{"id":729,"date":"2013-07-13T01:30:02","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=729"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:30:02","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:02","slug":"53-rodogune-act-four-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\/53-rodogune-act-four-scene-2-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-53_Rodogune-Act Four-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

\n

\n <\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tA hall in the palace.
\nPhayllus, Theras.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHis fortune holds.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHe has won great victories
\nAnd stridden exultant like a god of death
\nOver Grecian, Syrian and Armenian slain;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut being mortal at each step has lost
\nA little blood. His veins are empty now.
\nWhere will he get new armies ? His small force
\nMay beat Nicanor’s large one, even reach Antioch,
\nTo find the Macedonian there. They have landed.
\nHe is ours, Theras, this great god of tempest,
\nOur captive whom he threatens, doomed to death
\nWhile he yet conquers.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nTimocles enters with Cleone, then the
\nmusicians and dancing girls.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBring in the wine and flowers; sit down, sit down.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCall in the dancers. Through the Coan robes<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLet their bright flashing limbs assault my eyes<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nCapturing the hours, imprisoning my heart<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn a white whirl of movement. Sit, Cleone.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHere on my breast, against my shoulder! You rose<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRetailed and armed, you burden of white limbs<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMade to be kissed and handled, you Cleone!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYes, let the world be flowers and flowers our crown<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith rosy linkings red as our own hearts<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf passion. O wasp soft-settling, poignant, sting,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSting me with bliss until I die of it.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 421<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nI do not like this violence. Theras, go.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTheras leaves the hall.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nDrink, brother ‘Phayllus. Your webs will glitter more brightly,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYou male Arachne. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nMore wine! I’ll float my heart out in the wine<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd pour all on the ground to naked Eros<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAs a libation. I will hide my heart<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn roses, I will smother thought with jonquils.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSing, someone to me! sing of flowers, sing mere<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDelight to me far from this troubled world.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSong<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWill you bring cold gems to crown me,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nChild of light?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRather quick from breathing closes<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBring me sunlight, myrtle, roses,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRobe me in delight.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nGive me rapture for my dress,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor its girdle happiness.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nCloser, Cleone; pack honey into a kiss.
\nAnother song! you dark-browed Syrian there!<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSong
\n<\/i>Wilt thou snare Love with rosy brightness<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo make him stay with thee ?
\nThe petulant child of a fair, cruel mother,
\nHe flees from me to crown another.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nO misery!
\nLove cannot be snared, love cannot be shared;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLight love ends wretchedly.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nRemove these wine-cups! tear these roses down!
\nWho snared me with these bonds ? Take hence, thou harlot,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 422<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThy rose-faced beauty! Thou art not Rodogune.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWhat is this meanness ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHence! leave me! I am sick
\nOf thy gold and roses.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGo, women, from the room;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe King is ill. Go, girl, leave him to me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAll go, Cleone reluctantly, leaving
\nPhayllus with Timocles.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI will not bear it any more. Give me my love
\nOr let me die.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIn a few nights from this
\nThou shalt embrace her.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSilence! It was not I.
\nWhat have I said? It was the wine that spoke.
\nLook not upon me with those eyes of thine.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe wine or some more deep insurgent spirit
\nBurns in thy blood. Thou shalt clasp Rodogune.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThy words, thy looks appal me. She’s my brother’s wife
\nSacred to me.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 423<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nHis wife? Who wedded them?
\nFor not in camps and deserts Syria’s kings
\nAccomplish wedlock. She’s his concubine.
\nSlave girl she is and bed-mate of thy brother
\nAnd may be thine. Or if she were his soul-close wife
\nDeath rends all ties.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI will not shed his blood.
\nSilence, thou tempter! he is sacred to me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThou need’st not stain thy hands. King Timocles.
\nBe he live flesh or carrion, she is thine.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nYet has she lain between my brother’s arms.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWhat if she were thy sister, should that bar thee
\nFrom satisfaction of thy heart and body?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nDo you not tremble when you say such things ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWe have outgrown these thoughts of children. King:<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNor gods nor ghosts can frighten us. You shake<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAt phantoms of opinion or you feign<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo start at such, forgetting what you are.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe royal house of Egypt heeds them not,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhere you are nursed. Your mother sprang from incest.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIf in this life you lose your Rodogune,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAre others left where you may have her bliss ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYour brother thought not so, but took her here.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 424<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nI’ll not be tempted by thee.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNo, by thyself
\nBe tempted and the thought of Rodogune.
\nOr shall we leave her to her present joys ?
\nPerhaps she sleeps yet by Antiochus
\nOr held by him to sweeter vigilance.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tT<\/font>IMOCLES
\n\t<\/font>(furiously)<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nAccursed ruffian, give her to my arms.
Use fair means or use foul, use steel, use poison,
But free me from these inner torments.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nFrom more
\nThan passion’s injuries. Trust thy fate to me
\nWho am its guardian.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nI am afraid, afraid!
\nWhat furies out of hell have I aroused
\nWithin, without me ? Let them do their will.
\nFor I must have her once between my arms,
\nThough Heaven leap down in lightnings.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 425<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE II       A hall in the palace. Phayllus, Theras. THERAS His fortune holds. PHAYLLUS He has won great victories And stridden exultant…<\/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-729","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\/729","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=729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/729\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}