No More Learning

Would you affright me, Greek?

Iridion. No. I announce

The simple truth. If you should lose, you die
By the hand of the conqueror ; if you should gain,
You perish by the swords of those who used
Your name as standard to advance themselves !

Alexander. Shame upon him who fears that he must die
Before death is upon him ! Shame on him
Who fears to die when the gods call him home !
If danger threatens, stay and share it with me !
From the tiger's jaws I 11 tear the sunny-haired,
Restore to Rome the glories of her spring.
Why do you shudder, brother, wring your hands?
Would Elsinoe's honor, bliss, Rome's fame,
Be bitter to your soul ? Iridion, speak !

Iridion. I recollect that I was sent by Caesar,
To report your answer !

Alexander. Remind me not of him !

And if the gods have given you a heart.
Let the proud memories of Amphilochus,
The agonies of Elsinoe's shame,
Be brands of fire to chase him from his prey !
Sing as your tuneful ancestors once sang :
"Yes, vengeance is the rapture of the gods. "

Iridion. Oh, innocence ! {He presses his hand. ) For
the last time on earth
I press your hand ! for the last time, Severus !
We both stand on the border of the grave.
Before the rosy dawn shall three times tint
The sky, or you or I, it may be both.
Will cross the Styx to Erebus ! {Exit Iridion. )



384 I RID I ON.

SCENE II. A hall in the palace of the Ccesars adorned
with pillars, statues, costly vases, and tripods ; an altar
dedicated to Mithras a? id dazzling tvith gold stands in
the centre ; i? i the backgrotmd, a heavy curtain of purple
hangs to the floor between two pillars of gold, its clasps
are of precious stones. Before it is seated Elsinoe, clad
in purple and glittering i7i jewels. Iridion enters armed
afid helmeted.

Iridio7i {looking around). Where is the Accursed ?

Elsijioe {poi filing to the curtain). There! There!
His body rests
On violets ; his soul in the Furies' lap !
I choked within the curtain, and came forth
To breathe a moment's liberty.

Iridion. Spake he of me before he went to sleep?
Hast thou prepared him, as I counseled thee ?

Elsinoe. He has accepted all, but wept, and beat
His head against the wall. He called Eutychian,
Threw himself on his breast and pressed his hands,
Not daring yet to tell him he had given
Command of the pratorians to thee.
He told him that he hoped by gentle means
And promises thou would'st win back the rebels.
He begged me pray for him to my fierce gods ;
Then weeping sprang upon his perfumed couch,
And tossed and twisted like a wounded serpent !

Iridion. We must awake him !

Elsinoe. Brother, come with me !

{Elsinoe unclasps the curtain, behind which Heliogabalus

is seen asleep upon a couch of roses and violets. Iridion

and Elsinoe stand for a moment gazing upon him. )

Iridion. Hush ! those half-open lips are trembling into
speech.

Elsinoe. Curses upon them, whether they sleep or
wake !

Heliogabalus {in his sleep). Iri . . . my Iri . . . why
dost thou forsake me ?

Elsinoe. He dreams of thee !

Heliogabalus. Elsi . , . my Elsi . . . why dost thou
forsake me ?



IRIDION. 385

Ehino~e. The child of Crimhild never has been thine !
Iridic n {placing his hand upon the Emperor).
Wake, Emperor, wake !

Heliogabalus (rising). Who calls? Where am I ?
Speak !
Is it thou, my Elsi ? Thou, Iridion ?
Here are my roses ! My blue violets !
Here my dear smoking tripods ! Elsinoe !
{Be takes the hands of Elsinoe and Iridion, and comes for-

ward. )
I agonized — thy voice called back to life !

Iridion. What didst thou dream to affright thy spirit

thus?
Heliogabalus. Oh 'twas a fearful dream, Iridion !
When first I went to sleep, I thought I saw
All nations, peoples, shrink into a dwarf.
Who, powerless and in chains, lay on the ground ;
My white and dazzling foot upon his head
Shone like a shell in its transparency !
My throne blazed with the splendor of Olympus,
And Rome was burning, as thou saidst it should ;
From east to west the bright flames swept the sky !
There were no men to kill us anywhere,
For with my foot I kneaded the whole race
Into the Dwarf, who mangled lay before me.

Iridion. The gods themselves have given the wished-

for sign.
Heliogabalus. Alas ! Not so ! Then great confusion
came;
The dead seemed rising from the catacombs,
The circus, mausoleums, unknown graves ;
Victor, and the Apulians, Tubero,
Lucius, and the dead men who set my gems.
And crowds and crowds of ghastly, wormy forms,
Rode on the air, and scowled, and breathed on me !
Then suddenly, on the horizon's verge,
I saw appear my father, Caracalla ;
His head was crowned with coiled and hissing vipers,
And in each hand he held a human skull ;
His purple robes were dabbled o'er with gore;
He tottered in the midst of burning cinders,

33*



386 IRIDION.

And as he fell, he cried : " My son ! My son ! "

Then the dead marched and marched, and rushed upon

me,
The Dwarf began to laugh, and toss my foot
From off his head, and grew to myriad men !
They marched and marched, their togas wrapped around
Their left arms, while drawn swords were in their right !
Thou wert beside me, and she too was there ! . . .
Then thou, Iridion, betrayedst me,
Crying: "Behold ! Strike Ccesar ! He is there ! "
My Elsinoe, thou betrayedst me.
Crying : " Behold your murderer ! Caesar ! Kill ! "
The lightning of a hundred naked swords
Flashed out my eyes \ — I could not see ye more !
Hundreds of blades crashed through my shattered heart !

{^He buries his face in his hands, then rushes madly for-
ward, a? id, pointing to a large tripod, cries :)
'Tis he ! Dost thou not see my father there !

{He shudders, ami falls back in the arms of Iridion. ^

Iridion. Why, this is but a dream ! Drive from thy
brain
The treacherous poppy-seed, which Morpheus threw
Around thee in thy sleep. Summon thy courage ;
Thou wilt need it all ! The praetors break
Forever from thee, and Alexander swears
To take no rest until he wears thy crown.

Heliogabalus. Ah, wretched me ! But did you tell
them all ?
Assure them of forgiveness, gold, reward?

Iridion. It is not gold they ask ; — they want_jw/r blood !

{Heliogabalus throws himself upon the altar of Mithras and
embraces it with open arms. )

Heliogabalus. O Trinity of rapture ! God of light !

Elsinoe. As long as thou liest wliimpering like a boy,
Crying to Mithras, danger and death surround thee !
Odin invoke, and he will send his Ravens
To tear and rend the Eagles of proud Rome !

Heliogabalus. Thy voice, my Elsinoe ! Thy loved
voice !



IRIDION. 387

Oh ! let me hear it in my dying hour !
Twine thy white arms around my shattered breast;
Let them be my death-girdle ! Oh, how I love thee,
Through all thy bitter scorn and hate of me !

Elsinoe. Die not before the hour appointed thee !
Arise, and call thy guards, Eutychian ;
Then place all power in my brother's hands,
And he will save thee.

Heliogabalus {attonpting to rise). Elsi, if that could be !

Iridiott. Play never with the dice of life and death
On Fortune's Altar ! This night Rome rocks in fire !
Fear not ! The jests will die on the fierce lips
Of Aristomachus in the unwonted glare !
Where are thy treasures ?

Heliogabalus. Part have been dispatched

To Syria ; Eutychian holds the rest.

Iridion. Divide them with the guard still faithful to
thy cause !

Eutychian {rushing in). Godlike ! Divine ! they
threaten holy Caesar !
The people rise and drive the soldiers from
The senate gates ; the senators rush in ;
They seat themselves in solemn conclave there ;
Loved Anubis, on what do they debate?
Upon the death of the godlike Emperor !

Iridion. Haste, Caesar ! haste !

Heliogabalus {to Eutychian). Give me your arm, old
friend !
i^He leans upon his shoiclder. ) As oft in happier days, I

lean on you,
And love you well as in our sunnier hours.
The censer oft we have together swung
In Mithras' brilliant courts ; together drunk
The ripe juice of the grape ; together poured
Libations to the god of bliss ! Ah ! happy hours !
The parrots' livers and the maidens' lips
Are less delicious than they used to be !
The sky of Rome is harsh, old friend, and we
Must brave the storms of Fate ever together I
Oh, stay with me ! . . . and give the Greek your sword !
Let him be Prefect of the Praetorians !



388



IRIDION.



Eutychiaji. They want my head — and this Greek
wants my power :
But what becomes of me without a head or sword ?
Silvius' last cup I have prepared for thee,
Godlike, and . . .

Heliogabalus. Be silent ! give !

Eutychian {handing the sword to Iridioti). Greek,
spare my child !
Safe in its copper cradle it has hung
Forever round my loins.

Messenger {entering hastily). Great Caesar ! I
This moment in disguise escaped the senate,
And as I left, heard Canulejus cry
That thou shouldst die the death of Nero, and
Thy brother should be chosen Emperor !

Heliogabalus. They too conspire against me, seek my
life !

Iridion. Fear nothing ! (TJ? the messenger. ') Soldier,
run through the lower halls
Of the court ; collect the praetorians ; bid them wait
For me within Domitian's atrium ;
Then seek my palace, where in the command
Of Scipio you'll find my gladiators
Armed and ready for the fight. Bid them
Without delay march to the temple where
The senate sit in counsel ; as they pass
The palace bid them shout : Iridion !
Haste and be prudent ; — great will be your gain !

{^Exit messenger. )
Hark, son of Soemias ! I will drive away
These babblers, to arrive at whom I'll fling
Aside the people, as a sturdy swimmer
Breaks through the waves thronging to overwhelm him.
To conquer Alexander — I need more !

Heliogabalus. What need you more ?

Iridion. It is too late to name

Me in the presence of the troops and people
As representative of all thy powers : —
Lend me the ring of Empire, that all Rome
May know in me thy chosen delegate
And join our force if faithful still to thee !



IRIDION. 389

Heliogabalus. I dare not, Greek ! Dost thou not
surely know
The Genius of the Roman Empire lives
Within this ring? The Emperor who would
Intrust it into foreign hands would be
Guilty of treason, doomed to instant death !

EutycJiian. Give 1 Give it to Iridion, I pray.
Stay thou to comfort me, — let him be Caesar !
Heliogabalus. Slave ! jest not at thy Lord !
{He shows him a poniard. ^
Look at this joke
With double edge, dipped in Getulian poison; —
I'm half inclined to plant it in thy heart !

Eutychian (kneeli/jg). A blade of gold ! — Thy servant
ne'er feared gold !
{As Heliogabalus advances upon him^) Thou knowest

that in the temple of Osiris,
The Syrian Seer was wont to prophesy
That thou would'st live but three days after me !

Heliogabalus {etubracing Eutychian). What say'st thou,
friend ? Support my weary head
Upon thine arm ! Thou knowest that I love thee !

Eutychian. Yes, as the drunken Macedonian loved
Old Clitus!

Iridion. I tell you I must have the ring !
Heliogabalus. Never ! I will not give the god buried
in diamonds.
With the two golden serpents interlaced to guard it !
Take all my treasures, goblets, vases, gems, —
Enough ! Enough ! I will not give the ring !
{Noise and tumult are heard without. ')
Iridion. Hear'st thou that chant of triumph for
Severus ?

Elsinoe. Obey the son of Odin's priestess, Crimhild!
Heliogabalus {wringing his hands). Ah ! Elsinoe !

( The noise increases. )
Iridion. Dost hear? Give me the ring!

{Attempts to seize his hajid. )
Heliogabalus. I will not give my hand ! I will myself



390



IRIDION.



From the finger of Heliogabalus take it off!

Wait, Greek! Perhaps I'll fight myself,

As I once fought with the legions of Macrinus.

The day was hot and bright; my silver car

Rolled over corpses; with my own hand I threw

My golden javelins, flashing like rays of Mithras.

Give me my arms! I'll fight again to-day . . .

i^A sudden change comes over him ; he starts back in affright. )

Gods! gods! . . . Look there! Behind the tripod . . .
look! . . .

'Tis gone . . . I breathe! . . . No! there he comes
again !

He stands before this pillar ! See, he moves !

He leans upon my couch ! . . . He beckons me !

He wears the purple dyed in his own blood !

Father ! I come !

{He falls fainting in the arms of EutychianJ)
My friends, all's ill with me!

My breast, like a deserted temple, crashes in.

{^Iridion seizes his hand. ') Wrench not my hand so vio-
lently, Greek!

It is high treason against majesty !

Iridion. Where power is, must be its forceful symbol !
{He tears off the ring. ) Now go to sleep, and when the
flames blaze high,

I will awake you.

Heliogabalus. Alas ! He now is Caesar ! . . .

Lead me, Eutychian! Come, and sit by me

Upon my violets. Thou shalt hold before me

My newest shield, that I may see myself

In its bright steel once more by the blazing flames

The Greek has promised should consume the city.

Oh ! Heliogabalus grows so cold ! so cold !

All grows so black before his aching eyes!

He cannot see . . . Come, Elsinoe . . . Come !
Elsino'e. Spare me one moment with Iridion !
Eutychian. Son of Amjihilochus, thou shalt eat dust,

And drink thine own hot blood ! then know 'twas cooked

By Eutychian, whom thou wilt recollect

Was cook to the Syrian !



IRIDION,



391



{Elsinoe leads Heliogabahis, accompanied by Ejttychiafi, to
his couch. She unclasps the curtain which falls over the
recess, and joins Iridion on the front of the stage. ^
Elsinoe. Poor wretch ! He stands upon the brink of
Erebus

Shivering with fear! As his companion, I

Have given him madness ! . . .

Have I yet more to do?

To-morrow, nay, to-night, the prsetors may rush in,

Or Rome will be in flames — or my heart break, —

My bosom, tired of suffering, refuse to breathe

Longer the scathing air of this dread world !
Iridion. Sister, watch over him till my return;

Then thou must leave these walls accursed forever !
Elsinoe. What will become of him?
Iridion. It matters not !

I care not for his life — nor for his death !

That which he was, now glitters on my hand;

{Shows the ring. ')

That which he is, is scarcely worth a thought.

Elsinoe. If that be so — come near, — ay, nearer still:
Iridion, dost thou hear my failing voice?

Iridion {holding her in his arms). What is it, sister?
What can I do for thee?
Thy small hand throbs in mine with veins of fire.
And the quick bounds of thy wrung heart beat wild
Against my breastplate! Elsinoe, speak!

Elsinoe. The eyes whose fires withered my virgin
soul . . .
Must die out in their sockets! . . .
And the two arms which once embraced my neck . . .
Must fall like mangled vipers! . . .
The lips which once have dared to rest on mine . . .
Must crumble in the flames ! . .