_Zetho._ Then, be it as you will. See, therefore, to it; Take measures that your will be done, not mine.

Though I approve not, yet I may not set My will against the universal voice.

Save us our Cherson. For the rest I care not, Only I grieve to break our solemn promise To Lamachus's child. Poor heart! poor heart!

ACT V.

SCENE I.--_Outside_ LAMACHUS'S _palace._

MEGACLES, LYSIMACHUS, Courtiers, _and_ Citizens _of Cherson._

_Meg._ Oh, this has been a happy day. All has gone admirably. Not a hitch in all the arrangements. Precedence kept, rank observed, dresses all they should be. I do not, I really do not think, though I say it who should not, that the Imperial Chamberlain at Constantinople could have conducted the matter better.

_1st Court._ Nay, that he could not, good Megacles. Let us hope that what remains to do will go as smoothly.

_Meg._ What remains? Doubtless you mean the banquet. That is all arranged long ago under three heads. First, the order of entering the hall; second, the order of the seats; third, the order of going forth.

_Lys._ Doubtless the last will arrange itself. Remember, the only order of going to be observed is this, that thou get thyself gone, and all the guests from Cherson gone, fully half an hour before midnight.

_Meg._ But, my lord, that is impossible; you ask too much. How long do you suppose it will take, at a moderate computation, to get one hundred men of ill-defined rank out of a room with a decent regard for Precedence. Why, I have seen it take an hour at the Palace, where everybody knew his place, and here I cannot undertake to do it under two.

_Lys._ My friend, you will get it done; you will waive ceremony. None but the Prince and ourselves must remain within half an hour of midnight, and the hall must be cleared.

_Meg._ Ah, well, my Lord Lysimachus, the responsibility rests with you; I will have none of it. It is as much as my reputation is worth.

But if I do this, cannot you let me have a guard of honour of armed men to stand at intervals along the hall. I have been longing for them all day.

_Lys._ (_angrily_). Peace, fool! I have told you before we have no soldiers here.

[People _of Cherson overhearing him._

_1st Cit._ Didst hear that old man? He believes there are soldiers here. Whence do they come? and why did the other check him?

_Meg._ Well, my Lord Lysimachus, if not soldiers, men-at-arms, and these there certainly are, and highly decorative too.

_2nd Cit._ I hate these Bosphorians. What if the rumour should be true? Pa.s.s the word to the citizens that they sleep not to-night, but keep their arms ready for what may come. We are a match for them, whatever may be their design. To-morrow we will probe this matter to its depths.

_2nd Court._ Depend upon it, there is no time to lose if we would forestall these fellows. But here comes the procession to the banqueting-hall.

[Citizens _going to banquet two and two._

_Meg._ (_with a gold wand_). This way, gentlemen; this way, masters and mistresses; this way, Respectables!

[_Accompanies them to the end of the stage towards the banqueting-hall in the distance. Returns to escort another party._ Musicians, _etc._

_Enter_ Senators, _two and two._

_Meg._ (_bowing profoundly three times_). Most Ill.u.s.trious Senators!

this way, your Highnesses; this way.

_Enter_ MELISSA _and other_ Ladies.

(_To_ MELISSA) Fairest and loveliest of your adorable s.e.x, your slave prostrates himself before your stainless and beatific feet (_bowing low and kissing his fingers_). Ill.u.s.trious Ladies, I pray you to advance.

_Lys._ (_with Courtiers standing apart_). A good appet.i.te, my friends. Enjoy yourselves while you may.

_Bard._ We are quite ready, my Lord Lysimachus. Are you not (_with a sneer_) for the banquet?

_Lys._ In good time, in good time. If they only knew.

[_Aside._

_Bard._ (_overhearing_). If _you_ knew all, my friends.

_Meg._ (_returning_). I pray you, most Ill.u.s.trious Senators, to excuse the absence of a guard of honour.

_Bard._ Nay, nay; we are peaceful people, and have no armed men nearer than Bosphorus, as my Lord Lysimachus knows. There are plenty in that favoured State, no doubt.

_Lys._ (_confused_). What does this insolence mean? I would the hour were come.

_Enter_ ZETHO, _with his retinue._

_Meg._ Your Gravity, Your Sincerity, Your Sublime and Wonderful Magnitude, Your Ill.u.s.trious and Magnificent Highness, I prostrate myself before Your Alt.i.tude. Will You deign to walk this way?

_Zetho._ My lord, I am no Caesar, but a simple citizen of Cherson, called by my fellows to preside over the State. Use not to me these terms, I pray of you, but lead on quickly.

_Meg._ I prostrate myself before Your Eminence.

_Enter_ ASANDER _and_ GYCIA.

_Meg._ (_returning_). n.o.ble Prince, will your Ill.u.s.trious Consort and yourself deign to follow me?

_Asan._ Nay, good Megacles, will you and these gentlemen go first? I have a word to say to the Lady Gycia. We will be with you before the guests are seated.

_Meg._ I obey, my Lord Asander, and will await you at the door.

[MEGACLES, LYSIMACHUS, _and the rest, pa.s.s on._

_Asan._ Gycia, though we have pa.s.sed from amity And all our former love, yet would I pray you, By our sweet years of wedded happiness, Give ear to me a moment. It may be That some great shock may come to set our lives For evermore apart.

_Gycia._ Ah yes, Asander-- For evermore apart!

_Asan._ And I would fain, If it must be, that thou shouldst know to-night That never any woman on the earth Held me one moment in the toils of love Except my wife.

_Gycia._ What! not Irene's self?

_Asan._ Never, I swear by Heaven. She was a woman In whom a hopeless pa.s.sion burnt the springs Of maiden modesty. I never gave her The solace of a smile.