University of Virginia Library

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.
[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.
[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.

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.

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.

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).
What! will you have it?

[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).
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.