University of Virginia Library

THE CUP

A TRAGEDY

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

GALATIANS.

• Synorix, an ex-Tetrarch.
• Sinnatus, a Tetrarch.
• Attendant.
• Boy.
• Maid.
• Phœbe.
• Camma, wife of Sinnatus, afterwards Priestess in the Temple of Artemis.

ROMANS.

• Antonius, a Roman General.
• Publius.
• Nobleman.
• Messenger.

ACT I.

Scene I.

—Distant View of a City of Galatia.
As the curtain rises, Priestesses are heard singing in the Temple. Boy discovered on a pathway among Rocks, picking grapes. A party of Roman Soldiers, guarding a prisoner in chains, come down the pathway and exeunt.
Enter Synorix (looking round). Singing ceases.
Synorix.
[Brings out a cup and scroll from under his cloak.
What have I written to her?
[Reading the scroll.

‘To the admired Camma, wife of Sinnatus, the Tetrarch, one who years ago, himself an adorer of our great goddess, Artemis, beheld you afar off worshipping in her Temple, and loved you for it, sends you this cup rescued from the burning of one of her shrines in a city thro' which he past with the Roman army: it is the cup we use in our marriages. Receive it from one who cannot at present write himself other than ‘A Galatian serving by force in the Roman Legion.’

[Turns and looks up to Boy.

Boy.
These grapes are for the house of Sinnatus—
Close to the Temple.

Synorix.
Yonder?

Boy.
Yes.

Synorix
(aside).
That I
With all my range of women should yet shun
To meet her face to face at once! My boy, [Boy comes down rocks to him.

Take thou this letter and this cup to Camma,
The wife of Sinnatus.

Boy.
Going or gone to-day
To hunt with Sinnatus.

Synorix.
That matters not.
Take thou this cup and leave it at her doors.

[Gives the cup and scroll to the Boy.
Boy.
I will, my lord.

[Takes his basket of grapes and exit.
Enter Antonius.
Antonius
(meeting the Boy as he goes out).
Why, whither runs the boy?
Is that the cup you rescued from the fire?

Synorix.
I send it to the wife of Sinnatus,
One half besotted in religious rites.
You come here with your soldiers to enforce
The long-withholden tribute: you suspect
This Sinnatus of playing patriotism,
Which in your sense is treason. You have yet
No proof against him: now this pious cup
Is passport to their house, and open arms
To him who gave it; and once there I warrant
I worm thro' all their windings.

Antonius.
If you prosper,
Our Senate, wearied of their tetrarchies,
Their quarrels with themselves, their spites at Rome,
Is like enough to cancel them, and throne
One king above them all, who shall be true
To the Roman: and from what I heard in Rome,
This tributary crown may fall to you.

Synorix.
The king, the crown! their talk in Rome? is it so?
[Antonius nods.
Well—I shall serve Galatia taking it,
And save her from herself, and be to Rome
More faithful than a Roman.
[Turns and sees Camma coming.
[Watching Camma as she enters with her Maid.

Camma
(to Maid).
Where is he, girl?

Maid.
You know the waterfall
That in the summer keeps the mountain side,
But after rain o'erleaps a jutting rock
And shoots three hundred feet.

Camma.
The stag is there?

Maid.
Seen in the thicket at the bottom there
But yester-even.

Camma.
Good then, we will climb
The mountain opposite and watch the chase.

[They descend the rocks and exeunt.
Synorix
(watching her).
(Aside.)
The bust of Juno and the brows and eyes
Of Venus; face and form unmatchable!

Antonius.
Why do you look at her so lingeringly?

Synorix.
To see if years have changed her.

Antonius
(sarcastically).
Love her, do you?

Synorix.
I envied Sinnatus when he married her.

Antonius.
She knows it? Ha!

Synorix.
She—no, nor ev'n my face.

Antonius.
Nor Sinnatus either?

Synorix.
No, nor Sinnatus.

Antonius.
Hot-blooded! I have heard them say in Rome,
That your own people cast you from their bounds,
For some unprincely violence to a woman,
As Rome did Tarquin.

Synorix.
Well, if this were so,
I here return like Tarquin—for a crown.

Antonius.
And may be foil'd like Tarquin, if you follow
Not the dry light of Rome's straight-going policy,
But the fool-fire of love or lust, which well
May make you lose yourself, may even drown you
In the good regard of Rome.

Synorix.
Tut—fear me not;
I ever had my victories among women.
I am most true to Rome.

Antonius
(aside).
I hate the man!
What filthy tools our Senate works with! Still
I must obey them. (Aloud.)
Fare you well.

[Going.
Synorix.
Farewell!

Antonius
(stopping).
A moment! If you track this Sinnatus
In any treason, I give you here an order
[Produces a paper.
To seize upon him. Let me sign it. (Signs it.)
There
‘Antonius leader of the Roman Legion.’

[Hands the paper to Synorix. Goes up pathway and exit.
Synorix.
Enter Sinnatus, Huntsmen and hounds.

Sinnatus.
Ay, ay, why not? What would you with me, man?

Synorix.
I am a life-long lover of the chase,
And tho' a stranger fain would be allow'd
To join the hunt.

Sinnatus.
Your name?

Synorix.
Strato, my name.

Sinnatus.
No Roman name?

Synorix.
A Greek, my lord; you know
That we Galatians are both Greek and Gaul.

[Shouts and horns in the distance.
Sinnatus.
Hillo, the stag! (To Synorix.)
What, you are all unfurnish'd?
Give him a bow and arrows—follow—follow.

[Exit, followed by Huntsmen.
Synorix.
Slowly but surely—till I see my way.
It is the one step in the dark beyond
Our expectation, that amazes us.
[Distant shouts and horns.
Hillo! Hillo!

[Exit Synorix. Shouts and horns.

Scene II.

—A Room in the Tetrarch's House.
Frescoed figures on the walls. Evening. Moonlight outside. A couch with cushions on it. A small table with flagon of wine, cups, plate of grapes, etc., also the cup of Scene I. A chair with drapery on it.
Camma enters, and opens curtains of window.
Camma.
[Takes up a cithern and sits on couch. Plays and sings.
(Listening.)
Is he coming? I thought I heard
A footstep. No not yet. They say that Rome
Sprang from a wolf. I fear my dear lord mixt
With some conspiracy against the wolf.
This mountain shepherd never dream'd of Rome.
(Sings.)
‘Safe from the wolf to the fold’—
And that great break of precipice that runs
Thro' all the wood, where twenty years ago
Huntsman, and hound, and deer were all neck-broken!
Nay, here he comes.

Enter Sinnatus followed by Synorix.
Sinnatus
(angrily).
I tell thee, my good fellow,
My arrow struck the stag.

Synorix.
But was it so?
Nay, you were further off: besides the wind
Went with my arrow.

Sinnatus.
I am sure I struck him.

Synorix.
And I am just as sure, my lord, I struck him.
(Aside.)
And I may strike your game when you are gone.

Camma.
Come, come, we will not quarrel about the stag.
I have had a weary day in watching you.
Yours must have been a wearier. Sit and eat,
And take a hunter's vengeance on the meats.

Sinnatus.
No, no—we have eaten—we are heated. Wine!

Camma.
Who is our guest?

Sinnatus.
Strato he calls himself.

[Camma offers wine to Synorix, while Sinnatus helps himself.
Sinnatus.
I pledge you, Strato.

[Drinks.
Synorix.
And I you, my lord.

[Drinks.
Sinnatus
(seeing the cup sent to Camma).
What's here?

Camma.
A strange gift sent to me to-day.
A sacred cup saved from a blazing shrine
Of our great Goddess, in some city where
Antonius past. I had believed that Rome
Made war upon the peoples not the Gods.

Synorix.
Most like the city rose against Antonius,
Whereon he fired it, and the sacred shrine
By chance was burnt along with it.

Sinnatus.
Had you then
No message with the cup?

Camma.
Why, yes, see here.

[Gives him the scroll.
Sinnatus
(reads).
‘To the admired Camma,—beheld you afar off—
loved you—sends you this cup—the cup we use in our
marriages—cannot at present write himself other than
‘A Galatian serving by force in the Roman Legion.’
Serving by force! Were there no boughs to hang on,
Rivers to drown in? Serve by force? No force
Could make me serve by force.

Synorix.
How then, my lord?
The Roman is encampt without your city—
The force of Rome a thousand-fold our own.
Must all Galatia hang or drown herself?
And you a Prince and Tetrarch in this province—

Sinnatus.
Province!

Synorix.
Well, well, they call it so in Rome.

Sinnatus
(angrily).
Province!

Synorix.
A noble anger! but Antonius
To-morrow will demand your tribute—you,
Can you make war? Have you alliances?
Bithynia, Pontus, Paphlagonia?
We have had our leagues of old with Eastern kings.
There is my hand—if such a league there be.
What will you do?

Sinnatus.
Not set myself abroach
And run my mind out to a random guest
Who join'd me in the hunt. You saw my hounds
True to the scent; and we have two-legg'd dogs
Among us who can smell a true occasion,
And when to bark and how.

Synorix.
(Aside.)
Would I could move him,
Provoke him any way! (Aloud.)
The Lady Camma,
Wise I am sure as she is beautiful,
Will close with me that to submit at once
Is better than a wholly-hopeless war,
Our gallant citizens murder'd all in vain,
Son, husband, brother gash'd to death in vain,
And the small state more cruelly trampled on
Than had she never moved.

Camma.
Sir, I had once
A boy who died a babe; but were he living
And grown to man and Sinnatus will'd it, I
Would set him in the front rank of the fight
With scarce a pang. (Rises.)
Sir, if a state submit
At once, she may be blotted out at once
And swallow'd in the conqueror's chronicle.
Whereas in wars of freedom and defence
The glory and grief of battle won or lost
Solders a race together—yea—tho' they fail,
The names of those who fought and fell are like
A bank'd-up fire that flashes out again
From century to century, and at last
May lead them on to victory—I hope so—
Like phantoms of the Gods.

Sinnatus.
Well spoken, wife.

Synorix
(bowing).
Madam, so well I yield.

Sinnatus.
I should not wonder
If Synorix, who has dwelt three years in Rome
And wrought his worst against his native land,
Returns with this Antonius.

Synorix.
What is Synorix?

Sinnatus.
Galatian, and not know? This Synorix
Was Tetrarch here, and tyrant also—did
Dishonour to our wives.

Synorix.
Perhaps you judge him
With feeble charity: being as you tell me
Tetrarch, there might be willing wives enough
To feel dishonour, honour.

Camma.
Do not say so.
I know of no such wives in all Galatia.
There may be courtesans for aught I know
Whose life is one dishonour.

Enter Attendant.
Attendant
(aside).
My lord, the men!

Sinnatus
(aside).
Our anti-Roman faction?

Attendant
(aside).
Ay, my lord.

Synorix
(overhearing).
(Aside.)
I have enough—their anti-Roman faction.

Sinnatus
(aloud).
Some friends of mine would speak with me without.
You, Strato, make good cheer till I return.

[Exit.
Synorix.
I have much to say, no time to say it in.
First, lady, know myself am that Galatian
Who sent the cup.

Camma.
I thank you from my heart.

Synorix.
[Coming closer.
[Takes out paper given him by Antonius.

Camma.
(Reads.)
‘You are to seize on Sinnatus,—if—’

Synorix.
(Snatches paper.)
No more.
What follows is for no wife's eyes. O Camma,
Rome has a glimpse of this conspiracy;
Rome never yet hath spar'd conspirator.
Horrible! flaying, scourging, crucifying—

Camma.
I am tender enough. Why do you practise on me?

Synorix.
Why should I practise on you? How you wrong me!
I am sure of being every way malign'd.
And if you should betray me to your husband—

Camma.
Will you betray him by this order?

Synorix.
See,
I tear it all to pieces, never dream'd
Of acting on it.

[Tears the paper.
Camma.
I owe you thanks for ever.

Synorix.
Hath Sinnatus never told you of this plot?

Camma.
What plot?

Synorix.
A child's sand-castle on the beach
For the next wave—all seen,—all calculated,
All known by Rome. No chance for Sinnatus.

Camma.
Why said you not as much to my brave Sinnatus?

Synorix.
[Camma shudders.
(Aside.)
I have made her tremble.
(Aloud.)
I know they mean to torture him to death.
I dare not tell him how I came to know it;
I durst not trust him with—my serving Rome
To serve Galatia: you heard him on the letter.
Not say as much? I all but said as much.
I am sure I told him that his plot was folly.
I say it to you—you are wiser—Rome knows all,
But you know not the savagery of Rome.

Camma.
O—have you power with Rome? use it for him!

Synorix.
[As if struck by a sudden thought. Comes over to her.

Camma.
Still—I should tell
My husband.

Synorix.
Will he let you plead for him
To a Roman?

Camma.
I fear not.

Synorix.
Then do not tell him.
Or tell him, if you will, when you return,
When you have charm'd our general into mercy,
And all is safe again. O dearest lady,
[Murmurs of
‘Synorix! Synorix!’
heard outside.
Think,—torture,—death,—and come.

Camma.
I will, I will.
And I will not betray you.

Synorix
(aside).
(As Sinnatus enters.)
Stand apart.

Enter Sinnatus and Attendant.
Sinnatus.
Thou art that Synorix! One whom thou hast wrong'd
Without there, knew thee with Antonius.
They howl for thee, to rend thee head from limb.

Synorix.
I am much malign'd. I thought to serve Galatia.

Sinnatus.
Serve thyself first, villain! They shall not harm
My guest within my house. There! (points to door)
there! this door
Opens upon the forest! Out, begone!
Henceforth I am thy mortal enemy.

Synorix.
However I thank thee (draws his sword);
thou hast saved my life.

[Exit.
Sinnatus.
(To Attendant.)
Return and tell them Synorix is not here.
[Exit Attendant.
What did that villain Synorix say to you?

Camma.
Is he—that—Synorix?

Sinnatus.
Wherefore should you doubt it?
One of the men there knew him.

Camma.
Only one,
And he perhaps mistaken in the face.

Sinnatus.
Come, come, could he deny it? What did he say?

Camma.
What should he say?

Sinnatus.
What should he say, my wife!
He should say this, that being Tetrarch once
His own true people cast him from their doors
Like a base coin.

Camma.
Not kindly to them?

Sinnatus.
Kindly?
O the most kindly Prince in all the world!
Would clap his honest citizens on the back,
Bandy their own rude jests with them, be curious
About the welfare of their babes, their wives,
O ay—their wives—their wives. What should he say?
He should say nothing to my wife if I
Were by to throttle him! He steep'd himself
In all the lust of Rome. How should you guess
What manner of beast it is?

Camma.
Yet he seem'd kindly,
And said he loathed the cruelties that Rome
Wrought on her vassals.

Sinnatus.
Did he, honest man?

Camma.
And you, that seldom brook the stranger here,
Have let him hunt the stag with you to-day.

Sinnatus.
I warrant you now, he said he struck the stag.

Camma.
Why no, he never touch'd upon the stag.

Sinnatus.
Why so I said, my arrow. Well, to sleep.

[Goes to close door.
Camma.
Nay, close not yet the door upon a night
That looks half day.

Sinnatus.
True; and my friends may spy him
And slay him as he runs.

Camma.
He is gone already.
Oh look,—yon grove upon the mountain,—white
In the sweet moon as with a lovelier snow!
But what a blotch of blackness underneath!
Sinnatus, you remember—yea, you must,
That there three years ago—the vast vine-bowers
Ran to the summit of the trees, and dropt
Their streamers earthward, which a breeze of May
Took ever and anon, and open'd out
The purple zone of hill and heaven; there
You told your love; and like the swaying vines—
Yea,—with our eyes,—our hearts, our prophet hopes
Let in the happy distance, and that all
But cloudless heaven which we have found together
In our three married years! You kiss'd me there
For the first time. Sinnatus, kiss me now.

Sinnatus.
First kiss. (Kisses her.)
There then. You talk almost as if it
Might be the last.

Camma.
Will you not eat a little?

Sinnatus.
No, no, we found a goat-herd's hut and shared
His fruits and milk. Liar! You will believe
Now that he never struck the stag—a brave one
Which you shall see to-morrow.

Camma.
I rise to-morrow
In the gray dawn, and take this holy cup
To lodge it in the shrine of Artemis.

Sinnatus.
Good!

Camma.
If I be not back in half an hour,
Come after me.

Sinnatus.
What! is there danger?

Camma.
Nay,
None that I know: 'tis but a step from here
To the Temple.

Sinnatus.
All my brain is full of sleep.
Wake me before you go, I'll after you—
After me now!

[Closes door and exit.
Camma
(drawing curtains).
Your shadow. Synorix—
His face was not malignant, and he said
That men malign'd him. Shall I go? Shall I go?
Death, torture—
‘He never yet flung back a woman's prayer’—
I go, but I will have my dagger with me.

[Exit.

Scene III.

—Same as Scene I. Dawn.
Music and Singing in the Temple.
Enter Synorix watchfully, after him Publius and Soldiers.
Synorix.
Publius!

Publius.
Here!

Synorix.
Do you remember what
I told you?

Publius.
When you cry ‘Rome, Rome,’ to seize
On whomsoever may be talking with you,
Or man, or woman, as traitors unto Rome.

Synorix.
Right. Back again. How many of you are there?

Publius.
Some half a score.

[Exeunt Soldiers and Publius
Synorix.
I have my guard about me.
I need not fear the crowd that hunted me
Across the woods, last night. I hardly gain'd
The camp at midnight. Will she come to me
Now that she knows me Synorix? Not if Sinnatus
Has told her all the truth about me. Well,
I cannot help the mould that I was cast in.
I fling all that upon my fate, my star.
I know that I am genial, I would be
Happy, and make all others happy so
They did not thwart me. Nay, she will not come.
Yet if she be a true and loving wife
She may, perchance, to save this husband. Ay!
See, see, my white bird stepping toward the snare.
Why now I count it all but miracle,
That this brave heart of mine should shake me so,
As helplessly as some unbearded boy's
When first he meets his maiden in a bower.

Enter Camma (with cup).
Synorix.
The lark first takes the sunlight on his wing,
But you, twin sister of the morning star,
Forelead the sun.

Camma.
Where is Antonius?

Synorix.
Not here as yet. You are too early for him.

[She crosses towards Temple.
Synorix.
Nay, whither go you now?

Camma.
To lodge this cup
Within the holy shrine of Artemis,
And so return.

Synorix.
To find Antonius here.
[She goes into the Temple, he looks after her.
The loveliest life that ever drew the light
From heaven to brood upon her, and enrich
Earth with her shadow! I trust she will return.
These Romans dare not violate the Temple.
No, I must lure my game into the camp.
A woman I could live and die for. What!
Die for a woman, what new faith is this?
I am not mad, not sick, not old enough
To doat on one alone. Yes, mad for her,
Camma the stately, Camma the great-hearted,
So mad, I fear some strange and evil chance
Coming upon me, for by the Gods I seem
Strange to myself.

Re-enter Camma.
Camma.
Where is Antonius?

Synorix.
Where? As I said before, you are still too early.

Camma.
Too early to be here alone with thee;
For whether men malign thy name, or no,
It bears an evil savour among women.
Where is Antonius?

(Loud.)
Synorix.
Madam, as you know
The camp is half a league without the city;
If you will walk with me we needs must meet
Antonius coming, or at least shall find him
There in the camp.

Camma.
No, not one step with thee.
Where is Antonius?

(Louder.)
Synorix
(advancing towards her).
Then for your own sake,
Lady, I say it with all gentleness,
And for the sake of Sinnatus your husband,
I must compel you.

Camma
(drawing her dagger).
Stay!—too near is death.

Synorix
(disarming her).
Is it not easy to disarm a woman?

Enter Sinnatus (seizes him from behind by the throat).
Synorix
(throttled and scarce audible).
Rome! Rome!

Sinnatus.
Synorix (stabbing him with Camma's dagger).
[Camma utters a cry and runs to Sinnatus.

Sinnatus
(falls backward).
I have it in my heart—to the Temple—fly—
For my sake—or they seize on thee. Remember!
Away—farewell!

[Dies.
Camma
(runs up the steps into the Temple, looking back).
Farewell!

Synorix
(seeing her escape).
[Looking down at Sinnatus.
[Looking down on Sinnatus.
Enter Publius and Soldiers.

Publius.
Why come we now? Whom shall we seize upon?

Synorix
(pointing to the body of Sinnatus).
The body of that dead traitor Sinnatus.
Bear him away.

Music and Singing in Temple.

ACT II.

Scene.—Interior of the Temple of Artemis.
Small gold gates on platform in front of the veil before the colossal statue of the Goddess, and in the centre of the Temple a tripod altar, on which is a lighted lamp. Lamps (lighted) suspended between each pillar. Tripods, vases, garlands of flowers, etc., about stage. Altar at back close to Goddess, with two cups. Solemn music. Priestesses decorating the Temple.
(The Chorus of Priestesses sing as they enter.)
Priestess.
Phœbe, that man from Synorix, who has been
So oft to see the Priestess, waits once more
Before the Temple.

Phœbe.
We will let her know.
[Signs to one of the Priestesses, who goes out.
Since Camma fled from Synorix to our Temple,
And for her beauty, stateliness, and power,
Was chosen Priestess here, have you not mark'd
Her eyes were ever on the marble floor?
To-day they are fixt and bright—they look straight out.
Hath she made up her mind to marry him?

Priestess.
To marry him who stabb'd her Sinnatus.
You will not easily make me credit that.

Phœbe.
Ask her.

Enter Camma as Priestess (in front of the curtains).
Priestess.
You will not marry Synorix?

Camma.
My girl, I am the bride of Death, and only
Marry the dead.

Priestess.
Not Synorix then?

Camma.
My girl,
At times this oracle of great Artemis
Has no more power than other oracles
To speak directly.

Phœbe.
Will you speak to him,
The messenger from Synorix who waits
Before the Temple?

Camma.
Why not? Let him enter.

[Comes forward on to step by tripod.
Enter a Messenger.
Messenger
(kneels).
Greeting and health from Synorix! More than once
You have refused his hand. When last I saw you,
You all but yielded. He entreats you now
For your last answer. When he struck at Sinnatus—
As I have many a time declared to you—
He knew not at the moment who had fasten'd
About his throat—he begs you to forget it.
As scarce his act:—a random stroke: all else
Was love for you: he prays you to believe him.

Camma.
I pray him to believe—that I believe him.

Messenger.
Why that is well. You mean to marry him?

Camma.
I mean to marry him—if that be well.

Messenger.
This very day the Romans crown him king
For all his faithful services to Rome.
He wills you then this day to marry him,
And so be throned together in the sight
Of all the people, that the world may know
You twain are reconciled, and no more feuds
Disturb our peaceful vassalage to Rome.

Camma.
To-day? Too sudden. I will brood upon it.
When do they crown him?

Messenger.
Even now.

Camma.
And where?

Messenger.
Here by your temple.

Camma.
Come once more to me
Before the crowning,—I will answer you.

[Exit Messenger.
Phœbe.
Great Artemis! O Camma, can it be well,
Or good, or wise, that you should clasp a hand
Red with the sacred blood of Sinnatus?

Camma.
Good! mine own dagger driven by Synorix found
All good in the true heart of Sinnatus,
And quench'd it there for ever. Wise!
Life yields to death and wisdom bows to Fate,
Is wisest, doing so. Did not this man
Speak well? We cannot fight imperial Rome,
But he and I are both Galatian-born,
And tributary sovereigns, he and I
Might teach this Rome—from knowledge of our people—
Where to lay on her tribute—heavily here
And lightly there. Might I not live for that,
And drown all poor self-passion in the sense
Of public good?

Phœbe.
I am sure you will not marry him.

Camma.
Are you so sure? I pray you wait and see.

[Shouts (from the distance),
‘Synorix! Synorix!’
Camma.
Synorix, Synorix! So they cried Sinnatus
Not so long since—they sicken me. The One
Who shifts his policy suffers something, must
Accuse himself, excuse himself; the Many
Will feel no shame to give themselves the lie.

Phœbe.
Most like it was the Roman soldier shouted.

Camma.
Their shield-borne patriot of the morning star
Hang'd at mid-day, their traitor of the dawn
The clamour'd darling of their afternoon!
And that same head they would have play'd at ball with
And kick'd it featureless—they now would crown.

[Flourish of trumpets.
Enter a Galatian Nobleman with crown on a cushion.
Noble
(kneels).
Greeting and health from Synorix. He sends you
This diadem of the first Galatian Queen,
That you may feed your fancy on the glory of it,
And join your life this day with his, and wear it
Beside him on his throne. He waits your answer.

Camma.
Tell him there is one shadow among the shadows,
One ghost of all the ghosts—as yet so new,
So strange among them—such an alien there,
So much of husband in it still—that if
The shout of Synorix and Camma sitting
Upon one throne, should reach it, it would rise
He! . . . He, with that red star between the ribs,
And my knife there—and blast the king and me,
And blanch the crowd with horror. I dare not, sir!
Throne him—and then the marriage—ay and tell him
That I accept the diadem of Galatia—
[All are amazed.
Yea, that ye saw me crown myself withal.
[Puts on the crown.
I wait him his crown'd queen.

Noble.
So will I tell him.

[Exit.
Music. Two Priestesses go up the steps before the shrine, draw the curtains on either side (discovering the Goddess), then open the gates and remain on steps, one on either side, and kneel. A priestess goes off and returns with a veil of marriage, then assists Phœbe to veil Camma. At the same time Priestesses enter and stand on either side of the Temple. Camma and all the Priestesses kneel, raise their hands to the Goddess, and bow down.
[Shouts,
‘Synorix! Synorix!’
All rise.
Camma.
Fling wide the doors, and let the new-made children
Of our imperial mother see the show.
[Sunlight pours through the doors.
I have no heart to do it. (To Phœbe).
Look for me!

[Crouches. Phœbe looks out.
[Shouts,
‘Synorix! Synorix!’
Phœbe.
He climbs the throne. Hot blood, ambition, pride
So bloat and redden his face—O would it were
His third last apoplexy! O bestial!
O how unlike our goodly Sinnatus.

Camma
(on the ground).
You wrong him surely; far as the face goes
A goodlier-looking man than Sinnatus.

Phœbe
(aside).
How dare she say it? I could hate her for it
But that she is distracted.

[A flourish of trumpets.
Camma.
Is he crown'd?

Phœbe.
Ay, there they crown him.

[Crowd without shout,
‘Synorix! Synorix!’
Camma.
[A Priestess brings a box of spices to Camma, who throws them on the altar-flame.
Rouse the dead altar-flame, fling in the spices,
Nard, Cinnamon, amomum, benzoin.
Let all the air reel into a mist of odour,
As in the midmost heart of Paradise.
Lay down the Lydian carpets for the king.
The king should pace on purple to his bride,
And music there to greet my lord the king. [Music.
(To Phœbe).

Dost thou remember when I wedded Sinnatus?
Ay, thou wast there—whether from maiden fears
Or reverential love for him I loved,
Or some strange second-sight, the marriage cup
Wherefrom we make libation to the Goddess
So shook within my hand, that the red wine
Ran down the marble and lookt like blood, like blood.

Phœbe.
I do remember your first-marriage fears.

Camma.
I have no fears at this my second marriage.
See here—I stretch my hand out—hold it there.
How steady it is!

Phœbe.
Steady enough to stab him!

Camma.
O hush! O peace! This violence ill becomes
The silence of our Temple. Gentleness,
Low words best chime with this solemnity. Enter a procession of Priestesses and Children bearing garlands and golden goblets, and strewing flowers.


Enter Synorix (as King, with gold laurel-wreath crown and purple robes), followed by Antonius, Publius, Noblemen, Guards, and the Populace.
Camma.
Hail, King!

Synorix.
Hail, Queen!
The wheel of Fate has roll'd me to the top.
I would that happiness were gold, that I
Might cast my largess of it to the crowd!
I would that every man made feast to-day
Beneath the shadow of our pines and planes!
For all my truer life begins to-day.
The past is like a travell'd land now sunk
Below the horizon—like a barren shore
That grew salt weeds, but now all drown'd in love
And glittering at full tide—the bounteous bays
And havens filling with a blissful sea.
Nor speak I now too mightily, being King
And happy! happiest, Lady, in my power
To make you happy.

Camma.
Yes, sir.

Synorix.
Our Antonius,
Our faithful friend of Rome, tho' Rome may set
A free foot where she will, yet of his courtesy
Entreats he may be present at our marriage.

Camma.
Let him come—a legion with him, if he will.
(To Antonius.)
Welcome, my lord Antonius, to our Temple.
(To Synorix.)
You on this side the altar. (To Antonius.)
You on that.
Call first upon the Goddess, Synorix.

[All face the Goddess. Priestesses, Children, Populace, and Guards kneel—the others remain standing.
Synorix.
O Thou, that dost inspire the germ with life,
The child, a thread within the house of birth,
And give him limbs, then air, and send him forth
The glory of his father—Thou whose breath
Is balmy wind to robe our hills with grass,
And kindle all our vales with myrtle-blossom,
And roll the golden oceans of our grain,
And sway the long grape-bunches of our vines,
And fill all hearts with fatness and the lust
Of plenty—make me happy in my marriage!

Chorus
(chanting).
Artemis, Artemis, hear him, Ionian Artemis!

Camma.
O Thou that slayest the babe within the womb
Or in the being born, or after slayest him
As boy or man, great Goddess, whose storm-voice
Unsockets the strong oak, and rears his root
Beyond his head, and strows our fruits, and lays
Our golden grain, and runs to sea and makes it
Foam over all the fleeted wealth of kings
And peoples, hear.
Whose arrow is the plague—whose quick flash splits
The mid-sea mast, and rifts the tower to the rock,
And hurls the victor's column down with him
That crowns it, hear.
Who causest the safe earth to shudder and gape,
And gulf and flatten in her closing chasm
Domed cities, hear.
Whose lava-torrents blast and blacken a province
To a cinder, hear.
Whose winter-cataracts find a realm and leave it
A waste of rock and ruin, hear. I call thee
To make my marriage prosper to my wish!

Chorus.
Artemis, Artemis, hear her, Ephesian Artemis!

Camma.
Artemis, Artemis, hear me, Galatian Artemis!
I call on our own Goddess in our own Temple.

Chorus.
Artemis, Artemis, hear her, Galatian Artemis!

[Thunder. All rise.
Synorix
(aside).
Thunder! Ay, ay, the storm was drawing hither
Across the hills when I was being crown'd.
I wonder if I look as pale as she?

Camma.
Art thou—still bent—on marrying?

Synorix.
Surely—yet
These are strange words to speak to Artemis.

Camma.
Words are not always what they seem, my King.
I will be faithful to thee till thou die.

Synorix.
I thank thee, Camma,—I thank thee.

Camma
(turning to Antonius).
Antonius,
Much graced are we that our Queen Rome in you
Deigns to look in upon our barbarisms.
[Turns, goes up steps to altar before the Goddess. Takes a cup from off the altar. Holds it towards Antonius. Antonius goes up to the foot of the steps, opposite to Synorix.
You see this cup, my lord.

[Gives it to him.
Antonius.
Most curious!
The many-breasted mother Artemis
Emboss'd upon it.

Camma.
It is old, I know not
How many hundred years. Give it me again.
It is the cup belonging our own Temple.
[Puts it back on altar, and takes up the cup of Act I. Showing it to Antonius.
Here is another sacred to the Goddess,
The gift of Synorix; and the Goddess, being
For this most grateful, wills, thro' me her Priestess,
In honour of his gift and of our marriage,
That Synorix should drink from his own cup.

Synorix.
I thank thee, Camma,—I thank thee.

Camma.
For—my lord—
It is our ancient custom in Galatia
That ere two souls be knit for life and death,
They two should drink together from one cup,
In symbol of their married unity,
Making libation to the Goddess. Bring me
The costly wines we use in marriages. [They bring in a large jar of wine. Camma pours wine into cup.
(To Synorix.)

See here, I fill it.
(To Antonius.)
Will you drink, my lord?

Antonius.
I? Why should I? I am not to be married.

Camma.
But that might bring a Roman blessing on us.

Antonius
(refusing cup).
Thy pardon, Priestess!

Camma.
Thou art in the right.
This blessing is for Synorix and for me.
See first I make libation to the Goddess,
[Makes libation.
And now I drink.
[Drinks and fills the cup again.
[Synorix goes up to her. She hands him the cup. He drinks.

Synorix.
There, Camma! I have almost drain'd the cup—
A few drops left.

Camma.
Libation to the Goddess.

[He throws the remaining drops on the altar and gives Camma the cup.
Camma
(placing the cup on the altar).
[Comes down and forward to tripod. Antonius follows.

Antonius.
I never heard of this request of thine.

Synorix
(coming forward hastily to foot of tripod steps).
I sought him and I could not find him. Pray you,
Go on with the marriage rites.

Camma.
Antonius—
‘Camma!’ who spake?

Antonius.
Not I.

Phœbe.
Nor any here.

Camma.
I am all but sure that some one spake. Antonius,
If you had found him plotting against Rome,
Would you have tortured Sinnatus to death?

Antonius.
No thought was mine of torture or of death,
But had I found him plotting, I had counsell'd him
To rest from vain resistance. Rome is fated
To rule the world. Then, if he had not listen'd,
I might have sent him prisoner to Rome.

Synorix.
Why do you palter with the ceremony?
Go on with the marriage rites.

Camma.
They are finish'd.

Synorix.
How!

Camma.
Thou hast drunk deep enough to make me happy.
Dost thou not feel the love I bear to thee
Glow thro' thy veins?

Synorix.
This pain—what is it?—again?
I had a touch of this last year—in—Rome.
Yes, yes. (To Antonius.)
Your arm—a moment—It will pass.
I reel beneath the weight of utter joy—
This all too happy day, crown—queen at once.
[Staggers.
O all ye Gods—Jupiter!—Jupiter!
[Falls backward.

Camma.
Dost thou cry out upon the Gods of Rome?
Thou art Galatian-born. Our Artemis
Has vanquish'd their Diana.

Synorix
(on the ground).
I am poison'd.
She—close the Temple door. Let her not fly.

Camma
(leaning on tripod).
Have I not drunk of the same cup with thee?

Synorix.
Ay, by the Gods of Rome and all the world,
She too—she too—the bride! the Queen! and I—
Monstrous! I that loved her.

Camma.
I loved him.

Synorix.
[Antonius and Publius raise him up.
[They leave him; he sinks down on ground.
[Falls as if dead.

Camma
(coming and leaning over him).
So falls the throne of an hour.

Synorix
(half rising).
Throne? is it thou? the Fates are throned, not we—
Not guilty of ourselves—thy doom and mine—
Thou—coming my way too—Camma—good-night.

[Dies.
Camma
(upheld by weeping Priestesses).
Thy way? poor worm, crawl down thine own black hole
To the lowest Hell. Antonius, is he there?
I meant thee to have follow'd—better thus.
Nay, if my people must be thralls of Rome,
He is gentle, tho' a Roman.

[Sinks back into the arms of the Priestesses.
Antonius.
Thou art one
With thine own people, and tho' a Roman I
Forgive thee, Camma.

Camma
(raising herself).
[Phœbe takes the crown off.
Who touch'd me then? I thank you.
[Rises, with outspread arms.
There—league on league of ever-shining shore
Beneath an ever-rising sun—I see him—
‘Camma, Camma!’ Sinnatus, Sinnatus!
[Dies.