Psyche | Page 6

former affection. Only the faithful purity of a first love deserves to aspire to the honour to which your kindness invites us, for each of your sisters merits a love which has sighed for her alone.
AGL. It seems to me, Princes, without any offence, that before thus refusing, you might wait until our intentions had been declared. Do you think our hearts so susceptible and tender? And when people propose your offering yourselves to us, are you so sure of being accepted?
CID. I think our sentiments are lofty enough to lead us to refuse a heart which wants soliciting; and we wish to conquer our lovers by the power of our own merit.

SCENE IV.--PSYCHE, AGLAURA, CIDIPPE, CLEOMENES, AGENOR, LYCAS.
LYC. (to PSYCHE). Ah! Madam!
PSY. What is the matter?
LYC. The king....
PSY. What?
LYC. Requests your presence.
PSY. What am I to augur from your agitation?
LYC. You will know it only too soon.
PSY. Alas! how you excite my fears about the king!
LYC. Fear only for yourself; you are the one to be pitied.
PSY. I can praise heaven, and be no longer anxious, when I know that I am the only one in danger. But tell me, Lycas, what alarms you.
LYC. Suffer me, Madam, to obey him who sent me hither; and I beg of you, learn from his lips what troubles me thus.
PSY. Let us go and hear what this is which makes them fear that my courage will fail me.

SCENE V.--AGLAURA, CIDIPPE, LYCAS.
AGL. If your orders do not extend to us, tell us what great misfortune is hidden under your sadness.
LYC. Alas! hear for yourselves, princesses, the great misfortune which is known to the whole court. These are the very words which, through the oracle, destiny has spoken to the king, and which grief, Madam, has engraven on my heart:--
"No one must think to lead Psyche to Hymen's shrine; But all with earnest speed, In pompous mournful line, High to the mountain crest Must take her; there to await, Forlorn, in deep unrest, A monster who envenoms all, Decreed by fate her husband; A serpent whose dark poisonous breath And rage e'er hold the world in thrall, Shaking the heavens high and realms of death."
After so severe a decree, I leave you to judge for yourselves if the gods could have manifested their wrath in a more cruel and fearful manner.

SCENE VII.--AGLAURA, CIDIPPE.
CID. How does this sudden misfortune into which destiny has plunged Psyche affect you, sister?
AGL. But how does it affect you, sister?
CID. To speak the truth, my heart is not very much grieved at it.
AGL. My heart feels something which very much resembles joy. Let us go; Fate has sent us a calamity which we can consider as a blessing.

FIRST INTERLUDE.
_The scenery changes to horrible rocks, and shows a dreadful cavern in the distance. It is in this desert that_ PSYCHE, _in obedience to the oracle, is to be exposed. A band of afflicted people come to bewail her death. Some give utterance to their pity by touching complaints and mournful lays, while the rest express their grief by a dance full of every mark of go most violent despair_.
WAILINGS sung by a woman and two men.
WOMAN. Ah! weep with me, ye forests; Ye mighty rocks of hardest adamant, Ye Springs, ye beasts, Lament the fate of one so fair.
1ST MAN. Alas! dire grief
2ND MAN. Without relief!
1ST MAN. Cruel death!
2ND MAN. Fell decree
ALL THREE (_together_). Of sternest fate that dooms to die Such beauty rare! Oh! heavens high! And stars! behold! and sigh!
WOMAN. My sad, sad lay repeat, Ye caverns deep; With notes of sorrow greet Her death, ye mountains steep; Re-echo, woods, and silent hills, My grief; and ye, soft rippling rills!
1ST MAN. Alas! dire grief
2ND MAN. Without relief!
1ST MAN. Cruel death!
2ND MAN. Fell decree
ALL THREE (_together_). Of sternest fate that dooms to die Such beauty rare! Oh! heavens high! And stars! behold! and sigh!
2ND MAN. Who then, eternal gods, will doom A guiltless maid to lasting gloom? Oh! this thy rigour, heaven, shames Hell's unrelenting flames!
1ST MAN. Cruel will
2ND MAN. Of gods severe!
THE TWO MEN. Say why this hard decree, To crush a heart so free From guilt or stain? Oh! fell edict unheard ere this! Thou doomest a maid who showers bliss Upon the mortal race. She the sad earth would grace, And would give life for pain!
WOMAN. All tears are idle, all sighs. Heaven wills it so--she dies! Whene'er the gods their powers wield, All man can do--is but to yield.
1ST MAN. Alas! dire grief
2ND MAN. Without relief!
1ST MAN. Cruel death!
2ND MAN. Fell decree!

ACT II.
SCENE I.--THE KING, PSYCHE, AGLAURA, CIDIPPE, LYCAS, and FOLLOWERS.
PSY. The cause of your tears, my Lord, is dear to me; but you are too kind when you allow a father's love to overmaster the duties of a great king. The homage which here you