Say, is it fear,
Or the reflection of the moon's white rays.
Or the reflection of the moon's white rays.
Krasinski - The Undivine Comedy
On one side
stands the temple of Venus, opposite to it is the Flavian am-
phitheatre. Lucius Tubero and the prcetorians are seen
upon the steps of the temple.
Tubero. Aristomachus should be here ere this.
Night had scarce f. illen when we parted ; now
The moon stands high above the amphitheatre.
The giant shadows, silence of these arches,
Weigh upon me ! I know not why it is,
But the fresh breath of night, instead of calming,
Burns on my cheek. How anxious is this waiting!
Yet I have looked on far more desperate things
Without a shudder. Soul, thou slave of Lucius,
Why dost thou now revolt against thy master?
'Tis said that when the end of life draws near,
The spirit grows afraid and warns the body.
Brutus had signs before the last lost fight,
And Otho too at Bedriacum . . . Diespiter !
This is no time for Tubero to die!
Young Caesar counts on my experience,
And with Domitian I can hold the reins.
Sliould the great jurist fall beneath the sword
Of the mad Greek or axes of the Germans, —
Then . . . then . . . Who answers me? Marspiter!
speak ! . . .
'Tis nobody! Only a lion roused from sleep
And roaring in the vaults below the circus.
No, — there are other sounds ! Voices and tumult!
Marspiter! who comes here?
i^Armedmeti rush in in disorder, followed by h'RiSTOMXCnus. )
Aristomachus. Help! help!
Tubero. Shame ! shame !
37
430
IRIDION.
Caesar upon the Forum waits for you
To bring the Greek in chains; you fly before him!
Aristomachus. Were he the Father of both gods and
men,
He lies who says I fear! I have just driven
This javelin through the breasts of two centurions
Because they wavered, turned their faces from
The flaming eyes of this same fiery Greek.
Tubero. Whence gets He this new power? Does he
sow dragons' teeth
Which grow to men as soon as they are planted?
Aristomachus. He must be near the end, but he still
fights
With supernatural force and bravery.
As we marched o'er the slope of the Viminalis,
He rushed upon us like a lava torrent.
Throwing his flaming torches, fiery arrows.
And burning naphtha. Face to face we met;
Three times a desperate encounter followed;
As if from Vulcan's anvil flew the sparks
Between his shield and my tried sword: in vain,
For each time were we driven by the crowd apart.
Tubero. I swear to hang within thy Temple, Mars,
His armor, when Fve torn it from the Greek!
Aristomachus. Take off your breastplate, Tubero !
Two scales
Ruptured above the heart just as you spoke 1
Tubero. The gods avert the omen !
{Exeunt Tubero afid Aristomachus. ')
Masinissa (a/>pearingupon the strfs of the tetnple of Venus').
Ye birds of niglit, fed on the arena's blood,
Spread your black wings, and circle round my head I
Moon, ghastly ruin of a dead volcano,
Wliere Vulcan raged, whom men in idle dreams
Have changed to star of jjurity and peace,
Send me thy j)ale, thy faded rays!
Earth, give me that which still belongs to me!
Air, pay me what is due! I fain would feed
To-day on poison, misery, and blood,
As I once fed upon eternal light !
I RID ION. 431
Another day, another night, and I,
With my brave son, depart to other scenes !
A CHORUS OF FEMALE SPIRITS FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE
TEMPLE.
The Beautiful, Voluptuous, salute their Lord !
Floating above the helmets of the warriors,
Our cheeks we freshen in hot human blood :
The blood shed by thy son is now our favorite mirror !
The Beautiful, Voluptuous, warn their Lord,
That at the rising of Orion's stars,
The mystic spirit came, rolling in streams
Through the blue depths of ether's haunted realm !
All melancholy clouds, all silent charms
It weaves, re-weaves around Iridion's soul !
Masinissa. Does my son heed the whispers of the
spirit ?
CHORUS OF FEMALE SPIRITS.
Whene'er this mystic thought, which has no voice,
Touches his heart, he chill and pallid grows.
His sword still seeks the weak points in the armor,
But cannot break into the House of Life.
Like a fallen angel he still strives and fights
'Midst heaps of ruins. Hasten to him, Lord!
Masinissa. Feeble and misty soul of a chaste virgin,
Pure sighs breathed from the other side of graves,
You shall not tear Iridion from my grasp !
I have not trained his hands to strike your golden harps,
Nor tuned his vengeful lips to chant your hymns of praise !
{He disappears. ')
SCENE IV. The Forum lighted by torches. Alexander
is seated in a curtile chair ; behind him stand the guard
with golden eagles. Domitian is at his side. Aristo-
MACHUS enters, followed by soldiers bearing in SciPio,
dangerously wounded.
Aristomachus. O godlike Emperor ! Brave Tubero
Ere this has made a captive of the Greek !
432
IRIDION.
I was with him when he began the fight
With the Cherusci, who, led by this man,
{He points to Scipio. ')
Stood on the farther slope of the Viminal.
I pressed him so severely that they cried :
" Long live Severus, Caesar ! " They swore to me
By all the gods of the north, that they had lost
Their senses after Heliogabalus perished.
This man closed up the months of two or three
With vigorous thrusts ; — the rest massed on our side.
Alexander. Aristomachus, our best thanks are due !
Aristomachus. I must return to Tubero.
{Exit Afistomachus. ^
Domitian {to Scipio). Your name ?
Scipio. A dying man !
Domitian. Reveal the hidden truth,
And reconcile yourself ere your last sigh
With the just gods.
Scipio. Just gods / JV/iere may JJind them ?
Domitian. Answer before your Emperor ! Since
when
Have you conspired ?
Scipio. I cannot count. —
Since the beginning of eternity !
Domitiaji. Nay, jest not, slave ! Have you accom-
plices
In other portions of this mighty realm?
Scipio. Ay ! everywhere !
Domitian. Who are the chief among them?
Scipio. Caesar and you ! While you exist, they live !
{He dies. )
Alexander {descending from the throne).
Nor threat nor pardon conquers such firm souls !
Domitian. No, fire and steel alone ! . . . Learn how
to walk
On the brink of the precipice without a fall !
Heed not the voice of women ! Never trust
The generosity of other men !
Rome has in thee, herself incorporated;
Then be as she is, strong and pitiless !
IRIDION. 433
SCENE V, An open space by the fountain of Neptune.
Clashing of swords and alarums heard in the distance.
Enter Iridion pursuing Tubero.
Tubcro. Through the whole night your eyes, like
brands of fire
Kindling from Erebus, have followed me !
Which of your gods tempered and forged your armor?
Marspiter ! Greek, my courage fails me not
Under your strokes, — but my strength totters . . . reels . . .
Iridion. For the last time you've parried my sharp
strokes ;
I keep the promise pledged you, Tubero !
Tubero. O Father Neptune, help ! {He falls. ) My
hour has come !
Iridion. Go, tell my sister I am coming soon !
{Kills him. )
Vengeance ! Thou givest me but single drops,
When I have prayed thee for a sea of blood !
I burn in the full force of vigorous life !
The souls of murdered, dying brothers live
And fight within my breast. I know no fear !
I grow into a Titan . . . Must I die ? . . .
I will not die ! . . .
{He stoops and picks tip the sword of Tubero, then staggers
and turns pale. )
Invisible spirit, why thus follow me ?
Christ? Christ? . . . What is that mystic name to me ?
Away 1 Away ! Torture me not, Metella !
Float with the silver clouds around the moon !
Fly ! darkness soon will shroud the crimsoned earth !
{Enter Alboin. )
Is'f friend or foe of Iridion, the Greek!
Alboin. Once an associate.
Iridion.
Say, is it fear,
Or the reflection of the moon's white rays.
Which blanches thus your cheek ?
Alboin. The ghastly corpse
Of Scipio is thrown down the Gemoniae. *
» " Gemoniae Scalae," steps in Rome, down which the bodies of crimi-
nals were thrown.
37*
434
IRIDION.
Iridion. His fathers on the Capitolium sleep.
Alboin. And the Cherusci yield their arms to Caesar.
Iridion. Then our last moments will be very short !
We'll seek the palace of Amphiloclius,
There let the Romans enter in the court,
Where blazes still the pyre of Elsinoe;
With her we both will pass away in flame ;
My foes, my men, the palace of my father,
All, all shall perish ! Alboin, follow me!
Alboin. While any hope remained I served you truly,
For I hate Rome as you. However . . . now . . .
Iridion. Slave of the Golden Eagle, you betray me !
Alboin. Not I, but Fortune has deserted you !
Why, I must live; life's only on that side!
Hear you the tribunes shout? Caesar has set
A price upon your head ! {He draws his sword. ^
Iridion {felling him to the earth). Go down to Hell !
On that route, soon or late, you will meet Caesar !
{Exit. ')
SCENE VI. The court of Iridion' s palace. The still
smoking pyre of Elsinoe stands in the court. Gladiators,
slaves, soldiers enter, bearing torches. Pilades is seen
hurrying across the stage.
Sevej-al Voices. Where are you going, Pilades, so fast?
Pilades. To bring fresh pine and cypress from the
cave.
Many Men. Tear the torch from his hand ! He shall
not go !
Pilades. No nearer come ! Do you not know me,
Brothers ?
I must do as my Lord directed me.
Many Men. I'hrow down your torch at once ! Stand
still, or die !
Several Voices. Aristomachus' eagles must be near !
Other Voices. And Tubero must be almost upon us !
Iridion {entering). Brothers, you are deceived. No
day will ever dawn
For Tubero ! {He mounts the base of an obelisk. )
Why, what means this? Axes,
Shields, arms, thrown down, and my men in disorder?
IRIDION. 435
For the last time I call you to the fight : —
Then, Brothers, rest and silence evermore !
{A pause. The men stand motionless and make no reply. ')
Why do you gaze so furtively at me?
Why let the arms drop from your sturdy hands?
The very flames grow pale before your pallor !
To arms !
First Soldier. My chief! I fought from break of day
Until the moon went down. I scarce can stand.
Another Soldier. What has become of our associates?
Some fainting, exhausted, nearly dead ;
Some die in torture; others kill themselves;
Many have gone to yield themselves to Caesar!
Other Soldiers {showing their wounds').
Look at our wounds ! We cannot stand upright !
A Soldier. Aristomachus broke his heavy lance
Off in my breast. Iridion, water ! water!
Iridion. Ah ! I can only give you fire ! fire !
All. O impious ! The gods themselves desert you I
Iridion. Diomedes, were you not born in Corinth?
Will you humiliate yourself before
The tyrants of your country ? You, Glaucus, you ?
Eutelles, beautiful as Greek god?
How can you, Greeks, shame Greece before her foe ?
CHORUS OF GREEKS.
Woe ! Woe ! Our agonies are useless
To our dead Fatherland !
Iridion. Die for her glory !
CHORUS OF MEN.
Life ! Life ! Not fame ! Food, rest ! — not useless glory !
Iridion. Poor wretches, I have heard your many
oaths.
Have seen your swords oft deeply dyed in blood.
And know how bravely you have borne the brunt !
But now you stand on the very brink of the grave.
When one short hour would bring you lasting fame ;
And will you die as men are wont to die,
Not in despair, blindness, fury of combat,
But shame, submission, treachery, cowardice?
436 IRIDION.
CHORUS.
Ccesar still loves you ! For yourself, for us,
Obtain his pardon ! It is not yet too late !
Iridion. If Rome should now forgive you, can you
think
You would be suffered long to live ? Not so !
Grief, shame, I know, would not cut short your days.
But they would send you into desert sands,
Where water flows not, where the blazing sun
AVould scorch your feet, would crisp your hair and burn
Your brains, destroying you as Greeks !
Invited to their banquets, they would pledge
You deep in poisoned cups, accuse of crimes !
Know, men, that all who'd enter Caesar's service
Would find their blood sold cheaply to his foes
Because he still would number you among them.
You will be forced to fight with tigers, lions,
For the amusement of the Roman people.
Procuring them another holiday !
You cannot save your lives ! Die then as men.
With arms in your brave hands ! Die not as slaves !
A Soldier. You now abuse us ! You, who have be-
trayed us !
Another Soldier. You promised victory ! {lie seizes
Filades. ) Hold, Pi lades !
Iridion. Stab him who holds you, Pilades, and go !
A Soldier. Your head is doomed !
Another Soldier. We'll carry it to Csesar !
Iridion. Strike, wretch ! See, I have thrown away my
shield !
But your hands tremble so you cannot strike me !
(^Filades is stabbed by a soldier with ivhom he is struggling. ^
Ah ! my poor Pilades ! My faithful friend !
Filades. Son of Amphilochus, Iridion!
Thy fate is far more bitter to me than my oivn !
(ylle falls and dies. ^
CHORUS.
Seest tliou the golden eagles? Caesar's purple?
Hearest thou the trumpets of his legions swell ?
I RID ION. 437
Iridion {spriiigitig down from the base of the obelisk on
which he stood).
Each of these swords is at a traitor's throat !
Wretch, see thyself in Sigurd's glittering blade !
Miscreant, the sword of Tubero is keen !
Traitors, no nearer come ! Out of my way !
Grow not so pale ! I have no wish to kill you !
Go! press your trembling knees into the dust I
Go, beg for pity ! fold your hands in prayer !
Adore the Romans 1 I will not die a slave !
{He passes betweeti his men with a naked sword in either
hand, and mounts upon the pyre of Elsinoe. ')
CHORUS.
Son of misfortune ! May the floods of blood
Which thou hast shed, soon bear thee into Erebus !
The curses of the living follow thee !
May they still thunder on thine ears, until
Thou shiverest upon the gloomy shores of Styx I
Iridion. Father ! _ I die, weary of my few days,
Satiate with poison, bitterness of life !
Father, forgive not cowards I Cruel victors !
(Masinissa appears by Iridion upon the pyre of Elsinoe. ^
Ah ! thou appearest at last when all is o'er !
Go ! go, old man ! thine hour is not yet come !
Go ! join the traitors ! Caesar may forgive thee I
Masinissa. Son, follow me !
Iridion. No longer do I know thee !
Masinissa. I saved in battle ; but thou saw'st me not ;
Aided in thy despair ; thou knewest me not :
And I am here only to save thee now !
Iridion. To save me? No !
stands the temple of Venus, opposite to it is the Flavian am-
phitheatre. Lucius Tubero and the prcetorians are seen
upon the steps of the temple.
Tubero. Aristomachus should be here ere this.
Night had scarce f. illen when we parted ; now
The moon stands high above the amphitheatre.
The giant shadows, silence of these arches,
Weigh upon me ! I know not why it is,
But the fresh breath of night, instead of calming,
Burns on my cheek. How anxious is this waiting!
Yet I have looked on far more desperate things
Without a shudder. Soul, thou slave of Lucius,
Why dost thou now revolt against thy master?
'Tis said that when the end of life draws near,
The spirit grows afraid and warns the body.
Brutus had signs before the last lost fight,
And Otho too at Bedriacum . . . Diespiter !
This is no time for Tubero to die!
Young Caesar counts on my experience,
And with Domitian I can hold the reins.
Sliould the great jurist fall beneath the sword
Of the mad Greek or axes of the Germans, —
Then . . . then . . . Who answers me? Marspiter!
speak ! . . .
'Tis nobody! Only a lion roused from sleep
And roaring in the vaults below the circus.
No, — there are other sounds ! Voices and tumult!
Marspiter! who comes here?
i^Armedmeti rush in in disorder, followed by h'RiSTOMXCnus. )
Aristomachus. Help! help!
Tubero. Shame ! shame !
37
430
IRIDION.
Caesar upon the Forum waits for you
To bring the Greek in chains; you fly before him!
Aristomachus. Were he the Father of both gods and
men,
He lies who says I fear! I have just driven
This javelin through the breasts of two centurions
Because they wavered, turned their faces from
The flaming eyes of this same fiery Greek.
Tubero. Whence gets He this new power? Does he
sow dragons' teeth
Which grow to men as soon as they are planted?
Aristomachus. He must be near the end, but he still
fights
With supernatural force and bravery.
As we marched o'er the slope of the Viminalis,
He rushed upon us like a lava torrent.
Throwing his flaming torches, fiery arrows.
And burning naphtha. Face to face we met;
Three times a desperate encounter followed;
As if from Vulcan's anvil flew the sparks
Between his shield and my tried sword: in vain,
For each time were we driven by the crowd apart.
Tubero. I swear to hang within thy Temple, Mars,
His armor, when Fve torn it from the Greek!
Aristomachus. Take off your breastplate, Tubero !
Two scales
Ruptured above the heart just as you spoke 1
Tubero. The gods avert the omen !
{Exeunt Tubero afid Aristomachus. ')
Masinissa (a/>pearingupon the strfs of the tetnple of Venus').
Ye birds of niglit, fed on the arena's blood,
Spread your black wings, and circle round my head I
Moon, ghastly ruin of a dead volcano,
Wliere Vulcan raged, whom men in idle dreams
Have changed to star of jjurity and peace,
Send me thy j)ale, thy faded rays!
Earth, give me that which still belongs to me!
Air, pay me what is due! I fain would feed
To-day on poison, misery, and blood,
As I once fed upon eternal light !
I RID ION. 431
Another day, another night, and I,
With my brave son, depart to other scenes !
A CHORUS OF FEMALE SPIRITS FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE
TEMPLE.
The Beautiful, Voluptuous, salute their Lord !
Floating above the helmets of the warriors,
Our cheeks we freshen in hot human blood :
The blood shed by thy son is now our favorite mirror !
The Beautiful, Voluptuous, warn their Lord,
That at the rising of Orion's stars,
The mystic spirit came, rolling in streams
Through the blue depths of ether's haunted realm !
All melancholy clouds, all silent charms
It weaves, re-weaves around Iridion's soul !
Masinissa. Does my son heed the whispers of the
spirit ?
CHORUS OF FEMALE SPIRITS.
Whene'er this mystic thought, which has no voice,
Touches his heart, he chill and pallid grows.
His sword still seeks the weak points in the armor,
But cannot break into the House of Life.
Like a fallen angel he still strives and fights
'Midst heaps of ruins. Hasten to him, Lord!
Masinissa. Feeble and misty soul of a chaste virgin,
Pure sighs breathed from the other side of graves,
You shall not tear Iridion from my grasp !
I have not trained his hands to strike your golden harps,
Nor tuned his vengeful lips to chant your hymns of praise !
{He disappears. ')
SCENE IV. The Forum lighted by torches. Alexander
is seated in a curtile chair ; behind him stand the guard
with golden eagles. Domitian is at his side. Aristo-
MACHUS enters, followed by soldiers bearing in SciPio,
dangerously wounded.
Aristomachus. O godlike Emperor ! Brave Tubero
Ere this has made a captive of the Greek !
432
IRIDION.
I was with him when he began the fight
With the Cherusci, who, led by this man,
{He points to Scipio. ')
Stood on the farther slope of the Viminal.
I pressed him so severely that they cried :
" Long live Severus, Caesar ! " They swore to me
By all the gods of the north, that they had lost
Their senses after Heliogabalus perished.
This man closed up the months of two or three
With vigorous thrusts ; — the rest massed on our side.
Alexander. Aristomachus, our best thanks are due !
Aristomachus. I must return to Tubero.
{Exit Afistomachus. ^
Domitian {to Scipio). Your name ?
Scipio. A dying man !
Domitian. Reveal the hidden truth,
And reconcile yourself ere your last sigh
With the just gods.
Scipio. Just gods / JV/iere may JJind them ?
Domitian. Answer before your Emperor ! Since
when
Have you conspired ?
Scipio. I cannot count. —
Since the beginning of eternity !
Domitiaji. Nay, jest not, slave ! Have you accom-
plices
In other portions of this mighty realm?
Scipio. Ay ! everywhere !
Domitian. Who are the chief among them?
Scipio. Caesar and you ! While you exist, they live !
{He dies. )
Alexander {descending from the throne).
Nor threat nor pardon conquers such firm souls !
Domitian. No, fire and steel alone ! . . . Learn how
to walk
On the brink of the precipice without a fall !
Heed not the voice of women ! Never trust
The generosity of other men !
Rome has in thee, herself incorporated;
Then be as she is, strong and pitiless !
IRIDION. 433
SCENE V, An open space by the fountain of Neptune.
Clashing of swords and alarums heard in the distance.
Enter Iridion pursuing Tubero.
Tubcro. Through the whole night your eyes, like
brands of fire
Kindling from Erebus, have followed me !
Which of your gods tempered and forged your armor?
Marspiter ! Greek, my courage fails me not
Under your strokes, — but my strength totters . . . reels . . .
Iridion. For the last time you've parried my sharp
strokes ;
I keep the promise pledged you, Tubero !
Tubero. O Father Neptune, help ! {He falls. ) My
hour has come !
Iridion. Go, tell my sister I am coming soon !
{Kills him. )
Vengeance ! Thou givest me but single drops,
When I have prayed thee for a sea of blood !
I burn in the full force of vigorous life !
The souls of murdered, dying brothers live
And fight within my breast. I know no fear !
I grow into a Titan . . . Must I die ? . . .
I will not die ! . . .
{He stoops and picks tip the sword of Tubero, then staggers
and turns pale. )
Invisible spirit, why thus follow me ?
Christ? Christ? . . . What is that mystic name to me ?
Away 1 Away ! Torture me not, Metella !
Float with the silver clouds around the moon !
Fly ! darkness soon will shroud the crimsoned earth !
{Enter Alboin. )
Is'f friend or foe of Iridion, the Greek!
Alboin. Once an associate.
Iridion.
Say, is it fear,
Or the reflection of the moon's white rays.
Which blanches thus your cheek ?
Alboin. The ghastly corpse
Of Scipio is thrown down the Gemoniae. *
» " Gemoniae Scalae," steps in Rome, down which the bodies of crimi-
nals were thrown.
37*
434
IRIDION.
Iridion. His fathers on the Capitolium sleep.
Alboin. And the Cherusci yield their arms to Caesar.
Iridion. Then our last moments will be very short !
We'll seek the palace of Amphiloclius,
There let the Romans enter in the court,
Where blazes still the pyre of Elsinoe;
With her we both will pass away in flame ;
My foes, my men, the palace of my father,
All, all shall perish ! Alboin, follow me!
Alboin. While any hope remained I served you truly,
For I hate Rome as you. However . . . now . . .
Iridion. Slave of the Golden Eagle, you betray me !
Alboin. Not I, but Fortune has deserted you !
Why, I must live; life's only on that side!
Hear you the tribunes shout? Caesar has set
A price upon your head ! {He draws his sword. ^
Iridion {felling him to the earth). Go down to Hell !
On that route, soon or late, you will meet Caesar !
{Exit. ')
SCENE VI. The court of Iridion' s palace. The still
smoking pyre of Elsinoe stands in the court. Gladiators,
slaves, soldiers enter, bearing torches. Pilades is seen
hurrying across the stage.
Sevej-al Voices. Where are you going, Pilades, so fast?
Pilades. To bring fresh pine and cypress from the
cave.
Many Men. Tear the torch from his hand ! He shall
not go !
Pilades. No nearer come ! Do you not know me,
Brothers ?
I must do as my Lord directed me.
Many Men. I'hrow down your torch at once ! Stand
still, or die !
Several Voices. Aristomachus' eagles must be near !
Other Voices. And Tubero must be almost upon us !
Iridion {entering). Brothers, you are deceived. No
day will ever dawn
For Tubero ! {He mounts the base of an obelisk. )
Why, what means this? Axes,
Shields, arms, thrown down, and my men in disorder?
IRIDION. 435
For the last time I call you to the fight : —
Then, Brothers, rest and silence evermore !
{A pause. The men stand motionless and make no reply. ')
Why do you gaze so furtively at me?
Why let the arms drop from your sturdy hands?
The very flames grow pale before your pallor !
To arms !
First Soldier. My chief! I fought from break of day
Until the moon went down. I scarce can stand.
Another Soldier. What has become of our associates?
Some fainting, exhausted, nearly dead ;
Some die in torture; others kill themselves;
Many have gone to yield themselves to Caesar!
Other Soldiers {showing their wounds').
Look at our wounds ! We cannot stand upright !
A Soldier. Aristomachus broke his heavy lance
Off in my breast. Iridion, water ! water!
Iridion. Ah ! I can only give you fire ! fire !
All. O impious ! The gods themselves desert you I
Iridion. Diomedes, were you not born in Corinth?
Will you humiliate yourself before
The tyrants of your country ? You, Glaucus, you ?
Eutelles, beautiful as Greek god?
How can you, Greeks, shame Greece before her foe ?
CHORUS OF GREEKS.
Woe ! Woe ! Our agonies are useless
To our dead Fatherland !
Iridion. Die for her glory !
CHORUS OF MEN.
Life ! Life ! Not fame ! Food, rest ! — not useless glory !
Iridion. Poor wretches, I have heard your many
oaths.
Have seen your swords oft deeply dyed in blood.
And know how bravely you have borne the brunt !
But now you stand on the very brink of the grave.
When one short hour would bring you lasting fame ;
And will you die as men are wont to die,
Not in despair, blindness, fury of combat,
But shame, submission, treachery, cowardice?
436 IRIDION.
CHORUS.
Ccesar still loves you ! For yourself, for us,
Obtain his pardon ! It is not yet too late !
Iridion. If Rome should now forgive you, can you
think
You would be suffered long to live ? Not so !
Grief, shame, I know, would not cut short your days.
But they would send you into desert sands,
Where water flows not, where the blazing sun
AVould scorch your feet, would crisp your hair and burn
Your brains, destroying you as Greeks !
Invited to their banquets, they would pledge
You deep in poisoned cups, accuse of crimes !
Know, men, that all who'd enter Caesar's service
Would find their blood sold cheaply to his foes
Because he still would number you among them.
You will be forced to fight with tigers, lions,
For the amusement of the Roman people.
Procuring them another holiday !
You cannot save your lives ! Die then as men.
With arms in your brave hands ! Die not as slaves !
A Soldier. You now abuse us ! You, who have be-
trayed us !
Another Soldier. You promised victory ! {lie seizes
Filades. ) Hold, Pi lades !
Iridion. Stab him who holds you, Pilades, and go !
A Soldier. Your head is doomed !
Another Soldier. We'll carry it to Csesar !
Iridion. Strike, wretch ! See, I have thrown away my
shield !
But your hands tremble so you cannot strike me !
(^Filades is stabbed by a soldier with ivhom he is struggling. ^
Ah ! my poor Pilades ! My faithful friend !
Filades. Son of Amphilochus, Iridion!
Thy fate is far more bitter to me than my oivn !
(ylle falls and dies. ^
CHORUS.
Seest tliou the golden eagles? Caesar's purple?
Hearest thou the trumpets of his legions swell ?
I RID ION. 437
Iridion {spriiigitig down from the base of the obelisk on
which he stood).
Each of these swords is at a traitor's throat !
Wretch, see thyself in Sigurd's glittering blade !
Miscreant, the sword of Tubero is keen !
Traitors, no nearer come ! Out of my way !
Grow not so pale ! I have no wish to kill you !
Go! press your trembling knees into the dust I
Go, beg for pity ! fold your hands in prayer !
Adore the Romans 1 I will not die a slave !
{He passes betweeti his men with a naked sword in either
hand, and mounts upon the pyre of Elsinoe. ')
CHORUS.
Son of misfortune ! May the floods of blood
Which thou hast shed, soon bear thee into Erebus !
The curses of the living follow thee !
May they still thunder on thine ears, until
Thou shiverest upon the gloomy shores of Styx I
Iridion. Father ! _ I die, weary of my few days,
Satiate with poison, bitterness of life !
Father, forgive not cowards I Cruel victors !
(Masinissa appears by Iridion upon the pyre of Elsinoe. ^
Ah ! thou appearest at last when all is o'er !
Go ! go, old man ! thine hour is not yet come !
Go ! join the traitors ! Caesar may forgive thee I
Masinissa. Son, follow me !
Iridion. No longer do I know thee !
Masinissa. I saved in battle ; but thou saw'st me not ;
Aided in thy despair ; thou knewest me not :
And I am here only to save thee now !
Iridion. To save me? No !
