Hippolytus; The Bacchae Part 7

THESEUS (_as before_) O would that G.o.d had given us here below Some test of love, some sifting of the soul, To tell the false and true! Or through the whole Of men two voices ran, one true and right, The other as chance willed it; that we might Convict the liar by the true man's tone, And not live duped forever, every one!

HIPPOLYTUS (_misunderstanding him; then guessing at something of the truth_) What? Hath some friend proved false?

Or in thine ear Whispered some slander? Stand I tainted here, Though utterly innocent? [_Murmurs from the crowd_.]

Yea, dazed am I; 'Tis thy words daze me, falling all awry, Away from reason, by fell fancies vexed!

THESEUS O heart of man, what height wilt venture next?

What end comes to thy daring and thy crime?

For if with each man's life 'twill higher climb, And every age break out in blood and lies Beyond its fathers, must not G.o.d devise Some new world far from ours, to hold therein Such brood of all unfaithfulness and sin?

Look, all, upon this man, my son, his life Sprung forth from mine! He hath defiled my wife; And standeth here convicted by the dead, A most black villain!

[HIPPOLYTUS _falls back with a cry and covers his face with his robe_.]

Nay, hide not thine head!

Pollution, is it? Thee it will not stain.

Look up, and face thy Father's eyes again!

Thou friend of G.o.ds, of all mankind elect; Thou the pure heart, by thoughts of ill unflecked!

I care not for thy boasts. I am not mad, To deem that G.o.ds love best the base and bad.

Now is thy day! Now vaunt thee; thou so pure, No flesh of life may pa.s.s thy lips! Now lure Fools after thee; call Orpheus King and Lord; Make ecstasies and wonders! Thumb thine h.o.a.rd Of ancient scrolls and ghostly mysteries-- Now thou art caught and known!

Shun men like these, I charge ye all! With solemn words they chase their prey, and in their hearts plot foul disgrace.

My wife is dead.--"Ha, so that saves thee now,"

That is what grips thee worst, thou caitiff, thou!

What oaths, what subtle words, shall stronger be Than this dead hand, to clear the guilt from thee?

"She hated thee," thou sayest; "the b.a.s.t.a.r.d born Is ever sore and bitter as a thorn To the true brood."--A sorry bargainer In the ills and goods of life thou makest her, If all her best-beloved she cast away To wreck blind hate on thee!--What, wilt thou say "Through every woman's nature one blind strand Of pa.s.sion winds, that men scarce understand?"-- Are we so different? Know I not the fire And perilous flood of a young man's desire, Desperate as any woman, and as blind, When Cypris stings? Save that the man behind Has all men's strength to aid him. Nay, 'twas thou...

But what avail to wrangle with thee now, When the dead speaks for all to understand, A perfect witness!

Hie thee from this land To exile with all speed. Come never more To G.o.d-built Athens, not to the utmost sh.o.r.e Of any realm where Theseus' arm is strong!

What? Shall I bow my head beneath this wrong, And cower to thee? Not Isthmian Sinis so Will bear men witness that I laid him low, Nor Skiron's rocks, that share the salt sea's prey, Grant that my hand hath weight vile things to slay!

LEADER Alas! whom shall I call of mortal men Happy? The highest are cast down again.

HIPPOLYTUS Father, the hot strained fury of thy heart Is terrible. Yet, albeit so swift thou art Of speech, if all this matter were laid bare, Speech were not then so swift; nay, nor so fair...

[_Murmurs again in the crowd_.]

I have no skill before a crowd to tell My thoughts. 'Twere best with few, that know me well.-- Nay that is natural; tongues that sound but rude In wise men's ears, speak to the mult.i.tude With music.

None the less, since there is come This stroke upon me, I must not be dumb, But speak perforce... And there will I begin Where thou beganst, as though to strip my sin Naked, and I not speak a word!

Dost see This sunlight and this earth? I swear to thee There dwelleth not in these one man--deny All that thou wilt!--more pure of sin than I.

Two things I know on earth: G.o.d's worship first; Next to win friends about me, few, that thirst To hold them clean of all unrighteousness.

Our rule doth curse the tempters, and no less Who yieldeth to the tempters.--How, thou say'st, "Dupes that I jest at?" Nay; I make a jest Of no man. I am honest to the end, Near or far off, with him I call my friend.

And most in that one thing, where now thy mesh Would grip me, stainless quite! No woman's flesh Hath e'er this body touched. Of all such deed Naught wot I, save what things a man may read In pictures or hear spoke; nor am I fain, Being virgin-souled, to read or hear again.

My life of innocence moves thee not; so be it.

Show then what hath seduced me; let me see it.

Was that poor flesh so pa.s.sing fair, beyond All woman's loveliness?

Was I some fond False plotter, that I schemed to win through her Thy castle's heirdom? Fond indeed I were!

Nay, a stark madman! "But a crown," thou sayest, "Usurped, is sweet." Nay, rather most unblest To all wise-hearted; sweet to fools and them Whose eyes are blinded by the diadem.

In contests of all valour fain would I Lead h.e.l.las; but in rank and majesty Not lead, but be at ease, with good men near To love me, free to work and not to fear.

That brings more joy than any crown or throne.

[_He sees from the demeanor of_ THESEUS _and of the crowd that his words are not winning them, but rather making them bitterer than before.

It comes to his lips to speak the whole truth_.]

I have said my say; save one thing...one alone O had I here some witness in my need, As I was witness! Could she hear me plead, Face me and face the sunlight; well I know, Our deeds would search us out for thee, and show Who lies!

But now, I swear--so hear me both, The Earth beneath and Zeus who Guards the Oath-- I never touched this woman that was thine!

No words could win me to it, nor incline My heart to dream it. May G.o.d strike me down, Nameless and fameless, without home or town, An outcast and a wanderer of the world; May my dead bones rest never, but be hurled From sea to land, from land to angry sea, If evil is my heart and false to thee!

[_He waits a moment; but sees that his Father is unmoved.

The truth again comes to his lips_.]

If 'twas some fear that made her cast away Her life ... I know not. More I must not say.

Right hath she done when in her was no right; And Right I follow to mine own despite!

LEADER It is enough! G.o.d's name is witness large, And thy great oath, to a.s.soil thee of this charge,

THESEUS Is not the man a juggler and a mage, Cool wits and one right oath--what more?--to a.s.suage Sin and the wrath of injured fatherhood!

HIPPOLYTUS Am I so cool? Nay, Father, 'tis thy mood That makes me marvel! By my faith, wert thou The son, and I the sire; and deemed I now In very truth thou hadst my wife a.s.sailed, I had not exiled thee, nor stood and railed, But lifted once mine arm, and struck thee dead!

THESEUS Thou gentle judge! Thou shalt not so be sped To simple death, nor by thine own decree.

Swift death is bliss to men in misery.

Far off, friendless forever, thou shalt drain Amid strange cities the last dregs of pain!

HIPPOLYTUS Wilt verily cast me now beyond thy pale, Not wait for Time, the lifter of the veil?

THESEUS Aye, if I could, past Pontus, and the red Atlantic marge! So do I hate thine head.

HIPPOLYTUS Wilt weigh nor oath nor faith nor prophet's word To prove me? Drive me from thy sight unheard?

THESEUS This tablet here, that needs no prophet's lot To speak from, tells me all. I ponder not Thy fowls that fly above us! Let them fly.

HIPPOLYTUS O ye great G.o.ds, wherefore unlock not I My lips, ere yet ye have slain me utterly, Ye whom I love most? No. It may not be!

The one heart that I need I ne'er should gain To trust me. I should break mine oath in vain.

THESEUS Death! but he chokes me with his saintly tone!-- Up, get thee from this land! Begone! Begone!

HIPPOLYTUS Where shall I turn me? Think. To what friend's door Betake me, banished on a charge so sore?

THESEUS Whoso delights to welcome to his hall Vile ravishers ... to guard his hearth withal!

HIPPOLYTUS Thou seekst my heart, my tears? Aye, let it be Thus! I am vile to all men, and to thee!

THESEUS There was a time for tears and thought; the time Ere thou didst up and gird thee to thy crime.

HIPPOLYTUS Ye stones, will ye not speak? Ye castle walls!

Bear witness if I be so vile, so false!

THESEUS Aye, fly to voiceless witnesses! Yet here A dumb deed speaks against thee, and speaks clear!

HIPPOLYTUS Alas!

Would I could stand and watch this thing, and see My face, and weep for very pity of me!

THESEUS Full of thyself, as ever! Not a thought For them that gave thee birth; nay, they are naught!

HIPPOLYTUS O my wronged Mother! O my birth of shame!

May none I love e'er bear a b.a.s.t.a.r.d's name!

THESEUS (_in a sudden blaze of rage_) Up, thralls, and drag him from my presence! What, 'Tis but a foreign felon! Heard ye not?

[_The thralls still hesitate in spite of his fury._]