Chapter 10Act III, Scene 1

Act III Scene 1 The women’s apartments of the Palace. Andromeda, Diomede. ANDROMEDA All’s ready, let us go. DIOMEDE Andromeda, My little mistress whom I love, let me Beseech you by that love, do not attempt it. Oh, this is no such pretty wilfulness As all men love to smile at and to punish With tenderness and chidings. It is a crime Full of impiety, a deed of danger That venturous and iron spirits would be aghast To dream of. You think because you are a child, You will be pardoned, because you are a princess No hand will dare to punish you. You do not know Men’s hearts. They will not pause to pity you, They will not spare. The people in its rage Will tear us both to pieces, limb from limb, With blows and fury, roaring round like tigers. Will you expose yourself to that grim handling Who cry out at the smallest touch of pain? ANDROMEDA Do not delay me on the brink of action. You have said these things before.

Act III, Scene 1 DIOMEDE You shall not do it. I will not go with you. ANDROMEDA So you expose me To danger merely and break the oath you swore; For I must do it then unhelped. DIOMEDE I’ll tell Your mother, child, and then you cannot go. ANDROMEDA I shall die then on the third day from this. DIOMEDE What! you will kill yourself, and for two strangers You never saw? You are no human maiden But something far outside mortality, Princess, if you do this. ANDROMEDA I shall not need. You threaten me with the fierce people’s tearings, And shall I not be torn when I behold My fellows’ piteous hearts plucked from their bosoms Between their anguished shrieks? I shall fall dead With horror and with pity at your feet: Then you’ll repent this cruelty. She weeps. DIOMEDE Child, child! Hush, I will go with you. If I must die, I’ll die.

Perseus the Deliverer ANDROMEDA Have I not loved you, Diomede? Have I not taken your stripes upon myself, Claiming your dear offences? Have I not lain Upon your breast, stealing from my own bed At night, and kissed your bosom and your hands For very love of you? And I had thought You loved me: but you do not care at last Whether I live or die. DIOMEDE Oh hush! I love you, I’ll go with you. You shall not die alone, If you are bent on dying. I’ll put on My sandals and be with you in a moment. Go, little princess. I am with you; go. She goes. ANDROMEDA O you poor shuddering men, my human fellows, Horribly bound beneath the grisly knife You feel already groping for your hearts, Pardon me each long moment that you wrestle With grim anticipation. O, and you, If there is any god in the deaf skies That pities men or helps them, O protect me! But if you are inexorably unmoved And punish pity, I, Andromeda, Who am a woman on this earth, will help My brothers. Then, if you must punish me, Strike home. You should have given me no heart; It is too late now to forbid it feeling. She is going out. Athene appears. What is this light, this glory? who art thou, O beautiful marble face amid the lightnings? My heart faints with delight, my body trembles, Intolerable ecstasy beats in my veins;

Act III, Scene 1 I am oppressed and tortured with thy beauty. ATHENE I am Athene. ANDROMEDA Art thou a goddess? Thy name We hear far off in Syria. ATHENE I am she Who helps and has compassion on struggling mortals. ANDROMEDA (falling prostrate) Do not deceive me! I will kiss thy feet. O joy! thou art! thou art! ATHENE Lift up thy head, My servant. ANDROMEDA Thou art! there are not only void Azure and cold inexorable laws. ATHENE Stand up, O daughter of Cassiope. Wilt thou then help these men of Babylonia, My mortals whom I love? ANDROMEDA I help myself, When I help these. ATHENE To thee alone I gave This knowledge. O virgin, O Andromeda,

Perseus the Deliverer It reached thee through that large and noble heart Of woman beating in a little child. But dost thou know that thy reward shall be Betrayal and fierce hatred? God and man Shall league in wrath to kill and torture thee Mid dire revilings. ANDROMEDA My reward shall be To cool this anguish of pity in my heart And be at peace: if dead, O still at peace! ATHENE Thou fearst not then? They will expose thee, child, To slaughter by the monsters of the deep Who shall come forth to tear thy limbs. ANDROMEDA Beyond too Shall I be hated, in that other world? ATHENE Perhaps. ANDROMEDA Wilt thou love me? ATHENE Thou art my child. ANDROMEDA O mother, O Athene, let me go. They linger in anticipated pangs. ATHENE Go, child. I shall be near invisibly.

Act III, Scene 1 She disappears. Andromeda stands with clasped hands straining her eyes as if into infinity. Diomede returns. DIOMEDE You are not gone as yet? what is this, princess? What is this light around you! How you are altered, Andromeda! ANDROMEDA Diomede, let us go. They go out.