The Mortal Gods and Other Plays Part 23

Kill me,--kill one of them,--shoot till your weapon Pants its last murder, and a hundred hands Will tear you limb from limb and bone from bone, Till every separate shred of you be cast To its own devil! Shoot, Megario!

[_His hand falls. Famette steps into the yard_]

Where are the masters who can help you now?

The mighty ones who know how power is kept?

Look on these men. Their blood sings as it sang Through centuries gone,--with courage that was theirs Ere s.h.i.+ps came up like night on this doomed coast Unloading h.e.l.l!

_Meg._ Who are you, woman? Who?

_Fam._ The spirit of these people, absent long, But come at last to be their hearts' old fire.

Four hundred years you've trampled on their bodies, But see--look in their eyes--you have not slain Their G.o.d.

_Meg._ Your name! Who are you?

_Fam._ Riven hills May hide the shrine of long unsceptred kings, And keep their royal secret year by year.

_Voices._ Hail, Osa! Osa, queen!

_Meg._ What do you want?

_Fam._ Three things, Megario.

_Meg._ What are they?

_Fam._ First,-- That I may pa.s.s from here, free as I came, With every soul that will go out with me.

_Meg._ The way is open. Go.

_Fam._ And you with us.

Far as the coast, where willing transport waits To bear us northward. Then you may go free.

[_Turns to the people_]

There brothers wait you, men,--there freedom's tongue Is beacon fire. The whole of northland sings, A canticle of flame. You'll go with me?

_Mas._ [_Loudly_] We'll follow Osa!

_Voices._ Osa! Osa! On!

_Fam._ Gonzalo, choose you men, a thrifty score, To fill the water-jars and get us food From the hacienda stores.

[_Gonzales pa.s.ses out, men following at his signal_]

The third demand, Megario, is this. That key you belt So close-- [_Megario claps hand on key_]

Yes, that,--it must be mine, to unlock A dungeon here and free a prisoner Whom you for love of torture keep alive.

_Meg._ No, that's a lie.

_Fam._ Deny it to the stars That saw you yesternight steal up like crime To a dark grating, saw you gloat, and fling The crumbs that will not let your victim die, Though scarce they give him life.

_Meg._ [_Gasping_] A lie!

_Fam._ The key, Megario.

_Meg._ I will not----

_Fam._ In my hand!

[_Megario takes key from his belt and hands it to her_]

I thank thee, G.o.d, my hand may turn the key That frees Rejan LeVal! Now forward, men!

O, glorious to be men! Ipparro, walk Beside our prisoner. Garza, be his aid.

Two days of marching, then the friendly sea.

And if you toil again amid these fields, You'll take the fruit. On!

_Men._ Osa! To the sea!

[_Curtain_]

ACT IV

SCENE: _The Grove of Peace, as in second act. Late afternoon. Two officers meet as curtain rises._

_First Off._ So Cordiaz is fallen.

_Second Off._ Joggled down At last, poor man!

_First Off._ When all the ghosts he made Come back to weep his fall, I'll swell the flood With half a tear, no more.

_Second Off._ Then you're for Vardas?

_First Off._ By glory, no! He'll open Goldusan To every thief that knocks.

_Second Off._ Trust Hudibrand To guard the door. Till he has plucked the goose,-- Then they may shave it for their part.

_First Off._ So, friend?

_Second Off._ Phut! Goldusan's his box of snuff--held so-- And as he pleases, tchew!--'tis empty.

_First Off._ Come, I'll walk your way. [_They move, right_]

What of this truce? Goes 't deep?

_Second Off._ As flattery may plough. It is our croon Of compliment to our new-seated king.

_First Off._ Nay, president. We're a republic now.

_Second Off._ Spell 't king or president, it means the same.

_First Off._ But with Bolderez ours, the truce should last.

_Second Off._ Why, 't may, till night. Bolderez, friend, Is not the revolution.