Andromache: A Play in Three Acts
Part 1
E-text prepared by James Wright and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team (http://www.pgdpcanada.net)
ANDROMACHE
* * * * * *
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME Paper, 1s. 6d.; Cloth, 2s. 6d. CARLYON SAHIB A Drama in Four Acts
LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN 21 Bedford Street, W.C.
* * * * * *
ANDROMACHE
A Play in Three Acts
by
GILBERT MURRAY
London: William Heinemann MDCCCC
_All rights, including Acting rights in the English Language, reserved_
_PREFATORY LETTER._
_My Dear ARCHER_,
_The germ of this play sprang into existence on a certain April day in 1896 which you and I spent chiefly in dragging our reluctant bicycles up the great hills that surround Riveaulx Abbey, and discussing, so far as the blinding rain allowed us, the questions whether all sincere comedies are of necessity cynical, and how often we had had tea since the morning, and how far it would be possible to treat a historical subject loyally and unconventionally on a modern stage. Then we struck (as, I fear, is too often the fate of those who converse with me) on the subject of the lost plays of the Greek tragedians. We talked of the extraordinary variety of plot that the Greek dramatist found in his historical tradition, the force, the fire, the depth and richness of character-play. We thought of the marvellous dramatic possibilities of an age in which actual and living heroes and sages were to be seen moving against a background of primitive superstition and blank savagery; in which the soul of man walked more free from trappings than seems ever to have been permitted to it since. But I must stop; I see that I am approaching the common pitfall of playwrights who venture upon prefaces, and am beginning to prove how good my play ought to be!_
_What I want to remind you of is this: that we agreed that a simple historical play, with as little convention as possible, placed in the Greek Heroic Age, and dealing with one of the ordinary heroic stories, ought to be, well, an interesting experiment. Beyond this point, I know, we began to differ. You wanted verse and the Greece of the English poets. I wanted, above all things, a nearer approach to my conception of the real Greece, the Greece of history and even--dare I say it?--of anthropology! I recognise your full right to disapprove of every word and every sentiment of this play from the first to the last, but I hope you will not grudge me the pleasure of associating your name with at least the inception of the experiment, and thanking you at the same time for the many gifts of friendly encouragement and stimulating objurgation which you have bestowed upon_
_Yours sincerely_, _GILBERT MURRAY_.
_January 1900._
_DRAMATIS PERSONÆ_
PYRRHUS _Son of Achilles; King of Phthia._
ANDROMACHE _Once wife of Hector, Prince of Troy; now slave to Pyrrhus._
HERMIONE _Daughter of Helen, Queen of Sparta; wife to Pyrrhus._
MOLOSSUS _Child of Pyrrhus and Andromache._
ALCIMEDON _or_ ALCIMUS _An old Captain of Achilles' Myrmidons._
ORESTES _Son of Agamemnon, King of Mycenæ; now banished for the slaying of his mother, Clytæmnestra._
PYLADES _A Prince of Phocis, friend to Orestes._
A PRIEST OF THETIS
TWO MAIDS OF HERMIONE
_Certain Maidens, Myrmidons, Men-at-Arms._
_The Action takes place in Phthia, on the Southern borders of Thessaly, about fifteen years after the Fall of Troy._
ANDROMACHE
THE FIRST ACT
SCENE: _The coast of Phthia. Rocks at the back, with the sea visible behind them. One of the rocks is a shrine, having niches cut in it for receiving offerings. On the right in front is the Altar of Thetis, shrouded in trees; to the left, a well. A path to the left leads to_ PYRRHUS' _castle; another, far back to the right, leads to the house of the_ PRIEST. _It is the morning twilight, with a faint glimmer of dawn._
_At the foot of the rock_ ORESTES _is seated in meditation; he carries two spears, and wears the garb of a traveller. An_ ARMED MAN _is moving off the stage at the back, as though going towards the sea; he stops suddenly, listens, and hides behind a rock._
_Enter, coming up from the sea_, PYLADES, _armed. The_ MAN _steps out_.
MAN.
My lord Pylades.
PYLADES.
Where have you left him?
MAN.
Yonder, by the shrine. He bade me go back to the ship.
PYLADES.
[_Crossing to_ ORESTES.] Is it too late to turn your purpose?
ORESTES.
[_As though half roused from his reverie._] I seek only to see if she is indeed so passing beautiful. She was; I am sure she was, until---- [_He pauses._
PYLADES.
Let me go first and spy out a way for you.
ORESTES.
[_With sudden resentment._] You think I am still mad!
PYLADES.
Nay, no more mad than I, but more quick to anger. It would be safer for me to go.
ORESTES.
You think I am still mad because I dared not say it! I will say it here by the altar. [_Doggedly._] I will see if she is still as she used to be before the day when--[_with effort_]--I shed my mother's blood, and first saw----
PYLADES.
Speak not Their name, brother. You did nought but the gods' plain bidding. You see them no more now that you are healed.
ORESTES.
'Twas you that feared to name them, not I!
PYLADES.
Nay, you fear nothing; that is why I must fear for you.
ORESTES.
What is there to fear for me? Most like I shall come back just as I am.
PYLADES.
That is the one thing that cannot be!
ORESTES.
[_Musingly._] If she is changed as all the world else is changed since that time---- [_Abruptly._] I care not for the woman. I will come back. If not---- [_Smiles ambiguously._
PYLADES.
But why go alone, and why venture so much? We two could lie hid in the thickets by the shrine yonder, and see her when the women come to pray at sunrise. And then----
ORESTES.
[_With determination, interrupting him._] I will go alone, and see her and speak with her alone! Hinder me not, friend! Leave no man to watch over me. Keep the ship well hidden, and have twoscore men ambushed above the cliff, to hold the path if need comes.
PYLADES.
There shall be fourscore ever ready to your call, night or day.
MAN.
[_Coming down from path at back._] My chief, the dawn is drawing close.
ORESTES.
Ay, get you gone before any worshippers come.
PYLADES.
As you will, then. And Apollo be your guard!
[_Exeunt_ PYLADES _and_ ARMED MAN. ORESTES _wraps his mantle round him and sits in silence._
_Enter from the right_, PRIEST _of Thetis, with a bowl in his hands. He climbs a rock at the back and watches the sunrise._
PRIEST.
Not yet. Not quite yet. Ah, there it catches the crag-top: now the trees:--yes, there is the glint far off upon the sea! [_Comes down towards the shrine and prays._] Hail, Thetis! Accept this wine and honey I bring thee at first touch of dawn. Keep thy Priest in wealth and honour, even as I keep thy worship. And, as the sunlight drives the Things of darkness from thy waters---- [_Seeing_ ORESTES.] Averter of evil! Who is this that has sat through the darkness under the Holy Rock? Stranger, whence come you here?
ORESTES.
From Acarnania. Have I sinned in resting here?
PRIEST.
No man of Phthia, for his life, would stay here in darkness! Saw you not anything?
ORESTES.
What should I see?
PRIEST.
No changing manifold shapes, as of women or winged things?
ORESTES.
[_Harshly._] I saw nought but what I have seen on a thousand nights. Enough! If I have offended any goddess I will make amends.
[_He begins to wring off a pendant from a gold chain that he wears, and moves towards the altar._
PRIEST.
Stay! There is no blood upon your hands?
ORESTES.
I have slain a man.
PRIEST.
How long since? Is the stain washed off?
ORESTES.
Oh, I have been purified and purified!
PRIEST.
Duly and fully--with hyssop and the blood of swine?
ORESTES.
With better sacrifices than swine! I am clean enough to make amends to your goddess. [_Coming across to the shrine._] Where shall I lay it? For I may need her favour. [_Holds out the gold pendant._
PRIEST.
[_Surprised._] Gold! Stranger, it is well to give gold to Thetis, but----
ORESTES.
Well, I give it to Thetis!
PRIEST.
Scarce a man in Phthia has ever touched gold, save Pyrrhus himself and the servants of Hermione. Nor many, I should guess, in Acarnania.
ORESTES.
A banished man must have his wealth in little compass.
PRIEST.
A chain like that should buy an exile's return.
ORESTES.
I care not to return.
PRIEST.
Are the friends of the dead so bitter against you?
ORESTES.
The friends of the dead are dead, and my friends are dead. I have none to fear; but I have been wronged, my house taken from me, and my father's wealth, and the woman that was vowed me to wife. No more, old man! I am an exile, and I live in happier lands than mine own.
PRIEST.
Is it in Phthia you seek for a happy land? No matter; affliction comes to the good as to the evil.
ORESTES.
Why, what ails your city, if a stranger may know?
PRIEST.
See you that shrine, and the footprint of Thetis in the rock? Once it was all covered with offerings!
ORESTES.
It is not so well loaded, nor yet so ill. Is there no worse than that?
PRIEST.
Worse? Barren fields and a barren queen, and hatred in the house of Achilles!
ORESTES.
Is it some sin the King has done?
PRIEST.
The King and a woman.
ORESTES.
[_Starting._] Has _that_ sin met its punishment? Speak plainly, Priest.
PRIEST.
Long years ago, Pyrrhus brought back from Troy a slave woman to share his bed.
ORESTES.
[_As though reassured._] Hector's wife, Andromache, men say.
PRIEST.
The wife of his father's bitterest enemy! Ay, and she was his enemy too, and loathed her life with Pyrrhus.
ORESTES.
They all struggle, these women captives. But what harm came of it?
PRIEST.
She is a foe to the land and to Thetis!
ORESTES.
But has he not cast her off? [_With constraint._] Men say he has wedded a new Queen, the daughter of Helen.
PRIEST.
Oh, the Trojan has not dwelt in the King's house these ten years back. She begged him for a hut in the mountain, and he gave it her.
ORESTES.
She begged to be sent away! How was that?
PRIEST.
Why should a woman wish to live in secret, and not be seen? [_Slight pause._] There be wise women among the barbarians.
ORESTES.
Wise in bad drugs and magic; I know no other wisdom in them.
PRIEST.
You have said it! There is a prophet here who knows of counter-charms--I gave him three ewes for this that I wear--[_showing a charm made of wolves' teeth_]--else I durst not face her!
ORESTES.
Whom has she chiefly hurt?
PRIEST.
Men say she has waked the dead Hector to come to her across the seas! [_He shudders._] But for the King, we should have judged her long ago.
ORESTES.
Does the new Queen hate her?
PRIEST.
Has she not blighted the womb of the Queen? There is no heir to Achilles in Achilles' land!
ORESTES.
And does Pyrrhus sit still while his Queen is thus wronged?
PRIEST.
Cannot a witch blind the eyes? He can see nothing, and will hearken to nothing. Even now he has taken the Trojan woman's bastard with him.
ORESTES.
Is Pyrrhus away from the land? Where?
PRIEST.
He has gone hunting in the hills yonder--[_pointing_]--and down to the fields of the Napæans.
ORESTES.
When should he return?
PRIEST.
To-day, it may be--it is the fifth day of the hunt; or perchance the game may keep him some time yet.
[_Enter_ ALCIMEDON, L., _an old man with spears but no armour; he carries a bunch of violets for Thetis_.] The witch woman is mad lest any hurt come to the boy!
ALCIMEDON.
Health to you, Priest, and discretion to your tongue!
PRIEST.
Health I accept, Alcimedon,--discretion to them that need it!
ORESTES.
[_To the_ PRIEST.] Why, what should bring hurt to the lad?
ALCIMEDON.
[_Carelessly, passing on._] Jealousy stranger. Priests and barren women!
[_He passes on to the altar, and then to the rock, where he puts his violets._
PRIEST.
Jealousy!
ORESTES.
[_Involuntarily._] Hermione would never plot against the boy!
[_He makes an angry movement after_ ALCIMEDON.
PRIEST.
What jealousy? What need to be jealous of him? He is no true heir. We have a King, and we have a Queen, both of the blood of Zeus, both our true rulers, but heir there is none.
ALCIMEDON.
[_Seeing and handling the gold link._] Ye golden gods, have the sons of Pactôlus us come to Phthia?
ORESTES.
[_In sudden anger._] The curse of the crawling lichen on the man who moves that gold!
ALCIMEDON.
On your own head! [_Throws gold quickly down._] Who are you, stranger, to curse one that has done you no wrong?
ORESTES.
I check the wrong before it is done. And I tell not my name save to my host after I have eaten and slept.
ALCIMEDON.
If you come to teach your manners to the Myrmidons, by Thetis! you shall learn theirs first. Is the stranger yours, O Priest?
ORESTES.
I have broken no man's bread nor touched his hand. [_Defiantly._] What see you more?
ALCIMEDON.
Why is he so bold? Has he sanctuary with Thetis?
ORESTES.
[_Lifting his two spears._] This is my sanctuary. And there is more gold for the man that will break through it.
PRIEST.
Stay! Slay not the stranger so fast, Alcimedon. Reason with him. He will give up the chain, and we will let him go in peace.
ALCIMEDON.
Go in peace, when he has lifted his spear against Alcimedon! How shall I look my grandchildren in the face? By Thetis! I will wash the chain with his blood!
PRIEST.
Beware; he has spears! It is man to man.
[_Noise of footsteps._ ORESTES _puts his back towards a rock, so that neither he nor_ ALCIMEDON _sees_ ANDROMACHE, _the_ MAID, _and two other damsels, who enter with pitchers on their heads_.
ALCIMEDON.
[_With his eye on_ ORESTES.] Ha! who comes there? [_Calling to the newcomers without looking at them._] A stranger in arms, and with gold! Ho! Myrmidons!
ANDROMACHE.
Shame on you, Alcimedon, robber of strangers!
ALCIMEDON.
Is it you? [_Yielding reluctantly._] Nay, he is no man's guest; it is lawful to slay him.
ANDROMACHE.
He is mine. [_To_ ORESTES.] Stranger, give me your right hand. [_To_ ALCIMEDON.] He is my guest.
ORESTES.
[_Still stormy and excited._] Shall I take a woman's hand for fear of this old loon? My spear-blade is dry and has not drunk.
PRIEST.
Stranger, you are alone; a wise man chooses peace, and not war.
ORESTES.
Alone? As a wolf among sheep is alone. When he slays first the dog--[_pointing spear at_ ALCIMEDON]--and bleeds the sheep as he will!
ANDROMACHE.
And who will be the better when he has bled them? Nay, old friend--[_to_ ALCIMEDON, _who wants to break in; then to_ ORESTES _again_]--though you slay us all, you have but lost the food and shelter we had given you; and the shedder of blood escapes not the Dread Watchers.
ORESTES.
[_Who had been cooling, starts and threatens her._] What know _you_ of the Dread Watchers?
ANDROMACHE.
And there is little glory in the slaying of a woman, and little gain.
ORESTES.
[_Wildly._] What woman? Who are you that taunt me? Priest, is this your witch?
ALCIMEDON.
[_Angrily._] She is no witch! You lie, both stranger and priest!
ANDROMACHE.
I am a bondwoman of the King.
ALCIMEDON.
Andromache, once wife of Hector, Prince of Troy.
ORESTES.
And am I to be the guest of a bondwoman?
ANDROMACHE.
There are others of free estate who will take you in. I only sought to save men's lives.
ORESTES.
What worth are men's lives? I will be guest to none but the King.
ANDROMACHE.
One of these will guide you, when you will, to Pyrrhus' castle.
ORESTES.
[_Relaxing suddenly._] Oh, let me be.
[_He sits down on a rock, and buries his face in his hands._
ANDROMACHE.
[_To_ ALCIMEDON.] The man is very weary and sore at heart, Alcimedon.
PRIEST.
It may be he is mad. It is well we hurt him not.
ALCIMEDON.
Banishment may make a man well-nigh mad. I remember the year of my own manslaying.
ANDROMACHE.
Perchance he has been long alone in the forests. Take him and give him food and drink.
ALCIMEDON.
The priest can take him. I want no more of the man.
ORESTES.
[_Wearily._] Nay, touch me not. Leave me awhile.
PRIEST.
[_To the others._] It is well. Make your prayers.
ANDROMACHE.
[_Approaching the altar, and praying with upstretched hands._] Greeting to thee and joy, Thetis, mother of all Phthia. Give us peace in this land; and grant that my son Molossus return safe, and grow to give joy to thee and all this house!
ALCIMEDON.
[_In the same way._] Joy to thee, Thetis! Accept my offerings, and grant that my arms keep strong, and that I find the man whose swine have trampled my barley field.
MAID.
It will be a long day before Thetis grants you that, old man.
ALCIMEDON.
[_Grumbling._] If I only knew of any one that knew!
PRIEST.
[_To_ FIRST MAID.] Have you a prayer to make?
MAID.
[_Taking offerings from other_ MAIDS _to add to her own_.] Hail, Thetis! and may joy be ever with thee! Accept these offerings from the bondmaidens Aithra, and Pholoe, and Deianassa; and grant all good things to them and theirs. [_A pause._
ALCIMEDON.
The jade! She is praying in silence! Ho, stop her, Priest! [_The others giggle._
MAID.
'Tis as good as a witch's prayer, at the worst!
ALCIMEDON.
[_Taking hold of her and threatening her with the shaft of his spear._] Say it aloud, now! Say what it was!
MAID.
I won't! I won't! Let me be. It was no harm.
ANDROMACHE.
Let her be.
ALCIMEDON.
Swear it was nothing touching me, nor my crops, nor those swine!
MAID.
By Thetis! I think not of you, nor your crops nor your swine!
ORESTES.
[_Recovering from his reverie._] Well, lead me in. I will be the guest of any that will take me.
PRIEST.
You have given an offering, stranger; you may pray if you will.
ORESTES.
I--to Thetis! No! Yet perhaps---- [_Going up to altar._] Hail, Thetis! I have given thee an offering of many oxen's price, and many more will I give if thou hinder me not of my desires.
ALCIMEDON.
A vile prayer, a very dangerous prayer! He might as well have prayed silently. I will not take the man; the Priest may take him.
[_The_ PRIEST _goes towards_ ORESTES.
ORESTES.
[_Looking about and scanning the faces._] I will be this bondwoman's guest.
ANDROMACHE.
So be it, stranger. [_The_ PRIEST _moves anxiously towards_ ORESTES.] And perchance the Priest will give you shelter till my work is done.
PRIEST.
Ay, come with me. When the King returns, it were meeter that he should take you. [_Aside to_ ORESTES.] Beware, stranger! It is the Phrygian woman.
ORESTES.
[_Apart to_ PRIEST.] She is over-wise, methinks; but not evil. I fear her not. [_Coming back as though on impulse._] I give you my hand, wife of Hector!
ANDROMACHE.
It is well, my guest. [_Taking his hand._
PRIEST.
Till the King returns!
[_Exeunt_ PRIEST _and_ ORESTES R.
ALCIMEDON.
[_As_ ANDROMACHE _and the women draw water at the well_.] Lazy hounds, to let Hector's wife draw water! Fill her pails for her, little foxes!
FIRST MAID.
Better _she_ fill mine! Perhaps she knows charms for filling them.
ANDROMACHE.
It is well, fellow slave. Let our work be even.
_Enter, by the path from the Castle_, HERMIONE, _with two attendants carrying libations. She does not notice the slaves._
ALCIMEDON.
Greeting, O Queen.
HERMIONE.
Greeting, old man. [_Going up to the altar._] Hail, Thetis, and have joy! Accept this wine and the blood of an ewe with two lambs that I bring to thee; and take off from me, I beseech---- [_She stops, looks round, and sees_ ANDROMACHE, _on whom she turns with vehemence_.] You?
[_Flings out the blood on the ground._
ALCIMEDON.
Queen, you have flung out the blood upon the ground!
HERMIONE.
What would my sacrifice profit, with that woman's eyes upon me? [_To_ ANDROMACHE.] Get you back to the castle! Is the water not drawn yet?
ANDROMACHE.
I go, O Queen!
ALCIMEDON.
You are over-proud, my Queen, over-proud.
HERMIONE.
May a Queen in Phthia not give commands to her own slaves?
MAID.
[_At the shrine._] Holy Aphrodite! some one has put gold upon the shrine!
ALCIMEDON.
'Twas a stranger that the Priest has taken in. Have a care: the dog laid a curse on any who should move it.
HERMIONE.
A stranger! He comes from the South, then; from Athens, or Argos, or Mycenæ----
ALCIMEDON.
No, Queen, he is only an Acarnanian. But belike he has journeyed to the South.
HERMIONE.
That is no Acarnanian gold! [_Taking it up._] See you the sea-beast wrought on it, with many feet?
[_To_ MAID.
MAID.
Yes, but the curse, Queen----
HERMIONE.
[_Not heeding her._] It brings my home back to me. In Lacedæmon we all wore chains of gold about our necks.
MAID.
Queen, the man laid a curse upon it!
HERMIONE.
[_Putting it back._] I meant no evil; and that dear gold of the South will never hurt me---- In Agamemnon's palace the men had gold in their armour, and even in the blades of their swords! And the gold was wrought into lions and wild bulls and trees, and strange sea-beasts like this.
ALCIMEDON.
A plain haft and a plain blade cuts the steadiest.
HERMIONE.
[_Angrily._] Bah! You deem because you are rude you are valiant, Alcimedon! The soldiers of the South were as brave as you.
ALCIMEDON.
[_Turning away towards the maidens._] Let not Andromache draw the water, jades!
HERMIONE.
Will you not draw for her yourself, old man?
ALCIMEDON.
_I_ draw water! [_Drawing himself up in indignation._] By Hermes! I care not for the tongue of a barren woman.
[_Voices and the loud talk of huntsmen are heard outside._
VOICE OF MOLOSSUS.
Ho! Mother, Mother!
MAID.
[_Looking._] It is Molossus! And the King's huntsmen. They are coming up the path.
ALCIMEDON.
Already!
HERMIONE.
[_To_ ANDROMACHE, _who has stopped_.] Why do you wait? Have I not bidden you back to the castle? And when the hall is swept, go to your own house. Come not up to trouble the King till that web is finished.
ANDROMACHE.
[_Turning again and moving away._] I go, O Queen.
VOICE OF PYRRHUS.
[_Outside._] Ho, wife of Hector, mother of Molossus! Stay, and look at him.
MOLOSSUS _and_ PYRRHUS _enter, with some spearmen_; PYRRHUS _has his arm on the neck of_ MOLOSSUS.
MOLOSSUS.
[_Running forward._] Mother, look! I have slain a man!
PYRRHUS.
He has slain his first man.
[MOLOSSUS _holds up his hands, the palms of which are smeared with blood_.
MOLOSSUS.
See, mother; they have smeared me with his blood!
HERMIONE.
[_Holding aloof._] Keep away from the altar, with foul hands!
ANDROMACHE.
[_To_ PYRRHUS, _with reproach, while she embraces_ MOLOSSUS.] You said you would take him to no battles, only to hunting.
PYRRHUS.
[_Cheerily._] By Hermes, it was he who made the battle! I meant nothing but hunting.
ALCIMEDON.
Well done, boy! A true prince, a true prince!
PYRRHUS.
We had driven the deer down over the mountains and we came on a herd of the Napæans' cattle grazing, right up on the moors.
ANDROMACHE.
You promised me you would raid no cattle with him.
PYRRHUS.
By Hermes! They _came_ to us! And the herd-boy never saw us; he was sitting on a stone in the sun, and thinking of nothing. And even then I would not raid the cattle. When suddenly up jumped the herd-boy and looked at us, with his mouth open. And before he knew who we were, I heard a twang!--and there he was with an arrow in his neck!
[_Laughs._
MOLOSSUS.
Right through his throat, mother! He was looking up. [_Imitating the attitude._] And I have got a pipe he was plaiting. It wasn't finished, but it blows.
[_He shows a pipe made of reeds._
PYRRHUS.
You can play better things than pipes, my boy. So we ran down and cut off the cattle; and I have given them to Molossus for his own herd.
MOLOSSUS.
And father put the blood on my hands himself.
PYRRHUS.
I will do more for you than that, my firstborn.
HERMIONE.