Part 472 (1/2)

SEMELE. Malicious heart! But say What brings thee to this spot from Epidaurus?

'Tis not because the G.o.ds delight to dwell near Semele?

JUNO. By Jupiter, naught else!-- What fire was that which mounted to thy cheeks When I p.r.o.nounced the name of Jupiter?

Naught else, my daughter! Fearfully the plague At Epidaurus rages; every blast Is deadly poison, every breath destroys; The son his mother burns, his bride the bridegroom; The funeral piles rear up their flaming heads, Converting even midnight to bright day, While howls of anguish ceaseless rend the air; Full to overflowing is the cup of woe!-- In anger, Zeus looks down on our poor nation; In vain the victim's blood is shed, in vain Before the altar bows the priest his knee; Deaf is his ear to all our supplications-- Therefore my sorrow-stricken country now Has sent me here to Cadmus' regal daughter, In hopes that I may move her to avert His anger from us--”Beroe, the nurse, Has influence,” thus they said, ”with Semele, And Semele with Zeus”--I know no more, And understand still less what means the saying, That Semele such influence has with Zeus.

SEMELE. (Eagerly and thoughtlessly.) The plague shall cease to-morrow! Tell them so Zeus loves me! Say so! It shall cease to-day!

JUNO. (Starting up in astonishment.) Ha! Is it true what fame with thousand tongues Has spread abroad from Ida to Mount Haemus?

Zeus loves thee? Zeus salutes thee in the glory Wherein the denizens of heaven regard him, When in Saturnia's arms he sinks to rest?

Let, O ye G.o.ds, my gray hairs now descend To Orcus' shades, for I have lived enough!

In G.o.dlike splendor Kronos' mighty son Comes down to her,--to her, who on this breast Once suckled--yes! to her--

SEMELE. Oh, Beroe!

In youthful form he came, in lovelier guise Than they who from Aurora's lap arise; Fairer than Hesper, breathing incense dim,-- In floods of ether steeped appeared each limb; He moved with graceful and majestic motion, Like silvery billows heaving o'er the ocean, Or as Hyperion, whose bright shoulders ever His bow and arrow bear, and clanging quiver; His robe of light behind him gracefully Danced in the breeze, his voice breathed melody, Like crystal streams with silvery murmur falling, More ravis.h.i.+ng than Orpheus' strains enthralling.

JUNO.

My daughter! Inspiration spurs thee on, Raising thy heart to flights of Helicon!

If thus in strains of Delphic ecstasy Ascends the short-lived blissful memory Of his bright charms,--Oh, how divine must be His own sweet voice,--his look how heavenly!

But why of that great attribute Kronion joys in most, be mute,-- The majesty that hurls the thunder, And tears the fleeting clouds asunder?

Wilt thou say naught of that alone?

Prometheus and Deucalion May lend the fairest charms of love, But none can wield the bolt save Jove!

The thunderbolt it is alone Which he before thy feet laid down That proves thy right to beauty's crown.

SEMELE.

What sayest thou? What are thunder-bolts to me?

JUNO. (Smiling.) Ah, Semele! A jest becomes thee well!

SEMELE.

Deucalion has no offspring so divine As is my Zeus--of thunder naught I know.

JUNO.

Mere envy! Fie!

SEMELE. No, Beroe! By Zeus!

JUNO.

Thou swearest?

SEMELE. By Zeus! by mine own Zeus!

JUNO. (Shrieking.) Thou swearest?

Unhappy one!

SEMELE. (In alarm.) What meanest thou, Beroe?

JUNO.

Repeat the word that dooms thee to become the wretchedest of all on earth's wide face!-- Alas, lost creature! 'Twas not Zeus!

SEMELE. Not Zeus?

Oh, fearful thought!