{"id":759,"date":"2013-07-13T01:30:14","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=759"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:30:14","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:14","slug":"42-rodogune-act-one-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\/42-rodogune-act-one-scene-2-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-42_Rodogune-Act One-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

\nThe colonnade of a house in Antioch, overlooking the sea.
\nAntiochus, Philoctetes.<\/i><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe summons comes not and my life still waits.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPatience, beloved Antiochus. Even now
\nHe fronts the darkness.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNothing have I spoken
\nAs wishing for his death. His was a mould
\nThat should have been immortal. But since all
\nAre voyagers to one goal and wishing’s vain
\nTo hold one traveller back, I keep my hopes.
\nO Philoctetes, we who missed his life,
\nShould have the memory of his end! Unseen
\nHe goes from us into the shades unknown:<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWe are denied his solemn hours.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAll men
\nAre not like thee, my monarch, and this king
\nWas great but dangerous as a lion is
\nWho lives in deserts mightily alone.
\nAdmire him from that distance.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nO fear and base suspicion, evillest part<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf Nature, how you spoil our grandiose life!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAll heights are lowered, our wide embrace restrained,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nGod’s natural sunshine darkened by your fault.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWe were not meant for darkness, plots and hatred<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nReading our baseness in another’s mind,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 346<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nBut like good wrestlers, hearty comrades, hearty foes,
\nTo take and give in life’s great lists together
\nBlows and embraces.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nA mother’s love, a mother’s fears
\nEarn their excuse.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI care not for such love.
\nO Philoctetes, all this happy night
\nI could not sleep; for proud dreams came to me
\nIn which I sat on Syria’s puissant throne,
\nOr marched through Parthia with the iron pomps
\nOf war resounding in my train, or swam
\nMy charger through the Indus undulant,
\nOr up to Ganges and the torrid south
\nRestored once more the Syrian monarchy.
\nIt is divinity on earth to be a king.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBut if the weaker prove the elder born ?
\nIf Timocles were Fate’s elected king?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nDear merry Timocles! he would not wish
\nTo wear the iron burden of a crown;<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nIf he has joy, it is enough for him.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSunshine and laughter and the arms of friends<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nGuard his fine monarchy of cheerful mind.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIf always Fate were careful to fit in<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe nature with the lot! But she sometimes<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLoves these strange contrasts and crude ironies.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 347<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nHas not nurse Mentho often sworn to me
\nThat I, not he, saw earth the first ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAnd when
\nDid woman’s tongue except in wrath or malice
\nDeliver truth that’s bitter?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPhiloctetes,
\nDo you not wish me to be king?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWhy left I then
\nNile in his fields and Egypt slumbering
\nCouchant upon her sands, but to pursue
\nYour gallant progress sailing through life’s seas
\nShattering opponents till your flag flew high
\nSole admiral-ship of all this kingly world ?
\nBut since upon this random earth unjust
\nWe travel stumbling to the pyre, not led
\nBy any Power nor any law, and neither
\nWhat we desire nor what we deserve
\nArrives, but unintelligible dooms
\nO’ertake us and the travesty of things,
\nIt is better not to hope too much.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIt is better
\nTo lift our hopes heaven-high and to extend them
\nAs wide as earth. Heaven did not give me in vain
\nThis royal nature and this kingly form,
\nThese thoughts that wear a crown. They were not meant
\nFor mockery nor to fret a subject’s heart.
\nDo you not hear the ardour of those hooves ?
\nMy kingdom rides to me.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 348<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe hastens to the other end of the colonnade.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nO glorious youth
\nWhose young heroic arms would gird the world,
\nI like a proud and \u2022’anxious mother follow,
\nDesiring, fearing, drawn by cords of hope and love,
\nAdmire and doubt, exult and quake and chide.
\nShe is so glad of her brave, beautiful child,
\nBut trembles lest his courage and his beauty’
\nAlarm the fatal jealousy that watches us
\nFrom thrones unseen.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThoas and Melitus enter from the gates.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAre these the Syrian twins?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe elder of them only, Antiochus
\nOf Syria.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSon of Nicanor! Antiochus
\nThe high Seleucid travels the dull stream
\nAnd Syria’s throne is empty for his heir.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nA glorious sun has fallen then from heaven
\nSaddening the nations, even those he smote.
\nIt is the rule of Nature makes us rise
\nDespite our hearts replacing what we love,
\nAnd I am happy who am called so soon
\nTo rule a nation of such princely men.
\nAre you not Thoas ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThoas of Macedon.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 349<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nThoas, we shall be friends. Will it be long
\nBefore we march together through the world
\nTo stable our horses in Persepolis?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe turns to speak to Timocles who has
\njust entered and goes into the house.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>ELITUS<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThis is a royal style and kingly brow.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe man is royal. What a face looks forth
\nFrom under that bright aureole of hair!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI greet you, Syrians. Shall I know your names ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>ELITUS<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMelitus. This is Thoas.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMelitus?
\nOh yes, of Macedon.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>EHTUS <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNo, Antioch.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIt is the same.
\nWe talked of you in Alexandria and in Thebes,
\nAll of you famous captains. Your great names
\nAre known to us, as now yourselves must be
\nKnown and admired and loved.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tM<\/font>ELITUS <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYour courtesy
\nOverwhelms me; but I am no captain, only<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 350<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe King’s poor chamberlain, your servant come
\nTo greet you.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNot therefore less a cherished friend
\nWhose duty helps our daily happiness. ,
\nThoas, your name is in our country’s book
\nInscribed too deeply to demand poor praise
\nFrom one who never yet has drawn his sword
\nIn anger.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI am honoured. Prince. Do not forget
\nYour mother is waiting for you after eighteen years.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy mother! <\/b> O, I have a mother at last.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYou lords shall tell me as we go, how fair<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe is or dark like our Egyptian dames,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNoble and tall or else a brevity<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf queenhood. And her face \u2014 but that, be sure,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs the sweet loving face I have seen so often<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn Egypt when I lay awake at night<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd heard the breezes whispering outside<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith many voices in the moonlit hours.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt is late, Thoas, is it not, a child to see<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHis mother when eighteen years have made him big?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThis, this is Paradise, a mother, friends<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd Syria. In our swart Egypt ’twas no life, \u2014<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAlthough I liked it well when I was there;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut <\/b> O, your Syria! I have spent whole hours<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWatching your gracile Syrian women pass<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWith their bright splendid faces. And your flowers,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhat flowers! and best of all, your sun, not like<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThat burning Egypt, but a warmth, a joy<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd a kind brightness. It will be all pleasure<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo reign in such a country.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 351<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tA<\/font>NTIOCUS
\n\t<\/font>(returning from the house)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLet us ride
\nInto our kingdom.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAntioch in sweet Syria,
\nThe realm for gods, and Daphne’s golden groves,
\nAnd sweet Orontes hastening to the sea!
\nRide by me, Melitus, tell me everything.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 352<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE II     The colonnade of a house in Antioch, overlooking the sea. Antiochus, Philoctetes. ANTIOCHUS The summons comes not and my life still…<\/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-759","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\/759","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=759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/759\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}