 | Gycia |  |
SCENE IV.
—The Senate-chamber.Zetho and Senators; afterwards Gycia.
Zetho.
What is the hour?
Bardanes.
It wants five minutes only
To midnight. Think you she will come?
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I know her.
She is the soul of honour, and would keep
Her word if 'twere her death.
Bard.
But would she keep it If 'twere her lover's?
Zetho.
She thinks not that it is,
Nor should it be, indeed, were we but true
As I believe her.
Bard.
True! There is no truth
In keeping faith with murderers; they must perish
In the same net which they laid privily
Against a faithful city.
Enter Gycia, tottering in, with the keys.
Zetho.
Hail, noble daughter! Thou hast saved the State.
I knew thou wouldst not fail us.
Gycia.
See, good Zetho,
The proof that I have done my part to you.
There are the master keys of all the doors
Within the palace. When I closed the last,
A few brief minutes since, there was no sound
Nor light in hall or chamber; every court
Was silent as the grave.
Bard.
Ay, as the grave
It is, or will be soon.
Gycia.
What mean you, sir,
I pray you? I am but a timid woman,
Full of foreboding fears and dread of ill,
And such a doubt doth overspread my soul,
Hearing thy words, I think I shall go mad.
Nay, Zetho, he is safe; I have your promise
Thou wouldst not harm him. An o'erwhelming force,
Thou saidst, should so surround them that resistance
Were vain, and ere the dawn they should go hence
Without one drop of bloodshed.
Zetho.
Ay, my daughter,
Such was the promise.
Bard.
And it will be kept.
[Bell strikes midnight.
Hark, 'tis the hour! An overwhelming force
[A red glare rising higher and higher is seen through the windows of the Senate-chamber. Confused noises and shouts heard without.
Surrounds them, but no drop of blood is shed.
All will go hence ere dawn.
Gycia.
Oh, cruel man,
And most perfidious world! Oh, my Asander!
To die thus and through me!
[A violent knocking is heard at the door.
Enter Theodorus in great agitation, and Irene, who throws herself on her knees, weeping. Gycia falls swooning in Zetho's arms.
Zetho.
Whence com'st thou, Theodorus?
Theo.
Straight, my lord,
From Gycia's palace.
Zetho.
Say, what didst thou there?
And what of horror has befallen thee
That makes thine eyes stare thus?
Theo.
Most noble Zetho,
When from the banquet scarce an hour ago
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And bade me read. 'Twas from this woman here,
My sister, and it told of some great peril
By fire, which she, within the prison locked,
Expected with the night. Wherefore I sped
With one I trusted, and did set a ladder
Against her casement, calling her by name,
And bidding her descend. But no voice came,
And all was dark and silent as the grave;
And when I called again, the Prince Asander,
From an adjacent casement looking, cried,
“I had forgot thy sister. Take her hence;
She should go free!” And then, at her own casement
[Gycia revives and listens.
Appearing, he came forth, and in his arms
A woman's senseless form. As they descended
And now were in mid-air, there came the sound
Of the bell striking midnight, and forthwith
In a moment, like a serpent winged with fire,
There rose from wall to wall a sheet of flame,
Which in one instant mounted to the roof
With forked red tongues. Then every casement teemed
With strange armed men, who leapt into the flames
And perished. Those who, maimed and burnt, escaped,
Ere they could gain their feet, a little band
Of citizens, who sprang from out the night,
Slew as they lay. The Prince, who bore my sister
Unhurt to ground, stood for a moment mute.
Then, seeing all was lost, he with a groan
Stabbed himself where we stood. I fear his hurt
Is mortal, since in vain I tried to staunch
The rushing blood; then bade them on a litter
Carry him hither gently. Here he comes.
Enter Citizens, bearing Asander on a litter, wounded.
Gycia.
Oh, my love, thou art hurt! Canst thou forgive me?
I thought to save thee and the rest. I knew not,
I did not know! Oh, God!
Asan.
I do believe thee.
The fates have led our feet by luckless ways
Which only lead to death. I loved but thee.
I wished thy State no wrong, but I am dying.
Farewell! my love, farewell!
[Dies.
Gycia.
Oh, my lost love!
[Throws herself on the body and kisses it passionately.
Zetho.
Poor souls! Mysterious are the ways of Heaven,
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That bound their lives together.
Bard.
That dead man
Would have betrayed our State, and thou dost pity!
So perish all the enemies of Cherson!
Gycia
(rising).
Nay, sir, be silent. 'Tis a coward's part
To vilify the dead. You, my Lord Zetho,
I had your promise that you would hurt none
Except the guilty only, and I thought
That to your word I might entrust my life
And one more dear than mine; but now it seems
That in some coward and unreasoning panic
This worthy Senator has moved his colleagues—
Since cruelty is close akin to fear—
To break your faith to me, and to confuse
The innocent and guilty, those who led
And those who followed, in one dreadful death!
I pray you pardon me if, being a woman,
Too rashly taking part in things of State,
I have known nought of State-craft or the wisdom
Which breaks a plighted word.
Zetho.
Daughter, I would
Our promise had been kept, and I had kept it
But that the safety of the State to some
Seemed to demand its breach.
Gycia.
Farewell, good Zetho,
And all who were my friends. I am going hence;
I can no longer stay. There lies my love.
There flames my father's house. I go far-off,
A long, long journey. If you see me not
In life again, I humbly pray the State
May, if it think me worthy—for indeed
I have given it all—bury me, when I die,
Within the city, in a fair white tomb,
As did our Grecian forefathers of old
For him who saved the State; and, if it may be,
Lay my love by my side.
Zetho and Sens.
Daughter, we swear
That thou shalt have thy wish.
Gycia.
I thank you, sirs.
Then, I may go. Kiss me, good Theodorus:
I am no more a wife. I know thy love,
And thank thee for it. For that wretch whose lie
Has wrecked our life and love, I bless the gods
That I am childless, lest my daughter grew
As vile a thing as she; and yet I know not.
She loved him in some sort, poor wretch, poor wretch!
But now I must be going. 'Tis past midnight;
[Snatches a dagger from Theodorus's side.
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But I have saved the State.
[Stabs herself and falls on Asander's body.
Citizens of Cherson bursting in.
Cits.
The State is saved! Long may our Cherson flourish!
The State is saved! Long live our Lady Gycia,
Who saved the State!
Gycia
(rising a little).
Yes, I have saved the State!
[Falls back dead.
Citizens
(without).
Long live the Lady Gycia!
| Gycia | |