HELIOGABALUS
OF THIS BOOK TWO THOUSAND COPIES HAVE BEEN PRINTED FROM TYPE AND THE
TYPE DISTRIBUTED. THIS IS NUMBER 781
HELIOGABALUS
_A BUFFOONERY IN THREE ACTS_
_by_ H. L. MENCKEN _and_
GEORGE JEAN NATHAN
[Illustration]
_NEW YORK_ ALFRED · A · KNOPF _MCMXX_
COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY
H. L. MENCKEN _and_
GEORGE JEAN NATHAN
All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign
languages, including the Scandinavian.
In its present form this play is dedicated to the reading public only,
and no performances of it may be given without the permission of the
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or infringement will be prosecuted in accordance with the penalties
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SEC. 4966.--Any person publicly performing or representing any
dramatic or musical composition, for which copyright has been obtained,
without the consent of the proprietor of the said dramatic or musical
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subsequent performance, as to the Court shall appear to be just. If the
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be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year.--U. S. Revised
Statutes, Title 60, Chap. 3.
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DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
VARIUS AVITUS BASSIANUS
HELIOGABALUS: _Emperor of Rome_.
PAULA: _His senior wife_.
ANNIA FAUSTINA: }
CÆLESTIS: }
AQUILIA SEVERA: } _Junior wives_.
ALINIA: }
DACIA: }
LUCIA THE GALATIAN: _A Christian maiden_.
SIMON OF CAPPADOCIA: _A Christian clergyman_.
CAIUS MACRINUS: _Commander of the Western fleet_.
POLORUS: _A physician_.
PISO: _A physician_.
RUFINIUS: _Major-domo to_ HELIOGABALUS.
HECATUS: _A Greek_.
CORNELIA METELLI: _A public woman_.
LUCIUS MACEDONICUS: _A pickpocket_.
_Army Officers, Imperial Guards, Additional Wives of the Emperor,
Dancing Girls, Slaves, etc._
ACT I: The atrium in the imperial palace. The night before New
Year's Day, A.D. 221.