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NOTE
It
is
strictly
It
is
not
was written
for
as
VII
B.
CHARACTKRS
I7i^* Oftiom taJctJ tloit in ihf
mar hie
of Artemis.^
Crttphonta
King of
Ahhfa
The Queen.
CUito
Hfphititiot:
IphicUi
Artis.
Priestess of Artemis.
The Virgin
Captain.
Herald
Priest
Attendant
ff'^arriorsy Priests
and
Citizens oj Artis.
Otho
Stuart at
The Adclphi
Theatre.
St
ind Warrior.
Iphicles
I
St
Even
Warrior.
Through
he.
And clomb
He
Another Warrior,
Ml
lt\irrior.
alone.
The
trarrtors.
Iphicles, hail
two Warriors\
The news?
ji If'itrrior.
Another liarrior.
Iphicles.
lyy
My
news
is
for the
[Exit a Warrior.']
We
IViirrior.
That weary
of
deemed, my friend,
our city and our King,
Thou
Obedient to command
On
Ye deemed
[
IVarrior.
For
Iphicles.
The
left
the city
had deserted
have
fulfilled.
Are ye mad
is
that
priestly robes
\_lVith
ff^arrior.
What song
a sneer] Befits
him
well
And now
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
As
And
at the shrine
'Tis well.
JVarrior.
all
Chorus of Youths.
\As they move up
the stage.
'\
Long
since a
Of Arcady
C.ODDKSS
Tin- \'IR(;iX
CHORI'S OK M/ViDhNS.
[yls they move up the
Singing wild songs that glimmering revel passed
Into the forest and were lost to him
Rut fired with deathless love he followed fast
Through h..unted woodlands dim,
And down still glens that only hunters know,
And over peaks of ancient snow,
And where the torrents of the mountain hurl
Thunder and foam unto the j-ilain below.
sta^e^
Chorus of Youths.
Whose
face
Chorus of Maidens.
We
grew
in
power and
pride.
We
And many
cities
to
the statue.']
stand,
And
O
O
O
and
We
And
solemn
litanies
and
silver
hymns ?
[//
(iHiis
altar,
^feami'hile
rises.
and
He cometh
No
hush!
word of
this
Ah
praise the
gods
nay,
Goddess, behold
Crushed and despairing, to thy holiest place
Cresphontes.
To
.'
come,
Under
Iphicles.
we know not
if
they be submerged
[^Standing forward],
Alas,
my King
come
Whence
art
thou
deemed
thee lost
Or
traitor
Althea.
To
Althea
returned
.
He
is
Howbeit,
Speak out.
.
What news ?
Iphicles.
King,
[ Great sensation^
He died
How
Were
my
Clasped in
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
Cresphonies.
Alas,
'tis
certain the
failed,
come
Hither to-day, no warrior but
To
a priest,
And
My
And
fight as
should a
A JVarrior.
man
The Queen
!
speaks well.
\Murmurs of approbation!\
Another Warrior. Leave prayer to boys and girls.
[Reiterated murmurs.]
What words
Cresphontes.
Think you
And
would not
be these
gladlier grasp
my
sword
my
with
lie
crouched
Without the
of prey,
And
The
prize
Death
at their
demands,
gained
thou
hands dishonour
prize
hast
ruin.
Enough
Cresphontes.
the costlier
Judge.
to fate.
A Warrior.
Iphicles
makes as though
VIRCIN GODDESS
Tin:
10
AUhtA,
\^ln
still!
qu'uk
ichtsper^
dilchhii^
His
away
may
city
What
care to
him
Alihe.i.
With
He
from
and
Cresphontes.
coward.
I'll
name
he:ir his
Woman
his
King
not endure
from thy
lips least
of
all,
Cresphontes.
forth
a jealous heart.
but he loathed
Althen.
lie.
bitter insults
His brother
To
V>c
Hcphx'stion
Crrsphontts.
Is far
icrist]
his
...
No
is
more.
\Diirkly\
read
thy
heart.
[
To
the lVarriors'\
Do
ye, each
man
to his allotted
post
Return.
[
the Priests']
[
The
and finally
Warrior.
\To
the
Queen.,
who
stands motionless
And we
with
^ueen,
averted face]
ii
\Coldly\
Did you not hear the King
Bid you to your allotted posts ?
{They move uneasily away. The Queen stays
Althea.
theinP[
My
Go
it is
good
But
to obey.
friends,
as
ye go,
Take comfort.
The ordered
At
Althea.
we
last
How
is
are alone.
Now
tell
His words
me quick
And where
Under
Iphicles.
In a
I
An
He
is a votary of Artemis,
Virgin and wholly dedicate to her,
mighty hunter of the hills is he,
Far famed for deeds of prowess in the chase.
Queen, I told him of our army lost,
And of Cresphontes' weak unstable rule ;
1 told him of our vassals' swift revolt
How we were driven back by force of arms
Within the city ; of the city's plight,
VIRGIN GODDESS
Tin-
la
Zoncii
.ill
about with
PcstilcMce-strickcM, taniine-wasted.
Was
he not
moved
Let that
IphiiUs.
'
Ah
AtthcA.
fell
'
And
all in
vain
prayed
'
Iphicles.
He
And
We
And
And
motion
As
Althea.
in his
irresistible as
As
not love.
are
.
the
knows not
love.
knows
the; VIRGIN GODDESS
\_Cleito falters slozvly
Go
here.
is
Althea.
13
then,
my
news to none.
\Exit Iphides^
Cleito
Thy
Goes up
Ay,
Cleito.
1
think
Lead me
Althea.
Cleito.
Althea.
Thou
Ay,
to
her
hand,]
Art thou
sick
Open thy
heart, beloved.
Cleito.
must speak.
Althea.
Cleito.
Heph^stion returns
[Aside]
Cleito.
The
How
the world
Hephasstion
Althea. \_Amazea']
Althea.
me ?
Peril to
On me ?
words
On me
What means
this drift
of
\lKcilN C'.ODDIlSS
nil-:
14
How
Ami how
lives
My
morn.
The dream
returned.
\^She buries
Althea.
But me
this
dream concerns
The face
Were one.
Ckito.
of the dead
awav.
Last night
to Artis.
woman and
thy face
hands.'\
not,
15
My
[Aside]
And
And
Cleito.
[Rising
to
her feet]
...
Ah
\Sound of approaching
What sounds be these ^
shouts.]
Can it be he ?
[The sound grows louder. Iphicles rushes
Iphicles.
O Queen, he is here
Althea. [In a whisper]
So soon }
Cleito. Who spake but now }
Althea. [In a whisper]
Iphicles.
I,
Iphicles.
Then
Cleito.
For
it
seems a
What mean
Althea.
Cleito.
\With a
chill
tell
these shouts
me
my heart
sign to Iphicles] It
is
thy son.
My
son
^,
in.]
i6
Till-:
Jpktdes.
Cutio.
GODDESS
Re. IN
jublhiticni hither
My
suiUcn unimiHiofij
phontcs, borne along.
\^H'ith
comes,
Thcv
My
[SriYnj/
'it
mors
rtdsit
shouting on
to
the stage.
Thy mother
Althea.
Heph^stion. [^Turning
to
Cleito']
si/ence.]
Mother
Cleito.
this?
Hephasstion
Althea.
it is I.
\Seeks
Cleito.
The world
to
embrace
Away
Put the
is
wide.
her.'\
What
many
years ?
[ Takes her hands]
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
Ah, but thy hands are marble
Why dost thou tremble ?
17
cold, beloved
Cleito.
From whence
I came
menace thee, Althea ? 1 grope in gloom.
What meaning underlies these mystic words.''
Althea. She is ill and visited with evil dreams
Hephcestion.
To
Which
Nay
Cleito.
Althea.
Be
still.
Hephcestion.
come
to give
my arm
And
brain to Artis.
The
That now
lies
am
here to assist
With
To
our walls
VIRGIN CiODDESS
nil':
i8
Like ctirncrcd
r;its,
a iiiiscrahic death.
we be
tlu)iiu;}i
Wc are
Up
came
to a stern
to lead
and iron-crashing
fight
close.
it
Urged me
afar.
to Artis
from
The U^aniors.
Cleito.
We
[Exit, led by a
\A Priest
The
Warrior^
Priest.
19
Tell
Alihea.
him
We
Hephcestion.
I
await
Even
him
my
so,
friend,
'tis I.
Go
tell
the
King
here.
'Tis well.
Priest.
\Exit:\
What
Hephastion.
Artemis he prays
With boys and girls assembled. Lo, his sword,
Thy father's dreadful sword of fierce renown,
A sacrifice upon the altar lies
He hath doffed his arms and donned the garb of priest.
The enemy storm our gates and crush our walls.
We starve within. He prays with boys and girls.
\^Murmurs?^
Hephcestion.
My father's sword
\He
takes
friends, this
sword
it
was that
Once was
TIIK VlRCilN
20
Take
^inolfur U'drrior.
us on
GODDESS
Another
ff'itrrior.
till
beyond!
'
We
and
Alt/iea.]
Buckling- his
[There is a moment's silence.
father s sivord on his thigh he approaches
her.]
is
this
Althea. [Looking
awaf\
first we met ^
[Drawing away her hands] That hour when
we met
\N"hen
Althea.
.''
It
I
By
the sea-shore
In the
dim
light
first
21
HephcBStion.
Thy
face, Althea.
My
Altliea.
Heph^estion.
Althea.
and
We
When
farewell
deemed.
Althea. [Smiiingl But thou art here.
Hephastion. {With sudden ardour] Could
For
ever, as
that called
Thy
Althea.
voice, Althea
[Drawing
it
I resist
the voice
me home
[Touches her hand.]
away]
And
all
those
many
years
We
How
good
it
22
\IK(^.1\
1111-
r.ODDKSS
And
Artemis,
And
Of
a free
than others.
Althea.
so
yet
man.
Heph.rstion.
How
And
With vows
Althea.
'Tis true.
Hephcestion.
[/;/
Not thou.
may
taste the
Let go
my
hands.
[She frees
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
23
Put back
\Harshly\
sword.
Thy sword
Hephastion.
Cresphontes.
My
Cresphontes.
1 tell
How
thee put
it
back
lay.
sword.
darest thou
Hephastion.
Such
it
sacrifice
[
Let
be.
In shame
put
it
back again to
rest
Whence
Hephastion.
From
Arcadia, where
feet.
dwell,
THF. VIRGIN
24
GODDKSS
Hcph-csiun.
Ah
Cresphi^ntira.
And
sits
upon thcc
is
new
came the
tidings
Through
Ilephrstion.
Cresphontcs.
well.
How
Ot our
strange and
Artis
Is
[/;/
Iphiclcs.
Htph.rsiion.
Cresphontcs.
Have
Hephxstion.
What
willst
Cresphontcs.
That
To
Iphicles
denied
it ?
seek thee.
Were
HephiStion.
was
So strange
Cresphontcs.
It
thou more.'*
my
it.
Nay,
wife, Althea,
my
who
friend,
we know
Hephjestion.
Cresphontcs.
25
Because
know
am
here to-day
man.
naked soul
Thou
To
Thou
to
Heph^stion.
The
command,
to obey.
Enough
26
When
Thou
IltphiTstioft.
licst
not endure.
I'll
Cresphonles.
Iphicles.
King,
Cresphonles.
['/b
himself]
[7"(5 Iphicles]
What now ?
Then bid him
.
enter.
steps.]
Queen,
Iphicles.
Approaches from
Althea.
What
a herald
at this
hour
herald
27
Herald.
And
pacific
words
fair proposals.
Even as I thought
\_Scornfully to Hephastion\
The news hath reached them of thine advent here.
They know that Artis holds at length a man,
Whose strangling hands shall grip the throat of
Althea.
Fate
And now
Away
Cresphontes.
Herald.
Conquest
is
We
And
live in peace.
{^Contemptuous
Grant these,
Tin: VIRC.IN
2S
Homeward
in
GODDESS
Now,
friend,
praise the
O,
Ilfph^stion.
Kre
vet thev
gods
praise
them not
y.lpprovifii:^
Cresphontcs. [^Omifwusly^
lieph.rslion.
Fling
down
Shall
Should dare
words.
was thy
It
listless
To come
And
before thee.
One
And
that reply
only one
Cresphontes.
is
mine.
I'll
29
earnest,
And
Cresphontes.
have spoken.
Hephastion.
It is well.
The
last
thou slay
hope of the
city
Cresphontes.
my
From
And
Artis with
mad ?
will shield
ruin.
This
tell
Cresphontes, not
Althea.
This
final
shame
Cresphontes.
have spoken.
Go thy ways.
Herald. King, I will take thine answer with great heart
To those that wait without. Farewell.
[Exit.]
Althea. [In a fierce whisper to Heph^stion] Then kill him!
[To the Herald]
Heph^stion.
Kill
him
him
I will.
Tin;
30
[To
J/>hic/c's,
llvC.lN
GODDESS
Do
overfly]
It
is
at
my
[Exit nipidly.\
And men
thou
L!;atcs.
well.
CresphoHies.
At
our
hea,
murmur now
pardon, suffering
But vou
in
my
wisdom of my choice
days now dawning on the land.
In the tair
And
is
We
lite
Unhaunted by
the
In peaceful trust to
till
the patient
fields,
There
Hephcestion.
And
Will do
it
silence.]
is
I, obedient to thy
now.
least
command,
[To
the fi^arriors]
The Herald
If
still
at
ye are
That death
is
wedded
[
fairer
31
Then must
[To a Warrioir\
Thy
sword.
Upon
Althea.
Behold thy
father's sword.
My
HephcBStion.
father's
sword
\Goes
to the altar]
[Takes
//.]
my
Queen.
Now will I wash with blood that shame away.
A Warrior. What wilt thou do ?
HephcBstion.
The man who was your King
Hath sold the rights of Kingship and of man.
He is no longer worthy of the sun,
And he must die.
[He goes up steps and turns at the door of
'Tis well,
the
temple.']
Keep watch
And
see that
no man
[A pause.
Althea. Nay, come back
[She
enter.
Then Althea
utters
a sudden
cry.]
Hephasstion, pause
is
VTRGIN GODDESS
TTir:
32
^y ff^arrior.
Ouccn, no torcc
thine
oi
now.
^Ithea.
\^In
iVl;ikc
He must
a frenzy]
doomed
are
wav
<y fVanior.
wc
dare not
We
Althea.
doomed,
1 say
Hcphaistion.
are
Cleito
pause*
spears.
down
the
enters faltering
^
palace steps.]
Cleito.
Althea.
Althea.
[/;/
a strangled
here.
Where
Cleito.
Althea.
to
her feet]
am
King
the
is
me
Tell
Cleito.
Althea. [/ a whisper]
What
Came hither
Of peace ?
is it
true
That
Cleito.
Althea.
staggering
voice.,
a herald
lines
'Tis true.
True.
But they lied who told me
Ah, say they lied who told me that the King,
My son, embraced that proffer of shameful peace
Cleito.
Betraying the
Althea.
city.
Nay, thou
was performed.
curtain
33
Cleito.
[Fiercely]
Cleito.
Wherefore
[A
pause]
Wherefore
Cleito.
that
Rang from
That cry
Ah,
of the unknown.
the temple.
Thou
art silent.
on me a terror
Some dreadful deed is toward. Have mercy, woman!
Give me some little word to ease my soul.
There
steals
files,
The Chorus.
men for good or ill.
The lowly as the great,
All
Are
Of unrelenting
Fate.
34
WhcMi
first
And
we
While
Fate has
must
feet
tare.
[ 77ft'
The Choru?.
We
And
In ecstasy
And
unknown,
Through Heaven
Must bend them to that
their
than
own.
\HephcBstion,
sword
He
The Chorus.
But men of shallow soul
And
35
To
bitterest
wrong.
Hephastion.
Bring the herald hither.
Cleito. [In a whisper] Hephaestion.
.
Althea.
Cleito.
Hephastion.
Cleito.
Lead
Heph<Stion.
my
mother away.
out of a trance\
Cleito
[She takes Cleito's hand.]
!
my
Wherefore
.''
\_A pause.]
And who
Now
hear,
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
36
my
[//<r voice
The
I
Ye
a shriek]
riics lo
thick night on
piercing soul
mine
back
glimmers red
fools! stand
eyeballs
And
as
Althea.
Stop
No step
[She draws Cleito forcibly back.]
Further!
Hephaestion,
I
shall
go mad
make an end
an end
\_Iphicles
enters^
followed by various
Warriors
The Herald.
Thou
HephcBstion.
hast heard
Of all
will
of
all
my
lips
her men.
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
37
Do
speak well
{^He is
Althea.
The
Althea, is it well
will of Artis is my will.
Thou
HephcBstion.
hast heard
We
We
The Herald. Oh, yet, bethink thee three to one are we,
For all thy mightiest men are far away.
Haply they lie in distant battle slain,
Or under the green waves
:
Enough
HephcBstion.
Not Zeus
May
[^Renewed shouts.]
The Herald,
HephcBstion.
I call
He
THE
38
GODDESS
VTK(,IN
The Herald.
To
Cresphontes
[Ex-it,
CUito.
me will
A pause.
my son, make
am leal to thee.
Oh,
answer!
I,
mother, I alone
Say but a little word
Oh, speak to me
Where is he?
[A pause.]
I want thy voice
O Hephaestion,
Althea.
Speak, for I cannot
Mother, he is here
Hephizstion.
But thou shalt never hear his voice again.
Cleito. But thou shalt never hear his voice again.
[A pause ; then with deadly cabn?[
Thv
Where
lies his
body
By the
Hephastion.
altar.
[Cleito starts
to
Cleito.
I
Out of this
Henceforth
assist
me
Nay,
now.
to the corpse ?\
What
have
done
39
I did.
This
is
my
it'\
son.
Hephaestion.
Heph<zstion.
Mother
.-^
How
Cleito.
came
my
son to die
HephcBStion.
Cleito.
It
What
is't
thou sayest
cannot be.
spake
Saying, "
slew him.
[T)azedly\
heard a
voice
And
yet, I
that
knew
not.
'[
And many
Unmurmuring.
that.
Hephastion.
Thy
Cleito,
who
it
spake, Hephaestion,
was
1,
who
slew
Cresphontes, with the illustrious sword he shamed,
Our father's sword, and purged it with his blood.
son,
40
her feci
to
Cleito.
Not
Where
is
Upon
Hephcestion.
Heph^stion,
one.
the altar,
Come
Cleito.
hither.
[HephcBsiion goes up
to her.]
Take my hand
And
guide
[He
it
does
to the sword.
so,
and
sword front
the altar.]
the
Althea.
Warriors.
Althea
suddenly
Hephsestion,
She
is filled
with
fire
springs
aside.]
divine,
41
will
if I
[Who
would.
Hephasstion,
sinned,
I
will accept
Hear me
sword that
have cleansed,
If at thy hands
Of furious
" Sunlike
death, and in
my
heart
I said,
Magnificent in dreadful
pomp
of blood
"
42
slew him.
love
And
ushered
me
Mv
[A pause ;
then
sword drop
to
the grojind.']
Cleito.
know not
Thy words
My
son
is
if
are fair
dead, and
am
fair.
is
dead
.
43
words.
Dead
dead
leave
me
with
my
dead alone,
[Two men
if this
Hephcestion, Althea
Death
eyes,
song.]
Semi-Chorus of Women.
Out of the night
Where unborn
He
silently
spirits are
44
He
Semi-Chorus of Men.
shore
Chorus.
Shades among shades,
Down shadow
He
glides,
valleys strange
That
far as
change,
in the
He may
Enough.
He
To
men, and
is
dead.
And
ye that
now
are free
fight as
.?
And we
45
and death
{^Renewed shouts^
HephcBstion.
Why
Am
Why
Althea,
dost thou stand with white, averted face
not clean and guiltless in thine eyes ?
[^ pause.
art
thou
silent
Bid these
Althea.
And
I will
men
depart
speak.
Or
triumph.
Warriors.
We
Chorus]
And you
O
O
divinely just,
with thee
46
Oh,
yilthfa.
Be
still!
How
;iid
Whose
Who
Ahhea.
The
sin
which
lit
47
Upon
Not
Althea
He speaks
And
Through thy
Speak
was
lips
it
No.
Althea.
What
HephcBstion.
Althea.
My
then
again,
[He
Beloved
Thy
That
And
48
HcphcTstion. Althc.i
Ahhca.
The chosen of
city,
Thv blasphemous
desire,
slain
Thy
Awav
O, thou who
If
For
And
it
was
who
lured
That smouldered
of
human
love
and it was I
Whose furious love and hatred urged him on
To drench thy feet with awful blood. Lo, then,
1 kneel before thee with uncovered breast.
Loosen the string and let thine arrow find
Here in my heart its just and proper home.
HephcBstion. What if indeed she loose that arrow now ?
Ah not before such beauty is mine own.
[Draws her forcibly up to him.]
Althea!
Althea. [Struggling feebly] Let me go
in his heart,
Hephczstion.
Never again
Althea.
We
night
Up
Those
so afraid
now we
stand embraced
them on,
to him]
Look in my
feel
love in all thy being,
not
my
Dost thou
And my defending arms about thy form ?
And
of the
terrors
Winds
am
round with
compassed
are
49
thou
art
afraid
still
Althea.
Hold me
kiss
Full on
against thee
face.
hold
Ah,
me
my
love,
hard.
love,
Ah,
me
my
lips
When
[He
And
me
kisses her.]
long
HephcBstion.
first
Unspoken
And
ever on
A face
my
me
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
50
I
s;nv
saw
in the
it
in the
And
And in the silver spirit of the dawn,
And on the white and lonely mountain
And moving like a vapour on the sea
1
tops,
so white and
chaste,
Thy
HephcBstion.
face,
beloved.
Ah,
it
My
Queen
Althea.
Then
Me
then 'twas
me
years
whom
worship
all
those
And when
thou
face.
51
Parted by
We
fate,
Hath put
my
veins.
And thewed me
The
Queen Althea,
thou, Hephaestion, our exceeding peril
Hath moved the great heart of the Holy One,
And to our cry she hath inclined her ear.
Priest.
And
And
hair
Sa
Who
.Ilthdi.
Till
[Exi/.]
What end ?
Our heaven cancelled by the tides of night.
Ilcphivsiion. The starless night were beautiful with thee
HephcBStion.
AlthCii.
We
and what
is
Althea,
death
I
know
not.
Chorus.
The
Her
Chorus.
brilliant
And
And
53
Althea.
Chorus.
To
Thou
the threshold
stands one of the three Virgins. Her aspect
IS wild and menacing.
She glides forward^
,
Virgin. Enough
The Holy One hath heard our prayer.
Althea. Hephasstion, shield me from that woman's eyes,
Fiery with accusing menace
!
She
unalterable decree
From under my
feet
The dark
to the
ground?^
54
Althea
[Ftc'rce/\ to the
she
is
white and
Virgin]
Nor with
as death.
I prayed within,
suddenly upon my soul there swept
Unearthly music from the hills of dream
And alien darkness from beyond the world.
Then a white star rose singing in the gloom,
Grew large, and like a vast and luminous rose,
Unfolding delicate petals one by one.
Disclosed a heart intolerably bright.
And from that brightness, like an odour, breathed
The voice of Artemis, and spake
" Hephaestion,
Whose life was dedicate to none save me,
Lured by the fair flesh of his brother's wife,
Hath scorned his vow and slain his brother, and sought
To veil his wickedness in patriot love.
Therefore shall Artis sink into the dust,
And all her people to the dead go down.
Unless Hephaestion take his father's sword
And slay Althea as sacrifice to me
Ere the sun disappear into the wave.
Nor shall he leave this precinct where he stands
And join the battle ere this deed be done.
I have spoken."
And the luminous blossom closed
I'irgin.
When
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
55
Its petals,
And
[Silence.
Iphicles.
Beyond our
walls
Against us.
IHe
Take thy
father's
and
sword
Warrior touches
armP[
The Queen
to Aithea']
Iphicles.
[A Warrior hands
father's
sword
Iphicles.
It
ails
me ^
her will
Nothing
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
56
Hcph<tstion. {Pointing
to
the ^irgin^
Hath raved
delirious fury.
[Pointing
IphicUs.
in his arvis
raises her
and (^accs
up and says
one of the
IVarriors]
And
[A Warrior
ar)ns.'\
The
slenderest
No, not
rumour of
a breath.
[Clasps AltJuds
Go.
Iphicles.
my
Queen.
Heph^stion.
thou
Iphicles.
HepIicBstion.
{Fiercely]
I'll
sully
not
my
lips
spake.
repeating
them.
{Picks up his sword]
Come,
Virgin.
Our goddess
.-^
Iphicles,
all
57
Unless
I charge thee hold thy peace and go.
not endure thy speech again.
Virgin.
Hephasstion,
Beware lest blacker hurricane of wrath
Descend upon thee. That which I have heard
That must I speak for all the world to hear.
Because this man desired his brother's wife
He killed his brother and brake his deathless vows
Therefore shall ruin rush upon the city
Unless he slay the woman whom he loves
Ere the sun disappear into the sea.
\^Constemation.'\
Warrior. [In a whisper'] The Queen }
HephcBstion.
I'll
The Queen.
Virgin,
Iphicles.
\Dully\
HephcBstion.
Was
not right
her soul.
[He moves
Hephasstion,
It was decreed thou should'st not go to battle
Before that awful sacrifice was made.
who hath force to hold
HepJuBstion. [Defiantly'] Ah
Leave her to rave and follow me.
off.^
Virgin.
war-ward
Come
feet
my
[He
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
58
IVarrior. [In
<;
ichispir]
Lord
IphicUs
Is
.
he smitten
[Hcphastiofi stamis
what
ri^iii.
thee ?
Lord ?
The Warriors whisper
alls
together.^
Hush
HephrsttGH.
\I)t
ii
fiiini,
tremuhus
voice']
Iphicles.
am here.
Give me thy
Iphiclcs.
hand.
stand as in a night without a star
am
afeared.
Thy
am
Ah
...
hand.
hold
me
fast
benumbed.
Iphicles, something,
something
Laid on my heart a viewless clutch of ice.
I
all
could not
move
dared not
move
IpJiicles aside.]
Away
invisibly arrested.,
and
staggers backwards.,
[Shouting without.
Two
Warrior.
Where
is
he
the
riedly^
He
Hephasstion, come
59
.Another Warrior.
The foe
Have gained that breach they made against the south
They crushed us backward with resistless spears.
Give us thine arm and tarry not
\A pause. He glances around him bewildered
!
Hephaestion
Hephcestion.
[After
Unmanned me
me
of
no moreand now
\He seems pull
Now must take my sword my
my power
dream
hitnself together^
to
father's
The sword
cleansed,
They called me
sword
fight.
up the sword.]
\Hephcestion takes the sword and stands motionless., staring wildly before him.']
What
Another Warrior.
Iphicles. [Touching HephcBstion's
is it ?
He
arni]
is
accursed.
Hephaestion, speak.
6o
Hephicst'ion.
my
am
undMK*.
[//<
Leave me
them
zcavcs
alone.
all aside,
Virgin.
He
Ah, thou,
White
And trom my
spirit
lift
from
ofF
my
face,
her,
but
Stand back
thon furiously.']
Iphicles. [Struggling with him\ Hephaestion, art thou mad
HephcBStion. [In a frenzy]
Stand back, 1 say!
See how she smiles on me with hate of hell.
I will obliterate that face
Let go
[He
assails
.''
Warrior.
Iphicles.
Lord,
She
implore thee
!
is
6i
Harken to my words,
Nor waste thyself in fury on my head.
I am but the passive instrument wherethrough
Artemis breathes her will, and in thy heart,
Hephasstion, well thou knowest I am true
And speak what I have heard. I hate thee not
Rather I pity thee as the sport of fate
And Queen Althea, whose beauty lured thee on.
But when the gods speak they must be obeyed.
be thou resigned,
Resistance is in vain
And take the awful punishment decreed.
[The Virgin turns and glides slowly back into
:
temple.
//ephcBstion. [Unsteadily]
And
the
long pause.']
Why
Go
stand
you
here.''
The
thou, Hephaestion
.f*
What of me ? Away
Warrior. In vain, for now we battle without hope.
//ephcBstion. [/n sudden fury] Thou liest
[Springs upon the man and clutches his throat.]
Let go
Warrior.
Unsay those words
//ephcBStion.
,Hephcestion. [Fiercely]
/phicles.
[Restraining //ephcestion]
man
o_ff]
My
What meant
lord
that fellow
62
I'll
prove him
And
tear his
Hcphtxit'ton.
Iphicles,
thou
Alas,
Iphicles.
my
lord, alas
Why
.''
I know not
thy servant and obey thy will.
HtphcBStion. 'Tis well.
Then take my will and get thee
gone.
Even were that woman's frenzy high inspired
By the unsparing purpose of the gods
And urged by all the tyranny of fate,
I would oppose it to the latest breath,
And final ebb of power to grasp my sword.
And had each man of Artis myriad lives,
And every life were an agony to lose,
And all were lost unless I slew the Queen
Then should the Queen live and those others die,
Woman and man and child. Are ye content ?
Iphicles,
I
am
Then
get ye gone.
\_Iphicles
\A silence.']
and Warriors move off.]
63
Go
HephcBStion.
and
Chorus?^
Chorus.
\While
Not
in slow decay
Let
And retreating
me go my way
But
in flare
Back
light
fight.
Be the
last I see,
Sorrow-laden sighs
Close the ears of me
These for slaves and women
:
am man and
And
As unto
a bride
Singing as they go
us wavelike
Down upon
And
roll
Turn my
And my
soul to
pulses
fire,
bound
tire.
free.
64
Force
met with
h;is
force.
This
is life
feel.
to keep
This
death
to leap
the topmost height
ecstatic being straight into the night.
is
From
Of
Hc/^h(rstion.
[Ptissionaie/y]
linough
Why
torture
me
One of
Chorus. There
the
is
naught
left to
that death
Come
as the lightning
Leave me
Chorus. [As
not.
HephcBStion.
alone.
One of the
westward, lord
the sun
Sheds a long path of gold across the sea.
[ The sunlight deepens in colour until the
Look
close
of
the Act.]
[A pause.
Hephcestion.
For bound,
Than
down
65
.
Am
I alone ?
\ln sudden terror]
There stands
One in the sunlight whom I cannot see.
She binds my feet, she robs me of my power.
She reads with smiling cruelty my heart
Writ large with helpless passion and despair.
Blowing from
Upon my
YHe
wind of night
like a
of ice
Artemis
.1
.
her breath
Artemis.
feel
.
Why
I
face
me
hills
will stand
No
should
And go
with
fear
all
my
And
cruellest,
[^Cleito
girl.]
Ah,
Mother, thou com'st in favourable hour
To flaunt thy triumph and to mock thy son,
Cleito. I triumph not, nor mock thee in thy fall.
Justice I asked and justice I received.
E
66
Ui'phiVsiion.
And
lies
Then
CUito.
Thy
sentence
slie
Jlcpluestion.
uf intense hatred]
unconscious of her doom
CUito. [/;/
heard
voice
it was spoken.
Let her not die
And
And
And
And
realise the
all
all
all
I/ephcBStion.
Be
still
Old woman,
On
lite
let
Not on Althea
sacrificed
by me.
will
Long
Cleito.
since in
by
care not for thy dreams.
slain
thee.
dream
saw
[Touching
arm
and
67
a changed voice'X
Hephasstlon,
have borne two sons, and one of them is not,
his
in
And
With
[y4
Where
pause.
Attendant.
Cleito.
Then must
this
[^A
pause.
He
stands motionless^
HephcBstion.
cannot be
it
shall
not be
eyes,
my
no no
Queen,
!
\Flinging off
Cleito' s
Away
Thy murderous
me from
hand.]
!
the path
68
Which
wilJiout.'l
Ah!
Be
Cldto.
The
cry of children
T/ic
and hark!
still
women,
'[Her voice sharp with fear'] Ah, the streets run blood
The towers are wrapt in unremorseful fire
Is it
too late
HcphcTStion,
upon the
sea
tell
me
Not
HephcBStion.
Cieito.
Then
fetch the
Queen
Where
is
Queen.
Why lingerest
\The
cries
Save them
yet.
The
quick
grow
thou?
louder.']
cries again
.
[She falls
her
07i
knees,
clutching
hold
of
HephcBstion.]
Of
blood
thousands
wilt
thou drown
thyself in
must
I
will
it
millions, they
die.
69
to the
palace steps.]
i7i
[Cries
The sun
An Old Man.
An Old Woman.
me
Let
Hephaestion,
lo,
my
speak!
daughter
is
with
child
And
slowly starves
Slain
My
Woman.
little
son
is
dead
by the pestilence
Another Woman.
Another Woynan.
Another Woman.
Another Woman.
Where
We
We
is
Althea
perish by degrees.
The end
we
trust in thee
is
near.
pray to thee
Hephaestion,
On thee, and thee alone, depend our lives
Save us
[They fall on their knees^ wailing,]
!
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
70
save us
Save us
Warrior. \Cominiifuiing silence]
Others.
me
Let
speak,
And
[A
pause."]
Woman. O save us
Another Woman. O have mercy on thy people
!
HephcBstion.
can do nothing.
Warrior.
Is
Althea alive
name
pass thy
lips again.
It
spirit that
quenched
Cleito.
71
He, and he
And
This
is
your hero,
And
Our
Say, are
will
Men
Cleito.
These
are
no men.
The
Men
Warrior. Silence
Hephaestion,
men we had
war and now are dead.
only
Women.
The
we must have
the
Queen,
And
We
Hephcestion. [Drawing
No
Ye
his sword]
mortal power hath force to make
shall not have the Queen
1
Stand back
me
yield.
72
Stand hack,
That man
dead
is
who
say
Further.
Enough
Seize him,
The Oueen
.7 If^iirrur.
Or we
are lost.
me.
To
assail
If another
me where
man
Now
his throat']
to
hear
step forth
stand, this
sword
shall
draw
Queen,
She stands
Oueen
Althea.
Althea descends
Thy
hands are
Not
erring, as
him and
flesh
I
touches his
and blood.
hoped, in
evil
hand fearfully .]
I
am
awake,
dreams.
But who
are ye
know you
not.
Hephaestion,
What meant
[Hephcestion
is silent?^
mad ?
faces
Whence come
these lowering
What
city?
passed
Hear my words
Cleito.
Hephcestion.
\To AUhea.]
I
73
Beloved, go
And
Cleito.
And
Be
HephcBstion.
Althea.
command
thee stay
pouching
still
Cleito s
Cleito.
[^A
long
silence.
to
HephcBstion.']
Althea. Hephaestion
HephcBStion.
Queen.
The words
Althea.
Are
[He
Answer me.
is silent.']
THE VIRGIN GODDESS
74
They arc
Hcph<TStioyu
[-]
true.
pause.
Althca looks towards the sinking sun,
tlun turns to J/r/'//(i'st/o/i.]
Where must
die
What are
And what
Nothing
to
to
me
me
mad?
Hcphcest'ton.
the world,
all
We
stand alone
but such a love as ours
Stronger than hatred, stronger than the gods,
;
And
Cleito,
yet so pitiful.
Love
that so strangles
all
nobility
75
Be
still
As
Hephaestion,
The
And
HephcBStion.
I
slay thee
Even
Althea.
so.
Slay thee.
Speak,
Althea, listen.
Virgin, fired by some delirious hate.
Lied, for I saw it in her face
she lied.
Thy death would nought avail to save the
The
cannot.
Hear me
Woman.
city.
7vith execrations?^
Another Woman.
Believe him not.
Cleito. Peace
For she cannot now escape her doom
They are both tangled in the web of fate.
Living I saw her not
I have seen her dead.
She's dead already.
Bring the Virgin hither.
Althea.
!
\^A
mi- VIRGIN GODDESS
76
Oueen,
Nor hc;ir th;it vcilcc dcm)imciiig judgment.
Grant me a little time a little time ...
The sun is low.
Altheii. I have no time to grant.
HcpJuFSt'ion. \^^'iliily\ Then I implore thy mercy, I am
,
broken,
Had
I
my
knees
Althca,
god of war,
would
if
But drive
I
my
my
all
vjith
soul.
love
cannot.
And
blasting
him
to
all
statue l\
eternity?
All
I crave
death, In any agony thou wilt.
pity me
But not this vengeance
\^He covers his face with his hands.]
Is
[He
looks up.]
hand
Death
77
in thine,
Whom
We
And
all I
am
is
passionately thine
Friend, had
breath
And
filled
neck.]
Tllli:
78
VIRGIN GODDESS
head.^
Althea. [Turning
of
my
the piople\
to
And
city,
Take from my
'\
Cleito, farewell
Farewell
Beloved,
Chorus files out of the temple]
Come, for the sun's rim rests upon the sea.
Cleito.
Althea. [As
And
the
the night
calls
my
spirit
from
afar.
79
the statue,
and Althea
temple.']
Chorus.
Disimpassioned Queen of Darkness, lo, to thee there
Cometh one,
Fairer never trod the meadows or delighted in the sun,
And for her the joy of living and of love had just begun.
her,
aside.
enter,
And
to
imminent
disgrace.
And
Warrior.
Hark
8o
VIRGIN GODDESS
Till-:
They
If^oman.
arc here
Another If^oman.
Another ff^omcin.
fVarrior. Althea dies
Another JVarrior.
Our
the foe!
It is
We
in vain
Come,
louder.
A II the
last
us die,
let
unto the
are lost
least
An
lives.
We
Old Man.
sacrificed the
Queen.
They come
Artemis,
let
death be swift
\A Warrior rushes
for
we
Saved
[Hysterical weepiytg
An
Old Man.
What
are saved
Saved
in.]
Woman.
Old Man. Are
An
We
are saved
8i
They
Warrior.
fly
They have
Women. Our
galleys
Speak
Others.
Others.
Warrior.
Praise ye the gods
Yea,
our long-lost ships are here
!
\Iphicles enters^
Iphicles.
Artis,
from the
We
For even
We
82
Our
And
hi)ly city
[IVif/i s/ioufs
cries
ofjoy
tlic
The Queen
HephiHstion.
is
dead.
\^A silence.]
Chorus.
Inscrutable are they
On
They
lavish to despoil,
And wreck
to raise again.
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