Collected Works (Vol. II)

ACTUS QUINTUS 113 How shall I come? _ Shrieking and yelling? Or quiet and dumb To the heart of the dwelling? Silently striding, Whispering terror Into their ears; Watching, abiding, Madness and error, Brooder of fears ! Thus will I bring Black Ares to honour, Draw the black sting Of the serpent upon her ! How foolish to fight With the warrior God Who brings victory bright Or defeat with a nod, Who standeth to smite With a spear and a rod! Here is the woman, Thinking no evil, Wielding the human By might of a devil ! But I will mock her With cunning design, In my malice lock her. The doom is divine ! MEDEA. Ai! Ai! This rankles sorely in my mind That Pelias should wander, free to slide His sidelong looks among our courtiers Ripe ever for some mischief. Yet methinks There is a wandering other than this present— Say, by the Stygian waves, unburied corpse !— But, for the means? It ill befits our power And grace—my husband’s honour—to stretch forth The arm of murder o’er the head of age. But surely must be means—-— MADNESS. The prophecy ! VoL. 0 MEDEA. Happy my thought be! Ha! ‘* Athena shall relent not till the king Shall die and live.” Vainly the prophet meant Mere transference of the crown. his saying To daze the children — fools theyare ! So mask Evil beneath the waxen face of Good, Trick out Calamity in robes of Luck— Come, children! Is the sun bright? your eyesP I have found it. I'll twist And ALCESTIS. Dear queen, all’s well with us. Such happi- ness Crowds daylight—even sleep seems sorrow- ful, Though bright with dainty dreams ! FIRST DANAID. But you are sad ! MEDEA. I meditate the ancient prophecy. Thus a foreboding is upon my heart, Seeing some danger follow yet, o’erhang Our heads, poised gaily in incertitude ! SECOND DANAID. Nay, grieve not, dear Medea! The prophecy is well fulfilled. All men say MEDEA. Ay me! ‘Until the king shall die and live again.” ALCESTIS, What means that? MEDEA. I have meditated long. SECONI]) DANAID: To what sad end?