_Hud._ Too late?

_Maz._ We can not save the town.

_Off._ The citizens Are fleeing. Do not delay, your majesty!

[_Fire of guns is heard_]

_Hud._ Cowards! Before you fly, arrest that man.

Look to it, Golifet. You'll answer for him.

Let him be trebly guarded.

_Gol._ Is not this The missing lord, Prince Chartrien?

_Hud._ Ay, that traitor!

_Gol._ At this hot juncture, prudence must forbid A needless insult to the enemy That may too soon be master.

_Hud._ Insult!

_Gol._ Come, My lord.

_Hud._ By every G.o.d that was or is----

[_Guns again heard_]

_Gol._ Please you, retire, your majesty!

[_Men gather excitedly from different parts of the grove. Guests and servants desert the house_]

_Maz._ Come, come!

[_A sh.e.l.l breaches the wall, rear. Stones fly among the trees. The house is battered and portico torn away_]

_Hud._ Grant me this favor. Let me be the last To leave the Grove of Peace. Ha, ha! The last!

_Her._ Come, father!

_Hud._ Go! I've asked a favor, friends.

[_They turn from him and pa.s.s slowly out. Hernda and Chartrien remain_]

_Her._ Now you will come?

_Hud._ When _you_ have gone! Go, go!

[_More sh.e.l.ls. Chartrien carries Hernda away, lower left_]

_Hud._ [_Alone, racked with pain_] My foe is nearer than those feeble guns.

Bah! I could crush them! Here I am fordone.

No, no! I'll not surrender. I will live!

I'll keep my world. I fought for it, and won.

'Tis mine! I will not leave it to these mice To scramble over. [_The agony seizes him_]

A coward foe, that gives No even chance. Strikes from the dark, with blade Tempered secure in undiscovered fire.

... Shall then the world go on and I not here?

I shall be here,--a pile of dust, no more,---- That is the h.e.l.l of h.e.l.ls,--while other dead, Who made them souls here out of faith and clay, Race on unflagging,--on and leave me still,-- The everlasting mute!... Souls? That's a lie.

A ranting, tom-tom lie, to ease us on The wheel. I'll none of that. The sick mind's pap!

Imagination's vent, lest misery O'er-rack the world! Protective fume Enclouding man's last grapple till none see If he or Death be victor, and on the doubt He rides to Heaven!...

... Was 't truth that Chartrien spoke?

The race has found its eyes? Man is no more A blind and hopeless struggler cornered fast By ills unconquerable?--his l.u.s.ting wars, Diseases, hungers, Hudibrands? Then what A chance was there, my heart? If I had fought Upon his side!... _That_ battle would have made Red Fate throw down her bludgeon,--won us place To vanward of the G.o.ds!... If I had fought With him.... Obstructive clod!... My G.o.d! _My_ G.o.d?

[_He dies. Sunset has pa.s.sed, and the darkness grows rapidly until nothing is seen but the gleam of a fallen crown.

Curtain_]

A SON OF HERMES

A COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS

_CHARACTERS_

BIADES, _a young Athenian_ PELAGON, _his uncle_ SACHINESSA, _wife of Pelagon_ PHANIA, _their daughter_ SYBARIS, _a neighbor's daughter_ CREON, _friend of Biades_ AMENTOR, _a senator_ MENAS, _friend of Pelagon_ CLEARCHUS, _an Athenian youth disguised as a dancer_ PHILON, _a priest_ STESILAUS, _a lord of Sparta_ PYRRHA, _his daughter_ ARCHIPPE, _his wife_ ALCANOR, _his son_ LYSANDER, _friend of Stesilaus_ HIERON, _a young Spartan_ AGIS, LENON, GIRARDAS, _his friends_ DIANESSA, MYRTA, THEONIS, NACIA, ARTANTE, _Spartan maidens_ THE EPHORS _Senators, citizens, soldiers, dancers, etc._

ACT I

SCENE: _Pelagon's garden, Athens. Wall, rear, shutting off street.

Upper right, path to street gate. Upper and middle left, entrances to Pelagon's house. Lower left, path to a neighbor's dwelling. Lower right, path leading deeper into garden._

[_Enter, upper left, Pelagon, Stesilaus and Lysander_]

_Lys._ A gracious senate! If such welcome keys The tune to come, then our amba.s.sadry Is concord's instrument, and we may bear Fair music back to Sparta.

_Ste._ Tut, the smiles Of Athens are as flying leaves, divorced From the tree's heart, as apt to light On vagrancy as merit.

_Pel._ Stesilaus Bears hard as truth. Yet I was warmed to note The council's greeting.