The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 46

CH. I curse not all the wicked, but the man Whose secret practices deform his life.

De. Say, maidens, how must I proceed? The words Now spoken have bewildered all my mind.

CH. Go in and question Lichas, who perchance Will tell the truth if you but tax him home.

De. I will; you counsel reasonably.

MESS. And I, Shall I bide here till thou com'st forth? Or how?

De. Remain. For see, without my sending for him, He issueth from the palace of himself.

_Enter_ LICHAS.

LICH. What message must I carry to my lord?

Tell me, my Queen. I am going, as thou seest.

De. So slow in coming, and so quickly flown, Ere one have time to talk with thee anew!

LICH. What wouldst thou ask me? I am bent to hear.

De. And art thou bent on truth in the reply?

LICH. By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of.

De. Then tell me, who is she thou brought'st with thee?

LICH. An islander. I cannot trace her stock.

MESS. Look hither, man. Who is't to whom thou speakest?

LICH. Why such a question? What is thine intent?

MESS. Nay, start not, but make answer if thou knowest.

LICH. To Deanira, Oeneus' queenly child, Heracles' wife,--if these mine eyes be true,-- My mistress.

MESS. Ay, that is the very word I longed to hear thee speak. Thy mistress, sayest?

LICH. To whom I am bound.

MESS. Hold there! What punishment Wilt thou accept, if thou art found to be Faithless to her?

LICH. I faithless! What dark speech Hast thou contrived?

MESS. Not I at all. 'Tis thou Dost wrap thy thoughts i' the dark.

LICH. Well, I will go.

'Tis folly to have heard thee for so long.

MESS. You go not till you answer one word more.

LICH. One, or a thousand! You'll not stint, I see.

MESS. Thou knowest the captive maid thou leddest home?

LICH. I do. But wherefore ask?

MESS. Did you not say That she, on whom you look with ignorant eye, Was Iole, the daughter of the King, Committed to your charge?

LICH. Where? Among whom?

What witness of such words will bear thee out?

MESS. Many and sound. A goodly company In Trachis' market-place heard thee speak this.

LICH. Ay.

I said 'twas rumoured. But I could not give My vague impression for advised report.

MESS. Impression, quotha! Did you not on oath Proclaim your captive for your master's bride?

LICH. My master's bride! Dear lady, by the G.o.ds, Who is the stranger? for I know him not.

MESS. One who was present where he heard thee tell, How that whole city was subdued and taken, Not for the bondage to the Lydian girl, But through the longing pa.s.sion for this maid.

LICH. Dear lady, let the fellow be removed.

To prate with madmen is mere foolishness.

De. Nay, I entreat thee by His name, whose fire Lightens down Oeta's topmost glen, be not A n.i.g.g.ard of the truth. Thou tell'st thy tale To no weak woman, but to one who knows Mankind are never constant to one joy.

Whoso would buffet Love, aspires in vain.

For Love leads even Immortals at his will, And me. Then how not others, like to me?

'Twere madness, sure, in me to blame my lord When this hath caught him, or the woman there, His innocent accomplice in a thing, No shame to either, and no harm to me.

It is not so. But if from him thou learnest The lore of falsehood, it were best unlearnt; Or if the instruction comes of thine own thought, Such would-be kindness doth not prove thee kind.

Then tell me all the truth. To one free-born The name of liar is a hateful lot.

And thou canst not be hid. Thy news was heard By many, who will tell me. If thou fearest, Thou hast no cause--for doubtfulness is pain, But to know all, what harm? His loves ere now Were they not manifold? And none hath borne Reproach or evil word from me. She shall not, Though his new pa.s.sion were as strong as death; Since most mine eye hath pitied her, because Her beauty was the ruin of her life, And all unweeting, she her own bright land, Poor hapless one! hath ravaged and enslaved.-- Let that be as it must. But for thy part, Though false to others, be still true to me.

CH. 'Tis fairly said. Comply. Thou ne'er wilt blame Her faithfulness, and thou wilt earn our loves.

LICH. Yea, dear my Queen, now I have seen thee hold Thy mortal wishes within mortal bound So meekly, I will freely tell thee all.

It is as he avers. This maiden's love, Piercing through Heracles, was the sole cause, Why her Oechalia, land of plenteous woe, Was made the conquest of his spear. And he-- For I dare so far clear him--never bade Concealment or denial. But myself, Fearing the word might wound thy queenly heart, Sinned, if thou count such tenderness a sin.

But now that all is known, for both your sakes, His, and thine own no less, look favouringly Upon the woman, and confirm the word Thou here hast spoken in regard to her:-- For he, whose might is in all else supreme, Is wholly overmastered by her love.

De. Yea, so my mind is bent. I will do so.

I will not, in a bootless strife 'gainst Heaven, Augment my misery with self-sought ill.

Come, go we in, that thou may'st bear from me Such message as is meet, and also carry Gifts, such as are befitting to return For gifts new-given. Thou ought'st not to depart Unladen, having brought so much with thee. [_Exeunt_

CHORUS.

Victorious in her might, I 1 The Queen of soft delight Still ranges onward with triumphant sway.

What she from Kronos' son And strong Poseidon won, And Pluto, King of Night, I durst not say.

But who, to earn this bride, Came forth in sinewy pride To strive, or e'er the nuptial might be known With fearless heart I tell What heroes wrestled well, With showering blows, and dust in clouds upthrown.