University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

A Court in the Palace of Creon.
Enter Creon and Lycus.
CREON.
How does the proud Athenian bear his part
In servile duty?

LYCUS.
I have never seen
So brave a patience. The severest toils
Look graceful in him, from the facile skill
With which his strength subdues them. Few his words
By question drawn, yet gentle as a child's;
And if, in pauses of his work, his eye
Will glisten, and his bosom heave; anon
He starts as from a dream, submissive bows,
And plies his work again.

CREON.
Thou dost espouse
His cause. Beware! he hurl'd defiance on me,
Disdain'd my age, as if his pride of strength
Made him in bondage greater than a king
Sick and infirm as I am; he shall feel
What yet an old man can inflict. He comes;
Why does he leave his duty?

LYCUS.
'Tis the hour
Of rest—of food, if he would take it; here
He's privileged to walk.

CREON.
Let's stand aside.

[Creon and Lycus retire from sight.
Enter Thoas, in the dress of a Slave.
THOAS.
Had I been born to greatness, or achieved
My fame, methinks that I could smile at this;
Taste a remember'd sweetness in the thought
Of pleasure snatch'd from fate; or feed my soul
With the high prospect of serene renown
Beetling above this transitory shame
In distant years. But to be wither'd thus—
In the first budding of my fortune, doom'd
To bear the death of hope, and to outlive it!
Gods, keep me patient! I will to my task.

[Going.
Re-enter Creon and Lycus.
LYCUS.
Wilt thou not join thy fellows at the feast,
And taste a cup of wine the king vouchsafes
For merriment to-day?

THOAS.
What! are they merry?

LYCUS.
Dost thou not hear them?

THOAS.
They are slaves, indeed!
Forgive me, I would rather to the quarry.

[Going.
Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER
(addressing Creon).
My lord, the games in honour of our triumph
Await thee,—first the chariot race, in which
Thy son prepares to strive. The wrestlers next—

CREON.
Let them begin.
[Exit Messenger.
Methinks yon captive's strength,
No longer rebel, might afford us sport.
Thoas!

THOAS.
I wait thy pleasure.

CREON.
Thou wert train'd
Doubtless, at home, to manly exercise,
And I would have thee show the youth of Corinth
How the Athenians throw the quoit and wrestle.

THOAS.
My lord, I cannot do it!

CREON.
One so strong
As thou, had he been native here, would joy
In sports like these.

THOAS.
O, have I not enjoy'd them!
My lord, I am content to toil and mourn—
'Tis the slave's part; these limbs are thine to use
In vilest service till their sinews fail;
But not a nerve shall bend in sports I lov'd
When freeman to indulge in, for the gaze
Of those who were my foes and are my masters.

Enter Messenger, in haste.
MESSENGER.
My lord—the prince—

THOAS.
Is he in peril?

MESSENGER.
As his chariot, far
Before all rivals, glitter'd to the goal,
The coursers plung'd as if some fearful thing
Unseen by human eyes had glar'd on theirs;
Then with a speed like lightning flash'd, along
The verge of the dark precipice which girds
The rock-supported plain, and round it still
In frightful circles whirl the youth; no power
Of man can stay them.

THOAS.
Friend, I come! I come!

LYCUS.
[Attempting to stop him.
Thou must not go.

THOAS.
Away! I'm master now.

[Rushes out.
CREON.
My son! my son! I shall embrace thy corpse,
And lie beside it. Yet I cannot bear
This anguish; dead or living, I will seek thee!

[Exit.
LYCUS.
[Looking out.
How the slave spurns the dust; with what a power
He cleaves the wondering throng,—they hide him now,—
Speed him, ye gods of Corinth!

Enter Creusa.
CREUSA.
Whence that cry
Of horror mingled with my brother's name?
Is he in danger? Wherefore dost thou stand
Thus silently, and gaze on empty air?
Speak!
Enter Iphitus.
[Creusa addressing him.
From thy sacred lips the truth
Must flow.

IPHITUS.
Be calm; thy brother is preserv'd;
Urg'd by his furious steeds, his chariot hung
Scarce pois'd on the rock's margin, where the vale
Lies deepest under it; an instant more,
And Hyllus, who serenely stood with eyes
Fix'd on the heavens, had perish'd; when a form
With god-like swiftness clove the astonish'd crowd;
Appear'd before the coursers, scarce upheld
By tottering marl;—strain'd forward o'er the gulf
Of vacant ether; caught the floating reins,
And drew them into safety with a touch
So fine, that sight scarce witness'd it. The prince
Is in his father's arms.

CREUSA.
Thou dost not speak
The hero's name;—yet can I guess it well.

IPHITUS.
Thoas.—He comes.

CREUSA.
Let me have leave to thank him.
[Exeunt Iphitus and Lycus.
Enter Thoas.
Hero! accept a maiden's fervent thanks,
All that she has to offer, for a life
Most precious to her.

THOAS.
Speak not of it, fair one!
Life, in my estimate, 's too poor a boon
To merit thanks so rich.

CREUSA.
Not such a life
As his to me. We both together drew
Our earliest breath, and one unconscious crime
Shar'd; for the hour that yielded us to day
Snatch'd her who bore us. Thence attach'd we grew,
As if some portion of that mother's love
Each for the other cherish'd; twin-born joys,
Hopes, fancies, and affections, each hath watch'd
In the clear mirror of the other's soul,
By that sweet union doubled. Thou hast sav'd
Two lives in saving Hyllus.

THOAS.
'Tis not meet
That such a wretch as I, in garb like this,
[Looking at his dress, and shuddering.
Should listen to the speech of one so fair;
It will unfit me for my tasks.

CREUSA.
Thy tasks?
O hard injustice!
Enter Hyllus, Creusa meeting him.
Brother, join thy thanks
To mine.

[Hyllus and Creusa embrace.
THOAS.
No more.
[Retiring.
Grant, ye immortal gods,
So beautiful a bond be never broken!

[Exit Thoas.
CREUSA.
He speaks of tasks. My brother, can'st endure
To see a hero who hath twice preserv'd
Thy life—upon whose forehead virtue sits
Enthron'd in regal majesty—thus held
In vilest thraldom?

HYLLUS.
Ah! my sweet Creusa,
Thy words breathe more than gratitude.

CREUSA.
My brother,
I pray thee, do not look into my face.

HYLLUS.
Nay, raise thy head, and let thine eye meet mine;
It reads no anger there. Thy love is pure
And noble as thyself, and nobly plac'd;
And one day shall be honor'd.

CREUSA.
Spare me!

HYLLUS.
Come,
The banquet hath begun; the king expects us.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Banqueting-Hall in Creon's Palace.
Creon, Ismene, Iphitus, Calchas, and Corinthians, seated at the Banquet.
CREON.
[Rising.
I thank ye for my son;—he is unharm'd,
And soon will join our revelry.

ISMENE.
We lack
Attendance. Where is Thoas? It were fit
In Corinth's day of triumph, he should wait
On his victorious enemies. Go seek him.

[Exit an Attendant.
CREON.
I would have spar'd his services to-day;
He is but young in service, and hath done
A glorious deed. Drink round, my friends, and pledge
My son once more.

ISMENE.
My sovereign, I should deem
So great a master in the skill to tame
The nature struggling in a free-born soul,
Would think it wisdom to begin betimes,
When an Athenian spirit should be stifled.
If thou would'st bend him to the yoke, 'twere best
Commence to-day;—to-morrow 't may be vain.
Enter Thoas.
Athenian!—slave!—'tis well that thou hast come;
Else might we fear thou didst not feel so proud
As such a man as thou should feel, to wait
Upon his victor. Carry round the cup,
And bear it to the king, with duteous looks.

THOAS.
I will endeavour, lady.
[Takes the cup, and speaking aside.
They will join
In very openness of heart, to cast
This shame upon me; take the mantling cup
With thoughtless pleasure from a warrior's hand,
And smile to see it quiver; bless the wine
With household names, sweet thoughts of friends afar,
Or love which death hath hallowed; and while springs
Of cordial joy are quicken'd by the draught,
Will bid affections, generous as their own,
Shrink, agonize, and wither!

ISMENE.
Slave! attend!

Enter Hyllus and Creusa.
CREON.
Hyllus, our friends have pledg'd thee; take thy place,
And thank them.

HYLLUS.
[Advancing.
I am grateful.—Thoas, thus?

CREON.
We blam'd thy absence, daughter. Sit beside
The queen.

CREUSA.
A humbler place befits me, father.

[Sits at the end of the circle.
[Thoas attempts to hand the cup.
CREUSA.
[To Hyllus.
Brother, dost see?

HYLLUS.
[Aside to Thoas, taking the cup from him.
Thoas, I blush at this;
Give me the cup.—Corinthian citizens,
This is a moment when I cannot trust
The grace of serving you to any hand
Except mine own. The wine will send a glow
Of rare delight when minister'd by one
Who hath this day touch'd life's extremest verge,
And been most bravely rescued.

[Hyllus hands the cup.
ISMENE.
Will the king
Permit this mockery?

CREON.
Foolish stripling, cease!
Let the slave hand the cup; and having pass'd
Another round, fill high, for I will pour
A great libation out, with such a prayer
As every heart shall echo while the dust
Of Corinth drinks it in.

[Thoas takes the cup, and approaches Creusa.
CREUSA.
Nay, tremble not.
Think thou dost pay free courtesy to one
Who in the fulness of a grateful heart,
Implores the gods to cherish thee with hope
For liberty and honour.

THOAS.
Words so sweet
Reward and o'erpay all.

CREON.
Corinthians, rise!
Before the gods, who have this day espoused
The cause of Corinth, I this votive cup
Pour with one glorious prayer—Ruin to Athens!

[Thoas dashes down the cup he is about to hand to the King.
THOAS.
Ruin to Athens! who dares echo that?
Who first repeats it dies. These limbs are arm'd
With vigour from the gods that watch above
Their own immortal offspring. Do ye dream,
Because chance lends ye one insulting hour,
That ye can quench the purest flame the gods
Have lit from heaven's own fire?

HYLLUS.
[Trying to appease the guests.
'Tis ecstasy—
Some phrenzy shakes him.

THOAS.
No! I call the gods,
Who bend attentive from their azure thrones,
To witness to the truth of that which throbs
Within me now. 'Tis not a city crown'd
With olive and enrich'd with peerless fanes
Ye would dishonour, but an opening world
Diviner than the soul of man hath yet
Been gifted to imagine—truths serene,
Made visible in beauty, that shall glow
In everlasting freshness; unapproach'd
By mortal passion; pure amidst the blood
And dust of conquests; never waxing old;
But on the stream of time, from age to age,
Casting bright images of heavenly youth
To make the world less mournful. I behold them!
And ye, frail insects of a day, would quaff
“Ruin to Athens!”

CREON.
Are ye stricken all
To statues, that ye hear these scornful boasts,
And do not seize the traitor? Bear him hence,
And let the executioner's keen steel
Prevent renewal of this outrage.

IPHITUS.
Hold!
Some god hath spoken through him.

ISMENE.
Priest! we need
No counsel from thee.

HYLLUS.
Father, he will bend—
'Twas madness—was't not, Thoas?—answer me:
Retract thy words!

THOAS.
I've spoken, and I'll die.

ISMENE.
'Twere foolish clemency to end so soon
The death pangs of a slave who thus insults
The king of Corinth. I can point a cell
Deep in the rock, where he may wait thy leisure
To frame his tortures.

HYLLUS.
[To Creon.
If thou wilt not spare,
Deal with him in the light of day, and gaze
Thyself on what thou dost, but yield him not
A victim to that cold and cruel heart.

ISMENE.
[Aside.
Cold! I must bear that too. (Aloud.)
Thou hear'st him, king;
Thou hear'st the insolence, which waxes bolder
Each day, as he expects thy lingering age
Will yield him Corinth's throne.

CREON.
Ungrateful boy!
Go, wander alien from my love; avoid
The city's bounds; and if thou dare return
Till I proclaim thy pardon, think to share
The fate of the rash slave for whom thou plead'st.

THOAS.
King, I will grovel in the dust before thee;
Will give these limbs to torture; nay, will strain
Their free-born sinews for thy very sport,
So thou recall the sentence on thy son.

CREON.
Thou wilt prolong his exile. To thy cell!
[To Thoas.
There wait thy time of death;—my heart is sick—
But I have spoken.

HYLLUS.
Come with me, sweet sister,
And take a dearer parting than this scene
Admits. Look cheerily;—I leave thy soul
A duty which shall lift it from the sphere
Of sighs and tremblings. Father, may the gods
So cherish thee that thou may'st never mourn,
With more than fond regret, the loss of one
Whose love stays with thee ever.

[Exeunt Hyllus and Creusa.
IPHITUS.
[Offering to support Creon.
Hold! he faints!

CREON.
No;—I can walk unaided—rest will soothe me.
[Exit Creon.

ISMENE.
Good night, my friends!
[Exeunt all but Ismene, Thoas, and Calchas.
Thou, Calchas, wait and guard
The prisoner to his cell. Thou know'st the place.

THOAS.
Lead on.

ISMENE.
[Coming to the front to Thoas.
Thou wilt not sleep?

THOAS.
I wish no sleep
To reach these eyes, till the last sleep of all.

ISMENE.
Others may watch as well as thou.

THOAS.
Strange words
Thou speakest, fearful woman; are they mockeries?
Methinks they sound too solemn.

ISMENE.
Said I not,
I am of Athens? Hush! These walls have echoes;
Thy gaoler is of Athens, too; at midnight
He shall conduct thee where we may discourse
In safety. Wilt thou follow him?

THOAS.
I will.

ISMENE.
'Tis well. Conduct the prisoner to his dungeon.
Remember, thou hast promis'd me.

THOAS.
My blood
Is cold as ice; yet will I keep the faith
I plight to thee.

[Exeunt Thoas and Calchas.
ISMENE
(alone).
It is the heroic form
Which I have seen in watching, and in sleep
Frightfully broken, through the long, long, years
Which I have wasted here in chains, more sad
Than those which bind the death-devoted slave
To his last stony pillow. Fiery shapes,
That have glar'd in upon my bed to mock
My soul with hopes of vengeance, keep your gaze
Fix'd stedfast on me now! My hour is nigh!

[Exit.