 | Nydia |  |
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ACT V
Scene: The Forum. Left of the stage occupied by the Basilica, or Hall of Justice. At the right the temple of Venus. A triumphal arch in centre of stage. The back of Scene a Doric Colonnade, through and above which the adjacent city and country are seen. Mount Vesuvius in the distance, to the right of centre of stage. The trial of Glaucus is supposed to be taking place in the Basilica. A throng of people fill the stage. Enter from the Basilica, Clodius, Sallust and other NoblemenClodius:
I know the man. I tell you, gentlemen,
He is incapable of such an act.
1st Noble:
But the Egyptian 's oath was so direct:
[He heard the quarrel, saw the blow struck.
Clodius:
True:
But then the motive? In the name of sense,
Tell me why Glaucus killed Apaecides?—
His bosom friend, the brother of the maid
To whom he was contracted!
2d Noble:
It was done
In hot blood, haply, as Arbaces said.
Had Glaucus supped abroad?
Sallust:
No, no; at home,
And with Apaecides, his freedman swore,
Discussing Plato.
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Is there aught in Plato
To lead a man to murder? It was shown
That this Arbaces had pretext enough
To hate both Glaucus and Apaecides.
And yet the lying wizard one time said—
You heard him, Sallust?—
Sallust:
Yes; beside the corpse.
Clodius:
He said that Glaucus was his friend. Could hate
Go further than the countenance he wore
At mention of Ione 's name?
2d Noble:
That 's true.]
Clodius:
Distrust that black Egyptian. It would not
Amaze me, if one day it should be shown
Arbaces struck the blow; and therefore saw it,
As you may deem, quite readily.
All:
O Clodius!—
1st Noble:
That 's more improbable than your belief
In Glaucus' innocence.
Sallust:
Now silence. Hark!
Here is the Nuntius.
Clodius:
Move a little on.
Enter, on the steps of the Basilica, the Nuntius. He reads
Nuntius:
In the name of the Senate and the Roman People, hear!
Glaucus of Athens found to be guilty of the crimes of sacrilege and murder, in causing, by a blow of his stylus, the death of Apaecides, a Roman citizen and Priest of Isis, is adjudged to death, in the
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All good citizens lend aid to carry out the sentence
of the law.
(Exit)
The people cheer
Clodius:
The bloody knaves! For all the law 's decree,
I think him guiltless.
Sallust:
What does that avail?
[Could we appeal to Titus?
Clodius:
There 's no time.
Sallust:
I know the Emperor loves Glaucus well.
And oft has entertained him privately.
When will the sentence be enforced?
Clodius:
Today—
Now, on the instant—while the games proceed.
That noble gentleman to fill a place
With gladiators in their beastly sports!
Why, man, they teach us murder as an art.]
My heart is sick, good Sallust.
Sallust:
See, they come.
Enter from the Basilica in solemn procession, the Praetor, Quaestor, Nuntius and Soldiers. Then Glaucus, in custody of Lictors, with the edges of their axes turned towards him, followed by Soldiers, et cetera. As Glaucus reaches the centre of the stage, enter Ione, attended. Enter Arbaces from the Basilica
Ione:
My Glaucus!— (Falls on his bosom)
(Lictors are about to interfere)
Praetor:
Nay; permit it. (Lictors stand back)
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Yet you say
That man is guilty! By the sacred gods,
Then she is guilty too!
Praetor:
Peace, Clodius!
Glaucus:
My darling, O my darling, what sad chance
Has brought you here?
Ione:
Why, where else should I be—
Your own betrothed, your almost wife? I stand,
Here, in the presence of both gods and men,
To testify your innocence. Nay, nay;
All words are needless. Do not tell my ear
What my heart knows so clearly, that your hands—
O let me kiss them—are as free from blood
As these I lift in blessings o'er your head.
Glaucus:
I cannot blame your coming now, brave girl.
Now I have heart to face the lion 's teeth:
Perhaps to conquer him; or dying, dear,
This memory of your loving heart will cheer
My mangled body, give me strength to die,
And hope beyond the grave for both of us.
Arbaces:
(To Praetor)
This scene is most unseemly.
Ione:
Bloody wolf,
Are you not satisfied with this day 's work?
Slink to your kennel; or my hero's arms,
Bound as they are, may teach you once again
The lesson that my presence—woe is me!—
Made incomplete! (Arbaces retires)
See, how the coward flees,
At the mere memory! Let me tell them all:—
His cause of enmity to you, the scene
Through which I passed, when nothing but your arm
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[Surely the Praetor has a kindly heart;
And that will whisper what the truth must be.]
Glaucus:
It were in vain, Ione. I stand here
Judged for my seeming crime, not his.
No shade must settle on your virgin name
Cast by my history.
Ione:
What will be my name
After today? and how long will it last,
A prey to malice, after you are gone?
Think you I will not follow where you lead—
Oh! yes, so briskly and so cheerfully?
Apaecides, and Glaucus, and Ione,
Will make but one extended funeral-train.
Let them keep one urn open for us all.
Glaucus:
Darling, have courage; for the longest life,
Compared to that eternity from which
We come and go, is but a meteor's flash
Between two chasms of darkness. Bear your life,
Not as a pleasure, as a duty. Think,
This pang of death may be the birth-pang shrewd
By which we are born into a higher life,
A life eternal. Hope we there shall meet,
And, for that hope, bear all.
Ione:
It must be so;
We must meet somewhere, Glaucus—somewhere, dear;
For love must be immortal.
Praetor:
(Advancing)
Gentle lady,
Sad as it makes me, I must bid you go.
Ione:
Go where, in heaven 's name? All my life is here.
Where shall I go?
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Ione, for my sake,
Make not a woman of me, while I need
Full manhood to confront my doom. One kiss,
(Kisses her)
Another, and another. There, love, go!
Ione:
Glaucus, my lord, my husband!
(She faints in the arms of attendants)
The Lictors surround Glaucus
Praetor:
Move!
Officer:
March on!
Before they move, shouts are heard without of “Glaucus, Glaucus!” Enter Nydia, who falls, but soon recovers, followed by Nydon and other Gladiators, supporting Calenus. Arbaces advances curiously, not perceiving Calenus
Nydia:
Saved, saved! Where is he? I am dazed and faint.
O lead me to him! (Nydon leads her to Glaucus)
And is this my lord—
Alive, unharmed? (She kisses his garments)
Glaucus:
Yes, Nydia.
Arbaces:
Is she mad?
I pray you, Praetor—
Nydia:
That 's Arbaces too.
(She bursts into a wild laugh)
Seize the Egyptian! I denounce the man
As murderer of Apaecides. And here
Is proof on proof, confirming all I say.
Bring forth Calenus!
(The Gladiators bring him forward)
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(Aside)
Traitor! Is it he?
I left him starving in a crypt, as safe
As in a chamber in the pyramids.
He is about to go, when Nydon stops him
Praetor:
Secure Arbaces. (Soldiers form about him)
Now, what man are you—
So pale and wretched, spiritless and weak?
Calenus:
I am Calenus, Priest of Isis, Praetor.
Imprisoned, starved, made desperate; in a night,
Made to endure an age of agony,
By yonder man; because, my lord, I saw—
As I now swear by all the sacred gods—
Arbaces murder young Apaecides!
Praetor:
Saw it?
Calenus:
Yes, saw it.
Arbaces:
A detected thief,
Caught breaking in my treasury.
Praetor:
Forbear!
You may speak later. Have you proof of this?
Glaucus:
Was not Arbaces' oath enough, my lord,
For my conviction? Why then hesitate
To credit one as sacred; not forgetting—
As the whole tenor of my trial showed—
How far more probable? Pray pardon me:
But I was trained up in our law, and stand
Here without other advocate, to speak
A word in my behalf.
Praetor:
Glaucus, my heart
Leans too much towards you: I distrust myself.
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I have no more to say. I leave my cause
With you and justice. Yet, one moment, hear.
Do not suppose I shrink from death. Not death,
But shame appals me, and the breaking heart
Of my betrothed, who should not suffer thus
If I am guiltless. Men of Pompeii,
Have I not lived unspotted in your sight
These many years? When did a poor man come
To Glaucus' door, to go away unheard,
Unsuccored, though his worth no more could plead
Than simple poverty? Men such as he,
(Pointing to Arbaces)
Called me a fool, a spendthrift; said I threw
My fortune thus, and almost uselessly,
Into the hungry sea of want; but you
Gave me a name of which my soul is proud—
A name I hope to hear before the gods—
You called me: Glaucus of the open hand.
Have you forgot me? See that I have right!
See that my waiting bride shall not have cause
To bend above my ashes, not in grief—
Not in grief only—but in abject shame
That to my name clings that of murderer!
Praetor:
No more of this!
Citizens:
Ho! Glaucus!—Glaucus, ho!—
Release him!—Give him back to us!
Clodius:
And what,
What of Arbaces?
Citizens:
To the lion with him!—
Arbaces to the lion!
Praetor:
Ho! my guard!
Where are the soldiers?
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Where they ought to be,
Joined with the people.
Praetor:
Hear me, citizens!
Arbaces shall have trial; should his guilt
Be proved, he shall have punishment—the same
That was decreed to Glaucus, who shall be
Set free at once.
Citizens:
No, no; cut off his bonds!
Arbaces to the lion! He has had
Trial enough.
The people release Glaucus
Praetor:
Protect the prisoner, guard!
Citizens:
They dare not!
The crowd is about to rush on Arbaces
Arbaces:
Back, you vulgar curs! Behold,
Isis protects her son!
The scene suddenly becomes very dark. The roar of the earthquake is heard, and the crash of falling buildings. Smoke and fire burst from Vesuvius. Fire, stones and ashes fall upon the stage. The people flee in every direction. Glaucus supports Ione, who, with Nydia and one Sentinel, calmly pacing before the Basilica, remain
Glaucus:
Ione, dear,
Look up! We have no time to lose. Alas!
She has not strength to move. O Nydia.
What is to do? 'Tis certain death to wait.
Ah! she revives. (Ione slowly recovers)
Nydia:
But what has happened, Glaucus?
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Nature has done her worst. Vesevius
Has burst into eruption, and the town
Is sinking slowly, like a foundering ship,
Under a sea of ashes. We must flee.
Nydia:
Where are the others?
Glaucus:
Fled.
Nydia:
What, Nydon too?
Glaucus:
Yes; all.
Nydia:
And yet he said he loved me.
Ione:
Glaucus,
Are you not free?
Glaucus:
Quite free.
Ione:
And did I dream?
Or did I hear the whole world cry aloud,
“Glaucus is innocent?” But what is this,
This dreadful darkness, and this hissing shower
Beating about us? Gods, why slides the ground
Beneath my feet?
Glaucus:
Ione, we must go.
Can you walk, dear?
Ione:
A little. Let me try:
Yes, yes. What, Nydia? Faithful to the last.
Nydia:
Faithful to fate: what can I else be?
Glaucus:
Come!
Lean on me, darling. Shall I carry you?
Ione:
No, I can walk quite bravely. Walk to death,
Smiling and happy, with that shout at heart,
“Glaucus is innocent!”
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Alas, alas!
We are too late. I cannot see my way
Through this thick darkness.
Nydia:
But I can. My lord,
Whither shall I conduct you? Blessed fate,
That took my eyes, yet left me in their place
The instincts of the chasing hound! Where, then?
Glaucus:
To the south port, as straight as you can go.
Once by the seaside, we shall find a ship,
And turn our backs upon this wretched land.
To Athens, Nydia!
As they are about to go, enter Arbaces, through the central archway, intercepting them, followed by armed slaves with torches
Arbaces:
Ho, stand! The gods
Have chosen this day of terrors as my own.
Seize on Ione! Cut that murderous Greek
Into a thousand pieces! (Draws)
It is well,
It is well, Isis; and I thank your grace!
As he and the slaves are about to advance, the earthquake recommences; a great fragment of the cornice of the arch falls upon Arbaces and fells him; then a column falls across his body
The slaves flee in terror. Heavy clouds roll down, and settle upon the scene as Glaucus and Ione, led by
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He places her upon a bank. Her slaves, from among the fugitives, surround her
Nydia:
My work is done. This is the sea. I feel
Its cool, fresh kisses on my cheek, and hear
Its murmuring surges whispering peace to me.
Are we arrived?
Glaucus:
Yes, Nydia, As before
We owed you honor and repute, today
We owe you life, and all that life may give
Throughout the future that may be in store
For us, three heart-bound friends.
Nydia:
Enough, enough:
Then I may go.
Glaucus:
Go whither? Do you think
Ione now, or I, will part with you?
Nydia:
You must. A power, we cannot disobey,
Has summoned me.
She sinks upon the ground. Glaucus supports her
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What mean you, child?
Nydia:
My race
Is run; I go into the night that has oppressed
My blinded eyes so long. But do you think
The blind see there?
Glaucus:
Where?
Nydia:
Where my mother is?—
Ah, me!
Glaucus:
Ione!
Nydia:
Nay, disturb her not.
She has more need of rest that I of her.
My rest is coming.
Glaucus:
Oh, poor child, poor child!
Nydia:
Child, ever child! It was not for a child
To bear the love I felt for you. No, no;
This hot, consuming heart, outworn at length—
Breaking, yea, broken,—was a woman's heart—
A mad, impulsive, passionate, blind thing,
That would not take even the great god's dread No!
For answer to its yearnings. That is all.
I have said the words that burned upon my lips
Since I first knew you. Glaucus—
Glaucus:
Nydia?
This is the saddest moment of my life.
Go, Nydia! I would not keep you here,
To struggle ever with despair.
Nydia:
Right, right!
The gods know best: the gods are merciful.
Ione revives, and advances
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What does this mean?
Glaucus:
Our Nydia, I fear,
Is dying.
Nydia:
“Fear!” he means, he hopes. Dear lady,
Has the poor slave you bought deceived you once?—
Failed in one duty?
Ione:
Nydia, sister!—Gods,
Spare her young life! Take from my fated days,
And add them to her store!
Nydia:
I am o'erpaid.
Glaucus, I see! The touch of death has cleared
My stony vision. Look, my mother comes!
Lift me, to catch her falling kiss!
(Ione kisses her, weeping)
So, so!
(Glaucus kisses her)
All blessings fall together! Glaucus—ah! (Dies)
Glaucus:
Nydia?—'Tis past! Her spotless spirit walks
The happy gardens of Elysium!
(Others group about the body)
Lift her with reverence. Her dust shall lie
Beneath the sunshine of her native land.
She was compounded of the flowers she loved—
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Her risen soul will make that spot more bright,
Though it be heaven, in which her spirit blooms.
Ione, we must quit this mournful spot
That of itself outcasts us. Let our haste
Know no repose, until the Parthenon
Rise in the splendor of the morning sun,
Like the Olympian palace of the gods,
Out of our azure waters. Come, aboard!
Curtain, as they prepare to embark
THE END
“You might open this act with the funeral procession of Apaecides, passing over the stage before the text begins. A classical funeral, well represented, would be a new, and it might be made a beautiful feature of the play. See Becker's Gallus, page 145.”
“The death of Arbaces should be neatly managed, I have indicated a safe way of killing him, by a fall of a part of the arch. This seeming stone should be made, say of a square bag of inflated india rubber, guided to the floor by a wire, so that there may be no ridiculous bouncing when it strikes. The stone should also be covered with debris that would fly off when it strikes Arbaces; and it should be managed by a carpenter concealed behind the top of the arch. If there should be any hitch in the death of Arbaces, the whole scene will be made ridiculous. The thing should be made as much like reality as possible.”
“You should dispose neatly and naturally of Ione while the scene between Glaucus and Nydia is going on. The best way I can fancy would be to have some of her female slaves among the fugitives, who, on seeing their mistress, approach her and minister to her. With any other arrangement Glaucus, without a violation of probability, could not quit her side.”
| Nydia | |