DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ZEUS, the Supreme Godhead

PLUTO, brother of Zeus, King of the "Underworld"

HERMES, messenger of Zeus

HELIOS, the Sun-god

HESPERUS, the Evening Star

HYLON, captain of Pluto's Fort

A CHILD, Metaneira's son

THE FOUR TITANS

A GNOME

SEVERAL IMPS (Spry is one of them)

MANY SMALL BEINGS:

Beings of the Mind
Beings of the Vital
Beings of the Physical

OTHER DARK, UGLY BEINGS

DEMETER, the Great Mother-Goddess

PERSEPHONE, her daughter by Zeus

ANANKE, goddess: the Will of Zeus

ATHENE, goddess of Wisdom and War

APHRODITE, goddess of Beauty

GAIA, the Earth-goddess

IRIS (child-goddess), messenger of the gods

HEBE (child-goddess), wine-pourer of the gods

AURORA, goddess of Dawn

CYANE, a river-nymph

SEVERAL OCEAN-NYMPHS

"THE HOURS" (nymphs), keepers of the gates of Olympus

METANEIRA, wife of Keleos, a woman of Eleusis

ARIADNE, PHEBE, AGLAIA, her three daughters

THE FURIES (five).

ACT I

SCENE 1

In Zeus' palace on Mt. Olympus: the outer courtyard. Almost dawn.
Voices in the distance above, chanting:

Mother of Grace, Compassion divine,

Sweet Mother of the Soul,

For love of Thee the heavens shine,

And the vast waters roll.

Deo, sweet Mother, all glory and grace

Is thine through all the skies;

What rapture's ours who see Thy face,

What beauty fills our eyes....

The hymn continues softly in the background.

Enter from different sides Hermes and the child-goddesses Iris and Hebe,
meeting. Iris has shimmering rainbow wings.

Hermes Look, look! Dawn touches softly fair Olympus,
Such beauty strange and new I've never seen...

Iris (listening to the music)

Hush, listen, Hermes, what hymns of love they chant

Extolling Demeter, the great adorable One;

Sweet songs of ravishment and praise to Her,
Who is all Love and Light. Beloved Goddess...

Hermes (contemplative)

Beloved Goddess, Mother of the Maid,

The Shining One, the Jewel-Light, the Flame,
Her child, a portion of Herself put forth,
Her very self...

Hebe (impatient) ,I do not understand.

You speak strange mysteries. What could you mean?

Hermes You're too young, Hebe; but when you pour out wine

At the gods' feasts, give ear to what they say,

You'll learn... (He stops. Then suddenly)

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Did you hear anything last evening?

Iris (teasing) From where come you so early ere it's morn?
Dark midnight messages of Zeus? To whom?

Hermes Keep quiet. Iris, unusual bodings hang
Upon the air... (Turns swiftly to Hebe)

Heard anything last night?

Hebe No, not a word. For Zeus the King sat glum,
And all the rest seized by his silent thought...
And little wine was called for... so I slept...

Hermes And so you missed completely all the marvel!

Know you, through all the night there was such music,

Such pure celestial singing on the winds:

Ay, something strange is in the air; all night

The glimmering ether danced, and all the stars,

And the moon a dream on her silver floor,

And the myriad daughters of the Ocean danced,

The lovely nymphs down in the purple depths,

And some on the argent clouds. A hidden joy

Flowed through the sea and sky. (To Iris) Were you awake?

Iris Just towards dawn. I heard the final chants,
And the hymn to the Great Mother. You heard it too;

But that's not so unusual.
Hermes

No, not that,
But all the rest... (Pauses) Oh, see the glorious dawn!
What will the sunlight bring? What is Zeus' plan?

Iris Shsh! There he comes. (Pointing) We'd better run away.
No, he will turn and go to the throne-room.
Why, so he does! How did you know? Spying!
But say, why is he up so early, eh?

Hermes Why! does he ever sleep? Eternal Light
Streams forth from Him, and Life eternal flows,
And all Beatitude; else none could live.

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Iris (curious) But how did you know he would go that way?

Hermes What think you I was doing all last night
But carrying messages to all the gods!
An early summons! And now, don't ask why!
I do not know. But I too must attend.
I'm off. You two go play - no work for you.

Iris (sniffing)

You think so! We must always be in waiting
And ready for Zeus' call when he's at work.
(To Hebe) Come, let us hurry. He's already there.

They go out in different directions.

Curtain

Page - 5

SCENE 2

The Hall of Zeus. A tall veiled goddess in white and gold stands behind the throne, to its right.

The girl-goddesses. Iris and Hebe, enter with large trays of flowers which they place on

the two low stools on either side of the throne.

Iris We're just in time, thank heavens!

(Startled gazes at veiled goddess then turns away)

Oh, Lord! Don't look.

Hebe Don't be afraid, there's nothing for us to fear.
But come, let's go.

Iris Heavens! there comes Zeus. Be quick,

We'll go this way. He must not find us here.

They run away.

Zeus, in full golden robes, deep in thought, walks up to the veiled figure.

Zeus Unveil, O sister mine. Voice of my Will,
Ananke, for a while unveil thy face
Of dire, unbearable beauty, I alone
Am here; none else can see thee thus and live.

Ananke (taking off her veil)

There is another.

Zeus (contemplative) Ay, my brother, Pluto,

Of course; my dark self in the nether worlds

Where I've concealed my Light - my mask and shadow,

Myself and not myself, who rules supreme

In Hades, worlds of Night, the unlit waters.

Ay, all material Nature is his realm,

Where all lies drugged, asleep to Eternity.

Ananke Yes, he.

Zeus Well, soon he will be here, I know,

With his demands, audacious though they be.

But ere he comes thou must confirm my thought,

For thou, my sister, knowest the secret plan

I have revealed to thee from ancient days.

Without thy wise consent I cannot move

In my vast purpose.

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Ananke (strong and quiet) It is well, I see.

Zeus All's well, then. All shall be as I have willed.
But still I know what sacrifice it asks
From the Great Mother; she too knows it, yes,
Demeter, my sister and spouse, for nothing's hid
From her deep heart. But she will give herself.

Ananke She will.
Sounds of footsteps

Zeus The gods are coming, veil thy face.
I called them early - all but Demeter
And her fair Daughter, hers and mine, our Child.
Yes, we must finish soon, ere Pluto comes;

These young gods cannot stand his dark presence.

The gods and goddesses enter from both sides.

The Gods O Zeus, most high, most holy, hail, all hail.

(Chant) All praise to Him from whom flows every bliss.

All praise, all love, all glory and gratitude.
They stand in reverence at a little distance from the throne.

Aphrodite (coming forward a little, pouting, sulky, but very beautiful)
Why, Father, must you call us at this hour?

It's hardly sunrise; all my beauty-sleep...

Athene (pulling her back and whispering)

For Heaven's sake, be silent. Don't you see

How stern He looks? Fire sits upon his brow.

Aphrodite (awed)

Good gracious me! What is the matter?

Athene Hush,

He speaks.

Zeus (very serious)

My children, there's no need to sit,
For I do not intend to keep you long.
But for a moment listen quietly;

There is not much to say, but one great step
Must now be taken as my plan unfolds.
There is new work ahead for all of you,

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Vast changes are preparing, so prepare
Yourselves to take part in the future worlds...

Gods (murmuring)

Worlds?...

... in the future worlds?...

...What does he mean?

Zeus (continuing slowly)

I had to call you early, children mine,

For we must get this over soon. (Pauses) It's this:

This morning Pluto comes to ask of me

Persephone.

Gods (rebellious voices)

1) Persephone!

2) Oh, no!

3) Oh, no!

4) How dare he? He, the dreadful god!

5) Persephone!

1) Our sweetest, brightest sister!

2) You will not give her, surely, will you. Father?

Zeus I must. An ancient promise stands. I must.

Athene What will Demeter say, her mother? She
Will never allow it. Not a moment ever
Have they yet lived apart. How will she bear it?

Zeus She knows my Will. I have no secrets from her.

Aphrodite (wailing)

How shall I live without her? and my son? (wails) um, um...

Zeus (firmly)

Now, children, that's enough. This is no time

To argue or discuss, nor to explain.

But you will understand the reason soon.

The Gods (whispering, muttering)
1) What?

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2) What is it?

3) Why must she go?

4) Yes, why?

Zeus So that is all. And here are flowers for you,

Take what you wish.

The gods disperse in groups, standing about. Gaia, the Earth-Goddess1enters.

Zeus descends from the throne and gives her his hand.

Gaia, ancient Mother, come,
Be seated. Patient and compassionate,
Immortal Earth, in whose depths Heaven hides
Its children. Great wise one, you who bear all,

I've called you here to ask of you a boon,

A little help to carry out my plan.

A long way you have come, this early morn,

Take rest awhile, and I shall speak to you.

A dark shadow begins stretching from the righthand-side door of the hall.

The Gods

1) What is this gloom?

2) Darkness at sunrise, strange!

3) Is he already here, the gloomy god?

2) Oh, name him not, he spoils the day for us.

1) Dark, dark, it grows unbearable, the air
Has changed.

They crowd to the other side of the hall.

It's cold. We'd better leave this place.

They start withdrawing slowly. The shadow lengthens till Pluto2 stands in the door.

Pluto (coming in brusquely)

So here I am. Lord Zeus! (Turning)0 Gaia, you,
Most ancient One, how strange to meet you here!
And that's Ananke there behind the throne?

1. She is dressed beautifully in preen and gold.

2. Pluto is clothed in a shining black and red cloak, gold-lined. He looks exactly like Zeus, a little darker. A black dragon-sceptre is in his hand.

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Ah, sister, cast thy veil, I'll bear thy might.

Ananke (unveiling)

Thou comest on the hour.

Pluto The bargain holds.
Dost thou remember still, my brother Zeus,
The word thou gavest when I broke from thee

And plunged headlong into the deeps of Night?
I took upon me all its burden dire.
Aeons and aeons have passed since then, and I
And all my realm have waited in the dark
Yearning for thy fair child to set us free.
I've come to take her. I bind thee to thy word.

Zeus My Word and Will endure. They cannot change.

My sanction's there, and Ananke answers "Yes",

(Ananke nods)

And I shall help thee, brother, as best I can;

But there's the Law, I can't give her to thee,
Can't force, coerce or tie her down, a slave.
She must go freely forth, of her own will.
Thou canst not take her else.

Pluto (angry and. perplexed) What meanest thou?
Wilt thou deny me thus and break thy word?
Have I come here in vain then, to hear this?
Yet shall I have her, I will not return
Without her; I shall take her away by force.

Zeus No, that thou canst not. Listen patiently,

The Law will not allow it, that thou knowest.

Thou too once chose thy kingdom, none compelled.

Pluto Ah, so I did, nor now regret the choice,

Such marvellous riches lie below, such mines

Of hidden gems; the Kingdom of the Many!

So various, ah! so infinitely luring;

Never shall I exchange it for thy realm

Of one perpetual and unchanging bliss,

This tiresome oneness, timeless, spaceless, blank,

All safe and sure, no danger, no disturbance.

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Zeus It's well thou seest all the good thine holds;

A vaster purpose lies behind its Night.

Pluto So didst thou tell me when we parted first,

And promised me thy daughter fair for bride.

Will break thy word now? Thou, the Lord of Truth?

Thou knowest how the worlds below lie drugged;

Unlit, unguided, they move as in sleep,

And life's all meaningless, unconscious, dumb.

Dark endless ages have rolled by thus, and now

All cries for her to come, for she alone

Can give it all significance, she only

Illumine that abyss of ignorance,

And deliver all from this stupendous Night.

(Abruptly) Give her to me.

Zeus Thou shalt indeed have her,

And all my plan is laid for this great choice.

For this have I called Gaia, ancient Earth,

To lend her help to me. Be patient, brother,
And hear what I've to say. The first task is
To snatch the girl from her great Mother's side,
From the unfailing vigil of Her Light,
Her ever wakeful consciousness and love.
I have arranged for that: my word has gone
To Okeanos to send his lovely nymphs,
And my imperial Will to great Demeter.

She'll let her go for my vast vision's sake,

And bear the wounds of sacrifice, the pain

Of the dark descent, the agonising Night.

Pluto (breaking in)

I bear it too. But haste now and proceed
To cast thy nets; reveal thy clever scheme.
What wouldst thou?

Zeus On the farthest beauteous skirts
Of bright Olympus lies a shadowy lake,

Beyond the paradisal Meadows of Truth,

Where there's perpetual spring. Persephone
Goes daily there to play and pick the flowers.
She will be strangely drawn to the deep lake's brink;

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And, as thou knowest, there below the waters
Opens a dark ravine, passage to Hades.
Go there and wait. The rest depends on her.

Pluto Ah, surely then, I'll take her away with me.
For who can block my path?

Zeus Why, she alone.

If she does not desire, thou canst not touch her.
But wait and see, she will incline to go.

Pluto (in haste)

I'll see!... else surely I'll seize her by force,
Nor canst thou stop me. I'll not bide thy will,
Nor ever return to thee till all things change.

He turns and swiftly walks out. Zeus turns calmly to Gaia.

Zeus You see now, Gaia, how desperate he is.
For all below awaits the Saviour Girl,
Her heavenly presence to illuminate
Your earth and all his darksome underworlds.
I called you. Goddess, that your skill may lure
The maid to the edge of that lone, dream-filled lake
Where the swans sing sweetest. Do you know the place?

Gaia I know it well. What wouldst thou have me do?

Zeus All the delightful growths of earth are yours.
Beside the lake put forth a radiant flower,
A hundred blossoms springing from one root,
A marvel for both gods and men to see,
Its fragrance so intoxicatingly sweet
That all wide heaven above and earth beneath
And all the cosmic waters laugh for joy.

Gaia I'll do it for thy pleasure, and for him,
Pluto, the Ruler of the Many, for
I know his plight, we share the same distress.
And once the Girl descends into the Night,
Her Mother's sure to follow and then my earth
Will feel her tread upon her heart and thrill
Beneath the touch. Then all will surely change.
Yes, I shall do it, it's an easy task
For me. I go and it is done. (She rises to go) Farewell.

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Zeus Great Ancient One, abide a moment, take

Of our ambrosial fruit and nectar pure. (She sits down again)

Zeus (calling)

Hebe, Hebe, hurry, child, and serve our guest,

Our most revered and eldest goddess. Come.

As he speaks Hebe enters with a tray and sets it before Gaia.

Curtain

Page - 13

ACT II

SCENE 1

Demeter's Garden. Music fills the air. Then distinct voices hidden among the
flowers, singing.

Song

Demeter, Demeter, Rose of the Worlds,

Sun of the diamond Rays,
Beneath thy touch our heart unfurls

Its endless hymn of praise.

Mother of the eternal Mysteries,

Great, tranquil, wise and free,
Mother of Love and Joy and Peace,

We give ourselves to thee.

The chanting continues softly in the background.

Demeter¹ enters arm in arm with Persephone from her palace portals, centre back stage.

Demeter (as she speaks many starry figures of children suddenly appear in the garden)

Delight I put forth from me, my myriad souls,
Voices of Light, my radiances and truths;

Go, children, play, the fields of beauty stretch
Vast and far in the shining realms of the Sun.

The little children disappear in all directions.

Voices of the sea-nymphs (far-off, calling, singing)
Persephone, Persephone, oh, come
And join our dances. Come, Persephone.

Repeated calls

Persephone, Persephone, come, come.

Persephone( listening)

Oh, Mother, give me leave, I shall go dance

1. Demeter and Persephone both dressed exactly alike in shimmering white. Demeter gold crowned, Persephone with gold fillet. They have a very strong resemblance, but Demeter is about 2-3 inches taller.

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In those dream-fields of flowers and birds and streams,
Sweet life and laughter. See, my comrades call,
They are waving to me. My heart longs for the dance.

Demeter Thy comrades? The ocean-nymphs are calling thee,
Weavers of prison-nets there in the Shades.
Why wilt thou dance with them, my child?

Persephone O Mother,
Look, look, how far away the waters sparkle.
How gracefully the green nymphs dance. Sweet Mother,
Do let me go. Oh, I shall soon be back.

Demeter Beloved child, we two have never parted,

Nor hast thou gone beyond my ambiance' guard.

Thou knowest not what thou askest, Child... (pauses) But go.

Since go thou must. (Contemplative)

(Aside) Ah, Zeus, it is Thy Will.

Destiny calls thee - that's thy own heart's choice -

Hard Fate for thee and me.

Persephone (perplexed)

No, no, dear Mother,
How could I ever think to part from you?
It's but a little farther down the slope
From those bright groves of Spring where every day
I gather flowers. 0 Mother, it's not far.

Demeter What shall I say, my child? Were I to speak,
Thou wilt not understand, a-tiptoe now,
All eager pulse and nerve. But listen, child,
A moment listen, pay heed to what I say.
Go not too far, go not to those red plains
Where the bright poppy springs, and flowers strange
And new put out their luring scents of dream.
Above quagmires of Night they blossom, child,
Their seeds in the worlds of death. Beware, breathe not
The poppy-odour lest thou fall asleep...

Persephone No, no, my Mother. I shall take great care.

Demeter There many voices call from under the waters.
O child of bliss, shouldst thou adventure forth,

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Beware. The lower fields are full of pain,
Pale agony, and endless labyrinths...

(Her voice trails off as Persephone shows impatience)
But let be, for thou canst not understand,
And what's to be, will be. I see it all.
Well, go, my child. It's willed. I'll speak no more...
One day thou shalt return to this Delight.

Persephone (in haste)

I shall be back before the great Sun turns

His cycle vast. Good-bye, O Mother mine.

Runs off, hastily kissing Demeter.

Demeter (in deep contemplation)

It's true. 'Twill be as long. She does not know

Yet what she says... Time seems but just begun...
She does not know what dreams await her there,
The long dark sleep, the stifling Night, the chill
And anguish of the caves of Death - when once
The sudden chasm opens in her self.
I see it all, and how I too must go
One day into the eternal cyclic chain.

Curtain

SCENE 2

Persephone dancing fast and absorbed with the Water-Nymphs¹ . They come to a halt and start gathering flowers, filling their baskets or aprons and crowning their brows.

Nymph 1 Will you not come with us, Persephone,

To the caves of the sea? How beautiful

You are. You'll fill our caverns dark with light.

Oh, come with us.

Others Come, come, Persephone.

Persephone No, no, I must go back, my mother waits

For me. (Suddenly she sees the red soil beneath her feet.)

Where have you brought me, oh dear, where?
(Distressed) The red plains!... Ah! I must go back at once.
Please leave me, friends, and go, I cannot come.

Nymphs Why not? why not? (murmuring) Just for a little while.

Picking flowers.
Persephone (resolute)

No, I shall never go with you. Good-bye.

Nymphs Good-bye, then, dear Persephone, good-bye. (They dance out.)

Persephone (standing dazed a moment)

I must go quickly back, it is quite late,

And what will Mother say?...

(Her eyes fall on the beautiful flowers around her.)

What lovely flowers

Are here, so fresh, so new! I'll gather some

For her, she will be happy and forgive .(She starts picking
flowers and gathering them in her skirt-apron. Humming. She
comes to the edge of the lake and looks down.)
How beautiful! What lovely face is this
That looks at me from 'neath the shadowy deeps?
The ripples cross it, it breaks and melts away,
And lo! it forms again and gazes still

1. The Water-Nymphs have soft sea-green, blue, turquoise Sowing garments. They are very graceful and lovely. Many carry flower-baskets slung under their arms.

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So ardently at me. What well-known face?

It lures me so, and all that watery world,

That beauteous world of twilight shades and dreams...

(Gazes intently)
An anguished yearning rises from the deeps,
And voices call me from the dark abyss. (Listens rapt)
"Daughter of Zeus", they say, "come down to us,
We need you, come, we need your love and light."
What shall I do?... I long to go, but ah!
What will my mother say? I promised her
I'd soon return, and she will wait for me...
Yet what a wondrous world lies there below,
Strange darknesses I've never known, mysterious
Pale shadowy faces gazing from the depths...
Oh, I'll go down, how vast and grand's the Night,
How dreamy-cool the waters' dark green caves... (Pauses)

Here all is endless light and bliss, no change
Ever trembles in our air. - But no, oh, no,
How can my heart ever leave her? Not a day
Have we two lived apart. I cannot go.
Here I am safe and free within her arms.

- But oh! I long to go; ay, danger's sweet.

Will Mother understand? (Turns round again, doubtful)

What wondrous flowers!
So perfume-laden, intoxicating sense...(Collects them rapidly)
The fragrance soft of sleep fills all the air;

My eye-lids close, my mind's benumbed, and yet

What happy fascination. - I'll take some more.

- It would be sweet to fall asleep awhile

Among them... Just a few, few more. I'll pluck

That marvellous flower, one of those myriad heads,

Fragrant beyond all thought, just one or two...

She plucks the narcissus, and half-swoons in sleep. The earth opens below and a dark arm draws her down. She screams in fright and agony, dropping the flowers as she disappears. Thunder.

Curtain

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SCENE 3

Pluto's dark cavern. Several small figures crouched in the darkness against the walls - hardly to be seen. Pluto enters descending steps, carrying Persephone, his black cloak flung around her. Voices somewhere behind chanting at a low pitch. Pluto lays her down on a royal couch. As he removes his cloak, brilliant light radiates from her lighting the dark cavern.

Pluto Beloved mine, ah, mine at last. At last

I have thee, and never shall we part again...

- So deep in swoon. I know it's my dark grasp

Has put thee thus to sleep... Well, sleep awhile.

must lock all the gates and post my guards.

I shall return. Beloved, to thee soon.

He goes out.

Voices (chanting afar are now heard clearly. Low pitch)
Rejoice, 0 shadowy worlds, rejoice.

She's come at last to set us free,

The shining Light, the inner Voice,

Our saviour and our joy to be.

Persephone, Persephone.

1st figure¹ (coming forward)

All, all shall now be well, she will redeem

The darkness, liberate, fulfil the word

Of old, the ancient promise of Lord Zeus

To his own brother, our great gloomy King.

2nd figure² But see, she sleeps. Yet from her lovely form

White light spreads all around. It hurts our dark.

Go not too close unless you are strong enough,

For it will pierce and burn, will set aflame.

Take care, take care, and keep away... Beware!

3rd figure³ Let's hide her, veil her, bury her. Come, friends,

This light is too bright to endure. Cast thick

And firm your veils, let not one ray escape.

1. 1st figure, dressed in bright yellow.

2. 2nd figure in purple.

3. 3rd figure in dull red.

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Some bring dark nets from the cave-recesses and start brutally throwing them on her - red, purple, dull yellow veils. They almost stifle her. Some fling a stone or two.

4th figure1 (pushing through)

Why! What is this you do? Did you not hear

Those voices chanting "Let us rejoice, she's come

At last"? - Has she not come then to redeem

Our worlds? What do you do, 0 friends?

3rd figure Yes, yes, we know all that. But who will bear

Those piercing rays, and who will choose to wait

To see himself burnt down to ashes? Ha! (mocking)
This is redemption true, true liberation!

- Quick, chase him off, the fool, we but waste time.

They chase away the 4th figure violently.

2nd figure And when our King and Master comes back, sirs,

What will you do? He has brought her for our sake.

3rd figure For his sake too... But let us run away,

For he will wake her soon; he'll surely make

Her his beloved Queen, Queen of our realms.

- How shall we brook it?

2nd figure Why, for ages past

His iron rule, his stony law has held

Us in its clutch. And we are but machines,

Bound to his huge dark Wheel and turning round

In endless ruts of doom. She'll change all this.

5th figure You think he'll let her? She will sit enchained,

A dummy, puppet Queen, benumbed and dazed,

Mute, motionless and drowsy, heavy-veiled.

3rd figure It's better so. For if her light shines forth,

And she attempts to change our habits old,
We shall rebel. We will not let her touch

Our ancient, pleasant ways.

1st figure You are a fool!

It's for our good she's come. And don't you see

1. The 4th figure is also in bright yellow.

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How beautiful she is? Why! don't you feel
Like living in her beauty and her charm?

3rd figure He has gone crazy! Who's the fool we'll see!
Let Pluto come, he'll knock his wits out soon.

Voices He's coming. Pluto's coming, get back, quick,

Don't show yourselves to him. His mood seems black.

The figures crouch back as Pluto enters.

Pluto (walking slowly straight to the couch)

Ah, still asleep... (Sees her covered)

Who's dared do this to her?

(He turns round swiftly; the figures slink away)

(Going close up) Her face too, covered! Brutes!

They'll suffocate her.

(Removes the veil on her face. Sees her shoulder)
Ah, wounded too! What have they done to her?...

You wretches, how can you yet know her worth?
You cried for her, and called for her - for this?
Well, when she wakes you all will know, you fools!
For I'll make her my Queen. You'll taste her power.
(Gazes upon her face) How beautiful she is, how radiant, pure!
(Contemplative) How will these creatures of the Ignorance
Tolerate ever her naked light?... For I,
Even I, must shield my eyes, so luminous
Is she; perhaps it's best to keep her veiled,
And let her hidden Presence do its work
Upon us, slowly, as the ages pass.
There is no hurry... But my final Will
Is for her shining Truth to burn the mask
Of Night and Ignorance upon my face, -
Which she and her great Mother alone can do -
This mask Zeus gave me when our Play began,
Our Mystery Play. - But I shall play it out.

Curtain

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SCENE 4
Twilight. Demeter in her garden, pacing up and down.

Demeter (contemplative)

So thou art gone, my child. Nor of my own

Would I have parted from thee, my sweet one,

But that the Will of Him I love is mine,

And His vast plan is for the world's Delight... (Pauses)

- And so it was I put thee forth, my Voice,

The shining Word, my portion manifest;

Such is the work appointed for us. Child,

By Him... ordained before the worlds were born...

Helios (enters running, breathless. He speaks hesitantly)

Demeter - oh, Demeter - I came to thee -

News of thy daughter - but - it is grave news -

How shall I tell thee? Ah!

Demeter (calmly) Speak, Helios, fear not.

Helios As I was watching from the Western Arch
Above Olympus, suddenly I saw
Persephone bending over yonder lake;

She gazed in mute intoxication, long,

Then turned to pick some flowers — her lap was full

And as she plucked a large, pale-golden bloom,

The earth opened beneath and a dark form

Arose and swiftly pulled her in. I thought

To plunge down to her aid, but ere I moved,

A thunderclap shook all the radiant skies;

The green earth trembled, Olympus echoed deep,

And through its rolling came the voice of Zeus:

"Helios, desist. Stir not nor interfere,

For it's my Will." I could not but obey.

Demeter How couldst thou not? - I knew it would be thus.

- Now is she fallen into the spell of dark,

In momentary self-forgetfulness,

Plucking the fatal flower, the gold narcissus,

All self-absorbed, enamoured of her shade,

Ravished by Ignorance and the black Night...

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(To herself) Ah, Child, how couldst forget, forget thy Truth,

Thy Mother? But - I know, so 'twas to be.

What couldst thou do. Child, but fulfil the Will?...

Helios Thou knowest all already, then?

Demeter Ah, friend,

Deep hid in the world-cave, a prisoner dumb
She lies now, in dark Pluto's house of Night,
Buried alive within his stony vault;

The stifling air, the heavy opiate fumes

Have drugged her sense, and creatures of the dark

Assail her, armed with poisonous shafts of spite.

Wounded and ill she sleeps in the thick murk...

(To herself) Ah, Child, when wilt thou wake and show thy
power,

When wilt thou hear my call and break the chains?
(To Helios) Go, Helios, I thank thee for thy anxious care;
Through many ages must thou go thy rounds

Ere she, my child, returns into my arms.

I await the edict of the Will Divine.
Good-bye, kind friend.

Helios Sweet Mother, fare thee well.

He goes out. Demeter turns and goes into her palace.

Curtain

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ACT III

SCENE 1

Athene and Aphrodite watching the world from one of the lower slopes of Olympus.

A flute in the distance heard from time to time.

Aphrodite Athens, my wise sister, tell me, pray,

Do you remember still that beauteous morn

When Zeus, our Father, called us up betimes?

Athene I cannot but remember. Marvellous music

Filled all the air at dawn, as heralding

A golden day. (Pauses, thoughtful) And then His great decision.

Aphrodite Oh, I was shaken deeply, almost swooned

With inward pain. I hardly could reach home.

Athene Well, aeons have passed since then, and we have worked

Even as Zeus asked us, labouring hard to make

Some truth-light enter this dear, ignorant world.

It's still his empire, Pluto's, dark World-Spirit.

Aphrodite And my divinest, loveliest sister's still

A prisoner in his house. He will not free her.

Athene No, Aphrodite, he won't. For through her power

All things below develop, and though she's veiled,

And sits alone, forsaken, it's her Presence

Informs, illuminates dark Pluto's Night.

Aphrodite That's true. Since she went down how wonderful,

How winsome earth has grown.

Athene Once 'twas but rock
And water, now it laughs with a myriad flowers,
Rich fruit and soaring trees, and fish and fowl,
Such various splendid animals, such men,
Heroic, skilled, and great of heart and mind.

Aphrodite But when will she be free and return to us?

How hard we too have toiled! I've tried my best.

I strew the whole world with my beauty's spell:

The magical gold skies of dawn and eve,

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The changeful lure of seas, the moon-washed hills,
The heart away. And sometimes memory wakes
In her, of Heavenly Beauty, and she recalls
Her golden home of deep Delight, and yearns
To come to us. But again she falls asleep.

Athene It's that dark Pluto keeps her close to him

Wrapped in his heavy cloak, and nets are woven
Around her lest she slip away.

Aphrodite Athene,

Could we not rescue her? — not we two alone,
I mean, but all our band divine. Ares,
Artemis, Apollo and the rest - could we
Not storm dark Pluto's gates and set her free?

Athene He is too strong. Besides, we're not allowed
To interfere directly, unless we're called;

It's Zeus' law, you know. - And hardly ever

A few, just here and there, call for our aid.

Aphrodite (laughing and sighing)

I know, alas! - but like those mortals there,
Desiring otherwise, I chose to forget.

Athene (smiling)

Well, well, we still do what we can. I work
To bring her inner strength that she may tear
Her veils, and show herself in all her power.
For once that happens, all will swiftly rise...
- And after all this agelong task, at last
The universe is stirring with a new breath.

Aphrodite Yes, lately much has changed. How keen and vast
Man's mind has grown. Is it not time, Athene,
For her release?

Athene Perhaps. But Pluto holds

Her strongly in his clasp. She is his queen,
His cherished guest; he will not let her go.
And all his realm is with him, and these are still
Realms of blind, dusty ignorance, of death.
Only if her great Mother comes they'll change.

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Aphrodite But then, sweet sister, if Persephone

Is really their queen, they should obey

And do what she demands. Then all would be well,

All would be filled with Light and Truth.

You see,

Athene They don't obey. For all on earth is queer.
They love her and they hate her, turn, return,
Rebellious now, now passioning for her Light.
Shall we go see what goes on there behind,
In man and Nature? - just behind the scene?

Aphordite Oh, yes, Athene, do let us go and see.

They go out.

Curtain

SCENE 2

A darkish cavern lit by dim lamps. In the centre a low table laid with food. Little shabby entities in red and purple, with wine bottles and glasses and dishes in their hands, revelling and singing. Some black beings prowling in the background come forward from time to time to prod and goad the others. Athene and Aphrodite watching from a corner.

Aphrodite Oh, Athene! How ugly they look! Sodden, dirty.

Athene Yes, my sweet Beauty. That's how it is. We have come
To see what goes on in men behind their masks
And fine decorum. Watch now.

Aphrodite Oh, it's painful.

Athene Watch, dear. It cannot touch us, after all.

They watch. The entities continue singing, loudly now, accompanying the song with the clinking of glasses and bottles.

Song

Ha, let us drink and let us sing,

And let the dance go round;

We have an idle, careless King,

And our sweet Queen is bound!

(They clap and clink glasses rhythmically)
We'll feast and drink the whole long day,
There's plenty there in store;

Old Pluto's rich in every way,

We'll have our fill - and more.
They dance round the table several times, drinking and munching, and finally sprawl on the floor, half-intoxicated.

(a) (jumping up)

I think I hear the soldiers coming.

(b) (knocking him down)

Soldiers! Rubbish, What soldiers?

(c) (laughing uproariously)

Ha, ha, ha! Drunk. Dream-soldiers? Drink-soldiers?

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(a) I tell you they'll be coining. Don't you know...?

(c)( interrupting)

Know what? That you are drunk? Of course. (Laughter)

(a) Let's be quick and vanish or they'll take us.

(b) Will they? Can't we fight?

(c) But what soldiers, stupid?

(a) She has trained some - I mean the Queen. I met some the other day. I was sauntering in the pig-sty, but not drunk.

(Laughter)They were passing by and told me to go with them - said they had seen her light, heard her speak. They
are much changed - look noble, quite fine. If they get a chance I'm afraid they'll set her free.

(b) Oh! will they? Aren't we there? Can't we fight?

(a) But they are stronger - more skilled, cleverer.

(b) Oh, we'll see! There are always weak spots. Ha, ha!

(d) Nowadays there are many stories going round about her — that's the Queen - how she healed this one and that

one, and helped out one and another. They say she does all silently, quietly, though she is veiled and bound.

(b) Yes, quite a few go to her it seems. - There are always fools They have become different, their faces glow.

(d) I feel like going too. We ought to try it out.

(a) I heard the other day some took beautiful flowers to her - roses. They call her now their rose-queen. She held

them in those bound hands of hers, then went for a moment into a sleep - they call it trance - and when she woke

up she said, "Ah, roses! I remember my mother's garden of roses. O children, I'll take you there one day, when

I am free."

(b) Who is that mother of hers? Where does she come from? She is not of us, she doesn't belong here. From where

did Pluto bring her? Why should we accept her?

(c) Indeed, what have we to do with her? Her very presence is bothersome.

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(a) But do you know? Some of our own team have turned traitors, renegades - become her warriors! Slowly she is
upsetting everything. There are conspiracies, quarrels, tussles all the time among us. We were such good friends

once.

(b) (sneering)

Friends! oh, of a sort. As long as it suits each one's purpose!
Who's a friend here? We quarrelled enough for that matter.

(c) Come, pass round the bottle again, and then let's sleep.
Where are your dream-armies, eh?

They drink again. A troop of bright beings, smartly dressed in yellow and shining violet appear and surround them

Troop-leader Oh, shame! Aren't you ashamed? Still wallowing in the murk. Get up, get up, friends, and wash yourselves.

We must be worthy of our Queen.

2nd leader There's so much to see, to do. Look! (He flashes a bright torch) Look. We now have a brighter light. Come

with us. We'll train you up, you'll feel so happy, you'll grow in light.

(b) And what if we still love the dark? There's nothing better in the world than wine and sleep!

2nd leader You still talk like one in utter ignorance.

(b) Hi! friend, give him a sip of our red wine. Then he'll know.

They offer wine to the troopers urging them to drink. There is a struggle and confusion. Two or three accept

the temptation. Dark figures from the caverecesses emerge and help the tempters.

2nd leader Oh, do not drink. You'll fall unconscious, you'll lose all we have acquired. Remember what she told us.

3rd trooper It is very sweet, brother. Taste it. Just a drop, a sip or two won't matter. (He goes on drinking)

1st leader So quickly they can slip back, oh! (To his other companions) Come, let us go. (Tries to lift the others who

have sat down to drink) Come, we'll support you and take you along.

3rd, 4th troopers

We'd rather stay.

(b) Ha, ha! Well, it's not so easy, is it?

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Several entities (energetically)

We love wine - and lots to eat - we'll stay. - Life is fun - to learn is stupid!

Several others (drawling)

We love to sleep - oh, sleep, sweet sleep. - Why exert ourselves for silly things? - Nothing's worthwhile.

2nd trooper (to the others)

Won't any of you go with us? We'll train you, you'll learn so much. We'll take you to Her. Her voice is like

music. She is very lovely. Come, come. (Some get up and join the band) Come, fall in step. (They march

out. The rest turn over and sleep.)

Athene A good glimpse. Aphrodite, isn't it? What a world!

Aphrodite And our dear Persephone! Oh, what a task for her.

Athene But it's not all like that. Come, we'll see some more.

Curtain

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SCENE 3

Pluto's inner cavern. On one side a raised platform with a throne on which Persephone is seated, her face veiled,

arms bound, legs shackled. Her white shining dress gleams from under the veils. Athene and Aphrodite watch from

a corner.

Persephone (lifting her head and crying in anguish, struggling to free herself)
Ah, where am I?... Am I not Zeus' own child?...

Then who is this?... I hardly can remember....

Where is my home?... Did I not come to help,

Come down to bring them light and love? But oh,

I fainted here, I could not bear the shock

Of this brute stony darkness; like one dead

I slept... bewitched or cursed - how long?... how long?...

And they in ignorance have bound me thus.

They cannot stand my light, it burns their will;

They do not let me speak, but with loud cries

Drown all my words, afraid to hear the truth.

(Pauses in a reverie)

- But Pluto cherishes me as his own,

His prisoner-guest, enthroned here as his queen,

And all my power and light I've secretly

Put forth through ages that his world may flower...

- Yet, ah! what mockery. Am I queen or slave?
A prisoner queen fulfilling their desires?...
Alone in this deep cave I spend my hours,
Forgotten, still uncared for by my people.
I call and call, but seldom from the gloom
One comes to learn of me. Yet I persist,
Radiating truth and love and harmony,
And unconsciously my influence they feel,
And much is now prepared. How beautiful
And bright have grown these minds and hearts!
Perhaps now soon they'll lift these heavy veils...

- Ah, who am 1?... This mom I wandered forth
Dragging my shackled feet; I saw the skies,
The flowering earth, I heard the birds' delight,

And suddenly remembered other gardens

I knew before - fair meadows of Truth and Love,

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My mother's gardens... ah! rose-gardens of bliss.
I felt that moment I could break these chains,
And all these knots and iron fastenings....
But soon the memory passed, I tripped and fell.
How hard is Pluto's law, how thick the Night....
Sometimes I cannot breathe, I have no strength.
Within these caves of Death immured I live,
And cry and call... and once more I remember...
Ah, Zeus, Lord, Father, are you there? Oh, Bliss
I have forgotten... where? who'll tell me where? (Pauses)
-Ah me, what voice is this?... (Listens intently) Who is it
sings?

Chant (from above)

"Soul in the ignorance, wake from its stupor,

Flake of the world-fire, spark of Divinity,

Lift up thy mind and thy heart into glory,
Sun in the darkness, recover thy lustre..."1

Persephone (excited)

It is my Father's voice, it is Zeus' voice!

I know, I know, I'll break these chains and fly... (struggles)

Chant (continues)

"One, universal, ensphering creation,

Wheeling no more with inconscient nature,
Feel thyself God-born, know thyself deathless,
Timeless return to thy immortal existence."2

PersephoneIt is He calling! I shall return, I shall.

I'll find my strength... I'll cast these veils from me.

Struggles violently again. One knot breaks. Pluto enters.

PlutoPersephone, my dearest love, what's this?

You'll hurt yourself, these fetters are too strong.

PersephoneAm I not then already wounded deep?

Oh, Pluto, set me free. I must go home.

PlutoMy love, it is too soon. I need you still,

And all my world needs you, you cannot go;

You are the seed of our redemption. Love.

1, 2. These two stanzas are from Sri Aurobindo.

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You cannot run away and leave us thus.
Without you, all my realm would turn to stone
Again, a desert bare. Your Light's our life.

PersephoneUnveil me then, and let my light shine forth;

Yes, let me freely do my work. You know
I love you all. If they would hear my word
I'd turn them towards Knowledge, lead them all
To Beauty, Love and Truth, to Ecstasy.

Pluto I know you would. But it's too soon. Beloved,

My world is still too young, and Matter's eyes
Will suffer not the brightness of your light.

We must go slowly. Why, where is the haste?

Persephone O Pluto, Pluto, how can I endure

This long delay? They call me from above.
Today Zeus spoke, and deep within I heard
My Mother calling me, I can no longer
Exist apart from her.

Pluto Nor I from you.

Persephone Oh, let me go to her, my Mother sweet.
I cannot live without her, let me go.

Pluto Then call her down. (Aside) It serves my final wish.
(To Persephone) Why don't you call her down? She will

release you.

Persephone What do you say?... My Mother?... here?...

Pluto Why, yes,
She'll liberate both you and me together.

(Persephone turns her head in questioning surprise.)
(Firmly) Till then I cannot, will not let you go.

He puts his arms and his black cloak around her. At his touch she half swoons again. He lifts her and carries

her off. The light in the cavern grows dim.

Athene Our sweet Persephone, ah, what a fate!

Aphrodite (moved deeply)

Persephone, Persephone, call us

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To help, ay, call your Mother, she will come.

She's sure to come.

Athene Shh! shh!

Strange weird music as of Moussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain." The cavern fills with black, wicked

-looking figures - Titans and Furies and Demons - who rise as from below: some are very hefty, red-eyed, others

with sharp cynical faces, others like small imps clinging to or hanging about the two former types. These

small beings titter and giggle at everything.
Look, look Aphrodite!

Aphrodite How horrible! Oh, sister, let us go.

Athene Stay, stay a moment and see a little more;

These are the forces of Falsehood, beings of Night.

Summon your heavenly strength, we do not grieve,

Unshaken we gods look at all things here.

Figure 1 Ho, ho! she's planning to escape, is she?

Pooh! What a dream! Where will she get the help?

Fig. 2 (bowing mockingly to Persephone's throne)

Not that I know. Your Majesty, excuse me.

Fig. 3 What are we here for, then? We too can plan.

We shall avenge ourselves on Zeus, 'twas he

Imprisoned us, we'll keep his daughter here.

Fig. 1 Old Pluto harbours us, and we'll keep faith,

We'll guard his prisoner till the end of Time.

Fig. 3 Our dungeons now are open, we can range

The whole earth freely, we can still undo

Much of her work. And fortunately men
Are still big boobies, we can cheat them still.
And though we cannot touch her purity,
Through them we shall assail her, make her weep.

Fig. 2 Ah, yes, these fools are ours. The cleverest

And most cocksure we catch with happy ease.

Fig. 4 But Zeus will now send all his force and light.

It's said the time has come our strength will break,

Old Pluto's empire crack up or submit.

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Perhaps it's our last chance, we must let loose

Our darkest, strongest, subtlest ones abroad.
There'll be fierce battle.

All We are ready now.

Fig. 1 Have we not piled and taught those fools to pile
All the most lethal arms through all these years?
Have we not raised their selfishness and greed
To such a pitch as from which there's no return?

Fig. 2 Sure, all is ready to blow up the earth.

And all her work will be reduced to nought.

Fire and war and earthquake, famine, flood,
We have so many means. If Zeus can cast
His javelins of light, have we not too
Those formidable missiles dark that go
With perfect aim, and in a flash destroy
What all their age-long toil has built?

Fig. 3 Come on,
Cheer up! good fellows, there's nothing to fear!
We're fully armed... (Pauses, thinking) But better still would be
For us to fiercely loose forth and attack.
It's said this is the best form of defence.

Fig. 1 Well, well, that's true, but we must take great care
Not to allow these mortals to suspect
That we are pushing, prompting them. Of course,
Most luckily they don't believe we're there,
That we exist, - nor have they any faith
In Zeus and all his gods. That makes our task
Much easier.

Fig. 3 Come, now, let's get out of here.
Each one knows his appointed work on earth.
First we shall take the strongholds of man's mind,
From there it's easy to blow up his life.
Let's go. There is no time to lose. Let's go.

They start scrambling up from the cavern mouth.

Aphrodite Come, quick, Athene, we must go at once
And let Zeus know.

Athene Yes, we too must prepare
Swiftly for battle. This is terrible news.
Haste, come away.

Aphrodite Oh, poor Persephone!

They go out.

Curtain

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