The Mortal Gods and Other Plays Part 62

_Bia._ Pray you, who revealed This ancient secret?

_Menas._ Creon came----

_Bia._ Ah, Creon!

_Menas._ Before the senate, then in seat to unfold From rivalrous invention, topless honors For these two lords, whose guilt had long devoured Such labor's root and reason.

_Bia._ Creon came?

_Menas._ And bared the tale, made his by accident, And swore you knew it too,--that Pyrrha there Is Pelagon's daughter, and Phania is the child Of Spartan Stesilaus.

_Pha._ Oh, oh, oh!

_Alc._ A rope for me then!

_Cre._ [_To Biades_] Sir, I did not speak, But trusted all to you, until the secret Laid night on Phania's innocence and grew Too foul to keep.

_Pyrr._ You knew this, Biades?

_Bia._ And knew you would forgive!

_Pyrr._ This was the spring Of all your oaths! In my espoused hand You'd lay my country's peace, knowing her name Was Attica! This was your proof of love.

The oiled wedge that let you in my heart!

False in the trothal moment that should make The foulest for an instant pure!

_Bia._ But hear----

_Pyrr._ Oh, in that hour which women wrap in rose And hide where thoughts like guardian doves may go, You set a cautel touching it with death That leaves me treasureless!

_Bia._ My Pyrrha,----

_Pyrr._ Not yours!

_Bia._ Howe'er 'twas done, I won you!

_Pyrr._ Won a Spartan!

Now keep the shadow. As an Athenian maid I do renounce you! [_Escapes him_]

_Bia._ Ah! Zeus loves the dice.

He's always at the game. But who'd have thought This throw would be against me? Hear me, sweet!

[_To Stesilaus_]

Dear father, speak to her. She'll heed your voice, Your judgment ripe, and words set out like cups With wisdom's honey.

_Pel._ [_Awake to fathers.h.i.+p_] Ay, my son, I will!

_Bia._ Not you, in name of hope! [_Follows Pyrrha_]

_Alc._ Monsters of fatherhood, how dare you show Your faces in this sun? Go seek some cave Whose darkest den will not betray a shame Of its own hue! No, Phania, do not cling To my unwilling breast that now must be A hedge of swords to your bird bosom. [_Holds her tightly_]

_Pha._ Oh!

_Cre._ Withdraw your hand, proud Spartan!

_Alc._ I will protect My sister, sir, from any lord of Athens!

_Sac._ Look, Pelagon,--and Stesilaus,--here!

Look on this warbling joy hatched tenderly In nest of your conceit, which you've kept warm Forgetting you had hearts where love bechid Sat in unfeathered cold. If you are fathers, Drink of their ecstasy till every vein Applauds it!

_Lys._ Pray you, peace! The Senators!

[_Enter Amentor and other Senators_]

_Ste._ What's your demand?

_Amen._ Your life, Lord Stesilaus.

And that of Pelagon, in Athens' name.

_Pel._ My life?

_Amen._ Not less will still this wind and save Our homes from undefended sack. They've seized The citadel----

_Bia._ Then on my armor! Wife May whistle when the bugle calls!

_Amen._ Stay, sir!

The Spartans are in power, and any check Means slaughter. There's no help. The Persian fleet Has sailed. The Athenians drop their useless arms And follow at command, knowing no way To win but by a bloodless yielding.

_Bia._ Yield!

_Amen._ Sir, we must grant the Spartans these two lives, Whereon they'll strike no further. So they swear.

_Sac._ [_To Pelagon_] This is your downy Peace wooed from the clouds To hover over Athens! Save the name!

She's from a briar-patch, not Heaven! Her wings Are full of burrs!

_Bia._ [_Holding Pelagon_] Stand to! A scuttled s.h.i.+p Has no choice deck. There's nothing to be saved But dignity.

_Pel._ Nay, that's for Stesilaus! [_Breaking away_]

My life, my life!

[_Noise mounts without. The wall is broken through, rear, and the breach reveals the street filled with angry Spartans_]

_Amen._ Peace!

_Gir._ Give us Stesilaus!

_Voices._ And Pelagon! The traitors! Give them up!

_Amen._ You see them. There they stand.

[_Misses Pelagon_]

Where's Pelagon?