Part 7 (1/2)

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 wors.h.i.+p 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.