CDFVRIGHT DEPOSm NIMROD A DRAMA N I M R O D A D RAMA By Francis Rolt- Wheeler, Ph.D. Author of "The Boy with the U. S. Survey," " The Boy with the U. S. Foresters," " The Boy with the U. S. Census," " The Boy with the U. S. Fisheries," " The Science - History of the Universe," " The Dawn of Man," etc., etc. BOSTON LOTHROP, LEE AND SHEPARD CO. 111* Copyright in United States tnon-publication), 1906. by Francis William Rolt-Wheeler Copyright in United States, igii, by Francis William RoIt-Wheeler Copyright in Great Britain and Colonies, i<)i2, by Francis William Rolt-Wheeler All rishis rfscTfJ THE COLONTIAL PRESS C. H. SIMOXDS & CO., BOSTON, V. S. A. ©CID 3.L5oG *Co My 3eloveJ Wife Far beyond Space, before and after Time, Undreamed of by the gods, inviolate, Dwell arch-divinities. They predicate The life of Inspiration in that prime When never yet was aught beside. Sublime In utter loneliness, theirs to create What is, what shall be; theirs also to wait, Cycles of suns but minutes in their chime. So silent! So remote! Yet viewless flame Is sped by their Creative thought to gleam In sacrificial fanes — the hearts of seers; And thou, Christine, art one of these; thy name. Like thee, conjoint of Real and of Dream, Foreshows the unknown joy of future years. Francis Rolt - Wheeler. PREFATORY NOTE NiMROD was begun in the winter of 1901, and in its first form, as a dramatic poem, was comideted in 90 ^o To^"'"' '""P'-'u ^7 ='^S^ production, and on July 19, 1906, was copyrighted as such under its present title In the wmter of 191, an advantageous change in the first ac suggested Itself to the author and the drfma was agaL entirely rewritten. Since the publication of llTss Anna to ^vold .0 f • V"« "^'^""^ '^^^ '^^'>" discussed in order trended ItseTf"' rVT^'l"' """ '^' °"«'-' "'^ v-yixuaciiuea itselt. Ihe plots, however, are utterlv HJ<; similar and one is a drama while the othe'r is an epk poem on anvT ^'fT"^'. P^'-h^'PS, that the story is not basS warlr'l ff tt" t"' ■' '"^/'f^i^Y the necessary type of whereof the hI'^"' r!11 Euphrates valleys in the days r,n ^f > t ^f'^'^'^": ,B'ble speaks concerning " Nimrod Zw "'S: '\ ""'^^'y *•"■"<=■■ before the Lord." The double conflict between democracy and aristocracy and arpuSiJn'""""" '"' -onotheiL is of direct m';dern DRAMATIS PERSONS NiMROD — Commander of the army AsTRAEL — King and High-Priest of Eridhu Cal - Erech — Chief of the priests MiTURA — Young priest, related to the royal line En - TuR — Veteran attached to Nimrod's body-guard GiLVAR - Ur — Second in command of the army, under Nimrod Enochael — Jewish patriarch and prophet Hermit — Revolutionist, enemy of the priests AsTUPHELi — Daughter of the King Yarethah — Daughter of Enochael Peliah - Hem — Queen of a conquered city Soldiers, priests, etc. SYNOPSIS OF SCENES ACT I Scene i — The terrace of a Chaldean Observatory, evening. Scene 2 — The interior of the Star-Temple, the next day. ACT II Scene i — The market-place of a conquered city, ten days later. Scene 2 — The patriarchal encampment of Enochael, next morning. ACT III Scene — The sacrificial cell in the vaults of the Star-Temple, two days later. ACT I ACT I, Scene i Scene. — The raised earth terrace surrounding a ziggurat or ancient Chaldean observatory. To the left is the first flight of steps leading up to the ziggurat, the lower story of which, being sacred to the innermost planet. Mercury, is faced with pure white glazed tiles. The steps are white alabaster and semi-circular. Flanking the farther side of the staircase, upon a black diorite base, stands a winged golden bull, man-headed and of colossal size, in the style of the First Babylonian Em- pire. One half of one side of the ziggurat and one half of the great semi-circular staircase leading to the main entrance are seen. Recessed by the width of a steeply sloping outside path of sufficient breadth to allow the bearing of litters, the second story rises toward the sky, being faced with tiles of a light-blue color, symbolical of the planet Venus. The color scheme is bold, being broken only by the mosaics running breast high through the tiers of glazed brickwork and by the frequent shallow niches characteristic of early Baby- lonian architecture. Immediately above the high main entrance is seen on the second story a richly decorated doorway. All the construction is without arches. At the back of the stage runs a low parapet, sur- mounting the supporting wall of the terrace, which, like the parapets guarding the outside walls that en- circle the ziggurat, is turreted in an irregular design. Beyond the parapet of the terrace are seen the fiat- topped roofs of low buildings of sun-baked brick. In the distance a second ziggurat appears^ oriented in the 2 N I M R O D Act I same manner as the building in the foreground, suffi- ciently far away for the entire structure to be seen, each successive story of its pyramid formation glowing with the color symbolical of the planet to which it is consecrated. On the further side runs the dark outline of the city wall, and beyond, the alluvial plains of the Tigris valley. To the right of the stage stands a second winged bull, also of gold, upon a black pedestal only two feet high, the topmost point of head and wings being level with the base of the great sculpture beside the ziggurat steps, thus suggesting the avenue of colossi guarding the ap- proach to the sacred building. A comet gleams in the sky. The Time is early Evening. As the curtain rises, Cal - Erech is seen standing on the steps and looking at Mitura, who is leaning over the parapet gazing anxiously in the direction of the city, as though endeavoring to see what is happening in the streets belozv. The sounds of a tumult are heard, hoarse shouts and shrill cries coming faintly to the ear. Cal - Erech — {speaking with a marked assumption of care- lessness) Thou dost hear their cries? This people seems dis- turbed! Mitura — {with fear in his voice) They rage! {Turns to Cal - Erech with wonderment) And yet this tumult doth not seem To trouble thee! Cal - Erech — {slowly and quietly, his tones a marked con- trast to the other'' s hurried utterance) Why should it trouble me ? I know its cause! Fear hath no dwelling-place In those who know its origin. Scene i NIMROD 3 MiTURA. But crowds Are smit by unruled purposes, sudden Some swift mood strikes them, their temper turns, They pass from hate to love, from love to hate, And unconsidered action — like a flood — Sweeps onward to a hidden bloody end. Wilder, more savage, more relentless Than the maddest of them all would have dared dream. Cal - Erech — And then? MiTURA. Then Peril grows with every breath they draw! Cal - Erech — I find no peril in their maddest mood. A crowd, to me, is but an instrument On which a player plays in massive chords; It has no single notes. MiTURA. But who will play On such an instrument, whose pipes are hoarsened throats. Whose keys are all the passions of the base? Dost thou dare play upon it? Cal - Erech. I do not need! King Astrael shall call forth angry harmonies And Earth shall shake under the beat of sound. I do not play at all. {Pauses meaningly) I write the score! {He turns toward the ziggurat in a listening attitude, as steps are heard, then faces Mitura and points down the sloping terrace) I hear the king! (Mitura hesitates) Go then! {With ??iarked emphasis) I have to write the score. {Exit Mitura 4 N I M R O D Act I (Cal - Erech goes up the steps and makes obeisance) {Enter Astrael. He is abstracted and pays no heed to the priest, but gazes steadily at the sky) Thou hast interpreted the sign, O King? Astrael — {meditatively) The watching constellations seem to brood Over a coming evil. Yonder sign BalefuUy gleaming in the zodiac Foretells a shattered wall, a broken throne. Shows full-gorged vultures on the Temple shrine And brings the cries of jackals to my ear. 'Tis strange that gods should choose such means as this To blazon forth what they have willed to do. Cal - Erech — 'Tis not so strange, the stars are mysteries; No mystery — no fear! The gods need fear. Astrael — What dost thou read in it? Cal - Erech. I only read Such prophecies as fit our purposes. Astrael — {impatiently) Is there no truth in Faith? Is craftiness So sure an armor that the shafts of hate Strike on it harmlessly? I read the sign And dare to face my reading! Cal - Erech — {zvarningly) True, O King, But all thy people, all thy priests, do not. Mark this alone, that even Mitura is sick With heaviness of terror, one dark word Will wreck his peace, he is now half distraught.^ Call this {pointing to the comet) a blessing, Mitura stands firm; Cry it a curse, his blood shall turn to sap And he will fail us when we need him most. Scene i N I M R O D 5 AsTRAEL. Would that I could Infuse his blood with sychor of high aims, Ambition, noble men's intoxicant. But he prefers to think of common folk. He aims to please the sweating water-carrier. Gives alms for sake of cheaply-gotten praise. Cal - Erech — {with a note of maliciousness) The streets Resound with cries of " Mitura! " AsTRAEL. Meanwhile In secret conclave ever his voice is raised To levy greater burdens on the land, A heavier tax, a harder tale of toil. For petty greed he would oppress the people more Than I for mighty conquests have been forced to do! Cal - Erech — Yet he can cloak it by pretense of love. AsTRAEL. _ ^ _ Such love Between a monarch and his subjects, like a seed Fallen between two blocks of masonry, Grows to a tree which hurls them wide apart, And standing strong itself, sees not their fall. Cal - Erech — Yet we must use his weakness for our strength. AsTRAEL — There is no other! (Longingly) Would Jarimel Were old enough! Cal - Erech — {with an air oj rebuking an idle speech) Full fifteen years must pass Before thy son can guide the reins of power; Scarce has he learned to walk! Astrael. His infancy Drags back the wheels of time, the weeks are years Until he reaches manhood. We cannot wait — Mitura must marry Astupheli. 6 N I M R O D Act I Cal - Erech — {suggestively) Should she be early widowed ? AsTRAEL. Jarimel could rule Under her regency. Cal - Erech. The prayers of kings Often find ready answer with the gods; Especially when kept in secrecy. AsTRAEL — {looking up quickly) Secret from everyone! Cal - Erech. And above all — {Points toward the entrance) From him who comes this way. Astrael. Who is it comes? Cal - Erech — Nimrod, the captain of thy body-guard. {A ringing sound of metal is heard from the entrance leading to the city) {Enter Nimrod, He is dressed as a zvarrior and carries a huge bronze spear) Nimrod — Greeting, King Astrael ! {Nods carelessly to Cal- Erech). Astrael. Welcome, my lord! Thou dost not often seek the ziggurat! Nimrod — I have too much of earnest work to do To fret about the stars. I come to warn thee. King — Cal - Erech — Thou usest little courtesy, my lord! Thou speakest to the king! Nimrod — {impatiently) And thou to me! Bid thy two lips a closer friendship keep In warriors' presence. The world is sick Of words for the sake of words, instead of deeds; High-sounding titles are impediments When urgent matters need decisive speech. Scene i N I M R O D 7 AsTRAEL — (haughtily) Who bade thee urge decisive speech to me? NiMROD — King Astrael, in thy seclusion here, The troubles of thy people seem far off, Just as a lion's roar, in city walls, Gives a vague interest to a desert scene. It does not cause the warrior's hand to clutch With furious joy his shaft of tempered bronze. It does not make the peaceful merchant shrink And pray that long lithe body may not spring And take him to its lair, for it is far, And, in the walls, men heed not that without. But if that mighty roar be heard within, If in the streets the king of beasts is seen. Uncaged, red-jowled, tossing his yellow mane, What fear and terror then! King Astrael, More thunderous than any lion's roar. More venomous than any serpent's bite, More deadly than the devil-wind Simoom Is Ignorance, in Panic, brooding Hate. The streets are filled with human beasts of prey, The tiger, jackal, leopard and the snake. And one old lion in a hermit's shape Whetting their appetite to slaughter. King! 'Tis time to act! Astrael — (contemptuously) Why should the people sud- denly grow dangerous? NiMROD — They fear the portent. When the third day passed And those who thronged the Temple came away Hearing but rumors of approaching doom. Staring-eyed Panic bit the troubled folk. And wayside prophets, foaming at the mouth, Run through the streets and cry — "The end is come!" 8 N I M R D Act I AsTRAEL — {with exaggerated carelessness) Prophets may cry and yet the end not come. NiMROD — {payhig no heed to the interruption) The merchant leaves his stall, the looms are still, The new-born baby clamors for his food, While mothers peer with dread from out their doors To chance upon some word may calm their fears Or double them indeed. O Priest and King! King wilt thou be no longer, neither priest, Unless this fear-plague checks. ASTR.A.EL — {in a domineering tone) Check thou the plague! What if they chafe? It is thy task to tame them, The army costs enough. NiMROD. Would'st thou fight Fear With bow and arrow.? Throw a javelin At Panic? Or with stroke of sword cut out Hatred of priestcraft, royalty and thee? Is the mind met by hunting blades? The tongue Curbed by an ambushment of cavalry? AsTRAEL — Hatred is well. None hate unless they fear, And, while they fear, what matter is their hate? I am their king, high-priest, almost their god ! NiMROD — {lifting the blade of his spear to his lips and breath- ing lightly npoji it) For one day longer let this panic breed — I count thy power then but breath on piece Of burnished metal, which, as you regard,. Evaporates and straightway shows beneath That which a moment clouded. See, 'tis gone! {Holds out the blade of the spear to the king) AsTRAEL — Thou art too quick to credit evil tales, It is thy part to keep my realm at peace. {Taps the blade of Nimrod's spear) Scene i NIMROD 9 This is thy sceptre I What dost thou wish to do To make the common folk obedient? NiMROD — The army will defend from foreign foe, But, Astrael, remember, common folk Comprise thy kingdom. True, thou art a king, But king of what? King of no other thing Than common folk, and king no more of that Unless thy kingliness avert their misery. Astrael — {roughly clutching at the fastening of the royal inantle as though he wished to cast it from him) Almost it angers me to be a king! NiMROD — If thou would'st rule this people, Astrael, Give them a voice to speak of their affairs, Raise from them certain leaders, who may be Thine aids, instead of royal favorites. Treat them as men and women, not as beasts. Astrael — {in amazement and disgust) Raise rulers from the common multitude? NiMROD — Their blood's as hot as yours, and when it's spilt Reddens as large a piece of ground, not more. Their cries of grief have just as loud a sound As yours of worship, and their homes are dear As Princess Astupheli is to you. Astrael — {striding to and fro impatiently) Divide my power midst a pack of dogs Which snarl around my palace? Pick the dog That barks the loudest, make him sentinel To bid the other curs keep distance! NiMROD — I said not — man and dogs, but man and man! Art thou a god? Dost thou control the elements? Dost thou not eat and sleep? Shalt thou not die? The bony frame that bears the robe and crown lo N I M R O D Act I Can it be told from that which bears the lash? What art thou then if not a man? AsTRAEL — {loudly and with anger) I am the King! Cal - Erech — My lord forgetteth this, that courtliness Is the prerogative of kings. NiMROD. False words And diplomatic phrase I do not stoop to use; I will not mar the spotless robe of truth With gaudy needlework of over-courtesies. AsTRAEL — {sneeringly) The robe of truth! What if thy tale be false? (NiMROD stands silent a moment, as though disbe- lieving that his word could be doubted, then steps jor- ward threateningly. Cal - Erech, who has been watching closely, steps in between them, just as Nim- ROD is about to speak) Cal - Erech — {turning to Nimrod with a pleading gesture) My lord! Say not the word irrevocable! I am old, and age brings certain wisdoms. Thou hast a god, and by that god I speak to thee — By thine own manliness, be generous! Forget the bitter word! {Without giving Nimrod an opportunity to reply, he turns to the king) King Astrael! The captain of the guard hath truly told The temper of thy kingdom. It Is worse Than has been said! At noon the princess came And begged that I should warn thee. Astrael. Well ? Cal - Erech. I said, "To-morrow!" There may be no to-morrow! Astrael — Bid my daughter here! Scene i NIMROD II Cal - Erech. She is within. {Turns as though to go, then hesitates, looks back at NiMROD and at Astrael, as though fearing to leave them together. Nimrod nods in agreement and turns away from the king, walking to the foot of the steps below the great colossus, Cal - Erech hurries up the sloping pathway that leads to the second story of the ziggurat and thence to the door immediately above the main entrance) Princess! AsTUPHELi — {from within) Who calls? Cal - Erech — The king thy father asks for thee! {Enter Astupheli. She comes upon the second story pathway and down the slope to the first story, followed by Cal - Erech. As the princess comes down the slope, Nimrod goes up the marble stairs, to within two or three steps from the top. As she reaches the head of the great staircase, she speaks) Astupheli — My Father and my King! Lord Nimrod, welcome! Nimrod — {raises the hem of the outer mantle of the princess and puts it to his lips with an air of gallantry) I pay my homage. Cal - Erech — {pointedly) Here is courtesy! Nimrod — The princess is a woman, the king Is but the king. Cal - Erech — {looking at him steadily) Perhaps I under- stand. Nimrod — 'Tis easy to understand too much. {During this colloquy, Astupheli has descended the steps and come to her father Astrael, who is standing moodily, paying no attention to the curt interchange 12 N I M R O D Act T hetzveen Nimrod and Cal - Erech. He turns as AsTUPHELi approaches) AsTUPHELi — Mv lord Cal-Erech said that thou didst ask for me ! AsTRAEL — Yes ! Why didst thou urge the priest to warn me r And of what? AsTUPHELi. Father, I cannot breathe, the air Is drugged with fumes of terror! \'oiceless night Broods with such tension of unuttered cries That bids one pray for shrieking! Before the dawn It had not seemed the sun could ever rise, And all day long his arrows have been sharp, Venomed with fear of dimly-seen disaster! AsTRAEL — This is a mere presentiment! A dream! But women's vaporings! Born of imagination! AsTUPHELi — Thy palace groans aloud. Thy lords, thy slaves Cower like birds before a desert storm. None dares to be alone. AsTRAEL. In my own palace? AsTUPHELi — They whisper that a monstrous white-clawed bat Clings to the cushion of thy throne! {Loud and savage cries are heard from the crowd in the city streets below the parapet) NiMROD — {standing beside the zvall) The mob is loose! Like to ten thousand wasps in angry flight, With throbbing stings aquiver, comes the crowd. Go, King! This people has no love for thee, And in their savage temper, even I Can scarcely hold them back. AsTRAEL. I will not 2o! Scene i NIMROD 13 NiMROD — Provoke not useless violence! Thy strength Lies in thy mystery. The name of King Is infinitely stronger than himself. Act while unseen! Enter the ziggurat! The priests have means to keep thee safe. AsTUPHELi — {grasping his arm) Father! AsTRAEL — Go, Astupheli ! AsTUPHELi. Not without thee, Father! {Cries of the crowd are heard coming nearer, As- TRAEL yields) Cal - Erech — Think of the dynasty! AsTRAEL. Forjarimel! Yes, I will go. {He follows the pressure of Astupheli's grasp and hur- ries up the great stairway to the main entrance. At the top of the steps he turns) I shall be close at hand! {Exit Astrael and Astupheli NiMROD — {turning zvith surprise to Cal - Erech, who is standing quietly a few yards away) Thou goest not? Cal - Erech. I do not need a spear On which to build my courage. NiMROD. Spoken well. I do not think thee coward! It may be We two can hold the steps. Cal - Erech. We must! NiMROD. _ We will! {Rabble bursts in, brandishing rude weapons. _ In the midst of them is being driven forward, protestingly, a Hermit, clad in dusty rags) 14 N I M R O D Act I Voices — The hermit! Let him speak! ( The crowd surges Jorzvard to the foot of the steps and the Hermit is thrust to the front. As he comes near, NiMROD descends, step by step, and the Hermit recoils) Hermit — Is speech denied? NiMROD. To no man. Voices. On the pedestal! {The Hermit makes a gesture of protest, hut in spite of this he is picked up by zvilling arms and lifted to the black diorite pedestal beside the zvinged man-headed bull) Hermit — Woe, woe on you who writhe beneath the feet Of the usurper, Astrael. Arise! Be men! Throw off your girdles, lay your tools aside! What profits all your lives.'' Who dwells within The palaces you build.'* Who drinks the wine Your hands have made? Who wears the purple robe Your labor has brought forth? Who sits at ease And laughs to see your agonizing toil. Pointing to silent stars for all his reasons? Lay low the ziggurats and let the walls Of storied color, topped with golden hue. Turn to bright red with stain of tyrant blood! A Voice — But this is treason! Hermit — {pointing at speaker) I can see hands about to clutch thy throat! {Sudden tumult occurs in the crozvd, during which MiTURA, who has been in the background, makes his zvay to the front and, going up the steps, speaks in a whisper to Cal - Erech. In the meantime the crowd parts, shozving a 7nan struggling in the grasp of several others) Death to all traitors! Toss him from the wall! Scene i N I M R O D 15 (Struggle ensues, at the end of which, with a cry, the victim of the mob^s fury is thrown over the parapet) Who rule by force must die by force at last! Who would be dog, to cringe before his lord, When he might crush the one that bids him crawl And be a tiger from the distant hills, Supreme in his own strength, his food his own. His home inviolate? {During this speech Mitura, who has been talking with Cal - Erech, walks from the top step of the great staircase to the diorite pedestal and thence along it until he stands beside the Hermit) Voices. Down with the priests! (Mitura hesitates and looks back at Cal - Erech) A Voice — Nay, let him speak. 'Tis only Mitura. Mitura — {nervously) I shall not lose the love you bear to me In showing you the folly you applaud. Is this thy leader.'' This, whose twisted back Shows how the gods regard him! Hermit. I am their voice! Mitura — Is hate to take the place of holiness.'' This bitter-hearted seer attacks the king That he and all his kind may fatten on The misery which falls upon a land That has defamed the gods. Hermit. O People! Hear The pet dog speaking for his master. Woe! Woe! Woe! Mitura — A dog or tiger, dost thou say? What then? Which has the happier life? The hunting hound Serving a useful purpose In the world, i6 N I M ROD Act I Has dwelling, food and all his need supplied, And is to man — who is to dog a god — A faithful worshipper and well beloved. The snarling tiger, from his cubhood up Half starved, in peril lies from day to day. Hunted beneath a burning sun, and at the last He dies by man, the tiger's devil-god. Unloving and unloved. Hermit. Yet hath he claws To gripe and teeth to rend! O People, hear! Are ye all toothless? Are your claws all drawn? Have ye no word to cry? Voices. Down with the priests! Hermit — {grappling Mitura) Follow the traitor! {They struggle on the narro:v platform in front of the zvinged bull, the Hermit, hard and zviryfrojn his desert life, gradually overcoming the youthful resistance of Mitura and forcing him to the side nearest to the zvall. No sooner have they grappled than Nimrod springs upon the diorite base and runs to rescue Mitura. He reaches the struggling pair just as the Hermit is about to throw MiTUR-A. to the street belo:v and zvith a mighty grasp wrenches them apart. He motions Mitura back toward Cal - Erech and holds the Hermit fast. Its appetite for slaughter whetted^ the crozvd once again surges tozvard the steps, since Nimrod, engaged zvith the Hermit, no longer protects the entrance) Voices. Down with Cal-Erech! (Cal - Erech, looking at the people scornfully, moves not a muscle. The foremost of the mob come near enough to threaten him zvith their zveapons but are daunted by^ his impassive contempt. Then, very slozvly, he raises his right hand, partly closed, and passes it before him, scanning closely the faces of the crozvd) Scene i NIMROD 17 Voice — Nay, do not point at me! {As the cry is raised Cal - Erech pauses, looks fixedly at the speaker, then slowly unclenches his half-closed hand and points at him with his forefinger. The man gives a choked cry and staggers, the crowd making way for him, and with tottering stupefied steps he disappears. A shiver runs through the ^{people and they draw back) {During this proceeding Astrael and Astupheli enter from the main entrance of the ziggurat, unnoticed by the people, who cower before the transfixing gaze and motions of Cal - Erech) Astrael — {suddenly and in stentorian tones) Cal-Erech, cease! At last the gods have spoken. The word is Joy! Victory rides forth beside the hosts of Eridhu, To-morrow shall be festival. Rejoice! Famine shall be no more! Spoils gold as yonder star Shall flood our treasuries as floods its golden light: Ten thousand captive slaves shall lift your toil And balmy ease is borne upon the wind. Thrice three-score prisoners shall be set free, Their pardons wait them. Cal - Erech. Hail to the king! Voices — Hail to the king! Hermit. Will victories buy food ? (NiMROD, seeing that the temper of the crowd is changed to relief by the news Astrael has given, releases the Hermit, who makes his escape behind the winged bull and a moment or two later is seen among the crowd. NiMROD returns to the top of the steps, standing near the king) Astrael — To-morrow, when at noon the sun's ray smites The golden altar, shall the gods reveal i8 N I M R O D Act I Their purposes concerning Eridhu. This is the word the Mightv Se\'en send. (NiMROD comes dozen the steps and speaks to the men nearest him) NiMROD — There is scant time to plan a festival. Haste! Get you home! Your wives and children wait To hear the words of hope vou bring to them. Lose not a moment's time! V^oiCES — {loudly and zvith volume) Hail to the king! {The crozvd begins to thin, slowly at first, then faster, the few malcontents remaining, among them the Her- mit, being hurried off by Nimrod) {Exit NiMROD AsTRAEL — {turning to Cal - Erech) Thou knowest what to do? Cal - Erech. The fire sign.'* All will be ready at the hour of noon. {Exit Cal - Erech and Mitura Astupheli — {zi'ith a tremor in her voice) Thy life is much endangered, Father! Astrael — {contemptuously) Nay! What care I what the people say or do.^ But since the golden fillet pressed my brow I have not felt such fear as comes to me In reading yonder message from the gods. Astupheli — I have not read the sign! Astrael. Easy \o read, But hard to understand. It prophesies A mighty conqueror of royal birth Who yet is kin unto the common folk, A scorner of the gods, yet mage and priest, And while it shows the fall of Eridhu Scene i NIMROD 19 Still does it show that victories shall come Unto the king of Eridhu. AsTUPHELi. What means it all? Royal and yet allied to common folk! A scorner of the gods and yet a priest! Warrior and conqueror and yet a mage! AsTRAEL — Yet this is sure — that Eridhu must fall. AsTUPHELi — Why didst thou bid the multitude rejoice? AsTRAEL — To give them peace, for their sakes and my own. AsTUPHELi — What wilt thou do? AsTRAEL. Abandon Eridhu And build a greater city on the plain. Sweep like destroying fire on those chiefs Whose petty hamlets dot the river banks, Create one vast dominion, move my throne From Eridhu and throw the city down; Sow salt upon its ruins and convert The doom of ill to glorious prophecy. AsTUPHELi — {dubiously) A daring plot! AsTRAEL. It is a dicer's chance That I may win, it is a certainty I cannot lose, for it contains the means Of leaving to the ages yet to come A name untarnished by a petty aim. If I must fall, fall as a conqueror Slain ere he end his task. AsTUPHELi. You do not look To Mitura for great accomplishment? AsTRAEL — He is as ignorant of kingcraft As thou of love; to rule cannot be taught. It needs an inner consciousness to lead. Wherein the king knows himself to be king. 20 N I M R O D Act I Yet, if thou marry Mitura, thy power, Greater than his, will keep the kingdom safe Until thy brother Jarimel shall be Of age to take the reins of government. AsTUPHELi — Why look to Mitura? AsTRAEL, Who else is there With birth to rule, and power to sustain? AsTUPHELi — (with an assumed air of suggesting a new idea thai had just occurred to her) Nimrod ? AsTRAEL — {striding forward and placing his hand upon the girVs lips) As thou would'st value life, be still! He is too bold, too shrewd to trust too far. Always the wise are dangerous. {In a lighter tone and with an expression of relief) Besides, He is not priest, knows not the rites, and so He could not serve. AsTUPHELi — Could he not learn the rites? AsTRAEL — Who would dare teach them? Nimrod is not loved By any of the priests, and only Mitura Shares in the royal lore we two possess. Nimrod as regent? No! I had been wiser far If I had slain him when in childhood days He turned his mimic spear and threatened me. Even to-day he menaced me! AsTUPHELi — {in surprise) Yet he is loyal? AsTRAEL — Loyal in what he deems is loyalty. He neither fears the gods nor yet their priests And deems me but the equal of himself. If once he thought he could be so, in truth, Nimrod would scale that sky on any cloud Scene i NIMROD 2i And laugh defiance at the lightning flash, While Astrael and Jarimel would fall. What would be left for Mitura and thee? It is the dicer's chance. Conquer I must! AsTUPHELi — Conquest spells suffering! Astrael. The gods decree! One warning word! What thou hast said to-night Concerning Nimrod, never think again. {Exit Astrael Astupheli — Any but Nimrod! Not a priest or king? And ignorant of sacred rites? Perhaps! As ignorant, he said, as I of love. {Picks up the hem of her robe) 'Twas here he kissed it! {Kisses it passionately) As I of love ! {Curtain) End SCENE I ACT I, Scene 2 Scene — The interior of the great Star-Temple. At the back stands the Golden Altar, symbolical of the Sun, raised on several steps. Above the altar is suspended a large solar disc studded with gems, designed to reflect with myriad facets the rays of the sun when they strike upon it at a regulated hour in the Temple services, zvhich was achieved by the manipulation of a powerful reflector from a hidden point. On either side of the main altar hang curtains of cloth-of-gold tapestry, slightly draped aside to form entrances. Rising from the back of the altar, in such zvise as to make the suspended solar disc the centre, sprhig two immense conventionalized wings, soaring over each of the curtained entra?ices. At the foot of the altar steps in the centre stands the character- istic conventionalized sacred tree or Tree of Life, about five feet in height, with a winged figure on either side. Huge octagonal pillars to right and left lead up to the central altar and recessed between each of these pillars stands a planet shrine, in the color sacred to and symbol- ical of each planet. Thus, in their order 07i the right side stands a white shrine and altar, a blue shrine and altar and a black shri?ie and altar, consecrated respect- ively to Mercury, Venus and Saturn; ^ und on the opposite side, shrines and altars of red, purple and silver, consecrated respectively to Mars, Jupiter and the Moon. The transition of color is made on the oc- tagonal pillars, which are faced with glazed tile, the side 1 The precise order of the symbols of the eariy Chaldean worship is not definitely known; it is be- lieved, however, that they did not follow the progression of planets as now known in the Copemican Scene 2 N I M R O D 23 0/ the pillar next to the shrine being of a similar color, hut the three intervening sides possessing equal grada- tions hetzveen the two colors to be contrasted. The symbol of the planet also is zvorked in mosaic on the front of each altar, and on each a fire is burning, the color of the flame being of the hue characteristic of the shrine. For the altars sacred to the Moon and to Saturn {white and black) a dense white and a sombre black smoke ascend in a thin spiral. There are curtained entrances on either side of the tzvo groups of three altars as well as those on either side of the great altar. The Time is Morning. As the curtain rises Nimrod is seen talking to En- TuR in the centre of the temple. A band of soldiers is drawn up near the ciirtained entrances on either side of the great altar. Nimrod walks hastily to one of the lesser entrances near the small shrines and looks out warily, returning /o En - Tur. Nimrod — I do not trust these priests. I trust no man Who makes his office better than himself. Did you not hear a footstep? En - Tur — {with bluff directness) Not I, Lord, Else had that foot ceased stepping. Nimrod. ,P""^u^' If every star in all the heavens should crash Upon the shaking earth, if noonday sun Should suddenly be quenched and all be dark. No priest shall come in hearing of this place Until I give thee word. Six entrances, Six men to guard them; have it done. (En - Tur goes toward the band of soldiers, glances over them rapidly, points at six men and then at the entrances, without uttering a word. The soldiers salute and take their places) 24 N I M R O D Act I En - TuR. 'Tis done. NiMROD — Keep watch without. En - TuR. Aught further, Lord ? NiMROD. No more, Old war-hound. En -Tur. No priest's ear comes nigh this place Till head and body shall be separate. {Lifts shield in salute and motions to the soldiers to leave the temple, the sentinels at the six entrances re- maining) {Exit En -Tur Nimrod — My love is late! {IVith sudden anger as the memory of his treatme7it by Astra EL the day before recurs to htm) That craven priestly king! No gleam of star or sun, or flaming lamp Of earthly or of heavenly design Could blanch my cheek or cause my lip to shake; But he, tricked in the web of trickery He weaves to conjure others, is himself Not less, but more, a prey to fancied fears. {J soldier clashes his spear against his shield in salute) Speak! Soldier. The princess, noble lord. Nimrod. Uncurtain! {The soldier, who has been guarding one of the entrances beside the great altar, draws back the curtain) {Enter Astitpheli. She comes forward as Nimrod turns expectantly and makes an obeisance to him. Nimrod raises her zvith both hands and holds them. Soldiers step to outer side of curtains at entrances) I almost feared, my love, thou could'st not come! Astuptieli — And whv, mv lord.-* ScKNi: 2 N I M k () I) 25 NiMKoo. 'I'liy father's need of I lice, Now he is raclccti by fears. AsTiJi'iii;!.! {a Hull' rt'proackjully) lie is ill, Niiinod! N[MK(ji) - ill of the shadow-inalaclies of I'Vai. I lis eyes arc lixeil upon the stars, when they iiii;.;hl feasl U()on such vision, As! iipheli sweeL, As tliy clear self. {Draws hrr into a closer embrace) KiJt tell tne, whisper, Love, 7'hoii l)ri^htc;st and thou fairesl and thou Ix-st Of woniaidcind! What, word hast thou lor nie? A.s'iui'lli:i,l The (jld one only NiMROD. Old, bul always sw<;(;t. AsTUlMli:i-l I love thee, love thee, hiVe thee, as tlur wave ltion, only yet To f.wcll a;vc " and die with " thee." NiMKoi) So do I swell with piide fof love, !)(•< an.'.c ' Tis thee I love, and also so would die I'or th(H-. As'rt;iMii;i,i. I could not have thee die for mc, I""or that would be u\y dyln^^ for myself. And since the world is glorified by there I would not wish to leave so fair a place. 'Twas in this very life we two did meet — And that wr)uld bridge vast seas of misery; 'Tis in this life I feed thy gntat heart beat Against the frightened pulsing of my own, And gods cf)uld know no d(;eper happiness; In this life, in this place, together, T.ove, R(;bed in a single flame that glorifies. 26 N 1 M ROD Act 1 Our souls give povvor to tlic universe, And bliss, like ours, knows nought of death or time. NiMKoi> What should bliss know of Time? So small a thing As da)s and hours, measured by the drop Of grains of sand ihrcnigh lu^le in potter}-; Or in a larger measure made by him \Vlu> is the slave of greater force, the Sun, By some terrific Master forced to toil To weary height of heaven, thence compelled To check his hastening to his place of rest To that same toilsome pace wliereby he climbed The arc stupendous. What is slaving Time To Astupheli? Vov the greatest gods, The Masters o{ the Sun, would reverence One brighter tlian the heaven's host, more fair Than ever mind of man conceived before. Asri'iMiKLi — {layinii hrr cJu-c-k upon Nimrod's shoulder) Why folly should be sweet, I cannot tell. And though thy words of so great overpraise Show wisdom sleeping, l.over Lord of Aline, 'riiey seem to bathe my heart in ecstasy. Hi>w could a maiden dream of such sweet love: Nl^^K(.^l> How can a maiden be possessed, as thou. With such swift tliralldom tliat hath wrapped my heart About thy woman-self, lun from Creation's tire. So that a thousand deaths 1 rather choose 'I'han that a single heart-beat in th\- breast Should be disturbed b\- pain. Ai^TUPHKi 1. Again of pain Thou speakest, it is strange; Death seems so near I'uder this golden wonder in the sky. NiMRon — {scornfully) T reck no whit of portents (,i\"///r a note" of concur n in his ivicA unless it be ScENi; 2 N 1 M ROD 27 To think that thou liast ftit uneasiness! If lliis hath troubled thee, I'll lintl a way M'o cause its disappearance. All the gods Have j^iven thee to nie and dare not mar The rare excej)lion of perfection. As'iui'iii:i,i (iric-f knows no caste and sorrow pays no heed To rules of ccnirtesy at jKilace gates; And Death, wiien he doth come, lakes precedence Of every monarch in the wt)rld, save Love. NiMKoi) I knew a man who called Love, Infinite. He said it never dietl, but that a time Would come when it would sj)rinj.'; to life aj.',ain Self-born by il;; own beauty and its joy. Asri/iMii;i,i Was this J*>n(Khael, the patriarih, Who bade thee scorn the gods of Mridhu? Ciods whose forbidtlen lore I taught to thee! NiMKOD - He did not bid nu; scorn the gods, but stayed My worshij) of the universe. J^ncampetl Upon the j)lain, 1 r)ften talked with him. One day, close to his tent, two camel-tracks Showed {)lainly in the sand, one ritlerless 'i'he other, ridden. When 1 maiked this, he turned, And bade me say how I distinguished, why A ho(jf-mark should tell all. J said "'I'he step Of one was indecisive, his (jwn will And pleasure made him pause here, bend and c rop 'J'he grasses; yonder he saw an ant-heaj), Must sniff il, there a verdant tuft, And so, regardless lime, he wandered riderless. 'I'hc other's path, clean-set, directed, marked By time and space, so many paces passed To such an arc of sun, at once bespeaks The shrewder calculalicjn of the man." *' S(j then, my son," thi- |)a1riai(h replied, 28 N I M R O D Act I The stars which circle in appointed spheres Are not self-placed there, do not blindly stray, But are the subjects of a God who holds The sky, the earth, the sea and all their host By simple glance to His obedience." AsTUPHELi — A lesson vast, my Love. NiMROD. Too vast indeed For such a time of tenderness and joy. For, Astupheli, timid happiness. Like soft mirage, too quickly fades away Unless we enter in her misty mood And languorously yield ourselves entire To her divine embraces. Love of mine — Astupheli — As thou art Love of mine! NiMROD. This miraged love. So sweet, so fair, with such 'seductiveness. Would by substantiation grow divine. Why should we look on loving as a dream, A vision born of dimly-seen desire. Instead of finding it the centre of the real, The concrete form of highest happiness? Astupheli — My father will not have it so. NiMROD — (rebelliously) The King! I have remained as true to Astrael As any slave who knows his daily task And is too labor-worn to see beyond it. But neither king, nor priest, nor any man Shall say he " will not have " what I do choose! Astupheli — (reproachfully and a little indignantly^ though with great gentleness) He is my Father, Nimrod! NiMROD — {turning the phrase with instant readiness) Won- derful! So rare a gem from merely kingly source Scene 2 N I M R O D 29 When earth, sea, sky and fire might all have joined The fairest of their powers in one accord To bring the dawn In maiden form, In thee. {Soldier clashes spear against his shield) Who now? Soldier. En-Tur, my lord. NiMROD. He may come in. {Enter En - Tur. He makes an uncouth obeisance to the -princess, then walks to where Nimrod is standing) En - Tur — The second priest, MItura. Lord, shall Forbid him entrance? Nimrod. To his own temple? No. Withdraw thy guards. {Exit En-Tur {Turning to Astupheli) These joys are ever brief. Farewell, my Love! {They embrace and Astupheli walks to one of the side entrances) Astupheli. My Lord and Love, farewell! {Lingers a moment, then as soldier's step is heard, leaves hastily) {Exit Astupheli {Enter En - Tur from the opposite side) En-Tur — Prospers thy suit, my Lord? Nimrod — {placing his hand in a friendly manner on En- Tur's shoulder) So well, En-Tur, That thou had'st better pick a score of men, Not only brave but silent, keen of wit. Able to strike and able to keep still. Post them within the Temple. At all times Let some be ready there, for I may need A hasty wedding with the naked blades For marriage lights. Let no one know of this. 30 N I M R O D Act I En - TuR — A wedding to the clash of swords! To me It is the bravest music ever heard. My Lord, It shall be done. {Steps back as Nimrod ttirns to leave. As the latter passes tozvard the great altar, the soldiers at the various curtaiyied entrances, in obedience to a gesture from En- TuR, leave their places and approach, forming a line of three on either side, through which Nimrod passes thoughtfully, the soldiers following him) {Exit Nimrod and soldiers There is a warrior! He should be king. These smooth-tongued priests Make my hands itch, even when weaponless — {Enter Mitura, accompanied by an attendant) MiTURA — Why art thou here, En-Tur? En - TuR. ■ On soldiers' matters. Mitura — They told me Princess Astupheli came To make her offering at the Moon-shrine. Has she been here.^ En - TuR. She has. Mitura. A curt reply. Where is she now? En - TuR. The princess left no message. Mitura — Go, tell her that I wait. En - TuR. A weary stay If thou dost wait till I become thy messenger. Mitura — {turning to the attendant) Tell the princess I have a message from the king. {Exit Attendant {Turns to En-Tur) Almost thou angerest me. En - TuR. Would that I could ! I'd love to see thee angry! Thou art stopped Scene 2 NIMROD 31 On thine own temple threshold, shamed, defied, And thou art almost angry! Even a cur Will snarl over a bone. Fury to thee Would mean to whine and cry and stamp thy feet! God! That a thing which could have been a man, Should turn a priest and sink to spineless craven! {Enter Astupheli while En - Tur is speaking, un- perceived by the soldier) Astupheli — (rebukingly) En-Tur, it is no soldier's part to fight with words. En - Tur — I would not disadvantage him. Princess, He has no other weapons. And the words were hot, Molten, and poured upon the anvil of the tongue. (Makes a clumsy reverence. Exit En - Tur Astupheli — Thou hast a message for me from the king? MiTURA — I have a message from a higher source, The stars! Astupheli. You read of me in them.? MiTURA. Of thee! Four times, sweet Astupheli, have I told My love for thee, and nought received but jest, Thine answer — laughter, neither " yes " nor " no." Astupheli — Where for my laughter could I find more cause.'' Thou would'st not chain my laughter, Mitura.'* MiTURA — In days gone by I shared thy merriment! Astupheli — The dreams of days gone by have lost their spell. Dreams are so gossamer a fabric that the years Touch them unkindly, their substance wastes away. MiTURA — We were together always, you and I. 32 N I M R O D Act I AsTUPHELi — To laugh unthinkingly in baby-plays, To challenge numbers, pass the colored skein. Is childhood's pastime; but to tread on blooms, My hand in thine, the bells upon my feet. Betokens deeper purposes; it spells our fates, 'Tis not for jest, this pretty marriage play. MiTURA — {pleadingly) Yet, Astupheli, thou didst like me then. Astupheli — Liking is to Love as lamp to Sun; The one is but a comfort in the dark. The other is the light of life itself. And though I liked thee thousandfold more well One thousand lamps will never make one Sun. MiTURA — Oftentimes, Astupheli, liking turns to Love If fostered by a mutual interest! Astupheli — Will common cactus grow to Lotus-bud If planted in a garden-robed lagoon? Will sun-baked brick shine as a radiant gem If placed within the treasure-house of kings.'' How then can liking, mere condition-born, Be changed to Love.^ A state so beautiful That even gods cannot create it twice! MiTURA — {sadly) I had thy promise once! Astupheli. Only in that strange world Of infancy, whither is no return Nor even memory of inner self. Long years We live there, every year a dozen years - Of later counting, and each year we lose Our sense of venture. The great leaps of thought By which we reach to childhood's plane are lost. Our daring flights into the uncharted air Of half-seen fancies and of vague ideals Change to slow groping round accustomed walls. Scene 2 NIMROD 33 The childhood world where once we made those vows Has faded and we cannot reach its shores again. MiTURA — Those vows can be renewed, the stars of love Shine on thy fate. AsTUPHELi. So I interpret them, But we read different meanings in their beams. MiTURA — (arrogantly) That is for me to read. I am the Mage. AsTUPHELi — {annoyed by this assumption of superior judg- ment^ and speaking with a shade of irony in her voice) The temple knows thy skill. MiTURA — {not perceiving the irony and plunging deeper into disfavor) It has good reason, And when the gods decree, all must obey. I read the stars that thou shall marry me Before this moon is old. AsTUPHELi — {very calmly) I read not so. MiTURA — I do declare it! AsTUPHELi. Desire oft blinds judgment. Though all the hosts of heaven should illumine Thy bold insistence, still should I answer " No! " MiTURA — Then must I speak in terms of harsh compulsion, The king has promised, and thou must be wed. AsTUPHELi — No one can promise in another's name; To the king my father will I answer " No! " MiTURA — The priests have ways to change a maiden's coyness! AsTUPHELi — Darest thou threaten me? Hiding thy cow- ardice Behind the priests and using my father's name? 34 N I M R O D Act I Threaten! And Mitura will forfeit ever^ claim To manliness. Be warned. It cannot be. Mitura — {showing a sudden anger and striding forward) I have a rival.? AsTUPHELi. He is so far above thee Thou canst not even call him " rival." Mitura — Then thou dost love? AsTUPHELi. Not thee! Mitura. His name? Astupheli — Thou hast no right to ask, yet for my pride In him I love so well, I answer thee. When I shall bid farewell to maiden's ways, My feet shall ring in loving reverence To Nimrod, captain of my lord the king. Mitura — (evincing the most undisguised amazement at this disclosure) Nimrod! Astupheli. My lord Nimrod. Mitura. He is not even born Of royal line! He is not a Chaldee! He is a stranger, blown here by some chance gust Of fortune! Where is thy pride of race? Thou canst not dream of such a marriage! Astupheli — {scornfully) And thou Art skilled in mysteries! If In the dust I find an eagle's feather, shall I say No eagle would fly over such a spot. This feather, though it seem of eagle breed. Must drop from carrion crow? If I discern A sacred flower in a weedy pool Shall I deny its grace because it dwells Where none can lavish worship? Scene 2 NIMROD 35 MiTURA. But the King — AsTUPHELi — My father needs no herald to his child. MiTURA — Thou must obey ! {A rapid step is heard, accompanied by the clanking of armor, and one of the curtains at the entrance near the great altar is drawn hack hastily. Astupheli and MiTURA turn.) {Enter Gilvar - Ur, evidently not expecting to find anyone in the Temple. He halts suddenly, on seeing Astupheli and Mitura and looks from one to the other, realizing that he has broken in upon a strained situation) Astupheli. Welcome, Lord Gilvar-Ur, Thou comest opportunely. Be thou my witness That I have answered Lord Mitura's suit. {Turns to Mitura) This is my word: That Astupheli scorns Thy readings of the stars and thy compulsion. The daughter of a king and line of kings Knows naught of " shall " and has not heard of "must!" Thyself I do despise, thy threats I scorn. Thy presence is an insult. Go! (Mitura steps forward as though about to make a vindictive reply, but before he speaks, Gilvar-Ur suddenly drops the butt of his spear upon the floor with a ringing crash and Mitura half-turns. He encoun- ters the gaze of Gilvar - Ur and realizes that the ani- mosity between the soldiers and the priests would blaze forth instantly if he insulted Astupheli by a word. He stands sullenly a moment, then turns away, leaving by one of the smaller entrances) {Exit Mitura Lord Gilvar-Ur, I hold you as a friend! 36 N I M R O D Act I GiLVAR - Ur. Earth holds no richer guerdon, Here I swear — AsTUPHELi. There is no time! Be deeds thy vows! All hangs on moments. Bring Lord Nimrod here, Tell him that Mitura has threatened me. Thou heardest my last answer. I am lost Unless he comes here quickly. GiLVAR - Ur — {grasping the situation instantly) You are betrothed 1 And have defied the priests! ( Turns sharply on his heel and hurries to the nearest entrance. Just as he is about to raise his hand to draw aside the curtain, it is moved and a priest steps out, others showing behind him) The priests! {Walks sharply to another ^ entrance, where the same occurs, and to the main entrances, where as he draws back the curtains, ranks of priests are seen in waiting) More priests ! {Draws bronze sword and walks back quietly to where AsTUPHELi is Standing) In open field, Princess, some chance might be. But in this trap, to rush on death would serve No useful purpose. {Enter Astrael, white with rage. He is closely fol- lowed by Mitura and Cal - Erech. The priests remain grouped about the several entrances, thus preventing the escape of Gilvar - Ur) Astrael. What tale is this I hear Of Nimrod and of thee? {Suddenly notices Gilvar - Ur standing with drawn sword by the side of Astupheli) Lord Gilvar-Ur! A friend of Nimrod here! Then thou dost know? Scene 2 NIMROD 37 GiLVAR - Ur. Great king, I know! AsTRAEL. Secrets of kings must be forgotten! Take him to silence! (GiLVAR - Ur sheathes his sword as a number oj the priests surround him, his captors drawing their sacri- ficial knives from their girdles. He makes no resist- ance and is led toward one of the smaller entrances. Just as they reach the curtain he turns) GiLVAR - Ur. Is it death, O King? AsTRAEL — {struggling for composure) I have not said. (GiLVAR - Ur salutes and is led out hy the priests) {Exit GiLVAR - Ur {The king turns to Astupheli) Thou wilt wed Mitura! Astupheli — I have refused him. AsTRAEL — {speaking as a command) Thou shalt wed Mi- tura! My royal word is given. Astupheli. And my word, No whit less royal. Father, has been pledged To Nimrod, captain of my lord the King. AsTRAEL — {losing control of himself and storming to and fro) Word! Troth! Thine! Nimrod's! {Strides threateningly towards her) Devils eat his heart! Grant me, ye gods, that kites may fatten on him soon! If on the battlefield he is not slain. The hands of kings reach far and Nimrod dies. Astupheli — {showing fear) Thou would'st not stoop to such a base revenge! Think of thine honor as a king! ^S N I M R O D Act I AsTRAEL. My honor is mine own! AsTUPHELi — It is thy daughter's also; thy pride is mine. Wilt thou, by one ignoble action, sweep away The royalty of thine own majesty? AsTRAEL — (scornfully) Thy pride! How darest thou to speak of pride? Coupling thy name with this base-born adventurer! AsTUPHELi — (surprised) Base-born! (There is such evidence of hidden knotvledge in her tone that Astra el falls back in consteriiation. The princess is equally astonished and the tzvo stare at one another for a 7noment. Then Astupheli guesses at the truth) Hadst thou forgotten that I knew his birth? AsTRAEL — (in a hoarse zvhisper) - Who told thee? Astupheli — Thou didst thyself! AsTRAEL. When? Astupheli. Many years ago, When Nimrod was my sturdy playfellow And I had only just begun to speak. Thou saidst but little, I have learned the rest; Nimrod and I have proved that all is true. Astrael — He knows the secret ? Astupheli. Else he could not ask My troth, nor plight his own. Am I not royal-born? Astrael — (in fearful a7iger) Ten thousand curses on all loose-hinged tongues That willingly will wreck a dynasty For the brief transports of a youthful love. Astupheli — I would put love above all things on earth, Above the crown, above the dvnastv, Scene 2 N I M R O D 39 Above self-happiness, above the gods, Since these are but the parts of that great love Which is Life's best excuse to us for Life. AsTRAEL — Put love above the dynasty? Mad! Mad! Thy brain is turned. (Turns to Cal - Erech) The princess is in pain, She raves! Some malady hath smitten her. Let her be closely watched. No word must pass That can reach Nimrod ere he march away. (Cal - Erech and another priest place themselves on either side oj Astupheli and gently urge her on. She looks round despairingly but her glances encounter none but those oj priests) Cal - Erech — The halls are filled with priests. 'Tis vain to cry. (Astupheli, seeing the uselessness of struggle, submits to be led away, but she begins an appeal) Astupheli — Father — Astrael. It is the King who is thy father! {Exit Astupheli and Cal - Erech MiTURA — {desiring to turn the King's attention away from the scene with Astupheli) Truly thou art the King! How all the people Greeted with acclamation thy appearing! Only last night they clamored in rebellion. To-day they worship once again. Astrael — {gratified) I moved them ! Mitura — Thy words were Fate, they fell with measured power Resistless. Inexorable as the march of Time Phrase built on phrase and prophecy on prophecy Till doubt and disloyalty dared not be. Astrael — Even the soldiery gave voice! 40 N I M R O D Act I MiTURA. That was the thrill of war! With victory abroad and peace at home We may accomplish all our purposes. {Enter Cal - Erech, he steps directly to the king) AsTRAEL — The princess is recovered ? Cal - Erech — {blandly) She is fatigued, But guarded from unwelcome importunity She will rest undisturbed. {While Cal - Erech is speaking, a young priest zvho has been standing near one of the entrarices steps for- zvard and whispers to Mitura, who in turn looks to AsTRAEL zvith a puzzled, anxious expression) Mitura. O Lord and King, Lord En-Tur, with a message, waits without. Thou wilt not see him? Astrael. We will hear his message. {Enter En - Tur. His step is hurried and he speaks ijnpatiently) En - Tur — My Lord and King, Lord Nimrod bade me say That in less time than hunting cheetah spends To seize his prey, the army starts to march. I am his herald. He wishes speech with thee. Astrael — I cannot see him now. En - Tur. My Lord and King He did not ask me to bring back an answer. He only bade me herald his approach. He wishes speech with thee. Astrael. Will he then force his way? Cal - Erech — {urgently, in an aside to the king) Hear him, and let him go! We cannot risk delay! (Nimrod's voice is heard, giving commanding orders of rebuke) Scene 2 NIMROD 41 NiMROD — (outside the Temple chamber) Stand back, ye priests! Cal - Erech — We must not seem thus to oppose his com- ing! {Loudly) Admit Lord Nimrod. {Enter Nimrod. He is in battle-armor oj the ancient Babylonian type, richly inlaid) Nimrod. Thrice ten thousand men Await the word to march! King Astrael, Before I leave, remains there aught to say? Astrael — My Lord, the conquest must be absolute. The Cities of the Plain must be subdued, Pay homage, render tribute and forswear All worship save to Eridhu's great gods. Nimrod — Conquest I will achieve, the Plains subdue, Secure the Cities' homage and their tribute win. But do not rob them of their faith and hope ! Let them retain their gods! Astrael. What carest thou for gods? Deal thou with sieges, battlefields and camps, Confine thy sentiment to strategy! Nimrod — {nettled) Are then the stars informants of my mind ? Of armies only must I speak to thee? A soldier's mind may think on priestly things, A priestly mind may ponder bloody things. Yet — thou art King and thou shalt be obeyed. One further word — when I return a conqueror, I shall ask speech with thee. Thy daughter's hand Is fitting guerdon for my victories. Astrael — When thou returnest I will hear thy suit. I pledge my word. Nimrod. Nor shall another sue? 42 N I M R O D Act I AsTRAEL — (pointedly) Till thou returnest victor of the Plain, No other suitor to my daughter's hand Save him who here within this place this day I have considered, if victorious. Shall have a hearing. (Nods slightly to Mitura, then turns to Nimrod with assumed frankness) Thou art satisfied? Nimrod — The King's word is an oath. (Salutes) O King, farewell ! (Exit Nimrod and En - Tur) AsTRAEL — (turning to Mitura as the sound of Nimrod's steps dies away in the distance) Thou hearest, Mitura, the King's word is an oath! Mitura — (in alarm) Thy promise was to me ! AsTRAEL. The King's oath is to thee! (Curtain) End ACT I ACT II ACT II, Scene i Scene — The market-place of^ Plat-livat, the largest of the Cities of the Plain, which has just surrendered to Nim- ROD. The market-place, which, as customary with cities of the period, also was the Square of Judgment, stands just inside the city gates. At the hack are seen the wall and gates, each with a high watchman's turret beside it, the turret by the left gate having been half- demolished by a huge stone flung from a catapult, which stone, together with the debris of the turret, lies at its base. The other tower is whole. The gates are open, and one, partly shattered, is almost torn from its hinges. Through the open gates is seen the fertile valley of the Euphrates, zvith the river in the distance crossed by a bridge of boats. Beside the road leading to the bridge are pitched the rough tents of Nimrod's army, which has besieged and taken the city. On either side of the market-place are houses, in various stages of demolition, the sun-baked brick of which they were made lying in heaps about the square. Around the Judgment Seat, near the uninjured turret, it is evident that a bitter fight has zvaged, for many bodies lie around it, and across the seat itself, which has been overturned during the struggle, is stretched the body of a man. A large catapult stone lies in the centre of the market-place, evidently having crushed one of the defenders in its fall, for a part of the body protrudes from under it. Broken arrows, spear-heads and cleft shields are scattered about this scene of recent carnage. The Time is Afternoon. 45 46 N I M R O D Act II As the curtain rises, the Hermit, closely followed by two soldiers of Nimrod's army, as captors, enters the market-place from one of the city streets. En - Tur stands near the stone in the centre of the stage and he is blood-stained from head to foot. His armor is badly hacked and his shoulder is roughly bandaged. He leans on his spear wearily and faces the Hermit as the latter is brought in. Hermit — {pointing to the corpses near the judgment seat and speaking accusingly and with bitter irony) Here are a monarch's triumphs! Every stiffened form, With staring eyeball glazed and lustreless. Speaks of King Astrael! En - Tur. Death is the mate of War, No matter how restrained. Never was field More merciful! Hermit. And yet, only last night These lived. Courage was theirs, and hope, The simple human passions, the high aims And all the thrill of deeds yet to be done. To-day — the vultures gather in the sky. En - Tur — Theirs was a soldier's death! Hermit. Which means a useless one. En - Tur — They died with honor, Hermit. None do more ! Hermit — (sneeringly) This was the fate to which their honor brought them! En - Tur — Fetter thy curst ill-omened tongue or thou shalt find I am less generous than Nimrod. When he bade That I should set thee free into the wilderness With one full water-skin and two days' food, Scene i NIMROD 47 I questioned not his orders. But I swear Thou shalt go tongueless If thou defame the dead. Hermit — They were thine enemies! En - TuR. They are dead comrades now As I have learned from Nimrod. {Points to the two soldiers that have been standing by) These are thy guides. Hermit — At least there are no tyrants In the wilderness! En - Tur — Hunger shall be thy master, his stern rule Brooks no revolt. Though thou didst traitorously warn The Cities of the Plain, thou hast escaped a death That thou deservest richly. Go! Hermit — {throwing up his arms with a frantic gesture) Woe! Woe! En - Tur — {striding angrily towards him) Wilt thou be silent! Dost thou wish my lord To find thee here.? Not twice wilt thou escape! Hermit — {being half-dragged to the gate, as the sound of a body of men approaching is heard) I go! But leave my curse — {At a sign from En - Tur one of the soldiers puts his hand over the Hermit's mouth, and harshly silenced thus, the Hermit and the soldiers pass through the city gate) {Exit Hermit En - Tur. Curses from such as he Do little hurt. But words can give a wound. I would not wish a curse from old Enochael. {While he is speaking, a band of soldiers files in, war- beaten but flushed with victory, laden with the spoils of conquest. They form a rude line and some of them 48 N I M R O D Act II gather about the overturned Judgment Seat, setting it upright) {Enter Nimrod) NiMROD — {glancing round and speaking inquiringly to En- Tur) I thought I heard that Hermit's voice again, With his wild cry of "Woe!" En - TuR. He has just fled. I would have stricken out his evil tongue And made him harmless! Nimrod. There Is suffering enough Without our adding to the sum, En-Tur. The clash of arms and clamor-cries of war Wake not the music in my heart which once They used to do, the strings are not in tune For such harsh harmony. En - TuR. Where is a sound more sweet Than rattling death cry in a foeman's throat? My Lord, I know naught sweeter! Nimrod. Grim hound of war, What battle-loving Amazon was thy nurse? Surely thou never didst drink milk as babe But clutched at the breast with tiny bruising gripe And cried for blood to quench thy infant thirst! In mimic war didst thou thy childhood spend That thou in youth didst seek the battlefield ? En - TuR — {proudly) My father fought beside. the former king. Nimrod — He was a hero, well I know the tale. But thou hast far outdone his love of war, Thine eyes are color-blind, the universe Would only seem desirable to thee If thou couldst see the heavens raining blood. Scene i NIMROD 49 And the trees, stripped of their leaves, made to appear The fleshless skeletons of all thy foes! En - TuR — Should not a warrior love warfare, Lord ? NiMROD — There are more noble loves than battle-lust. The only joy I have in all these victories Is that they bring me nearer to my goal. The princess Astupheli and my love. En - TuR — A noble maiden! In the Temple hall It seemed to me she walked most soldierly. NiMROD — (laughing) With chest thrown back and strut of drill-field — so! {Takes a few steps in imitation of a precise soldier in full armor and self-conscious of his appearance) A swagger of the shoulder? (Returns /o En - Tur smilingly) Good En-Tur, Thy compliments would never make her vain. Nay, rather, say she walked as goddess might With grace of motion like to waving corn Where every ear throws forth a differing gleam Yet all bend gracefully before the breeze. So she to every movement gives new grace And renders grace itself more wonderful. En - Tur — My Lord, thou art in love with her! NiMROD. Truly, good friend. I love her love and love her loveliness. Since loving lends more loveliness to love And loving loveliness makes lovely love. En - Tur — What profits it to love unless thou weddest? To love, and not to wed the girl that thou dost love Is like to drill and never see the foe. Thou lovest? So! Then marry! But, my lord, How canst thou wed the princess? 50 N I M R O D Act II NiMROD. And why not? En - TuR — Thou art not royal and the princess is. NiMROD — Am I not royal? What say they of my birth? En - TuR — That thou wert rescued by King Astrael Just as a lion was about to seize thee! NiMROD — {scornfully) The royal beast was dead. En-Tur. Dead? NiMROD. ... ^ war-spear Was buried in his heart. En - TuR — {with amazement) But none save kings May hunt the lion! NiMROD. As the king reached the place, Leaped to his feet a boy scarce three years old, And, leaning on the lion's mane, he waved A toy spear made from an arrow shaft And threatened Astrael. En - TuR. It was an omen. NiMROD — Seeing no peasant's brat in such defiance. King Astrael withdrew the heavy war-spear And found engraved upon the blade and shaft The triple snake of Astu-men-ephat! En - TuR — {excitedly) The spear of Cush, that mighty conqueror. Whose triple snake hissed over all the world? His son was lost, and thou — ? NiMROD. Shall I not wed The princess Astupheli? En - TuR. Surely, Lord, But why withhold the secret? NiMROD. I did not know Until I wooed sweet Astupheli. Scene i NIMROD 51 En-Tur. 'Tis strange! Why should the princess know? King Astrael Should have reserved such secret to himself. NiMROD — When we were playmates, in some childish jest I angered Astupheli, and the girl Ran to her father, crying, " Kill the slave! " The king, desiring that the child should live With someone as her equal, thus to curb Haughtiness growing from orders never checked, Hinted the story of my parentage. En - TuR — He does not know that thou hast ever heard? NiMROD — Not yet. When I return in triumph he shall know. En - TuR — {thoughtfully) I cannot see why he should have let thee live. NiMROD — I think he feared lest Astu-men-ephat Should rise rebellious, then he could make claim That he had saved and helped their king, and thus Could hold the country as a protectorate. En - TuR — Then thou art king of Astu-men-ephat, Though only trained as soldier. NiMROD. I have the lore, The old Chaldean wisdom, for Astupheli, Who is most deeply skilled, has taught me all. En - TuR — Why not dethrone the king? NiMROD. He is her father! {Soldier enters, salutes Nimrod, then steps up to En- TuR and speaks in an aside. En - Tur nods and motions him away) En - Tur — My Lord, the conquered queen requests an au- dience. 52 N I M R O D Act II She bade her captain in their temple shrine Prepare to make a stand against our host. Thy orders were that we should hold from slaugh- ter, Make captives and not corpses. NiMROD. Thus I said. En - TuR — I pledged my word if they laid down their arms That thou would'st hear her plea. NiMROD. Let her be brought! If in the courts of priests stern justice hides her face, The ooen air of battlefields affords An opportunity to truth and equity. {The soldier salutes and leaves by the street leading to the city. Other soldiers, those who had entered zvith NiMROD, move the heavy stone Judgment Seat nearer the centre, pile cloaks upon it, and hastily arrange it as a throne) What sayest thou, En-Tur, about the city. Shall we pillage it.** En - TuR. They made a fierce resistance. NiMROD. — They should be honored for their steadfastness. No mercy to the craven, but brave men Break down the barriers of an alien race And form a mighty nation of brave men, Their banners different but their hearts akin In one vast fellowship of bravery. (NiMROD steps upon the Judgment Seat, -as a guard of soldiers enters bringing in Peliaii-Hem, the queen of the conquered city, richly attired, but "with light armor over her woman^s robes. She is followed by her shield- bearer and a group of captive soldiers. All these are unarmed, but a bowman, evidently belonging to the city and not to Nimrod's army, slips in unperceived, Scene i N I M R O D S3 and during the ensuing dialogue edges his way to the demolished turret) Thou hast some boon to ask of me? Peliah - Hem — {with subdued dignity) Great Lord, I crave no boon as woman or as queen, Nor is my cry for mercy, but to Reason's ear A plea for hearing. NiMROD. Speak, Queen. The ear of Reason Shall be thy only arbiter. Peliah - Hem. My Lord, Whatever be thy will with us, remember One day's destruction wastes long years of toil. Raze not the walls! Do not destroy the aqueducts Which bring our children water in the times of drouth ! Thou gainest nothing, we lose all! {The watchman in the turret, who, during this speech, has been pacing from side to side peering through his hands at the plain beyond the river, suddenly raises his arm, as though demanding attention) Watchman. A messenger! NiMROD — Why should I spare the town.? Not till a breach was made Didst thou surrender. Peliah - Hem. So great a conqueror Surely will never blame a valorous defense. NiMROD — Hear the terms offered by the King of Eridhu. Wilt thou pay tribute unto Astrael, Bow at his throne and worship him as god? Peliah - Hem — {indignantly) Worship is of the heart, war finds no conquest there. NiMROD — Slavery both of body and of mind — Such is the mercy of King Astrael! 54 N I M R O D Act II Peliah - Hem — Shall I say " yes " to serve a pressing need ? And when thy army is again withdrawn Abjure my queenly oath and build the wall anew? If all thou offerest is slavery — Raze first our city to the very ground, Plunder the homes your warriors have made desolate, Pile up our bodies in the cindered ways And let the jackals howl where children played. Watchman — {from the turret) A messenger! {At this repetition of the cry, Nimrod leans back in his seat in such a posture that he can see through the open city gates. On the instant, the archer, who has been crouching among the ruins — half-way up the de- molished turret — springs to his feet and drazvs his arrow to the head. En - Tur, zvho is standing behind Nim- rod, sees the act, but is prevented from taking any de- fensive action by the high, broad Judgment Seat) En - Tur — My Lord ! Protect thyself! {At the cry, and 07i seeing En - Tur pointing over toward the left-hand turret, Peliah - Hem turns and sees the archer about to loose the shaft. With a quick- ness of action unexpected in her she seizes her shield from the armor-bearer, leaps upon the lozver step of the Judgment Seat and catches the arrow, which re- mains quivering in the shield) Nimrod — {with admiring gratitude) I am thy debtor, Queen. Peliah - Hem — Lord Nimrod, sorrow hast thou brought for guest, My son is slain, my city conquered, yet I feel More poignantly the stain of treachery. Watchman — {fro7n the turret) A messenger in haste! Nimrod. I am required By loyalty to Astrael to voice Scene i N I M R O D 55 This harsh decree, O Queen.^ Yet as thy conqueror I may relieve the rigors of his law. Wilt thou pay homage and wilt render tribute? Watchman — {Jro77i the turret) A messenger from Eridhu! (En - TuR hurries to the base of the turret and appears a moment later standing beside the watcher on the parapet) Peliah - Hem — I will pay homage. What tribute dost thou ask.? En - TuR — {cries loudly from the turret) Lord Nimrod, on the mighty steed Gebhir Comes one from Eridhu at utmost haste! NiMROD — On Gebhir.? Over the desert? Who dares ride my horse? {Turns to Peliah - Hem) Thou shalt send embassies to Eridhu, King Astrael himself shall fix thy tribute. En-Tur — My Lord! Tis Gilvar-Ur, whom thou didst leave to guard The princess Astupheli! Nimrod — {rising and facing the gates) Gilvar-Ur! And on Gebhir! . , {A cloud of dust in the distance resolves itself into a horse and rider as the latter leaves the dusty plain for the bridge of boats which spans the Euphrates River. From the stride of the horse it is seen that he is laboring heavily and the rider leans far forward over his neck, urging him 07i) Gods! How he rides! {As the horse and rider approach. En -Tur_ cow^j down from the turret and steps forward beside the Judgment Seat. The hoofbeats are distinctly heard, even the occasional stumble of an overridden horse being 56 N I M R D Act II distinguishable on the hard ground. Just as he reaches the gate Gilvar - Ur flings himself from his horse and rushes in) What news? Gilvar -Ur — M7 Lord, the worst! The princess marries Mitura Just as the sun shall reach the zenith's height To-morrow! NiMROD — {incredulously y 7iot from doubt but from desire not to believe the report) Thou sayest Astupheli weds? Gilvar - Ur — Four days ago it was decreed. NiMROD — {speaking in a stifled voice) To Mitura? Gilvar - Ur — To Mitura, my Lord. 'Tis by compulsion. NiMROD — How knowest thou that? Gilvar -Ur. The princess is in prison! NiMROD — {stiffening rigidly and speaking in a hard, dry voice) I might have guessed their trickery! {Suddenly loses control of himself and shouts in fury) 'Tis forced ! A marriage forced ! I say, a marriage forced ! {Advances on Gilvar - Ur like a zvhirlzvind) It must be stopped! You hear? {Pauses, as though trying to control himself, then bursts out) It must be stopped! {Wheels round suddenly upon En - Tur) I say it must be stopped! En - Tur. Is there a way? Nimrod — What care I for a way? It must be stopped! {Whirls his great bronze sword over Gilvar - Ur) Scene i NIMROD 57 What did you do? {Madly) I would have slain the king! Wrenched Mitura to pieces, limb from limb! Heaped the priests' corpses like a wall of clay, Brick upon brick, with mortar of their blood. {He shakes with rage as though in palsy) Answer, I say! I left thee twenty men! Why is the king alive? Why Mitura? (GiLVAR - Ur tries to speak but is paralyzed by fear oj the ungovernable passion of Nimrod) With twenty men I would sweep Eridhu Of every living thing within its walls. And every man with finger in this plot Shall rot before this moon has spent her course! {He pauses, breathless, anger choking his speech. There is a silence which no one dares to break. Nimrod bursts out again) Shall rot! You hear me? Rot! {Again threatens Gilvar - Ur with his sword) Where are thy men? {Stamps impatiently as Gilvar - Ur remains silent) Speak, dog! Thou hast a tongue! {Takes him by the throat) Must I drag out The truth with heated fish-hooks? En - TuR — {interrupting in an attempt to check Nimrod's wrath) Nay, my Lord, Have reason. Nimrod — {loosening his grip on Gilvar - Ur and turning to En - Tur) Usest thou thy tongue to me? Who bade thee speak? Thou shalt be flayed alive If thou dost speak to me unless I bid thee! Now wilt thou speak? En - Tur — {doggedly) I have been wont to speak 58 N I M R O D Act II Both when and how it pleases me. My tongue Is duller than my sword, but both are free! NiMROD — Now by the mother's womb that bare thee, dog, I bade thee silence, bade another speak! The one stares blankly with a dropping chin, The other prates to me. En - TuR — {without a change of voice) Others may fear — (NiMROD suddenly shifts his sword to his left hand^ draws a javelin from his belt and poises it for the throw. En - TuR stands unmoved, not a muscle of his face changing) NiMROD — {less furiously , turning to Gilvar - Ur) Where were thy soldiers? Answer! I want the truth. Gilvar - Ur — My Lord, I never saw them. Before you left ^ I was in prison because I overheard The princess defying Mitura, the king, The priests, avowing all her love for thee. NiMROD — Before I marched from Eridhu? Astupheli A captive, and I a hundred yards away! Could no one tell me? Gilvar - Ur. No one, Lord. They gagged me tightly, bound me hand and foot, And cast me in a dungeon. I escaped By bribery. Some tried to stop my way, But they have gone a greater journey. I did not dare to stay, I seized a horse. Rode till I met a caravan; my horse was done, At thy mere name they gave another, him I rode Straight to thy camp. On hearing of thy need, Bil-Nar brought out Gebhir. The sun is little lower Than when I left the city, two days' ride away. Scene i NIMROD 59 NiMROD — {moodily) To-morrow at sun's height! Two days away! So Astrael is foe and war declared. {Turns suddenly to Peliah - Hem) I am thy victor, not King Astrael. I, Nimrod, King of Astu-men-ephat And son of Cush, the conqueror, declare War against Astrael. I grant thy boon And claim allegiance to my cause. Peliah - Hem. But why — Nimrod — Ask me no questions now! Peliah - Hem — {hastily snatching at the opportunity) I will swear friendship. Nimrod — But how to stop the marriage.'* {Holds up hand to impose silence) Not a word, A sign, a sound, from anyone! {Paces to and fro. A soldier moves slightly, his arms rattling and Nimrod turns sharply with bared gums. The silence is intense) One chance! And only one! The patriarch! Enochael, The mighty Hebrew prophet unto whom the tribes Give faith unquestioning. He may evoke Some power never granted unto other men. {Turns io En - Tur) En-Tur, ride with all speed to Eridhu, Besiege the city, capture Astrael, But do not kill him. Though his oath be false. Still is he Astupheli's father. (En - Tur is ahout to answer him, hut Nimrod strikes in harshly) Do not speak! ( Turns to Peliah - Hem) Send all thy forces with him. Ride to-night. 6o N I M R O D Act II {Turns to En -Tur) Free all the captives! {Walks toward the gates just as the great war-horse is led in beside the turret) I will ride Gebhir! {Thoughtfully) To-morrow, at sun's height. {Puts his hand on the horse'' s mane^ and as he does so a faint murmur of whispering is heard. Nimrod glares) Did someone speak! {Curtain) End SCENE i ACT II, Scene 2 Scene — The encampment of the patriarchy Enochael. From a small outcrop of rocks trickles a slender stream. To the left is a group of cultivated fig-trees of the large- leaved variety, not more than fifteen feet in height, one or fwo cedars of Lebanon towering up from among them. A large tent, of camel-hide dyed black, stands under the tallest of the cedars. To the right is seen a group of majestic date-palms and under their shadow is a smaller tent, more delicately wrought, a silken cur- tain fluttering over the entrance. Parts of other tents appear as glimpses through the foliage, suggesting a large encampment. In the immediate foreground, the outcrop of rock juts forward, forming a rude flat surface a few inches above the level of the sward. In the centre of this low table of rock is a socket in which a spear is thrust, blade upward, sloping slightly to the left. Rude divisions, as of a primitive sun-dial, are carved in the native rock, and the shadow of the spear strikes sharply upon them. On either side the shade is deep, but in the centre, the sun of a cloudless sky shines fiercely through a gap in the trees. On the opposite side, and a little further back than the entrance to the smaller tent is seen a rough, plain altar, constructed of gilded boards pegged together to form four sides, being then filled with sand. A fire smolders on it, its simplicity being in striking contrast to the gorgeous shrines noted in the Star-Temple. Beyond the clump of trees the country is seen to be 62 N I M R O D Act II of a gently undulating character, almost treeless save for one or two copses of the type seen in the fore- ground. The slopes are green with verdure and studded with scarlet poppy-anemones. Upon this pasture browse great flocks of sheep and goats. The scene is one of pastoral quietiide, save for the single aggressive note — the spear in its rock-socket telling the hours hy the blazing sun. In the far distance is the desert. The Time is Morning, drawing on towards noon. As the curtain rises, Yarethah steps from the smaller tent and crosses the stage to note the time on the dial. An old shepherd, with his long crook, is lying on the turf beside the larger tent; he rises as she comes near. After stooping to note the hour, Yare- thah steps upon the unengraved portion of the dial- plate and reads aloud the carving on the rock above) Yarethah — {reading) How wonderful are all Jehovah's ways. He makes the great sun rise to nourish trees And bids trees grow to shade his ardent beams; He gives the stream to quench a desert thirst And sends the dew to swell the tiny spring, Whence flows the stream perpetually. Each day He has ordained such work to every man That he may need to rest, each night sends rest And all the peace of quiet sleeping. {While she is reading the shepherd goes to the edge of the clump of trees and shading his eyes with his hand looks out over the plain. In a moment 'he turns and goes toward the larger tent) The stranger nears the camp? Bring bread and salt. Who rides must taste our hospitality. {The shepherd makes a gesture of assent and enters the larger tent) Who can it be.'' Some noble warrior! Scene 2 N I M R O D 63 (Stands by the flap of the smaller tent. Although in the full-flowing divided garments gathered in at the ankle, she is not veiled save for a maiden's snood over her hair) {Enter Nimrod, saluting Yarethah ivith ancient formality, laying his right hand upon his forehead, then touching his lips and his heart and extending the hand in token of amity) Thou wouldest see Enochael, my lord ? Nimrod — If possible, Yarethah, without delay. Yarethah — {surprised that the stranger should know her name) Thou knowest me! Thy pardon, noble guest, That I should lack so much in courtesy As not to know thy name. Nimrod. 'Twas years ago. I am Nimrod, Yarethah! Where is thy father.? Yarethah — {coining forward delightedly) Nimrod! But how could I have known thee? Forget thee — nay, would I forget the day When the black leopard turned to bay, and thou, Though but a lad, attacked him with thy blade. Took the beast's life, then with a merry grace, Came crying — " I am sorry, Yarethah, I could not capture him for pet of thine." Art thou still fond of hunting.? Nimrod. . There is naught Worth hunting now. Even the lion gives no sport. Yarethah, I seek thy father! Yarethah — {pouting) Why in such haste? The Nimrod that I used to know of old Did not betray such eagerness to leave me. Nimrod — {impatiently) Where is Enochael ? I have no time 64 N I M R D Act II To prate of childhood days! (Yarethah turns away ofendedly) Nay, Yarethah, I am as glad as thee to think of them, But life and death hang by my using haste. And I must see thy father Instantly. Yarethah — {speaking with constraint) My father is away from camp. NiMROD — {in consternation) Away? Where did he go? When? Can I overtake him? Yarethah — Three days ago he left, and then he said He would return before the sun was high On the third day. I think that caravan Out on the hillside yonder must be his. Thy need is urgent — (NiMROD makes a gesture of impatience) then, for childhood's sake I will send word. {Calls to the shepherds) Ben Ik, take the white mare, Ride at full speed to yonder caravan And ask Enochael to hasten home. {Turns to Nimrod) Now I have done all that I can to help thee. Tell me thy tale. What Is thy cause for haste? NiMROD — The maid, to whom my troth was pledged, to-day must wed A weakling whom she hates, a harsh cojnpulslon. Forced by King Astrael to save the dynasty. Yarethah — How can she wed unless she loves, Nimrod? (NiMROD pays no heed to the question, but walks to the spear, and stooping down, measures the length of shadow. Rises and looks over the plain in the direc- tion that the shepherd had taken) Scene 2 N I M R O D 65 Was ever such impatience! (Calls) Nimrod, come! He will be here no sooner for thine eyes. Tell me, how can she wed unless she loves ? (NiMROD turns moodily and walks beside her) Nimrod — She can be made to wed without consent. Her father and the priests desire it, She is alone. (J young shepherd lad comes out of the larger tent, bearing bowls of food) Yarethah. Thou hast not broken fast? NiMROD — Nor can I now! No. Bread and salt I take For courtesy. I thank thee, Yarethah. Yarethah — Thy thanks are of the lips not of the heart! Nimrod — My heart is held in torture till thy father comes. {Strides to the spear and measures. Then as before, looks out upon the plain) Shorter two fingers' breadths. But he is near the camp. Yarethah — {speaking with proud confidence) What help my father gives will prove sufficient, For he hath failed none in their hour of need. If thou but trust him, all shall yet be well. Remember, trust him! {Enter Enochael. He is of venerable age and patri- archal mien and with a manner of benign kindliness) Enochael. Peace on thee and thine! Nimrod — Jehovah's servant, greeting! Enochael — {embracing Yarethah, then turning) A good reply; Stranger, thy answer makes thee welcome here. Nimrod — 'Tis fifteen years since thou didst teach it me. Enochael — A goodly span of years. I know thee not. 66 NIMROD Act II NiMROD — And yet Enochael was wont to say That Nimrod's face would linger in his mind In spite of passing years. Enochael. Nimrod! Most welcome, Great joy have I to see thee once again. And thou art now a conqueror, I hear, Victor of all the Cities of the Plain. Enter, and tell me of thy life and state. Nimrod — {staying his hospitable offer with a gesture) Not for a trifle did I send thee word Of urgent need and difficulty great. Almost before I tell thee what must be The spear will cast no shadow on the stele That marks the sun in midmost heaven. Should that be And thou canst give no help — thy pupil's happiness Dies with the setting sun. Enochael — {with gentle sarcasm) Thou needest help from me? The captain-general of Eridhu ^. Is not thine armor proof against all wounds .'' Nimrod — What armor can resist the hurtling blow That paralyzing sorrow renders forth? What toughened hide can turn the flight of darts Of undeserved misery? While love itself Too often is a venomed arrow barb. The merest kiss of which shall scorch the heart With searing fire, pleasant and yet pain. Enochael — Love, sorrow and despondency of heart! What aid can any give against these three? The only cure for love, Is — {Pauses and looks up zcith a smile) cease to love! Nimrod — Better to die of love than cease to love! Scene 2 N I M R O D 67 Enochael — The first impulse of love is thoughtless bliss, When a mere presence answers every need, The touch of a hand is benediction rare, (NiMROD chafes and moves impatiently) A glance is wonderful, (NiMROD turns fretfully and zvalks to the spear) a smile divine. And life is bartered for a single kiss. NiMROD — The shadow wanes ! Enochael. Thou hast no sense of patience. (NiMROD returns, and the patriarch resumes) The second stage is madness, when it seems That fond desire leads to jealousy — The ardent lover cannot be content With love Itself but seeks to own that love And feels a fury rushing through his heart To think another also might be loved. NiMROD — {sta7iding beside the spear) A nail's breadth gone! Enochael. It is unwise to fret. (Resumes) But riper judgment leads to calmer thought And love assumes the third place in his heart. In this he learns the truest love is found Not in the presence of the one adored. Nor in possession of the maiden sought, But in the union of the soul with soul. Yarethah — You do torment him. Father! {Reproachfully and with a look of sympathy tozvard Nimrod) There Is need of haste! Enochael — There is no need for haste at any time, Jehovah works by ages, yet are all things done. {Turns to Nimrod) 68 N I M R O D Act II Tell of thy love, since love seems all thy woe. I have known men who lost a maiden's love — And still survived. NiMROD. But this, Enochael, Holds matters of a sterner character. I have to Astupheli given troth. Daughter of Astrael, and she has pledged herself To wed none other; the king by solemn oath Before his priests promised to hear my suit When I returned a victor. Enochael. She has betrayed thee? NiMROD — Never! The very hour I marched forth They thrust her in a cell until the day She should be forced to marry Mitura, A weakling who shall feebly hold the crown Till Jarimel, the heir, be old enough to rule. Enochael — What of the king's oath? NiMROD. False, as is his heart! Now as I con that oath again, I see A double meaning in the specious words. {Half drazvs his szvord) If I could choke them down his throat again The birds should feast on his unburied body now! {He fights down his rage, zvhile Enochael ayid Yare- THAH look on in silence. In a fezv moments he speaks more quietly) Thou art as wise above the sons of men . As I am strong, and since my strength is vain Thy wisdom must educe a plan to stay This evil wedding. Enochael — {gravely) Her vow is not required ? NiMROD — It is, but though her lips were trebly sealed The priests would swear that she had given it. Scene 2 N I M R O D 69 Enochael — How didst thou learn of this? NiMROD. A messenger. Enochael — Can he be trusted? NiMROD. Yes. He is my friend. Enochael — What dost thou plan to do? NiMROD — {desperately) I have no plan, Therefore I come to thee. If I could see a way, What need to seek thy wisdom? Thou art my hope! Enochael — Has wisdom wings of light to transport man At speed illimitable over the desert sands? It lacks but two spans on the dial of the spear, And Eridhu is two days' ride away. NiMROD — If I could reach the place, would I then ask thy aid? If human strength sufficed, all would be well. Enochael — I am but man like thee. How can I help thee then? NiMROD — Thou art the honored prophet of Jehovah! I am king, and conqueror of all the plain. Enochael — {with quiet scorn) That makes us so impor- tant — in God's sight! NiMROD — {flushing, hut indomitable in purpose) If through thy prayers Great Jehovah hears My bitter need and by divine omnipotence Prevents this mockery of sacrament, I will throw down all heathen temples in the plain, Root out idolatry, despoil the groves. Abolish human sacrifice, raise high Jehovah's worship till all men adore! Enochael — A bribe to God ? If He does thus and so, Thou wilt reward Him with more worshippers. 70 N I M R D Act II Is this thy plea? (NiMROD zvalks to the spear, measures the shadow and returns) NiMROD — {passionately) With age thy blood stagnates Or thou would not delay upon each petty word! Enochael — • Wilt thou bribe God? NiMROD. There is no need of gods If our own powers answer all our quests. But when there comes that one inevitable hour When all our striving seems to be in vain, Then — if we find a God, we know Him to be God, And knowing, love; and loving, yield Him all. Enochael — Dost thou regard Jehovah's power at com- mand? Compelled to answer when His people cry? NiMROD — If, when His people cry. He answers not, Can He be God of Love? {Turns angrily from Enochael and stands moodily beside the spear) Even omnipotence Cannot reverse the wheels of time, and all thy help Win be but idle if the hour be past. Enochael — What thou desirest, that thou thinkest right; What is against thy will, to thee is wrong; Thou mayest think God mistaken, not thyself! NiMROD — Can I interpret gods? I know no right Except the right I know. Thou art not just To goad my anger by such long delay. Yarethah — That Is a true word! {Turns to her father) Be merciful to him! Enochael — What space of time remains? NiMROD, Scarce half a span! Scene 2 NIMROD 71 Enochael — The half of that were ample if Jehovah wills. ^Perhaps there is a way. NiMROD — {springing forward excitedly and hopefully) There is a way? Enochael — I have learned much about Chaldean lore, And if I do recall aright, the marriage vow Is consecrated by a flash of sun Striking across joined hands laid on the altar. NiMROD — That flash of sun doth constitute the rite. Without the shining of the beam no vow is made, But by reflected mirrors, the high-priest Can cast that ray of light to any point Within the temple walls. Enochael — (musingly) There is a way. What if the sun should falter and grow dim.? NiMROD — It would prevent the bridal. {Wonderingly) But even God Can not blot out the sun! Enochael. _ Thou art too quick to speak Of all the things Jehovah can not do. What space remains.? (NiMROD stoops and measures again the shadow on the dial) NiMROD. The half of half a span! (Enochael goes to the altar standing a little back from the smaller tent and throws a few grains of incense on the flame. A thin curl of smoke rises) Enochael — Mighty Jehovah, who by Thy power hast made The good ever to prosper, the ill to fail. Grant that our prayers find favor in thy sight. Forbid this evil marriage sacrament. 72 N I M R O D Act II NiMROD — The shadow wanes! Enochael. Answer our prayers, Lord! ( Throws more incense on the fiafne) Mighty Jehovah, who hath placed our souls In fleshly bodies set on earthliness. Thou knowest that the purest of our aims Are marred by love of self. In false, find what is true, Answer thy servant in his bitter need That he may worship Thee, the one true God! NiMROD — Only two fingers' breadth! Enochael. Oh, hear us. Lord! (A low faint moaning is heard. The shepherds come jrom the larger tent and gather in jrom the plain, creeping in softly one by one, as they see Enochael at the altar. Upon the far horizon a pale electric green shimmers fitfully and in the distance, one camel screams) Mighty Jehovah, who madest earth and sky, The radiant sun to bless the eager world. The rain to slake the parched and thirsty earth, The clouds in sombre glory to be known As messengers of thine, hide from all human sight The sun! Yarethah — {her shrillijig cry cleaving the heavy brooding silence) Nimrod! The sign! The sign! {The moaning grows louder and more menacing. The shepherds cower on the ground. The pale forerunner of the electric cloud rises slightly, showing 'the palpi- tating salmon-red borders of the " ox-eye " cyclonic cloud beneath. The sunshine pales, the leaves rustle fitfully with a dry harsh sound) Nimrod. The sign! {Strides to the altar beside Enochael) Scene 2 NIMROD 73 The sun grows fainter 1 Haste, ye laggard clouds! Roll blackly over craven Astrael ! Enochael — Pray not for vengeance now! NiMROD — {zvith an imperious gesture at the sky) To Eridhu 1 (Yarethah," trembling with fear, kneels near the altar at the jeet of her father, hiding her face in her hands. Enochael lays his ^ hand upon her head caressingly, bespeaking protection and peace) {Suddenly the strange green light _ breaks up and merges with the darker hues above it and, like great masses of pestilential vapors, waves of a dark and mottled olive hue hurl themselves across the sky) Enochael — Darker yet grow, ye instruments of God! With livid fire illume your horridness! {Flash of forked lightning splits across the cloud) In deep-toned wrath from throat invisible Pronounce God's anger on a world of sin! {Crashing peal of thunder is heard) And let Jehovah's tread in Heaven's^height Be judged by thy deep monotone of terror! {With a gradually swelling roar the storm bursts, the gale booming through the trees of the encampment. But above the tumult quivers a sharp keen shriek, the overtone of the tempest's fury) Shriek loud, ye winds! Ye elements unleashed. Sweep on your fearful way to sinful Eridhu! With forked flame of fury, crash, thou storm! Thou art God's mighty Seraphim of rage. Strike in thy strength until His will be spent. {The darkness increases) NiMROD — Doth great Jehovah sit on such a throne, With crash of falling worlds for words of doom? {Darkness, sudden and absolute, blots out the scene. The flame of the altar is blown down by the wind and 74 N I M ROD Act II only a faint red glozv remains, suggesting rather than shozving the figure of Enochael beside the altar) Enochael — Brandish the sword of God, ye livid flames! {Lightning flash reveals Nimrod standing at the altar beside Enochael) NiMROD. God! Not one of many, but the only God! Thee! God of strength omnipotent! Thee! Ruler of the storm blast and the cloud! Thee! Monarch of the Voices of the Sky! Thee! Master of the Furies of the World! Thee! Power of the very heart of Power! Thee! Mightiest! Greatest! Best! I worship here! {The voice rings like a trumpet above the storm, though the scene is dark. By a lightning flash it is seen that Nimrod has left the side of Enochael and is stand- i7ig at the edge of the encarnpment) And now, through leagues of tempest-riven wilder- ness, With storm for fellow and with God for company, I ride to Astupheli! {Storm breaks out with redoubled violence. Then comes a long-continued zcavering jagged flash of light- ning, showing NiMROD on a plunging horse, turning toward the plain, and darkness falls again) {Curtain) End ACT II ACT III ACT III Scene — The sacrificial chamber of the vaults of the Star- Temple in Eridhu. The walls are frescoed in lurid designs showing tortures of every hideous description^ and on these walls hang ancient and cumbrous machin- ery of a sinister and forbidding aspect. The cell is damp, the floor and lower portions of the walls being covered with mould and a copper-colored slime. The floor is of slabs of stone imperfectly fitted together and from the cracks bleached and poisonous fungi grow. The back of the cell merges into utter obscurity save in the centre where there is a raised step, being the first of a series of steps leading dozvnward into the Cavern of Silence. A rude table stands on one side of the steps and on it are rusty chains and mouldy bronze-banded leather gags and fastenings. The ceiling is low and ponderous and thick ropes of plaited hide are suspended from huge rings in the roof. There are no windows, the gratings in the wall which admit the air opening into cavities as dark as the cell itself. To the right is an altar of black stone. A few inches from the top there projects a bar encircling the altar, from which hang tongs and pincers and instruments suitable for being made red-hot. The fire cavity in the altar is deep and in it burns a low fire, its reddish glare being the only light in the cell. To the left is a low white stone slab, hollowed out to the shape of a human body. Bloodstains both red and fresh and blackened a7id old are streaked across its surface and are seen running down its sides. The Time is Afternoon, two days later than the last 77 78 N I M R O D Act III scene, but this is not apparent in the cell, the only light in which is the altar fire, a flickering flame, which causes distorted shadows to move upon the wall. As the curtain rises, Astupheli is seen lying on the white stone sacrificial slab. She has been asleep. After a" moment or two she stirs, moves languidly and partly changes her position. Astupheli — {reflectively) What a dream of horror! {With an overwrought but relieved look) It is good to wake! I thought the priests bound me and dragged me down To that deep chamber below the Temple walls Where victims for the slaughter wait to die. A fearful dream! {Passes her hand across her forehead and then gently over her eyes as though to clear them) It seems I cannot wake! {Raises herself on her elbow and glances round only half comprehendingly) My eyes still seem to see the gloomy cell, The fire on the stone, the sacrificial table. {Her hand falls on the stone on which she lies and its chill contact, added to her increasing wakefulness, brings its bitter realization) Merciful gods! Was It then not a dream? {Springs from the slab with shuddering haste) This is the sacrificial cell ; {glances fearfully at the altar) the flames - Are not the figment of a sleep-beclouded brain But leap upon the hated altar. {Her eye catches sight of the sacrificial slab and she shrinks back in loathing) I was laid Where bloody sacrifices oft have lain. Act III NIMROD 79 {Looks round with dread as though fearing to establish the truth) There are the torture instruments, the cage — {Totters hack as the ominous staircase meets her view) The steps which no returning foot hath trod. {Suddenly pauses, looks quickly at the floor and shrieks) . ^ , , 77 • • n {Silence ensues. Then, in a low and shuddering voice) What moves? . {Shrinks back toward the altar, gazing at the pavement fixedly) , _ , That blur upon the floor 1 {With a cry of the conviction of fear) It moves! {Tries to control herself, with an assumed air of half- assurance) 'Tis but a lizard. . •,• \ {Then, with a change of tone, false reassurance jailing) White! {The terror of the unknown begins to dawn in her eyes) How came a lizard white? {Clenches her hands convulsively, speaking with rapid breath) It stares at me, I cannot move! {A momentary catch of relief in her voice) There, 'tis gone! {Following with her eyes the movement of the half-seen shape) _ _ .11 It creeps away, or is it growing dark So that I cannot see it any more? {The red glare from the fire begins to die down gradu- ^^^^^ How dark! And such strange dark! The shadows on the walls Flicker as if alive. {Puts her hand for support on the rail of the altar) 8o N I M R O D Act III Can shadows be alive? {Looks around vaguely) Shadows that whisper? {Points at the opposite wall) Shadows that have eyes! {Stands motionless, shivering a^id bent) Some presence chills my blood! {Listening) There again! What do the shadows whisper? Have they speech? {Silence. Then with a sudden wild cry) What comes this way? {Starting back) What comes? {Pace by pace she moves away from the altar, her whole frame quivering with terror and disgust. Back- ward she seems to be driven by some iiwisible shape until she is almost upon the murky stairway) .Not there! Not there! I will not go down there! {Crouching, and with a movement as though throwing off a bodily assailant, she runs across the stage. The fire of the altar dies down until Astupheli can be seen only as a dim white figure) Light! Light! More light! {Beats frantically upon the door of the cell, glancing fearfully over her shoulder) No one will answer me! {Attacks the door again, then seems to see the tangible presence of her terror growing nearer) It comes! Light ! Light ! (^Rushes across the stage to the altar, tearing off her linen head-dress as she does so and throwing it in the fire) I cannot bear this! Torture, if you will, {A bright flame shoots up as the fabric burns, illumin- Act III N I M R O D 8i ing the entire stage, bringing every detail of the cell into high relief) But give me light! (Sinks to the ground beside the altar in the abafidon- ment of utter relief) 'Tis gone! Yet I could swear I saw it, heard the beatings of its wings, The whispering menace of its shadow-speech. {The flame dies down quickly) So short a space of light! Fire, take all! {Throws off her outer mantle, leaving herself clad in a loose white robe. She tears the light mantle into pieces and throws it on the fire) But leave me not in darkness! A moment's grace. Give me just light to find the fatal knife! I will not die in darkness! {Sees a knife gleaming on the wall and steps forward to seize it. As she does so, the flame suddenly expires) What was that! {Shrieks, sobbing hysterically) The lizard! , • , 7 {Brushes against bronze tools on the altar, which clank harshly) Help! {Throws her arms over her head in a despairing appeal) I stepped upon it! {Rushes across the stage) Help! {Falls to the floor as the door opens suddenly) {Enter Cal - Erech bearing a torch in one hand and a cup in the other) Cal - Erech — {with irony and venom commingled in his tones) So, Astupheli, thou art glad for once To see me come! 82 N I M R D Act III AsTUPHELi — {nervous and shaken, hut answering bravely) Not to see thee, only thy torch! My brain had seemed to burst as thou didst enter. {Rises to her feet) Why am I brought here? Cal - Erech. Thus was it ordered. AsTUPHELi — {scornfully) Ordered by the priests ! Cal - Erech. _ Only a moment since, Groveling in terror, thou didst shriek for light, Now thou dost rail defiance at the priests To whom thou once wert most obedient. AsTUPHELi — I know them better now. What dost thou want of me? Cal - Erech — To drink this wine! AsTUPHELi — {understanding) A cup of poisoned wine! Cal - Erech — The sacrificial priests are on their way. Poison is better than a bloody death. AsTUPHELi — My death is sought? Nimrod is victor, then ? Cal - Erech — Nimrod is victor. Nought remains to us But to prevent his marriage. If thou diest He forms no royal dynasty, and at his death — Perhaps not long delayed — the priests return. {Holds out the cup) The wine! Astupheli. I will not drink! If Nimrod had been dead And thou hadst brought the wine — Cal - Erech — {zvith an air of candor) It was my thought To tell thee so, but sometimes truth is wiser. He cannot find thee, this hiding place Is known But to the king, to Mitura and me. The wine! Act III N I M R O D S^ {Holds out the cup, warding it from the danger of its being knocked out of his hand) AsTUPHELi — {defiantly) I will not drink! Cal - Erech — {with quiet malevolence) Thou dost prefer the dark! I will inform the sacrificial priests. They will enjoy a human sacrifice, And possibly find royal auguries — from thee! {Takes the torch from the cresset where it had been placed on his entrance) AsTUPHELi — Leave me the light, Cal-Erech. See! The fire is dead! I cannot bear the dark, leave me the torch! Cal - Erech — The wine! ASTUPHELI. No! No! Cal - Erech. 'Tis but a choice of deaths, And finding auguries is barbarous. Once more, the wine! AsTUPHELi. Never, while Nimrod lives! {Exit Cal - Erech, carrying with him the torch and the cup of wine) {As the door closes, absolute darkness falls upon the scene, not the slightest flicker of flame being observable on the altar) AsTUPHELi — {suddenly smitten with a full return of her former terror) The Shadow! Cal-Erech, come! Bring light! Wine! Poison! Anything for light! 84 N I M R O D Act III {The door opens and Cal - Erech reappears standing on the threshold) Cal - Erech — {in exactly the same tone as before) The wine! AsTUPHELi — {pleadingly) I was thy pupil once — Cal - Erech — {immovable) The wine! {Steps are heard coming down the long passage to the cell-door at which Cal - Erech is standing. He turns quickly to see who is coming, then enters the cell hurriedly) Here come the priests! This is thy sole escape from hideous tortures! (Astupheli hesitates for a moment and is about to take the cup in her hands, but waits to make sure that the steps are those of her executioners) {Enter Astrael and Mitura) Astupheli — {with a cry of joy) It Is my father! {Sinks at his feet) Thou didst not bid me drink the poisoned cup? Say that it is not true! Astrael. I sent no poison! Cal - Erech — 'Tis wiser. She will not marry Mitura. Astrael — But why so quick to take this on thyself.'' Cal - Erech — Sooner or later, what matters it to us.'' {The two men stand close together, eyeing each other cautiously, Astrael with knitted brows trying to fathom the old priest's purpose, Cal - Erech smiling, but watchful) Astrael — {starting violently as the truth flashes across his mind) I see thy plan! Thou seekest the crown thyself! Therefore thou wert so quick to show that Mitura Could not be married on that day of storm; Act III N I M R O D 85 Therefore didst thou come here to slay the girl Before she could be made to wed to-day, For Mitura can only rival thee When Astupheli gives him royal station. Cal - Erech — If so, what change is there? Here is no beam of sun, No marriage can be consecrated in this place Even if Astupheli granted it. AsTRAEL — She shall be married here and now. Astupheli — (zvith pleading and protest) Father! AsTRAEL — {ignoring the girl entirely) Let all the rite save that one phrase be said And I will swear that all has been fulfilled. Cal - Erech — It doth need a tongue to swear an oath, And tongue thou shalt have none, as head thou shalt have none. When Nimrod comes. In Eridhu's defense I have no part, my life has not been forfeited. AsTRAEL — The marriage first! Cal -Erech. The wine! Astupheli. I will not wed! Mitura — Have I no word in mine own bridal plans? Astupheli, love, why showest thou such fear, I would be kind! Astupheli — {confronting him angrily and scornfully) Now thou hast moved me! Fear, indeed! Thou would'st be kind! Of that I am in fear — Fear lest some word of thine strike discord on mine ear. Some touch of thine infect my very raiment Just as thy breath pollutes even the prison air! The poison first! 86 N I M R O D Act III Cal - Erech. Said I not so? The wine! AsTRAEL — Why show such hate to Mitura? Of old Thou hadst no bitterness! AsTUPHELi. Does hate need reasons? Tell me the reason why a snake is loathed, Show the disgust from leprous-whitened flesh, Explain the horror of the dead's cold hand, And I will tell thee why I hate him so. Cal - Erech — There is no marriage with such hate! The wine! AsTRAEL — {losing his temper and grasping Astupheli Jorcihly) No words! Thou shah be wed and instantly! (MiTURA hangs hack a moment, hesitatingly because of his fear of Cal - Erech, a7id during the moment of delay, steps are heard coming rapidly toward the open door) Mitura — Someone comes! Quick! Bolt the door! (Mitura endeavors to turn quickly for the door, hut AsTRAEL, not realizing his purpose, and fearing his retreat, intercepts him, and before Cal - Erech has time to shoot the bolt, the door is pushed violently and Gil- VAR - Ur e?iters) Gilvar-Ur. Nimrod is here! {Seeing Astrael and Mitura, Gilvar - Ur is on the defensive, but he has not seen Cal - Erech, who was behind the door as he came in, and as the~ newcomer stands, awaiting the next move, with a deft movement Cal - Erech throws a chain around him, pinioning his sword-arm. He struggles and is about to free him- self, when Astrael and Mitura both come to Cal- Erech's assistance, and Gilvar - Ur is bound. The heavy bronze bolt of the door is shot across and fastened) Act III N I M R O D 87 AsTRAEL — They can be wed before that door be forced. MiTURA — It is too late with Nimrod here. AsTRAEL. Too late.? MiTURA — I do not wish to die. Nimrod will spare my life. AsTRAEL — But not with honor! MiTURA. What honor hath a corpse .f" I do not think the dead concerned with honor. AsTRAEL — {with the ache of disillusionment in his voice) My world is crumbling round my feet, manhood Seems but a name, the gods — {Pauses, with a gesture of despair) Cal-Erech. The gods.? AsTRAEL — {bitterly, hut with dignity) False trust, false priests, false gods! I had believed the stars To be the eternal points divinely set To show where Destiny had pricked her chart. I did not dream the so-called Mighty Seven Were but the creatures of your brains. Cal - Erech. Are they not gods.? AsTRAEL — Have I not prayed to theni.? Done sacrifice.? Poured out my treasure for their temples.? Have I not toiled over their mystic lore.? Ordered my kingdom by their guiding omens.? Labored unceasingly.? Spent anxious nights In eager scrutiny of all the stars.? _ And what Is my reward.? They lie to me! They rob me of my throne! They send me shame! Cal - Erech — They lied to thee.? Did they not tell thee this .? Didst thou not read the fall of Eridhu ? Heed well. King Astrael, for if thou diest so, 88 N I M R D Act III Scorning the gods, unending solitude Shall be thy portion in the Shadow-world ! AsTRAEL — Is there a Shadow-world? And are there gods? Or do we live so, that when at last we die. We find that Death is all that there is of Life ? Cal - Erech — {eagerly) Thou dost not wish to live? AsTRAEL — {gravely) Why should I live? All dynasties must end, and mine ends now. Better to end it as a priest and king Than be a spectacle upon the city walls. AsTUPHELi — Nimrod will spare thy life! AsTRAEL. I shall not ask it! {Embraces Astupheli gently) {Quietly and zvith entire self-possession, Astrael zualks to the steps that lead dozen into the Cavern of Silence. At the top he pauses) ' Cal - Erech — {with a shudder) Thou knowest? Astrael — {showing perfect composure) I know! This is the end. Farewell! Astupheli — {starts forzvard as though to run to him, but he puts tip his hand to zvarn her away) Father! Astrael — Farewell ! ( Turns and with a firm stride descends the steps. In a moment he is out of sight. No one moves. There comes one long shuddering moan, and all is still) (Cal - Erech is the first to recover himself. He looks at Astupheli, who is crouched upon the floor near GiLVAR - Ur, sobbing bitterly, and at Mitura, who, as white as the dead, is holding to the sacrificial slab for support. The old priest reaches his hand out quietly for the cup of poisoned zvine and, sidling up to where Astupheli is zveeping, he suddenly grasps her roughly and tries to force the poison down her throat) Act III NIMROD 89 Cal - Erech — The king is dead! Only the priests remain! (MiTURA, suddenly perceiving Cal - Erech's inten- tions, runs forward and grapples him. While they are struggling there is a sudden tumult outside and with a fearful crash a battering ram is brought with full force against the door and the huge bronze bolt falls shattered) ( Through the breach plunge Nimrod, En - Tur, and soldiers. Nimrod, seeing the two men struggling on the floor, snatches Mitura and throws him half across the stage, then raises Astupheli tenderly, while at the same time En - Tur captures Cal - Erech. The soldiers loosen the bonds of Gilvar - Ur) Nimrod — Thou art not injured, Love! Astupheli — {clinging to him) Nimrod, take me away! This dark and horror seems to numb my brain! (En - Tur, still keeping a firm grip on Cal - Erech, holds out silently the empty cup, with a residue of whitish powder in the bottom of it. Nimrod turns to Cal - Erech) Nimrod — Poison? I will remember! Ask thy stars What fate awaits thee? I can prophesy — Death shapes thy welcome to his realm to-day! {Turns to Astupheli) Now I have conquered Astrael — Cal - Erech — {i?iterrupting) Too fast! Thou hast not conquered Astrael ! Nimrod — {suspiciously) What meanest thou ? Cal - Erech — Thou hast not conquered Astrael ! Behold I {Points to the top of the steps. Nimrod, leaving Astupheli for a moment, goes to the ominous pit. At the head of the grim staircase he shrinks and looks back at Cal - Erech with blanched cheeks) Thou hast not conquered Astrael, but death! 90 N I M R O D Act III (NiMROD returns to Astupheli, placing his arm about her, tenderly) NiMROD - — Death hath not conquered Astrael, {Pauses and points upward with his sword) but God! {Curtain) FINIS 'FC 5 1912 ^^^°^£S»^^^ liiMi