{"id":689,"date":"2013-07-13T01:29:44","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=689"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:29:44","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:44","slug":"02-the-legend-of-perseus-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06\/02-the-legend-of-perseus-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-02_The Legend of Perseus .htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n

\n
\nPERSEUS THE
\nDELIVERER <\/b><\/font>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPart – I<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nThe Legend of Perseus <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

 
\n <\/p>\n

\nA<\/b><\/font>CRISIUS<\/b><\/span>, the Argive king, warned by an
\noracle that his daughter’s son would be the agent of his death,
\nhoped to escape his doom by shutting her up in a brazen tower.
\nBut Zeus, the King of the Gods, descended into her prison in
\na shower of gold and Danae bore to him a son named Perseus.
\nDana\u00eb and her child were exposed in a boat without sail or oar
\non the sea, but here too fate and the gods intervened and, guided
\nby a divine protection, the boat bore her safely to the Island of
\nSeriphos. There Dana\u00eb was received and honoured by the King.
\nWhen Perseus had grown to manhood the King, wishing to marry
\nDanae, decided to send him to his death and to that end ordered
\nhim to slay the Gorgon Medusa in the wild, unknown and snowy
\nNorth and bring to him her head the sight of which turned men to
\nstone. Perseus, aided by Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom, who
\ngave him the divine sword Herpe, winged shoes to bear him
\nthrough the air, her shield or aegis and the cap of invisibility,
\nsucceeded in his quest after many adventures. In his returning he
\ncame to Syria and found Andromeda, daughter of Cepheus and
\nCassiopea, King and Queen of Syria, chained to the rocks by the
\npeople to be devoured by a sea-monster as an atonement for her
\nmother’s impiety against the sea-god, Poseidon. Perseus slew the
\nmonster and rescued and wedded Andromeda.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn this piece the ancient legend has been divested of its original character of a heroic myth; it is made the nucleus round
\nwhich there could grow the scenes of a romantic story of human
\ntemperament and life-impulses on the Elizabethan model.
\nThe country in which the action is located is a Syria of romance,
\nnot of history. Indeed a Hellenic legend could not at all be set
\nin the environments of the life of a Semitic people and its early
\nAramaean civilisation: the town of Cepheus must be looked at
\nas a Greek colony with a blonde Achaean dynasty ruling a Hellenised people who worship an old Mediterranean deity under a<\/font> <\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 1<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nGreek name. In a romantic work of imagination of this type
\nthese outrages on history do not matter. Time there is more than
\nEinsteinian in its relativity, the creative imagination is its sole
\ndisposer and arranger; fantasy reigns sovereign; the names of
\nancient countries and peoples are brought in only as fringes of a
\ndecorative background; anachronisms romp in wherever they
\ncan get an easy admittance, ideas and associations from all
\nclimes and epochs mingle; myth, romance and realism make up
\na single whole. For here the stage is the human mind of all
\ntimes: the subject is an incident in its passage from a semi-primitive temperament surviving in a fairly advanced outward
\ncivilisation to a brighter intellectualism and humanism \u2014 never
\nquite safe against the resurgence of the dark or violent life-forces
\nwhich are always there subdued or subordinated or somnolent
\nin the make-up of civilised man \u2014 and the first promptings of
\nthe deeper and higher psychic and spiritual being which it is his
\nultimate destiny to become.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 2<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nPERSONS OF THE DRAMA<\/b><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nP<\/font>ALLAS <\/font><\/p>\n

A<\/font>THENE<\/font>.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nP<\/font>OSEIDON<\/font>.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nP<\/font>ERSEUS<\/font>, son of Zeus and
\nDana\u00eb.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCEPHEUS<\/font><\/font>, King of Syria.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI<\/font>OLAUS<\/font>, son of Cepheus and Cassiopea.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nP<\/font>OLYDAON<\/font>, priest of Poseidon.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nP<\/font>HINEUS<\/font>, King of Tyre.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nT<\/font>HEROPS<\/font>, a popular leader.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nP<\/font>ERISSUS<\/font>, a citizen butcher.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nD<\/font>ERCETES<\/font>, a Syrian captain.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nN<\/font>EBASSAR<\/font>, captain of the Chaldean Guard.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nC<\/font>IREAS<\/font>, a servant in the temple of Poseidon.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nM<\/font>EDES<\/font>,
\nan usher in the palace.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nC<\/font>ASSIOPEA<\/font>, princess of Chaldea, Queen of Syria.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font>, daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopea.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>, mistress of
\nIolaus.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nP<\/font>RAXILLA<\/font>, head of the palace household in the<\/font>
\n<\/font>women’s apartments.
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDIOMEDE, a slave-girl, servant and playmate of Andromeda.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nS<\/font>CENE
\n<\/font>: The city of Cepheus, the seashore, the temple of Poseidon
\non the headland and the surrounding country.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 3<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n
\nPrologue <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nThe Ocean in tumult, and the sky in storm: Pallas Athene appears
\nin the heavens, with lightnings playing over her head and under
\nher feet.<\/i><\/font> <\/font> <\/p>\n

\n\tATHENE<\/span><\/font>
\n\t<\/font><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\nError of waters rustling through the world,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nVast Ocean, call thy ravenous waves that march
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith blue fierce nostrils quivering for prey,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBack to thy feet. Hush thy impatient surges
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAt my divine command and do my will.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>OICES
\n\tOF THE <\/font>S<\/font>EA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho art thou layest thy serene command
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nUpon the untamed waters ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI am Pallas,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDaughter of the Omnipotent.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>OICES
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat wouldst thou?
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor we cannot resist thee; our clamorous hearts
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAre hushed in terror at thy marble feet.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAwake your dread Poseidon. Bid him rise
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd come before me.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>OICES
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLet thy compelling voice
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAwake him: for the sea is hushed.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nArise,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIllimitable Poseidon! let thy blue
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd streaming tresses mingle with the foam
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nEmerging into light.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPoseidon appears upon the waters.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat quiet voice
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCompels me from my rocky pillow piled
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nUpon the floor of the enormous deep ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tV<\/font>OICES
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA whiteness and a strength is in the skies.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHow art thou white and beautiful and calm,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYet clothed in tumult! Heaven above thee shakes
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWounded with lightnings, goddess, and the sea
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFlees from thy dreadful tranquil feet. Thy calm
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTroubles me: who art thou, dweller in the light?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI am Athene.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nVirgin formidable
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn beauty, disturber of the ancient world!
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nEver thou seekest to enslave to man
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe eternal Universe, and our huge motions
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat shake the mountains and upheave the seas
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWouldst with the glancing visions of thy brain
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCoerce and bridle.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMe the Omnipotent
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMade from His being to lead and discipline<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 6<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe immortal spirit of man, till it attain
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo order and magnificent mastery
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf all his outward world.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat wouldst thou of me ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe powers of the earth have kissed my feet
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn deep submission, and they yield me tribute,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOlives and corn and all fruit-bearing trees,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd silver from the bowels of the hills,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMarble and iron ore. Fire is my servant.
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut thou, Poseidon, with thy kindred gods
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd the wild wings of air resist me. I come
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo set my feet upon thy azure locks,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nO shaker of the cliffs. Adore thy sovereign.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe anarchy of the enormous seas<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs mine, O terrible Athene: I sway<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTheir billows with my nod. Man’s feeble feet<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLeave there no traces, nor his destiny<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHas any hold upon the shifting waves.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThou severest him with thy unmeasured wastes
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhom I would weld in one. But I will lead him
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOver thy waters, thou wild thunderer,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSpurning thy tops in hollowed fragile trees.
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe shall be confident in me and dare
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe immeasurable oceans till the West
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMingles with India, and reach the northern isles
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat dwell beneath my dancing aegis bright,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSnow-weary. He shall, armed with clamorous fire,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRush o’er the angry waters when the whale
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs stunned between two waves and slay his foe<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 7<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nBetwixt the thunders. Therefore I bid thee not,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nO azure strong Poseidon, to abate
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThy savage tumults: rather his march oppose.
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor through the shocks of difficulty and death
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMan shall attain his godhead.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat then desir’st thou.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAthene?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOn yonder inhospitable coast
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFar-venturing merchants from the East, or those
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWho put from Tyre towards Atlantic gains,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAre by thy trident fiercely shaken forth
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nUpon the jagged rocks, and who escape,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe gay and savage Syrians on their altars
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMassacre hideously, thee to propitiate,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMoloch-Poseidon of the Syrian coasts,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDagon of Gaza, lord of many names
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd many natures, many forms of power
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWho rulest from Philistia to the north,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA terror and a woe. O iron King,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDesist from blood, be glad of kindlier gifts
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd suffer men to live.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBehold, Athene,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy waters! see them lift their foam-white tops
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCharging from sky to sky in rapid tumult:<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAdmire their force, admire their thunderous speed.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith green hooves and white manes they trample onwards.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy mighty voices fill the world, Athene.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShall I permit the grand anarchic seas<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo be a road and the imperious Ocean<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA means of merchandise ? Shall the frail keels<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf thy ephemeral mortals score its back<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 8<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWith servile furrows and petty souls of men
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTriumphing tame the illimitable sea?
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI am not of the mild and later gods,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut of that elder world; Lemuria <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd old Atlantis raised me crimson altars,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd my huge nostrils keep that scent of blood
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor which they quiver. Return into thy heavens,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPallas Athene, I into my deep.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDash then thy billows up against my aegis
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn battle! think not to hide in thy deep oceans;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor I will drive thy waters from the world
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd leave thee naked to the light.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDread virgin!
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI will not war with thee, armipotent.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen send thy champion forth to meet my champion,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd let their conflict govern ours, Poseidon.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho is thy champion ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nPerseus, the Olympian’s son,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhom Danae in her strong brazen tower,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAcrisius’ daughter, bore, by heavenly gold
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLapped into slumber: for of that shining rain <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe is the beautiful offspring.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>OSEIDON
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe parricide
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat is to be ? But my sea-monster’s fangs
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd fiery breathings shall prevent that murder.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 9<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nFarewell, Athene.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>THENE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFarewell, until I press
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy feet upon thy blue enormous mane
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd add thy Ocean to my growing empire.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPoseidon disappears into the sea.
\n<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe dives into the deep and with a din
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe thunderous divided waters meet
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAbove his grisly head. Thou wingest, Perseus,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFrom northern snows to this fair sunny land,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNot knowing in the night what way thou wendest; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut the dawn comes and over earth’s far rim
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe round sun rises, as thyself shalt rise
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOn Syria and thy rosy Andromeda,
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA thing of light. Rejoice, thou famous hero!
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBe glad of love, be glad of life, whose bosom <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHarbours the quiet strength of pure Athene.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe disappears into light.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font> <\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 10<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PERSEUS THE DELIVERER   Part – I   The Legend of Perseus     ACRISIUS, the Argive king, warned by an oracle that his daughter’s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","wpcat-15-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/689\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}