Chapter 7Scene 3

Antiochus’ chamber. Antiochus, with a map before him.

ANTIOCHUS Ecbatana, Susa and Sogdiana, The Aryan country which the Indus bounds, Euphrates’ stream and Tigris’ golden sands, The Oxus and Jaxartes and these mountains Vague and enormous shouldering the moon With all their dim beyond of nations huge; This were an empire! What are Syria, Greece And the blue littoral to Gades? They are Too narrow to contain my soul, too petty To satisfy its hunger and its vastness. O pale, sweet Parthian face with liquid eyes Mid darkest masses and O gracious limbs Obscuring this epitome of earth, You will not let me fix my eyes on Susa. I never yearned for any woman yet. While Timocles with the light Theban dames Amused his careless heart, I walked aside; Parthia and Greece became my mistresses. But now my heart is filled with one pale girl. Exult not, archer. I will quiet thee With sudden and assured possession first, Then keep thee beating an eternal strain. I have loved her through past lives and many ages. The Parthian princess, lovely Rodogune! O name of sweetness! Renowned Phraates’ daughter, A bud of kings, — my glorious prisoner With those beseeching eyes. O high Antiochus, Who snatched her from among her guardian spears, Thou hast gone past but left this prophecy Of beautiful conquered Persia grown my slave To love me. It is thou, my Rodogune!

I have brought the wine.

ANTIOCHUS

Thou art the only wine, O Parthian! Wine to flush Olympian souls Is in this glorious flask. Set down the bowl. Lift up instead thy long and liquid eyes; I grudge them to the marble, Rodogune. Thou knowest well why I have sent for thee. Have we not gazed into each other’s eyes And thine confessed their knowledge?

Prince, I am Thy mother’s slave.

ANTIOCHUS

Mine, mine, O Rodogune, For I am Syria.

Thine.

ANTIOCHUS

O, thou hast spoken!

Touch me not, touch me not, Antiochus! Son of Nicanor, spare me, spare thyself. O me! I know the gods prepare some death;

I am a living misfortune.

ANTIOCHUS

Wert thou my fate Of death itself, delightful Rodogune, Not, as thou art, heaven’s pledge of bliss, I’ld not abstain From thy delight, but have my joy of thee The short while it is possible on earth. O, play not with the hours, my Rodogune. Why should brief man defer his joys and wait As if life were eternal? Time does not pause, Death does not tarry.

Alas!

ANTIOCHUS

Thou lingerest yet. Wilt thou deny the beating of our hearts That call to us to bridge these sundering paces? O, then I will command thee as a slave. Thou wouldst not let me draw thee, come thyself Into my arms, O perfect Rodogune, My Parthian captive!

Antiochus, my king!

ANTIOCHUS So heave against me like a wave for ever. Melt warmly into my bosom like the Spring, O honied breathing tumult!

O release me!

ANTIOCHUS Thou sudden sorceress, die upon my breast! My arms are cords to bind thee to this stake, Slowly to burn away in crimson fire.

Release me, O release me!

ANTIOCHUS

Not till our lips have joined Eternal wedlock. With this stamp and this And many more I’ll seal thee to myself. Eternal Time’s too short for all the kisses I yearn for from thee, O pale loveliness, Dim mystery! Press thy lips to mine. Obey. Again! and so again and even for ever Chant love, O marvel, let thy lips’ wild music Come faltering from thy heart into my bosom.

embraces his knees.

I am thine, thine, thine, thine for ever.

She rises and hides her face in her hands.

ANTIOCHUS (uncovering her face)

Beloved, Hide not thy face from love. The gods in heaven Look down on us; let us look up at them With fearless eyes of candid joy and tell them Not Time nor any of their dooms can move us now. The passion of oneness two hearts are this moment Denies the steps of death for ever.

My heart Stops in me. I can bear no more of bliss.

Oh, leave me now that I may live for thee.

ANTIOCHUS Stay where thou art. Or go, for thou art mine And I can send thee from me when I will And call thee when I will. Go, Rodogune Who yet remain with me.

faltering steps.

O Love, thou art Diviner in the enjoying. Can I now Unblinded scan this map? No, she is there; It is her eyes I see and not Ecbatana.