Chapter 14Scene 2

Cydone’s Garden. Cydone, Iolaus, Perseus. CYDONE Perseus, you did not turn him into stone? IOLAUS You cruelty! must one go petrifying One’s fellows through the world? ’Twould not be decent. CYDONE He would have been so harmless as a statue! PERSEUS The morning has broken over Syria and the sun Mounts royally into his azure kingdom. I feel a stir within me as if great things Were now in motion and clear-eyed Athene Urging me on to high and helpful deeds. There is a grandiose tumult in the air, A voice of gods and Titans locked in wrestle. Diomede enters. DIOMEDE Ah, prince! She bursts into tears. IOLAUS Diomede, what calamity?

Act IV, Scene 2 DIOMEDE Flee, flee from Syria, save thyself. IOLAUS From Syria! Am I alone in peril? Then I’ll sit And wait. DIOMEDE Poseidon’s monsters from the deep Arise to tear us for our sin. The people In fury, led by Polydaon, march Upon the palace, crying, “Slay the King, Butcher the Queen, and let Andromeda And Iolaus die.” O my sweet playmate, They swear they’ll bind her naked to the rocks Of the sea-beach for the grim monster’s jaws To tear and swallow. IOLAUS My sword, my sword, Cydone! DIOMEDE Oh, go not to the fierce and bloody people! Praxilla stole me out, hiding my face In her grey mantle: I have outrun the wind To warn you. Had the wild mob recognised me, They would have torn me into countless pieces, And will you venture near whose name they join With death and cursings? Polydaon leads them. CYDONE Had he been only stone! IOLAUS My sword! Cydone gives him the sword. Perseus goes out to the cottage.

Perseus the Deliverer DIOMEDE You’ll go? What will you do alone against ten thousand? IOLAUS To die is always easy. This canaille I do not fear; it is a coward rabble. DIOMEDE But terror gives them fierceness: they are dangerous. IOLAUS Keep Diomede for your service, love, If I am killed; escape hence with your mother To Gaza; she has gold: you may begin A life as fair there. Sometimes remember me. CYDONE Diomede, will you comfort my dear mother? Tell her I am quite safe and will be back By nightfall. Hush! this in your ear, Diomede. Escape with her under the veil of night, For I shall not come back. Be you her daughter And comfort her sad lonely age, Diomede. IOLAUS What do you mean, Cydone? CYDONE Are you ready? Let us be going. IOLAUS Us, sweet lunatic? CYDONE Often you’ve said that you and I are only one, I shall know now if you mean it.

Act IV, Scene 2 IOLAUS You shall not give To the rude mob’s ferocious violence The beautiful body I have kissed so often. You’ll not obey me? CYDONE No. IOLAUS Leave this you shall not. CYDONE I do not know how you will stop me. IOLAUS Shrew! You shall be stopped by bonds. Here you’ll remain Tied to a tree-trunk by your wilful wrists Till all is over. Perseus returns, armed. CYDONE I’ll bring the tree and all and follow you. IOLAUS Oh, will you, Hercules? PERSEUS Forbid her not, My Iolaus; no tress of her shall fall. I have arisen and all your turbulent Syria Shall know me for the son of Zeus. IOLAUS Perseus, Art thou indeed a god? What wilt thou do,

Perseus the Deliverer One against a whole people? What way hast thou? PERSEUS This is no hour to speak or plan, but to act. A presence sits within my heart that sees Each moment’s need and finds the road to meet it. Dread nothing; I am here to help and save. IOLAUS I had almost forgotten; the might thou hast shown Is a sufficient warrant. CYDONE I shall come back, Diomede. PERSEUS My grip is firm on Herpe, Athene’s aegis guards my wrist; herself The strong, omnipotent and tranquil goddess Governs my motions with her awful will. Have trust in me. Borne on my bright-winged sandals Invisibly I will attend your course On the light breezes. He goes out followed by Iolaus and Cydone. DIOMEDE I am too tired to follow, Too daunted with their mad-beast howls. Here let me hide Awaiting what event this war of gods May bring to me and my sweet-hearted lady. O my Andromeda! my little playmate! She goes out towards the cottage weeping.