-51_Rodogune-Act Three-Scene-3.htm

Under the Syrian hills.
Antiochus, his generals, soldiers, Eunice, Rodogune, Mentho.

ANTIOCHUS

What god has moved them from their passes sheer
Where they were safe from me ?

THOAS

They have had word,
No doubt, to take us living.

LEOSTHENES

On!

THOAS

They are
Three thousand, we six hundred armed men.
Shall we go forward ?

LEOSTHENES

Onward still, I say!

ANTIOCHUS

Yes, on! I turn not back lest my proud Fate
Avert her eyes from me. A hundred guard
The princesses.

He goes, followed
by Thoas, Leosthenes,
Philoctetes.

EUNICE

He'll break them like sea-spray;

They shall not stand before him.

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RODOGUNE

You missioned angels, guard Antiochus.

As she speaks, the Eremite
enters and regards her.

EUNICE

He is through them, he is through them! How they scatter
Before his sword! My warrior!

RODOGUNE

Who is this man,
Eunice? He is terrible to me.

EREMITE

Who art thou rather, born to be a torch
To kingdoms ? Is not thy beauty, rightly seen,
More terrible to men than monstrous forms
Which only frighten ?

EUNICE

What if kingdoms burn,
So they bum grandly ?

EREMITE

Spirits like thine think so.
Princess of Antioch, hast thou left thy father
To follow younger eyes? Alas, thou know'st not
Where they shall lead thee! It is to gates accursed
And by a dolorous journey.

EUNICE

Beyond all portals
I'ld follow! I am a woman of the Greeks
Who fear not death nor hell.

Antiochus returns.

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ANTIOCHUS

Our swords have hewn
A road for us. Who is this flamen ?

EREMITE

Hail!

"Rejoice" I cannot say, but greet Antiochus
Who never shall be king.

ANTIOCHUS

Who art thou, speak,
Who barr'st with such ill-omened words my way
Discouraging new-born victory ? What thou know'st,
Declare! Curb not thy speech. I have a mind
Stronger than omens.

EREMITE

I am the appointed voice
Who come to tell thee thou shalt not be king,
But at thy end shall yield to destiny
For all thy greatness, genius, pride and force
Even as the tree that falls. March then no farther,
For in thy path Fate hostile stands.

ANTIOCHUS

If Fate
Would have me yield, let her first break me. On!

EREMITE

The guardians of the path then wait for thee
Vigilant lest the world's destiny be foiled
By human greatness. March on to thy doom.

ANTIOCHUS

I will. Straight on, whatever doom it be!

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EREMITE

Farewell, thou mighty Syrian, soul misled,
Strength born untimely! we shall meet again
When death shall lead thee into Antioch.

He goes.

ANTIOCHUS

March.

Curtain

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