Scene VI

(Home. An open hall, with statues of gods and magnificent vases, in which incense is burning. View of the Appenines. In the centre a table, with three couches near it. Adam as Sergiolus, Lucifer as Milo, and Catulus, three debauchees. Eve, as Julia; Hippia and Cluvia, three courtesans in immodest garb, all drinking. On a tribune, gladiators are fighting. Slaves standing about awaiting orders; flute players dispense music. Twilight; later, midnight.)

CATULUS.
How clever, graceful, yet how modest! See,
Sergiolus, that red-sashed gladiator;
And I will wager that he wins.

ADAM.
Oh! no!
By Hercules, he won't.

CATULUS.
Do not appeal
To Hercules; for who now in the gods
Believes? but swear by Julia, then I can
Believe.

ADAM.
Agreed :

LUCIFER.
For oaths, the soundest basis!
'Tis a false goddess in a false god's place.
But say, to what the oath in fact refers?
Dost swear but by her beauty, or thy love,
Or e'en by her fidelity to thee?

CATULUS.
All beauty fades ; but e'en if it did not,
That which to-day attracts, satiety
To-morrow brings, and lesser charms allure
With all the magic force of novelty.

ADAM.
'Twas by her faithfulness I swore, for who
Doth squander more on his beloved than I?

HIPPIA.
O fool, can'st thou embrace her endlessly?
And if thou could'st, — thou, who insatiable,
Forever seekest bliss, would'st seek in vain
For charms, but one by one are scattered 'round,
And in one maid thou findest but a part,
While bliss and beauty, an ideal ever —
A magic dream, and unattainable
Doth float before thine eyes. — How dost thou know
That 'tis not but a mood, a passing dream
That lureth thee? A gladiator, crushed
And torn.

ADAM.
'Tis true, 'tis true; Hippia cease!
But why, like Tantalus, doth pleasure lure,
When we have not the strength of Hercules,
Nor Proteus-like, forever changing life?
The wearied slave, when ends his week of toil,
Enjoys an hour, such as his master craves
In vain ; to wearied ones alone is bliss
A cooling draught, but death to him who plunges
Into the wave.

LUCIFER.
What worthy moral precepts,
On a fair maiden's breast, by spicy wines!
Ye make the wager then?

ADAM.
If I should lose,
Julia shall be thine.
CATULUS.
And if thou win'st?

ADAM.
Thy steed is mine.

CATULUS.
Another moon, and thou
May'st have her back, or to my fish pond I'll
Consign her.

LUCIFER.
See this fat fish, Julia? eat him,
For thou of others soon wilt be the prey.

EVE.
Will not the worms of earth thy flesh devour?
Let all who live enjoy life's every hour;
And be there one who can not, let him laugh,
And never cease, the flowing wine to quaff.

(Drinks.)

ADAM (To the Gladiator.)
Hey! Heed thee well!

CATULUS.
Upon him, like a brave!
(The gladiator of Catulus falls, and raising his finger, pleads for his life. Adam is about to give the sign of mercy, when Catulus stays his hand, and with clenched fist, the thumb directed toward the gladiator, gives the sign of death.)

CATULUS.
Recipe ferrum! Cowardly bastard! Slaves
Enough I have, and I no niggard am,
Who would begrudge fair women such a scene,
When so much sweeter is the kiss, the passion
More intense, if a little blood be shed.

ADAM.
The steed is mine! My Julia, come, embrace me!
But bear away the corpse! The dancers call,
And play us now a comedy! Of scenes
Like this we've had enough to-day.
(The corpse is carried away, and the tribune is filled with dancers.)

CATULUS.
Cluvia !
Do thou come too, for long I can not look,
When others do embrace.

LUCIFER.
We too, Hippia, —
May we not follow this example? But
First lick thy lips, that thereon be no poison.
There, sweetheart, now we can enjoy ourselves.

ADAM.
Why beats thy heart so violently now.
My Julia? I can scarcely rest upon it.
LUCIFER.
Just hear ! This fool of hearts is speaking still !

CATULUS.
See, dear, I trouble not thy heart at all,
Do what thou wilt with it, if I know naught,
If ever ready burns thy kiss for me.

CLUVIA.
Thou lover generous, I drink to thee!
(Drinking.)
CATULUS.

'Tis well, 'tis well! But Cluvia, do not take
Thine arm so soft and cushioned breast from me ;
And see, my wreath has fallen from my head!
(To the dancers.) Ah! what a masterpiece that

figure was!
All that voluptuous fire, with grace combined.

CLUVIA.
I'll blindfold thee, if thou in them find'st charms
In which with them I vie; but from thee ne'er
Can I earn e'en one word of praise. (Pointing to
Lucifer.) But look

Instead, on that sour face! What need has he
Of a fair maiden, if he can naught else
Than let her fall asleep, while with cold eyes,
And his sardonic smile, he but derides
The hundred sweet, though foolish little arts
Which add a flavor to companionship?

CATULUS.
In truth, a face like that perforce will freeze
The most poetic humor of whole crowds,
And deck them with a chill, funereal shroud.
He who withstands the moment's charm, and lets
His soul in brute indifference remain,
Can no good fellow be, and should remain
At home.

HIPPIA.
Indeed, I almost fear the poor one
Has even now contracted the black death,
Our city's scourge.

ADAM.
Away with this dark picture !
Let's have a wanton song! Who knows the best!

HIPPIA (Singing.)
Love and wine,
Ne'er decline;

From each bowl, now fragrance thine.
As the sun,
Shines upon
Graveyard stones,
Bleaching bones ;
Bliss divine,
Brings maid and wine,
Into our life, till its decline.
Love and wine,
Ne'er decline ;
From each maid new charms are thine.
As the sun,
Shines upon
Graveyard stones,
Bleaching bones,
Bliss divine
Brings maid and wine,
Into our life, till its decline.

CATULUS.
Most excellent! What, Cluvia, knowest thou?
CLUVIA (Singing.)
A foolish world it was of yore:
Lucretia in her widow's bed, for more
Delights yearned not; nor held she dear,
Nor burned her lips, for the cavalier.
'Stead in the brothel to conceal the smart,
With cold steel, pierced she deep her heart.
Let us rejoice! the world is wiser grown.
Let us rejoice! the old time ne'er bemoan!

ALL.
Let us rejoice! the world is wiser grown.
Let us rejoice! the old time ne'er bemoan!

CLUVIA.
A foolish world it was of yore.
Brutus sat not at his villa door;
But grasping his sword, to battle he went;
As a vile mercenary, spent
His blood upon the barren earth,
For the ragged herd, devoid of worth.

ALL.
Let us rejoice! the world is wiser grown.
Let us rejoice ! the old time ne'er bemoan !

CLUVIA.
A foolish world it was of yore,
When heroes' brains grim phantoms bore.
At that which holy was, we sneer.
If in our circus should appear,
A couple idiots of that sort,
They'd furnish us the finest sport.

ALL.
Let us rejoice! the world is wiser grown.
Let us rejoice! the old time ne'er bemoan!

LUCIFER.
Ah ! Cluvia, the palm to thee belongs.
I wish I were the author of that lay.

ADAM.
Thou sing'st not, Julia ; why art thou so sad,
While all about thee merriment doth breathe?
Can'st thou not rest thee well upon my breast?

EVE.
Ah! well, too well. Sergiolus, believe,
'Tis only joy that maketh me to grieve ;
The joy that laughs is not true happiness.
Into our bliss, a drop of bitterness
Doth ever seem to steal ; a coming woe,
A vague foreboding, by which we well know
The moment is a flower and fades away.

ADAM.
E'en I this presage vague can not gainsay.

EVE.
And when unto these melodies I hark,
I do not grasp of uttered words the sense,
But o'er the waves of song, as in a barque,
I'm borne along as in a dream, far hence,
Into the distant past, neath palms, where gleams
Of sunlight fell, there where so guileless I,
In childish innocence, once played; my dreams
And aspirations noble were, and high.
'Twas but a dream delirious ; forgive,
For now I wake; a kiss to thee I give.

ADAM.
Away with music and the dance, away !
These constant sweets, as boundless as the seas
Repulsive are to me; my heart doth yearn
For bitterness, for wormwood in my wine,
A sting on rosy lips, and peril near!
(The dancers go away. Cries of agony are heard without.)

ADAM.
What cry is that which pierces to the marrow?

LUCIFER.
They're crucifying several of those madmen,
Dreamers of justice and fraternity.

CATULUS.
Why did they not remain at home, forget
The world, enjoy their lives, and never care
For others' weal or woe?

LUCIFER.
The poor man says
Unto the rich, " Be thou my brother " ; but,
Exchange the two, he'll nail him to the cross.

CATULUS.
Then let us laugh at power and misery,
The pestilence that decimates the city,
All fate divine!

(Renewed shrieks.)

ADAM (To himself.)
Methinks I see
The past, as back on wings of memory
I'm borne, when aspirations high did sway
My soul. Thus, Julia sweet, did'st thou not say?

EVE.
Yes.

(It has grown dark. In front of the hall a funeral procession, burning torches, and mourning women are seen. The whole company seem to be overcome, and a painful silence prevails.)

LUCIFER (Laughing aloud.)
I perceive the mirth from here has fled,
The wine all out, and wit and wisdom dead.
Must the sour gentleman replenish both?
Perhaps some one among us is afraid,
Or just converted.

ADAM (Hurling his cup at Lucifer.)
Perish, if thou so
Believest !

LUCIFER.
Now, let me invite among us
Another guest, who may perchance revive
Our mirth. Slaves! bring in him whom by the light
Of torches you accompany, for we
Would treat him to a cup of fiery wine.
(The corpse is brought in an open coffin and placed upon the table. The funeral procession in the rear. Lucifer raises the cup of wine and toasts the corpse.)
Drink deep! Thy turn to-day, to-morrow mine!

HIPPIA.
Perhaps thou yearnest for a kiss.

LUCIFER.
Then steal
The pest that lurks within his lips.

HIPPIA.
If thee
I kiss, why not kiss him as well?
(Leans over the coffin and kisses the corpse. The Apostle Peter steps forth from the crowd.)

THE APOSTLE PETER.
Stand back!
Thou breathest in the air of pestilence!

(All rise in fright.)

ALL.
The pestilence! How terrible! Away!
THE APOSTLE PETER.
You miserable, sinful, cowardly race!
While happiness about you smiles, ye're like
The fly that basketh in 'the sunshine, boldly,
Scornfully, on God and virtue trampling;
But when dread peril at your door doth knock,
Ye feel the mighty pressure of God's hand ;
In doubt and abject terror, then ye quail.
Feel ye not now the weight of Heaven's wrath
Upon you? Look about you here: the city
Desolated, see ! Your golden grain
Is trampled down by savage alien hordes.
Ail order is undone, for none command,
And none obey. Murder and rapine bold
Stalk now through the once peaceful domiciles.
Pale fear and horror leaving in their wake.
From Heaven nor from the earth, no mercy comes.
So ye cannot, with lust's intoxicant,
E'er frown this call, which penetrates the depths
Profound of hearts, which to more lofty aims
Doth vainly spur them. Is it then not true,
Voluptuousness bringeth no content,
But loathing waketh in the breast? And now,
Ye look about you, dumb and terrified,
With trembling on your lips. But all in vain!
No longer in the gods do ye believe ;
In cold and stormy death they lie, crumbling
Into dust;

(The images of the gods are seen, crumbling)

away. )
And ye have not yet found
The new God, from this ruin rising. See!
But look around ! What desolates the city
More than the plague? Thousands, from couches soft
Uprising, people the desert land of Thebes;
A nation of rude anchorites, who seek
To waken blunted sensibilities,
And elevate them. So this bastard race
Must perish, to clear and purify the land
For the new world, which now must take its place.

HIPPIA.
(Having fallen down in front of the table.)
O! Woe is me! How terrible the pain!
Cold sweat and fires of Orcus, alternating.
The plague! the plague! I perish. Is there none
Among you, who so long shared my delights,
Not one, to tend me now?

LUCIFER.
To-day, 'tis thou,
To-inorrow, I, my sweet.

HIPPIA.
Then kill me, else
My curse will follow thee.

THE APOSTLE PETER (Approaching her.)
Curse not, poor maid.
Almighty God and I come to thine aid;
He is the everlasting God of love!
I raise thee now to His high realm above ;
With holy water now I cleanse thy soul,
And thee 'mong his own faithful flock enroll.

(Takes a bowl from the table and christens her.)

HIPPIA.
'Tis well with me, my Father! now I rest.
(Dies.)
CATULUS.

Unto the desert Thebes to-day I'll flee;
For I this loathsome, sinful world detest.
CLUVIA.
Wait, Catulus, for I would go with thee!

(They depart.)
ADAM.

(Advances, lost in thought.)
And Julia, what dost thou do here, where death
Has killed all joy with its most cruel breath?

EVE.
Is not my place where thou my lover art?
Ah, me; thou could'st have found within my heart
The evidence of sentiments sublime,
If lust had not e'er been thine object prime.

ADAM.
Too true; the more the pity, that 'tis true,
That woe and misery must be our due ;
For sin to suffer untold agony.

(Kneels and raises his hand to heaven.)

Oh! if above a mighty God there be;
If o'er us be his care and might, to earth
New races and ideals bring, the worth
Of man increase; be nobler aims begun.
We are but weak ; help us, God, mighty one !

(In the sky, the sign of the cross is visible; from behind the mountains is seen the glow of burning cities. From the mountain tops come barbarous people. From the distance sounds a pious hymn.)

LUCIFER (Soliloquizing.)
This scene doth make me shudder somewhat, though
With man, I do not need to strive ; for that
Which I cannot, he doeth in my stead.
This juggling I have seen before. When slow
The halo fades away, there still remains —
The bloody cross!

THE APOSTLE PETER.
The Lord hath heard thy prayer.
Look all around thee here ; the mouldy earth
Will be reborn. These barb'rous warriors
In bearskin clad, thy fairest cities fire,
Their steeds down trampling fields of centuries,
Deserted temples into stalls converting.
Fresh blood they'll pour into th' impoverished veins;
And those who in the circus hymns entune,
Bleeding and torn, by ravenous lions' claws,
Will sow ideas new, fraternity
And individuality, to shake
The world's foundations.

ADAM.
I feel, I feel, the soul
Hath other yearnings, than for slothful joys,
Upon the pillow's swelling softness. Joy
More satisfying comes of shedding blood
For noble purposes.

THE APOSTLE PETER.
Then let this be

Thine aim ; glory for God, and work for thee,
For personality is free, and all
Which therein is, may to account be brought,
But joined to one command, and that is love.

ADAM.
Then up to battle, and to inspiration
For the new principles, the world anew
Creating, whose blossom shall be chivalry ;
The poetry, which at the altar's side
Shall bloom — ideal high of womanhood.

(He departs, supported by Peter.)

LUCIFER.
Impossible is that which lureth thee,
Though manly and though glorious it be !
It pleases God, it leads toward his care;
The devil laughs, it drives thee to despair!

(Follows Adam.)