Part 4

Oh, take me; that is all the love I want!

ORESTES.

Like those two stars that men call Helen's brethren, immortal, never fading----

HERMIONE.

Oh, I am fading fast, but, perchance, if the spell were off me----

ORESTES.

Nay, you shall never fade. There is a blue sunlit island, waterless, desolate--Hear me, daughter of Helen, ageless and deathless!

HERMIONE.

I hear.

ORESTES.

Some sunset when you are beautiful like a dream I will set you on that bright island, and fill my eyes full. And then I will go my ways alone, and the fairest of earthly things shall be mine for ever.

HERMIONE.

What do you mean?

ORESTES.

No man shall ever see you fade from your loveliness. The gods may take you even as they took Helen.

ANDROMACHE.

Oh, he is mad! Queen, Queen, go back while there is time.

HERMIONE.

[_Shrinking back._] I should die! I am afraid!

ORESTES.

Die? Of that I know not. Only never, never fade; perfect for ever without age or waning! Daughter of Helen, will you come with me?

[_A sound of arms outside. They start._

HERMIONE.

Oh, quick! I am yours. Do with me what you will.

ORESTES.

Come. [_Sound again._] What is that?

VOICE OF PYRRHUS.

Andromache! Ho! snake of Phrygia, starve at the altar if you will! Your plotters are all fled!

[ORESTES _stands in posture of defence_. HERMIONE _shrinks back_.

ANDROMACHE.

[_To_ MOLOSSUS.] Cling fast! [_Rushing from the altar towards_ PYRRHUS.] Back, my king! Keep back!

HERMIONE.

[_To_ ORESTES, _with a cry_.] Now, now!

[_Hides her face._

MOLOSSUS.

[_Waking up slowly._] Is that father coming?

PYRRHUS.

[_Entering and grasping_ ANDROMACHE.] Think you to die so easily? You shall speak first and tell all!

ANDROMACHE.

There is an ambush! Keep back!

[PYRRHUS _stands with his sword drawn over her_.

PYRRHUS.

[_Looking up._] More treachery?

ORESTES.

Why is the son of Achilles away from the battle?

PYRRHUS.

You? Pirate! Because your men fled so fast and so far. My servants have chased them twenty furlongs from here. Yield!

ORESTES.

[_Loud._] No man shoot nor stir! [_As before._] Your Myrmidons may be twenty furlongs from here; my men are in these thickets to right and left. What sought you here? Was it to slay Andromache?

PYRRHUS.

I sought that when I came. Now I need more.

[_He poises his spear._ ANDROMACHE _slips back to_ MOLOSSUS _at the altar_.

ORESTES.

[_Not raising his spear._] Nay, it was I that should have slain Andromache. Go your ways! I only take back my own bride.

[_Pointing to_ HERMIONE, _whom_ PYRRHUS _now sees for the first time_.

PYRRHUS.

It _is_ Orestes!--But the queen vowed---- And that oath! Oh, perjured! perjured!

HERMIONE.

[_To the rocks and thickets._] O ye in the ambush, strike him down! Strike him down! Oh, what is that rushing on the wind?

[_Puts her hands over her ears as though in terror._

ORESTES.

The oath is fulfilled upon her!

ANDROMACHE.

[_Close to_ PYRRHUS.] My lord, my lord, wait and let him speak. It is he that asks you, so there is no dishonour. [_He glares at her._] Nay, you may slay me after if I have done wrong. And his men are crowding behind these bushes and rocks.

PYRRHUS.

[_In a war chant._] The wolves set an ambush, set an ambush for the lion; and the lion feasted for many days! Ho, Myrmidons!

ORESTES.

They hear you not. Go back!

[_He grasps his spear for defence_; PYRRHUS _draws his sword and starts forward_.

VOICE.

[_From behind the rocks._] Now, men of Mycenæ!

[_A shower of arrows strikes_ PYRRHUS.

ANDROMACHE.

It is a murder, a coward's murder!

[PYRRHUS _staggers to the altar and falls_. ANDROMACHE _bends over, tending him_. MOLOSSUS, _with a cry, snatches_ PYRRHUS' _sword and flies at_ ORESTES, _who disarms him at a blow_.

ORESTES.

Hold the boy! Hurt him not!

HERMIONE.

[_In a stupefied tone._] His blood is running down the steps of the altar!

PYRRHUS.

Where is Molossus? Boy, if you leave these dogs unpunished----

ANDROMACHE.

Nay, curse him not! Oh, my lord, if you have ever loved him, curse him not! Let him be free; he will do all that is well.

PYRRHUS.

[_Faintly._] Andromache? Ay, then, so be it. It is the same in the end. I am glad I did not slay you, Andromache. [_Dies._

HERMIONE.

[_As before._] His blood is trickling into the mark of the footprint of Thetis! [_Wildly._] Ah, drag him away, or it will be a curse upon us! He must not die at the altar!

ORESTES.

_I_ never slew him. I will not touch a man dying at an altar. Andromache, touch him not; he will haunt you.

HERMIONE.

She is not afraid of the haunting of the dead. See, she is whispering in his ear. She is doing witchwork to bring him back. [_Crossing to_ ANDROMACHE, _who is still bending over_ PYRRHUS' _body, and kneeling to her_.] Nay, in the goddess's name, Andromache, do not wake him! I have wronged you much, but I will make amends; I will set you free. _He_ would never have done that. Only, do not whisper to him! Do not call him back to haunt me!

ANDROMACHE.

Hold your peace, traitor and coward! If I _could_ bring him back, think you I would stay my voice for you?

HERMIONE.

O God! And the noise on the wind is nearer and nearer!

ORESTES.

[_To_ HERMIONE.] You did not slay him. Even if he does wake, he will only haunt them that slew him.

HERMIONE.

He saw them not; he knows them not. He has only seen you and me. [_Rapidly._] Oh, in God's name, it is too much! The sound of Their wings is all about me, and if I dared look, I know I should see Their faces. It is more than one woman can bear. If he wakes I shall go mad!

ORESTES.

It is done now. We will fly in the ship quickly; he will never follow us over the seas.

HERMIONE.

[_As before._] _She_ will show him the way! Oh, she will have no pity! I have sought so long to slay her. She would not spare me now for all the treasures of Egypt. I knew well I should have no peace till I saw her dead.--Oh, woman, woman! bend not over him; whisper to him no more!

ANDROMACHE.

I _will_ whisper no more; I will cry aloud--in dead ears, as I have cried all my life! [_To_ PYRRHUS.] O thou who hearest me not, who hast never heard me, I call again to thee, let there at last be peace! If thou hast found thy sleep, oh, cling to it! Never wake nor stir to follow these who murdered thee!

HERMIONE.

What does she mean? It is all magic. She means that he _is_ to follow us!

ANDROMACHE.

The living have never heard me, and the dead cannot hear; but broken and dying men know the words that I speak. Remember the one moment before utter death, when thine eyes were opened to see and thine ears to hear. Remember that, and forget the long waste of days before!

HERMIONE.

She bids him remember!--He will awake. I can feel that he will wake and follow us!

ANDROMACHE.

By the bitter hate wherewith once I hated thee; by the blood in the streets of Troy and the death-cry of Hector's child; by the love wherewith I have loved thee in spite of all--[_the body moves_]--and love thee still----

HERMIONE.

[_With a shriek._] O God! He is waking! [_Grovelling in terror and hiding her eyes._] Oh, smite off his feet that he shall not pursue, and his hands that he may never lay hold of me!

ANDROMACHE.

Before thy soul is fled far away, hearken to me and put away thine hatred.

HERMIONE.

[_As before._] Smite off his hands and his feet!

ORESTES.

She is not crying him to waken. She is bidding him rest in peace and not harm us.

HERMIONE.

It cannot be that; it cannot. I have hated her too sore. It is all witchwork or else madness.

[_She looks up and sees the sword; suddenly clutches it and moves towards_ ANDROMACHE.

ANDROMACHE.

And afterward go and seek Hector, and he will tell thee more, for he was wiser and greater than other men. And some day this woman, too, will be broken and dying; and then she will see what thou and I have seen, and will know what mercy is. [HERMIONE _stabs her_.] Ah!

[ANDROMACHE _falls over the body of_ PYRRHUS. ORESTES _starts forward and grasps_ HERMIONE.

ORESTES.

[_To the men holding_ MOLOSSUS.] Hold this wild beast! Let the boy free.

[ORESTES _and_ MOLOSSUS _bend together over the body of_ ANDROMACHE. _The men-at-arms seize_ HERMIONE.

MOLOSSUS.

Mother, speak!--Is she dead?

ORESTES.

No, but there is death in her face.

MOLOSSUS.

Mother, mother, speak!

ORESTES.

[_Standing up._] We know what she would say---- Young King of Phthia, I never sought to slay your father; and for this woman, I would give all my wealth to have her alive again.--But I will make atonement: take all my gold--[_takes off his chain, and throws it at_ MOLOSSUS' _feet_. MOLOSSUS _stands silent_]--and this dagger likewise. There is a bright stone in the hilt that keeps off the venom of snakes. [MOLOSSUS _is still silent_.] And my cloak was woven by women of Sidon. [_Throws down the cloak._

MOLOSSUS.

[_In a struggling sullen voice._] It was not you that slew her.

ORESTES.

Is it the woman? There is your sword. [_Picks it up and gives it him. To the men holding_ HERMIONE.] Hold back her arms, men, that the King may slay her as he will!

[_The men bring forward_ HERMIONE, _dazed and stupefied; they hold her so that either breast or throat may receive the sword_.

MOLOSSUS.

Oh, take her away, or I will verily slay her! Let her never set foot upon this land again.

ORESTES.

Begone with her to the ship!

[_The men move off with her._

HERMIONE.

[_Suddenly struggling._] I will not go! Let me free! I will stay and he shall slay me!

[_The men drag her off._

ORESTES.

And for mine own atonement. [_He looks round._] Men, get you gone!--If you would have more, here is my sword; and here is my shield, and my helmet. [_He lays the arms one by one at_ MOLOSSUS' _feet_.]--My men are all gone. The rest is for you to take.

MOLOSSUS.

[_Looking at_ ANDROMACHE.] I will take no more. I will have peace.

[_Kneels down, bending over the body._

ORESTES.

Peace let it be!--Her face seems strangely joyful.

MOLOSSUS.

I never saw her looking so full of happiness.

ANDROMACHE.

[_Half raising herself, with a radiant smile._] Hector! Hector!

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. London & Edinburgh

* * * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Original spelling and punctuation has been retained.