SISYPHVS AN OPERATIC FABLE BY R-C-TREVELYAN LONGMANS, GREEN AND COMPANY 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON NEW YORK AND BOMBAY. 1908 RwSso f^MI C D^S. {Aside.) If choice of how and when With Sisyphus must rest, We see no reason then Why he need ever perish. Nay 'tis his wretched wife Who must die soon or late, Unpunished, and unblest By widowhood's estate, If his own wicked life More than his spouse he cherish. .yiSTtOTS. {Aside, with preceding CHORUS.) If choice of how and when With Sisyphus must rest, Alas, I see not then Why he need ever perish. Nay 'tis his wretched wife, Unpunished, and unblest By widowhood — 'tis I Who soon or late must die, If his own wicked life More than his spouse he cherish. SWD^JWITf^S. {Aside to MEROPE.) Ah! my love, my Merope! Thus by ruthless Fate undone 18 Must our nuptial rapture be — Act I Lost, ere yet 'tis well begun? Scene III ME%OTE. {Aside to Eudamidas.) Nay, courage, love! Leave all to me. Trick for trick, and guile for guile I'll pay him back in his own style. He shall meet his match in me. {Advancing mid throwing herself at the feet tf/"SlSYPHUS.) my dear lord, I have sinned, I have sinned! On my knees I confess it, against thee, Against the love I bear thee. Ah, would now 1 had hearkened to the promptings of my soul, And with sublime and pious perjury Dared violate my oath, and holding void, As offspring of delirium, thy last strange commands, Had buried thee! Alas, alas, my lord! I have sinned. Do thou deal with me as thou wilt; Strike me, torture me, scourge me with rods, thrust me Into some noisome dungeon, banish me Divorced from thy dear presence, till my fault Be expiated, and thy love redeemed. SI8FPHUS. Arise, take courage, O my faithful queen. Should I with vile ingratitude so stain This our reunion's holy rapture? No! Punish thee! Never — thee to whom alone My life I owe. Nay, doubly wert thou then Punished, thus widowed by my act once more. Rather be this thy just reward : never Again shalt thou be robbed of me by death ; And when thou diest, nobler and more sublime Than Alcestis' shall be thy fame : for she But some few fleeting seasons by her death Could purchase for her lord ; but thou, to the grave 19 Act I Unpunished passing, to thine shalt bequeath Scene III A tenure without end of deathless life. Ah monster accurst! Hear now the truth; I loathe thee! Yea, I thy faithful wife loathe and abhor thee. In this alone ne'er faithless shalt thou find me. Not thy foul soul only, Nor thy tongue as a snake's treacherous and cruel, But thy hands, but thy feet, but every hair On thy head do I loathe, and every member Of thy vile body, which, though I ne'er had sworn it, Yet willingly with gladness had I cast forth To be entombed in the bellies of offal-scavenging Vultures and dogs, less loathsome than thou art, Oh thou fell beast — husband I ne'er have deemed thee, But a two-footed jackal, a wolf, a scorpion, A toad — from whose embrace as I long time Have turned in secret, so now without shame To whom but thee, my sweet Eudamidas, My soul's true lord, my refuge, my beloved. SISTTHUS. And wherefore not? With what face should I grudge Such reasonable freedom to thy heart? Love whom thou wilt. Nay, who am I to judge Or punish others, I, for mine own part So far from perfect on that score confessed? Then patience: set thy passionate heart at rest; And though my love thou canst no more return, Yet to preserve appearance thou may'st learn. Welcome, Eudamidas, my noble guest. mS^OTe. {Despairingly.) Woe is me! Woe is me! Despair not yet. my sweet love, Merope. There is no need. Listen: consider well 20 Upon what terms this Sisyphus from Hell Act I Hath respited his life. Scene III Said he not this? — " Until upon my wife Punishment I inflict." Ha, trickster now in turn shalt thou be tricked. What punishment more dire couldst thou devise Than thus, like a foul smell Forgotten as the wind shifts a brief while, But soon returning fouler and more vile, So from the dead to rise In the self-same abominable and loathed Flesh-garment re-embodied and re-clothed? Fulfilled by thy mere presence is thy task. Therefore, my friend, this favour would we ask, That thou wilt be so good As thither whence thou earnest to retire with promptitude. SISTTHUS. Eudamidas, thou hast a pretty wit: I pray thee find some worthier use for it. Thy foolish sophistries I laugh to scorn. Deemest thou the mere fright at my return Sufficient vengeance for her monstrous guilt? Yet, my friend, if thou wilt, Draw thy sword, and straight put it to the test. Come, slay me if thou wilt. Behold my breast! What! Thou dar'st not? 3I8%0T8. {As with a sudden inspiration.) Triumph not yet. Was this thy compact that to earth Thou shouldst return to inflict vengeance on thy wife? Know then, because impossible to be performed, 'Tis void. SISTTHUS. How void? M8%OT8. Who is thy wife? SISTTHUS. Why, thou. Who else? 21 Act i 34e%pJtmiT>^S. Oh miracle ill-timed! Oh disastrous epiphany! HETTIES. Eudamidas, O thou child of wise Eublastidas, The marriage ceremony with a living man's wife beyond All question hast thou bigamously and feloniously To thine utter confusion and disgrace to-day Performed : in evidence whereof I here testify 23 Act I That ere the trumpets from the temple of Cypris Scene III Proclaimed you in bonds of legitimate matrimony United, I the Chthonian Hermes, already Some few minutes from Hell returned, had set within His body the soul of Sisyphus, from Hell reprieved. Now therefore, O Queen, dismissing futile regrets, With generous amiability strive to acquiesce In thy loving lord's strange return, and in the loss Of widowhood, and its princely consoler, the wise Eudamidas. And thou, Sisyphus, perchance at length Grown weary of endless senility's gradual decay, Willingly with relenting hand shalt thou punish Thy noble wife, and by that act forthwith summon Almighty Thanatos, gloriously to make an end. choirs. Hail, child of Maia! divine grandsire Of great Sisyphus, our lord, By thy power from death restored To the loving embrace of his wife Merope! Fairest of women and dowagers she, As by the best judges was everywhere said. But mighty Eudamidas, son of Eublastidas, monarch of Argolis, Tiryns, Mycenae, Though our notorious, happy and glorious queen he had thought himself worthy to wed, Now must pack hence, (we mean no offence) Ere a warrant for bigamy lights on his head. SISTTHUS. {With preceding Chorus^ Hail, child of Maia! O sweet grandsire! Ever be thy power adored By me, thus from Death restored To the loving embrace of my wife Merope, Who never again a sad widow need be, Since never need punishment light on her head — Unless perchance I think good so To summon Thanatos my foe. But hush! Of that be no word said. 24 ^MST^OTS and €UT>^31I ( D^S. ( With preceding Chorus.) Act I Fie child of Maia! Thou shameless liar! Scene III Oh thou wicked nepotist Truth and justice so to twist! False thy witness : I deny That even in thought thei " e \ and I & ^queenj Have committed bigamy. But, Sisyphus, though now thou boast Thus to have fooled Death, yet beware Lest some day haply thou shouldst appear To have reckoned without thy host. END OF ACT I 25 / ACT II. {A room in the palace 0/ Sisyphus. Enter Merope by a door to the right, carrying a dagger?) M£%OTE. When I have done it — what then? Why then, Whether he die or die not, this doubt, Than his abhorred life more horrible, Shall die. Why linger then, since to my deed Hate, revenge, hope, despair, very doubt thus Conspire to goad me? Nay, though I slay him not, Yet perchance, wakened by my frustrate blow, In a blind gust of rage caught unaware, He will forget, and punish me, and so die. But if not, if he still mock me, then is this {Holding up the dagger) Left me: by this, widowed of his one hope Of Death, to infinite, horrible Old Age Dying will I dedicate him. {She goes out by a door to the left. After a short interval she reappears with the blood-stained dagger in her hand. During the following speech SISYPHUS appears at the door behind her.) I have done it. With this dagger to the heart Thrice did I smite him, and thrice drew it forth Enriched thus with his life-blood. Hail, dark stream! Thou perfect witness of imposture! False Was then that impious boast of deathless life And Hades by shrewd covenant beguiled. Dead art thou, Sisyphus; nor will I this time Grudge thee thy pyre, but the frolicksome winds Shall waft thy scattered ashes out, far out O'er the vast deep, while to the Cyprian's shrine My heart's beloved, Eudamidas — SISrTHUS. Ha! ha! ha! (MEROPE starts back in horror) 26 Upon my soul, Act II A bold attempt, and masterfully planned ! But rise now, wife; retire and wash that hand — That little tender hand, which yon dark rill Of curdling husband's blood becomes so ill. Methinks another time (might I suggest) 'Twere seemliest and cleanliest and best To employ poison, strangling — it matters nought — Whatever means may afford you the best sport — Since all alike must fail. (Merope attempts to stab herself?) What wouldst thou do! Oh fie ! No, no, thou shalt not. Give it me! (He wrests the dagger from her.) ME'ROTS. Ah husband, let me die ! SISTTHUS. Art thou in thy right wits ? METtpTS. Let me die, and in my tomb Bury thy vengeance unfulfilled; so never to thy doom In some unguarded hour shall my hated presence tempt And provoke thy just wrath; but thou from fear of death exempt Henceforth shalt live. SISTTHUS. For thy solicitude Much thanks. Go to thy chamber now and wash. Have patience yet awhile. Do nothing rash. Perchance I soon shall need thee — and then not dead, But living. It may be upon thy head, For aught that thou canst tell, this very night Thy punishment so long postponed shall light. {Exit Merope.) 27 Act II Why comes not Hermes? I like not in my wife this dangerous mood Of reckless suicidal wilfulness. Why comes not Hermes with the magic coffin? If she should slay herself, gone would be then For ever my sole means to summon Death, Whose help I soon shall need for this great game Which against him, against Time and Old Age, Against the Olympian Gods and Zeus himself I now must play for the world's mastery. {Enter Hermes followed by two Cyclopses carrying a large coffin with the lid thrown back.) Ah ! Hermes! At last thou art come. The coffin — Hast thou not brought it? HS < K31SS. See, 'tis here!— Now, slaves, Set it down yonder near the window, gently. Have a care! The lid, you ambisinistrous slaves ! Shut not the lid. — Back now! Stand back all! Thank you. Now please retire. ( The Cyclopses remain standing with outstretched palms.) Nay, get you gone. Hephaestus is your paymaster, not I. {Exeunt Cyclopses.) Sisyphus, hither by command of Zeus I come, escorting his long-promised gift, This magic coffin by Hephaestus wrought, Whose lid once shut no force again may lift. What innocent or questionable use It now shall serve, of that must I know nought. SISTTHUS. Nay to thee, Hermes, that will I freely tell, 28 Since here I need thine aid. Thou knowest well, Act II Oft have my cunning wits devised escape For dull Omnipotence from amorous scrape, Or with subtlest forethought labouring to devise Some exquisite new beast or bird disguise, Oft have I proved at need The friend of God, though not for nought indeed, With wealth, dominion, honour for each service fee'd. Yet unfulfilled remains one dearest hope, By subtlety with Death's dread might to cope, And bind him fast my prisoner for life. But vain were all my craft in such a strife Without thine aid — which wilt thou lend me now? HS < nmes. For shame, Sisyphus! Can it be that thou, Already against the fear of Death secure, Wouldst doubly thus insure Thy craven life by this preposterous act? SISTTHUS. Secure! — For so long only as to their pact Ai'doneus and Thanatos remain true. And little will it stead me, though they do, If deathless, hopeless Age must be my fate. So did I warn thee: but 'tis not yet too late. The cure is easy. Punish now thy wife, And forthwith Death shall ease thee of thy life. But if thou snare Death, what thence shalt thou gain? How so wilt thou check Age's creeping bane? SISTTHUS. Thus, Hermes. When once Death, my prisoner by thine aid, Beneath these magic unopenable locks is laid, Swiftly to Olympus shall that mighty rumour spread, And on their thrones the Gods shall quake grown pale with dread, Henceforth despised, unreverenced, unadored by men 29 Act II Delivered from all fear of Death. As his peer then Will I meet Zeus, and on these terms and these alone Shall he save cult and revenue, nay very throne, If he surrender now forthwith into my hands Old Age, man's foe, my captive bound in magic bands. H8TZMSS. But can he indeed do this? SISTPHUS. Why, is not Zeus Omnipotent? — But how like you my plot? I like it well : and, for mankind's sake, Will help you. But how now wilt thou trap Death? SISTTHUS. First my long-suffering queen must I punish: So Death, and Sleep his brother, by that act From Hades' interdicting oath released, Hither shall haste to seize their prey, whom craftily Must I invite, before they slay me, as guests To drink my wine. Then will we stir between them Fierce fratricidal strife, till mightier Sleep Prevail. For our own hands remains the rest. But say, Hermes, these magic bolts once shot, On earth, in hell or heaven there is not Key, chisel, mechanism, juggler's trick, Witchcraft or incantation, wire or file Can force them open, or by charms beguile? Doubt not Hephaestus' skill. Once it shall click, No skeletonic key so catholick That it may pick This lock: Burglar's chisel, witchcraft, trick, Strength of arm and mallet's shock, The star-flung thunderbolts of very Zeus These bolts shall mock. 30 SISTTHUS. Act II The deuce! The very thunderbolts of Zeus Shall these bolts mock? Yet I am troubled by one fear, Lest Kronos' son have guessed To what sublime and philanthropic use I'ld put his gift. HS ( I^\4eS. Of that, believe me, Zeus Has not the least idea. By your advice translated to a goose — SISTTHUS. Ah Zeus, divinest gander! HST^HES. — In mind no less than shape, o'er land and water To and fro doth he wander, Seeking Aegina fair, Asopus' daughter. SISTTHUS. May his fair nymph, soon found, prove but a goose. Swear now, Hermes, by Erebus and Styx Kindly to play me none of your knave's tricks, But faithfully to stand my friend, And succour me at need with force or guile. HEI^HSS. That will I swear by Erebus and Styx, To play you no knave's tricks, and stand your friend, And succour you at need with force or guile. SISTTHUS. Then am I ready for my death-bed scene. Call hither now my household and my queen. I mean to make an edifying end. (Exit HERMES. Sisyphus paces meditatively to and fro, theft takes up a lamp, and approaching the coffin stoops 31 Act II down to examine it outside and in. He taps the sides and the lid, then anxiously scrutinizes the lock and the hasp. Rising, he puts down the lamp, and resumes his pacing to and fro, at times laughing quietly to himself.) {Re-enter Merope, Hermes and Chorus.) CHO'RUS. An open coffin! Ah, what is his intent? For himself or his consort is it meant? me'ROTS. What means this open coffin! Ah, can it be That thou wilt deign at length to punish me? SISTTHUS. Even so, my wife. Be of good cheer: at length do I relent, Nor longer will postpone thy punishment. But first behold, I pray, this magic box. Touch not the lid, nor trifle with those locks. Once shut, there is no power on earth, in hell Or heaven, can unbind that puissant spell. A token of his esteem sent me by Zeus, Fresh from Hephaestus' workshop. Now to what use Think you it were best put? 3I€ c ROTS. Alas, who knows? SISTTHUS. Were it not a fitting prison-house for those Who deny burial to their husbands' dust? me < ROTs. Ah me! My lord! My lord! Outrageous and unjust Were such ruthless reward For what by thee, by thee compelled I swore to do, and did. 'Neath this enchanted coffin's lid 32 Alive must I be thrust? Act II Oh recompense unjust! SISTTHUS. Nay, wife, fear nought. To no such wasteful use Will I employ the magic gift of Zeus. Merciful, and not rigorously strict Shall be my justice: therefore I inflict This purely nominal punishment. Draw near. CHOl^JS, ME'ROTS, and SISTTHUS. Now, now once more by an awestricken, eager and ecstatic anticipation My spirit is thrilled, with a fearful hope in secret joyfully quaking. CHOTZJJS. ( With MEROPE as follows below.) For now, grown weary of deathless life, and pitying his penitent queen, Sisyphus at length with one stroke both shall punish her trespass against him, And, summoning so dread Death, once more set forth for the kingdom of Hades. MS TiO T£. ( With preceding CHORUS.) For now doth Sisyphus at length mean to avenge my trespass against him, And, summoning terrible Thanatos so, once more perish, and dedicate me To widowed life, and thy comforting arms, O Eudamidas, my beloved lord. CHORUS. Thanatos, O just Thanatos! Oh delay not ; hither haste thee, That this Sisyphus, the tyrannous, the abominable, Thou may'st carry to Acheron away with thee. Haste, oh haste thee hither, Death! Stone-dead, the proverb saith, Hath no fellow: then haste thee, Death. SISTTHUS. ( With Chorus.) Death stone-dead, Sisyphus saith, Hath no fellow: then haste thee, Death. 33 F Act II (Aside to Hermes.) Fail not to summon Hupnos, without whom Vain would my hope be to escape my doom. HERMES. Partners inseparable are Sleep and Death, Twin children of old Night, the poet saith. SISTTHUS. Thy deep-sworn oath forget not, Hermes dear. Fail me not now. H€ < %3f€S. Rest tranquil without fear. (SISYPHUS approaches MEROPE and, looking round appre- hensively, after several timid and awkward attempts, succeeds in giving his wife a smart box on the ear.) H6 1^146 S. Hupnos and Thanatos, arise! appear! {Enter Thanatos, a veiled figure in long black priestly robes. HUPNOS, a handsome, corpulent youth, floats in through the window, slumbering upon a cloud-like couch, which sinks to the ground near SlSYPHUS. All, except Hermes and SISYPHUS, flee from the room in terror?) THtADi^TOS. Sisyphus, I am come to take thy soul. First with my sword from thy doomed head this lock I sever thus. Now, Sisyphus, thou art mine. Long have I watched and waited for thy life. Say, willingly dost thou now yield it up, Or wouldst thou strive and wrestle with my might? SISTPHUS. Dread Thanatos, Sisyphus is thy slave, And willingly to thee yields up his soul, 34 Grown weary of this world and its vain joys. Act II The cords of Time are bound around us fast: Like golden sheaves of summer corn we lie, Till soon or late Time bears us to his mill, There where all living things are ground to dust. Why then should I bewail or strive in vain Against my predetermined end, O Death? TH^D^fTOS. Thy fortitude I praise, and much admire Thy stern philosophy. On dying lips But seldom such calm wisdom have I heard. But, Sisyphus, evil have been thy days. Dost thou not fear what now must be thy doom? SISTTHUS. That doom, whate'er it prove, unterrified I welcome. Evil, not base, have been my days. Strangely thy noble-hearted pride moves me. Ask now, and I will grant what boon thou wilt, Except thy life. SISTTHUS. Great Thanatos, not once, but many times Have I, a mortal guest 'mid highest gods, Feasted as their companion and their friend ; And oft to grace my table have they deigned ; Nay sometimes Zeus himself hath been well pleased Here to forego his nectar, and partake Of earthlier vintages and mortal fare. Then this the boon I crave, that thou, even thou, Mightiest of Gods and most revered, vouchsafe, With this thy brother Sleep and Hermes here, One hour to be my guest before I die. TH^D^dTOS. Most highly honoured shall I deem myself 35 Act II SISTTHUS. And thou, benignest Sleep? — H€1(3ieS. Nay, wake him not Until the wine be served. Poor child, he needs Between his meals what slumber he can get. Yon soft pneumatic couch, pillowed whereon He drowses, and with sleep-creative breath Keeps filled, whence through this tubing the whole world With bland hypnotic fumes is fed — these bags, If he should wake too often or too long, Must needs grow empty, and sink down void and slack; And that would mean, if not a sleep-famine, At least some restless nights for gods and men. (Sisyphus busies himself laying the table. The CHORUS and Merope appear timidly at the doorway. Some of them gradually edge into the room?) CHORUS. Oh wondrous sight! He liveth yet. The cloth is laid, the plates are set. He bringeth forth wine, bread and meat ; He boweth Thanatos to a seat. Alas! alas! What may this mean! If he should make the fiend his friend, Beguile him to postpone the end, Deep then indeed were our chagrin. Alas for thee, poor hapless Queen ! Alas for me, poor hapless Queen! Ha! These golden mixing bowls I have seen before. 'Twas when Thyestes banqueted the Gods Upon his own minced boys, unwittingly. None knew, save alone Atreus and myself. 36 SISTTHUS. Act II Even so. But Autolycus, my sire, Your clever son, Hermes, stole them long since With these quaint spoons. My mother, wise Amphithea, Would fain have sent his larcenies back next day, As was her wont: but this once I o'erruled Her and my father too, poor guileless kind Old man. Alone for the theft's sake he stole. An artist past all rival was my son. TH^D^TOS. Sir, I thank you, but I drink no wine. SISTTHUS. No wine, great Death? THtAN^fTOS. Thou knowest, we Chthonian Gods Of Underworld in wineless offerings, Honey, milk, blood alone may take delight. SISTTHUS. Officially no doubt. But you are here My guest and friend. This table is no altar, Nor I its priest. One sober cup or two, In strictest privacy — TH^D^TOS. No, no; I must not. Is there no milk or honey in this house? SISTTHUS. Ah! How came it I could so forget? Of course! — This is no wine. Wine is the juice of grapes In earthly vineyards after nature's law Grown and prepared by human art: but this — 37 Act II HST^IIES. Of what then was this made? Glucose and gum-dragon? SISTTHUS. {Frowning at HERMES.) This divine drink — that day the Tuscan crew From Bacchus' ship plunged to their snubnosed doom — Upon that magic vine that o'er the mast Deck-rooted sprang, by Ariadne's hands This sacred fruit was gathered, by mad feet Of Maenads trodden and revelling Satyrs' hooves: And of this noble vintage by the gift Of Bacchus' self three dozen skins are mine. Drink therefore without scruple, O just Death. No mortal wine is this I pour thee forth, But of divinest nectar a pure rill. TH^D^ATOS. Fill then, Sisyphus; thy wise words prevail. HS^ieS. (To Hupnos.) What, lazy varlet! Sleep'st thou still? Awake, Arise and drink of this immortal wine, This wine no man hath pressed, nor no man brewed. HUPNOS. Who stirs me from slumber? (Hermes pokes Hupnos with his caduceus.) Leave me to sleep! Now you are well awake, try all you can Awhile to keep so, please. Come, be a man. Let us see if Sleep is able To keep awake for once at table. 38 HlfP£S(OS. {Sings vigorously at first, but more and more somnolently as Act II he proceeds?) Awake, my soul! With a carol blithe and strong As lark that mounts and sings, The filmy curtain of sweet sleep I break. Loud, loud leap forth, my song; Note after note thy rapturous music shake Like morning dew-drops from thy lyric wings. My song, a little while Dull slumber from my soul, I pray thee, keep. Sink not to earth, nor come With soft hypnotic hum Like murmuring of innumerable gnats, Or noontide bees, Nor with the plash of waves that break asleep Lapping the sands of some moon-silvered lake: Not so, please. But bold and gay through shuddering sharps and flats Mount higher still and higher, leaping, soaring, Or soon again softly must I lie sleeping, Softly now softly lie . . . HE ( K^iES. Snoring! Confound that boy, he 's gone to sleep again. (He beats HUPNOS with his caduceus.) HUTNpS. Ai! Ai! I wasn't asleep! (Hermes continues beating him.) Papapapai ! Papapapapapai ! Sir, I protest, I a primaeval God Will not be beaten by a lackey's rod. 39 Act II TH^O^TOS Come, brother, take you wine without more fuss, And show respect to our kind host Sisyphus. SISTTHUS. Great Sleep, I am proud indeed to be your host. I pray you, taste this wine. I would not boast, But I think you will not find it much amiss. A noble and most exquisite wine it is. SISTTHUS. Then let me fill thy cup, and, Hermes, thine. {Aside to Hermes.) Fail me not, when I nod to thee the sign. TH^^ATOS. (Rising tipsily.) I rise now to propose a pleasant toast: The health of Sisyphus, our noble host. Sisyphus! Health and honour to thy ghost! (He sits down.) HUTOiOS. Soft slumber to thy soul in Hades' realms! H8 c Rmes. Long life to Sisyphus! A pleasant jest! SISTTHUS. I thank you, friends. Your kindness overwhelms. A toast I now would drink : to my great guest, The eldest of the Gods, and mightiest! (He signs to Hermes.) 40 mi^es. Act ii But whom mean you? THtADitATOS. Ha! Can you doubt? HSltyieS. I do. Eldest of Gods, and mightiest! Yes, but who? HUTSigs. Brother, whoe'er it be, it is not you. (THANATOS leaps up and stands speechless with rage at first.) SISTTHUS. Alas, I fear I was not quite discreet HUTOiOS. Good brother, pray keep calm : resume your seat. Patiently now give heed, while I expound the truth. Of Deities I eldest am, for all I seem a youth. Moreover though so soft, gentle and mild I be, Yet shalt thou find in heaven or hell no God so strong as me. Ere Time and Place, ere Earth or Chaos were, I was: Alone I slept, changeless, without beginning, without cause. But once, while thus I slept, I dreamed, and from my dream Forthwith was born this universe of things which change and seem. Chaos and Darkness first, then Light and Life had birth, And gods to rule, and beast and man to people my fair earth. Last, that unfolding Life might nobler forms achieve, Thee, Death, an afterthought, did I reluctantly conceive. Thus of Gods art thou last, and held in least esteem, And all thy might and pride are nought but dreams within my dream. Helves. Well have you argued, Sleep. Yet must I grieve to find That all we Gods are nothing more than nightmares in thy mind. And by one consequence I own I am appalled: That hour you choose to cease to dream my hairs, I must be bald. 41 G Act II TH^Di8TUT^TI03^of U^T>e < ^T^fl{€ ( I{S i etc. Great King, respectfully before thy throne The honourable guilds of undertakers, Hired mourners, pyre-constructors, coffin-makers, Grave-diggers and conveyancers make moan. Against Death's most inopportune arrest With manly indignation we protest. Ever a dying industry was ours. Now is it dead : before us ruin lowers. SFOX^SMrftH^of the 'DOCTORS' "DSTUT^TIO^. Great King, respectfully before thy throne The medical profession makes its moan. Since Death is dead, for us there is no place, And utter ruin stares us in the face. STO^SSM^N^of T>SPUT^TIO^of SXTSCT^DiT HSI%S. Great King, we legal heirs before thy throne With profound indignation must protest. On Death's salutary activities alone 5i Act III Our reasonable expectations rest. Now tradesmen frown, and moneylenders sneer; Friends shrug their shoulders, younger brothers jeer: The whole great world of credit's out of gear. STOKJ.SMtAN^ofthe SOL ( DIE t RS i ( D£TUTm. Thou art wise, Sisyphus ; yet much I wonder How, by what art, thou even wilt compel And reverse now the witchcraft of this lock. SISTTHUS. Of that hereafter. ^TH%pT)ITe. Listen, Sisyphus. All that is mine to give, all sights, all forms Of enchantment and beauty and wanton bliss Thy dreams have imaged or thy heart desired, Think but the thought, and forthwith they are thine. Nay in thine arms, if so thou wilt, no dream Vainly embraced, but real and divine, Ambrosial Pandora's self shall lie, Or human Helen, if that please thee best. SISTTHUS. No longer doth the soul of Sisyphus Lust for such trivial dull delights as these. t ATH ( RQT>ITE. Ah stern man, wilt thou alone scorn my gifts? Ah heart of stone! SISTTHUS. {Rising.) Nay, not so, fair Cytherean: thy gifts how should I despise? But now, ye Gods, would ye deliver him who in yonder coffin lies, To my terms however loath must ye consent, and with an oath And covenant inviolably bind the unalterable troth Of Zeus and all you twelve great Gods, that in return for Death's reprieve, I, guaranteed against his vengeance, from your hands should now receive Terrestrial godhead coeternal and coequal with your own. Then let Hades rule in Hell, and let Zeus the clouds compel, And lord it o'er you Gods in Heaven, so here on earth I reign alone. H8THMSTUS. You alone on earth! Oh monstrous! 60 SISrPHUS. And why not, Hephaestus? Act III HSTH^ESTUS. You Usurp our shrines, our power and functions, offices and revenue! Upstart man, wilt thou presume thus to govern in the room Of Gods through countless years, thou fool, from earliest childhood trained to rule? SISTTHUS. Trained to rule! Shame on you ! Well, at least I scarcely could do worse. Yet haply I'll not grudge you pensions charged upon my privy purse. Yes, rent-free your shrines I'll leave you, with what worship you can get. Come, friend, these terms might well be worse. SISTTHUS. There 's one last condition yet. As my Queen and goddess-consort Aphrodite here I claim. hsth^estus. What! my wife! Thou impudent blaspheming dog, thou — ! HECHES. Nay, for shame! Come, come, thou the Olympian plenipotentiary! HEPHAESTUS. Never, Hermes, no! Thus with my honour vilely will I traffick. SISTTHUS. Well, sirs, be it so. I am sorry that our conference fails thus. he<%mes. Hephaestus, come, good friend! Why all this fuss? {Drawing HEPHAESTUS aside.) Did I not tell you to leave all to us? Consent, you old fool, and as I dictate Swear. Then but one move more, and so checkmate. 61 Act in HSTH^esrus. How so? By what has ceased to be a fact We Gods must swear: void then will prove our pact. HETH^SSTUS. Ah! JI C PH C R0 ( D1TE. Pray give my husband time, Sisyphus dear. He will see reason soon. Since many a year He has ceased to love me, and lived a life as loose And scandalous as even his father Zeus. SISTTHUS. Dear Goddess, may I deem thee mine in truth? ^TH'ROTHTE. Yes. And with this kiss I seal it — there! SISTTHUS. Alas! Would I might now recall my youth! ^TH%OT>ITe. Ambrosia will restore that, never fear. HE C R3\4ES. {Returning.) Hephaestus gives consent. t ATH < RO < DITE. I knew he would: He is so generous. HE < RMES. Although most loath— SISTTHUS. 'Tis natural. 62 HET^mes. Act in Yet for the public good — SISTTHUS. Hermes, I thank thee for thy zeal and tact. HE ( I{MSS. Nay, thank Hephaestus. Now, to seal our pact Inviolably, I propose this oath. Kindly repeat each phrase, I pray you both. I, Hephaestus, Lemnian, Aetnaean, Liparaean,sole God of elemental, volcanic and household fire, thunderbolt-maker and chief artificer to his Omnipotence Zeus; and I, Paphian, Cnidian, Erycinian Aphrodite, Goddess of beauty and love, and mistress of the Graces, in the name and on behalf of Zeus and the twelve great Olympian Gods do hereby accept, and without prevarication agree and consent to, each and all of the terms and stipulations proposed by Sisyphus, the son of Autolycus, the son of Hermes, King of Corinth and Sicyon ; namely that upon condition and in consideration of his releasing from captivity Thanatos, otherwise known as Death, the said Deities do promise and undertake to guarantee and protect the said Sisyphus against the power, tyranny and vengeance of the said Thanatos for ever and for ever, and do grant him a godhead coequal and coeternal with their own, that so he may rule and bear sway upon Earth, as they in Heaven and Hell, as an independent and auto- cratic divinity, upon these conditions only on the part of the said Sisyphus, that the Olympian Gods be left in possession rent-free of all their temples, shrines and holy places whatsoever, and that a yearly tribute — SISTTHUS. Tribute! I said pensions. HEl^MES. Well, that yearly pensions (the amount to be arbitrated upon here- after) be paid by the said Sisyphus to the Olympian Gods; and lastly that the said foam-born Goddess Aphrodite be given as wife and goddess- consort in lawful wedlock to the said Sisyphus; and faithfully to observe the terms of this treaty, we Hephaestus and Aphrodite, in the name of Zeus and the twelve great Gods, do solemnly and irrevocably swear by 63 Act III the eternal, unique, unimpeachable, inviolable, unquestioned and unques- tionable chastity of Artemis. (Aphrodite and Hephaestus swear.) S1STTHUS. Artemis' chastity! Upon my word A pretty oath, and one I ne'er yet heard. But why no more by Acheron, as of old, Or Styx? Such oaths are grown quite out of use And fashion of late years, you see, since Zeus Took to philosophizing. Now we hold One cannot bathe in the same river twice. Mere sophistry, no doubt: still 'tis more wise To be quite safe in such a case as this. sistthus. Well, I suppose none can doubt Artemis. Doubt Artemis! I presume not indeed. To our next business let us now proceed. You say you know how to unseal this box. But how? HETHvteSTUS. Yes, how indeed? I made these locks, So should know best. No witchcraft, force nor trick . . SISTTHUS. Yes, we all know, Hephaestus: nought can pick These precious locks of yours. Well, we shall see. Come hither, Time. TI316. {Coming forward from the crowd.) What now wouldst thou with me ? 64 Heqwes. Act ,„ Time, my old friend! I am charmed to meet you here. hsth^sstus. How Time will help, to me is far from clear. SISTTHUS. Say, old man, hast thou the power to turn back the fleeting hour? rime. Forward ever must I hasten, forward without rest or pause. SISTTHUS. From confirmed and ancient habit merely, from no deeper cause. Well we know, when 'tis thy will, thou canst linger, nay stand still, As once on fair Alcmena's bridal night five long hours at a stretch — HS'E^ieS. While I without the palace doors stood sentinel, poor shivering wretch. rime. 'Tis true. And often in my youth, ere yet were born this earth, this sun, To and fro, now fast now slow, forward and backward would I run, With the drifting stars like a child I played, ever unmaking what I had made, Thence to refashion worlds more fair. But now am I grown old, and wearily Scarce may I drag myself along, onward alone, still onward drearily. SISTTHUS. Yet surely now for the world's sake the needful effort thou wilt make, And backward through the abysm of thy past Creeping a little distance wilt recall The midnight before midnight last, Two days, scarce more than forty hours in all? rime. Must I drag back through forty stubborn hours 65 K Act III This universe of things? No, such a task I must decline: 'tis far beyond my powers. SISTTHUS. Not the whole world; it is not that I ask, But a mere trifle; just these coffin-locks. rims. Come, that's another matter. Just this box! HE%3iES. {Aside.) Ha! Ha! Is that thy game? Now art thou caught, old fox. rime. Let me consider. Thus it might be done. Yes, I must force back the moon and sun. I think the effort will not prove too much. The firmament of stars I need not touch. But first a magic circle round about This coffin must I trace: then all without Will remain subject to Time's natural law. What lies within, the sun and moon shall draw Backward with swift regressive power — He^MSS. Till click !- The locks fly open, and we've done the trick. SISTTHUS. For this good turn I thank thee, Time. CHOIRS and tATH^OTUTE. Oh wondrous wit! Craft sublime! Oh my sweet lord, Sisyphus! HE%MES. {Aside) Now art thou fallen in thine own pit, Sisyphus, oh thou old fox! 66 CHOT^US and ITe. Nay listen, my dear lord. 'Tis a sweet tale. Perchance some goddess loves him. HS%MSS. Gazing I hovered close above his face, Like hawk-moth drinking honey on the wing, When his lips stirred and faintly murmured: " Leave me not! Leave me not, Goddess, thus! " — and then again: " Ah slay me with thy silver shafts divine! " By this I knew it was some youth beloved Of Artemis. {General sensation.) Chaste Artemis! Oh shame! SISTTHUS. Thou shameless slanderer! dar'st thou traduce Yon chaste and innocent lady with foul lies? HET^nes. How now, Sisyphus! Doth the Moon's disgrace So grieve thee? SISTTHUS. Liar! thou hast no proof. H8 <%J148 S. No proof? Look up! See, conscious of convicted guilt Artemis blushes. 69 Act III {The moon is seen to be suffused with red.) ^TH^OTflTe. Oh fie, wicked girl! SISTTHUS. Liar unblushing, a blush proves not guilt. CHO<%lJS. Oh see, see! she blushes. Her pale face of pearl With tell-tale crimson flushes. Oh fie, wicked girl! And see now, with good cause Shamefully o'er her face A dark cloud she draws, So to veil her disgrace From profane eyes' deriding. But look! (Oh wondrous sight!) What swift splendour gliding Down hither through the night? CHO^JS Yes, it is she indeed: Oh scandal ! from her sphere Descending, lo! with speed Artemis' self draws near. and SISTTHUS {together). Yes, it is she indeed Descending from her sphere. Hither she glides with speed Her character to clear. {Enter Artemis running, with a bright crescent moon upon her head. She throws herself at Aphrodite's /ITE. Mine indeed! Act III My power compel the unique vestal virgin goddess, Artemis, Like some sluttish slave-born cow-girl, 'midst the sheep to fondle and kiss Handsome shepherd-boys! Oh monstrous! ^'RTSJllIS. Nay kind goddess, pity me : Let me have my sweet true love, though but a shepherd lad he be. As my husband in chaste wedlock let me take him, O great queen. tAPH^ROTHTE. Oh the artful minx! e rf c RT€34IS. Nay, chaste and innocent our love hath been. SISTTHUS. Ye all hear her; chaste hath been her passion. ^TWROTHTE. Oh doubtless so she saith. Dost thou deem, thou sly old sophist, thus once more to escape Death? J[?H C RQ ( DITE. {Raising Artemis.) Well, I am sorry for thee, Artemis, Thus sadly fallen from thy sublime renown. Henceforth on mortal lovers' midnight bliss With sympathetic beams wilt thou gaze down Indulgently, not with cold prudish glance, As heretofore, on naughtiness askance. Who would have thought it? Well, I wish thee joy. Wed, if thou wilt, thy darling shepherd boy. But of thy vaunted chastity, I fear, The less is said the better now, my dear. So, friends, void was our covenant and pact, Being sworn, it seems, by what was not a fact. I am sorry, Sisyphus; but is't not so? 71 Act III SISTTHUS. Oh ye just Gods, what, are ye sunk so low As to repudiate your plighted troth For a mere sophistry? HE'RtMSS. An oath's an oath, I grant; but, to be kept, must exist first; Ours never did. S1STTHUS. Wretch perjured and accurst, Didst thou not swear by Acheron and Styx To play me none of your vile knavish tricks? HSTtSMSS. I did. But, alas! by the best advice One cannot bathe in the same river twice. Grandson, trust not these fickle, fleeting streams, Unstable of identity as dreams. Now, father Time, I pray proceed ; complete your spells, that Death be freed : In thee our hope and trust is. SISYPHUS. Great Time, before thy feet I kneel ; to thy compassion I appeal, And to thy sense of justice. mi^es. Time never made the least pretence to any sense of justice. Yet what he has, at your expense, if he is wise, he'll exercise, And as to mercy, I surmise, he has but little or none to spend On such a rogue as you, my friend. SISTTHUS. Oh hear me, Time! Was it not I who, trusting to their guarantee, To please these Gods conceived this plan, and called you in to set Death free? And is it just I now should die, a martyr to their vile chicane, 72 Who for the sake of thankless Man first bound their foe, and then again, Act III Because they murmured, set him loose, though none compelled me? m%M8S. Oh hypocrite! When you had made your terms with Zeus ! Prate not of mankind's benefit. Now art thou fallen in thine own pit ; now art thou caught, O thou old fox ! Come then, delay no more, old Time : the case is plain ; turn back the locks. SISTTHUS. To thy just doom, O wise and holy Time, With confidence my fate do I submit. TIuWS. (Turning away from HERMES and SlSYPHUS, and addressing the people.) Ye children of Mortality, yet once more listen : Lend heedful ears, then freely choose: say which would you, Whether should I from forth this enchanted coffin, Wherein prisoned he sleeps innocuous and secure, This day release you Thanatos, or insatiably Doth ambition still hunger in your blind spirits For perpetual and infinite senile decay, Slow stealthy mummification of mind and body? CHOIQUS. Thanatos, O just Time! From captivity release him to us, oh release him to us! Thanatos, and only Thanatos From interminable, intolerable And abominable senility, Thanatos only shall deliver us. O just and holy Time, Give him back to us, oh give him back to us again ! rime. With reasonable and pious instinct, as beseems, Prudently have ye chosen ; and therefore will I 73 L Act III From his becharmed captivity now release you Death, First, O presumptuous Sisyphus, for thy folly's Mad sacrilegious excess, on thy soul to wreak Righteous retributive doom of eternal penance. SISrPHUS. So be it, O Time, even as thou wilt. Proceed ; Let loose upon me Thanatos: I scorn his terrors. Great was the stake, and mightily have I played for it. Tis lost: yet its loss nobly can my soul support. CHO c RUS. Thanatos, O just Time! From captivity deliver him, oh deliver him to us, That this Sisyphus, the abominable one, He may carry to Acheron away with him. TItMS. {Recommencing his solemn incantation.) Once more with a steadfast mind, By an effort tense Till thought condense, My will do I knit and bind Like a serpent self-entwined, And I send it forth with might Backward to force The Moon in her course, Back with swift spell-bound flight, Back still, till lo! midnight!— (As Time utters this last word, the lid of the coffin springs open, and a moment later THANATOS is seen by the dim moon- light raising himself slowly to a sitting postwe. He sighs, and passes his hand across his eyes, like one awakening from deep slumber, then rises to his feet, steps from the coffin, and stares around him. Beholding SlSYPHUS, who stands erect and rigid before him, while all except the Gods have fallen 74 prostrate with terror, he starts violently. SISYPHUS laughs Act III aloud, and THANATOS, uttering an appalling yell, glides swiftly upon him, and is seen towering over, and enveloping him in the folds of his black robe. The earth opens, and as they disappear beneath it, the laughter of SISYPHUS is heard once more, and then silence?) THE END CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO. TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY Return to desk from which borrowed. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. gy ^ $ ,v< JUN 3 1950 11APR'62DH APR 3 W," LD 21-100m-ll,'49(B7146sl6)476 YD I 1616 D U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES CCm55^577M ■■■ HHH 340742 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY