A KING’S DAUGHTER
FIRST ACT.
Jezebel.
I am Queen Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife.
I was princess in Sidon long ago,
But in an evil day I became Queen
Over these strangers in Samaria.
I was princess in Sidon long ago,
But in an evil day I became Queen
Over these strangers in Samaria.
Here, for these last ten months, we fought the Syrians,
Till hope was gone; then, suddenly, all changed;
The Syrian army fell into our hands.
Till hope was gone; then, suddenly, all changed;
The Syrian army fell into our hands.
King Ahab had two choices: one, to kill
All of the Syrians; one, to let them go.
He made a peace with them and let them go.
All of the Syrians; one, to let them go.
He made a peace with them and let them go.
Now all the people of this city rage
At Ahab, for his peace, and cry aloud
That I, the foreign queen with foreign gods,
Made Ahab make the peace to please my friends.
At Ahab, for his peace, and cry aloud
That I, the foreign queen with foreign gods,
Made Ahab make the peace to please my friends.
Four days ago, King Ahab sought to buy
A vineyard from one Naboth, who refused
To sell the vineyard, even to his King.
A vineyard from one Naboth, who refused
To sell the vineyard, even to his King.
To-day the rebels of the town prepare
A feast to Naboth for refusing him,
And at the feast the prophets and seditious
Will urge our murder as a godly deed.
A feast to Naboth for refusing him,
And at the feast the prophets and seditious
Will urge our murder as a godly deed.
What is King Ahab doing to defeat them?
Nothing. For these three days he has been hidden,
Brooding upon his bed in bitterness;
Refusing food and drink; refusing speech
With me, his wife; neglecting court and state;
Letting rebellion grow, and seeing no man
Except our younger son, evil Prince Joram,
Who longs for war against the Syrians.
Nothing. For these three days he has been hidden,
Brooding upon his bed in bitterness;
Refusing food and drink; refusing speech
With me, his wife; neglecting court and state;
Letting rebellion grow, and seeing no man
Except our younger son, evil Prince Joram,
Who longs for war against the Syrians.
So I, the Queen, not knowing what may come
When the King sickens and the people rage,
Have sent for help, called home our eldest son,
Prince Ahaziah, from his frontier post
With all his horsemen. He should soon be here.
When the King sickens and the people rage,
Have sent for help, called home our eldest son,
Prince Ahaziah, from his frontier post
With all his horsemen. He should soon be here.
With Ahaziah and his horsemen here
We shall be safer from our enemies,
The Teshbon prophet and the soldier Jehu,
The captain of the horse under the King.
We shall be safer from our enemies,
The Teshbon prophet and the soldier Jehu,
The captain of the horse under the King.
* * * * *
Those are the enemies whom most I dread,
Lord Jehu and the Prophet, hand and mouth
To violence and unwise ways of life,
Violent and brainless both, as lightning is.
When violence and madness are in league,
Destruction comes.
Lord Jehu and the Prophet, hand and mouth
To violence and unwise ways of life,
Violent and brainless both, as lightning is.
When violence and madness are in league,
Destruction comes.
And they are coming now,
Here to the palace of the King and Queen,
To plot their evil with our followers.
Here to the palace of the King and Queen,
To plot their evil with our followers.
I will go hence, to pray that Ahaziah
May come in time to thwart their wickedness.
May come in time to thwart their wickedness.
[Exit
Enter the Prophet.
Prophet.
Lord Jehu!
Enter Jehu.
Jehu.
Ha, my Prophet!
Prophet.
Is all well?
Jehu.
Yes. All goes well. This King, this imbecile,
This Ahab, still is sulking like a child,
Speaking with no one, making all things easy
For us, my Prophet, who will now succeed.
Nothing can stop us now. All works for us.
Ahab is hated; Jezebel detested;
The army sickened at their loss of plunder,
All hot against them both. Our only danger
Their son, Prince Ahaziah, far away,
Their other son, Prince Joram, working for us.
And now this feast to Naboth as a crown
To all these helps, an opportunity.
This Ahab, still is sulking like a child,
Speaking with no one, making all things easy
For us, my Prophet, who will now succeed.
Nothing can stop us now. All works for us.
Ahab is hated; Jezebel detested;
The army sickened at their loss of plunder,
All hot against them both. Our only danger
Their son, Prince Ahaziah, far away,
Their other son, Prince Joram, working for us.
And now this feast to Naboth as a crown
To all these helps, an opportunity.
Prophet.
Truly our work is godly, since it prospers.
Since all is thriving, it is surely time
That we set forth together to this feast.
Since all is thriving, it is surely time
That we set forth together to this feast.
Jehu.
Wait, yet, my Prophet, while I ask you this:
What objects will be served by this our feast?
What objects will be served by this our feast?
Prophet.
Why, it will honour Naboth for resisting
The tyrant whom we hate, and give our friends
A chance to come together with Prince Joram
To cry aloud for war with Syria.
The tyrant whom we hate, and give our friends
A chance to come together with Prince Joram
To cry aloud for war with Syria.
Jehu.
True, Prophet; “Honour Naboth; cry for war;”
Such were our objects when we planned the feast:
That was the plan, but, friend, it is not now.
No, Prophet, no; for I have changed my mind.
This feast to Naboth which we have prepared
Must be the prelude to a mightier deed.
Prophet, I know thy zeal for true religion,
And you know mine; now, therefore, stand by me.
I am determined to be King this day.
The chances are all for me, and the feast
Puts them within my hand for me to take.
Now, therefore, Prophet, when you see me there,
Sitting at feast among the men-of-war,
Send out some youngling of the Prophet tribe
There to anoint me King in Ahab’s stead.
Then I will rise and lead those men-at-arms
To end this Ahab and his Jezebel,
And stamp them with our horses’ feet, and bring
A true religion back: by God, we need it.
No. Doubt not the success. Anoint me King,
The men will follow. For, by God, now, Prophet,
Look at my eyes, I mean this to succeed.
This is the way, because all other ways,
The way we planned before and any way,
Must end in this; so send the stripling to me.
Make me the King.
Such were our objects when we planned the feast:
That was the plan, but, friend, it is not now.
No, Prophet, no; for I have changed my mind.
This feast to Naboth which we have prepared
Must be the prelude to a mightier deed.
Prophet, I know thy zeal for true religion,
And you know mine; now, therefore, stand by me.
I am determined to be King this day.
The chances are all for me, and the feast
Puts them within my hand for me to take.
Now, therefore, Prophet, when you see me there,
Sitting at feast among the men-of-war,
Send out some youngling of the Prophet tribe
There to anoint me King in Ahab’s stead.
Then I will rise and lead those men-at-arms
To end this Ahab and his Jezebel,
And stamp them with our horses’ feet, and bring
A true religion back: by God, we need it.
No. Doubt not the success. Anoint me King,
The men will follow. For, by God, now, Prophet,
Look at my eyes, I mean this to succeed.
This is the way, because all other ways,
The way we planned before and any way,
Must end in this; so send the stripling to me.
Make me the King.
Prophet.
Truly a spirit speaks within you, Jehu.
Truly the devilries of Jezebel
Have brimmed the cup, and Ahab’s treachery
Has spilled it over. You shall be the King.
Here with my blood I do anoint you King.
My young man shall anoint you with the oil,
But will the captains follow you as King?
Truly the devilries of Jezebel
Have brimmed the cup, and Ahab’s treachery
Has spilled it over. You shall be the King.
Here with my blood I do anoint you King.
My young man shall anoint you with the oil,
But will the captains follow you as King?
Jehu.
They’ll follow; some for plunder, some for fear.
Now let us to this Naboth’s feast, to raise
Our following against this doting King.
Now let us to this Naboth’s feast, to raise
Our following against this doting King.
Prophet.
Here is our friend Ashobal with some news.
Enter Ashobal.
Ashobal.
I was afraid that you had gone, Lord Jehu.
Prophet, Lord Jehu, there is danger here.
I have just heard from Jezebel’s own lips
That she has ordered Ahaziah hither
With all his horse, and that he will be here
Within two hours.
Prophet, Lord Jehu, there is danger here.
I have just heard from Jezebel’s own lips
That she has ordered Ahaziah hither
With all his horse, and that he will be here
Within two hours.
Prophet.
Gods!
Jehu.
Did Jezebel
Tell you of this?
Tell you of this?
Ashobal.
No; I was hidden, and
I overheard her as she told her women.
I overheard her as she told her women.
Prophet.
She sent for them?
Ashobal.
She said so.
Prophet.
But for what?
To be a bodyguard?
To be a bodyguard?
Ashobal.
She did not say,
But that is what they will be when they come.
But that is what they will be when they come.
Prophet.
Then she suspects us.
Prophet.
Probably.
Jehu.
The hag!
Prophet.
These women of false gods shall die the death.
Jehu.
Yes, unless we die first. Thank you, Ashobal,
You bring the message in the nick of time.
Why has she sent for them? Is Ahab dying?
No; he is ill, not dying. By the gods,
The harlot may be plotting against Ahab
To crown her son?
No, by the gods, put by these pleasant dreams,
The likelier thing will be the explanation.
One of the little sheep within our fold
Has bleated to the shepherd: we have been
Betrayed, my Prophet and my sweet Ashobal,
Betrayed.... By whom?
By all the gods, this harlot is a man.
She hears of us, at once decides to strike,
Sends for the cavalry to cut our throats,
Calls Ahaziah to be King until
Her Ahab be a man again, and so
Bids for her husband’s crown. There are the facts.
You bring the message in the nick of time.
Why has she sent for them? Is Ahab dying?
No; he is ill, not dying. By the gods,
The harlot may be plotting against Ahab
To crown her son?
No, by the gods, put by these pleasant dreams,
The likelier thing will be the explanation.
One of the little sheep within our fold
Has bleated to the shepherd: we have been
Betrayed, my Prophet and my sweet Ashobal,
Betrayed.... By whom?
By all the gods, this harlot is a man.
She hears of us, at once decides to strike,
Sends for the cavalry to cut our throats,
Calls Ahaziah to be King until
Her Ahab be a man again, and so
Bids for her husband’s crown. There are the facts.
Ashobal.
Even so I judged it, from the way she spoke.
Prophet.
Then we had better scatter into hiding,
For we are lost.
For we are lost.
Jehu.
True, brother Prophet, all our heads are loose,
But yet not lost.
But yet not lost.
Prophet.
But what are we to do?
Jehu.
Stop Ahaziah in his coming here.
It can be done if he be two hours hence.
He must be coming by the desert road
Passing by Springs. Well, he shall meet his match.
Go, Prophet, to the feasting, as we planned.
Praise Naboth and be bitterer than spurge
About this peace. Pharmas must know of this.
Find Pharmas, that the Prophet speak with him.
Then tell what friends you can. Remember, Prophet,
Hold to our former plans till I return.
Now I must go.
It can be done if he be two hours hence.
He must be coming by the desert road
Passing by Springs. Well, he shall meet his match.
Go, Prophet, to the feasting, as we planned.
Praise Naboth and be bitterer than spurge
About this peace. Pharmas must know of this.
Find Pharmas, that the Prophet speak with him.
Then tell what friends you can. Remember, Prophet,
Hold to our former plans till I return.
Now I must go.
[Exit Jehu.
Prophet.
And we had better go
Straight into hiding, while we have the time.
Straight into hiding, while we have the time.
Ashobal.
No, we must keep to what is planned and do
What Jehu tells us.
What Jehu tells us.
Prophet.
I must see Pharmas, then; find Pharmas for me.
Ashobal.
I cannot yet.
Pharmas is in attendance on the Queen.
Pharmas is in attendance on the Queen.
Prophet.
Why should he be with her, to-day of all days?
He is the King’s attendant, not the Queen’s.
He is the King’s attendant, not the Queen’s.
Ashobal.
True, but the Queen commanded him this morning
To write at her dictation; he will be
There until noon; but it is nearly noon.
To write at her dictation; he will be
There until noon; but it is nearly noon.
Prophet.
We are discovered by this Jezebel.
And Pharmas has betrayed us.
And Pharmas has betrayed us.
Ashobal.
No, he is faithful to us. Five years since
This Jezebel once chided him in public
For breaking of a cup. He has remembered;
He swore to be revenged and means to be.
Now I say this: Come on the stroke of noon,
Here, to have speech with Pharmas and myself.
We may have news by then. If the worst happen,
We shall have time enough for flight at noon.
This Jezebel once chided him in public
For breaking of a cup. He has remembered;
He swore to be revenged and means to be.
Now I say this: Come on the stroke of noon,
Here, to have speech with Pharmas and myself.
We may have news by then. If the worst happen,
We shall have time enough for flight at noon.
Prophet.
You may be right; pray Heaven that you be.
Ashobal.
Hark! there is someone coming through the court.
By Heaven!
By Heaven!
Prophet.
Why, who is it? What has happened?
Ashobal.
It is the King, recovered from his brooding
And dressed as for an audience with his peers.
If Ahab be in health again, why, death——
And dressed as for an audience with his peers.
If Ahab be in health again, why, death——
Prophet.
What shall we do? Oh, say!
Ashobal.
Be not found here.
He’s coming hither with his man, Micaiah.
Go quickly, quickly.
He’s coming hither with his man, Micaiah.
Go quickly, quickly.
[Exit Prophet.
Enter Micaiah.
Micaiah.
Way for their Majesties! It is commanded
That all avoid. Way for their Majesties!
Avoid the room, Ashobal, for the King.
That all avoid. Way for their Majesties!
Avoid the room, Ashobal, for the King.
[Exit Ashobal.
Enter Ahab.
Ahab.
Micaiah, put my staff into my hands.
Go, now, desire the Queen to give me audience.
Go, now, desire the Queen to give me audience.
[Exit Micaiah.
Thus does the climber on a pinnacle.
He stands exhausted on the peak and feels
Nothing beneath him but the mist of cloud
Hiding the precipice. I have my foothold;
Around me, the sheer fall into the pit.
He stands exhausted on the peak and feels
Nothing beneath him but the mist of cloud
Hiding the precipice. I have my foothold;
Around me, the sheer fall into the pit.
Enter Jezebel.
Jezebel.
So, my good lord, at last I look upon you
After these days of anguish. O my lord,
What has afflicted you, that you should shut
Your doors upon me, send no word to me,
No word till now, not even let me know
If you were ill or well?
But no upbraiding.
Tell me what is the trouble of your soul?
After these days of anguish. O my lord,
What has afflicted you, that you should shut
Your doors upon me, send no word to me,
No word till now, not even let me know
If you were ill or well?
But no upbraiding.
Tell me what is the trouble of your soul?
Ahab.
What do you think?
Jezebel.
I know not what to think,
Living alone, shut from you, that should tell me.
Men say that you are grieved because a farmer,
One Naboth, would not sell his vineyard to you.
Living alone, shut from you, that should tell me.
Men say that you are grieved because a farmer,
One Naboth, would not sell his vineyard to you.
Ahab.
I, grieved, at that?
Jezebel.
I have no guide save rumour.
Ahab.
His vineyard? Why, I did not want the vineyard.
Jezebel.
Not want it, lord?
Ahab.
Why should I want it; think?
Jezebel.
I cannot think, indeed, why you should want it.
Ahab.
Jehu was wanting it, to bring it in
Within the city wall, for in the siege
The Syrian archers shot our people from it.
Jehu demanded it.
Within the city wall, for in the siege
The Syrian archers shot our people from it.
Jehu demanded it.
Jezebel.
Jehu? Not you?
Yet do you know that men are cursing you
For wanting Naboth’s land; and feasting Naboth
To-day, in public, for refusing you?
And that our crowns and even our lives are threatened?
Yet do you know that men are cursing you
For wanting Naboth’s land; and feasting Naboth
To-day, in public, for refusing you?
And that our crowns and even our lives are threatened?
Ahab.
No, Queen, I do not know and cannot care.
What is the raging of the fools to me
Who ponder day and night upon a question,
A question that goes down into the bone
And burns like fire, till I cannot sleep
Or eat or work, for it is always here.
No, do not look like that, I am not mad,
Not yet; I am not mad. But always night and day
This question is about me and within me,
Haunting and harsh: the question, “Am I wrong?
Are these, my people who oppose my will,
Right, after all, righter than I, the King?
Righter throughout my twenty years of kingship?”
What is the raging of the fools to me
Who ponder day and night upon a question,
A question that goes down into the bone
And burns like fire, till I cannot sleep
Or eat or work, for it is always here.
No, do not look like that, I am not mad,
Not yet; I am not mad. But always night and day
This question is about me and within me,
Haunting and harsh: the question, “Am I wrong?
Are these, my people who oppose my will,
Right, after all, righter than I, the King?
Righter throughout my twenty years of kingship?”
Jezebel.
How can these preys to every passionate flaw
Be righter than an upright mind and conscience?
Be righter than an upright mind and conscience?
Ahab.
I cannot tell, and yet I think they are.
Jezebel.
You know they are not.
Ahab.
No, I do not know.
I wonder, if the blunt and bawdy world
Be not the worse for wisdom, not the better.
I wonder, if the blunt and bawdy world
Be not the worse for wisdom, not the better.
Jezebel.
It is a sin and cowardice to say so.
Ahab.
Is it, my Queen? I wonder if it be.
Here have I striven twenty years, for peace
With Syria, and for liberty of thought
Within our borders, yet with what results?
Almost continual war with Syria.
Almost a civil war within this land.
Such being the fruits, I think the seeds were wrong.
Here have I striven twenty years, for peace
With Syria, and for liberty of thought
Within our borders, yet with what results?
Almost continual war with Syria.
Almost a civil war within this land.
Such being the fruits, I think the seeds were wrong.
Jezebel.
The seeds were right, and if the fruit has failed,
Blame the bad soil, the bitter weather, drought,
Evil of many men hacking the plant,
All things, but you who planted, and the seed.
Blame the bad soil, the bitter weather, drought,
Evil of many men hacking the plant,
All things, but you who planted, and the seed.
Ahab.
Even if the seed were right, the ground was wrong.
And then I sowed it out of season, lady.
I could have smitten Syria to the dust,
Yet granted terms. I risked a civil war
To grant the terms. They do not keep the terms.
And these my people prefer blood to quiet.
And now I doubt the usefulness of wisdom,
Doubt my whole life; and wonder, if the prophets,
The people, and the bloody ways they love,
Be not indeed God’s ways for governing.
If these things be, then I have failed my country.
And then I sowed it out of season, lady.
I could have smitten Syria to the dust,
Yet granted terms. I risked a civil war
To grant the terms. They do not keep the terms.
And these my people prefer blood to quiet.
And now I doubt the usefulness of wisdom,
Doubt my whole life; and wonder, if the prophets,
The people, and the bloody ways they love,
Be not indeed God’s ways for governing.
If these things be, then I have failed my country.
Jezebel.
O King, you cannot say that things are wrong
Because they fail. All good things seem to fail;
The road that men make is not straight nor smooth,
Nor like the perfect roadway that they planned;
And yet among the thorns and broken flint,
And twistings where the adder lies in wait,
It is a path where no path was before.
So with your Syrian pact and with these people,
You have hewed out a way where men will tread.
Be comforted and proud, for you have done it,
As the lone artist makes the perfect thing,
With every blind malignant saying “No!”
You have made peace as generous as yourself
And thought as free. So let the madman rave
And let the savage shriek for blood, and let
The blind worm of the many-creeping world
Crawl its obstruction, you have conquered them.
Because they fail. All good things seem to fail;
The road that men make is not straight nor smooth,
Nor like the perfect roadway that they planned;
And yet among the thorns and broken flint,
And twistings where the adder lies in wait,
It is a path where no path was before.
So with your Syrian pact and with these people,
You have hewed out a way where men will tread.
Be comforted and proud, for you have done it,
As the lone artist makes the perfect thing,
With every blind malignant saying “No!”
You have made peace as generous as yourself
And thought as free. So let the madman rave
And let the savage shriek for blood, and let
The blind worm of the many-creeping world
Crawl its obstruction, you have conquered them.
Ahab.
It is not true. I have not conquered them.
They conquer me. I am defeated. Yes,
I cannot think, or master, or decide,
Having no longer any faith remaining
In what we planned together and have done.
The ground is gone from under me, the light
Is gone from in me, and the sky above
Is black with punishment that threatens me.
These ruffian prophets have been proven right,
Our policies have been accursed; ay,
And the reward is death.
They conquer me. I am defeated. Yes,
I cannot think, or master, or decide,
Having no longer any faith remaining
In what we planned together and have done.
The ground is gone from under me, the light
Is gone from in me, and the sky above
Is black with punishment that threatens me.
These ruffian prophets have been proven right,
Our policies have been accursed; ay,
And the reward is death.
Jezebel.
O husband, stay!
Ahab.
I will not stay. The penalty is death,
With hell to follow, as the blind man’s payment
Fully deserved.
With hell to follow, as the blind man’s payment
Fully deserved.
[Exit Ahab.
Jezebel.
Gods save us, he is mad, or over-wrought
Up to the point of madness; now, indeed,
We have been conquered, for we have no King
Save one distraught with trouble. How am I
To help in this?
So ends my queenship with him. It is well
That I have called Prince Ahaziah home.
But, till he come, I govern, I am King,
And one act of a King must now be done:
This rebels’ feast to Naboth must be stopped.
Up to the point of madness; now, indeed,
We have been conquered, for we have no King
Save one distraught with trouble. How am I
To help in this?
So ends my queenship with him. It is well
That I have called Prince Ahaziah home.
But, till he come, I govern, I am King,
And one act of a King must now be done:
This rebels’ feast to Naboth must be stopped.
(She claps her hands for Micaiah, who enters.)
Micaiah, is there dust upon the road
To show the Prince’s coming?
To show the Prince’s coming?
Micaiah.
Not yet, Madam.
Jezebel.
How soon can he be here?
Micaiah.
Within two hours.
Unless he halt for noontide by the Springs.
He might be here much sooner. Say, one hour.
Unless he halt for noontide by the Springs.
He might be here much sooner. Say, one hour.
Jezebel.
Who is the captain of the guard to-day?
Micaiah.
Rechab, to-day, good lady.
Jezebel.
Go, Micaiah,
Tell Pharmas that I wait him in the throne room;
Bid him bring ink and seals; bid him be quick
Attend me there.
Tell Pharmas that I wait him in the throne room;
Bid him bring ink and seals; bid him be quick
Attend me there.
Micaiah.
Madam, I go.
[Exit Micaiah.
Jezebel.
Though the King sicken, it shall still be seen
That I, the Syrian woman, am a queen.
That I, the Syrian woman, am a queen.
[Exit Jezebel.
Enter Prophet.
Prophet.
Pharmas! Ashobal! Hark! Is Pharmas there?
It is full noon, but Pharmas is not here,
No, nor Ashobal. But there seems to be
Less danger than I feared: I was not questioned,
And men go unmolested to the feast.
It is full noon, but Pharmas is not here,
No, nor Ashobal. But there seems to be
Less danger than I feared: I was not questioned,
And men go unmolested to the feast.
Enter Ashobal.
Here is Ashobal. Where is Pharmas, friend?
Ashobal.
Gone to the Queen again, with ink and seals.
There is this news: the King and Queen have talked
And Ahab now is in his room again,
Moodily sharpening his sword, and muttering.
I myself think that Ahab has gone mad.
There is this news: the King and Queen have talked
And Ahab now is in his room again,
Moodily sharpening his sword, and muttering.
I myself think that Ahab has gone mad.
Prophet.
No word from Jehu yet, of Ahaziah?
Ashobal.
None yet, nor will be for a while.
Prophet.
King Jehu,
Jehu, the King, God’s comet, bringing change.
Come soon, come soon. Oh, what is Pharmas doing?
Jehu, the King, God’s comet, bringing change.
Come soon, come soon. Oh, what is Pharmas doing?
Ashobal.
He writes some pressing matter for the Queen.
Prophet.
We shall be late. Come, Pharmas! Hurry, hurry!
Would he were here and we away from this.
We are like hunters in the lion’s den,
Knowing the lion to be near.
Would he were here and we away from this.
We are like hunters in the lion’s den,
Knowing the lion to be near.
Ashobal.
I hear him.
Yes; this is Pharmas coming. Here he is.
Yes; this is Pharmas coming. Here he is.
Enter Pharmas.
Prophet.
Pharmas, we have been waiting for you; come.
We must be going. Listen to your orders.
During this feast go down among the guards ...
We must be going. Listen to your orders.
During this feast go down among the guards ...
Pharmas.
Do not you talk of feasting, nor of guards.
The Queen has sent Micaiah with the guards
To fetch poor Naboth here.
The Queen has sent Micaiah with the guards
To fetch poor Naboth here.
Ashobal.
Why?
Prophet.
What to do?
Pharmas.
I do not know; but not for any good.
“Fetch Naboth here before me,” was the order.
It has gone off by this.
“Fetch Naboth here before me,” was the order.
It has gone off by this.
Ashobal.
This is the end!
Prophet.
What can she want with Naboth? Painted hag,
Thus to command a man.
Thus to command a man.
Ashobal.
Was the guard ordered to suppress the feast?
Pharmas.
No, but it is suppressed with Naboth taken.
Ashobal.
We shall be taken next, so save yourself.
Prophet.
I will be gone. You know my hiding-place,
The old one near the wall; send word to me
There, if you have a message.
The old one near the wall; send word to me
There, if you have a message.
[Exit.
Micaiah.
Way for Her Majesty the Queen, make way!
Enter Micaiah.
Set forth the chair of audience for the Queen.
Be reverent; the Queen approaches. Hail!
Be reverent; the Queen approaches. Hail!
Enter Jezebel.
Jezebel.
Micaiah, Pharmas, and Ashobal, stay.
Within few moments, when the guards return,
You will return to take your places here,
Even as you stand this minute.
Within few moments, when the guards return,
You will return to take your places here,
Even as you stand this minute.
The Men.
We will do so.
Jezebel.
All three of you; you understand?
The Men.
Yes, Madam.
Jezebel.
Dismiss then, till the guards appear.
[The Men go.
I am the King, upon whose balance lies
The nation’s need to prompt me to be wise.
Ruin to all I cherish, if I fail.
God, judge for me, thy wisdom turn the scale.
The nation’s need to prompt me to be wise.
Ruin to all I cherish, if I fail.
God, judge for me, thy wisdom turn the scale.
Curtain.
FIRST CHORUS
Rose-Flower.
Once long ago young Nireus was the King
In Syme Island, so the stories say,
And at his birth the gods made holiday,
And blessed the child and gave him each one thing,
In Syme Island, so the stories say,
And at his birth the gods made holiday,
And blessed the child and gave him each one thing,
Courage, and skill, and beauty, and bright eyes,
Wisdom, and charm, and many another power,
So that he grew to manhood like a flower
For beauty, and like God for being wise.
Wisdom, and charm, and many another power,
So that he grew to manhood like a flower
For beauty, and like God for being wise.
Now Nireus’ friend was Paris, out of Troy,
Paris, the prince, the archer, who had seen
The goddesses within the forest green;
King Priam’s son, a peacock of a boy.
Paris, the prince, the archer, who had seen
The goddesses within the forest green;
King Priam’s son, a peacock of a boy.
Moon-Blossom.
At Sparta’s court, not far from Syme Isle,
Bright Helen lived, King Menelaus’ Queen,
The loveliest woman that has ever been,
Who made all mortals love her by her smile.
Bright Helen lived, King Menelaus’ Queen,
The loveliest woman that has ever been,
Who made all mortals love her by her smile.
Nireus and Paris went together there
To Helen’s palace: and when Nireus saw
Helen the Queen, the lovely without flaw,
He loved her like her shadow everywhere.
To Helen’s palace: and when Nireus saw
Helen the Queen, the lovely without flaw,
He loved her like her shadow everywhere.
And Paris, when he saw her with her mate,
Helen, the rose, beside that withered weed,
Loved her no less, but with a young man’s greed
That wants the moon from heaven and cannot wait.
Helen, the rose, beside that withered weed,
Loved her no less, but with a young man’s greed
That wants the moon from heaven and cannot wait.
Rose-Flower.
Straightway he wooed Queen Helen to be his,
And won her love, and cried to Nireus then,
“O Nireus, help to save us from this den,
Lend us your ship to bring us out of this.”
And won her love, and cried to Nireus then,
“O Nireus, help to save us from this den,
Lend us your ship to bring us out of this.”
So Nireus, though his heart was torn with pain,
Well knowing what would come, yet took the pair
To many-towered Troy and left them there,
To live in love and be the city’s bane.
Well knowing what would come, yet took the pair
To many-towered Troy and left them there,
To live in love and be the city’s bane.
Moon-Blossom.
When Menelaus knew of Helen’s flight,
He led all Greece in arms to punish Troy,
Nireus went with him in the fleet, and joy
Ceased in the world, for all men went to fight.
He led all Greece in arms to punish Troy,
Nireus went with him in the fleet, and joy
Ceased in the world, for all men went to fight.
Nine years they fought there in the tamarisk field,
And in the tenth, in some blind midnight stour,
Nireus killed Paris underneath the tower.
Men bore him back to Helen on his shield.
And in the tenth, in some blind midnight stour,
Nireus killed Paris underneath the tower.
Men bore him back to Helen on his shield.
Rose-Flower.
Then Troy was sacked and Menelaus took
Beautiful Helen as his prisoner home,
And locked her in his castle as a gnome
Might lock a gem on which no man might look.
Beautiful Helen as his prisoner home,
And locked her in his castle as a gnome
Might lock a gem on which no man might look.
Thus Nireus lost his love, and killed his friend,
And knew despair; so going to his ship,
He sailed to where the constellations dip,
In the great west, to look for the world’s end.
And knew despair; so going to his ship,
He sailed to where the constellations dip,
In the great west, to look for the world’s end.
SECOND CHORUS
Rose-Flower.
When Troy was sacked and all her towers
Blazed up and shook into the sky,
Smoke like great trees and flame like flowers,
And Priam’s bodyguard did die,
Blazed up and shook into the sky,
Smoke like great trees and flame like flowers,
And Priam’s bodyguard did die,
Then the Queen’s women snatched up spears,
And fought their way out of the gate;
Seized horses from the charioteers
And fled like mountain-streams in spate.
And fought their way out of the gate;
Seized horses from the charioteers
And fled like mountain-streams in spate.
They would not stay for slavery
To some Greek lord until they died,
They rode the forest to be free,
Up on the peaks of snowy Ide.
To some Greek lord until they died,
They rode the forest to be free,
Up on the peaks of snowy Ide.
Moon-Blossom.
And in the forest on a peak
They hewed a dwelling with the bronze,
And lived, unconquered by the Greek,
Fierce, sun-burned women, neither tame nor weak,
The panther-women called the Amazons.
They hewed a dwelling with the bronze,
And lived, unconquered by the Greek,
Fierce, sun-burned women, neither tame nor weak,
The panther-women called the Amazons.
They lived there on the heights and knew no men.
Having beheld the lusts of men destroy
The town of windy Troy,
They killed all men they met; their only joy
Was hunting for the wild beasts in the glen.
Having beheld the lusts of men destroy
The town of windy Troy,
They killed all men they met; their only joy
Was hunting for the wild beasts in the glen.
Together.
The wild boar and the many-branching stag,
Horse-killing panthers hidden by the brook,
The spotted death among the yellow flag,
All these with their bright spears these women took.
All these, and men, for even to be seen
By men, these hunter-women thought unclean.
Horse-killing panthers hidden by the brook,
The spotted death among the yellow flag,
All these with their bright spears these women took.
All these, and men, for even to be seen
By men, these hunter-women thought unclean.
So no man saw them save a glimpse afar.
Of panther-skins flung back, and swift feet flying,
And the red stag brought low to the fierce Ha!
Of women’s spear-thrusts driven in the dying.
They ruled the crags like wolves, they kept their pride
Savage and sovereign like the snow on Ide.
Of panther-skins flung back, and swift feet flying,
And the red stag brought low to the fierce Ha!
Of women’s spear-thrusts driven in the dying.
They ruled the crags like wolves, they kept their pride
Savage and sovereign like the snow on Ide.