O K '^O^^.S'^ * V.^'^ o- ^^O, 0^ ***^% "^^ <""»-» 'o. ^"^ ^^^'-'^ "^ 4 o^ y • o. . » • I 1 • Ay <^ * O M '^ o ^ 4^ J?^^ 'o» * ^K 3,0 v^ <^ PHAEDRA NITOKERT By EDITH OLIVER DUSMET PRIVATELY PRINTED ^0 Copyright 1911 by Edith Oliver Dusmet CCI.D 25601 PHAEDRA PHAEDRA Phaedra, wife of Egeus, King of Athens, loves Hip- polito, son of Egeus by a former wife. Hippoliio repulses Phaedra, who, being endowed with magic, calls down on the head of Hippolito the vengeance of the gods. Scene: Archaic Greece. Heroic Epoch. DRAMATIS PERSONAE PHAEDRA EGEUS HIPPOLITO AGATA Slave and confidant of Phaedra VIRGIN Sent by Minos as a present to Hippolito Eunuch [See page 29 for pronunciation] PHAEDRA SCENE I. Phaedra — Weep, O ye the mourners, Weep, O ye my women; Weep the lost beloved ones, Our brave great warrior men. O, thou great Jove and father, Our great god father in heaven, Bring back our young Hippolito, Too young by far for warrior. Bring out thy long black veils, O, ye the mourning women, That when the sun goes down The gods may give us victory. Agata — O, mistress dost thou see? Through yonder window there, As birds upon the heavens. Some sails are coming here. PHAEDRA [Scene Phaedra — Yes, so sure I see them coming, On yonder far horizon. That our most great Athena Could not gainsay me nay. Agata — And see, O mistress mine, 'Tis no black sail I see, 'Tis all one long white line. The sail of victory. Phaedra — Go, call the mourners now And tell them all to cease. That Hippolito's come. And come with victory. — Exit Phaedra, Agata — My mistress most almighty, Most divine and perfect Phaedra, Doth love her step-son here, Our young brave Hippolito, Our young brave Hippolito, 12 I] PHAEDRA Too young by far to suffer. What will Egeus say, Our noble king, his father? Enter Hippolito, running, Hippol. — Where is gone my mother? I have brought her many tidings, I have brought her many trophies, I have brought her many slaves! Run call her here to me And tell her to make haste, I must tell of my exploits, She will but love to hear. O, how we slew the Thebans! Their blood ran here and here; O, how we gave them battle! And took all they held most dear. Now I will go to find her, And tell her, should she come, 13 P H AE D R A [Scene To await me in this room, That I will come anon. Enter Phaedra, Phaedra — Was Hippolito here? I heard his voice anow, I did most quickly come But see that he is gone. But hast thou heard, O Agata, O Agata, my slave. What sent Minos, King of Crete, To Hippolito the most brave? He sent him three great gifts. The first a sword of massive gold And studded with such gems 'Tis a marvel to behold. And then a pair of horses Of the whiteness like the moon, 14 PHAEDRA And Apollo in his chariot Would run less fast than they. And, listen what he sent him And what I will not have — He sent him one fair virgin Of the beauty of the gods; But, no, I will not have it, Her face he shall not see; Run thou, and bring her hither. Bring her here to me. She is lodged in yonder room Above the peristyle. Over to the right. Thou canst not fail to see. She is as beautiful as Venus, As Venus the most fair, This simple virgin slave, The virgin the most fair. 15 P H AE D R A [Sctn* Enter Agata with Virgin. Phaedra — O, here she is, this virgin, Her beauty I will see, Unveil, O slave, thy face. Unveil at once to me. How earnest it now that Minos, That Minos, King of Crete, Bethought of thee as gift To throw at Hippolito's feet? Unveil, O slave, thy face That we may see thy beauty. That 'tis, as some do say. As like our goddess Venus. Ah, thou art timid, virgin! Then will I help thee then, 'Tis only for a glimpse At those great eyes of thine. — Pulls aside veil. 16 /] PHAEDRA But thou art fair indeed! By Venus I would wager That thou wouldst well compare And even in thy favor. And thou hast come for Hippolito? So Minos he didst $end thee? But 'tis not for this fair year, O, virgin, thou willst win him. — Phaedra stabs Virgin^ who falls in arms of Agata, Agata — O, mistress, what hast thou done.? What will our master say? And this poor virgin dead On this most happy day! 'Tis surely bad augury, 'Twill bring some dreadful sign, 'Twill change the minds above Of our great gods benign. 17 P H AE D RA [Scene Phaedra — Enough, thou foolish woman, Take thy amulet in hand And pray our gods above To forget thy foolish words. Agata, holding amulet and praying to the gods — But fear I do indeed, I fear the vengeance of the gods, I fear some dreadful thing. Some thing I know not of. O, ye great gods above. Keep away this evil eye. Watch over and protect us And watch we do not die. Watch over Hippolito And keep him from all harm, Watch over him and help him, And make him happy as the dawn. 18 //] PHAEDRA Make the day a long one And bring the sun to set Upon us in all comfort When we lay down to rest. SCENE II. Enter Hippolito. Hippolito—^Tis only I, my mother, 'Tis Hippolito, thy step-son, Who loves thee as a mother And has been to thee a son. What sport it all has been! And the horses how they ran! I would that thou hadst seen Thou wouldst have loved it so! But come to-morrow on the terrace, And from the terrace thou wilt see. Wilt see the horses pass like lightning, 19 P H AE D RA [Seem The horses driven by only me! But thou art sad, my mother dear, What thing doth worry thee? Tell it to thy Hippolito, Tell it, mother, tell it me. — Hippolito takes her hand and fondles it as a son, Phaedra — O 'tis nothing — perhaps the day. This day so sultry and so warm; I feel sometimes as if my throat Was being strangled While my heart was torn. HippoL — O, not so, my mother dear, 'Tis but some foolish thought of thine; Think not so, O mother dear, O, not so, O mother mine. 20 //] PHAEDRA Phaedra — I am not mother, O Hippolito; Call me Phaedra, call me that, Forget thou call'dst me ever mother, Call me Phaedra, only that. Hippol. — Ah, not so, O my mother, Say not that, not that to me. Thou art not Phaedra, But only mother, mother only to me. But why didst say that To put in the thorn That will now prick 'twixt thou, mother, and me? Now let me go. Things all seem so changed, For my only ideals Have crumbled to dust. — Exit. 21 PHAEDRA [Scene Phaedra — So now have I lost What I strove for so hard — The love of the boy — And won but his scorn. But how, he does scorn me, And dares to defy me. Me, daughter of kings! I would rather he die. O, ye great gods. Bring down on his head Some awful thing That he may be dead. A gala runs in, Agata — O Phaedra, mistress, how dare I say Such dreadful tidings I bring this day.f^ This day so full of joy and smiles 22 //] PHAEDRA That we all thought was one great smile. O Phaedra, mistress, mistress mine. How shall I say The dreadful news I bring this day? Phaedra — What sayst thou, woman. What tidings bringst thou? Say it at once. Tell me, I say. Agata — But how dare I say it, O mistress most fair. Our poor Hippolito, Whom we loved so much — Phaedra — Hippolito, sayst thou? What has happened, I say? Tell me, O slave, Or 'tis thy last day. Speak woman, — thy tongue. 23 PHAEDRA [Scene Or hast It been cut? Answer thou stupid, slave that thou art. Agata — Hippollto while driving His white fiery steeds, The steeds of Apollo, That were sent him from Crete, On the high rock embankment Above our fair city. The horses aifrighted And down the steep rocks To the waters below. To the dark gloomy kingdom Of Poseidon were thrown. Phaedra — 'Tis all me, 'tis my fault, And I knew it too well, Evil woman I am Of the dark fatal omen. 24 ^/J PHAEDRA Enter Egeus. Egeus — ^Thou hast learned the sad tidings, Phaedra, my wife. And what shalt thou answer Before me, thy lord? And how shalt thou answer Before our great gods? Phaedra — Forgive, O my lord, Forgive, O my king, 1 have brought evil oriien Unto thy great house. Forgive and forget. I will go far away Where none shall e'er find me, Where none shall e'er stray. As the flowers grow beneath our feet. As the sun comes out at morn, 25 P H AE D RA [Scene So was my love for Hippolito, A love I would have ne'er forsworn. Yet as a bird of evil omen, So come I of magic people, Yet my magic brought me no joy, It brought but death unto all people, Death it brought to Hippolito, Death it brought to thee, my king. For it tore out thy whole heart, And has made thee childless. Forgive, O Egeus, Forgive, O my lord. For 'tis not only thee. But I also who suffer. Egeus — I grant thee all forgiveness, O Queen of evil omen, Thou hast made my heart a nothing 26 II] PHAEDRA And I suffer more than men. Go with all thy women, Make a pilgrimage of years Unto where the gods abide — Perhaps they will give thee cheer. Go to Mount Olympus, The throne of our great gods — They may deign thee light And help for future years. Phaedra — ^Weep, O ye the mourners, Weep, O ye my women, Weep for my lost soul. My soul of evil omen. Weep, O ye the mourners, Weep for many years, Till all be death and ashes In this great world of cheer. Take out thy tear jugs 27 PHAEDRA And weep upon the graves Of all our men and heroes, Of all our sons so brave. And I will go away Upon this pilgrimage, Will weep that my tears too May help our dear ones gone. FINIS PRONUNCIATION Phaedra (Fay'-dra) Hippolito (E-po-leet'-o) Egeus (A-jay'-us) Agata (A-ga-ta) Minos (Mee'-nos) Athena (Ah-tay'-na) Poseidon (Po-si'-don) NITOKERT NITOKERT Nitokcrt, wife of Menkaura, King of Egypt, erects to his memory the first pyramid built in Egypt, Menkaura having been assassinated by a party of conspirators headed by his brother, Aahotep. Mempi, High Priest of Amen, envious of the favor Menkaura had shown the priesthood of Ra, aids Aahotep in the assassination. At the great banquet given to inaugurate the new king Nitokert has the conspirators poisoned and afterwards herself takes a draught from the effects of which she dies sleeping. Scene: Memphis, Egypt. Epoch: 4800 B. C. DRAMATIS PERSONAE NITOKERT Queen AAHOTEP King's Brother MEMPI High Priest of Amen NEFERT Priestess of Amen AMSI High Officer in Egyptian Army Eunuchs Chorus Slaves Flower Children [See page 65 for pronunciation] NITOKERT SCENE I. Queen Nitokert seated on the throne. Enter King^s brother, Aahotep, Aahotep — Hail to thee, O Queen, Hail to thee, great Queen, Hail to thee, O Nitokert, Wife of Menkaura! Nitokert — Rise, O brother, from off thy knee. Use not thy knee to me, O friend, Forget, O brother, I am thy Queen, And think of me as Nitokert. Aahotep — How durst I, though, forget this thing. How dare I think of thee as other? What would my noble master say, N I TO KE RT [Scene Great Menkaura, my brother? Thou art most fair, O noble Queen, Too fair for one so stern. He thinks of naught but sacred rites, His eyes toward thee not even turn. Give me one look from those great eyes, Those eyes of deep night dreams; Give me a smile from that sweet mouth, That mouth of promises so sweet, And thou'lt see if thou thinkst me not, Thinkst me not more than Menkaura, He who would pass to equal the gods, Ay, and to equal our sun-born Ra. Nitokert — Away with thee now, O my brother Aahotep, 38 /] N I TO KE RT How darst thou say such vile things to me? Thou forgetst, perchance, thou art the vassal To thy brother, liege lord, and to me. — Exit Nitokert. Aahotep, soliloquizing — She says right, my sweet queen, I am the vassal, Though slave she might have said better, To this priest of a king whom I hate but the sight, And whom the gods have made me the brother. But wait, what is that I see now before me? My brother there dead? And the kingdom is mine and Nitokert fair 39 N I TO KE RT [Scene Is mine then to wed? Yes, I will do it, by the gods I do swear. And thou, O great Ra, be my help in this now. If I succeed I will build thee a temple so great That all others will seem but small huts in thy wake. Enter Mempi. Mempi — What is it, my lord.f* My lord seems disturbed. I am a thought reader, A gift from the gods. Who knows if, perchance. Thy plain servant here Might not have some thoughts Most like unto thine? 40 /] N I TO KE RT Aahotep — What sayst thou, man? Thou thinkst like me? In what way dost thou mean? I cannot yet see. Mempi — I heard thy rash words, O most noble prince, I think as thou thinkst and will do as thou dost. I hate the great king; he thinks to do all; He aspires to be god and would see us all fall. Fall the priesthood of Amen. So hopes and aspires the great Menkaura. Aahotep — Thou too would help me demolish this tyrant, Re-establish our doctrines in this our fair land? 41 N I TO KE RT [Scene Then I would be king and would rule with great justice, I would give and donate to the priesthood of Amen One-sixth of the part of this our fair land. But stop, for I hear the step of one coming, 'Tis a woman I judge by the way that she walks. Yes, to be sure, 'tis our most fair Nefert, Our great lady, the Priestess of Amen. Mempi — Thy cousin Nefert will be also with us. For she dreams and she thinks of none other but thee. 42 /] N I TO KE RT See her step there so listless, her sweet face so lovelorn, She confides all her loves and her troubles to me. Aahotep — O most noble lady, most noble Nefert, Why so sad is that fair face so sweet? Thou seemst to scorn me as if thou didst hate me, I, who would throw my own heart at thy feet. Nefert — Ah, 'tis true, Aahotep ? I thought thou didst scorn me, I thought thou didst care but little for me. It seemed that thy thoughts were many leagues off, 43 N I TO KE RT [Scene But many, so many great leagues off from me. If thou couldst love me a little, but such a small bit, I would laugh like the lotus, the lotus so sweet, I would sing like the birds in the sycamore tree, In the sycamore tree so high. Aahotep — O my cousin, so sweet, I love thee so much. Come to me now, come now at once. Come now to my palace, come with me now, 'Tis the moment I dreamed but did tarry so long 44 N I TO KE RT Aside to Mempi — I will talk to her now when I have her with me Alone and secluded where no one will see. Her help shall we have and will fix the great day, Will fix the great day, the greatest of all, When the King Menkaura will be king no more. SCENE II. Nitokert enters and sees corpse oj Menkaura on the ground. Nitokert— O, ye gods, ye great gods! What is this I see ! My King, my sweet lord. 45 N I TO KE RT [Scene Is it true that I see? Is it true, O ye gods, That ye have now robbed me Of all that I held the most dear on this earth, And that now ye have thrown me the black widow's veil. And have made this great hall the sad hall of dearth? What shall I do? Where shall I go? Slaves, eunuchs there. Call the mourners here now. Lift your great lord, Walk with most care. Carry him yonder To the great throne room there. I will build him a tomb Such as none have e'er seen, 46 //] N I TO KE RT 'Twill be a marvel for all In the long future years. 'Twill be like a great mountain That groweth up in a plain, 'Twill be covered with marble Of a white the most vain. 'Tis my lord's brother Aahotep Who did this cruel thing, Who did murder his brother That he might be king. The kingdom he has won. But he has won even more, He has won my great vengeance, And 'tis a hard one indeed. For 'twill never die Till it sees his heart bleed And thrown out his body To rot and decay. And his bones there unburied 47 N I TO KE RT [Scene For many a day. Sees phantom of god pass 'Tis thou, O great Ra, great father god Who abides in the stars, Far above the great clouds. Tell me, O god, O tell me, I pray, Who were the murderers of this my good lord. Of my lord of great justice, the good Menkaura. Aahotep? Yes, I thought, 1 was sure of this thing. He did murder my lord That he might be king. And Mempi sayst thou? The most venered of men, Is it true that he, too. And the high priest of Ameri? 48 N I TO KE RT And then our good Amsi — O, no, not he too, He the great warrior. He also untrue! And then is it true, I can hardly believe, My sweet friend Nefert, O, I cannot conceive That she, too, would turn traitor And slaughter our King, And what motive had she? O, I cannot believe. They are traitors all four, And I vow on their heads, Before thy image, O Ra, My most dreadful revenge. But what if they too Would attack me the first And kill me before 49 N I TO KE RT [Scene I avenge the most just? They must not imagine Or think I believe Aught of their part In this wicked deed. — Exit Nitokert. Enter Nefert and Aahotep. Nefert — 'Twas a most wicked deed, I weep it but much, It haunts me by night And pursues me by day. Aahotep — How foolish thou art To think in this way; We must laugh and must sing On this most great day. To-morrow ere Ra Lifts his great golden face Will see me the king SO //] N I TO KE RT Of this our great land, Will see me the ruler Of this ancient race. Enter Mempi, Mempi — Hail to thee, O my prince, O, my future proud king! To-morrow will see thee Upon the gold throne, And on thy right finger Will I place the great ring, The great ring of all Egypt, Of Egypt all thine. Of Egypt most ancient. Of our gods most divine. Nefert — I am sad, O good Mempi, I am sad with great woes; I have dread premonitions Of dread things untold. 51 N I TO KE RT [Scene I fear for to-morrow I see not yet why, I fear some calamity, I fear we all die. Enter Amsi; salutes Prince. Amsi — I have but now seen the Queen And she suspects naught. She spoke with effusion And called me sweet names, She asked of the army And spoke of my fame. She spoke well of thee, Of thee, my great lord; Spoke of thee, Mempi, And asked for Nefert. Nefert — O let us forget. Forget this dread thing; Let us drink and be merry 52 ///] N I TO KE RT For to-morrow thou'rt king. Thou'lt be king, Aahotep, With to-morrow's blue sky. Eat, drink and be merry, For who knows when we die? SCENE III. Banquet Scene to Inaugurate Aahotep as King of Egypt, Flozuer children passing before King throw flowers at his feet. Chorus — Great Amen above Our great god art thou, Great god of our Egypt, Great Amen art thou. Aahotep — Come, drink of the wine. So strong and so sweet, Come, drink of the wine. 53 N I TO KE RT [Scene Of the sweet scented juice, O ye the divine. Nefert — Come, drink and be merry, And be this our life. And let us forget This hard world of strife. Mempi — To thee, O my king, To thee a long life; May thy justice be great That thy tread may be light. May our great god above, Great Amen divine. Preserve thee and guide thee And help thee and thine. Chorus — Great Amen above, Our great god art thou, Great god of our Egypt, Great Amen art thou. 54 ///] N ITO KE RT Aahotep — I swear by great Amen, By his most great name, That I'll be of all justice. And to all be the same. Now most noble Queen, I beg and I pray The half of this throne Thou'lt share me this day. And as is the custom In this our fair Egypt, Thou'lt wed thy new king, O, my fair Nitokert. Nitokert — 'Twill be a great honor My new lord doth do me, 'Twill be a great pleasure My great King doth give me. Amsi — Great greetings we offer The new King and Queen, 55 N I TO KE RT [Scene Great prayers we bestow For a long, happy reign. Aahotep — Come, now bring the wine And let us be gay, Let us drink the sweet grape To this most great day. Slave passes with wine and fills cups of all, Mempi — Come, sweet Nefert, Come to my arms, I will whisper sweet dreams That tell of thy charms. Amsi — ^No, here my sweet love, Forget not thy slave, I would pass through all battles Thy warm love to save. 56 ^//] N I TO KE RT Aahotep — Here I drink to ye all, To ye all, my friends; I drink to sweet love, And to our great god Amen. Nitokert — Eat, drink and be merry, For to-morrow we die; We may all lose this life, Who knows where or why? But now, first of all, May I pray ye, my friends, That we hold this great banquet To this, our late King. And we pray the good gods His soul now to speed To the land of great lands, The land off so far. The soul of the dead, Of the dead Menkaura. 57 N 1 TO KE RT [Scene Drink now to his soul, Drink all ye, my friends; And now offer prayers To our great god Ameri. Chorus — Great Amen above. Our great god art thou, Great god of our Egypt, Great Amen art thou. Nitokert — Drink, O my friends, Drink, all of ye now, Drink to the dead, The dead Menkaura. All drink of the poisoned wine Nitokert had had prepared, Amsi — My heart — , how it burns — , Oh—! Mempi — We are poisoned — , 'tis thee — O great Queen — , 'tis thee! 58 ///] N I TO KE RT Aahotep — O venomous woman — Our curses we call — On thy blood — on thy soul — And on thee! Nefert—0\i—\ Nitokert, looking at corpses of Aahotep^ Amsi, Mempi and Nefert — Now thou art avenged Thou greatest of kings, I, too, will now go For my soul is at ease. I will now go to thee. take my soul, Ra, 1 will now go to join Our great Menkaura. 59 N I TO KE RT [Scene SCENE IV. Death Scene of Nitokert. Nitokert — Farewell, O Egypt, Fair land of beauty, Home of our gods. Land everlasting. To thee, O farewell. How can I leave thee, O, Egypt most fair. With thy skies of turquoise Of a blue the most rare? O, how can I leave thee? My tears fill the Nile And water the lotus. The sweet smelling lotus, The blue, sacred lotus. The lotus divine. And thou, O great land, 60 If^ N I TO KE RT Where our gods did abide And rule us like kings With laws most benign, What will happen to thee? The stranger will take thee, Will bend thy proud neck, Will call thee barbarian And ignore thy descent. O, I weep, my poor Egypt! They will laugh at our gods. Their great pride will bend. Will scoff at our learning. They will not comprehend. O, I weep for thee, Egypt! And now must I go On the dark winding road. The road that have gone So many before; In the far away land, 61 N I TO KE RT [Seem To the land far away, In the land of our Isis, In the land of Osiris, Beyond the white clouds Towards the great setting sun. Death is for all, 'Tis now come for me, I but eat of it As a fruit off a tree, For fear knows not me. Takes goblet of deadly sleeping draught. I drink from this goblet The hard fruit of strife, Through it I may taste The sweet fruit of life. The fruit of life eternal. Farewell, O Egypt, O Egypt, farewell. Drinks draught. 62 IF] N I TO KE RT Come slumber, sweet slumber. Sweet slumber of the night, Thou encirclest my brow With thy band but too tight. Come slumber, hard slumber, 'Tis no longer sweet; I see naught but great phantoms Of all whom I meet; Come slumber, Come slumber forever. In the cold damp ground. To eternal oblivion To all others around. Come slumber forever. FINIS 63 PRONUNCIATION Nitokert (Nee-to-kairf) Aahotep (Ah-ot'-ep) Mempi (Mem'-pee) Nefert (Nef-fairf) Amsi (Ahm'-see) Ra (Raw) Amen (Ah-men') (Ah'-men) Menkaura (Men-kaw-raw') Osiris (O-seres) Isis (E'-ses) X107 * -of « •^<.,^^ r''^^ r^°^ o • » M" ^s .♦^■"^. 0^ *. .-^o.*.