Becket And Other Plays Part 50

Let him come--a legion with him, if he will.

(_To_ ANTONIUS.) Welcome, my lord Antonius, to our Temple.

(_To_ SYNORIX.) You on this side the altar.

(_To_ ANTONIUS.) You on that.

Call first upon the G.o.ddess, Synorix.

[_All face the G.o.ddess. Priestesses, Children, Populace, and Guards kneel--the others remain standing_.

SYNORIX.

O Thou, that dost inspire the germ with life, The child, a thread within the house of birth, And give him limbs, then air, and send him forth The glory of his father--Thou whose breath Is balmy wind to robe our hills with gra.s.s, And kindle all our vales with myrtle-blossom, And roll the golden oceans of our grain, And sway the long grape-bunches of our vines, And fill all hearts with fatness and the l.u.s.t Of plenty--make me happy in my marriage!

CHORUS (_chanting_).

Artemis, Artemis, hear him, Ionian Artemis!

CAMMA.

O Thou that slayest the babe within the womb Or in the being born, or after slayest him As boy or man, great G.o.ddess, whose storm-voice Unsockets the strong oak, and rears his root Beyond his head, and strows our fruits, and lays Our golden grain, and runs to sea and makes it Foam over all the fleeted wealth of kings And peoples, hear.

Whose arrow is the plague--whose quick flash splits The mid-sea mast, and rifts the tower to the rock, And hurls the victor's column down with him That crowns it, hear.

Who causest the safe earth to shudder and gape, And gulf and flatten in her closing chasm Domed cities, hear.

Whose lava-torrents blast and blacken a province To a cinder, hear.

Whose winter-cataracts find a realm and leave it A waste of rock and ruin, hear. I call thee To make my marriage prosper to my wish!

CHORUS.

Artemis, Artemis, hear her, Ephesian Artemis!

CAMMA.

Artemis, Artemis, hear me, Galatian Artemis!

I call on our own G.o.ddess in our own Temple.

CHORUS.

Artemis, Artemis, hear her, Galatian Artemis!

[_Thunder. All rise_.

SYNORIX (_aside_).

Thunder! Ay, ay, the storm was drawing hither Across the hills when I was being crown'd.

I wonder if I look as pale as she?

CAMMA.

Art thou--still bent--on marrying?

SYNORIX.

Surely--yet These are strange words to speak to Artemis.

CAMMA.

Words are not always what they seem, my King.

I will be faithful to thee till thou die.

SYNORIX.

I thank thee, Camma,--I thank thee.

CAMMA (_turning to_ ANTONIUS).

Antonius, Much graced are we that our Queen Rome in you Deigns to look in upon our barbarisms.

[_Turns, goes up steps to altar before the G.o.ddess.

Takes a cup from off the altar. Holds it towards_ ANTONIUS. ANTONIUS _goes up to the foot of the steps, opposite to_ SYNORIX.

You see this cup, my lord. [_Gives it to him_.

ANTONIUS.

Most curious!

The many-breasted mother Artemis Emboss'd upon it.

CAMMA.

It is old, I know not How many hundred years. Give it me again.

It is the cup belonging our own Temple.

[_Puts it back on altar, and takes up the cup of Act I. Showing it to_ ANTONIUS.

Here is another sacred to the G.o.ddess, The gift of Synorix; and the G.o.ddess, being For this most grateful, wills, thro' me her Priestess, In honour of his gift and of our marriage, That Synorix should drink from his own cup.

SYNORIX.

I thank thee, Camma,--I thank thee.

CAMMA.

For--my lord-- It is our ancient custom in Galatia That ere two souls be knit for life and death, They two should drink together from one cup, In symbol of their married unity, Making libation to the G.o.ddess. Bring me The costly wines we use in marriages.

[_They bring in a large jar of wine_.

CAMMA _pours wine into cup_.

(_To_ SYNORIX.) See here, I fill it.

(_To_ ANTONIUS.) Will you drink, my lord?

ANTONIUS.

I? Why should I? I am not to be married.

CAMMA.

But that might bring a Roman blessing on us.

ANTONIUS (_refusing cup_).

Thy pardon, Priestess!

CAMMA.

Thou art in the right.

This blessing is for Synorix and for me.

See first I make libation to the G.o.ddess, [_Makes libation_.

And now I drink. [_Drinks and fills the cup again_.

Thy turn, Galatian King.

Drink and drink deep--our marriage will be fruitful.