No More Learning

Were this not true, would Asia, godlike Greece,

The Hyrcanian Syrtis, the Jazigean wastes,*

And every country which you have subdued,

Lie withered 'neath your desolating breath.

Crumbling in ashes, blighted and destroyed?

You have divined aright, I laugh in scorn ! —

As yet you know not wliat such smiles foretell !

{He stands directly in front of them, and addresses thejfi

in a tone of command. ^
Unless you instantly lay down your arms,
Without delay fall at your Emperor's feet.
Give every tenth man up to meet his vengeance ;
Shame, torture, death await you.
Romans, my mission now with you is over !

Aristomachiis. Away to Caesar ! Tell him to anoint
His hair for festival ! To-morrow eve
He sleeps with Pluto o'er the gloomy Styx!

Iridion {approaching Alexander'). My embassy is now
with Alexander.

Doniitian {to Alexander). Strike the intruder dumb
with scorn !

Alexander. I cannot !

Iridion. Thy brother greets thee ! He demands to
know
Why at the dead of night thou fled'st his palace?
He orders thy return without delay.
And will commute thy doom of death to banishment !

Alexander {rising suddenly). No ! no ! a thousand
times 1 {To Domitian. )

There's more in this



* Hyrcania was situated on the coast of the Caspian Sea; the Deserts
of the Jaziges between the Don and Dnieper.



^82 I RID ION.

Than meets the ear ! I will hold converse with
Iridion alone. Leave us, my friends !

{^Exeunt all save Alexander and Iridion. ')
The gods of vengeance weave their treacherous mists
Between our souls, son of Amphilochus.
I can no longer read your heart, designs ;
And you no longer seem to know Severus.
Did you not vow a hecatomb to Fortune
That day when justice should have rule in Rome?

Iridion. I vow it still ! Oh, if she would but grant
A single day's, nay, but an hour's, justice,
I might bring Rome itself and immolate
As burning hecatomb upon the shrine
Of this same goddess, Fortune !

Alexander. You wrong me, Greek,

With your ambiguous words. Do you not owe
Me thanks, that I believe not my own eyes,
However clearly they report your perfidy ?
I scarcely know myself why I so long
To love and trust you ; to be loved and trusted !

Iridion. Thanks from my soul, Severus! Ah ! if Fate
Had made me as a man to live with men,
And granted me to soothe my heart with friendship,
I would have chosen you, as honored friend,
From all the world, true Alexander !
It cannot be ! Look ! both our breasts are clad
Li iron, and can but approach in mortal combat !

Alexander. It is not yet too late ! Forsake the tyrant,
Look through the mists gathering between our hearts !
Call me once friend, — and I will never doubt you.
Iridion, where is your P^lsinoe?

Iridion. Where Nemesis and all the Furies chain her !

Alexander. She still is pure as purest vestal virgin ;
Pure as my thoughts of her ! Listen to me . . .
Iridion, stop ! . . . Oh, I conjure you, stay ! . . .
Yes, I have read unutterable pain
In her heroic eyes ! I know she hates him ! . . .
And can her brother fight for one she scorns.
Retain her in a bondage worse than death?

Iridion. Wliy arc your days to be so short and sad,
Young Eagle of the cliff? What will remain



IRIDION. 383

Of all your noble love, your thirst for virtue?
You perish like harmonious sounds, unheard
By men, — known only to the gods !

Alexa7ider. Why gaze upon me with a look so sad?
Yes, I have heard it said your mother bore
A demigod in her prophetic breast !

Iridion. A god of vengeance to the Furies vowed ! . . .
Alas ! The good inherit oft the punishment
Due only to the guilty ! . . .
Son of Mammea, know your hour draws near !

Alexande? -. 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!