Psyche | Page 6

me enough to give me the right of disposing of them, I have two sisters
well fitted to please, who might make your destinies happy, and whom
friendship endears to me enough for me to wish that you should be
their husbands.
CLE. Can a heart whose love, alas! is extreme, consent to be given
away by her it loves? We yield up our two hearts, Madam, to your
divine charms, even should you doom them to death; but we beg you
not to make them over to any one but yourself.
AGE. It would be too unjust to the princesses, Madam, and too poor a
tribute to their charms, if we should give to them the remains of a
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