Part 11 (1/2)

ZEUS. (Shrieking with alarm.) Unhappy one! Oh stay! oh stay!

SEMELE. Saturnia--

ZEUS. (Attempting to stop her mouth.) Be thou dumb!

SEMELE. Embraces thee.

ZEUS. (Pale, and turning away.) Too late! The sound escaped!--The Styx!--'Tis death Thou, Semele, hast gained!

SEMELE. Ha! Loves Zeus thus?

ZEUS.

All heaven I would have given, had I only Loved thee but less! (Gazing at her with cold horror.) Thou'rt lost--

SEMELE. Oh, Jupiter!

ZEUS. (Speaking furiously to himself,) Ah! Now I mark thine exultation, Juno!

Accursed jealousy! This rose must die!

Too fair--alas! too sweet for Acheron!

SEMELE.

Methinks thou'rt n.i.g.g.ard of thy majesty!

ZEUS.

Accursed be my majesty, that now Has blinded thee! Accursed be my greatness, That must destroy thee! Cursed be I myself For having built my bliss on crumbling dust!

SEMELE.

These are but empty terrors, Zeus! In truth I do not dread thy threats!

ZEUS. Deluded child!

Go! take a last farewell forever more Of all thy friends beloved--naught, naught has power To save thee, Semele! I am thy Zeus!

Yet that no more--Go--