Andromache by Gilbert Murray (free reads txt) 📕

do you tremble so? What is it?

Hermione.

That oath I swore——

Orestes.

You have not heard Them?

Hermione.

I know not. There seemed shapes at the edge of the trees.

Orestes.

Shapes!  [Looks at her close.]  No; you have not seen them.

Hermione.

[With horror.]  Is the sight of them written on men's faces?

Orestes.

Speak not of them!—You have neither seen nor heard.

Hermione.

It is only now, and here, that I am afraid. Take me to the ship now; and when once it is over——

Orestes.

When Pyrrhus is slain?

Hermione.

And the other—[clinging to him]—oh, then we shall be safe and at peace.

Orestes.

The boy? Why do you fear him?

Hermione.

[Absently.]  The boy? He is the king's son.

Orestes.

But why do you fear him?

Hermione.

It is not the boy I fear.

Orestes.

Who, then?

Hermione.

It is the woman.

Orestes.

[Repelled.]  And what fear you from her? I care not to slay a woman and a child.

Hermione.

I can never breathe in peace while she is there!

Orestes.

[Sternly.]  What has she done?

Hermione.

[Speaking in vague, troubled tones.]  When she is near me, even if I know it not, her breath runs in my blood and makes me tremble. [She is trembling.

Orestes.

Be still! Say what she has done. If she has done you a wrong I will slay her.

Hermione.

[In the same way.]  I might have borne her eyes perchance in my own country, with friends near me; but here, all alone——

Orestes.

What has she done?

Hermione.

[In the same way.]  I meant no hurt to her for her sharing the king's bed. But when first I saw her and she looked straight into me, there was something that turned my heart sick and dimmed my eyes.

Orestes.

How can I slay her for dreams like these? I know nought of your heart, but I can see your beauty. She has not hurt that.

Hermione.

Can you not see a dimness over my face, where it once was bright—and a radiance in hers?

Orestes.

[Reflecting.]  There is a radiance, although she is so sad.

Hermione.

Where got she that radiance? It is not hers. It is the joy and sunlight she has sucked out of me!

Orestes.

[Looking at her coldly.]  I can see no cloud in your face.

Hermione.

[Passionately.]  No, no, you cannot see. I am rotting, shrivelling, dying within; and only she can see how I die!

Orestes.

All flesh must decay. Tell me one deed of hate she has done, and I will slay her.

Hermione.

She has made me childless, that her child may be king!

Orestes.

[To himself.]  And Helen never faded at all.

Hermione.

Childless, barren—barren of womb and of heart!—I had courage and strength to bear good sons, till she sapped it from me to feed her son. Nay, there is another thing——

Orestes.

[Coldly.]  What?

Hermione.

No, no, you do not believe me! I cannot say it.

Orestes.

You speak such wild things.

Hermione.

I know not why I am so wild now, and anger you.—When she is near, it makes me wild and cruel; but now, I know not why this should come over me.

Orestes.

Great Zeus! if it should be true!—Andromache, Andromache, speak and answer her.

Hermione.

Is she here?  [Andromache comes out from the trees by the altar.] Averter of Evil, what is that?

Andromache.

I am but your handmaid, I have done you no hurt.

Hermione.

Nay, now you can see it—the thing I dared not say!

Orestes.

What is it?

Hermione.

She is no live woman! See! she is dead and sucks the blood of the living. Why is she not afraid, like a live woman?

Orestes.

[Troubled.]  She is deathly white. Why she has no fear I know not.

Andromache.

What can I answer? The King might slay me, but not this man.

Orestes.

It was the same but now, when I held death over her.

Hermione.

She has passed through death! She has no fear, no anger, as the living have. Why does she never ask for anything?  [Almost beside herself with terror.]  Faugh! the smell of death clings about all her garments! Kill her, kill her!  [Orestes looks at Hermione with a shudder. Hermione, breaking down, continues.]  Oh, friend, friend, I was not like this in Sparta.

Andromache.

Queen, I know my heart is with the dead of Troy. Why should that anger you?

Orestes.

[Looking at Hermione.]  In very truth there is a shadow come over you. You seem to be shrunken, and scarce so wondrous beautiful.

Hermione.

[In a weary frightened voice.]  Kill her, kill her!

Orestes.

I know not——

Hermione.

You have eyes. Can you not see there is a fiend working in me?

Andromache.

There is no fiend. Queen, Queen, why are you so full of hate?

Hermione.

'Tis your spells have done it! Before I came here I never hated any one.

Orestes.

[To Andromache.]  Know you not any cause why she should hate you?

Andromache.

Nay, stranger, why do men hate?

Hermione.

She has made me feel that I am vile. Slay her, or I go back to the King.

Orestes.

Pyrrhus most like is dead. If I do slay her will you come away with me?

Hermione.

Away? To the ship? Yes; till we come back and take the kingdom!

Orestes.

I will not take your kingdom!

Hermione.

Is it the boy you fear to slay?

Orestes.

My kingdom must be an ever-changing kingdom. I dreamed for an hour that I might stay and rest like other men.

Hermione.

And why not?

Orestes.

There be Those watching that will not let me rest.

Hermione.

Those watching? But you have not seen them? I have not seen anything! [To herself.

Orestes.

Not now. Few men have ever seen them; but I hear their wings on the wind. And perchance if I stayed long in one place——

Hermione.

I hear nothing. [Listening.]  No, it cannot be wings on the wind! Oh!

Andromache.

Nay, there is no sound at all. Be not so terrified.

Hermione.

I cannot stay here alone! Oh, I care not for the kingdom.

Orestes.

We are exiles for ever, both!

Hermione.

Nay, if you love me I can bear anything; if any one will love me.

Orestes.

I know not if I love or hate you. It was for your passing beauty I came, because your eyes beaconed me through the dark of the sea.

Hermione.

Oh, take me; that is all the love I want!

Orestes.

Like those two stars that men call Helen's brethren, immortal, never fading——

Hermione.

Oh, I am fading fast, but, perchance, if the spell were off me——

Orestes.

Nay, you shall never fade. There is a blue sunlit island, waterless, desolate—Hear me, daughter of Helen, ageless and deathless!

Hermione.

I hear.

Orestes.

Some sunset when you are beautiful like a dream I will set you on that bright island, and fill my eyes full. And then I will go my ways alone, and the fairest of earthly things shall be mine for ever.

Hermione.

What do you mean?

Orestes.

No man shall ever see you fade from your loveliness. The gods may take you even as they took Helen.

Andromache.

Oh, he is mad! Queen, Queen, go back while there is time.

Hermione.

[Shrinking back.]  I should die! I am afraid!

Orestes.

Die? Of that I know not. Only never, never fade; perfect for ever without age or waning! Daughter of Helen, will you come with me? [A sound of arms outside. They start.

Hermione.

Oh, quick! I am yours. Do with me what you will.

Orestes.

Come. [Sound again.]  What is that?

Voice of Pyrrhus.

Andromache! Ho! snake of Phrygia, starve at the altar if you will! Your plotters are all fled!

[Orestes stands in posture of defence. Hermione shrinks back.

Andromache.

[To Molossus.]  Cling fast!  [Rushing from the altar towards Pyrrhus.] Back, my king! Keep back!

Hermione.

[To Orestes, with a cry.]  Now, now! [Hides her face.

Molossus.

[Waking up slowly.]  Is that father coming?

Pyrrhus.

[Entering and grasping Andromache.]  Think you to die so easily? You shall speak first and tell all!

Andromache.

There is an ambush! Keep back!

[Pyrrhus stands with his sword drawn over her.

Pyrrhus.

[Looking up.]  More treachery?

Orestes.

Why is the son of Achilles away from the battle?

Pyrrhus.

You? Pirate! Because your men fled so fast and so far. My servants have chased them twenty furlongs from here. Yield!

Orestes.

[Loud.]  No man shoot nor stir!  [As before.]  Your Myrmidons may be twenty furlongs from here; my men are in these thickets to right and left. What sought you here? Was it to slay Andromache?

Pyrrhus.

I sought that when I came. Now I need more.

[He poises his spear. Andromache slips back to Molossus at the altar.

Orestes.

[Not raising his spear.]  Nay, it was I that should have slain Andromache. Go your ways! I only take back my own bride.

[Pointing to Hermione, whom Pyrrhus now sees for the first time.

Pyrrhus.

It is Orestes!—But the queen vowed—— And that oath! Oh, perjured! perjured!

Hermione.

[To the rocks and thickets.]  O ye in the ambush, strike him down! Strike him down! Oh, what is that rushing on the wind?

[Puts her hands over her ears as though in terror.

Orestes.

The oath is fulfilled upon her!

Andromache.

[Close to Pyrrhus.]  My lord, my lord, wait and let him speak. It is he that asks you, so there is no dishonour. [He glares at her.]  Nay, you may slay me after if I have done wrong. And his men are crowding behind these bushes and rocks.

Pyrrhus.

[In a war chant.]  The wolves set an ambush, set an ambush for the lion; and the lion feasted for many days! Ho, Myrmidons!

Orestes.

They hear you not. Go back!

[He grasps his spear for defence; Pyrrhus draws his sword and starts forward.

Voice.

[From behind the rocks.]  Now, men of Mycenæ! [A shower of arrows strikes Pyrrhus.

Andromache.

It is a murder, a coward's murder!

[Pyrrhus staggers to the altar and falls. Andromache bends over, tending him. Molossus, with a cry, snatches Pyrrhus' sword and flies at Orestes, who disarms him at a blow.

Orestes.

Hold the boy! Hurt him not!

Hermione.

[In a stupefied tone.]  His blood is running down the steps of the altar!

Pyrrhus.

Where is Molossus? Boy, if you leave these dogs unpunished——

Andromache.

Nay, curse him not! Oh, my lord, if you have ever loved him, curse him not! Let him be free; he will do all that is well.

Pyrrhus.

[Faintly.]  Andromache? Ay, then, so be it. It is the same in the end. I am glad I did not slay you, Andromache. [Dies.

Hermione.

[As before.]  His blood is trickling into the mark of the footprint of Thetis!  [Wildly.]  Ah, drag him away, or it will be a curse upon us! He must not die at the altar!

Orestes.

I never slew him. I will not touch a man dying at an altar. Andromache, touch him not; he will haunt you.

Hermione.

She is not afraid of the haunting of the dead. See, she is whispering in his ear. She is doing witchwork to bring him back. [Crossing to Andromache, who is still bending over Pyrrhus' body, and kneeling to her.]  Nay, in the goddess's name, Andromache, do not wake him! I have wronged you much, but I will make amends; I will set you free. He would never have done that. Only, do not whisper to him! Do not call him back to