SCENE 2

_The Queen’s Apartment_

_Enter_ RHODOPE _with her attendants, among them_ LESBIA _and_ HERO.

RHODOPE.

And now be happy, maidens mine; to-day Your whims are free. Though I must blame you dear If other times you even hide and listen, And though my gay-heart Hero yesterday, Who clambered up the tree, were sternly scolded Had not a bough, for all her lightsome limb, Swift-snapping dealt her punishment enough, Being over-weak for such a weight of wonder----

HERO.

O Queen, and if it verily caught your eyes You’ll know as well it was the thickest one Of all our garden-trees that I had chosen.

RHOD.

The thickest one! Maybe; but certain ’tis The one that stood the nearest to the wall.

HERO.

The thickest one of all! I clambered up And pierced into a very night of green. ’Twas well-nigh eerie when the golden day Was thus behind me left, and in the darkness I still crept on.

RHOD.

What made you do it, then?

HERO.

No wish to bring Olympus some few feet Nearer my reach; no, such I freely granted The nightingale a-trilling overhead. I wanted--nay, but laugh not--I can never Forget my cradle-rocking, and I wanted A tiny rock up yonder.

RHOD.

Nothing more?

HERO.

And as I swung, nay not of set desire, But as I swung--no more, just peep a fraction; I’d be so glad to know if round our garden, As scowling Karna ever says to us, There runs a lake.

LESBIA.

A lake!

HERO.

Ah, you know better?

LESBIA.

Ho, have you ever heard it here a-swishing? And is a lake untroublous as yourself?

RHOD.

I will not question further, for I know You’ll not do thus again. Ne’er fell a maiden So soft as you, nor e’er was frighted so.

LESBIA.

Yes, all her limbs were swooned away.

HERO.

And never Ought I have fallen, for a stronger bough Was near enough; but as it moved it swayed A nest with young ones, and I would beware Of trampling on them lest the tender brood, Its featherless wings already in a flutter, Be thrown in flurry.

LESBIA.

This then was the cause? Yet they flew up. You ended with a grasp, There’s not a doubt, a desperate grasp for safety.

RHOD.

Tease long as e’er you will; this is the day On which the cabined house for you is open; Now to it as you may and sate your eyes!

HERO.

And you?

RHOD.

Nay, eye not me. What’s granted you Is merely not forbid to me. To-day I cannot be your paragon and pattern.

HERO.

And once again you will not see the feast?

RHOD.

Nay, lest my presence mar your merry frolic. With us it is not wont, and I should feel As though I were to eat and have no hunger Or drink and feel no thirst. It seems to me That we’ve a better way at home than yours, For ne’er without a shudder turn you home From feasts like these whose outset is so luring. And her I love most dearly who most deeply Can thrill with pain nor goes a second time. But that would not show blame in you--why, no! Only I’m happy that my Lesbia, Who’s grown to woman with you, feels as I.

LESBIA.

Will you to-day forgive me----

RHOD.

Why, what’s this? And what must I forgive you? You would go? Oh, but to take my praise back! Now she’s shamed, Ashamed to be the daughter of her folk, And has no cause. Am I myself aught other? Go, go, and tell me who the victor was.

HERO.

Young Gyges too will surely join the fighting, He of the noble voice.

RHOD.

So soon you know How rings his voice?

HERO.

Oh, yes--but nothing more. To-day we’ll see him, and believe my words, She goes, like us, only for him.

LESBIA.

But I May cheat you, and remaining prove your falsehood.

HERO.

Oh, that you’ll never do.

[KANDAULES _enters in haste_.

KAN.

Rhodope, greeting! But know you who I am? A carpet-gallant, A kingly ninth-of-man, forsooth a measurer Of ells but not of swords, who is to blame That Herakles’ twelve deeds have not long since Found four-and-twenty other feats and greater For overmatch. If you will not believe ’t Why only ask Alcaeus--old curmudgeon! You know him not? Nor I, before to-day. And know you how I use to make men happy? I speak thus:--“Come, young man, here is a seed! Now plant it in the earth and sprinkle o’er The spot with water; do it day by day And be assured that when your hair is frosty You’ll have a meal of cherries for your pains. What? ‘Sweet or sour?’--You’ll not find out till then!” I give you Agron as my guarantee Worthy Alcaeus names him worthy friend, His perfect peer, but not so white of beard.

RHOD.

Your mood is merry.

KAN.

Ay, and wherefore not? ’Tis true Alcaeus, outright in rebellion, Will make against me soon as e’er I venture To show myself to him as thus to you, Bedecked, I mean, with the new diadem. Agron will deign me succour, and for thanks I’m merely forced to swear--be not astounded At such a lamblike heart--to keep my garb For aye unaltered, and a sword to carry Whose mere unsheathing drains my utmost strength.

RHOD.

Where did you gain this knowledge?

KAN.

Through no spy, Nor yet the more through any false-heart friend, But from themselves, direct from their own mouths.

RHOD.

You’re pleased to mock my questioning.

KAN.

No, no! I speak in utter earnest. I stood by While they set nails a-grubbing at the tables, Digging their whetted teeth in their own lips As though ’twere game and not their very flesh, And took the oath which sure enough they’ll hold. It makes a Bar of God here in a fashion-- One hacks at me, the other wards the blow, And Diké passes verdict if she can.

RHOD.

You must have eavesdropped, then; I’ll not believe ’t. If I come in a place all unexpected I make a warning noise that I be marked, And what should be unheard be left unsaid. And you--no, no--that is no kingly act.

KAN.

Why, surely not--but _that_ you’d ne’er unriddle. You see this ring? How do you rate its worth?

RHOD.

How can I tell from whom it comes?

KAN.

From Gyges.

RHOD.

You’ll think it past all rating then.

KAN.

It is; And yet you dream not why. Then hear the marvel-- If any put it on it makes him viewless.

RHOD.

Viewless?

KAN.

Just now I tried it for myself. “Nay, no more climbing, Hero! Only birdlings Go hiding in the leafage!”[1]

RHOD.

Lesbia!

KAN.

Through every door I stalk along--naught holds me, Nor lock nor bolt, at distance due.

RHOD.

How fearful!

KAN.

For all bad souls, you mean.

RHOD.

No, no, I say! For all good souls, still more, still more! (_To_ LESBIA.) Can you Still breathe unruffled, will not blushing shame Dissolve you now you know’t? Sire, cast it hence Down, down into the deepest flood! When more Than mortal strength is given a man, he’s born Half-god, innate, sufficient. Give it me! My people say that things through which the world May fly to fragments, here and there on earth Are lying hid. They reach us from the time When men and gods still walked the world together And pledged their love with mutual gifts. This ring Is of that time, and who can tell what hand Bore this, what goddess put it on, what bond It sealed of yore? Do you not shiver to think That her dark gift’s your arrogated plunder And that you draw her vengeance on your head? I shudder at the very sight--then give it!

KAN.

On one condition--this, that you as Queen Will show you at the feast to-day.

RHOD.

How can I? You bore away a bride from farthest borders Seclusion-hedged, and knew her as she was. Once you were glad that never an eye ere yours, Except alone my Sire’s, had rested on me And that none after you should win the sight.

KAN.

Forgive! I only think the precious stone That’s not displayed----

RHOD.

Will lure no robber’s lust!

KAN.

Enough. Alas, this “No” is but your wont. Yes, let the wind blow fresh from every quarter On fluttered veils--you’ll keep yours tight and trim.

[_Music_.

The pomp! No time for kings to fail their presence.

RHOD.

Yes, but the rebels? Ah, I’m pained to-day That I dare not go with you.

KAN.

You are kind, But have no anxious fret--the matter’s settled.

RHOD.

In truth?

KAN.

In truth. I need not say through fear; I punished them through force alone, not choice. This life’s too short to let a man therein Earn even so much as the desert of death, And so to-day I’d not condemn one gladly.

[_Exit._

RHOD.

Now all of you begone!

LESBIA.

I’ll stay, my Queen.

RHOD.

Oh, no; your nurse ne’er crooned a prophecy That some man’s face would token death for you.

[_Exeunt_ LESBIA, HERO, _and the others_.

They’re over-dull to dream here; even the noblest (_looking after_ LESBIA) Is irked by what I deem peculiar joy.