Chapter 17

Music and Singing in the Temple.

_Enter_ SYNORIX _watchfully, after him_ PUBLIUS _and_ SOLDIERS.

SYNORIX. Publius!

PUBLIUS. Here!

SYNORIX. Do you remember what I told you?

PUBLIUS. When you cry 'Rome, Rome,' to seize On whomsoever may be talking with you, Or man, or woman, as traitors unto Rome.

SYNORIX. Right. Back again. How many of you are there?

PUBLIUS. Some half a score. [_Exeunt Soldiers and Publius_.

SYNORIX. I have my guard about me. I need not fear the crowd that hunted me Across the woods, last night. I hardly gain'd The camp at midnight. Will she come to me Now that she knows me Synorix? Not if Sinnatus Has told her all the truth about me. Well, I cannot help the mould that I was cast in. I fling all that upon my fate, my star. I know that I am genial, I would be Happy, and make all others happy so They did not thwart me. Nay, she will not come. Yet if she be a true and loving wife She may, perchance, to save this husband. Ay! See, see, my white bird stepping toward the snare. Why now I count it all but miracle, That this brave heart of mine should shake me so, As helplessly as some unbearded boy's When first he meets his maiden in a bower.

_Enter_ CAMMA (_with cup_).

SYNORIX. The lark first takes the sunlight on his wing, But you, twin sister of the morning star, Forelead the sun.

CAMMA. Where is Antonius?

SYNORIX. Not here as yet. You are too early for him. [_She crosses towards Temple_.

SYNORIX. Nay, whither go you now?

CAMMA. To lodge this cup Within the holy shrine of Artemis, And so return.

SYNORIX. To find Antonius here.

[_She goes into the Temple, he looks after her_.

The loveliest life that ever drew the light From heaven to brood upon her, and enrich Earth with her shadow! I trust she _will_ return. These Romans dare not violate the Temple. No, I must lure my game into the camp. A woman I could live and die for. What! Die for a woman, what new faith is this? I am not mad, not sick, not old enough To doat on one alone. Yes, mad for her, Camma the stately, Camma the great-hearted, So mad, I fear some strange and evil chance Coming upon me, for by the Gods I seem Strange to myself.

_Re-enter_ CAMMA.

CAMMA. Where is Antonius?

SYNORIX. Where? As I said before, you are still too early.

CAMMA. Too early to be here alone with thee; For whether men malign thy name, or no, It bears an evil savour among women. Where is Antonius? (_Loud_.)

SYNORIX. Madam, as you know The camp is half a league without the city; If you will walk with me we needs must meet Antonius coming, or at least shall find him There in the camp.

CAMMA. No, not one step with thee. Where is Antonius? (_Louder_.)

SYNORIX (_advancing towards her_). Then for your own sake, Lady, I say it with all gentleness, And for the sake of Sinnatus your husband, I must compel you.

CAMMA (_drawing her dagger_). Stay!--too near is death.

SYNORIX (_disarming her_). Is it not easy to disarm a woman?

_Enter_ SINNATUS (_seizes him from behind by the throat_).

SYNORIX (_throttled and scarce audible_). Rome! Rome!

SINNATUS. Adulterous dog!

SYNORIX (_stabbing him with_ CAMMA'S _dagger_). What! will you have it?

[CAMMA _utters a cry and runs to_ SINNATUS.

SINNATUS (_falls backward_). I have it in my heart--to the Temple--fly-- For _my_ sake--or they seize on thee. Remember! Away--farewell! [_Dies_.

CAMMA (_runs up the steps into the Temple, looking back_). Farewell!

SYNORIX (_seeing her escape_). The women of the Temple drag her in. Publius! Publius! No, Antonius would not suffer me to break Into the sanctuary. She hath escaped. [_Looking down at_ SINNATUS. 'Adulterous dog!' that red-faced rage at me! Then with one quick short stab--eternal peace. So end all passions. Then what use in passions? To warm the cold bounds of our dying life And, lest we freeze in mortal apathy, Employ us, heat us, quicken us, help us, keep us From seeing all too near that urn, those ashes Which all must be. Well used, they serve us well. I heard a saying in Egypt, that ambition Is like the sea wave, which the more you drink, The more you thirst--yea--drink too much, as men Have done on rafts of wreck--it drives you mad. I will be no such wreck, am no such gamester As, having won the stake, would dare the chance Of double, or losing all. The Roman Senate, For I have always play'd into their hands, Means me the crown. And Camma for my bride-- The people love her--if I win her love, They too will cleave to me, as one with her. There then I rest, Rome's tributary king. [_Looking down on_ SINNATUS. Why did I strike him?--having proof enough Against the man, I surely should have left That stroke to Rome. He saved my life too. Did he? It seem'd so. I have play'd the sudden fool. And that sets her against me--for the moment. Camma--well, well, I never found the woman I could not force or wheedle to my will. She will be glad at last to wear my crown. And I will make Galatia prosperous too, And we will chirp among our vines, and smile At bygone things till that (_pointing to_ SINNATUS) eternal peace. Rome! Rome!

_Enter_ PUBLIUS _and_ SOLDIERS.

Twice I cried Rome. Why came ye not before?

PUBLIUS. Why come we now? Whom shall we seize upon?

SYNORIX (_pointing to the body of_ SINNATUS). The body of that dead traitor Sinnatus. Bear him away.

_Music and Singing in Temple_.