-blithesome AphroditeFor witness, but the stern-faced HestiaBefore whose gaze the greenest garland dries?
Yes, Pure and Chaste and Holy, do this thing ...And is’t not strange as well that she should chooseNo more the ever-blithesome AphroditeFor witness, but the stern-faced HestiaBefore whose gaze the greenest garland dries?
Yes, Pure and Chaste and Holy, do this thing ...
And is’t not strange as well that she should choose
No more the ever-blithesome Aphrodite
For witness, but the stern-faced Hestia
Before whose gaze the greenest garland dries?
Lesbia.
Oh, oh, it means the Thing most dread of all!
Oh, oh, it means the Thing most dread of all!
Oh, oh, it means the Thing most dread of all!
Oh, oh, it means the Thing most dread of all!
[EnterGyges.
Hero.
Gyges!
Gyges!
Gyges!
Gyges!
Lesbia.
Oh take him! Only—do it not!
Oh take him! Only—do it not!
Oh take him! Only—do it not!
Oh take him! Only—do it not!
Gyges.
I feel as though myself had lost the bloodThat streamed from out his veins. I am death-cold.
I feel as though myself had lost the bloodThat streamed from out his veins. I am death-cold.
I feel as though myself had lost the bloodThat streamed from out his veins. I am death-cold.
I feel as though myself had lost the blood
That streamed from out his veins. I am death-cold.
Hero.
How pale his seeming is!
How pale his seeming is!
How pale his seeming is!
How pale his seeming is!
Gyges.
There is the altar—But at another have I sought for her——And there her maids are standing—there is she——What means it all?
There is the altar—But at another have I sought for her——And there her maids are standing—there is she——What means it all?
There is the altar—But at another have I sought for her——And there her maids are standing—there is she——What means it all?
There is the altar—
But at another have I sought for her——
And there her maids are standing—there is she——
What means it all?
[EnterThoas.
Thoas.
I offer you the crown.
I offer you the crown.
I offer you the crown.
I offer you the crown.
Gyges.
It passes to the Lydians, not to me.
It passes to the Lydians, not to me.
It passes to the Lydians, not to me.
It passes to the Lydians, not to me.
Thoas.
I brought it to the Lydians ere to you,And as their herald stand before you now.
I brought it to the Lydians ere to you,And as their herald stand before you now.
I brought it to the Lydians ere to you,And as their herald stand before you now.
I brought it to the Lydians ere to you,
And as their herald stand before you now.
The People
(without). Hail, Gyges, Hail!
(without). Hail, Gyges, Hail!
(without). Hail, Gyges, Hail!
(without). Hail, Gyges, Hail!
[Rhodoperises and turns round.
The People
(pressing in). Gyges, our King, all hail!
(pressing in). Gyges, our King, all hail!
(pressing in). Gyges, our King, all hail!
(pressing in). Gyges, our King, all hail!
Thoas.
This shouting is no thing for pride. The neighboursHave fallen on the land, and ’tis your taskTo lead them.
This shouting is no thing for pride. The neighboursHave fallen on the land, and ’tis your taskTo lead them.
This shouting is no thing for pride. The neighboursHave fallen on the land, and ’tis your taskTo lead them.
This shouting is no thing for pride. The neighbours
Have fallen on the land, and ’tis your task
To lead them.
Gyges.
What?
What?
What?
What?
Thoas.
’Twas just as I had thought.He was too mild; there’s not a soul that feared him,And now they’re here.
’Twas just as I had thought.He was too mild; there’s not a soul that feared him,And now they’re here.
’Twas just as I had thought.He was too mild; there’s not a soul that feared him,And now they’re here.
’Twas just as I had thought.
He was too mild; there’s not a soul that feared him,
And now they’re here.
[Gygesputs on the crown.
Gyges.
’Tis I that pay his debt.
’Tis I that pay his debt.
’Tis I that pay his debt.
’Tis I that pay his debt.
Rhod.
(who has been slowly approachingGyges). Gyges, your own is first to pay.
(who has been slowly approachingGyges). Gyges, your own is first to pay.
(who has been slowly approachingGyges). Gyges, your own is first to pay.
(who has been slowly approachingGyges). Gyges, your own is first to pay.
Gyges.
O Queen,Be you the prize that draws me with its lureWhen far and wide I’ve crushed my foes in rout.
O Queen,Be you the prize that draws me with its lureWhen far and wide I’ve crushed my foes in rout.
O Queen,Be you the prize that draws me with its lureWhen far and wide I’ve crushed my foes in rout.
O Queen,
Be you the prize that draws me with its lure
When far and wide I’ve crushed my foes in rout.
Rhod.
Nay, nay! You gain no hour of grace from me.We cannot go before my Father’s presence;Then come with me and stand at Hestia’s altar,And give to me before her countenanceThe hand’s eternal bond I give to you.
Nay, nay! You gain no hour of grace from me.We cannot go before my Father’s presence;Then come with me and stand at Hestia’s altar,And give to me before her countenanceThe hand’s eternal bond I give to you.
Nay, nay! You gain no hour of grace from me.We cannot go before my Father’s presence;Then come with me and stand at Hestia’s altar,And give to me before her countenanceThe hand’s eternal bond I give to you.
Nay, nay! You gain no hour of grace from me.
We cannot go before my Father’s presence;
Then come with me and stand at Hestia’s altar,
And give to me before her countenance
The hand’s eternal bond I give to you.
Gyges.
Had you but seen how he took leave of lifeYou’d call’t a holy thing, this awed recoilThat sanctions not the mere touch of your garment,Till I have done this thing for him. There’s noneHad more o’ the rich world’s goods than he, and yetHe went therefrom as others come therein.
Had you but seen how he took leave of lifeYou’d call’t a holy thing, this awed recoilThat sanctions not the mere touch of your garment,Till I have done this thing for him. There’s noneHad more o’ the rich world’s goods than he, and yetHe went therefrom as others come therein.
Had you but seen how he took leave of lifeYou’d call’t a holy thing, this awed recoilThat sanctions not the mere touch of your garment,Till I have done this thing for him. There’s noneHad more o’ the rich world’s goods than he, and yetHe went therefrom as others come therein.
Had you but seen how he took leave of life
You’d call’t a holy thing, this awed recoil
That sanctions not the mere touch of your garment,
Till I have done this thing for him. There’s none
Had more o’ the rich world’s goods than he, and yet
He went therefrom as others come therein.
Rhod.
If with such noble soul he trod the wayTo dusky death, that realm where none renewsThe stain of sin, then with a glow at heartI’ll meet him, though no more than on the threshold.Yea, I will stoop and make my hands a cupTo draw for him from Lethe; but myselfShall never taste the beatific drink.But you—I warn you—make an end!
If with such noble soul he trod the wayTo dusky death, that realm where none renewsThe stain of sin, then with a glow at heartI’ll meet him, though no more than on the threshold.Yea, I will stoop and make my hands a cupTo draw for him from Lethe; but myselfShall never taste the beatific drink.But you—I warn you—make an end!
If with such noble soul he trod the wayTo dusky death, that realm where none renewsThe stain of sin, then with a glow at heartI’ll meet him, though no more than on the threshold.Yea, I will stoop and make my hands a cupTo draw for him from Lethe; but myselfShall never taste the beatific drink.But you—I warn you—make an end!
If with such noble soul he trod the way
To dusky death, that realm where none renews
The stain of sin, then with a glow at heart
I’ll meet him, though no more than on the threshold.
Yea, I will stoop and make my hands a cup
To draw for him from Lethe; but myself
Shall never taste the beatific drink.
But you—I warn you—make an end!
Gyges.
So be it.Yet this I swear to thee, beloved Shade,I shall away as soon as e’er ’tis done.
So be it.Yet this I swear to thee, beloved Shade,I shall away as soon as e’er ’tis done.
So be it.Yet this I swear to thee, beloved Shade,I shall away as soon as e’er ’tis done.
So be it.
Yet this I swear to thee, beloved Shade,
I shall away as soon as e’er ’tis done.
Rhod.
I too have sworn to do a thing.
I too have sworn to do a thing.
I too have sworn to do a thing.
I too have sworn to do a thing.
Gyges.
O Queen,The man whose hand defers a cup so brimmingWith every bliss, as mine does now, though butFor one short hour, that man has won it well.
O Queen,The man whose hand defers a cup so brimmingWith every bliss, as mine does now, though butFor one short hour, that man has won it well.
O Queen,The man whose hand defers a cup so brimmingWith every bliss, as mine does now, though butFor one short hour, that man has won it well.
O Queen,
The man whose hand defers a cup so brimming
With every bliss, as mine does now, though but
For one short hour, that man has won it well.
Rhod.
Hush, hush! Your feet are in a holy place!
Hush, hush! Your feet are in a holy place!
Hush, hush! Your feet are in a holy place!
Hush, hush! Your feet are in a holy place!
[They walk to the altar.
O Hestia, Thou Guardian of the FlameWhose fire consumes the thing it cannot cleanse,I give this youth my thanks that once againI dare appear before thy countenance.And as the folk exalteth him to King,Be witness thou, I raise him to my lord.
O Hestia, Thou Guardian of the FlameWhose fire consumes the thing it cannot cleanse,I give this youth my thanks that once againI dare appear before thy countenance.And as the folk exalteth him to King,Be witness thou, I raise him to my lord.
O Hestia, Thou Guardian of the FlameWhose fire consumes the thing it cannot cleanse,I give this youth my thanks that once againI dare appear before thy countenance.And as the folk exalteth him to King,Be witness thou, I raise him to my lord.
O Hestia, Thou Guardian of the Flame
Whose fire consumes the thing it cannot cleanse,
I give this youth my thanks that once again
I dare appear before thy countenance.
And as the folk exalteth him to King,
Be witness thou, I raise him to my lord.
[She givesGygesher hand.
And you—regard as wedding-gift the crownNow flinging from your head its lordly sparkle,But give to me the Dead Man’s Ring for pledge.
And you—regard as wedding-gift the crownNow flinging from your head its lordly sparkle,But give to me the Dead Man’s Ring for pledge.
And you—regard as wedding-gift the crownNow flinging from your head its lordly sparkle,But give to me the Dead Man’s Ring for pledge.
And you—regard as wedding-gift the crown
Now flinging from your head its lordly sparkle,
But give to me the Dead Man’s Ring for pledge.
Gyges.
Nay, that the King still bears upon his finger.
Nay, that the King still bears upon his finger.
Nay, that the King still bears upon his finger.
Nay, that the King still bears upon his finger.
Rhod.
Already then it has its fitting place.
Already then it has its fitting place.
Already then it has its fitting place.
Already then it has its fitting place.
[She freesGyges’hand.
And now step back. Be faithful to your vowAs I keep faith with mine. My stain is purged,For none has seen me save for whom ’twas meet.But now I disunite me (stabs herself) thus from you!
And now step back. Be faithful to your vowAs I keep faith with mine. My stain is purged,For none has seen me save for whom ’twas meet.But now I disunite me (stabs herself) thus from you!
And now step back. Be faithful to your vowAs I keep faith with mine. My stain is purged,For none has seen me save for whom ’twas meet.But now I disunite me (stabs herself) thus from you!
And now step back. Be faithful to your vow
As I keep faith with mine. My stain is purged,
For none has seen me save for whom ’twas meet.
But now I disunite me (stabs herself) thus from you!