Quarry Slaves A Drama by Lee Byrne 19 c4 Copyrightl^'* COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. QUARRY SLAVES A DRAMA BY LEE BYRNE THE POET-LORE COMPANY BOSTON, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR Copyrig-ht, 1904, by Lee Byrne All Rights Reserved ■ » A»iii I I n ii ■a a-sv" ' LIBRARY ot CONGRESS Two Copies Received APR 19 1904 ^ Oopyrleht Entry GLASS Xq. No. Printed at The Gorhant Press Boston, U.S.A. PERSONS ^ ANDROGENUS, a powerful slave, hardly thirty years old in appearance . HIS SON, a frail boy, apparently about fourteen in Scene I. GERON, a decrepit old slave,, friendly to Andro- \ genus. X CYON, a vigorous old slave ^ hostile to Andro- ' genius. Other Slaves, Children, ■ SCENE A Sicilian underground quarry,, some years after the Athenian expedition against Syracuse. QUARRY SLAVES FIRST SCENE [Andkogenus is discovered trying- to pene- trate the rock wall on left. He works some tifne alone and in silence when enter his son, who seeks to assist hini.~\ And. Wilt thou too labor, boy? Son Suffer me, father. And. This from thy love ; yet knewest the goal I seek, Then truly wouldst thou crave one shard to move To strain the fissure but an inch more wide. Son Dimly I know, for often hast thou told Of upper air and fields and flowers and stars. A?id. Which thou hast never seen, thy radiant youth Darkened beneath this roof, within these walls. \_There is a crumbling of the rock above and both are startled.~\ 5 6 QUARRY SLAVES Son Ah me, the rock. Hence, father, ere it crush thee. And. I merely loose it, boy ; do thou withdraw. S^A great fragment falls to the ground. '\ Son Ah ! how I fright me. Father, I beg, desist. Rest and relate me more ; plague not the rock fiends. And. Here are we slaves to men, yet not to fate. Then better a heavy death, hope keeping us human, Than servile bondage to a shameful lot. Son True, sire, but tell again of the world beyond. And. I fain would please thee ; here thou hast little indeed. \^He ceases work.^ Son Thou sayest above the hills are clothed with green ; The hue I picture vainly. And. Like thine eyes. Son But them I see not. Like to thine as well? And. Nay — to thy mother's, her we covered here, Who, dying, cried upon the sun, yet passed QUARRY SLAVES 7 The sunless Styx in darkness. Son 'Tis this sun Thou sayest illumines the air of upper realms — And. Blazing its splendor over all the land. Son And is it too as the grass ? And. Nay golden as Thy hair, but with a glory blinding man. Son And that folk sleep it leaves the land in gloom — And. Save for the jewels of the sky — Son The stars — And. And eke that pale and silvery sun — Son Ah me, And is the day or night more beauteous? And. One starry night, my son, would make man rich ; One day excite the envy of the gods. Son Ah, let us not delay ; haste we to freedom. And. 'Tis a long road ; we needs must rest betimes. So7i I thirst for upper air ; sit we not idle. And. Even so, my son. Strive we again with the rock. [ They resume the labor* Enter gradually a 8 QUARRY SLAVES group of quarry slaves i?icludi7ig Geron and Cyon.] ist Slave Still digging, Androgenus? And. Aye, friends ; lend a hand if ye would win liberty. 2d Slave We ache with the toil of the day. ^d Slave One cannot do two days' work in one. ist Slave Let us help him a bit ; he is a good friend. [ They set to work lastly. ~\ 2d Slave How soon expect you the daylight this time ? And. 'Tis with the gods. Man can only toil and wait. ^d Slave Toil and wait for the end — that is our life surely. And. Toil and wait hopefully for deliverance. ist Slave Aye, if one try he is doing all he can at least. \_E7iter others who scoff at the laborers. ~\ ^fh Slave Digging for gold they are ; see them lay into it. Cyon Have ye not enough with one day's work, men ? QLTARRY SLAVES 9 ^d Slave Aye, let us rest. 2d Slave Indeed I am weary. Cyon Let the madman do his own digging. /fth Slave Come, comrades, have a cheer. \_All cease work except Androgenus and his son.'\ And. Your bodies are bondmen ; be not slaves in soul. Fight the good fight for freedom. If ye win ye gain life for death ; if ye fail ye die fight- ing even as your fathers of old. ^.th Slave Our bones ache enough. ^d Slave Aye, and you fight the fight only when fancy takes you. And. True, alas, I am human ; yet is the god not dead within me. Come, I exhort you ; rise above the life of beasts. Cyon Not beasts, stripling ; men, submissive to destiny. And. Ah, blush, thou gray-beard who would make men unmanly. Cyon I fought in arms, O mad one, when thou didst follow camp. Teach not me the manly and the unmanly. And who art thou to disturb men's peace of heart and inflame the minds of children with what the gods have denied ? 10 QUARRY SLAVES ^th Slave Aye, he teaches the quarry-born youth of the upper life. A7id. Would ye have them servile- minded even as ye are servile-minded? Cyon We would have them left in peace. Fill not their minds with the hell of discontent, nay, nor ours, if we will to forget. Is our lot unen- durable? Have we not strength sufficient for it? Have we not food in plenty, rest, and sweet sleep ? Who knows that beyond Styx we shall not yearn for these stony caverns? Wake not the memory of man when it slumbereth, lest it rage and do him hurt. Thou and thy hewing — reckon thyself favored indeed if we suffer thee to exploit thy follies. What of detection? What of crum- bling roofs? What of inpouring ocean? Have thy whims, O stripling, but leave us security while it is ours ; leave us peace if we can attain it. [^Exeunt Cyo7i and slowly the other slaves. Androgenus, so?newhat dazed., continues his work in silence, assisted by his son, old Geron alone looking on. At length the son grows weary atid falls asleep. Androgenus himself desists and sits watching the boy. Geron approaches.'] QUARRY SLAVES 11 Geron Thou sayest the god within thee is not dead. Well said, O youth ; keep thou thy spirit nourished. Though man help not, thine is a strength luxuriant. Pursue thy course and may the Heavens aid thee. Afid. I thank thee for thy word. Geron Mine own arm fails ; I may not give the help I would. Take heart. Do not despond at Cyon's bitter counsel. Up, youth ; on with thy task with favoring gods. And. Nay, when the fit is on me ; now I cling Within a melancholy maze of doubt. \^Exit Geron a7ixious.'\ SECOND SCENE A Tear Later [Androgenus is discovered hewing- again^ but this time on the other side. So?ne slaves pass, jesting at his zvork. Then enter a group of children who stand adjniring him. Geron has also e?itered.'\ Geron Disturb ye not the toiler. 1st Child He must teach us. Geron A greater task detains him now. 1st Child Always He gladly leaves aught else that we may learn. And. Ah, precious spirits darkly nursed, again Search ye for wisdom ? Children Aye, Androgenus. Geron Youth, let them learn from these old lips. Alas, QUARRY SLAVES 13 I cannot hew, nor carry yet, nor carve A way to freedom, as with god's help thou shalt, Despite thy fellows lingering base behind. Then let me learned in lore more old than thine Illumine their dark minds. Take thou thine eyes No moment from thy heaven-given goal. And. Shall then good Geron teach you? Children Nay, thyself. And. So be it. The spark must live. And what today? ist Child The Persians. Children Aye, the Persians. And. Then the Persians. [Androgenus sits on a stone with the children arou7id him.'] And. There came the messengers of mighty Xerxes Commanding earth and water from the Greeks In token of obedience. And the Greeks Gave them their earth and water. Children No, no, no. And. Why think ye not? ist Child Not so our ancestors. And. Aye, throwing Xerxes' heralds in a well 14 QUARRY SLAVES They bid them seek their tribute. And the King Collected his vast arm}^, such the earth Hath never seen. Crossing the Hellespont They poured upon us hordes beyond counting. Even ocean their vast armaments did cover. Then Athens, needs retreating from the land, Consigned her to Poseidon, and the King Prepared for final triumph on the ocean. ist Child Yes, yes — the battle. And, I cannot relate. ist Child Nay, tell us of the fight. Childre7i Yes, tell the battle. And. My tongue were dumb to picture what ensued — But you shall hear the Athenian poet's words : * " And when day bright to look on with white steeds O'erspread the earth, then from the Greeks pro- ceeds Loud chant of cry of battle, and the while Echo gave answer from each rocky isle. The Hellenes then their solemn pasan sang ; Throughout the ranks the martial trumpet rang. * Rhymed from Plu^nptre's blank verse translation. QUARRY SLAVES 15 Swift swept the loud oars through the foaming wave, And first in order moved the right wing brave. Next the whole line its forward course began, And forth along a mighty shouting ran : ' O sons of Hellenes, forward, free your homes. Shrines to your fathers' gods, and holy tombs Your ancestors now rest in. Free from thrall Yourselves, your wives, your children, and your all.' Arose in answer murmur of Persian speech. The time to wait was over. Forward each Dashed its bronze-pointed beak, and with a din A Grecian trireme did the strife begin, Crashing from Persian craft its prow away ; Then each against his neighbor did essay. First firmly held the Persian armament, But when the ships within the strait were pent Then they with bronzen beaks and mutual shocks Went crashing each the other as on rocks. The agile Grecians, fewer, darting fierce Where'er a Persian oarbank they might pierce. Capsized, the hulls lay floating, and the sea 16 QUARRY SLAVES Was covered with the wreckage and debris, And Asian corpses floated on the wave, Or, stranded, lay on rocks, too late to save. Hence last in headlong flight the Grecians sent All that remained of Persian armament. And bitter groans and waitings overspread The wide sea wave until night overhead Prevailing bade all cease. The Persian ill Recounted large a ten-day time would fill. Be sure such hordes Poseidon then did hide As never yet on single day had died." ist Child O glorious victory ! But still on land The King had numbers vast. And. And they full soon Tasted what fare their brethren on the sea. Back to his Persian palaces the King Departed and no more tried Grecian valor. ist Child And died not many Greeks as well as Persians ? And. Aye, but their death — again let poet speak. Hear ye the epitaph on them that died. First on our fathers. ist Child Speak the epitaph. QUARRY SLAVES 17 And. " If they be blessed whom noble death enfold, To us of all men Fortune gave this grace ; For hastening freedom's crown on Greece to place We lie possessed of praise that grows not old." ist Child O noble epitaph ! And. And on the others : " These men to Greece a crown of glory gave ; Then, cloud-enwrapped of death, passed from high earth ; Yet being dead they died not, for their worth Lifts them in glory even from the grave." * \_The children express pleasure. '\ And. Such were our sires who dwelt on upper earth. 2d Child And must we ever linger in these shades ? ist Child Nay, for Androgenus doth daily delve, And one day he will lead us to the light. A7id. Aye, ye believe. That will I, gods per- mitting. ist Child Come we and help thee delve, O noble Androgenus. * Rhymed from MackaiV s prose. 18 QUARRY SLAVES 2d Child Aye, come ; we too must hew. And. So be it, children. \_He proceeds with his hewing^ they giving him some sort of assistance. But they gradually weary and depart hi silence till at last he is left alone. He filially seats himself ., head in hands., in silent gloo?n.'] THIRD SCENE A Year Later [ The excavations on the two sides are seen to be abandoned a7id partly filled in. One now seems to be in progress i7i the center^ but how far the work has g07ie cannot be seen as the tunnel has a turn^ leavi7ig the end out of sight. The sounds of digging are heard within. Two elderly slaves of the better kind are discovered conversing .'\ ist Slave Hark, bear him hew ; he digs and digs and digs What time the task-men let him. Thus his life In fruitless toil is spent. 2d Slave What better we ? Do our days bring us profit ? ist Slave Nay, alas, Nor pleasure save a melancholy one. To sit and ponder o'er our evil lot. 19 20 QUARRY SLAVES Yet he might rest. 2d Slave Perchance in this employ His body's labor brings calm to his mind Else unattained. But hist, is that his cry? [Androgenus is heard exclahning from the passage. The old 'me7i listen, hi a moment Androgenus rushes forth, greatly excited. '\ A7id. Where is he, Cleon? Man, art dead? Reply. Where is he, where? 2d Slave Alas, O youth, whom call you? A?id. My son, my son — whom else? Where is the lad ? 2d Slave I know not, sir. And. Go tell him ere my news Strangle me in its bulk ; go tell him, Cleon. 2d Slave But, sir, I know not — And. Go, good Cleon, go. After these years events come with a rush. Delay then not the precious tidings ; go. 2d Slave I gladly go, yet, sir, my message know not. And. Its impact makes me weak. Go fetch the boy. QUARRY SLAVES 21 'Tis freedom, light, Elysium, air, the sun. Go fetch the boy. My tongue alone can tell him. 2d Slave I go, good sir, yet fear this strong excitement. \_Exit 2d Slave. Androgenus sinks to a seal.'] ist Slave Relate, I pray thee, that which gives thee joy. Thou hast not reached the air of upper earth? And. Not yet the air, my friend, but as I dug, Parting the rocky fragments as they fell. Varying the noise of smiting with a song, I hushed — methought a murmur reached mine ear, And straining with the stillness of the dead I listened, yearning, calling on the gods. And then I heard distinct — jst Slave Haste, haste, good youth — And. The beat of ocean on a wall of rock. ist Slave Cease thy infernal work. The waters o'er us Will burst into our world and all will perish. Afid. Nay — to mine ear the sound came from below, 22 QUARRY SLAVES Far off and from below. ist Slave Thou knowest not — Above or under, like would be the sound. Thou bringest death. Leave off, man, ere we bind thee. And. I say below. Long have I toiled with chisel ; Deny me not the labor of my years. Below, below the waters sounded dully. ist Slave They call thee mad, and I too fear thee, youth. How near bethinkst art now unto this water? And. A mighty rock suspends above the vault. Which when I tear away the path is easy. But where is my son? ist Slave Desist, man, till the elders Determine on this matter. Death doth threat If that the waters o'er us surge above. And. Below, I say that toil — below, below. ist Slave Thou knowest not ; but here are other minds. \_E71ter several other slaves. '\ Hear ye, Androgenus hath hewn his way Until — QUARRY SLAVES 23 ^d Slave Until he's tired, poor fellow — ha, ha, ha. We gain that end with toil our taskmen give us, And need no farther training. ist Slave Let me speak. This is no stuff for jest ; he now hath reached A point whence he can hear the ocean's roar. /f.th Slave Nay, then, we are free — Androgenus our saviour ! ist Slave But if the water be above — Cyth Slave O horror ! ist Slave How may it chance that it be not above ? Others Aye, it must be, alas ! ist Slave Desist from labor, Unhappy youth, ere we be overwhelmed. Others Desist, ah cease. ist Slave Wilt thou, Androgenus? And. Most truly slaves ! ist Slave Give us thine answer, 3^outh. And. What fear ye? Slaves Death. And. Ye soul-dead slaves ! The Fates bestow Elysian life upon you. Air and the sun, and bliss of upper regions, 24 QUARRY SLAVES And ye who once were Greeks, O gods ! refuse them, Choosing the quarry, thrice deserving slaves. I st Slave If we but knew — And. Then be it death in the waters. Give we our challenge even to Poseidon, And if we die 'twill be in gaining glory, Even as our fathers fought with armed seas What time the Persian myriads poured upon them. Or shall we linger here in a Hell too early, And rear our children throughout generations That eyeless, soulless, they spend their dark days Untouched by any thought that honors manhood ? Nay, rather, challenge we this worthy death, Which, slaying our body, to our soul gives life. Do we one deed before our doom o'ertake us, And die, defeated haply, yet die men. ^th Slave And so say I — death rather than this bondage. 6th Slave And I. yth Slave And I. ist Slave But softly, softl}^, friends, Be we not rash. Full many have voice in this. Not in our hands the fate of all our comrades. QUARRY SLAVES 25 Await the time that all may have their word. Meantime, Androgenus, give us thy promise Thou v^^ilt desist till numbers give thee warrant. And. I have no servile promise. Geron {who is among slaves) Hush, my son. Enrage them not lest they prevent thy toil. Aye, friends, Androgenus hears. Await we counsel. This work's too weighty for our single minds. Depart we all to rest, the morrow assemble. ^th Slave Aye, dream we on it. Farewell, Andro- genus. Slaves Farewell. Farewell. Farewell. \_Exeunt slaves . Geron returns ^^ Geron My son, my son ! Either vs^e die exalted, or we live And end this most inglorious life in death. But let me too discover thy dear secret. And. Aye, Geron, list thou too what thou mayest hear. \Q^^oi^ passes hito the excavation. There is a long pause. ^ Is it above or under thee, good Geron ? Geron Hark, I hear naught as yet. And. Must listen intently. 26 QUARRY SLAVES \^There is another pause. '\ How now, good Geron ? Geron Hark, I hear not yet. [^There is a longer patise.'] And. Where, then, the sound? Geron N^y? but I hear not yet. \^After a very lo7ig pause. '\ And. Whence comes the sound? Pray speak, O aged friend. [Geron comes out slowly. '\ Geron Alas ! Alas ! And. It is above — ah then Our deed will be the nobler. Gero7i Nay, not that. But mine unhappy ears hear not the sound. It is denied mine age to share thy secret. \_He looks on Androgenus sadly as thotigh doubting. '\ And. Even to my younger ears it sounded faintly. [Geron looks moi^e sadly upoii him., believi?ig hint to have been deceived.^ But strange the boy comes not. I willed to tell him QUARRY SLAVES 27 Myself the first. Do thou too seek him, Geron. Geron I shall, good youth. And. And I the while shall hew. I thank the gods the end is not far now. Geron Not far, O youth, not far. Be we in hope. \^Exit Geron. Androgenus passes into the excavation, where for a time he is heard hewing intermittently. Enter son and two slaves.'] Son Where is he now? Where is he, Cleon? Speak ! My feet have never hastened so. A fear, A nameless fear hath seized me. ist Slave. Cheer thee, lad. He hath good news. Son What news? ist Slave An end to labor. Son Doth he give o'er the task? But where then — ist Slave Hark ! [ The hewing is heard again. ~\ Son Then still he toils — thou saidst he had desisted. \^They enter the excavation. The great rock 28 QUARRY SLAVES is heard to fall within. The boy rtishes out screaming ^ a third slave who enters restraining him. The first two slaves bear forth the injured Androgenus arid lay him down on an impro- vised pallet. The boy^ crushed with griefs does 7iot obtrude himself but weeps silently near by.] And. I fear — I fear I'm somewhat hurt. ist Slave Alas ! And. It is — it is unfortunate. Delay — Delay's annoying now — so near the end. \_The slaves have been examiriing him.] 2d Slave Despatch at once to Geron. He alone Can save him. ist Slave He alone. 2d Slave Aye, make all speed. \_Exit ist Slave.] And. I cannot brook to wait. So long I have toiled, Patient before, I yearn for the completion. 2d Slave Aye, friend, forthwith again thou shalt be toiling. We must have thee made whole ; others may rest, Thy sole work must go on unstopped, unhindered. And. And hast thou faith? Alack! They are QUARRY SLAVES 29 few that have. \_Reenter ist Slave. ~\ jst Slave He comes. 2d Slave Thine aged friend. And. The noble Geron. \_Enter Geron. Others come in quietly during the scene. ^ Geron. Alas ! alas ! 2d Slave Thou wilt save him, Geron. jst Slave Aye. [ The old man examines Androgenus for some mome^its, theft, rising, he pauses before speaking. All await his words. ^ And. How long — how long, O Geron? What delay ? Say how long wait must hold me from my task? Geron Alas ! and yet again alas ! And. Grieve not, good friend, But tell the worst. Gero7i Alas, Androgenus, Thy noble strife is finished — thou must die. And. Nay, say not so ; I cannot, cannot die. Geron The Fates will not be conquered. And. I must live. 30 QUARRY SLAVES There is that to do must fail not. Geron Pity, pity. A7id. Thou dost surprise me, Geron, — me to die — And thou that ever didst give me of cheer. How^ shall I die ere I have w^on the light? Wouldst thou this race to linger blind forever? Geron Alas ! dear youth, the gods deny thy wish. The shades of other darkness soon will fold thee. And. Thou liest, Geron, though thy hair be white. Once did one friend at least brook to support me. S^He rises in his excitement.'^ Henceforth if I alone must go, so be it. I tell thee to thy teeth, with all thy leechery, I w^ill not die until my work be done. \_A spasm of pain seizes him. ^ No power shall stay me. S^He is stricken again. ^ Ah ! my heart, my heart." Geron Poor friend, Fate is too strong. And. My heart is bursting. {A pause'). Alas, to die were sweet — to fail is bitter. (^A pause.) Where is the boy ? QUARRY SLAVES 31 \_The son now throws himself kneeling at his father's side. A great calm has come on Andro- GENUS.] And. Grieve not. From this hour forth Thou hast too weighty a charge to think on grief. I willed to win the light, the Fates will other : Yet shall we balk them, thou and I, my son. I leave thee rich, a legacy of labor. Take thou the strength I leave ; be strong hence- forward. \_His breath is failing him."] Complete, O son, my little enterprise. \_He dies.~\ APR 19 1904