Thy sister came but once:
" Euphorion ?
" Euphorion ?
Krasinski - The Undivine Comedy
Thy voice was
sweet . . .
Thou saidst to her, " My glory shall be thine ! "
Victor. Apage Satanas !
Metella {to Iridioii). Approach me not !
Fly from me ! Fly ! Thousands of dusky wings
Float over thee ! . . .
Where is the Lord, my God?
Victor {holding the crucifix before her). Here, daughter !
Here!
Metella. Press it upon my lips ! {She kisses the cruci-
fix. ) Forgive ! Forgive !
Victor. Dost thou renounce the evil spirit ? . . . Speak !
Metella. Yes, I renounce him! {She falls. ) He has
deceived me, Brothers !
He has deceived you all !
CHORUS.
Thou grow'st so pale !
White Rose, thou sink'st to earth, to rise no more 1
4o8 IRIDION.
Metella. The Judgment of the Lord is now upon
me ! . . .
I die . . . but hark ! I die . . . die in the Lord !
{She drags herself on to the feet of Victor. ^
Bless me, my Father ! Press me to thy heart !
Father, defend thy agonizing child !
It grows so cold ! so wild ! so terrible !
So dark ! Father, I cannot see thee more !
Victor. Daughter, depart in peace! Thy penitence
Hath saved thee !
Iridion. Oh ! tear thyself away, my love,
From that cold breast in which there throbs no heart !
Metella, come to me !
Metella {turning her face to Iridion). Ah ! I forgive
thee all !
Adore Christ only, Hieronymus !
Victor {leaning over her). Dost thou still hear me,
daughter? Answer me !
Metella. I breathe the breath of roses, — violets . . .
{She dies. )
CHORUS OF CHRISTIANS.
Father, pray for us to the Invisible !
Whate'er thou loosest on earth, is loosed in Heaven !
He who deceived us totters and turns pale!
Iridion. Shame ! Were a woman's words your only
trust ?
Did you take up the sword at her command?
Because these miserable dotards here
Have killed her, will you then forsake our cause,
Desert me, and your God? What, silent all?
Shame lays a weiglit as heavy on your lips
As stones upon the dead ! Follow me, men !
Simeon. I tear my clothing, ])ierce my heart to find
The truth ! Let my life perish with my dream I
Iridion. Slave of these dotards, dar'st thou speak to
me?
Accursed ! 'twas thou betrayedest her to these priests I
Victor. I excommunicate thee from the church !
Whoe'er shall touch thy hand will be unclean !
And he who listens to thy dangerous words
IRIDION. 409
Shall have no place at the table of the Lord !
Go ! Go ! Thy name was Hieronymus !
{Enter a messenger. ')
CHORUS OF PRIESTS {Jo messenger).
The Lord be with thee !
A Priest. Julian, thou bringest news?
Messenger {kneeling before Victor'). Mammea begs your
prayers ! Her son has pressed
Into the city ; fights upon the Forum.
Iridion. Time has outstripped me— men betrayed —
and gods deceived !
{He tears a Cross from under his armor. )
Take back your symbol of eternal life !
Who that has lived on earth would live again ?
{He dashes the Cross on the steps of the altar. )
Look ! how it shatters on the altar's steps !
Cowards, live on !
{He goes. ^
Barbarians. Stop ! stop ! we will be true !
We'll march with you,— Jesus may judge us after !
Iridion. Then cry aloud: "Odin and Crimhild! "
Come !
{Exeunt Iridion and Barbarians. ')
Victor. Christians, put up your prayers for Alexander !
He will be Csesar.
SCENE V. The street of tombs along the walls of Rome.
Enter soldiers of Iridion, bearing in Verres, wounded.
Scattered groups of men are seen from time to time flying
across the background.
Verres. Your torch seems tripled by my swimming
eyes :
Greek, read the inscription on this monument !
Soldier {reads). Diis manibus Attilii Verres bis con-
sulis . . .
Verres. Enough ; lay me beside my ancestor !
35*
4IO
IRIDION.
Bid me good-night, for though the dawn is near,
Verres will never see the sun again !
(Iridion appears on the opposite side, asce7iding from the
catacombs. He is first seen amid the ruins of a large
monument, accofnpanied by the Barbariafis. )
Iridion. The hues of morning mock me, painting flame
And fire upon the sky, — Rome yet unscathed !
{To the barbarians. ) Unbrace the axes from your gir-
dles, friends !
(Zr<? moves forward. ) Speak ! who art thou supported by
this tomb?
Verres. Is it a dying dream, or do I hear
Iridion's voice. Say, is it dream or truth?
Iridion. Truth. I am here. I hope you are not
hurt !
Verres. Approach ! You know a sign was promised
me ;
I waited for it like a famished wolf;
It never came, — and I began without it.
Behind yon pyramid, 'midst smoke and embers,
I met Rupilius, throttled him in the ashes.
The people fell upon us shouting " Severus ! "
And I received the wound from which I die.
Atropos' shears cut rapidly my life-thread !
The dawn grows brighter — but my life goes out —
I am the last of the Verres — Rome still stands —
{He dies. )
Iridion. All efforts to restore him are in vain ;
His debt to Fate is paid ! The last of the Verres !
Revenge him. Brothers ! Join with the troops I bring !
{A slave rushes by. )
Halt ! tell us whence you fly so rapidly ?
Slave. Last from the Forum. Do not stop me,
pray !
Iridion. In other days I gave you to my sister ;
You sang blind Homer to me when a boy.
But yesterday you clasped my chlamys for me
In Caisar's Hall — and yet you do not know me !
Slave. My noble Lord 1 {He kneels. )
Iridion. I left you with my sister.
IRIDION. 411
Whom you swore to defend with your own life.
Spare me no anguish ! tell me quickly all !
Slave. Scarce had the stars shone down through half
the night,
When suddenly the legions of Severus,
Shouting, plunged down upon the Palatine.
The livelong night with fury Scipio fought 3
I heard him raging like an angry wolf,
His men defending, driving back the foe.
You know you stationed me in Caesar's room.
Eutychian, pale with fear, ran to and fro
Without cessation.
Thy sister came but once:
" Euphorion ? " she said. I answered her:
" Command ! I will obey ! O Elsinoe ! "
She made me no reply, gliding away
Divinely calm and beautiful as ever !
A melancholy splendor lit her brow,
Unearthly light, like midnight strewn with stars,
As if already floating o'er the waves of Styx !
Without, the cries grew ever more tumultuous.
Eutychian could bear his fright no longer;
Shivering, he rushed into the Hall of Porphyry,
And, leaning o'er the balustrade, he cried :
" The Greek betrays us ! Ay ! He has betrayed us !
His sister is a traitor ! She betrays us ! "
Maddened with terror then I heard him cry:
" The Emperor and Greek will burn the city !
Pardon me, Romans ! I am not in fault ! "
Aristomachus thundered from afar
Of Alexander's magnanimity.
Of recompense, forgiveness, and rewards ;
But when he ceased to speak, wild groans arose
Under the flashing of his keen-edged sword !
When his blade rested, he again deceived
Our people with his treacherous promises !
The praetorians then revolted, would obey
Neither centurions nor tribunes more : —
The threats of Scipio were hurled in vain ;
The fight ceased in the gardens, and they rushed
Precipitately in, storming the palace!
Then I ran to thy sister ; I had sworn
412
IRIDION.
To defend her with my life, to die for her !
Caesar, with haggard looks, leaned on his couch ;
He had attached his pendants as High-Priest
To his imperial diadem: he held
In the one hand the knife of sacrifice,
A jeweled cup of poison in the other.
But without courage to destroy himself.
He heaved long sighs, lamented, sobbed and wept;
Sometimes was silent; suddenly would break
Into voluptuous songs, as rocked in rapturous dreams.
Upon a throne of gold thy sister sat,
Glittering with gems and robed in royal purple,
In utter silence, and divinely calm.
The first — the second door are rudely shattered —
The third door crashes in — voices and tumult —
The tramp of men — the clash of ringing steel —
I cover Elsinoe with my body —
Iridion. Your hand !
Eiipho7-ioti. Hundreds of lances tear away
The separating curtains, — troops rush in,
Led by Aristomachus, crying loudly :
"Murder and rob! Vengeance for all our wrongs! "
The Emperor springs upon them like a tiger, —
Soon running o'er with blood, retreats — back — back —
And falls at last among his cherished roses!
A living wall of swords obstructs my sight —
I cannot see him through the glittering veil —
I hear the blades break through his shattered breast!
When the wall falls — I see his jeweled hands —
Severed — there lies his diadem-crowned head!
Iridion. But Elsinoe? Elsinoe? friend!
Euphorion. Alas! my master, must I tell thee all?
That instant comes Severus, crying loudly:
"Who Elsinoe harms, ne'er sees the sun again! "
She gazes on him calmly as a goddess.
Throws back the purple mantle from her shoulders.
Seizes and drives a dagger to her heart !
I see the flash of steel, — the gush of blood !
Some muttered words . . .
Iridion. Go on ! Go on ! the gods
Have given Iridion a heart of stone!
IRIDION.
413
Euphorion. Broken the voice, — I catch the dying
sounds: —
"Brother! I will not live to love thy foe ! . . .
My task is done! . . . Mother! receive my soul! " . . .
She falls into the arms of Alexander!
Whirlpools of motion surge me as they will,
I stumble, fall upon Eutychian's corpse,
Fly for my life, then meet with Scipio,
Who still is leading the Cheruskian cohorts,
The sole men left who yield not to Severus !
Ha ! here he comes !
Iridion. Sun ! rising bright and clear,
Glaring so ghastly on my ruined hopes,
Where is my sister, my poor Elsinoe?
{^He moves a few steps forward, and leans against a tomb. ^
Far in the west on the volcano's brow,
The last cloud of this fatal night still lingers!
My mother often told me that the shades
Of mortals loved to rock themselves in clouds.
Float with the flying mists, — O Elsinoe! . . .
My sunny-haired, dost leave me thus forever?
(Scipio enters with the cohorts, and stops by the corpse of
Verres. )
Scipio. Dead ! Thou hast gone to sleep before me,
brother !
Yet let me once more press thy icy hand !
Sit tibi terra levis!
Euphorion {to Scipio). Look, where he leans for support
on a grave
And struggles with despair !
Scipio. Who? Who?
Euphorion. The Greek;
Son of Amphilochus.
Scipio. Iridion!
I waited vainly for the promised flames!
Iridion. In vain !
Scipio. Fortune betrays us everywhere !
Iridion. I know !
Scipio. Domitian, Tubero, are here,
Close at our heels; what are we next to do ?
414 IRIDION.
Iridion {starting from his stupor). Why, go to meet
them! . . . O Scipio, Roman blood!
Scipio. No weakness ever! Despair but gives thee
keener arms !
Our glorious chief! Such were the Patrician Romans!
Better to die with thee, than live to fall
By tigers' claws upon the bloody sands !
On ! on ! and Tubero will soon be ours!
Iridion {drawing his sivord and throwing away its scab-
bard).
Go, where my hopes are gone ! Thou, handle, grow
Into my hand, never to be unclasped I
Blood! Roman blood! and death to Alexander!
On ! soldiers, on !
{Exeunt all. )
ACT V.
SCENE I. Palace of the Emperors. Alexander, Mam-
MEA, DoMiTiAN, Courtiers.
Domitian. Why do you parley longer with a madman ?
What can you hope from the perfidious Greek?
First he deceived us with his assumed sadness,
And then implacably resisted us.
Does he address to you a single prayer,
Acknowledge you as Emperor of Rome ?
Without the slightest shadow of success,
Did he not furiously fight all yesterday?
Did he not burn last night our Roman temples ?
Does he not combat for a ruined cause,
More like an incarnate Hate than mortal man ?
For, thank the gods ! men commit evil rather
To attain an end, than through a love for it.
He stands beyond the pale of all humanity.
Have no more mercy ! You have gone far enough
In sending him in state his sister's corpse.
Alexander. When Elsinoe lay pierced to the heart.
Stifling her moans, and dying in my arms,
IRIDION. 415
Her life-blood weltering o'er her breast of snow, —
I swore to pardon, to forgive her brother!
Upon this sacred vow her spirit fled : —
It floats before me now, and claims the promise.
Domitian. Let others prate of Caesar's magnanimity ;
I call it weakness ! Junius was named the Just
Because he would not pardon his own sons.
He who forgives the guilty, some day must
Punish the innocent !
Mafnmea (to Alexander). Swerve not from your
intent !
Mercy is royal purple for a king.
Domitian. And oft transforms the royal hue to blood !
Alexander. I cannot turn from my decision. Consul.
Go to Iridion ; propose my terms ;
Should you return from him with longed-for peace,
Happier than Titus, I can say, my friends,
I have not lost my day !
Domitian. Should I return,
And bring you back refusal, withering scorn ?
Alexander. I will have done what my heart bids me do ;
Have kept my promise to the sunny-haired ;
And you may then begin to judge and doom :
SCENE n. The Hall of Amphilochus as in Act I. , Seem
I. The corpse of Elsinoe, robed in white and strewed
with cypress branches, lies upon an elevated bier. A
Grecian vase of lustral water stands on a tripod beside
it. An Altar to Justice is erected in the midst of the
Hall. A chorus of weeping maidens circle the corpse,
scattering white roses and lilies around it. Pilades sits
moaning beside it. Enter iRWioti , followed by gladia-
tors, retainers, soldiers, and slaves.
Iridion [to Pilades'). Hast thou seen Masinissa, Pi-
lades ?
Pilades. No one has seen him since you parted with
him.
Iridion. Masinissa !
CHORUS OF GLADIATORS.
Masinissa ! Hear !
41 6 I RID I ON.
Iridion. Twice have these vaults alone replied for him !
{^He seats himself at the base of the statue of his father. ')
Pilades. The old man is a traitor to my Lord.
Iridion {covering his face with his hands).
Oh ! say not so ! . . . He was the friend of Sigurd,
Lifelong companion of Amphilochus.
sweet . . .
Thou saidst to her, " My glory shall be thine ! "
Victor. Apage Satanas !
Metella {to Iridioii). Approach me not !
Fly from me ! Fly ! Thousands of dusky wings
Float over thee ! . . .
Where is the Lord, my God?
Victor {holding the crucifix before her). Here, daughter !
Here!
Metella. Press it upon my lips ! {She kisses the cruci-
fix. ) Forgive ! Forgive !
Victor. Dost thou renounce the evil spirit ? . . . Speak !
Metella. Yes, I renounce him! {She falls. ) He has
deceived me, Brothers !
He has deceived you all !
CHORUS.
Thou grow'st so pale !
White Rose, thou sink'st to earth, to rise no more 1
4o8 IRIDION.
Metella. The Judgment of the Lord is now upon
me ! . . .
I die . . . but hark ! I die . . . die in the Lord !
{She drags herself on to the feet of Victor. ^
Bless me, my Father ! Press me to thy heart !
Father, defend thy agonizing child !
It grows so cold ! so wild ! so terrible !
So dark ! Father, I cannot see thee more !
Victor. Daughter, depart in peace! Thy penitence
Hath saved thee !
Iridion. Oh ! tear thyself away, my love,
From that cold breast in which there throbs no heart !
Metella, come to me !
Metella {turning her face to Iridion). Ah ! I forgive
thee all !
Adore Christ only, Hieronymus !
Victor {leaning over her). Dost thou still hear me,
daughter? Answer me !
Metella. I breathe the breath of roses, — violets . . .
{She dies. )
CHORUS OF CHRISTIANS.
Father, pray for us to the Invisible !
Whate'er thou loosest on earth, is loosed in Heaven !
He who deceived us totters and turns pale!
Iridion. Shame ! Were a woman's words your only
trust ?
Did you take up the sword at her command?
Because these miserable dotards here
Have killed her, will you then forsake our cause,
Desert me, and your God? What, silent all?
Shame lays a weiglit as heavy on your lips
As stones upon the dead ! Follow me, men !
Simeon. I tear my clothing, ])ierce my heart to find
The truth ! Let my life perish with my dream I
Iridion. Slave of these dotards, dar'st thou speak to
me?
Accursed ! 'twas thou betrayedest her to these priests I
Victor. I excommunicate thee from the church !
Whoe'er shall touch thy hand will be unclean !
And he who listens to thy dangerous words
IRIDION. 409
Shall have no place at the table of the Lord !
Go ! Go ! Thy name was Hieronymus !
{Enter a messenger. ')
CHORUS OF PRIESTS {Jo messenger).
The Lord be with thee !
A Priest. Julian, thou bringest news?
Messenger {kneeling before Victor'). Mammea begs your
prayers ! Her son has pressed
Into the city ; fights upon the Forum.
Iridion. Time has outstripped me— men betrayed —
and gods deceived !
{He tears a Cross from under his armor. )
Take back your symbol of eternal life !
Who that has lived on earth would live again ?
{He dashes the Cross on the steps of the altar. )
Look ! how it shatters on the altar's steps !
Cowards, live on !
{He goes. ^
Barbarians. Stop ! stop ! we will be true !
We'll march with you,— Jesus may judge us after !
Iridion. Then cry aloud: "Odin and Crimhild! "
Come !
{Exeunt Iridion and Barbarians. ')
Victor. Christians, put up your prayers for Alexander !
He will be Csesar.
SCENE V. The street of tombs along the walls of Rome.
Enter soldiers of Iridion, bearing in Verres, wounded.
Scattered groups of men are seen from time to time flying
across the background.
Verres. Your torch seems tripled by my swimming
eyes :
Greek, read the inscription on this monument !
Soldier {reads). Diis manibus Attilii Verres bis con-
sulis . . .
Verres. Enough ; lay me beside my ancestor !
35*
4IO
IRIDION.
Bid me good-night, for though the dawn is near,
Verres will never see the sun again !
(Iridion appears on the opposite side, asce7iding from the
catacombs. He is first seen amid the ruins of a large
monument, accofnpanied by the Barbariafis. )
Iridion. The hues of morning mock me, painting flame
And fire upon the sky, — Rome yet unscathed !
{To the barbarians. ) Unbrace the axes from your gir-
dles, friends !
(Zr<? moves forward. ) Speak ! who art thou supported by
this tomb?
Verres. Is it a dying dream, or do I hear
Iridion's voice. Say, is it dream or truth?
Iridion. Truth. I am here. I hope you are not
hurt !
Verres. Approach ! You know a sign was promised
me ;
I waited for it like a famished wolf;
It never came, — and I began without it.
Behind yon pyramid, 'midst smoke and embers,
I met Rupilius, throttled him in the ashes.
The people fell upon us shouting " Severus ! "
And I received the wound from which I die.
Atropos' shears cut rapidly my life-thread !
The dawn grows brighter — but my life goes out —
I am the last of the Verres — Rome still stands —
{He dies. )
Iridion. All efforts to restore him are in vain ;
His debt to Fate is paid ! The last of the Verres !
Revenge him. Brothers ! Join with the troops I bring !
{A slave rushes by. )
Halt ! tell us whence you fly so rapidly ?
Slave. Last from the Forum. Do not stop me,
pray !
Iridion. In other days I gave you to my sister ;
You sang blind Homer to me when a boy.
But yesterday you clasped my chlamys for me
In Caisar's Hall — and yet you do not know me !
Slave. My noble Lord 1 {He kneels. )
Iridion. I left you with my sister.
IRIDION. 411
Whom you swore to defend with your own life.
Spare me no anguish ! tell me quickly all !
Slave. Scarce had the stars shone down through half
the night,
When suddenly the legions of Severus,
Shouting, plunged down upon the Palatine.
The livelong night with fury Scipio fought 3
I heard him raging like an angry wolf,
His men defending, driving back the foe.
You know you stationed me in Caesar's room.
Eutychian, pale with fear, ran to and fro
Without cessation.
Thy sister came but once:
" Euphorion ? " she said. I answered her:
" Command ! I will obey ! O Elsinoe ! "
She made me no reply, gliding away
Divinely calm and beautiful as ever !
A melancholy splendor lit her brow,
Unearthly light, like midnight strewn with stars,
As if already floating o'er the waves of Styx !
Without, the cries grew ever more tumultuous.
Eutychian could bear his fright no longer;
Shivering, he rushed into the Hall of Porphyry,
And, leaning o'er the balustrade, he cried :
" The Greek betrays us ! Ay ! He has betrayed us !
His sister is a traitor ! She betrays us ! "
Maddened with terror then I heard him cry:
" The Emperor and Greek will burn the city !
Pardon me, Romans ! I am not in fault ! "
Aristomachus thundered from afar
Of Alexander's magnanimity.
Of recompense, forgiveness, and rewards ;
But when he ceased to speak, wild groans arose
Under the flashing of his keen-edged sword !
When his blade rested, he again deceived
Our people with his treacherous promises !
The praetorians then revolted, would obey
Neither centurions nor tribunes more : —
The threats of Scipio were hurled in vain ;
The fight ceased in the gardens, and they rushed
Precipitately in, storming the palace!
Then I ran to thy sister ; I had sworn
412
IRIDION.
To defend her with my life, to die for her !
Caesar, with haggard looks, leaned on his couch ;
He had attached his pendants as High-Priest
To his imperial diadem: he held
In the one hand the knife of sacrifice,
A jeweled cup of poison in the other.
But without courage to destroy himself.
He heaved long sighs, lamented, sobbed and wept;
Sometimes was silent; suddenly would break
Into voluptuous songs, as rocked in rapturous dreams.
Upon a throne of gold thy sister sat,
Glittering with gems and robed in royal purple,
In utter silence, and divinely calm.
The first — the second door are rudely shattered —
The third door crashes in — voices and tumult —
The tramp of men — the clash of ringing steel —
I cover Elsinoe with my body —
Iridion. Your hand !
Eiipho7-ioti. Hundreds of lances tear away
The separating curtains, — troops rush in,
Led by Aristomachus, crying loudly :
"Murder and rob! Vengeance for all our wrongs! "
The Emperor springs upon them like a tiger, —
Soon running o'er with blood, retreats — back — back —
And falls at last among his cherished roses!
A living wall of swords obstructs my sight —
I cannot see him through the glittering veil —
I hear the blades break through his shattered breast!
When the wall falls — I see his jeweled hands —
Severed — there lies his diadem-crowned head!
Iridion. But Elsinoe? Elsinoe? friend!
Euphorion. Alas! my master, must I tell thee all?
That instant comes Severus, crying loudly:
"Who Elsinoe harms, ne'er sees the sun again! "
She gazes on him calmly as a goddess.
Throws back the purple mantle from her shoulders.
Seizes and drives a dagger to her heart !
I see the flash of steel, — the gush of blood !
Some muttered words . . .
Iridion. Go on ! Go on ! the gods
Have given Iridion a heart of stone!
IRIDION.
413
Euphorion. Broken the voice, — I catch the dying
sounds: —
"Brother! I will not live to love thy foe ! . . .
My task is done! . . . Mother! receive my soul! " . . .
She falls into the arms of Alexander!
Whirlpools of motion surge me as they will,
I stumble, fall upon Eutychian's corpse,
Fly for my life, then meet with Scipio,
Who still is leading the Cheruskian cohorts,
The sole men left who yield not to Severus !
Ha ! here he comes !
Iridion. Sun ! rising bright and clear,
Glaring so ghastly on my ruined hopes,
Where is my sister, my poor Elsinoe?
{^He moves a few steps forward, and leans against a tomb. ^
Far in the west on the volcano's brow,
The last cloud of this fatal night still lingers!
My mother often told me that the shades
Of mortals loved to rock themselves in clouds.
Float with the flying mists, — O Elsinoe! . . .
My sunny-haired, dost leave me thus forever?
(Scipio enters with the cohorts, and stops by the corpse of
Verres. )
Scipio. Dead ! Thou hast gone to sleep before me,
brother !
Yet let me once more press thy icy hand !
Sit tibi terra levis!
Euphorion {to Scipio). Look, where he leans for support
on a grave
And struggles with despair !
Scipio. Who? Who?
Euphorion. The Greek;
Son of Amphilochus.
Scipio. Iridion!
I waited vainly for the promised flames!
Iridion. In vain !
Scipio. Fortune betrays us everywhere !
Iridion. I know !
Scipio. Domitian, Tubero, are here,
Close at our heels; what are we next to do ?
414 IRIDION.
Iridion {starting from his stupor). Why, go to meet
them! . . . O Scipio, Roman blood!
Scipio. No weakness ever! Despair but gives thee
keener arms !
Our glorious chief! Such were the Patrician Romans!
Better to die with thee, than live to fall
By tigers' claws upon the bloody sands !
On ! on ! and Tubero will soon be ours!
Iridion {drawing his sivord and throwing away its scab-
bard).
Go, where my hopes are gone ! Thou, handle, grow
Into my hand, never to be unclasped I
Blood! Roman blood! and death to Alexander!
On ! soldiers, on !
{Exeunt all. )
ACT V.
SCENE I. Palace of the Emperors. Alexander, Mam-
MEA, DoMiTiAN, Courtiers.
Domitian. Why do you parley longer with a madman ?
What can you hope from the perfidious Greek?
First he deceived us with his assumed sadness,
And then implacably resisted us.
Does he address to you a single prayer,
Acknowledge you as Emperor of Rome ?
Without the slightest shadow of success,
Did he not furiously fight all yesterday?
Did he not burn last night our Roman temples ?
Does he not combat for a ruined cause,
More like an incarnate Hate than mortal man ?
For, thank the gods ! men commit evil rather
To attain an end, than through a love for it.
He stands beyond the pale of all humanity.
Have no more mercy ! You have gone far enough
In sending him in state his sister's corpse.
Alexander. When Elsinoe lay pierced to the heart.
Stifling her moans, and dying in my arms,
IRIDION. 415
Her life-blood weltering o'er her breast of snow, —
I swore to pardon, to forgive her brother!
Upon this sacred vow her spirit fled : —
It floats before me now, and claims the promise.
Domitian. Let others prate of Caesar's magnanimity ;
I call it weakness ! Junius was named the Just
Because he would not pardon his own sons.
He who forgives the guilty, some day must
Punish the innocent !
Mafnmea (to Alexander). Swerve not from your
intent !
Mercy is royal purple for a king.
Domitian. And oft transforms the royal hue to blood !
Alexander. I cannot turn from my decision. Consul.
Go to Iridion ; propose my terms ;
Should you return from him with longed-for peace,
Happier than Titus, I can say, my friends,
I have not lost my day !
Domitian. Should I return,
And bring you back refusal, withering scorn ?
Alexander. I will have done what my heart bids me do ;
Have kept my promise to the sunny-haired ;
And you may then begin to judge and doom :
SCENE n. The Hall of Amphilochus as in Act I. , Seem
I. The corpse of Elsinoe, robed in white and strewed
with cypress branches, lies upon an elevated bier. A
Grecian vase of lustral water stands on a tripod beside
it. An Altar to Justice is erected in the midst of the
Hall. A chorus of weeping maidens circle the corpse,
scattering white roses and lilies around it. Pilades sits
moaning beside it. Enter iRWioti , followed by gladia-
tors, retainers, soldiers, and slaves.
Iridion [to Pilades'). Hast thou seen Masinissa, Pi-
lades ?
Pilades. No one has seen him since you parted with
him.
Iridion. Masinissa !
CHORUS OF GLADIATORS.
Masinissa ! Hear !
41 6 I RID I ON.
Iridion. Twice have these vaults alone replied for him !
{^He seats himself at the base of the statue of his father. ')
Pilades. The old man is a traitor to my Lord.
Iridion {covering his face with his hands).
Oh ! say not so ! . . . He was the friend of Sigurd,
Lifelong companion of Amphilochus.
