The Mortal Gods and Other Plays Part 50

_Ste._ You will.

I know his aim. He will betray our force To Athens,--pardon's price. Athenian ease Is in his marrow like a siren sleep, And all this hardy show is but to buy His languors back. You'll watch within his s.h.i.+p, With Hieron a second secret eye, And when his treachery ripens, take command And bring him bound to Sparta.

_Pyrr._ Be so near?

Sail in his s.h.i.+p?

_Ste._ Be near him as a wife.

Watch close. Lie in his thoughts, though not his bed.

And if he presses to the shrine of favor, Here is my dagger. This will be your guard.

Let him meet death upon it,--and that death Be honor's sanctuary. Come! My brow Must smooth submissive to the senators.

Clear too your face with summer policy.

Thus openly we'll hide. The State's turned fool, And naught between her and perdition save An old man and a girl! [_Exit_]

_Pyrr._ [_Gazing at dagger_] If this cold blade Were seeking traitors 't might look in my heart.

[_Curtain_]

ACT IV

SCENE: _On board a galley off Athens. An open door left of centre, rear, shows a moonlit sea. Cressets burning within. Pyrrha discovered, seated and fingering a dagger. A diminis.h.i.+ng sound of dipping oars and rowers singing._

G.o.d of the bold who ride With song o'er their dead Whose unsown graves wait wide, The singers' bed,-- Poseidon, befriend, befriend, And the good wind send!

The sirens are on their rocks; Like a pierced moon Weeping her gold, their locks To the waters run.

Poseidon, befriend, befriend, And the good wind send!

Fleet are the foam-toothed hounds That hunt unfed, With hunger that aches like wounds, And s.h.i.+ps their bread.

Poseidon, befriend, befriend, And the good wind send!

[_Enter Lysander_]

_Pyrr._ Lysander! You? Is 't battle?

_Lys._ At dawn we move Upon the Athenian s.h.i.+ps.

_Pyrr._ They've come from harbor?

_Lys._ Nay, lurking still, fear-cabled to the land, Like weanlings round a skirt.

_Pyrr._ At last a battle!

And Biades is true. The watch is done.

I'm sick of spying, hanging on him like A doubt with teeth. He leaves this galley then?

_Lys._ Commands from the _Ino_, now so brave repaired She sits her place as though the sea and air Debated who should claim her, and she no more Adorns both elements than herself's adorned By our young admiral.

_Pyrr._ He is gone? So soon?

_Lys._ Went, but is here again, and here must stay These next three hours or more.

_Pyrr._ Why so, Lysander?

_Lys._ We sacrifice aboard Thrasyllus' s.h.i.+p, Where now the captains gather, and the hand Of one who leads the foe to his fathers' hearth Would cloud the omen. He must keep apart.

_Pyrr._ You've told him that?

_Lys._ We have not dared.

_Pyrr._ Not dared?

Way, Spartan lions, for the Athenian puppy!

_Lys._ He's tender with his honor.

_Pyrr._ His honor!

_Lys._ Soft!

We shunt all danger if you mew him here Unwitting of our hand.

_Pyrr._ I do not wear Athene's aegis on my jerkin, friend.

_Lys._ You can divinely drug his vanity Without immortal aid. Attach him by 't, For free he'll chafe. Drift with him in such wise He'll not suspect our rudder.

_Pyrr._ Ay, more lies.

_Lys._ Truth is no absolute virtue. 'Tis a vice If 't takes a screw from safety.

_Pyrr._ There is law Higher than Sparta utters. If not so, What mean our altars, and a kneeling world?

_Lys._ Hmm! I delay the sacrifice. Dost know I take my Dianessa? A virgin's hand Must weave the victim's garland.

_Pyrr._ Ah, the moon Of Artemis! A virgin's hand. They ask Not mine?

_Lys._ You are a bride in Sparta's eyes.

Would Truth might speak it too! For Biades Has won all love but yours.

_Pyrr._ I'll wed no traitor.

_Lys._ What? He is false?

_Pyrr._ Ay, false to Athens.

_Lys._ Phut!

[_Enter Hieron_]