No More Learning

Old man, have my commands been all obeyed ?

Masinissa. All has been done as you desired, ray son.
Iridion {seating himself by Alasitiissa).
A moment's rest! Take off my helmet, Pilades !
Lucius !

Scipio. I listen, Greek !

Iridion. Mark well my words,

Engraving each upon your memory
As part of your own vengeance ! I have just left
The gardens of the Palace : the praetorians were
In wild confusion, drunk, some without arms.
Some terrified. I let them spend their rage.
And when the noise was stilled, I raised my hand,
When at the sight of the imperial ring.
They knew their danger ! The tribunes thronged around

me ;
I made a short address. The eunuchs brought
Great vessels of the Syrian's silver out.
And dreadful oaths came from the praetorians' lips:
"While a drop of blood remained, they would be true,
Ay, long as life should last ! " With other vows
Which may stand for to-night, — to-morrow blots them

out !
Go, then, and watch them closely ! Take with you
The gladiators, and Eutychian's sword

34*



398 IRIDION.

As token that you come from me as Leader !

Hold the guard in suspense and expectation ;

Tell them Severus' bands have crossed the walls;

If they should hear the vvailings in the streets,

Tell them Severus' bands are raging there ! "^

When they shall see the light of the burning city,

Tell them again Severus and his bands !

They will not wish to fight their furious brothers !

Should Alexander's heralds come, toward morn,

Find pretexts for delay; reject; accept;

Break and renew your terms, as long as lasts

His patience; spinning webs of guile around him !

When that is over, rush with fury on him ;

Fight, while a drop of blood is in your veins!

Let Caracalla, Heliogabalus, be

Your treacherous war-cry through the lingering night !

Fight till you see the Forum burst in flames,

A burning crown wreathing the Capitol,

Rome rocking in the throbbing heart of fire, —

Then know, the son of Amphilochus is nigh !

Scipio. What if the Syrian should wish to leave
The palace, interfere with our success?

Iridion. My sister will take charge of the Emperor ;
But guard his life and person till the end !
The prsetorians but obey us while he lives.

Scipio. Where will your post of danger be, brave
Greek?

Iridion. I hope to be with you ere night be past!
But hasten, for the twilight's crimson streaks
Are fading from the sky.

{Exit Scipio. ^
Verres, 'tis time
You also should depart ! ^

Verres {io his soldiers'). Men, follow me !

{Exit Verres and his soldiers. ^

Iridion. Go with them, Alboin ; halt at Nero's pond !

Alboin. Sigurd, farewell, until we meet again !

{Exit Alboin with his 7nen. )

Iridion {to the slaves). My faithful slaves, you must
prepare to leave me !
Before you go, join in the parting feast



IRIDION. 399

I have prepared you in the peristyle.

For the last time you eat and drink together

AVithin the palace of Iridion !

To-morrow eve, his home will be in ashes;

To-morrow's dawn will find you rich and free !

CHORUS OF SLAVES.

Father and mother thou hast been to us,

'I'hrough exile, woe! Thou'st given us food and wine,

And made us happy in thy palace, while

Our brothers starved, whitening the deserts with

Their famished bones, dying unpitied in

Their agony upon the Arena's sands,

All crimsoned with their blood !

Should some among us ne'er return to thee.

Ask not where are thy faithful slaves ! They will

Have gladly perished for thy future glory,

Blessing thy name, son of Amphilochus !

{^They throw themselves at his feet ^

Iridion. Friends, when this pyre of cypress blazes high,
Answer the signal from your once loved home
With countless fires! Burn temples, baths, halls, palaces !
Farewell !

{^Exit slaves. Iridion rises and leasts against the pyre. ')
The nearer comes the longed-for hour
The fiercer burns my blood ! Am I deceived ?
Is it a rm/ darkness glooms the city ?
Amphilochus, is the time surely here?
Are these stars actual that shine before me,
Or are they only kindled by my thirst
Of vengeance ? . . . No ! No ! . . . the blood boils in

my veins !
I feel it must be the last night of Rome !
Look, Masinissa, how my men glide on
Like shadowy spectres through the growing darkness !
See how the torches creep in silence on !
The neigh of horses,— are they those of Verres?
As the light fades, flames flicker through the mounds !
At last, ye gods, vengeance shall fall on Rome !
But softly, softly, soldiers ! Make less noise !



400



IRIDION.



Masinissa. A desert grows around us ! Voices die
That once were wont to echo through this palace !
Hark ! they propose a health !

(Cheering heard from the slaves feasting below. ')

Slaves. Iridion !

Iridion. Ah ! how they ring my name with stalwart
cry !

Masinissa. The last glad cheer these walls will e'er
re-echo !
They leave the hall, they part, crouch to the ground, —
Their torches vanish in the thickening gloom.

Iridion. They've kept their faith; each has been true
to me ;
All gone to do my will, to ruin Rome !
All gone, old man, and we remain alone
In this doomed Palace of Amphilochus.
'Tis strange the Nazarenes are not yet here, —
What can detain them? . . . Simeon swore to me
He would be here with them within three hours !

Masinissa. They must be here ere long, for Hes-
perus
Mounts o'er the Capitol ; Berenice's
Bright hair now lights the distant Sabine hills. ^

Iridion. Night, grudge me not this once thy winds
and clouds !
But once, — and then for centuries shine down,
Girdled with starry crowns, calm, peaceable,
Upon the blackened walls, ashes of Rome !
I scarce can breathe until the hour is here;
I long for it so madly !

Masinissa. Ay, so do I ;

And not on thee alone does time weigh heavily !
Oh, I have waited longer far in vain
The ruin of my Enemy in silence !

Iridion. Your voice recalled my father's well-loved
accents.
Might not the statue of Amphilochus
Spring back to life, in this our hour supreme,
And feel a heart beat in his breast of marble ?
But as you sit upon his ivory stool.
Shadows around, you bring him to my soul !



IRIDION.



401



Exactly thus his toga fell about him
The hour I swore . . . his hour of death ! Give me
Thy hands, and breathe the blessing on my head
Which he was wont to do, before the battle !

Masinissa. May my seal rest upon thy forehead till
The end of time ! With this sign on thy brow,
Thou'lt see a day these stars shall never know !

Iridion. I feel thy strengthening breath ! I see Rome

blaze !

The dome of her proud Capitol is crowned

With leaping flames ! Ye gods ! her eagles fall !

The clouds swoop down, glowing with crimson light !

Domes, temples glitter, . . , crash in ruins down !

The stars die out ! The sky's on fire ! Fire ! Fire !
*******

Nay, I but dream ! Fires blaze but in my brain !

But where are they? . . . The Christians? . . . All is calm 1

Darker, more silent still it grows on earth ; —

Winds sweep the sky 1 . . . Where are the Nazarenes?

Pilades {entering). Did you call me, my Lord?

Iridion. No. No. Not you.
Yet stay ! Have you heard nothing in the vaults
Beneath the palace, heard no steps approaching
From the deep entrance to the catacombs ?

Filades. I have heard none, my Lord.

Iridion. Bring me a torch ! {Exit Pilades. ')

It cannot be ! they will not fail to come !
Have they not sworn it to me on the Cross?

Jilasifiissa. And if they fail?

Iridion. The doubt is malediction !

Then all is lost ! My hopes are placed in them !
With them I meant to overrun the city,
Startled and breaking everywhere in flames,
Recalling Brennus," shouting " vae victis! "
^Vithout them, all my gladiators, soldiers,
Are insufficient to repel the troops.
If they betray me . . . I will die, old man !

Masinissa. Be patient, son ! Perchance they'll come ;
but first
Must they not finish all their long-drawn hymns?
(JP Hades returns with a torch. )



402



IRIDION.



Iridion. Place it upon the pyre. I die in chains,
As did Prometheus.
— A single moment lies
Between me and the banquets of the gods ! . . .
Why are you silent ? . . . Masinissa, speak !
Cry, Long live Hellas I Live Amphilochus !

Masinissa. I'm silent, — for I know the promised hour
Of their arrival is already past !
Each feather in its wrings, as it flits by,
Rustles with long-drawn sneers ! . . .
Now it has passed forever ! I can hear
The bitter laugh no more ! 'Tis o'er, Iridion !

Iridion. In spite of men and fate, my father's will
Be thus accomplished ! {He seizes the torch. ') Glory to

Greece ! Glory !
Thrice-powerful Hecate, come \^ Receive this sacrifice !
{He prepares to fire and spring upon the pyre, when a mes-
senger enters. )
Whence comest thou, black phantom ? Answer me !
li" thou'rt my Evil Genius, thou'rt too late :
Thou canst not hold me now upon the earth !

Messenger. Peace in the holy name of Jesus Christ !

Iridion. Where are the Brethren? Where is Simeon?

Messenger. In his despair he calls on you for rescue !
All the armed Christians are by force detained
By Victor at the gate of Eloim,
Most anxious as they are to join you, Greek.

Iridion. Thanks, servant of the saints. See, I am calm ;
I do not kill you ! Thou alone shalt die !

{He tramples the torch out with his feet. )
{To Masinissa. ) Should any of my men come back, bid

them
Await me here. I will return, old man,

Masinissa. There may be time; it still is far from
dawn.

P Hades {handing the helmet to Iridioti). You have
forgot your helmet, my good Lord.

Iridion. My sword's enough to win the victory ;
To die requires no helmet! {To the messenger. ) All
hangs on haste !

{Exeunt Iridion and messenger. )



IRTDION.



403



Masirnssa {rising and stretching otit his hands toward Rome).
Be blest forever, O my cherislied city !
Sleep sweetly in the shadow of these arms !
Thy baseness, cruelty, have saved thee, Rome !
Live and oppress ! Live on to torture man !
Let all flesh be corrupted in thy torments;
All souls, until they doubt that God exists !
(ylle disappears behind the pyre. ')

SCENE IV. The sanctuary of Eloim in the catacombs. A
chalice and a cross wreathed with flowers stand upon the
altar ; tapers are lighted round the cross, and burning
censers emit clouds of perfumed S7)ioke. Simeon, armed,
stands on one side of the altar, Metella on the other,
and armed Christians are seen kneeling in the back-
ground. Victor stands in the centre, on the highest step
of the altar, with many priests surrounding him.

Victor. Lost in the air like clouds of smoke, so will
All traces of you melt from earth and heaven !
Ah ! would, like stones, you might sleep on forever !
But you must wake to conscious agony.
Forever live in the dark home of death.
Wherever falls the thunder of God's vengeance !
{To Simeon. ) Fly from Jehovah's face, like the first
murderer !

Simeon. But hear me, Victor !

Victor. I will not listen more !

Look on this maid, whom I reproach not now,
Because the Hand of God is on her brow.
Wiio killed that soul ? left life within that frame,
Only to grow a scorn 'mong living men ?
Dost thou not hear the voice of one possessed
By Satan, quivering through those wretched lips?

Metella. Thou persecutest me. Priest of my People !

Victor. Silence, rebellious child ! Thou wert an angel.
But, wanting perseverance, thou hast fallen,
And now art damned !

Metella. Alas ! thou knowest him not !

He spake so gently, called me "unfortunate,"
Because he knew that I would suffer shame



404



IRIDION.



On his account. Fear not to trust him, Simeon ;
He'll surely come ! Brothers, forget him not ;
I know he will be here ! Do not forsake him !
He tore me from the fire when raging flames
Were blazing round my body. He will save
Me yet from all my foes. He comes ! He comes !

Simeon. Victor, for the last time, I pray you hear
me !
Have I not always been obedient to you?
What Christian dares to testify against me?
Have I not twice striven for the martyr's crown?
Once in the Antioch dungeons; afterwards
At Tarsus in the ring? Have I not done
Stern penance in the desert for long years?
Have I e'er broken the law, or given offense
To any of the Christian brethren ? Speak !

Victor. - You now offend, thus boasting of yourself.
Like the proud Pharisee the Lord condemned,
You throw a stumbling-block before the humble.

Simeon. I do not boast ; I si)eak the simple truth.
Who has more deeply meditated on
The death of Christ ? Who of you all has felt
A deeper love spring from the agonies
Of Golgotha? a gratitude more fervent?
To save the world our God took human flesh ;
Must we to serve the world not take a body?
Our Lord took flesh : we live but in the spirit !
Where are our temples, churches, kingdom, power?
Can unseen men control the visible world?

Victor. Corintliian sophist, whom would you deceive?
"My kingdom is not of this world," said Christ.

Simeon. Ah ! wherefore did I leave my burning sands?
There the Creator I adored ; and here
I hate the creature !

Victor. Son !

Simeon. A voice I hear

Often at night urges me ever on !
Can such things be but lying prophecies?

Victor. A sliort time since, and you were of the elect,
One of the chosen children of the church : —
And will you crucify your Lord anew?



IRIDION. 405

Metella. Bow low your heads ! I hear his footsteps
ring
As they descend the golden stairs from Heaven !

{Enter Iridion. )
Immortal youth is on his glorious brow !

{She throws herself at his feet. )
I told them, Lord, that thou wouldst surely come !
CHORUS OF PRIESTS {to Iridioti).
Go ! Heretic!

Victor. The brimming cup of mercy

Once by thy angel held, is now exhausted.

Iridion. I'll fill it up anew with Roman blood !
Who swore to come, and broke his plighted oath?
Simeon of Corinth, — perjured before God !
Who let their arms fall from their sinewy hands,
Licking the dust, feeding on broken vows?
You, Brothers ! . . . Yet at this hour proud Caesar falls,
And all the gods of the idolaters
Wait but the resurrection of the saints
To vanish from the face of earth forever !
Ha ! Are ye men? Then leave the old, the dead,
To sit among their tombs till time is o'er; —
Men, follow me, and you shall surely conquer 1
Strike boldly, and proclaim the triune God !
Come ! You shall see the star seen by the kings
When Christ was born, — it leads to victory I
Christ will be born anew in thousand souls
Which else would never know Him ! You shall hear
Again the archangel's song, ringing through Heaven !

Sifneon. I stretch my arms to thee, Hieronymus !

CHORUS.

Beg Victor !

Iridion. Father !

Victor. Nay, this day you have lost

Your Heavenly Father I

Iridion. Old man !

Victor. You'll never live

To reach my age !

35



4o6 IRIDION.

Metella {to Iridion). Forgive the old man, Lord !
He knows not what he says ! To arms ! To arms !

Iridion. Thou only hast remained still faithful to me ;
But fate this hour forsakes thee too, Metella !

Victor. My sons ! A sign from Heaven will be given,
That you may turn from sin and be forgiven,
Saved by the intercession of your Shepherd.
{To Metella. ') Thou who wert ever wont to be the first
At the Lord's table, though to-day the last.
Approach, that I may place my hands upon thy brow !

Metella. Metellus' daughter once was dear to thee;
Father, she comes, — what wouldst thou with her now?

Victor {elevating the chalice). Metella, kneel before
the Blood of the Lord !

Metella {turning round and kneeling before Iridion).
Father, I kneel before the Lord Himself!

{A priest hands holy zvafer to Victor. )

Victor. Spirit !