Diminutive dramas

Scene.—A room in the house of Jason, looking on to garden, at Corinth. Discovered: Jason and Glauce.

Jason. I think you really had better go. She may be in any minute now.

Glauce. Very well; but you promise to tell her to-day?

Jason. I swear.

Glauce. It’s all very well, but you said that yesterday.

Jason. Yes, and I would have told her yesterday, only I was interrupted——

Glauce. I know; the only thing I say is, you must tell her to-day and do it nicely, because I shouldn’t like poor little Medea to be hurt.

Jason. No, of course not. Good-bye.

Glauce. Good-bye. Then to-morrow at eleven, at the Creon Institute.

Jason. Very well, at eleven.

Glauce. And then we might—no.

Jason. What?

Glauce. Nothing. I was only thinking we might have some food at the “Golden Fleece,” downstairs.

Jason. The whole of Corinth would see us.

Glauce. There is never a soul downstairs, and I don’t see now that it much matters.

Jason. It’s a pity to make oneself conspicuous; your father——

Glauce. You know best, but I should have thought——

Jason. That’s Medea coming through the garden.

Glauce. To-morrow, at eleven.

Jason. Yes—yes—to-morrow. (Glauce goes out L.)

Enter Medea from the garden

Medea. I can’t get any one for dinner to-morrow night. We want somebody amusing.

Jason (wearily). Would Orpheus do?

Medea. We’ve got too many heroes as it is. And then, if Orpheus comes, we shall be obliged to ask him to play.

Jason. What about Castor and Pollux?

Medea. Heroes again—and I think it’s a mistake to ask brothers together.

Jason. Heracles is staying at Corinth.

Medea. He would do beautifully.

Jason. I’m not sure he would do. He doesn’t get on with Admetus.

Medea. Why not? Admetus ought to be very grateful.

Jason. For bringing back his wife from the grave?

Medea. Yes, of course.

Jason. Of course. (Jason looks pensive.)

Medea. Then we shall want another woman.

Jason. How would Ariadne do?

Medea. What are you thinking of? Theseus is coming.

Jason. I thought all that had entirely blown over.

Medea. We want an unmarried woman, if possible.

Jason. I don’t know any one.

Medea. Do you think we could get King Creon’s daughter by herself? She’s so pretty. I mean Glauce.

Jason (blushing scarlet). I don’t think—er—no—you see—we can’t very well.

Medea. Why not?

Jason. She’s a girl.

Medea. She goes everywhere. She doesn’t count as a girl.

Jason. Then we should have to ask King Creon.

Medea. No, Alcestis will bring her. That will do beautifully. I’ll send a message at once.

Jason. For the sake of the gods, do nothing of the kind.

Medea. But she’ll do beautifully.

Jason. You don’t understand. You see, King Creon has—he’s—well, I don’t quite know how to say it.

Medea. What do you mean?

Jason. Well, it’s very awkward. The fact is, King Creon has approached me politically—about something——

Medea. What has that got to do with asking Glauce?

Jason. No, nothing, of course, except that we should have to ask him.

Medea. I’ve already told you that it’s unnecessary.

Jason (firmly). I shouldn’t dream of asking her without her father, and we can’t ask him.

Medea. Why not?

Jason. Oh, because he never does dine out.

Medea. I’m sure he would come here.

Jason. It’s impossible. You see, to tell you the truth—I’ve been meaning to tell you this for some time, only I’ve never had the opportunity—the King is rather severe about you.

Medea. Severe! How?

Jason. Well, you see, he’s old-fashioned, and he doesn’t consider our marriage as a marriage.

Medea. We were married in the temple of Aphrodite. What more does he want?

Jason. He doesn’t consider that a girl’s marriage is valid when it is made without the consent of her parents; and your poor dear father, you know, was most unreasonable.

Medea. Papa being silly has got nothing to do with it. When a man and a woman are married in a temple, with the proper rites, they are man and wife. Nothing can ever alter the fact.

Jason. Yes, but it’s not only that. Creon goes much farther than that. He made me certain revelations concerning some family business which, I must say, surprised me immensely.

Medea. What family business?

Jason. Well, it appears that soon after I started for Colchis my father entered into secret negotiations with King Creon, and signed an offensive and defensive alliance with him, the object of which was to safeguard themselves against Pelias. The word-alliance remained secret. But at a State banquet Creon laid great stress on the friendship between himself and the Æolidæ, and brought in the words “friendly understanding” several times. Now in the treaty, which was drawn up and published, to mask the alliance, there were several secret clauses, one of which concerned the Sardine Fisheries in the Isthmus of Corinth, and the other—well—er, my marriage.

Medea. Your marriage.

Jason. Yes, it is extraordinary, isn’t it? It appears that during my absence, and without my being consulted in any way whatsoever, I was formally married, by proxy, of course, to Creon’s daughter Glauce—who was at that time a mere child. It was further settled that as soon as she was grown up, the marriage would be announced and the King would publicly adopt me as his heir.

Medea. No wonder he was annoyed at your having married me.

Jason. Well, you see, he isn’t annoyed at that, because he says our marriage wasn’t valid.

Medea. Not in the eyes of the law, perhaps; but I am sure Aphrodite would not only be pained, but extremely angry if we cancelled vows which were made in her temple.

Jason. No, that’s just it. It appears he consulted all the oracles and the priestesses, and the Pythonesses, and they all say that our marriage is not only illegal, but positively criminal, and that my lawful wife, both in the eyes of man and of the gods, is Glauce.

Medea. And my children?

Jason. Well, about the children, opinion was slightly divided; but they inclined to think that, if I adopted them, they would be considered legitimate.

Medea. Legitimate! I should hope so. But what did you say to Creon? I suppose you told him you were very sorry, but that it couldn’t be helped. (She laughs.) Poor Glauce! It’s a shame to make a girl so ridiculous.

Jason. I don’t think you quite realise how seriously Creon regards the matter.

Medea. I don’t care an obol what he thinks. What I want to be told is how you told him what you think.

Jason. Of course, I said that I felt highly flattered.

Medea. But that you were married already.

Jason. No, it was no use saying that, because—as I’ve already said twice—he does not think our marriage counts.

Medea. Then what did you say?

Jason. Oh, I said I would lay the matter before you, and trust to your great good sense.

Medea. Do you mean to say that you did not give him to understand that the whole thing was altogether mad, absurd, and utterly preposterous?

Jason. How could I? After all, he is the King; and, moreover, he is backed up by all the legal and hieratic authorities. I could do nothing. I was quite helpless, quite defenceless. I simply had to incline myself before his higher authority.

Medea. Oh, I see; you accepted, in fact.

[She reflects a moment.

Jason. I didn’t exactly accept. But what else could I do?

Medea. No, of course, it’s quite simple. You said that our marriage didn’t count; you would be delighted to marry Glauce.

Jason. I didn’t use the word “delighted.”

Medea. “Highly honoured,” perhaps?

Jason. Something like that.

Medea. So you are engaged to be married? (Without any irony in her voice) Well, I congratulate you.

Jason. Not engaged. You see, the King——

Medea (cheerfully). I know. You mean you are married to Glauce theoretically, and now you are going to make the marriage a reality.

Jason (intensely relieved at there not being a scene). How clearly you put things!

Medea. I’m delighted for your sake. She’s a charming girl, and I am sure she will make you very happy.

Jason. But, Medea, what about you? You quite understand that I am ready to give up the whole thing unless you are quite sure you don’t mind?

Medea. My dear Jason, why should I mind? My only wish is that you should be happy.

Jason. I’m afraid that’s impossible. I need hardly say I am not in the least in love with Glauce.

Medea. Of course not. But what about my children?

Jason. Ah, there’s the difficulty. The King says they will have to remain with me. But you will be able to come and see them whenever you like.

Medea. Oh, I see.

Jason. The King is very particular about children being brought up by their father. He thinks women make them into mollycoddles.

Medea. Yes, of course. I suppose, since the marriage ceremony has already been performed, you won’t have to go through it again.

Jason. It’s unnecessary; but I’m sorry to say the King wishes it.

Medea. Then I suppose it will be soon. I shall leave Corinth as soon as my things can be packed.

Jason. The King wants the ceremony to be this week; but you mustn’t inconvenience yourself in any way.

Medea (smiling). No, I won’t. Good-bye for the moment. I am going out to buy Glauce a present.

[She goes out.

Jason sits down at a table and writes: Loveliest and dearest Glauce—It is all over. I have told her at last. She has taken it too wonderfully well. We must ask her to stay with us—later—etc.

Curtain.