{"id":694,"date":"2013-07-13T01:29:46","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=694"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:29:46","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:46","slug":"50-rodogune-act-three-scene-2-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\/50-rodogune-act-three-scene-2-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-50_Rodogune-Act Three-Scene-2.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n

\n
\nSCENE II<\/b><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/b><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n

\nA hall in the palace.
\nRodogune, Eunice.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tR<\/font>ODOGUNE
\n\t<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nGod gave my heart and mind; they are not hers
\nTo force into this vile adultery.
\nI am a Parthian princess, of a race
\nWho choose one lord and cleave to him for ever
\nThrough death, through fire, through swords, in hell, in heaven.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tE<\/font>UNICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Queen’s too broken. It was Phayllus said it.
\nHe has leaped into the saddle of affairs
\nAnd is already master. What can we hope for,
\nLeft captive in such hands? Not Syria’s throne
\nShall you ascend beside your chosen lord,
\nBut as a slave the bed of Timocles.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tR<\/font>ODOGUNE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIf we remain! But who remains to die ?
\nIn Parthian deserts, in Antiochus’ tents!
\nThere we can smile at danger.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tE<\/font>UNICE
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYes, oh, yes!
\nDeserts for us are safe, not Antioch. Come.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAntiochus and Philoctetes enter from without.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI sought for you, Eunice, Rodogune.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo saddle! for our bridal pomp and torches<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAre other than we looked for.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPhayllus enters from within with Theras.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 408<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nToday, no later.
\nThe Egyptian rebel ravishes our queen!
\nHelp! help!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nOff, Syrian weasel!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe flings off Phayllus and goes out with
\nEunice, Rodogune, Philoctetes.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nTheras, pursue them!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTheras hastens out; Phayllus<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nrushes to the window.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nAntiochus escapes! Oppose him, sentinels.
\nA thousand pieces for his head! he’s through.
\nO for a speedy arrow!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nTimocles enters with Cleone.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tTIMOCLES <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho escapes ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tPHAYLLUS <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThy brother, forcing with him Rodogune,
\nAnd with them fled Eunice.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tT<\/font>IMOCLES
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nRodogune!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>HAYLLUS<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBy force he carried her.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tT<\/font>IMOCLES
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nO no, she went
\nSmiling and glad. O thou unwise Phayllus,
\nWhy dost thou stay with me, a man that’s doomed?
\nHe will come back and mount his father’s throne<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 409<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAnd rule the nations. Why would’st thou be slain?
\nAll, all’s for him and ever was. I have had
\nLight loves, light friends, but no one ever loved me
\nWhom I desired. So was it in our boyhood’s days,
\nSo it persists. He is preferred in heaven
\nAnd earth is his’ and his humanity.
\nEven my own mother is a Niobe
\nBecause he has renounced her.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI understand,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSeeing this, the reason.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tT<\/font>IMOCLES
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhy should he always have the things I prize ?
\nWhat is his friendship but a selfish need
\nOf souls to unbosom himself to, who will share,
\nMirror and serve his greatness ? Yet it was he
\nThe clear discerning Philoctetes chose;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nUpon his shoulder leaned my royal uncle
\nPreferring him to admonish and to love;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOn me he only smiled as one too light<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor praise or censure. What’s his kingliness<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut a lust of grandiose slaughter, an ambition<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAlmost inhuman and a haughty mind<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat lifts itself above the highest heads<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAs if his mortal body held a god<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd all were mean to him ? Yet proudest men,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThoas, Theramenes, Leosthenes,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBecome unasked his servants. What’s his love?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA despot’s sensual longing for a slave,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCarnal, imperial, harsh, without respect,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe hunger of the vital self, not raised,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRefined, uplifted to the yearning heart.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYet Rodogune, my Rodogune to him<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHas offered up her moonlit purity,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHer secret need of sweetness. O she has<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 410<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nUnveiled to him her sweet proud heart of love.
\nShe would not look at me who worshipped her.
\nYou too, Phayllus, go, Cleone, go
\nAnd serve him in his tents: the future’s there,
\nNot on this brittle throne with which the gods
\nIn idle sport have mocked me.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThere must be a man<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSomewhere with this!
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tCLEONE<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\nYou shall not speak so to him.
\nLook round. King Timocles, and see how many
\nPrefer you to your brother. I am yours,
\nPhayllus works for you, princely Nicanor
\nProtects you, famed Callicrates supports.
\nYour mother only weeps in fear for you,
\nNot passion for your brother.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tT<\/font>IMOCLES<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRodogune<\/font>
\n<\/font>
Has left me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWe will have her back. Today
\nBegan, today shall end this rash revolt.
\nRise up. King Timocles, and be thyself,
\nPossess thy throne, recover Rodogune.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tT<\/font>IMOCLES<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI cannot live unless you bring her back.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThat is already seen to. My couriers ride
\nBefore them to Thrasyllus on the hills.
\nTheir flight will founder there.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 411<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nTIMOCLES <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\nO subtle, quick
\nAnd provident Phayllus! Thou, thou, deviser,
\nArt the sole minister for me. Cleone,
\nThe gods have made thee wholly beautiful
\nThat thou might’st love me.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe goes out with Cleone.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMinister! That’s something,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNot all I work for.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n(to Theras who enters)<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n\tT<\/font>HERAS <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe has escaped.
\nYour throw this time was bungled. Chancellor.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/font>HAYLLUS<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI saw this rapid flight, but afterwards ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tT<\/font>HERAS <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe band of Syrian Phliaps kept the gates.
\nWe shouted loud, but he more quick, more high,
\nLike some clear-voiced Tyrrhenian trumpet cried,
\n"Syrians, I am your king," and they at once,
\n"Hail, glorious King!" and followed at his word,
\nGalloping, till on the Orient road they seemed
\nLike specks on a white ribbon.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nLet them go.
\nThere’s yet Thrasyllus. <\/b> Or if he returns,
\nThough gods should help, though victory march his friend,
\nI am here to meet him.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 412<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE II     A hall in the palace. Rodogune, Eunice. RODOGUNE   God gave my heart and mind; they are not hers To force…<\/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-694","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\/694","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=694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}