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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
YZ D R A 
 
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 NKW YORK • BOSTON • CHICAGO • DALLAS 
 ATLANTA • SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 MACMILLAN & CO., Limited 
 
 LONDON • BOMBAY • CALCUTTA 
 MELBOURNE 
 
 THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd. 
 
 TOKONTO 
 
YZDRA 
 
 A T r a g e dy 
 
 BY 
 LOUIS V. LEDOUX 
 
 A NEW EDITION, REVISED 
 
 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 1917 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
i»i In 
 
 f'- 
 
 Copyright, 1907 and 1917, 
 By LOUIS V. LEDOUX. 
 
 English Copyright Performance giyen Wyndham's Theatre, London, 
 March 26, 1908, 
 
 Entered at Stationers' Hall, London. 
 All rights rhsbrved. 
 
 For permission to perform this play application must be 
 made to the author in care of the publishers. 
 
 New edition, revised, April, 191 7. 
 
 APR -5 ie!7 
 
 Norintiali ^ress 
 
 J. 8. Gushing Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. 
 
 Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 
 
 S)CID 46564 
 
TO 
 
 MY MOTHER 
 
NOTE 
 
 This play is founded upon a story told in the 
 Secreta Secretoruniy a book which falsely purports 
 to be Aristotle's manual of advice to Alexander. 
 
 An English version which dates from about 
 1400, gives the legend as follows : 
 
 Alexander, thynk of ye doynge of ye Quene of 
 Inde whenne she sente to the, by cause to haue 
 thy frendschipe, many presentes and noble gyftes 
 amonge ye whilke a full fair mayden was sent to 
 the that of her childhood drank and was norschyd 
 with venyms yn-so-mekyl that her kynde was 
 turned to ye kynde of serpentys. . . . And cer- 
 tainly, but thou hadde ben warnyd by me there- 
 of, thy seluyn hadde takyn deed, thurgh ye hete 
 of fleschly kennynge with here.^ 
 
 1 For any who may be curious in the matter an account of 
 the origin and literary fortunes of this story is given at the 
 close of the volume. 
 
 Vll 
 
CHARACTERS 
 
 Indians : 
 
 PoROS Emperor of that portion 
 
 of India now known 
 as the Central Punjab. 
 
 The Prince His son. 
 
 A Brahman. 
 
 Rajah of Abhisara. 
 
 Half-witted Boy, who serves as a Jester. 
 
 Messengers. 
 
 Yzdra's Nurse. 
 
 YzDRA Daughter of Poros. 
 
 Greeks : 
 
 Heph^stion Alexander's favourite 
 
 General. 
 
 Proteas A follower of the camp. 
 
 A Page. 
 
 A Slave. 
 
 Alexander the Great. 
 
 Time: 326 B.C. 
 
 The action takes place in various parts of India. 
 
 IX 
 
ACT I 
 
YZDRA 
 
 ACT I 
 
 Scene I 
 
 THE THRONE-ROOM IN THE PALACE OF POROS 
 
 The Prince and the Rajah are playing at dice; 
 others are watching the game and lounging about 
 the room. Some lean over the players in excite- 
 ment. The Prince rises angrily. 
 
 Prince., I play no more ! The time is evil- 
 starred, 
 And dice have been the bondage of my house. 
 I play no more. 
 
 Raj. My Lord, the luck may change. 
 
 Prince. Again I say the time is evil-starred. 
 Last night portentous omens broke my rest; 
 A wailing jackal would not let me sleep; 
 
 3 
 
4 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 And once I rose from hidden dreams to see 
 
 If yet the golden car of Surya climbed 
 
 The East, when lo ! a raven, croaking, passed. 
 
 I know not what may hap, but this I know, — 
 
 Some fate impendeth in the womb of time, 
 
 Some evil fate, with darkness fraught and doom, 
 
 Whose shadow now above our royal halls 
 
 Hangs cloud-like, with its lightnings still in leash ; 
 
 But where or how or when the bolt may fall 
 
 I cannot tell. 
 
 Raj. When lightning strikes, 'tis said 
 
 To choose the tallest trees. 
 
 Prince. For this I fear 
 
 The gods have sent misfortune's mandate stern 
 To me, or to my Sire, whose royal head 
 O'ertops our empire in its sovereignty. 
 
 Raj. Perchance a war with Taxiles; per- 
 chance 
 This Grecian Alexander who has come 
 Through Persia conquering. 
 
sc. I YZDRA 5 
 
 Prince. Perchance 'tis he. 
 
 The Greeks, indeed, draw near. 
 
 {Enter an aged Brahman with two or three 
 disciples following.) 
 
 To you I bow. 
 Most holy Sage. Your blessing now I crave. 
 
 {The Brahman gives his blessing.) 
 We wait the King. 
 
 Brah. I join his council here 
 
 And speak to them of oracles fulfilled. 
 
 Raj. My Lord, the King is even now at 
 hand. 
 
 {The sound of trumpets is heard and the King 
 enters in state with the tributary kings who have a 
 row of thrones on the left and lower down than that 
 of PoROS ; behind each is an ensign-bearer. Then 
 follow the counsellors, bow-bearers , javelin-bearers, 
 etc. PoROS ascends an ivory throne, the arms of 
 which are fashioned as elephants with jewelled 
 eyes. Behind is a canopy of peacock plumes. 
 
6 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 The Prince goes to a throne on the right, opposite 
 the tributary kings. All how low while PoROS 
 ascends.) 
 
 Prince. All hail the warlike Poros ! 
 
 All. Hail! All-hail! 
 
 (Poros motions the Brahman to an empty seat 
 beside the Prince and close to the throne, and, as 
 he approaches it, stands to receive the benediction 
 of Holy Water, the vessel containing which is 
 handed up by one of the disciples. During the 
 ceremony all bow low as before. Then, at a sign 
 from one of the officials, the trumpet sounds three 
 times. The King rises.) 
 
 PoR. Be welcome here, ye tributary Kings, 
 Who, arch-like, prop our dome of sovereignty; 
 We bid you welcome here as counsellors ; 
 For oft while prudence searches devious ways, 
 A hero grasps with tiger-spring the prize ; 
 While wisdom weighs the chances, valour acts ; 
 And action turns the balances of Fate. 
 
sc. I YZDRA , 7 
 
 {The Rajah oj Abhisara, who occupies the 
 throne nearest to PoROS, rises.) 
 
 Raj. At your behest, dread Lord, once more 
 we come, 
 And own your lordship. Clouds are we, and you 
 The lambent sun before whose face we shine 
 With borrowed splendour. 
 
 PoR. Most, indeed, to him 
 
 Is welcome given to whom it most is due ; — 
 Our sagest counsellor, our noblest friend. 
 Who now from lonely meditation deigns 
 To come and medicine our ignorance 
 With wisdom's healing words. At his request 
 Ourself and each whose voice of right is heard 
 Are here assembled. All men know that he 
 Has store of precious counsels hoarded safe 
 Within his mind's rich casket. Jewels these, 
 That Life, the miser, yields alone to him 
 Who delves, unsatisfied with lesser good. 
 Through years of patient toil in wisdom's mines, 
 
8 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 As he has done; for all his life has passed 
 
 In learning to distinguish good and ill, 
 
 The real and unreal. He has watched the stars, 
 
 And fathoming their courses learned of Brahm ; 
 
 The sky has taught him and the populous earth 
 
 To see below the myriad forms of life 
 
 The broad foundation of eternal calm. 
 
 All this we know ; yet still we lack the key 
 
 That shall unlock his wisdom's guarded wealth : 
 
 {To the Brahman.) 
 
 We fain would learn the cause that brings us 
 
 here. 
 And wait your words ; {Turning to the others) 
 
 but ere he speak, let all 
 Save those who share our counsels pass without. 
 {Towards the close of the King's speech a half- 
 witted Jester, clad in fantastic garh, has crept 
 up to the throne and seated himself on the steps.) 
 Prince. Do you share the King's counsel } 
 Jester. Aye, forsooth. Am I not worthy .? 
 
sc. I YZDRA 9 
 
 Prince. Are you wiser than these ? {He 
 motions toward those who are leaving.) 
 
 Jester. I know to remain sober. 
 
 Prince. Poor boy ! No one offers you wine. 
 
 PoR. Enough of this ; peace, boy, peace. 
 
 (Poros motions him to leave, but he steals in 
 behind the others and overhears the conference.) 
 Good sir, we wait to hear your wisdom speak, 
 This fool has much abused our clemency. 
 
 Brah. The lotus flowers have spread upon the 
 streams, 
 The Pleiades have risen, wheeled and set 
 Some twenty seasons since the moonless night 
 When I, observing fixedly the stars, 
 Saw strange conjunctions spelling love and death, 
 And ofl^ered sacrifice, whose omen told 
 Of one new-born within the royal house 
 Who held the fate of empires in her hand. 
 
 Prince. Within the royal house ? 
 
 Raj. What maid was that .? 
 
lO YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Brah. No more I learned ; but marked within 
 the West 
 A warHke planet flaming through the sky 
 That other stars grew pale and one went out, 
 But passing burned a moment lurid, red. 
 
 Prince. Could wisdom teach you what events 
 might cast 
 Such shadows on the calm blue eyes of night 
 That look upon the world .? 
 
 Brah. In doubt I left 
 
 The deep seclusion of my forest life, 
 And took the long untrodden path which led 
 To where ye strove with unrealities. 
 
 Raj. These unrealities seem real indeed, 
 To us who strive, and striving win or lose. 
 Your pardon, sir, I speak untutored words. 
 But from the heart. 
 
 Brah. Like soldiers ye are pressed 
 
 By those around and see naught else ; but I, 
 The chief, observe the general battle's plan. 
 
SC. I 
 
 YZDRA 1 1 
 
 Ye strive for present vantage, I for good unseen. 
 
 Prince. Yet both perchance are naught. 
 Who knows ^ 
 
 PoR. We wander from our purpose. Sir, 
 speak on. 
 
 Brah. I moved through darkness onward, till 
 the dawn 
 Came stealing pallid up a cold grey East, 
 When met me runners telling how the Queen, 
 In dying, bore a maid of matchless form, 
 Divinely fashioned in her babyhood. 
 
 Prince. My hidden sister ! I was then a 
 child. 
 But do remember dimly. Lives she yet ? 
 
 PoR. She lives, but I have never seen her face. 
 
 Raj. But why is that ? 
 
 PoR. The gods demanded her 
 
 And I did yield, though much against my will. 
 
 Brah. I ojfFered sacrifice to read her fate, 
 But sudden blindness fell upon my sight ; 
 
12 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 In trance I stood and tranced thus I spoke : 
 
 ** The gods have willed the tender maid should grow 
 
 In solitude, on poisons fed until 
 
 She gains their power, and this in time shall be J* 
 
 Raj. On poisons fed, to grow a poisonous thing ! 
 
 Prince. On poisons ! Sire, to rear a Princess 
 thus 
 Is horrible ! 
 
 PoR. Yet thus the gods decreed 
 
 She should be reared ; and I obeyed their will. 
 On poisons she was fed. 
 
 Raj. ^ But for what end ? 
 
 PoR. The gods no reasons gave. 
 
 Brah. At least not then. 
 
 For on my eyes the day returning rolled ; 
 I knew no more. The King remembers well 
 My words oracular, but ye are strange 
 To these most sure events I now relate. 
 
 Por. Aye, well do I remember; and the babe 
 Was given in charge unto a skilful nurse. 
 
sc. I YZDRA 13 
 
 By this same Brahman brought. They took her 
 
 hence, 
 And send report each year of how the maid, 
 To fuller stature grown, grows still more fair. 
 
 Brah. As wise as fair, for I have taught her 
 much. 
 
 PoR. At last her youth has bloomed to woman- 
 hood 
 More strangely beautiful than Love itself; 
 But so her life is with the poison charged 
 That death to man within her kisses lurks. 
 
 Brah. The King speaks truth, her kiss is 
 present death ; 
 She kills with sweetness like a poisoned flower. 
 
 Prince. This is an awful thing. 
 
 Raj. And very strange. 
 
 Prince. I almost doubt its truth. 
 
 Brah. Yet true it is. 
 
 Raj. But have you any proof? 
 
 Brah. We need no proof. 
 
14 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Who dares to doubt the very words of God ? 
 
 PoR. Not long ago she kissed a little child. 
 And some few hours thereafter, lo ! it died. 
 
 Raj. It might have had the fever. Ah ! my 
 Lord, 
 Believe it not ; it passes all belief. 
 
 Brah. 'Tis impious to doubt ! 
 
 PoR. I am convinced. 
 
 Raj. The fever was abroad ; and thus it kills ; 
 And yet this death confirms the oracle. 
 
 Prince. It must indeed be true. 
 
 PoR. The truth is clear ; 
 
 But what the further will of Siva plans 
 We now shall know; and whose the hapless lot 
 To cull this deadly flower of loveliness. 
 
 Jester. {Aside.) 
 Oh, horrible ! horrible ! I pray Siva that she be 
 not preserved for me. 
 
 Brah. Now come we to the point : three 
 nights ago 
 
sc. I YZDRA 15 
 
 A dream disturbed my rest with presage dark, 
 That thus I do interpret; Persia's king, 
 The Grecian Alexander, eastward leads 
 His conquering armies. Men and power are his — 
 The Macedonian phalanx none can face; 
 Besides, the gods of Hellas grant him youth 
 With riper wisdom tempered ; courage, skill. 
 And steadfast purpose. Now, let Poros send 
 To him the maid, enrobed in loveliness, 
 To offer friendship from our kingdom's chief, 
 And bind in marriage bonds himself to us. 
 Thus wisdom reaches where your valour fails ; 
 The youth is amorous and frank withal. 
 And would accept such offers frankly made. 
 If backed with other gifts befitting kings ; 
 But let him once her poisonous kisses taste 
 He dies a present death — most sure and swift. 
 PoR. No need of this ! I fear not any man ; 
 Much less this Grecian. What have we to fear 
 Who lead against him fifty thousand men 
 
l6 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 With chariots and elephants ! Could he 
 With used, wayworn troops, afar from home, 
 Defeat our army and subdue ourself ? 
 'Twere madness thus to think ! I will not stoop 
 To crave alliance with this upstart youth, 
 Who smote the Medes in beds of perfumed ease, 
 And knows not how a warrior people fight. 
 We wait his coming. Should he dare to come 
 We meet him battling manlike, face to face. 
 We fear him not ; what says our valiant son ? 
 
 (During this speech, the Rajah and the tributary 
 kings have shown signs of approval. The Prince 
 has stood in deep thought.) 
 
 Raj. {Aside.) Though valorous in action, 
 slow to strike, 
 I fear his counsel. 
 
 Prince. {Slowly and thoughtfully.) Sire, your 
 words are just; 
 Before your age, your wisdom and your throne 
 I bow submissive, yet my thought finds voice. 
 
sc. I YZDRA 17 
 
 Tis rashness more than bravery to fight 
 Unnecessary battles, risking thus, 
 Through pride, our subjects, wealth and empery; 
 And when the gods have shown in oracles — 
 By him made manifest who speaks their will — 
 The way to cope with present circumstance. 
 To choose another means were blasphemous 
 And fraught with swift disaster : gods avenge. 
 Raj. My Liege, till now has Taxiles alone 
 With unsubmissive eyes beheld your reign ; 
 Your only foe was he ; your only dread ; 
 And first to him must Alexander come 
 In marching eastward from the bounds of Ind. 
 Then, like an eagle when two lions fight. 
 Will you, unscathed, behold the bloody strife ; 
 Until upon the victor, torn and weak. 
 You swoop with conquering pinions. Thus, my 
 
 Lord, 
 Your foes defeat each other ; yours the spoils. 
 PoR. Let Taxiles and Alexander fight ! 
 
 c 
 
1 8 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 We, sitting watchful, strike when both are weak. 
 No need to bend our royal dignity 
 Before young Macedon. 
 {To the Brahman.) 
 
 Your pardon, sir. 
 That thus we plan our present policy. 
 Observing not your precepts. Thanks we give. 
 And reverence. Your wisdom passes ours 
 But not in this. 
 
 Brah. Nay, hear me speak ; the 
 
 gods 
 
 PoR. You have not read in this their will aright. 
 Our choice is clear. 
 
 Raj. And just. 
 
 Prince. My Father, pause ! 
 
 PoR. {Rising.) I overrule all further con- 
 ference. 
 
 {Enter a messenger hastily. He is soiled with 
 travel. He hows and Poros motions him to speak.) 
 
 Messenger. Taxiles has received Alexander 
 
sc. I YZDRA 19 
 
 into his capital and has formed an alliance with 
 him for the purpose of conquering our kingdom. 
 They are already collecting reinforcements, but 
 the Grecian plans to rest his army for some weeks 
 before starting. 
 
 Brah. The gods are swift avengers. 
 
 Prince. Ah, the gods ! 
 
 {The Rajah and the tributary kings look dum- 
 founded.) 
 
 Raj. With Taxiles and Alexander both 
 We cannot cope. 
 
 PoR. Our will is overruled 
 
 By Siva's will. The maiden shall be sent; 
 Let some provide a stately embassage 
 And fitting gifts. Abhisara shall lead. 
 {To the Brahman.) Do you instruct the 
 
 Princess in our will, 
 But let her not suspect her poisonous power. 
 
 {He hows to the Brahman and then, as the cur- 
 tain falls, he goes out followed by his train,) 
 
Scene II 
 
 A JASMINE BOWER UNDER A BLOSSOMING MANGO 
 TREE, OUTSIDE THE FOREST HOME OF 
 YZDRA. A PRACTICABLE DOOR ON THE 
 RIGHT. MOONLIGHT. 
 
 (YzDRA discovered walking about and talking to 
 the Nurse, who sits at the base of the tree.) 
 
 Yz. The night has laid once more its soothing 
 hand 
 Upon the eyes of Life. I sometimes dream 
 That love is like the moonlight after day — 
 A touch of peace; and then the lightning flash 
 Seems like to love, — this love I have not known 
 But fain would know. Ah me ! My heart is sick 
 To-night. I long — and yet for what I long 
 I cannot tell. 
 
 {She moves about touching the flowers tenderly.) 
 The placid moonlight rests 
 
 20 
 
sc. II YZDRA 21 
 
 Upon my jasmine flowers that gleam like stars; 
 The timid fawns, the birds are all at peace, 
 Save only Bulbul, who with passionate heart 
 Still yearns, and yearning cries across the night 
 A sadness undefined that answers mine. 
 How beautiful is this our forest home, 
 Where every season brings some fresh delight ! 
 And yet I find no more the old content 
 In birds and flowers, the moonlight and the dawn. 
 {After a pause she goes over to the Nurse, kneels 
 down and starts to put her cheek against the Nurse's. 
 The Nurse shrinks away and pushes her back.) 
 My life is incomplete, it something lacks ; 
 Perchance this very love I dream about. 
 Would I be happy could I feel a kiss — 
 A warrior's kisses burning on my lips. 
 Strong hands about my breasts; a man's strong 
 
 hands 
 And not like his — the only man I know ? 
 This Brahman makes me shudder, yet is kind. 
 
22 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Nurse. It may be even now a lover comes. 
 
 Yz. {Playfully.) Who seeks for me alone 
 throughout the world ? 
 
 {The Nurse makes an ill-tempered gesture oj 
 assent.) 
 
 And Kama's shafts at last shall sting in me 
 No more a girl, but woman fully grown ? 
 
 {Enter the Brahman. He hears the last lines.) 
 
 Brah. You dream of love ; I love's fulfilment 
 bring. 
 
 {He blesses her. The Nurse goes into the 
 house.) 
 
 Yz. With blessing, holy sage, your pardon give 
 That thus my inmost mind is disarrayed, 
 And all my heart disclosed to your ear. 
 Accept, although delayed, no less sincere 
 A welcome. 
 
 Brah. Fair you seem to-night, and pure 
 As conquering souls that merge themselves in 
 Brahm. 
 
sc. II YZDRA 23 
 
 'Tis right a maiden's heart should dream of love, 
 For so the gods have willed. These moonlit 
 
 flowers 
 With nature's incense fill the drowsy air; 
 'Twere hard, my child, to leave so sweet a spot. 
 
 Yz. Not hard for me ! I full confession make, 
 Since you of half my counsel are aware; 
 This solitude and silence pall me quite; 
 A woman grown, I long for woman's life, 
 To see the ways of cities and the court. 
 To know the valiant princes of my race. 
 To smile above the tourney, choosing out 
 Some hero who will call me "Queen" and "Wife"; 
 And after that to live as she of whom 
 Our ancient writings speak, whose love was 
 
 strong 
 To bend relentless Yam a to its will. 
 And bring her lord from death's domain to life. 
 And then I long to do some worthy deed, 
 Or service to the State. 
 
24 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Brah. Aye, that were good. 
 
 Yz. 'Tis surely best to live and not to dream. 
 
 Brah. {With double meaning, half to himself.) 
 A maiden's dreams are far indeed from life. 
 
 Yz. Full-well I know the blossoming of flowers, 
 The Koel's cry, the rise and set of stars, 
 But yet I miss the meaning of the world 
 Off here alone ; of much rest ignorant. 
 And much — yea, very much I lack. Good sir, 
 My words are wild and may offend, but speak 
 I must. 
 
 Brah. Some deed of courage you would do ? 
 
 Yz. To do is mine, to act ; for I am strong ; 
 Yea, very strong, and was not born to watch 
 The dull monotony of dawn and dusk 
 In actionless placidity. There flows 
 Within my veins a warrior-people's blood ; 
 I long to live my life before men's eyes, — 
 A princess of my house. 
 
 Brah. What would you do .? 
 
 I 
 
sc. II YZDRA 25 
 
 Yz. What Siva plans for me — that would I 
 do, 
 But well I know I was not made for this 
 Half-life, grown empty now of good or charm. 
 I long to fill the days, to do some deed, 
 And live in fame to future ages sung. 
 
 Brah. You have been still a child, but now 
 you seem 
 A very woman, yea, a queen indeed. 
 
 Yz. Part girl, part woman, and part man I 
 think. 
 But all alive with youth and eagerness 
 To do and dare, to live, and greatly love. 
 Ah, life I crave with all its splendid chance. 
 Its days of action and its nights of love ; 
 Not this poor shadow-world wherein I faint; 
 Yet know my strength. 
 
 Brah. What further would you 
 
 ask 
 Or tell ? 
 
26 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Yz. The nurse, who loved me well of old, 
 Has acted strangely toward me ; now no more 
 She lets me nestle close, or kiss her cheek, 
 As was my wont. And once, not long ago — 
 It was the day I found the first spring rose — 
 There came a child, who, heeding not his way. 
 Had hither roamed. I took the baby up 
 And held it to my heart and kissed its lips. 
 When lo ! my nurse came running in affright. 
 And snatched it from me; then, before the 
 
 dusk, 
 A fearful sickness through its body stole ; 
 And when the morning bloomed I found it dead. 
 But she avoids my questions, tells me naught. 
 
 {Enter Nurse.) 
 I ask you this : Why did she snatch it so ? 
 
 Brah. The fever kills thus swiftly oftentimes. 
 
 Yz. But why must I, a woman, live deprived 
 Of full-orbed life and love .? You cage me here 
 By what authority \ By whose design ? 
 
sc. 11 YZDRA 27 
 
 Nurse. This life she craves bears bitter fruit 
 
 for her. 
 Brah. My Yzdra, now has come the time of 
 your 
 Releasement ; now I lead you out toward life, 
 That seems so beautiful when seen afar — 
 Toward life and love. 
 
 Yz. Toward love ? Oh tell me who ! 
 
 What way of life is mine, what happy fate .? 
 Brah. With you I go to seek an emperor 
 Who rules o'er half the world — a valiant man 
 And young; to him would Poros give your hand,* 
 A bond of firm alliance 'tween the states. 
 The rest I shall unfold within the house. 
 
 Nurse. {Aside.) A bond of death ! I would 
 
 not have his lot. 
 Yz. {Dreamily.) An emperoV, a valiant man, 
 and young ! 
 {Turning to him.) How could a maiden reared in 
 forest ways 
 
28 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 And ignorant of courts succeed to please 
 
 A king like him — 
 
 (Murmuring.) who rules o*er half the world ? 
 
 Brah. a woman's instinct teaches more than 
 courts. 
 
 Yz. Held in my hand the folded flowers unclose 
 Like woman's love from girlhood blossoming — 
 A presage this of future happiness. 
 
 Brah. I follow you within. 
 
 Yz. Till then, farewell. 
 
 (She bows for his blessing and then walks 
 toward the house.) 
 
 Brah. (To Nurse.) At court will Poros give 
 you recompense. 
 We shall not need you more. 
 
 Yz. Can she not come ? 
 
 Brah. You will not want her in the glad new 
 life. 
 
 Yz. Farewell, then, nurse, and give me joy at 
 last. 
 
sc. II YZDRA 29 
 
 (She goes up to embrace her. The Nurse 
 shoves her away.) 
 
 Nurse. Nay, touch me not. 
 (To the Brahman.) I am well rid of this. 
 I go to seek the King and claim my wage. 
 
 Yz. You will not say "FarewelF' .? 
 
 (The Nurse goes off toward the forest. Yzdra 
 looks sadly after her for a moment.) 
 What can it mean .? 
 
 (Exit Yzdra into the house.) 
 
 Brah. (After a pause. Watching her.) The 
 ways of Fate are dark and hard to tread. 
 (Enter Rajah.) : 
 
 Raj. I trust she will be ready by the morn. 
 
 Brah. Aye ! ready will she be, and glad she is 
 To learn of life. 
 
 Raj. Poor child ! She does not guess 
 
 Her power .? 
 
 Brah. No, and never shall guess till 
 The deed is done; for all the retinue. 
 
30 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Except ourselves, are ignorant as she. 
 
 Raj. I bring the King's provision to her house. 
 
 Brah. Much yet remains to do; I go within. 
 
 Raj. She must be kept aloof from all her 
 maids. 
 
 Brah. I will arrange for that. 
 
 Raj. They come. Farewell. 
 
 {Exeunt — the Brahman into the house and the 
 Rajah toward the forest, in which torches are seen 
 approaching. Attendants enter and carry equip- 
 ments into the house. One of them leaves a spear he- 
 side the door. After some have come out again, enter 
 YzDKKfrom the house. Voices are heard within.) 
 
 Yz. Oh, Life ! Life ! Life ! An emperor and 
 young ; 
 A valiant man ; and Persia's king as well. 
 Have dreams come true .? My head is all awhirl. 
 But why have I been kept till now, so long 
 In solitude and ignorance ? Why must they still 
 Slink sideways from my questions, tell me not 
 
sc. II YZDRA 31 
 
 What most I seek to learn — why this has been ? 
 There is some mystery; but now, ah, well! 
 It does not matter now, for life is mine. 
 But, soft ! for someone comes. 
 
 {Enter the Jester from the forest.) 
 
 {He appears frightened and dishevelled, and looks 
 about him half timorously, half vacantly.) 
 
 What wouldst thou here ? 
 
 Jester. I followed on their track that I might 
 see 
 Them when they start. 
 
 Yz. Who start, and who art thou ? 
 
 Jester. It has been very dark, and far it seems 
 From home. I wish that I were back again. 
 What noise is that ? 
 
 Yz. A beast that passed, no more. 
 
 Jester. I wish that I were safely back again. 
 
 Yz. Whence didst thou come .? 
 
 Jester. I know not who you are. 
 
 Yz. I am the Princess Yzdra ; who art thou .? 
 
32 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Jester. The Princess Yzdra ? 
 
 Yz. Nay, it is not strange 
 
 That thou hast never heard of me, for all 
 My life till now has passed in solitude — 
 Alone from infancy. 
 
 Jester. {Not quite understanding hut remem- 
 bering dimly.) In solitude ^ 
 Alone ? (Yzdra moves toward him.) 
 
 Yz. But tell me what thou seekest, then 
 The Brahman here will teach us of the way. 
 
 Jester. The Brahman ? You, alone } 
 
 {She steps nearer to him and he shrinks away, 
 but does not yet quite realize who she is.) 
 
 Yz. I wonder why 
 
 This boy seems so afraid of me. Poor thing ! 
 The Princess I ; I would not hurt thee. Come. 
 
 {He looks around as though wanting to run, and 
 cowers hack against the tree.) 
 
 Jester. The Princess! OfF! Standoff! 
 
 Yz. Poor boy ! Poor boy ! 
 
sc. II YZDRA 33 
 
 {As she moves still nearer to him, he seizes a stone 
 as if to throw it at her.) 
 
 In truth I would not hurt thee. See how kind 
 I am. Thou seemest like a little child 
 Whom I could hold beside me; almost kiss 
 In pity. 
 
 {He starts to throw the stone ; but seeing her step 
 up to him, evidently unafraid, he hesitates.) 
 Why, what ails thee now ? But see 
 How kind the hand that rests upon thy head. 
 
 Jester. O gods ! The poisoned kiss ! The 
 poisoned kiss ! 
 I would not die. 'Twas not for me they reared 
 You thus. Oh, touch me not ! 
 
 {He cowers down at her feet. She places her 
 hand gently on his head.) 
 
 The kiss ! and death ! 
 
 {He falls on the ground, sobbing convulsively.) 
 
 Yz. The kiss and death .? The poisoned kiss ? 
 'Twas not 
 
34 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 For me they reared you thus ? Oh, touch me not ? 
 The kiss and death ? The poisoned kiss ? What 
 
 can 
 He mean ? Poor boy, his wits are all distraught. 
 
 {Moving from him, then, after a pause, looking 
 around at him.) 
 Poor boy ! {She stands musing.) 
 
 The poisoned kiss. The kiss and death. 
 
 {She shakes her head; and then, suddenly he- 
 ginning to understand, a look of agony comes into 
 her face.) 
 
 The child I kissed that died ! My forest life ! 
 The nurse that shrinks away ! {Wildly.) 
 
 It cannot be. 
 
 {She staggers and supports herself against the tree.) 
 Why lead me out and show me aught of life, 
 If life is not for me } 
 
 {Thinking.) The poisoned kiss. 
 And death. He said what else ? I must remem- 
 ber. 
 
sc. II YZDRA 35 
 
 He said 'twas not for him. What then ? For 
 whom ? 
 
 {Suddenly understanding it all.) 
 For Alexander death ! And what for me ? 
 I must learn more. 
 
 {As she staggers toward the Jester, the Brah- 
 man enters.) 
 
 Thou crawHng snake ! Thou mock 
 Of hoHness ! What good shall come to thee 
 From Alexander's death } my poisoned life } 
 
 Brah. What meaneth this .? 
 
 Yz. {Trying to control herself.) He told — he 
 told me all. 
 
 {The Brahman makes a sudden movement toward 
 the Jester, and then, changing his mind, steps to 
 the door and motions an attendant. He whispers 
 to him and then the attendant leads out the Jester.) 
 
 Brah. {Half to himself.) No prattle more 
 from him. 
 
 Yz. Thou takest life — 
 
36 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 A human life against the Holy Law ? 
 
 Brah. The Law must bend before necessity. 
 
 Yz. {Seizing the spear and stepping towards 
 him.) 
 Then I take thine, thou jackal masked as man, 
 Thou grey hyena tricked in holy weeds ; 
 The blood of all the princes of my race 
 Comes battling upward round about my heart; 
 Unsexed, I stand a hero of my house, 
 And claim the vengeance due, a coward's death. 
 
 {She steps forward to strike him ; hut he gazes at 
 her unflinchingly and raises his hand, exercising 
 his old authority over her.) 
 
 Brah. Turn not on me, my child, but pause 
 and think. 
 
 Yz. {Wildly.) But pause and think ! 
 
 {Cowed hy his power over her and speaking very 
 low.) 
 
 Oh God ! I hate you so ! 
 
 {Aloud again.) 
 
sc. II YZDRA 37 
 
 Tis time to strike, not think ; to strike with hate, 
 To trample out your life or spurn you hence. 
 
 Brah. You go to Alexander; should he die 
 His queen would hold dominion o'er the world. 
 
 Yz. O base, base, base as demons scorned by 
 Brahm ! 
 I would not stoop to this — a coward's deed. 
 
 (She commences to break down under the strain.) 
 But tell me why my life is poisoned thus. 
 
 Brah. Yzdra, you have but me to trust; no 
 more 
 A child, but woman fully grown, I trust 
 Your womanhood, your blood, and tell you all. 
 Before your birth the gods decreed that you 
 Should live on poisons, gain this poisonous power. 
 But kept their reasons hid until but now. 
 When oracles revealed the State must fall, 
 The King, your father, lose his rule, his life. 
 Unless the Grecian army's march were stopped 
 By death to Alexander brought by you. 
 
38 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 Yz. But what of me, who had my Hfe to live — 
 My happy human hfe, my hope of love, 
 That you have baffled darkly from my birth ? 
 I stand here impotent and gaze at life, 
 A nameless horror, loathed by the world. 
 Give back the life you took away from me ! 
 
 Brah. Not loathed by the world but named 
 of men 
 In bright emblazonry on honour's scroll. 
 As she who saved her country, saved her sire, 
 A maiden hero worthy of her race. 
 
 Yz. What owe I to a sire I never saw — 
 A sire who leagued with you to spoil my life ? 
 
 Brah. The gods have willed; the gods must 
 be obeyed. 
 
 Yz. I will not do it ; could not stoop so low. 
 
 Brah. {Rising to his full dignity and threaten- 
 ing her.) 
 
 The mandates of the gods must be obeyed ; 
 If not, upon your soul the consequence. 
 
sc. II YZDRA 39 
 
 Yz. It cannot be ! 
 
 Brah. Have you forgot so soon 
 
 The hour I told you of your father's will ? 
 
 Yz. Oh, God ! So sweet it was ! 
 
 Brah. You told me then 
 
 You longed to be of service to the State; 
 To do some mighty thing, some valiant deed ; 
 And now you falter when the chance is come. 
 
 Yz. It was my dream of girlhood. 
 
 Brah. Poros asks 
 
 His daughter to be worthy of her sire — 
 To give herself, as many men have given 
 Themselves, to save your land and ancient race. 
 
 Yz. I am a princess worthy of my line ; 
 I would obey my sire, obey the gods. 
 Would serve the State and be a queen in all ; 
 But not through baseness. 
 
 Brah. This could not be base : 
 
 This deed the gods command will men revere 
 Until they set you with the gods themselves, 
 
40 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 And build a shrine, and come in pilgrimage 
 To pray your aid whene'er your country needs. 
 Your speech is royal but you act the slave. 
 
 Yz. I could not do it. 
 
 Brah. Yet you could not live 
 
 The life you dreamed, whichever course you chose. 
 
 ( The expression of hate comes back into her face. 
 She steps forward grasping the spear tightly y and 
 is about to strike, but pauses, again overawed by the 
 old authority.) 
 
 In one your name will be forever praised. 
 As she who loved her country, served her gods ; 
 The other course, if taken, brands your name 
 As one who, disobeying king and gods 
 Through woman's weakness, fell as falls a tree 
 By lightning shattered. Not alone this life 
 You lose; through bleak eternities of lives 
 The gods will hunt you, flying from their wrath — 
 A horror to yourself, a name of scorn. 
 
 Yz. It cannot be ! It cannot, cannot be ! 
 
sc. II YZDRA 41 
 
 I could have been so happy living life, 
 
 A woman merely, in some humble lot ; 
 
 A wife and mother, feeling tiny hands 
 
 Reached out for my protecting mother love ; 
 
 Or just a careless girl as once I was 
 
 Among my jasmine bowers, with dreams for life. 
 
 So little would have made me happy; now — 
 
 Brah. Aye, now you choose the brand of 
 infamy. 
 Or glory ever brightening, sung of men, 
 A name for poets' hearts to conjure with. 
 
 Yz. I could have been so happy, would have 
 asked 
 So little. Oh, to sink at once in Brahm, 
 Forgetting all the pain, the broken hope ! 
 And yet I would find vengeance ere I die ! 
 
 Brah. Accept the way of duty marked divine. 
 
 Yz. It may be I shall try. Now leave me 
 here 
 Alone, yea, all alone. I cannot stand 
 
42 YZDRA ACT I 
 
 It more. In pity for my weakness go. 
 It may be I shall do it. Go. 
 
 Brah. I go, 
 
 But charge you on your conscience, for your 
 
 weal. 
 To do the gods' high will, and save the State. 
 (She sinks down, hiding her face.) 
 Yz. Go ! But go ! 
 
 Brah. The gods decree that you 
 
 Shall save your people and your father. Now 
 I go. A little later you yourself 
 Will see where honour points. Till then farewell. 
 Yz. (Rising.) I shall do what I will; my life 
 is mine — 
 My little left of life — nor owe I aught 
 To country or to kin, to you or him. 
 But vengeance, vengeance, vengeance ! Now 
 begone. 
 Brah. Consent unto our plan or die to- 
 night. 
 
sc. II YZDRA 43 
 
 Yz. Or die to-night ! 
 
 Brah. Aye, such Is Poros' will. 
 
 You know the choice. Farewell. 
 
 Yz. Or death to-night ! 
 
 End of Act I 
 
ACT II 
 
ACT II 
 
 Alexander's quarters at the court of 
 
 TAXILES 
 
 {A pavilion tent. A practicable door on either 
 side of the back, one leading to an inner pavilion 
 and the other to the camp. Between them is a 
 couch with steps leading up to it, and a low altar 
 at one side. Alexander, Heph^stion and a 
 Page discovered. Alexander reclines on the 
 couch. The Page sings.) 
 
 Is this but dream ! 
 So close I seem 
 
 To hold 
 The lips, the breast 
 With passion pressed 
 Of old. 
 47 
 
48 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Again one kiss ! — 
 The moment's bliss 
 
 Is fled, 
 Like joy that flies 
 Ere yet surprise 
 Be dead. 
 Alex. What, longing still for Macedon, my 
 Page! 
 Are not these Indian maidens fair enough ? 
 
 {To Heph^stion.) 
 Perchance some languorous Persian lures his 
 
 thought 
 To swift Pinarus' stream where Persia fell : 
 The captive maids were fair. 
 
 Heph. Indeed, my Lord, 
 
 We lost as many captives as we took; 
 But we to women yielded, they to men ; 
 Full half of our army wear the Persian yoke. 
 
 Alex. It is my plan to fuse at length in one 
 The many nations bowed beneath my rule; 
 
ACT II YZDRA 49 
 
 And intermarriage builds foundations firm 
 For future empire. 
 
 Heph. Greece has owned your sway; 
 
 Athens and Sparta dread your god-sent power; 
 CiHcia, Egypt, Lydia, Scythia, Crete, 
 Are yours ; the Medes and Persians call you Lord, 
 O son of Zeus ! Great Asia's Emperor ! 
 
 Alex. Not yet is all of Asia in our hand. 
 Nor can it be until this Poros bends 
 His stubborn pride to sue our clemency 
 For life and realm ; on him we march, and when 
 His head shall bow, a reed before the wind 
 Of our swift onslaught, when his armies fly 
 Like scattered sand before Sirocco's blast, 
 Then mayst thou call me "King" ; for none but he 
 Is strong to stop our progress for a day. 
 
 Heph. To Taxiles, our host, this day has come 
 A further reinforcement for our aid. 
 
 Alex. His friendship cheers the troops. 
 
 Heph. Would Poros now 
 
 E 
 
50 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Alliance make, as Taxiles has done, 
 It would be well. 
 
 Alex. How seem the men to-day ? 
 
 Heph. They talk no more of home and child 
 and wife, 
 But each of valour brags to new-found friends 
 And all seem well disposed for further wars. 
 
 Alex. 'TIs well ! Ourself will pass again from 
 tent 
 To tent, and cheer their reborn courage on 
 With speech of ancient sieges and the spoils; 
 Of honour won and honour yet to gain. 
 How like you India ? 
 
 Heph. Well indeed, my Liege; 
 
 The Indian men are brave, the women fair; 
 The land itself is rich in things of worth. 
 Could Aristotle, though he taught your youth, 
 Surpass these Brahman sages ? 
 
 Alex. Much I doubt. 
 
 Who comes .? 
 
ACT II YZDRA 51 
 
 Heph. The motley minded Proteas. 
 
 {Enter Proteas with an air of great importance. 
 He is dressed in the Persian fashion, and prostrates 
 himself before Alexander in the manner of the 
 Persians.) 
 
 Alex. Speak, Proteas, and tell us what god 
 fills thy sails with the breath of his inspiration. 
 
 Heph. Some idle god, I think. 
 
 Prot. Would the son of Ammon, most valiant 
 and most mighty, deign in the magnificent lavish- 
 ness of his kindness to hear tidings from me who 
 prostrate myself dumb before his divinity .? 
 
 Alex. Now may Hermes aid thee ! Speak on. 
 
 Prot. My Liege, there waits without, an 
 embassy. 
 
 Alex. I pray Zeus, the protector of strangers, 
 to forgive thee their waiting. What is the ap- 
 pearance of this embassy, and from whom comes 
 it.? 
 
 Prot. It is, my Lord, an embassy of most 
 
52 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 magnificent appearance, mounted upon elephants 
 and shining with jewels. The leader is a man of 
 comeliness, and beside him ride a maiden veiled 
 and a Brahman old enough to be great-uncle to 
 Kronos. 
 Alex. But didst thou not learn from whom 
 
 they come .? 
 Prot. From one who calls himself an emperor 
 
 — Poros by name. 
 {The manner of Alexander suddenly changes, 
 taking on the force and swiftness of a man of action 
 and the dignity of an emperor.^ 
 
 Alex. {To Heph^stion.) Bring in the em- 
 bassy. We meet them here, 
 At once. 
 
 Heph. {Moving toward the door.) The gods 
 obey your will, my Liege. 
 {Enter the Rajah, the Brahman, etc.) 
 {While they make their obeisance, others spread 
 costly gifts at the feet of Alexander.) 
 
ACT II YZDRA 53 
 
 Alex. Accept our kingly welcome for your- 
 selves 
 And him who sends you. For his gifts so rich, 
 And something strange unto our Grecian eyes, 
 We give their certain due, an Emperor's thanks. 
 In this with Poros we ourself will vie. 
 Returning friendship with munificence. 
 
 Raj. To your dread feet, great Emperor, we 
 come 
 From Poros, who has filled our mouths with words 
 Of friendly greeting. These unworthy gifts 
 Are but the shadow of his good intent. 
 
 Alex. What will has Poros other than to give .? 
 
 Raj. The honour of alliance. Furthermore, 
 He offers aid, should you such aid desire, 
 In following ever eastward conquest's path ; 
 Safe conduct for your troops across his realm ; 
 And you yourself he fain would make his guest. 
 
 Alex. This offer, frankly made, we would accept 
 With equal frankness. 
 
54 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Raj. One thing more, my Liege : 
 
 The King, with faith in your acceptance, charged 
 This Brahman, who is chief of all the realm 
 In wisdom and philosophy, with words 
 More fit for him to utter than for me. 
 
 Alex. Philosophers and poets we have held 
 More worthy homage than are sceptred kings. 
 The diadem of thought upon his brow 
 Compels our reverence. 
 
 Be welcome here. 
 
 {The Brahman motions an attendant, who goes 
 to the door and ushers in Yzdra, veiled, and her 
 maidens ; then the Brahman walks slowly over to 
 Yzdra and lifts the veil. Alexander starts in sur- 
 prise and glances at Heph^stion, who looks at him.) 
 
 Alex. (Aside to Heph^stion.) Think you, 
 could Phryne's self have been more fair .? 
 
 Heph. Not Phryne, nor the wave-born 
 Cyprian. 
 
 Brah. O son of Ammon, Poros purposing 
 
ACT II YZDRA 55 
 
 To bind himself to you, yourself to him, 
 
 In bonds more lasting than a kingdom's troth. 
 
 Has bade me offer you for queen and wife 
 
 His only daughter, whom he loves right well — 
 
 The Princess Yzdra. He — 
 
 {During this speech Alexander has shown in- 
 creasing emotion^ and now, without waiting for the 
 Brahman to finishy he interrupts, speaking rapidly. 
 Yzdra has been looking toward the ground, but 
 with the first lines of the following speech she looks 
 up at him in surprise and from here on shows an 
 ever increasing interest in him. At the close of the 
 scene her voice and her manner indicate that she is 
 deeply touched by his courtesy.) 
 
 ■^LEX. A woman's heart 
 
 Is gift more precious than a king can give. 
 It has not been my custom to extend 
 My conquests thus, or take unto myself 
 The maids that came within my power. The 
 wife 
 
S6 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 And daughter of Darius both received 
 Full grace. And yet, because she is so fair, 
 And somewhat also for the kingdom's weal, 
 I would be glad of this ; — if she were glad, 
 And came without coercion, moved by love. 
 What says the maiden ? 
 
 Brah. Sire, a name like yours 
 
 Wakes love in women's hearts. 
 
 Alex. But what says she } 
 
 Yz. My father wills : I lie within your hand ; 
 And yet an Indian Princess yields not thus 
 Her quick consent. The daughters of my house 
 Have pride of lineage and strength of will ; 
 We choose from those who prove themselves for us. 
 
 Alex. So proud and fair; you seem a queen in 
 all. 
 And yet you come not quite unwillingly 
 To crown your beauty with my name and realm .? 
 
 Yz. Your Grecian Cupid shoots one single 
 shaft, 
 
ACT II YZDRA 57 
 
 And Grecian bosoms yield them to the wound ; 
 The Indian god of love has arrows five 
 With flowers barbed, and with each flying shaft 
 He seeks a separate sense. When all have flown, 
 And love gains access through the several wounds, 
 Then only, Indian women yield their hearts. 
 
 Alex. I trust not to my armies or my state. 
 My kingly order or divine descent, 
 To storm this citadel of love, but trust 
 My manhood simply, and the strength I own. 
 Hephaestion, see our guests are well bestowed. 
 
 Heph. I will, my Lord. 
 
 Alex. ( To the Rajah.) This afternoon we hold 
 Some further conference, and then will ask 
 More fully of your country and your king, 
 Of whom the voice of rumour speaks afar. 
 {To YzDRA.) Of you, my Queen, I beg the cour- 
 tesy 
 Of taking these, my quarters, for your use. 
 
 Yz. I would not dispossess you. 
 
58 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Alex. Soldiers find 
 
 Their home, their comfort, anywhere. 
 
 Yz. I thank 
 
 You, King, for this — 
 (Speaking very low.) and all your courtesy. 
 
 Alex. Ere Phoebus stays his golden chariot 
 wheels 
 I come to you and crave an audience. 
 But first must make inspection of the host. 
 Perchance, my Princess, you would care to come 
 And smile upon the troops ? 
 
 Yz. Indeed, my Lord. 
 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
 (The stage is darkened for a moment to give the 
 lapse of time.) 
 
 (Enter the Brahman and the Rajah.) 
 
 Brah. They have not yet returned. 
 
 Raj. It makes me laugh 
 
 To think of viewing thus the host which soon — 
 Its leader dead — will pass like summer snow. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 59 
 
 Brah. Not gently will it pass; for when the 
 troops 
 Are left without their king, each petty chief 
 Will seek supreme command ; and Grecian blood, 
 By Grecian swords set free, will flow unstanched. 
 
 Raj. Then Taxiles will turn upon his guests. 
 And each will murder each while we look on 
 And laugh, content. 
 
 Brah. From far will we look on ! 
 
 Once Alexander dead, our gracious host — 
 "Friend Taxiles" — from forced friendship lapsed 
 Would wreak his will. 
 
 Raj. 'Twere well indeed to fly 
 
 And make what speed we can before the youth 
 Has quaffed the deadly sweetness of her lips ; 
 For should suspicion pass but near our names, 
 An instant death would follow. 
 
 Brah. When he dies 
 
 His army, mad with grief, will spend its hate 
 On Taxiles, and thus we catch two birds 
 
6o YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Who took themselves for eagles, with one snare. 
 The girl played well her part, and drew him on 
 With beauty's swift allurement. 
 
 Raj. She, I thought, 
 
 Seemed not averse to answering his love 
 With love returned ; for just ere they went out 
 A strange new light came gleaming in her eyes. 
 New accents tuned her voice and made it sweet. 
 Did you observe the change ? 
 
 Brah. I also saw : 
 
 But should she love, it could not hurt our plan. 
 
 Raj. Nay, rather would it help us; for her 
 heart 
 Would join her mind, and both, with doubled 
 
 power. 
 And purpose doubly strong, would strive to wake 
 In him the passion that fulfils our aim. 
 
 Brah. Aye, loving, she will seek with stronger 
 will 
 To win him to her arms ; but, loving not. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 6l 
 
 Her mind at last is set to do the deed. 
 
 Raj. In either case we gain our purpose. 
 
 Brah. Yes. 
 
 {The Rajah walks to the door and looks out.) 
 
 Raj. They are not coming yet. I would we 
 knew 
 If love so long delays them on their way. 
 
 Brah. When love points out the path, the 
 way grows long 
 In time, but short to sense. 
 
 Raj. 'Twere well to know. 
 
 {Enter Heph^stion.) 
 We wait the coming of the King, my 
 Lord. 
 
 Heph. I also seek the King. 
 
 Brah. They tarry long. 
 
 Heph. But now I crossed a corner of the camp, 
 And all men spoke to me with one glad voice 
 Of how our Emperor and your fair Queen 
 Had gleamed an instant there on all men's sight. 
 
62 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 It seems the King proclaimed a feast to-night 
 
 In honor of your embassy, and told 
 
 How not with pain across your stained spears 
 
 Would we your kingdom enter, but as guests, 
 
 With garlands decked and feasting by the way; 
 
 And when he showed in sign of peace and truth — 
 
 More sweet than peace herself — the matchless 
 
 maid, 
 
 A murmur spread among the host that soon 
 
 To general tumult rose in glad acclaim ; 
 
 But they rode on and sought each other's eyes. 
 Brah. Perchance they cannot pass athwart 
 
 the crowd. 
 Heph. The soldiers throng about them prais- 
 ing both. 
 {A sound of shouting is heard in the distance. 
 Heph^stion goes to the door and looks out.) 
 They come with half the army following. 
 
 {The sound of cheering gradually becomes more 
 distinct; then enter Alexander and Yzdra, the 
 
ACT II YZDRA 63 
 
 latter flushed with excitement. The soldiers shout 
 again and Yzdra goes to the door while Alexander 
 stands behind her looking at them. As she turns to 
 come back toward the centre, she sees the Brahman 
 watching her, shudders, losing in a moment her 
 joyousness; then tries to regain her composure. 
 Alexander greets the three men but is all the while 
 watching Yzdra. He steps over to her as she 
 stands glancing at the Brahman and endeavouring 
 to regain control of herself.) 
 
 Alex. The audience I craved this afternoon 
 Must now be held, so many silken hours 
 Have slipped unfelt between our wayward fingers. 
 
 (Yzdra stands motionless. He glances at the 
 three men who bow and go out.) 
 Queen, I claim the greeting promised by 
 Those wondrous eastern eyes that charmed my 
 
 sense. 
 You will not give me welcome ? 
 
 ^^' Welcome, King. 
 
64 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 {Suddenly and rapidly.) 
 You must forgive me that I am overcome; 
 The sudden view of greatness opening out 
 Has filled my eyes with mist, my mind with 
 
 cloud ; 
 And something too of girlhood's diffidence 
 Oppresses me. I am not very old, 
 Have not seen much of life and mighty kings. 
 
 Alex. And yet you come not quite unwill- 
 ingly .? 
 
 Yz. I hardly know as yet. Oh, give me time ! 
 
 Alex. Nay, time for what, my Queen ? 
 
 Yz. In girlhood oft 
 
 I dreamed as maidens do of future love. 
 Of how a king would come and win my heart 
 By valour, courtesy, and kingly mien ; 
 A mighty king he was, a noble man. 
 
 Alex. A mighty king am I, perchance a man 
 Not all unworthy of a maiden's dream ; 
 But now your beauty bows me, king and man. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 65 
 
 To seek your throne of womanhood, and sue, 
 A captive, prostrate there, for Hfe and love. 
 
 Yz. For hfe and love ! 
 
 {Aside.) It cannot, cannot be ! 
 
 {Aloud.) My life and love were yours before I 
 
 knew 
 Your name ; before I found you aught but dream ; 
 But now — oh, give me time ! a little time 
 Before I wake. The dream must fade so soon. 
 Oh, give me time ! {After a paused 
 
 I cannot dream again. 
 
 Alex. Reality is fairer than your dream. 
 
 Yz. Reality 
 
 Alex. Is here, my Queen, with us. 
 I would not push you forward to the leap, 
 Yet passion, rising in me, stronger grows. 
 And momently increasing makes my heart 
 Forget its calculating thought to build 
 A future empire's strength from your consent. 
 My manhood speaks to you with waking love; — 
 
66 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 (YzDRA Steps forward impulsively.) 
 You love me, then ! Confess ! 
 
 {The expression of pain comes into her face again. 
 She turns away.) 
 
 Yz It cannot be. 
 
 Alex. What cannot be ? 
 
 Yz. You do not understand. 
 
 Alex. Love makes swift conquest of a soldier's 
 heart. 
 It eats like poison through me, blood and bone. 
 
 (The shouting is heard again outside. Alex- 
 ander hesitates a moment, looks at Yzdra, and 
 then goes to the door.) 
 
 Yz. {Aside.) Like poison I Ah ! 
 {Aloud.) You do not understand. It cannot be. 
 
 (Alexander turns with a gesture to Yzdra, then 
 raises the curtain and stands facing the troops 
 without.) 
 
 {The Brahman enters unseen by Alexander. 
 He stands looking at Yzdra and raises his hand 
 
ACT II YZDRA e^ 
 
 in command, compelling her with his eyes. Alex- 
 ander motions the troops to he silent.) 
 
 Alex. Beside the feast to-night we now pro- 
 claim 
 That games be held in honour of the Queen, 
 And many prizes, gold and things of worth, 
 Ourselves will give to those who most deserve. 
 
 {The soldiers cheer again. Exit Brahman.) 
 But now let all disperse and rest awhile. 
 
 {Another cheer. He stands watching them as 
 they go.) 
 
 The soldiers hail you as their queen and mine. 
 So yield you must ; for we — we know not 
 how. 
 (YzDRA Stands motionless, gazing straight ahead 
 of her. She speaks mechanically without cadence 
 in her voice.) 
 Yz. It may be I shall do it. 
 Alex. Trust me now. 
 
 (YzDRA Speaks still mechanically as though 
 
68 YZDRA 
 
 ACT II 
 
 forcing herself to speak, hut there is some slight 
 modulation in her voice, which trembles a little.) 
 
 Yz. Ah, King, I trust your love ; I fain would 
 yield ; 
 My every dream of girlhood changed to life 
 Before me stands. A king you are, a man 
 Of valour, courtesy and kingly mien 
 Beyond my thought. 
 
 Alex. And yet you love me not ? 
 
 {She turns toward him and speaks wildly, putting 
 all her emotion into her voice, and desiring him 
 to understand her, though realising that he cannot 
 do so.) 
 
 Yz. I love, yea, love too much • 'tis love that 
 brings 
 Refusal to my lips. One last ideal 
 I clutch with straining hands. It cannot be. 
 I love you, love you, yet it cannot be. 
 
 Alex. Nay, then it shall be \ 
 
 {He steps forward toward her quickly, throws his 
 
ACT II YZDRA 69 
 
 arms about her and stoops to kiss her. She pushes 
 him back violently and speaks very wildly.) 
 
 Yz. Death ! Your death and mine ! 
 
 Alex. What say you, Princess ? 
 
 {Enter the Brahman behind Alexander. They 
 do not see him.) 
 
 Yz. Death. Your death and mine. 
 It is too much. Oh gods, that this should be ! 
 
 Alex. What mean you ? 
 
 (YzDRA sees the Brahman and staggers toward 
 Alexander, falling to her knees beside him and 
 Teaching up for his hand.) 
 
 Yz. (To ^/i(f Brahman.) Go! In pity go! 
 
 (Alexander draws away his hand and leaves 
 her without support; she falls to the floor.) 
 Oh gods ! 
 
 (Alexander has followed the direction of 
 Yzdra's look and now sees the Brahman, on whom 
 he turns fiercely.) 
 
 Alex. What meaneth this .? 'Tis thou who 
 must explain. 
 
70 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Brah. I know not what she means, but know 
 she loves, 
 And think the maiden's mind must be distraught 
 With sudden greatness and the love she owns. 
 With thought of you and your divinity. 
 
 Alex. The truth ! Be quick ! The truth ! 
 
 Brah. I know no more. 
 
 Poor girl, her unused wits go wandering 
 Overcome with passion and her sudden joy; 
 But I, who have some skill with soothing herbs, 
 Some knowledge of the mind, will soon restore 
 Her reason, make her yield such proofs of love 
 As oft a maid, though loving, long withholds. 
 
 Alex. But now she spoke of death — her 
 death and mine. 
 
 Brah. Those words meant naught; she will 
 unsay them soon. 
 
 Yz. That will I never do. The truth is mine 
 And honour, though I die in saving him. 
 
 (She rises to her full height and stands facing the 
 
ACT II YZDRA 71 
 
 Brahman, her eyes flashing, her voice under control 
 and her face showing perfect determination. For 
 the first time, she has more force than he and he 
 feels that he has lost his power over her. He moves 
 involuntarily toward the door, but she steps in front 
 of him, blocking the way.) 
 He who has played so ruthlessly with lives 
 Now shifts to save his own. He dreads the change 
 To some despised shape, most like himself. 
 Some snake, or slinking jackal ; yet his death 
 Could not requite me for the evil done, 
 For life and love, for hope and womanhood. 
 Some subtle torture of the frame and mind 
 Is best for thee. {Turning to Alexander.) 
 
 My Liege, I tell you all. 
 
 (Alexander steps toward the Brahman.) 
 
 Alex. What hast thou done .? 
 
 {The Brahman takes a dagger from his robes and 
 strikes at Alexander.) 
 
 ^Rah. I shall not die alone. 
 
72 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 (YzDRA Springs forward and hits aside the 
 Brahman's arm. The dagger falls and Alex- 
 ander puts his foot on it.) 
 
 Yz. Nor I. 
 
 Alex. Attend the Princess. Call the guards. 
 
 {Enter Heph^stion with jive or six soldiers 
 and the Page ; then Yzdra's women.) 
 Hephaestion, guard this hoary demon well, 
 And put the others from the selfsame brood 
 In chains. Let all be gagged. 
 
 {To the guards.) And you, my friends, 
 Talk not unto the troops. 
 
 Heph. Your will is law. 
 
 (Heph^stion and the soldiers lead out the 
 Brahman. The women are helping Yzdra toward 
 the other door. The Page goes with the soldiers.) 
 
 Alex. When you have quite regained your 
 strength and calm, 
 I come to learn more fully of these things 
 That now are dark to me. Whatever the truth 
 
ACT II YZDRA 73 
 
 'Tis best that we should grace the games to-night 
 From joined thrones. The Brahman will be safe. 
 The secret must remain between ourselves. 
 
 (YzDRA goes out supported by the women. Two 
 of the soldiers with the Page re-enter and stand at 
 either side of the door hy which they came in. Alex- 
 ander, noticing them, stands in thought for a 
 moment and then takes a goblet from the steps of 
 the couch.) 
 
 {To the Page.) 
 Some wine I pour to Ammon. 
 
 {The Page fills the goblet and then Alexander 
 goes up the steps till he stands above the altar, on 
 which he sprinkles a little wine.) 
 
 Father, God, 
 Be now thine ear attuned to hear my prayer; 
 Let now thy heart, though filled with bliss eterne, 
 Remember once again my Mother's face, 
 Where white she lay in some dim woodland glade 
 And felt thy godhead stooping through the dusk 
 
74 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 To crown her beauty. Now remember, King, 
 Thy joy, her sorrow, and the child she bore, 
 Who here with supphant hands about thy knees 
 Lays claim with double right to aid divine. 
 Oh, Ammon, God and Father, hear my prayer ! 
 Now guide and guard me; — 
 
 {Re-enter one of the women.) 
 Speak ! 
 
 The Woman. The Princess comes. 
 
 (Alexander motions the soldiers and Page to 
 retire. Re-enter Yzdra. She speaks, at first, i?i 
 a hard, restrained voice.) 
 
 Yz. 'Tis I who come to you. 
 
 Alex. The truth at once ! 
 
 Yz. I must disclose a deed so vile, so base. 
 That demons thinking on it pale with fear — 
 A shame set burning on the front of Ind 
 To make her ways a by-word to the world. 
 And leave my name a thing obscene, abhorred. 
 For folk of after years to shudder at. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 75 
 
 Yea I, whom but a moment since you loved, 
 And in a little moment more will hate, 
 When once you know my vileness, I who speak, 
 Who loved you, King ; who love you, love you now, 
 From birth was dedicate to work your death. 
 By means most base, and loathsome. 
 
 Alex. You I loved ! 
 
 Yz. Aye, "loved." You will not love me any 
 more. 
 But soon will spurn me where I clasp your feet. 
 Myself, myself abhorring. Hear the tale : 
 This Brahman from my helpless infant years 
 Mixed poison with my food, until I grew. 
 Not knowing this myself, a poisoned thing, 
 That starved hyenas, did they know, would shun. 
 You have the truth, 
 
 Alex. {Starting back.) No harpy is more 
 foul! 
 
 Yz. The gods themselves determined this 
 should be. 
 
76 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 And spoke through him in trance their oracles, 
 Obeying which, he made me what I am. 
 
 Alex. I hear the words but cannot take the 
 sense : 
 They have no meaning. 
 
 Yz. Hear me now, and heed. 
 
 My kiss is poison and my love is death. 
 
 Alex. Your love is death ! 'Tis false ! That 
 cannot be ! 
 
 Yz. No serpent is more deadly than my lips; 
 He gave me poison till my life was charged 
 With horror, nameless, loathsome and accursed ; 
 Then he with Poros plotting, sent me here 
 To work your death. 
 
 Alex. But you have saved my life. 
 
 Yz. I love you, King. 
 
 Alex. I cannot think 'tis true 
 
 You have this power. 
 
 Yz. I killed a helpless child. 
 
 The poison takes a few short hours to work. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 77 
 
 Alex. This is too horrible. 
 Yz. And yet, 'tis true. 
 
 Alex. The horror grapples strongly with my 
 love; 
 I love and loathe. Love's wound was swift and 
 deep. 
 Yz. You could not love a loathsome thing like 
 
 me. 
 Alex. You saved my life. We must take 
 time for thought. 
 Ere night I will inform me of the truth 
 If this could be. It passes all belief. 
 
 Yz. Too true it is. I would it were not so. j| 
 
 My youth was passed alone with one old 
 
 nurse, 
 The Brahman's tool, who feared my deadly 
 
 touch ; 
 There is no room for doubt, the Rajah knows. 
 Alex. From him and from the Brahman will 
 I learn. 
 
78 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Yz. Think not too hardly of me. Speak 
 
 some word. 
 (Alexander starts toward her impulsively and 
 then draws back, showing both love and aversion.) 
 Alex. Love lingers yet, I cannot cast it 
 
 out 
 Yz. The fault was theirs alone, though mine 
 the doom. 
 When first I made discovery of my curse 
 They gave me choice of winning you or death, — • 
 And then I loved you. 
 
 Alex. Zeus ! My love is strong; 
 
 My horror too. I must take time for thought. 
 {Enter the Page.) 
 Page. The soldiers seek your orders for the 
 
 games. 
 Alex. I go with you at once. And you, my 
 Queen, 
 Farewell. I pray you grace our feast to-night; 
 Perchance ere then we may devise some plan, 
 
ACT 11 YZDRA 79 
 
 And see more clearly things that now seem dark. 
 I humbly take my leave. 
 
 Yz. Farewell, my Lord. 
 
 ( The Page raises the curtain. The soldiers cheer.) 
 
 Some. Long life ! 
 
 Others. And love unto the King and Queen ! |i 
 
 (YzDRA and Alexander look at each other and 
 then go out by separate doors. The stage is darkened 
 for a moment.) 
 
 {When the stage again becomes visible, on the 
 right is a platform bearing a table and two thrones ; 
 on the left a platform with a table and throne. On 
 the tables are golden drinking cups. Below each 
 platform is another table. Slaves stand waiting 
 to serve. A cheer is heard outside, then enters 
 Taxiles preceded by a small bodyguard and 
 followed by the chief men of the kingdom. Taxiles 
 takes the throne on the left, the guards stand behind 
 him and the others range themselves below. A 
 louder and more prolonged cheer, followed by the 
 
8o YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Macedonian battle-cry , is heard, and then Alex- 
 ander enters. Behind him come Heph^stion, 
 other Greek Generals, one Persian and Proteas. 
 Then follow three of the Cavalry Companions as a 
 guard. These are dressed in their own uniform, 
 Heph^stion wears Persian costume and the other 
 Greek Generals are dressed in the Macedonian 
 manner. Alexander wears a combination of the 
 Persian and Median royal costumes. He goes to 
 the vacant throne which is the farther from the stage 
 of the two. Taxiles rises and they exchange 
 salutes. Heph^stion seats himself on the steps 
 just below Alexander. Proteas after prostrat- 
 ing himself stands to one side and the Generals take 
 seats at the lower table. While they are doing this 
 Alexander talks aside to Heph^stion. 
 
 Heph. What news, my Lord ? 
 
 Alex. The Queen has told me all. 
 
 Heph. Some fearful thing ^. 
 
 Alex. Most fearful and most strange. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 8 1 
 
 She saves my life, disclosing treachery. 
 
 Heph. Of whom ? 
 
 Alex. Of Poros and the Brahman both. 
 
 Heph. The Rajah too .? 
 
 Alex. He also knows the plot. 
 I have learned all but will not tell you all. 
 The Princess comes to grace our festival, 
 But for the absent men make some excuse. 
 
 Heph. [Rising.] 
 The Emperor bids me tell what all should know — 
 The reason why we lack to-night two guests, 
 Whose absence something mars our festival. 
 The Rajah of Abhisara prepares 
 With necessary haste his messages. 
 Which tell of how the embassy has sped : 
 His presence much would grace our company. 
 His absence dulls our joy. The Brahman old, 
 O'erwearied with the burden of his years. 
 Which bore not easily the journey here. 
 Betakes himself to rest and lonely thought. 
 
82 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 As is the custom with philosophers 
 
 Who find their pleasure in the mind, and scorn 
 
 Such joyous usages as games and feasts. 
 
 The Princess Yzdra comes, and having her, 
 
 Our lack of these, the absent guests, seems naught. 
 
 Alex. Thee, worthy Proteas, we do appoint 
 For this one night to bear our cups to us. 
 And cheer our mood with talk. Not yet begins 
 The feast, nor shall begin until to us 
 The Princess Yzdra comes. 
 
 The Troops. {Outside,) The Queen ! The 
 Queen ! 
 All hail the Princess Yzdra ! 
 
 All. {Within.) Hail, all hail ! 
 
 {The Princess enters.) 
 
 {She is pale but firm. Alexander steps down 
 and leads her to the vacant throne. Proteas, 
 kneeling, hands her a golden cup.) 
 
 Alex. My Princess, now, with your most 
 gracious leave. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 83 
 
 We will commence our feast and festival, 
 And honour you whose presence honours us. 
 
 (YzDRA bows and makes a gesture of assent. 
 Heph^stion motions the attendants. Some fill 
 the zvinecups. Others bring in dishes. Musicians 
 enter with various Greek instruments and range 
 themselves on the steps 0} the couch at the rear of 
 the stage. After an instrumental prelude played 
 on the flutes, the Page who sang at the opening of 
 the present act sings:) 
 In all the world I see your face — 
 By night, by day, in every place; 
 Where Phoebus burns through western skies 
 I find the glory of your eyes, 
 And Cynthia, silver on the sea, 
 Your girlhood seems, at rest in me. 
 
 {A Greek Slave Girl sings the answering 
 stanza :) 
 
 And when my eyes are closed in sleep. 
 Your image safe within they keep; 
 
84 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 In dreams I touch your lips, your hands, 
 And breathe the words love understands. 
 But waked from dreams I sigh alway 
 For you who miss me, night and day. 
 
 {Both together.) 
 Ah Love, as In the vacant sky 
 When night is past and dawn is nigh. 
 There lives alone one planet blue, 
 So all my Heaven has only you ! 
 So all my Heaven has only you ! 
 
 Yz. A sweet, sad song, O King. 
 
 Alex. Love unfulfilled 
 
 Breeds strange illusions. 
 
 Yz. Yet the singer told 
 
 Of absence only ; sadder songs would come 
 From one who sought the bourne where Life 
 
 meets Death, 
 And smiles to see its passion changed to peace 
 In vast annihilation ; finding calm 
 Unending, timeless, senseless. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 85 
 
 Heph. Passion's songs 
 
 Come undefeated, struggling through the void 
 From singers hushed in Hades ; and in them 
 Has love its only immortality. 
 
 Yz. But see, some further pleasure comes to 
 us. 
 {Enter a Hindu Dancing Girl.) 
 
 {She dances to the accompaniment of players. 
 Throughout this scene, the feast is in progress. 
 Proteas says nothing hut has comic business such 
 as stealing wines and food, and approaching the 
 King and Yzdra each time with a pronounced 
 obeisance. He evidently is filled with a sense of 
 the importance of his office and he orders about the 
 servants with arrogance.) 
 
 Heph. My Queen, how pleases you the 
 maiden's dance ? 
 
 Yz. I like it well and would see more of them. 
 
 {Aside.) The music chimes a sadness like 
 my own. 
 
86 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Alex. {Aside.) Be not so sad. 
 
 Yz. {Aside.) What help is there for us ? 
 
 Heph. The Queen, I trust, ere long will come 
 with us 
 To see our dancing girls in Macedon. 
 
 Yz. I would be glad of that. 
 
 Heph. What have we here ? 
 
 {Enter a Hindu Juggler with his attendants.) 
 
 {While he is performing two or three of the famous 
 Hindu tricks Proteas stands open-mouthed in 
 amazement and forgets to fill the cups. After the 
 first trick Proteas speaks but keeps his eyes upon 
 the Hindu.) 
 
 Proteas. My liege, I think he must be half 
 divine ; 
 No mortal man could do such wondrous things. 
 
 Heph. Amazement fills me. 
 
 Alex. Yea, 'tis very strange. 
 
 {During the second trick Proteas shows i?i- 
 creasing fear, and at the close he starts to prostrate 
 
ACT II YZDRA 87 
 
 himself before the Hindu.) 
 Stand up. Stand up. 
 
 Heph. This thing is wonderful. 
 
 Alex. {To Yzdra.) Our Grecian wisdom 
 seems but poor indeed, 
 Beside your eastern magic. 
 
 Heph. Socrates 
 
 For all his knowledge could not reach to this. 
 
 Yz. Our thought is old, yet stretches up- 
 ward still ; 
 Onward and upward till it clasps the gods. 
 But all is impotent when sorrow comes ; 
 It cannot free the heart where anguish dwells, 
 Or dry the smallest of a woman's tears. 
 
 Alex. Yet courage often wins what thought 
 gives up, 
 And hews its way to sunlight from the dark. 
 
 Yz. {Aside, touching her breast.) 
 
 'Tis midnight here. 
 
 Alex. I see a sluggish dawn. 
 
88 YZDRA ACT ii 
 
 {At the close of the third trick, the soldiers outside 
 are heard?) 
 
 The Soldiers : The games ! Do not forget 
 the games ! The games ! 
 
 Alex. Indeed, we had forgot. The soldiers 
 wait. (Rising.) 
 Do you lead on unto the games and soon 
 The Queen and I will follow ; first we hold 
 Some further conference of private things. 
 
 (Taxiles rising, hows to Alexander and 
 YzDRA and goes out followed by his train, and then 
 by the Greeks. Alexander and Yzdra alone 
 come down to the centre of the stage.) 
 
 Yz. What have you done ? 
 
 Alex. I know the awful truth ; 
 
 The oracle was clear, I must believe ; 
 And he who voiced the god confirms it now; 
 There is no room for doubt. 
 
 Yz. Then none for hope. 
 
 {Looking up at him bravely.) 
 
ACT II YZDRA 89 
 
 I know you cannot love me any more. 
 
 Alex. I cannot choose but love in spite of 
 all. 
 
 Yz. It cannot be your love is like my own 
 That rends me, helpless, with its agony. 
 
 Alex. But one poor way I see. 
 
 Yz. Oh, tell me that. 
 
 Alex. A strange, sad way it is and leads to 
 death. 
 
 Yz. To death and not to love. 
 
 Alex. To love fulfilled, 
 
 Then death. 
 
 Yz. Ah, love fulfilled is all I crave 1 
 To cling unto your lips, then welcome death. 
 I love too much, for life beyond your arms 
 Has naught for me. 
 
 Alex. And naught for me, O Queen. 
 This love is strong indeed, his arrows wound ; 
 And I, the conqueror, who thought to rule, 
 Am bowed in vassalage ; the world and life, 
 
90 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 My joy in conquest and the stress of fight, 
 Seem nothing more to me. 
 
 Yz. Yea, love is strong ! 
 
 It bows me, sways me, fills me, takes away 
 My power of thought. I only crave to come 
 Unto your arms — then hide myself in death. 
 But you ? Whatever happens, you will live. 
 Now tell your plan. 
 
 Alex. To yield ourselves to Fate. 
 
 Yz. You cannot mean to die, accepting all 
 The horror and the shame of such a death — 
 So 3^oung, in mid career — for my dread love. 
 That foul, polluted thing ! 
 
 Alex. {Sadly hut firmly.) Yet this I mean. 
 
 (YzDRA gazes at him for a moment, and as she 
 looks i tenderness slowly comes in place of her former 
 wildness.) 
 
 Yz. To die for me ! {She puts her hands on his 
 shoulders.) 
 
 Let passion be controlled 
 
ACT II YZDRA 91 
 
 And let us live with lips that never meet, 
 But joined hearts and hands. 
 
 Alex. That could not be. 
 
 Not till I drain the certainty of death 
 From their excess of sweetness do I live. 
 
 Yz. When passion cools with age we two will 
 
 go 
 Toward death together, happy in our love. 
 
 Alex. That cannot, shall not be ! Not Tan- 
 talus 
 Does madden so with thirst as I for you, 
 And not so heavy is the doom he bears 
 As this would be. Life has not aught for us 
 But love fulfilled. 
 
 Yz. {With less assurance.) I will not have it 
 
 so ! 
 Alex. {Speaking in a tone of decision, and 
 putting all the force of his character in the 
 assertion.) My love is stronger than the 
 bonds of life. 
 
92 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Yz. {Very wildly and with all possible inten- 
 sity.) 
 He loves as I ! {She springs toward him.) I do 
 accept your love. 
 (Alexander steps toward her impulsively and 
 then checks himself with a great effort.) 
 
 Alex. But one thing more I do before the 
 end : 
 I thirst for vengeance on the dastard king 
 Who planned this coward's trick, and poisoned 
 you. 
 Yz. {Slowly and thoughtfully.) 
 My people expiate my father's fault. 
 I grieve for them, but grieve not much for him 
 Who justly falls. He gave no love to me; 
 And yet the ending of my ancient race 
 Through me brings sorrow. 
 
 Alex. Love forgotten seems. 
 
 Yz. Ah, no ! A moment's grief and that is 
 all. 
 
ACT II YZDRA 93 
 
 Be swift and sure; my father's host is strong. 
 
 Alex. Or weak or strong, I shall defeat him 
 soon. 
 Then vengeance satisfied, world-empire won, 
 We drink our cup of passion, yield to Fate. 
 
 Yz. Ah ! love is strong ! 
 
 Alex. I do not fear to die. 
 
 Tis best to seek the shades with blazing course, 
 A star across the night ; not slowly fade 
 When men have half forgot how once you shone. 
 
 Yz. Yea, that were good ; to live one perfect 
 hour, 
 Then fall like stars while all men stand amazed. 
 
 Alex. There seems no other way for you and 
 me. 
 
 Yz. What do you with the Brahman ? 
 
 Alex. He shall go 
 
 With ignominy heaped, and if he will 
 May tell his jackal king the lion comes. 
 To-morrow morn shall see our march begin. 
 
94 YZDRA ACT II 
 
 Yz. Ah, Love, do swiftly this — your last 
 great deed — 
 And then we drain the cup, let come what will ! 
 Alex. It cannot come too soon. 
 The Soldiers. The King! The King! 
 
 {Enter Heph^stion.) 
 Heph. The soldiers grow impatient. 
 Alex. Now we come. {Exeunt.) 
 
 Curtain 
 
ACT III 
 
ACT III 
 
 Scene I 
 
 A CORRIDOR IN THE PALACE OF POROS 
 
 (PoROS discovered. Enter Prince.) 
 Prince. Again I greet you, Sire. 
 PoR. Be welcome, son. 
 
 How fared you on your errand ? 
 
 Prince. Well, my Lord ; 
 
 If present plans should fail, and need there be, 
 You could command an army worthy you. 
 I found the separate chiefs each well disposed 
 With love and loyalty to serve your cause ; 
 They all have raised their men and wait your 
 word. 
 PoR. That news is good; should our first 
 arrow miss, 
 The bow is bent to send the second forth. 
 H 97 
 
98 YZDRA ACT iii 
 
 No news has reached me yet. I would we knew 
 What so delays the Brahman's messenger. 
 
 Prince. My mind forebodes some dire mis- 
 chance. 
 PoR. And mine. 
 
 I never played this hypocritic game 
 With any zeal ; a man should fight with arms. 
 Prince. The way we took was pointed by the 
 gods, 
 But still my mind keeps boding ill on ill. 
 There must be news ere long. 
 
 PoR. My patience wanes. 
 
 Prince. What made you send the Princess 
 Yzdra's nurse 
 So hotly after her .? 
 
 PoR. How knew you that .? 
 
 Prince. She passed me, speeding swiftly on 
 
 her way. 
 PoR. 'Twas best the Princess should have 
 someone by 
 
sc. I YZDRA 99 
 
 Who knew her fearful secret, and who could, 
 
 If need there were, sustain the Brahman's 
 
 plans. 
 She reared the girl and she is worthy trust. 
 But look, who comes ? 
 
 Prince. It is the Brahman, Sire. 
 
 PoR. The Brahman ! 
 
 Prince. Aye, all woe-begone and weak, 
 
 With clotted hair, his garments soiled and torn ; 
 He scarce can stand. 
 
 {Enter Brahman.) 
 PoR. What brings you in this plight .? 
 
 Brah. To arms ! to arms ! there is no other 
 
 way. 
 PoR. The King refused her then .? 
 Brah. He learned our plot. 
 
 And pale with anger marches on you now. 
 Prince. How could he learn the plot ? 
 PoR. No time for words ! 
 
 Go you, send messengers to all the chiefs. 
 
lOO YZDRA ACT III 
 
 Brah. The Princess learned by accident her 
 power, 
 And through a woman's weakness told the King. 
 
 PoR. He did not doubt the truth ? 
 
 Brah. How could he doubt ? 
 
 I said that fever might have killed the child ; 
 But she had told him of the oracle, 
 And none there is who disbelieves the gods. 
 
 PoR. It was the truth that fever killed the 
 child. 
 
 Prince. And not the poison ^ 
 
 PoR. No, for I have learned 
 
 Its mother died of fever just before, 
 And that was why it wandered off alone. 
 Its death proved nothing. 
 
 Prince. Nor disproves it now; 
 
 We need no proof beyond the oracle. 
 
 PoR. We have not now the slightest trace of 
 proof; 
 We know they gave her poisons, but know not 
 
sc. I YZDRA lOI 
 
 That she has gained their power. 
 
 Brah. If there is one 
 
 Who thinks the words I uttered in my trance 
 Were not directly spoken by the god, 
 Let him beheve the Princess is the same 
 As other maidens are. 
 
 Prince. None such there is; 
 
 We cannot doubt a dream or oracle. 
 
 PoR. I cannot choose but doubt so strange a 
 thing ; 
 But true, or false, it does not matter now; 
 The war is on our hands; the Grecian comes. 
 Where is Abhisara ? 
 
 Brah. Two nights ago 
 
 He left me while I slept and took away 
 The scant provisions we had gathered up. 
 
 Prince. It cannot be that he is traitorous ! 
 
 PoR. Go you and do our bidding; raise the 
 host. 
 Though all should traitors prove, ourself will fight 
 
I02 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 And be this Grecian's death, or die by him. 
 
 (Exit Prince.) 
 And you : our royal curse be on your head ! 
 Our curse, and if it come, the country's doom ! 
 No more will I be led from valour's course 
 To follow darkly twisting paths of stealth. 
 Or prop my kingdom on uncertain dreams 
 That make me scorn myself, and leaned on, 
 fail. 
 
 Brah. My Lord 
 
 PoR. Nay, hear me speak. 
 
 When first I gave 
 Consent to yield the Princess to your will 
 My mind foreboded fearful things to come; 
 But now I fight ! My own brave way is left. 
 
 Brah. And I, with you, will face the Grecian 
 darts. 
 Inciting all to fight for king and gods. 
 My plan has failed, some demon thwarted us. 
 So now I aid your courage in the field. 
 
sc. I YZDRA 103 
 
 I faint for lack of food. 
 
 PoR. Go you to rest, 
 
 And I will make provision for the war; 
 Then later we will hear your tale rehearsed. 
 
 Curtain 
 
 i 
 
Scene II 
 yzdra's tent in Alexander's camp on the 
 
 WEST bank of the HYDASPES 
 
 {It is the afternoon before the battle. Yzdra is 
 discovered reclining on a couch; slaves are fanning 
 her. Enter Nurse.) 
 
 Nurse. My Lotos Flower, your father bade 
 me take 
 His swiftest elephant to follow you, 
 Lest in this strange new world you feel the lack 
 Of me and my accustomed services. 
 I missed you many times but find at last. 
 
 (Yzdra rising furiously motions the slaves to 
 leave. As they go, she stands looking at the Nurse, 
 then breaks out in uncontrolled passion.) 
 
 Yz. Thou here ! Thou dare to come and face 
 me now ! 
 
 104 
 
sc. II YZDRA 105 
 
 I know thee, what thou art, and scorn thy 
 
 wiles 
 Of unforgiven infamy. 
 
 Nurse. My child ! 
 
 Yz. Nay, "child" not me! I know thee, 
 
 know myself — 
 The thing that thou hast made me. Ven- 
 geance waits. 
 Nurse. You mean my death ! 
 Yz. Aye, death ! Look not about ; 
 
 Thou canst not fly, but when thou goest hence 
 'Twill be to death ; with shame as dark as mine. 
 Nurse. The poisoned death } O God ! Not 
 
 that ! Not that ! 
 (YzDRA has been regaining control of herself 
 and speaks now less wildly.) 
 
 Yz. That would be justice. Dost thou 
 tremble now 
 In pity of thyself, who pitied not 
 Thy foster-child ? 
 
io6 YZDRA 
 
 ACT III 
 
 Nurse. Oh, grant some other death 
 
 Less awful in itself, aught else but that ! 
 
 Yz. {She begins speaking with a start of 
 surprise as the idea strikes her; and as she con- 
 tinues, speaking half to herself and thinking of 
 Alexander, her manner becomes gradually less 
 hard and her passion subsides till at the close she 
 speaks dreamily with nothing in her voice and eyes 
 but her love for him.) 
 
 It might be that the poison would not kill, 
 Despite the Brahman's wisdom. Gods, dear 
 
 gods, 
 How happy would we be if this were proved ! 
 And we could live and love and rule the world, 
 Forgetting all this coil of hate and tears. 
 
 Nurse. It could not fail. Forgive. My 
 death is sure. 
 
 Yz. {Pleading for some confirmation of her 
 hope.) 
 You know that death is sure ? 
 
sc. II YZDRA 107 
 
 Nurse. Forgive me ! Spare ! 
 
 Yz. {Wildly again.) Didst thou spare me? 
 Nay, then I make the test : 
 
 {She springs toward her and then stops suddenly ^ 
 a look of bewilderment on her face.) 
 
 Yz. I cannot seem to do it. 
 
 Nurse. Spare me ! Spare ! 
 
 Yz. I could have done it once. 
 
 Nurse. Forgive me. 
 
 Yz. Yea, 
 
 I cannot help myself, for love has come 
 And tamed me from my wildness. Go in peace. 
 Yes, go ! Since life is sweet, I give thee back 
 Thy few grey years, and suffer all myself. 
 Go quickly, though ; it might be I should change. 
 
 {The Nurse looks at her doubtfully for a moment 
 and then hurries out. Yzdra throws herself ex- 
 hausted on the couch.) 
 
 {After a pause.) 
 She really seemed to love me years ago. 
 
lo8 YZDRA 
 
 ACT III 
 
 {After a shorter pause.) 
 I wonder if my garden looks the same, 
 And if those dimbing roses reached the tree. 
 I wish that I had asked her. 
 
 {She calls.) Nurse ! Oh, Nurse ! 
 
 She is not there. I never shall forget 
 The garden, nor those childish dreams I dreamed 
 And told unto the roses. 
 
 {She goes to the door to look for the Nurse /wj/ 
 as a slave ushers in Heph^stion.) 
 
 Heph. Greetings, Queen. 
 
 Yz. Be welcome, General. 
 
 Heph. But why so sad ? 
 
 Yz. I cannot quite forget my garden home, 
 Nor all the dreams I dreamed among the hills; 
 And sometimes in my sleep I seem to wake 
 And feel the flowers that I loved so well, 
 Unseen, but all about me, everywhere. 
 And sometimes, even when the King is by. 
 And speaks of love to me and I to him. 
 
sc. 11 YZDRA 109 
 
 A sound or scent will bring my garden here; 
 Then all the past comes flooding to my eyes : 
 It is a part of me and must remain. 
 But this is naught to you. You bring me news .? 
 
 Heph. The usual news — that Alexander longs 
 To see you once again. He sent me here 
 To ask if he might come at once. 
 
 Yz. Ah, yes ; 
 
 'Tis afternoon and every crawling hour 
 Since yestermorn when last I saw the King 
 Has stretched to double length its weariness. 
 
 Heph. The King but now returned to the 
 camp. 
 
 Yz. How fared his scouting party ? 
 
 Heph. Well, I think. 
 
 Your father's host upon the other shore 
 Keeps close to camp, expecting us to wait 
 Until the flood abating lets them cross. 
 The King may come at once .? 
 
 Yz. Yes, bid him come. 
 
no YZDRA ACT III 
 
 Heph. My feet are shod with Hermes* sandals, 
 
 Queen, 
 To bear with swiftest speed your messages. 
 
 {Exit Heph^stion.) 
 Yz. Yet once again he comes, and once again 
 My passion springs to meet him. 
 {She looks at herself in a burnished copper mirror.) 
 
 Fair I am : 
 That matters not — he could not love me more 
 If all the gods should with each other vie 
 To heap divine perfections on my head ; 
 He would not love me less, if beauty changed 
 To strange deformity. 
 
 (Enter Alexander.) 
 
 Ah, Lover, King, 
 So long has absence seemed, so very long ! 
 
 Alexander. Yea, like eternity to souls un- 
 blessed. 
 Yz. But are you wholly mine .? When you are 
 here 
 
sc. II YZDRA III 
 
 I would not have you king or general, 
 
 Or aught I cannot share, but mine, and mine, 
 
 And mine alone — the well-loved lover only. 
 
 Alex. All yours I am. The world outside is 
 like 
 Some dim, remembered dream when one awakes ; 
 My life is yours, and soon — this night perhaps — 
 I die to hold you closely, mine indeed. 
 
 Yz. So soon ! 
 
 Alex. The battle will be joined to- 
 
 night. 
 
 Yz. Ah, do not risk the crossing ! 
 
 Alex. This one deed 
 
 To crown my life before the eyes of men 
 I do ; and then at last, world-empire won, 
 I yield me to my passion, hold you close. 
 My own indeed ; the world and life forgot 
 In love's full ecstasy of eyes and lips. 
 My love is strong and binds me more than Fate 
 To work its will. 
 
112 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 Yz. The gods protect you, Love ! 
 
 Do not neglect to send me messages 
 Of how the battle goes. Remember her 
 Who waits and watches through the lonely hours, 
 A prey to all the fears love conjures up. 
 And yet, I would some other course had led 
 To love fulfilled than this sad way we climb 
 Who mount upon the corpses of my kin 
 To victory. My father and my race. 
 Our ancient name, through me are doomed to 
 
 death. 
 Alex. They fall, but love upon them stands 
 
 alone ; 
 And love is all that counts ; for love I give 
 My lordship of the world, and you your race. 
 Yz. I would not have you, Love, give up so 
 
 much. 
 Ah, yes, I would; and yet I can but doubt 
 When now you reach the two diverging ways ; 
 One short but very sweet through love to death. 
 
sc. II YZDRA 113 
 
 And one that leads through years of fame and 
 
 praise 
 To honoured age, if you would not prefer 
 To walk the longer path, and live your life. 
 I have had many thoughts these last few days : 
 It made me think to have the end so near. 
 
 Alex. There is no choice but one — through 
 
 love to death. 
 Yz. Ah, yes, there is ! The other path that 
 
 here 
 Seems dark and hard to tread, with naught beyond. 
 Would soon grow easy for your feet ; and soon 
 You would look forward brightly, not look back. 
 Forgetting love. Then I, from some lone place, 
 Would see your glory in the blinding sun 
 And send my messengers to hear your voice 
 And tell me of your looks. 
 
 Alex. I am resolved. 
 
 Yz. My love may not at last so fatal prove; 
 I sometimes hope again. 
 
114 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 Alex. That cannot be. 
 
 At first I doubted if the Brahman's lore 
 Had probed so deep the secrets of the gods; 
 But ever when I hoped, a phantom came 
 From that pale child who wandered near your 
 
 home 
 And felt the magic of your poisoned lips. 
 
 Yz. No hope ! 
 
 Alex. And then so real this horror 
 
 seems, 
 So present to my sight disgraceful death ; 
 I tremble at the leap that love compels, 
 But will not falter here upon the brink. 
 
 Yz. The curse was mine, be mine alone the 
 doom ! 
 I will not have you share my fate and shame; 
 The world is yours, with life and other loves; 
 Let death be mine ! I bare me to the stroke. 
 Beseeching death from you to give you life, 
 The only thing my fatal love can give. 
 
sc. II YZDRA 115 
 
 I tried before to tell you this, but still 
 Your passion like a torrent whirled me on, 
 And swept me from myself and blinded me. 
 I could not set my will opposed to yours ; 
 I did not have the will; but now I have. 
 
 (YzDRA bares her bosom, imploring the stroke.) 
 Alex. Nay, Love, put by that thought; we 
 two are strong 
 To face our destiny unfaltering ; 
 I am resolved to make you all my own, 
 And ere to-morrow's stars I come to you 
 To call you "Bride", though Fate be there to 
 smite. 
 Yz. It shall not be ! My love implores your 
 hate; 
 I clasp it to my breast. Oh, leave me now. 
 And let me take myself where nevermore 
 Your eyes shall fill with horror at my sight; 
 Or let me go and hide myself in death; 
 The grave alone can cover shame like mine. 
 
ri6 YZDRA act hi 
 
 Alex. Come life, come death, our hearts are 
 joined for both ; 
 And love shall be fulfilled. 
 
 Yz. Then go, my King, 
 
 And certain victory attend your course; 
 Then hide within my arms your sovereignty. 
 Alex. I shall not fail. The troops are on 
 the march 
 And I, their leader, tarry here too long. 
 Love give me wings to win and come again ! 
 Yz. Farewell, and may the gods fulfill my 
 prayers 
 And bring you swiftly back, victorious. 
 
 Curtain 
 
Scene III 
 
 OUTSIDE THE TENT OF POROS ON THE EAST BANK 
 OF THE HYDASPES 
 
 (PoROS and attendants discovered. A furious 
 storm is raging.) 
 
 {Enter Brahman.) 
 Brah. What news ? They say the Greeks 
 
 attempt to cross. 
 Por. Aye, up the stream, just where the river 
 bends, 
 A sentry saw them struggling in the flood. 
 I sent the Prince to beat them down the bank ; 
 They will not win against the tide and him. 
 Brah. What troops went with the Prince to 
 
 meet them, Sire .? 
 Por. a scanty force, but strong enough to 
 quell 
 
 117 
 
Ii8 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 This mad attempt. Who but a hare-brained 
 
 boy 
 Would risk the crossing, and on such a night ? 
 {Enter a Messenger.) 
 Messenger. To arms ! The Prince has fallen 
 and the Greeks, 
 Their army in array, are marching down. 
 
 PoR. The Prince has fallen ! Is our son then 
 
 dead ? 
 Messenger. They reached the shore some 
 moments ere he came ; 
 His force they overwhelmed, and him they 
 slew. 
 PoR. Nay, then, to arms ! Let each man fight 
 for king 
 And country, for his life, his home, his lands. 
 To arms ! To arms ! Ourself will lead the van. 
 {Enter a second Messenger.) 
 PoR. Well, slave, thy news ? 
 Messenger. The news is black, my Lord. 
 
sc. Ill YZDRA 119 
 
 PoR. It better fits the night. What is it? 
 Speak. 
 
 Messenger. The Rajah of Abhisara has sent 
 To Alexander messengers of peace 
 And offered firm alHance 'gainst your state. 
 
 Brah. The curse of all the gods be on his 
 head. 
 
 PoR. How know you this ? 
 
 Messenger. A captive Greek has told. 
 
 PoR. Enough! This night will see a battle 
 fought 
 That shall surpass the glories of our Ind 
 And dim the deeds of all our storied chiefs. 
 We shall be sung of in the coming years, 
 And taught to children when their infant hands 
 First learn to draw the bow; our names shall be 
 Familiar to their ears as common words 
 For honour, courage, strength, and hardihood. 
 Yea, while we fight, the souls of heroes dead 
 Will turn them backward on the way to Brahm, 
 
I20 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 And think a moment of remembered fields 
 Not told of more than this shall ever be. 
 Attend me all : your king to conquest leads. 
 All. Lead on, lead on ! 
 
 Curtain 
 
Scene IV 
 
 THE SAME AS SCENE II 
 
 (YzDRA is reclining on a couch; the Greek slave 
 girl is in attendance.) 
 
 Slave. My Queen, I sing you now the last 
 sad song 
 That Sappho wrought in Lesbos, long ago. 
 
 Yz. Oh, sing it not ! No rumour yet has come 
 Of how the battle goes. I cannot heed 
 Your minstrelsy when heart and ears and eyes 
 Are strained to meet his tardy messenger. 
 
 {She goes to the door and listens ; then speaks 
 mechanically and rather more to herself than to the 
 slave.) 
 
 The King succeeded in his mad attempt 
 To cross the swollen river. Night and storm 
 But made it worse. He could not brook delay 
 
 121 
 
122 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 But would lead on, though all the elements 
 Conspired with Poros darkly for his doom. 
 {Enter Hefhjestion fresh from the field.) 
 
 Heph. The field is won and Alexander comes. 
 
 Yz. Oh gods, I give you thanks ! But is he 
 safe ? 
 Without a wound ? ♦ 
 
 Heph. Without a wound he comes. 
 We gained this day a greater victory 
 Than Issus or Arbela. Poros lives. 
 
 Yz. For that again I thank the holy gods. 
 
 Heph. He fell into our hands with many 
 wounds. 
 The Rajah held aloof; the Prince was killed. 
 
 Yz. The slaughter lasted long ? 
 
 Heph. They would not yield 
 
 Until their leader sank beneath his wounds 
 And left the field ; for while his strength held out 
 He led with wondrous valour, charge on charge. 
 
 Yz. I oft have heard him called a king indeed, 
 
sc. IV YZDRA 123 
 
 A man of noble bearing, strength and skill, 
 One born to rule, and not to know defeat. 
 Through what strange ways the gods work out 
 
 their will ! 
 Not long ago I sought to serve the State, 
 And now I scarce can weep my country's doom, 
 My father's bondage and my brother's death ; 
 So love has changed me from the thing I was. 
 
 {A confused shouting is heard. Heph^stion 
 goes to the door. Enter soldiers half carrying the 
 Brahman. He is very weak and his robes are 
 stained and torn; hut the moment he sees Yzdra he 
 straightens up and stands supported hy the soldiers. 
 Yzdra looks at him, showing first defiance, then 
 pity, followed, as he raises himself, by fear.) 
 
 Brah. Oh thou, who workest thus thy coun- 
 try's doom, 
 Let horror seize thee and let darkness fall 
 Upon thy lustful eyes till love be turned 
 To loathing. Siva, Vishnu, Brahm, on you 
 
124 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 I call to work the curse I speak, and change 
 
 This traitor to the thing she most abhors. 
 
 Let her in death find no forgetfulness, 
 
 But still remember through a thousand lives 
 
 Her crime, her scorned name, her father's woe, 
 
 Her nation's bondage and my dying curse. 
 
 And let her burn with passion, evermore 
 
 Unsatisfied and seeking still the love 
 
 That made her traitorous to King and gods. 
 
 Let her in death — 
 
 {A paroxysm of pain comes to him; he pauses.) 
 
 Yz. Oh, spare me ! Spare me more ! 
 
 Brah. Let her in death no respite gain, or peace ; 
 And let her hear forevermore her name 
 A word of infamy in common mouths. 
 
 Yz. Oh, spare me ! Spare me this ! 
 {Enter Alexander.) 
 
 {He has bathed and anointed himself since the 
 battle. YzDRA springs to him for protection.) 
 
 Ah, Lover, King ! 
 
sc. IV YZDRA 125 
 
 Brah. Thee too I curse. 
 
 Alex. Nay, curse thyself, for thou 
 
 Art author of thine own calamity. 
 
 Brah. With cheek unblanched and bosom un- 
 defiled 
 I die, for I am guiltless. I alone 
 Gave heed to Siva's v^^ill, for Poros scorned 
 The gods, and she — 
 
 Alex. She clove to love and honour. 
 
 Brah. The gods have sent sv^ift vengeance, 
 and the blow 
 Has glanced to me, who, innocent, now die 
 In their disaster whelmed. I stifle ! Air ! 
 My curse be on you both. 
 
 {He {alls to the floor. HephtESTION goes over 
 and examines him to see if he is dead. Yzdra 
 stands hiding her face against Alexander, who 
 has one arm about her supporting her.) 
 
 Alex. {To the soldiers.) Bear him away. 
 And do you leave us too, Hephaestion. 
 
126 YZDRA 
 
 ACT III 
 
 Heph. I will, my Liege. Farewell. 
 
 Alex. Live long, my friend. 
 
 You have my orders, let them be fulfilled. 
 
 (Heph^stion goes out. Yzdra raises her head 
 from Alexander's shoulder and holds him at arm*s 
 length. They look at each other in silence for a 
 moment.) 
 
 Alex. At last we are together, all the world 
 Shut out. 
 
 Yz. I have you with me, wholly mine. 
 
 Alex. The Brahman's curse has made you 
 pale with fear. 
 
 Yz. I came into your arms and felt their 
 strength, 
 And then I did not heed him any more. 
 The wound he gave is healed, and now at last 
 I come to you, for I am wholly yours. 
 To do with what you wish. 
 
 Alex. My love exceeds 
 
 The measure I had dreamed that love could fill. 
 
sc. IV YZDRA 127 
 
 Yz. From conquest come, you seem a god 
 indeed, 
 And I a lowly worshipper who waits 
 To pour the pure libation of my love 
 Upon your altar. 
 
 Alex. Nay, *tis you who seem 
 
 Divine in giving thus divinely all 
 Yourself. 
 
 Yz. 'Tis love that makes us what we are. 
 
 Alex. You bow my heart in giving thus 
 yourself; 
 I kneel as though before some awful fane, 
 So pure, so dread, I dare not enter in. 
 And scarcely dare to look where burning white. 
 Beyond all mystery, Love sits enthroned. 
 
 Yz. I only have a woman's heart to give — 
 A simple thing and common, as it seems — 
 But you give up the world, world-wide renown. 
 And this, without the fruits of victory. 
 
 (Alexander, with profound pity in his eyes, 
 
128 YZDRA 
 
 ACT II! 
 
 Opens his arms and stands waiting for her to come 
 
 to him. She hesitates a moment.) 
 
 You would not yield yourself for my poor sake ? 
 
 (Alexander spreads out his arms again. His 
 voice trembles a little.) 
 
 Alex. Do you not know my love is strong as 
 yours ? 
 
 {He turns from her to conceal his emotion and 
 goes to the door, lifting the flap and looking out. 
 There are fading sunset clouds in the sky, and be- 
 tween them shines the evening star. He fastens 
 the flap so that it stays open.) 
 See, evening comes and dawn will follow soon ; 
 We crowd a life of passion in one night, 
 So let us not delay. 
 
 {They stand silent a moment^ 
 
 Yz. A single night ! 
 
 Alex. To-morrow Hesperus looks not on me; 
 I bid the world farewell. You told me once 
 You used to dream that souls of heroes dead 
 
sc. IV YZDRA 129 
 
 Came back in sunsets. Will you feel me, Love., 
 Glov^ all about you when the west is bright 
 In after years ? Now quickly come to me ; 
 The night is very short and death ends all. 
 {He turns toward her and steps forward.) 
 Yz. If you should die I could no longer live. 
 {Alexander takes a scroll from his girdle.) 
 Alex. I here have written out my last com- 
 mands. 
 Hephaestion, who thinks not of my death, 
 Will come at dawn, and if I then be dead, 
 This shows what course to follow. You, my 
 
 Queen, 
 Have India for your realm, and with you stay 
 Some Greeks until the country owns your 
 
 rule. 
 No other way there is. Come quickly now ; 
 We have so long delayed that love is pain. 
 
 Yz. The hour I sought has come at last too 
 soon. 
 
I30 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 (Alexander lays his dagger on a table. A shout 
 is heard in the distance?) 
 
 What noise is that ? 
 
 Alex, (going to the door) Some tumult in 
 the camp. 
 The men are revelling ; they do not guess 
 That I no more shall lead to victory. 
 
 {The watch-fires are seen through the still open 
 door. The sunset has now faded from the sky. 
 He stands looking out toward the camp, and Yzdra 
 watches him sadly. Then she looks down at the 
 dagger, starts, and looks back at him.) 
 They loved me well. 
 
 Yz. {Her voice trembles a little.) 
 
 And you, in turn, love them ? 
 
 Alex. They have been still my friends, and 
 they with me 
 Have much endured ; but now I bid farewell 
 To friends and war and yield myself to love. 
 
 {After a pause.) 
 
sc. IV YZDRA 131 
 
 The men will miss me. 
 
 {Stretching out his arms toward the camp.) 
 
 Now farewell, farewell. 
 
 (YzDRA suddenly reaches her decision, seizes 
 the dagger and stabs herself. 
 
 Yz. Farewell, but not to them. 
 
 Alex. What have you done ? 
 
 Yz. The steel works swiftly. 
 
 {She falls.) 
 
 Alex. Zeus ! Where is the wound .? 
 
 {He stoops over her, examining the wound.) 
 
 Yz. I die. 
 
 Alex. If aught divine within me dwells, 
 
 Oh, Ammon, Father, now in sorest need. 
 Give aid unto thy son ! 
 
 Yz. No help. I die, 
 
 But you shall live and win the golden East. 
 
 Alex. I care no more for conquest; all is done. 
 
 Yz. Grieve not for me ; I loved you far too well 
 To let you die. 
 
132 YZDRA ACT III 
 
 Alex. Go not, go not so soon! 
 
 Yz. I cannot stay; but you for love must 
 spare 
 My father and my nation. 
 
 Alex. God ! No help ! 
 
 One kiss ! I come with you. 
 
 Yz. {Very wildly.) Not that ! Not that ! 
 
 (Alexander throws himself down beside her 
 and kisses her. After a pause he starts up.) 
 
 Alex. There is no poison there ! 
 
 Yz. Not there ! 
 
 Alex. Too late ! 
 
 It may be that it was not there at all. 
 
 Yz. {With intense bitterness.) Oh God, too 
 late ! too late ! 
 
 {Slowly the bitterness leaves her face and in its 
 stead comes serenity, which in turn yields suddenly 
 to radiant joy.) 
 
 You will not die ! 
 
 {She dies. Alexander bends over her for a 
 
sc. IV YZDRA 133 
 
 moment, then rises to his full height, stretching out 
 his arms toward the sky.) 
 
 Alex. Past help of gods or men, Fate works 
 its will. 
 
 THE END 
 
NOTE ON THE SOURCE OF "YZDRA" 
 
 The Secreta Secretorum, the book from which the story of 
 Yzdra is taken, purports to have been written by Aristotle in 
 his old age as a manual of guidance for his pupil Alexander, 
 and contains much curious advice on almost every subject: 
 how to judge a man's character by the shape of his nose; in 
 what position of the heavens it is advisable to take physic; 
 how a king should comport himself under all circumstances; 
 etc. The advice is given in the greatest detail and the volume 
 is almost an encyclopaedia of ancient scientific and magical 
 knowledge. 
 
 At the opening is a letter from Alexander, requesting Aris- 
 totle's advice, and then follows the answer in which the 
 philosopher says that, as he is too old to accompany Alexander 
 in his course of conquest, he will write down for him a summary 
 of all his knowledge, but, lest the treatise should come into 
 profane hands, he writes it as a mystery, to which Alexander 
 alone shall have the key. The inference in the story of 
 the poisoned maiden that Aristotle was with Alexander m 
 India, is not only false in itself, but contrary to the general 
 statement of the book. 
 
 The probability as to its origin is that sometime in the 
 eighth century a Syrian Christian physician collected the 
 materials from Greek and other sources, and, realising m a 
 quite up-to-date manner the obvious advantages of passing 
 off his book as a translation of a lost work of Aristotle's, gave 
 it this form. The actual composition seems to have been 
 in the Syriac language, called in the text "Chalden." At a 
 later date, the author himself probably translated his work 
 into Arabic, and presented it with a sort of dedicatory prologue 
 to some Mahomedan ruler. 
 
 135 
 
136 
 
 YZDRA 
 
 About the year 1140, a renegade Jewish physician of Spain 
 found part of the Arabic text and put it into Latin, but the 
 complete Arabic text does not seem to have been translated 
 until a French clerk found a copy at Antioch in the latter part 
 of the twelfth, or early in the thirteenth century. This he trans- 
 lated into Latin by the order of a French bishop of Tripoli, and 
 his version quickly spread through Europe. It was translated 
 into most of the vulgar tongues, copied from manuscript to 
 manuscript, commented upon in perfect good faith, or imitated 
 by many of the distinguished scholars of the time, and finally 
 the invention of printing still more widely disseminated it. 
 Editions were still being made in the eighteenth century. 
 While the great vogue of the book during the Middle Ages and 
 the Renascence was caused chiefly by the prestige of Aristotle's 
 name, it is likely that its popularity was partly due to the fact 
 that it could be regarded as a portion of the Alexander cycle 
 of romances, then as widely known as the Charlemagne or 
 Arthurian cycles. Thomas Aquinas, Roger Bacon, Michael 
 Scot and Albertus Magnus all either commented upon the book 
 or wrote something in a similar form, but perhaps its most no- 
 table literary offspring is The Prince of Machiavelli. Finally, 
 having done its work, it died ; but the story of the poisoned 
 maiden, here called Yzdra, seems to have sunk into the mind 
 of the race, and will perhaps be told now and again until the 
 end of time. 
 
 This story was apparently first related apart from its con- 
 text, and with variations, in the Gesta Romanoruniy where the 
 old monks treated it as an allegory in which Man (Alexander) 
 was saved by the workings of the Holy Ghost (Aristotle's 
 wisdom) from the world, the flesh, and the devil. It would be 
 interesting if some one, who cared more for symbolism and 
 psychology than for romance, would use the legend and inter- 
 pret its latent allegory in a modern way, making the poison 
 work a slow degeneration of the spirit. 
 
 From some one of the early versions the story was taken 
 by Sir Thomas Browne, who says that the poison was aconite, 
 
YZDRA ij- 
 
 and by Burton, who in the Anatomy of Melancholy stated 
 hat the ma,den wa. sent by Poros, giving falsely as his 
 authonty Q. Curtms. She is usually known simply as the 
 daughter of the K,ng or Queen of India and sometimes as the 
 daughter of the Queen of the South, No trace of it appears in 
 
 unt,l .he New England wnters took it up. It is quoted from 
 the French alchem.st, Mizaldus, in Elsie Venner, the central 
 ■dea of wh,ch ,s identical with that version of the story given 
 
 lell V r. ""'T' '""^ <<"''' Po^^'l'ly Hawthorne, who 
 tells It in Rappacctms Daughter, developed the idea of his 
 
 fo m, but hitherto - through twelve hundred years or more- 
 did n:t'L"d i^"^'"^- '' '' ' '''' '•■" ^*"'°- « Webster 
 That version of the story quoted at the beginning of the 
 
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'T'HE following pages contain advertisements of 
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BY THE SAME AUTHOR 
 
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 between the covers of one book, are brought together poems 
 by a great many different writers, all of whom may properly 
 be included in the group of "new poets." The collection in- 
 cludes examples of the work of Masters, Frost, Lowell, Aiken, 
 De la Mare, Lindsay, Pound, Robinson, MacKaye and Mase- 
 field, not to mention many others equally interesting. 
 
 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 Fublishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New Tork