Becket And Other Plays Part 45

CAMMA.

I fear not.

SYNORIX.

Then do not tell him.

Or tell him, if you will, when you return, When you have charm'd our general into mercy, And all is safe again. O dearest lady,

[_Murmurs of_ 'Synorix! Synorix!' _heard outside_.

Think,--torture,--death,--and come.

CAMMA.

I will, I will.

And I will not betray you.

SYNORIX (_aside_).

(_As_ SINNATUS _enters_.) Stand apart.

_Enter_ SINNATUS _and_ ATTENDANT.

SINNATUS.

Thou art that Synorix! One whom thou hast wrong'd Without there, knew thee with Antonius.

They howl for thee, to rend thee head from limb.

SYNORIX.

I am much malign'd. I thought to serve Galatia.

SINNATUS.

Serve thyself first, villain! They shall not harm My guest within my house. There! (_points to door_) there! this door Opens upon the forest! Out, begone!

Henceforth I am thy mortal enemy.

SYNORIX.

However I thank thee (_draws his sword_); thou hast saved my life.

[_Exit_.

SINNATUS. (_To Attendant_.) Return and tell them Synorix is not here. [_Exit Attendant_.

What did that villain Synorix say to you?

GAMMA.

Is _he--that_--Synorix?

SINNATUS.

Wherefore should you doubt it?

One of the men there knew him.

CAMMA.

Only one, And he perhaps mistaken in the face.

SINNATUS.

Come, come, could he deny it? What did he say?

CAMMA.

What _should_ he say?

SINNATUS.

What _should_ he say, my wife!

He should say this, that being Tetrarch once His own true people cast him from their doors Like a base coin.

CAMMA.

Not kindly to them?

SINNATUS.

Kindly?

O the most kindly Prince in all the world!

Would clap his honest citizens on the back, Bandy their own rude jests with them, be curious About the welfare of their babes, their wives, O ay--their wives--their wives. What should he say?

He should say nothing to my wife if I Were by to throttle him! He steep'd himself In all the l.u.s.t of Rome. How should _you_ guess What manner of beast it is?

CAMMA.

Yet he seem'd kindly, And said he loathed the cruelties that Rome Wrought on her va.s.sals.

SINNATUS.

Did he, _honest_ man?

CAMMA.

And you, that seldom brook the stranger here, Have let him hunt the stag with you to-day.

SINNATUS.

I warrant you now, he said _he_ struck the stag.

CAMMA.

Why no, he never touch'd upon the stag.

SINNATUS.

Why so I said, _my_ arrow. Well, to sleep.

[_Goes to close door_.

CAMMA.

Nay, close not yet the door upon a night That looks half day.

SINNATUS.

True; and my friends may spy him And slay him as he runs.

CAMMA.

He is gone already.

Oh look,--yon grove upon the mountain,--white In the sweet moon as with a lovelier snow!

But what a blotch of blackness underneath!

Sinnatus, you remember--yea, you must, That there three years ago--the vast vine-bowers Ran to the summit of the trees, and dropt Their streamers earthward, which a breeze of May Took ever and anon, and open'd out The purple zone of hill and heaven; there You told your love; and like the swaying vines-- Yea,--with our eyes,--our hearts, our prophet hopes Let in the happy distance, and that all But cloudless heaven which we have found together In our three married years! You kiss'd me there For the first time. Sinnatus, kiss me now.

SINNATUS.