 | Gycia |  |
SCENE II.
—Outside the palace of Lamachus.Megacles and Courtiers.
Meg.
Well, my lords, and so this is
the palace. A grand palace, forsooth,
and a fine reception to match! Why,
these people are worse than barbarians.
They are worse than the sea, and that
was inhospitable enough. The saints
be praised that that is over, at any rate.
Oh, the intolerable scent of pitch, and
the tossing and the heaving! Heaven
spare me such an ordeal again! I
thought I should have died of the
smells. And here, can it be? Is it
possible that there is a distinct odour
of—pah! what? Oils, as I am a
Christian, and close to the very palace
of the Archon! What a detestable
people! Some civet, good friends,
some civet!
1st Court.
Here it is, good
Megacles. You did not hope, surely, to find
republicans as sweet as those who live
cleanly under a King? But here are
some of their precious citizens at last.
Enter Citizens hurriedly.
1st Citizen.
I pray you, forgive us,
gentlemen. We thought the Prince
would take the land at the other quay,
and had prepared our welcome
accordingly.
Meg.
Who are these men?
1st Court.
They are honourable
citizens of Cherson.
Meg.
Citizens! They will not do
for me. The Count of the Palace
should be here with the Grand
Chamberlain to meet my Master.
1st Cit.
Your Master? Oh! then
you are a serving man, as it would
seem. Well, my good man, when
comes your Master?
Meg.
Oh, the impertinent
scoundrel! Do you know, sir, who I am?
1st Cit.
Probably the Prince's
attendant, his lackey, or possibly his
steward. I neither know nor care.
Meg.
Oh, you barbarian! Where
is the Count of the Palace, I say?
1st Cit.
Now, citizen, cease this
nonsense. We have not, thank Heaven,
any such foolish effeminate functionary.
Meg.
No Count of the Palace?
Heavens! what a crew! Well, if
there is none, where are your leading
nobles? where the Respectable and
Illustrious? You are certainly not
Illustrious nor Respectable; you
probably are not even Honourable, or if
you are you don't look it.
1st Cit.
What, you wretched
popinjay of a serving man! You dare
address a Greek citizen in that way?
Take that, and that!
[Beats him.
1st Court.
Draw, gentlemen!
These are ruffians!
[They fight.
Enter Asander.
Asan.
Put up your swords,
gentlemen. Why, fellows, what is this? Is
this your hospitality to your guests?
1st Cit.
Nay, sir; but this servant
of yours has been most insolent, and
has abused and insulted our State and
its manners. He told us that we were
not men of honour; and some of us,
sir, are young, and have hot blood,
and, as Greek citizens of Cherson, will
not bear insults.
Asan.
Insolent upstarts, you are
not worthy of our swords! Come, my
Lord Megacles, heed them not. Here
is their master.
Enter Lamachus and Senators.
Lama.
We bid you heartfelt welcome, Prince, to Cherson.
That we have seemed to fail to do you honour
Comes of the spite of fortune, For your highness,
Taking the land at the entrance of the port,
Missed what of scanty pomp our homely manners
Would fain have offered; but we pray you think
'Twas an untoward accident, no more.
Welcome to Cherson, Prince!
Asan.
Methinks, my lord,
Scarce in the meanest State is it the custom
To ask the presence of a noble guest
With much insistance, and when he accepts
The summons, and has come, to set on him
With insolent dogs like these.
Lama.
Nay, Prince, I pray you,
What is it that has been?
Asan.
Our chamberlain
Was lately, in your absence, which your highness
So glibly doth excuse, set on and beaten
By these dogs here.
Lama.
Nay, sir, they are not dogs,
But citizens of honour; yet indeed
Wanting, I fear, in that deep courtesy
Which from a stranger and a guest refuses
To take provoked offence. My lord, indeed
I am ashamed that citizens of Cherson
Should act so mean a part. Come, Prince, I pray you
Forget this matter, and be sure your coming
The Prince is safe in Cherson.
Enter Gycia, Irene, Melissa, and Ladies. Irene, seeing Asander, faints, and is withdrawn, Gycia supporting her. Confusion.
Meg.
My Lord Asander, remember
what is due to yourself and Bosphorus.
Remember, when this merchant's
daughter comes, you must not treat her
as an equal. Courtesy to a woman is
all very well, but rank has greater
claims still, especially when you have
to deal with such people as these.
Now, remember, you must make no
obeisance at all; and if you advance to
meet her more than one step, you are
lost for ever. These are the truly
important things.
Asan.
Good Megacles,
Forewarned I am forearmed.
(Aside)
Thou fluent trickster!
Fit head of such a State! I would to Heaven
I had never come!
Re-enter Gycia.
That I have come. Who is this peerless creature?
Is this the old man's daughter?
Prince Asander,
This is my daughter, Gycia. Of the prince
Thou hast heard many a time, my daughter.
Gycia
(confused).
Ay!—
Indeed I—
Lama.
Come, my girl, thou art not used
To fail of words.
Asan.
Nay, sir, I pray you press her not to speak.
And yet I fain would hear her. Artemis
Showed not so fair, nor with a softer charm
Came Hebe's voice.
Gycia.
Nay, sir, I did not know
A soldier could thus use a courtier's tongue.
Asan.
If being bred in courts would give me power
To put my thought in words, then would I fain
Be courtier for thy sake.
Gycia.
Ah, sir, you jest.
The ways of courts we know not, but I bid thee
Good welcome to our city, and I prithee
Command whatever service our poor Cherson
Can give whilst thou art here. (To Megacles)
Pray you my lord,
Accompany his Highness and our house-hold
To the poor chambers which our homely state
Allots for him. They are but poor, I know,
For one who lives the stately life of kings;
But such as our scant means can reach they are.
Meg.
My lady, I have lived long time in courts,
But never, in the palaces of Rome,
Have I seen beauty such as yours, or grace
More worthy of a crown. (To Melissa)
To you, my lady,
I bow with most respectful homage. Surely
The goddess Heré has not left the earth
For the present of your Highness with a thousand
Obeisances, and to your gracious father
Humbly I bend the knee. My Lord Asander,
I do attend your Highness.
Mel.
What a man!
What noble manners! What a polished air!
How poor to such a courtier our rude Court
And humble manners show!
Asan.
Good Megacles,
Get me to my chamber—quick, ere I o'erpass
All reasonable limits. I am sped;
I am myself no more.
Lama.
Farewell awhile.
We will welcome you at supper.
[Exeunt all but Lamachus and Gycia.
Lama.
Well, my daughter,
What think you of this hot-brained youth? I' faith,
I like his soldier's bluntness, and he seemed
To be a little startled, as I thought,
By something which he saw when thou didst come.
Perchance it was the charm of one who came
Among thy ladies took him.
Gycia.
Nay, my father,
I think not so indeed.
Lama.
Ah! well, I am old,
And age forgets. But this I tell thee, daughter:
If in my youth I had seen a young man's gaze
Grow troubled, and he should start, and his cheek pale,
A young girl drawing near, I had almost thought
Him suddenly in love.
Gycia.
Oh, nay indeed!
Who should be favoured thus? There is no woman
In our poor Cherson worthy that his gaze
Might rest on her a moment.
Lama.
Ah, my girl,
Is it thus with thee? They say that love is blind,
And thou art blind, therefore it may be, Gycia,
That thou too art in love. Tell me how it is.
Couldst thou love this man, if he loved thee?
Gycia.
(throwing herself on her father's neck).
Father!
Lama.
Say no more, girl. I am not so old as yet
That I have quite forgotten my own youth,
When I was young and loved; and if I err not,
I read love's fluttering signals on thy cheek,
And in his tell-tale eyes. But listen! Music!
We must prepare for supper with our guests.
| Gycia | |