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Act Three The palace in Antioch. SCENE I
The Audience Chamber in the palace. Nicanor, Phayllus and others seated; Eunice, Philoctetes.., Thoas apart near the dais.
Is it patent ? Is he the elder ? do we know ?
Should he not rule?
If Fate were wise, he should.
Will Timocles sack great Persepolis ?
Perhaps.
Are law and justice always one? Reflect.
If justice is offended, I will strike. Page – 394 He withdraws to another part of the hall.
The man is wise, but when ambition's heaped
Is it only that He withdraws.
Fate or else Chance Nicanor, who has drawn near, stops before her.
Your council's finished then ?
What council, father?
I have seen, though I have not spoken. Meddle not
We have other sports.
See less Antiochus. Page – 395
Of every law that checks your headstrong will, He withdraws.
My prudent father! These men think that wisdom
She goes up on the dais; Leosthenes, Callicrates
Leosthenes from Parthia! Speeds the war?
It waits a captain.
It shall have today
I have seen the boy.
If Fate agrees with Nature.
Neither can err
Cleopatra enters with Antiochus and ance, the latter richly robed. Page – 396
See where she places him!
'Tis on her right!
It is a woman's ruse.
The strong Antiochus has gone too early Down the dim gorges to that silent world Where we must one day follow him. A younger hand Takes up his sceptre and controls his sword. These are the Syrian twins, Nicanor's sons, These are Antiochus and Timocles. Why so long buried, why their right oppressed, Why their precedence tyrannously concealed, Forget. Forget old griefs, old hatreds; let them rest Inurned, nor from their night recover them.
We need not raise the curtains that conceal Things long inurned, but lest by this one doubt The dead past lay a dark and heavy hand Upon our fairer future, let us swear The Queen shall be obeyed as if she spoke For Heaven. Betwixt the all-seeing gods and her Confine all cause of quarrel.
Let the princes swear; For how can subjects jar if they agree ? Page – 397
Your sovereign will must rule,
Antiochus, my son!
Your question, Madam, was for Timocles; From me it needs no answer.
You accept
God's choice. My mother speaks
Prince,
Who art thou? Art thou of Seleucus' blood
Enough. My sons Page – 398 Princess of Parthia; sit upon this throne, Phraates' daughter; thou art peace and love And must today be crowned. Marvel not, Syrians;
For it is peace my envoys bear by now
This was a secret haste!
Is it possible ?
Since Parthia swept through the Iranian East Wrecking the mighty Macedonian's toil, War sways for ever like a darkened sea In turmoil 'twixt our realms. How many heart-strings Have broken, what tears of anguish have been wept And eyes sought eastward unreturning eyes! Joy has been buried in the blood-drenched sands. Vain blood, vain weeping! Earth was made so wide That many might have majesty and joy Upon one mother's equal breast. But we Arresting others' portions lose our own. Nations that conquer widest, perish first, Sapped by the hate of an uneasy world. Then they are wisest victors who in time Knowing the limits of their prosperous fate Avoid the violence of Heaven. Syrians, After loud battles I have founded glorious peace. That fair work I began as Syria's queen; To seal it Syria's king must not refuse.
I do refuse it. There shall be no peace. Page – 399
My son!
Peace! Are the Parthians at our gate ?
Now?
Thou speakest. King!
You are not crowned as yet, Antiochus.
Syria forbids it, Syria's destiny
We do not sue for peace,
Who twenty times Page – 400
Outweighs all hero's actions and exceeds
For her and provinces!
I know you do not love me; in your cold heart
I will respect you in your place, enshrined
Leave it. You will not think of peace ?
Yes, when our armies reach Persepolis.
How desperate looks the Queen! What comes of this ?
End this debate; let Syria know her king. Cleopatra rises and stands silent for a moment. Page – 401
Mother!
Behold your king!
She has done it, gods! There is an astonished silence.
Speak once more, daughter of high Ptolemy,
Behold your king!
Nicanor makes a motion of assent as
Let then the King ascend his throne.
Thoas!
Speak, King Antiochus, God's chosen king
Speak, Antiochus.
Why didst thou give to me alone the name Of Syria's princes? why upon thy right Hast seated me? or wherefore mad'st thou terms Page – 402
For that near time when I should be the king,
Dost thou insult me thus before my world ?
Stay, Timocles.
My elder ? He looks at Cleopatra.
I have spoken the truth.
Thou hast not; thou art delivered of a lie,
Silence, thou swarthy slave.
I'll not be silent. She offends the gods.
The truth breaks out at last. Page – 403
This is a slave the surplus mud of Nile
I was a noble Egyptian's wife in Memphis,
Is't done?
Nicanor who has been hesitating, observes
The royal blood of Egypt cannot lie.
Wound not thy mother and thy motherland,
Shall a lie prevail?
It was settled then among you! Be it so.
Egyptian Philoctetes takes thy challenge,
Who is for me in Syria? Page – 404
I set my sword
I am Leosthenes.
Who else for me ?
I! I! and I! and I!
We for King Timocles.
Slay them, cut down
There is a shouting and tumult with
Protect the King.
I slay all strife With the usurper.
Stay, stay, Leosthenes.
Forbear! forbear, I say! let all be still! Page – 405 The great Seleucus' house shall not be made A shambles. Not by vulgar riot, not By fratricidal murder will I climb Into my throne, but up the heroic steps Of ordered battle. Brother Timocles, That oft-kissed head is sacred from my. sword. Nicanor, thou hast thrown the challenge down; I lift it up.
O, hear me, son Antiochus.
I have renounced thee for my mother.
Alas!
O wretched woman!
She hurries out followed by Rodogune,
Thou shalt not do this evil,
He goes out with Timocles, Phayllus,
Can we hold the house
Nicanor's troops hold Antioch. Page – 406
Not here, not here.
Mentho, Page – 407 |