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 Mycenae!
[_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 haunt me!
ANDROMACHE.
Hold your peace, traitor and coward! If I _could_ bring him back, think
you I would stay my voice for you?
HERMIONE.
O God! And the noise on the wind is nearer and nearer!
ORESTES.
[_To_ HERMIONE.] You did not slay him. Even if he does wake, he will
only haunt them that slew him.
HERMIONE.
He saw them not; he knows them not. He has only seen you and me.
[_Rapidly._] Oh, in God's name, it is too much! The sound of Their wings
is all about me, and if I dared look, I know I should see Their faces.
It is more than one woman can bear. If he wakes I shall go mad!
ORESTES.
It is done now. We will fly in the ship quickly; he will never follow us
over the seas.
HERMIONE.
[_As before._] _She_ will show him the way! Oh, she will have no pity! I
have sought so long to slay her. She would not spare me now for all the
treasures of Egypt. I knew well I should have no peace till I saw her
dead.--Oh, woman, woman! bend not over him; whisper to him no more!
ANDROMACHE.
I _will_ whisper no more; I will cry aloud--in dead ears, as I have
cried all my life! [_To_ PYRRHUS.] O thou who hearest me not, who hast
never heard me, I call again to thee, let there at last be peace! If
thou hast found thy sleep, oh, cling to it! Never wake nor stir to
follow these who murdered thee!
HERMIONE.
What does she mean? It is all magic. She means that he _is_ to follow
us!
ANDROMACHE.
The living have never heard me, and the dead cannot hear; but broken and
dying men know the words that I speak. Remember the one moment before
utter death, when thine eyes were opened to see and thine ears to hear.
Remember that, and forget the long waste of days before!
HERMIONE.
She bids him remember!--He will awake. I can feel that he will wake and
follow us!
ANDROMACHE.
By the bitter hate wherewith once I hated thee; by the blood in the
streets of Troy and the death-cry of Hector's child; by the love
wherewith I have loved thee in spite of all--[_the body moves_]--and
love thee still----
HERMIONE.
[_With a shriek._] O God! He is waking! [_Grovelling in terror and
hiding her eyes._] Oh, smite off his feet that he shall not pursue, and
his hands that he may never lay hold of me!
ANDROMACHE.
Before thy soul is fled far away, hearken to me and put away thine
hatred.
HERMIONE.
[_As before._] Smite off his hands and his feet!
ORESTES.
She is not crying him to waken. She is bidding him rest in peace and not
harm us.
HERMIONE.
It cannot be that; it cannot. I have hated her too sore. It is all
witchwork or else madness.
[_She looks up and sees the sword; suddenly clutches it and moves
towards_ ANDROMACHE.
ANDROMACHE.
And afterward go and seek Hector, and he will tell thee more, for he
was wiser and greater than other men. And some day this woman, too, will
be broken and dying; and then she will see what thou and I have seen,
and will know what mercy is. [HERMIONE _stabs her_.] Ah!
[ANDROMACHE _falls over the body of_ PYRRHUS. ORESTES _starts
forward and grasps_ HERMIONE.
ORESTES.
[_To the men holding_ MOLOSSUS.] Hold this wild beast! Let the boy free.
[ORESTES _and_ MOLOSSUS _bend together over the body of_
ANDROMACHE. _The men-at-arms seize_ HERMIONE.
MOLOSSUS.
Mother, speak!--Is she dead?
ORESTES.
No, but there is death in her face.
MOLOSSUS.
Mother, mother, speak!
ORESTES.
[_Standing up._] We know what she would say---- Young King of Phthia, I
never sought to slay your father; and for this woman, I would give all
my wealth to have her alive again.--But I will make atonement: take all
my gold--[_takes off his chain, and throws it at_ MOLOSSUS' _feet_.
MOLOSSUS _stands silent_]--and this dagger likewise. There is a bright
stone in the hilt that keeps off the venom of snakes. [MOLOSSUS _is
still silent_.] And my cloak was woven by women of Sidon. [_Throws down
the cloak._
MOLOSSUS.
[_In a struggling sullen voice._] It was not you that slew her.
ORESTES.
Is it the woman? There is your sword. [_Picks it up and gives it him. To
the men holding_ HERMIONE.] Hold back her arms, men, that the King may
slay her as he will!
[_The men bring forward_ HERMIONE, _dazed and stupefied; they hold
her so that either breast or throat may receive the sword_.
MOLOSSUS.
Oh, take her away, or I will verily slay her! Let her never set foot
upon this land again.
ORESTES.
Begone with her to the ship!
[_The men move off with her._
HERMIONE.
[_Suddenly struggling._] I will not go! Let me free! I will stay and he
shall slay me!
[_The men drag her off._
ORESTES.
And for mine own atonement. [_He looks round._] Men, get you gone!--If
you would have more, here is my sword; and here is my shield, and my
helmet. [_He lays the arms one by one at_ MOLOSSUS' _feet_.]--My men are
all gone. The rest is for you to take.
MOLOSSUS.
[_Looking at_ ANDROMACHE.] I will take no more. I will have peace.
[_Kneels down, bending over the body._
ORESTES.
Peace let it be!--Her face seems strangely joyful.
MOLOSSUS.
I never saw her looking so full of happiness.
ANDROMACHE.
[_Half raising herself, with a radiant smile._] Hector! Hector!
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
London & Edinburgh
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Original spelling and punctuation has been retained.