{"id":727,"date":"2013-07-13T01:30:01","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=727"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:30:01","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:01","slug":"17-act-five-scene-1-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\/17-act-five-scene-1-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-17_Act Five-Scene-1.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n

\nAct Five<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/b> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n
\nSCENE I<\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/div>\n

\nThe sea-shore. Andromeda chained to the cliff.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nO iron-throated vast unpitying sea,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhose borders touch my feet with their cold kisses<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAs if they loved me f yet from thee my death<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWill soon arise, and in some monstrous form<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo tear my heart with horror before my body.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI am alone with thee on this wild beach<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFilled with the echo of thy roaring waters.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy fellowmen have cast me out: they have bound me<\/font><\/p>\n

\nUpon thy rocks to die. These cruel chains<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWeary the arms they keep held stiffly out<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAgainst the rough cold jagged stones. My bosom<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHardly contains its thronging sobs; my heart<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs torn with misery: for by my act<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy father and my mother are doomed to death,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy kind dear brother, my sweet Iolaus,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWill cruelly be slaughtered; by my act<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA kingdom ends in miserable ruin.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI thought to save two two fellowmen: I have
\nslain<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA hundred by their rescue. I have failed<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn all I did and die accursed and hated.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI die alone and miserably, no heart<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo pity me: only your hostile waves<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAre listening to my sobs and laughing hoarsely<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith cruel pleasure. Heaven looks coldly on.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYet I repent not. O thou dreadful god!<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYes, thou art dreadful and most mighty; perhaps<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThis world will always be a world of blood<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd smiling cruelty, thou its fit sovereign.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut I have done what my own heart required of me,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 157<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAnd I repent not. Even if after death
\nEternal pain and punishment await me
\nAnd gods and men pursue me with their hate,
\nI have been true to myself and to my heart,
\nI have been true to the love it bore for men,
\nAnd I repent not.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe is silent for a while.
\n<\/i>Alas! is there no pity for me ? Is there
\nNo kind bright sword to save me in all this world?
\nHeaven with its cold unpitying azure roofs me,
\nAnd the hard savage rocks surround: the deaf
\nAnd violent Ocean roars about my feet,
\nAnd all is stony, all is cold and cruel.
\nYet I had dreamed of other powers. Where art thou,
\nO beautiful still face amid the lightnings,
\nAthene ? Does a mother leave her child ?
\nAnd thou, bright stranger, wert thou only a dream ?
\nWilt thou not come down glorious from thy sun,
\nAnd cleave my chains, and lift me in thy arms
\nTo safety ? I will not die! I am too young,
\nAnd life was recently so beautiful.
\nIt is too hard, too hard a fate to bear.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe is silent, weeping. Cydone enters: she comes<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nand sits down at Andromeda’s feet.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHow beautiful she is, how beautiful!
\nHer tears bathe all her bosom. O cruel Syrians!<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat gentle touch is on my feet ? Who art thou ?<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI am Cydone. Iolaus loves me.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy brother! lives he yet ?<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 158<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe lives, dear sweetness,
\nAnd sent me to you.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA
\n\t<\/font>(joyfully)<\/i><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt was a cruel lie!
\nHe’s free?<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNo, bound and in the temple. Weep not.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAlas! And you have left him there alone ?<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe gods are with him, sister. In a few hours
\nWe shall be all together and released
\nFrom these swift perils.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTogether and released!<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOh yes, in death.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI bid you hope. O child,
\nHow beautiful you are, how beautiful,
\nIolaus’ sister! This one white slight garment
\nFluttering about you in the ocean winds,
\nYou look like some wind-goddess chained in play
\nBy frolic sisters on the wild sea-beaches.
\nI think all this has happened, little sister,
\nJust that the gods might have for one brief hour
\nYou for a radiant vision of childish beauty
\nExposed against this wild stupendous background.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYou make me smile in spite of all my grief.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 159<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nDid you not bid me hope, Cydone ?<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd now
\nI bid you trust: for you are saved.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nI feel it now.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYour name’s Andromeda?<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIolaus calls me so.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI think he cheats me.
\nYou are Iolaus changed into a girl.
\nCome, I will kiss you dumb for cheating me
\nWith changes of yourself.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nKisses her.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIf I could have
\nMy Iolaus always chained like this
\nTo do my pleasure with, I would so plague him!
\nFor he abuses me and calls me shrew,
\nMonster and vixen and names unbearable,
\nBecause he’s strong and knows I cannot beat him.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe world is changed about me.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHeaven’s above.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLook up and see it.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 160<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nThere is a golden cloud <\/font><\/p>\n

\nMoving towards me.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tC<\/font>YDONE<\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt, is Perseus. Sweetheart,
\nI go to Iolaus in the temple, \u2014
\nI mean your other fair boy-self. Kiss me,
\nO sweet girl-Iolaus, and fear nothing.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe goes out over the rocks.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI shall be saved! What is this sudden trouble
\nThat lifts the bosom of the tossing deep,
\nHurling the waves against my knees ? Save me!
\nWhere art thou gone, Cydone ? What huge head
\nRaises itself on the affrighted seas ?
\nWhere art thou, O my saviour? Come! His eyes
\nGlare up at me from the grey Ocean trough
\nHideous with brutish longing. Like great sharp rocks
\nHis teeth are in a bottomless dim chasm.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe closes her eyes in terror. Perseus enters.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nLook up, O sunny-curled Andromeda!
\nPerseus, the son of Dana\u00eb, is with thee
\nTo whom thou now belongest. Fear no more
\nSea-monsters nor the iron-souled Poseidon,
\nNor the more monstrous flinty-hearted rabble
\nWho bound thee here. This huge and grisly enemy
\nThat rises from the flood, need not affright thee.
\nThou art as safe as if thy mother’s arms
\nContained thee in thy brilliant guarded palace
\nWhen all was calm, O white Andromeda!
\nLift up thy eyes’ long curtains: aid the azure
\nWith thy regards, O sunshine. Look at me<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd see thy safety.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 161<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nO thou hast come to me!
\nIt was not only a radiant face I dreamed of.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIn time to save-, thee, my Andromeda.
\nSole jewel of the world. I go to meet
\nThy enemy, confronting grim Poseidon.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nO touch me ere you go that I may feel
\nYou are real.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nLet my kiss, sweet doubting dreamer,
\nConvince thee. Now I dart like a swift hawk
\nUpon my prey and smite betwixt the billows.
\nWatch how I fight for thee. I will come soon
\nTo gather thee into my grasp, my prize
\nOf great adventure.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nThe music of his name
\nWas in my brain just now. What must I call thee?
\nPerseus, the son of Dana\u00eb! Perseus!
\nPerseus, Athene’s sword! Perseus, my sungod!
\nO human god of glad Andromeda!
\nForgive, Athene, my lack of faith. Thou art!
\nHow like a sudden eagle he has swooped
\nUpon the terror, that lifts itself alarmed,
\nSwings its huge length along the far-ridged billows<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd upwards yawns its rage. O great Athene!
\nIt belches fiery breath against my Perseus
\nAnd lashes Ocean in his face. The sea
\nIs tossed upon itself and its huge bottoms
\nCatch chinks of unaccustomed day. But the aegis<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 162<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOf Perseus hurls the flame-commingled flood<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBack in the dragon’s eyes: it shoots its lightnings<\/font><\/p>\n

\nInto the horizon like fire-trailing arrows.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe world surprised with light gazes dismayed<\/font><\/p>\n

\nUpon the sea-surrounded war, ringed in<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith foam and flying, tumult. O glorious sight,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nToo swift and terrible for human eyes!<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI will pray rather. Virgin, beautiful<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAthene, virgin-mother of my soul!<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI cannot lift my hands to thee, they are chained<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo the wild cliff, but lift my heart instead,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nVirgin, assist thy hero in the fight.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDescend, armipotent maiden, child of Zeus,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShoot from his god-like brain the strength of will<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat conquers evil: in one victorious stroke<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCollecting hurl it on the grisly foe.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou, thou art sword and shield, and thou the force<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat uses shield and sword, virgin Athene.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe tumult ceases and the floods subside.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI dare not look. And yet I will. O death,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThou tossest there inertly on the flood,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nA floating mountain. Perseus comes to me<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTouching the waves with airy-sandalled feet,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBright and victorious.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPerseus returns.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe grisly beast is slain that was thy terror,
\nAnd thou may’st sun the world with smiles again,
\nAndromeda.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThou hast delivered me, O Perseus, Perseus,
\nsovereign.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGirl, I take into my arms<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 163<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nMy own that I have won and with these kisses
\nSeal to me happy head and smiling eyes,
\nBright lips and all of thee, thou sunny Syrian.
\nAll thy white body is a hero’s guerdon.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font>,<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nSweetly thou tak’st my eager kisses
\nWith lovely smiles and glorious blushing cheeks
\nRejoicing in their shame.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI am chained, Perseus,
\nAnd cannot help myself.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nO smile of sweetness!
\nI will unravel these unworthy bonds
\nAnd rid thee of the cold excuse.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy chains ?
\nThey do not hurt me now, and I would wear them
\nA hundred times for such a happy rescue.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThou tremblest yet!<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSome sweet and sudden fear
\nO’ertakes me! O what is it? I dare not look
\nInto thy radiant eyes.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSweet tremors, grow<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 164<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nUpon her. Never shall harsher fears again<\/font><\/p>\n

\nO’ertake your rosy limbs, in Perseus’ keeping.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHow fair thou art, my prize Andromeda!<\/font><\/p>\n

\nO sweet chained body, chained to love not death,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat with a happy passiveness endures<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMy touch, once more, once more. And now fall down<\/font><\/p>\n

\nClashing into the deep, you senseless irons,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat took a place my kisses only merit.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPrincess of Syria, child of imperial Cepheus,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nStep forward free.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA
\n\t<\/font>(falling at his feet and embracing them)<\/i><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nO Perseus, O my saviour!
\nWilt thou not also save those dear to me
\nAnd make this life thou givest worth the giving?
\nMy father, mother, brother, all I love,
\nLie for my fault shuddering beneath the knife.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIt was a glorious fault, Andromeda.
\nTremble not for thy loved ones. Wilt thou trust
\nThy cherished body in my arms to bear
\nUpward, surprising Heaven with thy beauty?
\nOr wilt thou fear to see the blue wide Ocean
\nBetween thy unpropped feet, fathoms below ?<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>NDROMEDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith you I fear not.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nCling to me then, sweet burden,
\nAnd we will meet our enemies together.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe puts his arms round her to lift
\nher and the curtain falls.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage <\/font>
\n\u2013 165<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Act Five   SCENE I   The sea-shore. Andromeda chained to the cliff. ANDROMEDA O iron-throated vast unpitying sea, Whose borders touch my feet with…<\/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-727","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\/727","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=727"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/727\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}