Chapter V

The same as the first scene of the play. The Front of the Palace in the afternoon. The porch and its steps are already in the shade. The curtain rising discovers THERMIA seated upon one of the lower steps thoughtfully regarding the fountain, which plays faintly. Enter MYRTO upon the porch from within.

MYRTO

[_Taking her seat upon a step_] Yes, there is shade here now;
Circe will come soon.

THERMIA

I know not why I feel so anxious, Myrto,—wondering what
communication you can have to make while Ulysses and his men
are away at the lading of their vessel.

MYRTO

Now pray, Thermia, if what I shall say to Circe startle you
in some degree, restrain yourself and show not perturbation.
Circe, as you well know, likes not hasty suggestion in what
concerns her deeply.

THERMIA

’Tis true; I will be prudent. O, what can it be?

MYRTO

Wait; here she comes now.

[_CIRCE entering descends the stairs to a seat just within the lengthening shadow by the fountain. She wears her canary-colored tunic, but not the black robe._]

CIRCE

[_Turning toward the stairs_] Myrto! Thermia! Where is Philinna?

MYRTO

She sleeps, my lady.

CIRCE

Sleeps still? ’Tis past midday more than two hours!
Philinna is wont to sleep soundly, but not long.

MYRTO

She will sleep long this time, Circe: Philinna will not wake
to-day.

CIRCE

[_Starting to her feet_] What! Not wake to-day? Dost thou
trifle with me, girl?

MYRTO

Indeed I do not trifle with you. But fear not, dear lady; there
has been mischief, but harm will not come to Philinna.

CIRCE

Mischief—mischief? Methinks I divine somewhat. But speak;
explain thyself forthwith!

MYRTO

They have given her the sleeping-plant which last night they
gathered under the moon.

THERMIA

[_To herself_] Ah, I see my precious Xenias’ finger here; the
traitor!

CIRCE

O! O! Audacious, shameless souls!
With my own drugs would they outwit me? O!
I see! I see! Thus they will _steal_ Philinna.
But holy Diana! [_Laughing scornfully_] So sly, and yet so simple!
They were twice foil’d, ere such a plot could prosper.

MYRTO

Truly there needs small skill to circumvent them:
Such I have summon’d.

CIRCE

But the herb?

MYRTO

I show’d them.

CIRCE

What? Myrto, Myrto!

MYRTO

Stay; hear me, Circe.
Their plan I knew beforehand; and ’twas better
_She_ knew it not; should rather sleep; nor wake
Till the whole farce were play’d—seest thou, my lady?

CIRCE

O clever Myrto! Not in vain thou sittest
Demurely by thy wheel, as if its hum
And spinster’s sordid finger-work were all
Thy wits could compass!—thou, the nixie-born;
With newts and water-beetles nurtured!—But how
Came it to light?

MYRTO

They came to me,
To find for them the herb. The tale they told,
How, when the ship had sail’d, among themselves
Some sport they would devise. But Graea already
Had overheard their whisperings and advised me.

THERMIA

Graea is everywhere and hears all things!

CIRCE

Hush, Thermia!

MYRTO

Because she hath no tongue they do forget
Her sharpen’d ears.—Safely Philinna sleeps;
And to your side shall she be brought to-night
During the banquet.

CIRCE

Ah! ah!

THERMIA

And will they dare, finding her not,
To wait for such an issue?

CIRCE

Whither pray
Might they seek refuge?—Two alone are guilty;
And two alone shall answer for the guilt;
Nor shall the feast be marr’d. Go now;
And urge its preparation.

[_The two nymphs go into the palace._]

CIRCE

Poor purblind men!
O, how short of the mark their vision falls!
Phantoms, bred of precipitate desire,
Aiming to grasp, but comprehending not
The check and natural limit.—So the same
At whose achievement we should rave, in failure
We pity and forgive. Ay; to know more
And to see farther than for themselves they see
Doth make forbearance easy. How would they change
For sweet Philinna’s rainbow-guarded sleep
Their own long slumber in the fishy deep!

[_She ascends the steps and goes into the palace._]