Washington Square Plays Part 23

MENELAUS [with radiant happiness, kneeling before the bust of Zeus].

Ye G.o.ds, I thank ye. Peace and a happy life at last. [The shouts in the courtyard grow louder.]

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. The news has spread through the palace.

MENELAUS [in trepidation, springing up]. No one would dare stop the progress of the Queen.

TSUMU [rushes in and prostrates herself before the KING]. Woe is me!

They have gone by the road to the harbor.

MENELAUS [anxiously]. Yes! Yes!

TSUMU. By the King's orders no man has dared gaze upon Her Majesty. They all fell prostrate before her.

MENELAUS. Good! Good! [Attempting to cover his delight.] Go! Go! You garrulous dog. [TSUMU gets up and points to s.h.i.+eld. a.n.a.lYTIKOS and the KING look toward it. a.n.a.lYTIKOS tears off the papyrus and brings it to MENELAUS. TSUMU, watching them, exits.]

MENELAUS [reading]. "I am not a bad woman. I did what I had to do."

How Greek to blame fate for what one wants to do. [TSUMU again comes tumbling in.]

TSUMU [again prostrate before the KING]. A rumor flies through the city.

He--he----

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [anxiously]. Well? Well?

TSUMU. He--he----

MENELAUS [furiously to a.n.a.lYTIKOS]. Rid me of this croaking raven.

TSUMU. Evil has fallen on Sparta. He----

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Yes--yes----

MENELAUS [in a rage]. Out of my sight, perfidious Nubian. [Sounds of confusion in the courtyard. Suddenly she springs to her feet and yells at the top of her voice.]

TSUMU. He was Paris, Prince of Troy!

[They all start back. a.n.a.lYTIKOS stumbles into a seat. MENELAUS turns pale. TSUMU leers like a black Nemesis.]

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [very ominously]. Who can read the secret of the Fates?

MENELAUS [frightened]. What do you mean?

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. He is the son of Priam, King of Troy.

TSUMU [adding fuel]. And of Hecuba, Queen of the Trojans. [She rushes out to spread the news.]

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. That makes the matter international.

MENELAUS [quickly]. But we have treaties with Troy.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Circ.u.mstances alter treaties. They will mean nothing.

MENELAUS. Nothing?

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. No more than a sc.r.a.p of papyrus. Sparta will fight to regain her Queen.

MENELAUS. But I don't want her back.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Can you tell that to Sparta? Remember, the King can do no wrong. Last night I dreamed of war.

MENELAUS. No! No! Don't say that. After the scandal I can't be expected to fight to get her back.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Sparta will see with the eyes of chivalry.

MENELAUS [fuming]. But I don't believe in war.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [still obdurate]. Have you forgotten the oath pledged of old, with Ulysses and Agamemnon? They have sworn, if ever the time came, to fight and defend the Queen.

MENELAUS [bitterly]. I didn't think of the triple alliance.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Can Sparta ask less of her King?

MENELAUS. Let's hear the other side. We can perhaps arbitrate. Peace at any price.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Some bargains are too cheap.

MENELAUS [hopelessly]. But I am a pacifist.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. You are Menelaus of Sparta, and Sparta's a nation of soldiers.

MENELAUS [desperately]. I am too proud to fight!

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Here, put on your s.h.i.+eld. [A great clamor comes up from the courtyard. a.n.a.lYTIKOS steps out on the balcony and is greeted with shouts of "The King! The King!" Addressing the crowd.] People of Sparta, this calamity has been forced upon us.

[MENELAUS winces.] We are a peaceful people. But thanks to our unparalleled efficiency, the military system of Sparta is the most powerful in all Greece and we can mobilize in half an hour.

[Loud acclaims from the people. MENELAUS, the papyrus still in hand, crawls over and attempts to stop a.n.a.lYTIKOS.]

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [not noticing him]. In the midst of connubial and communal peace the thunderbolt has fallen on the King.[MENELAUS tugs at a.n.a.lYTIKOS' robe.] Broken in spirit as he is, he is already pawing the ground like a battle steed. Never will we lay down our arms! We and Jupiter! [Cheers.] Never until the Queen is restored to Menelaus. Never, even if it takes ten years.

[MENELAUS squirms. A loud cheer.]

HELENA'S HUSBAND Even now the King is buckling on his s.h.i.+eld. [More cheers. a.n.a.lYTIKOS steps farther forward and then with bursting eloquence.]

One hate we have and one alone! [Yells from below.]

Hate by water and hate by land, Hate of the head and hate of the hand, Hate of Paris and hate of Troy That has broken the Queen for a moment's toy.

[The yells grow fiercer.]

Zeus' thunder will shatter the Trojan throne.

We have one hate and one alone!