 
 
  A room in the women’s apartments of the palace.
  Andromeda, Diomede, Praxilla.ANDROMEDA
  My brother lives then?PRAXILLA
  Thanks to Tyre, it seems.DIOMEDE
  Thanks to the wolf who means to eat him later.PRAXILLA
  You’ll lose your tongue some morning; rule it girl.DIOMEDE
  These kings, these politicians, these high masters!
  These wise blind men! We slaves have eyes at least
  To look beyond transparency.PRAXILLA
  Because
  We stand outside the heated game unmoved
  By interests, fears and passions.ANDROMEDA
  He is a wolf, for I have seen him teeth.PRAXILLA
  Yet must you marry him, my little princess.ANDROMEDA
 What, to be torn in pieces by the teeth.PRAXILLA
  Yet must you marry him, my little princess.ANDROMEDA
  What, to be torn in pieces by the teeth?DIOMEDE
  I think the gods will not allow this marriage.ANDROMEDA
  I know not what the gods may do: be sure,
  I’ll not allow it.PRAXILLA
  Fie, Andromeda!
  You must obey your parents: ’tis not right,
  This wilfulness. Why, you’re a child! You think
  You can oppose the will of mighty monarchs?
  Be good; obey your father.ANDROMEDA
  Yes, Praxilla?
  And if my father bade me take a knife
  And cut my face and limbs and stab my eyes,
  Must I do that?PRAXILLA
  Where are you with your wild fancies?
  Your father would not bid you do such things.ANDROMEDA
  Because they’d hurt me?PRAXILLA
  Yes.ANDROMEDA
  It hurts me more
  To marry Phineus.
 
  PRAXILLA
  O you sly logic-splitter!
  You dialectitian, you sunny-curled small sophist
  Chop logic with your father. I’m tired of you.Cepheus enters.
ANDROMEDA
  Father, I have been waiting for you.CEPHEUS
  What! you?
  I’ll not believe it. You? (caressing her) My rosy Syrian!
  My five-foot lady! My small queen of Tyre!
  Yes, you are tired of playing with the ball.
  You wait for me!ANDROMEDA
  I was waiting. Here are
  Two kisses for you.CEPHEUS
  Oh, now I understand.
  You dancing rogue, you’re not so free with kisses:
  I have to pay for them, small cormorant.
  What is it now? a talking Tyrian doll?
  Or a strong wooden horse with silken wings
  To fly up to the gold rims of the moon?ANDROMEDA
  I will not kiss you if you talk like that.
  I am a woman now. As if I wanted
  Such nonsense, father!CEPHEUS
  Oh, you’re a woman now?
  Then ’tis a robe from Cos, sandals fur-lined
  Or belt all silver. Young diplomatist,
  I know you. You keep these ripplings showers of gold
  Upon your head to buy your wishes with.
  Therefore you packed your small red lips with honey.
  Well, usurer, what’s the price you want?ANDROMEDA
  I want, –
  But, father, will you give me what I want?CEPHEUS
  I’ld give you the bright sun from heaven for plaything
  To make you happy, girl Andromeda.ANDROMEDA
  I want the Babulonians who were wrecked
  In the great ship today, to be my slaves,
  Father.CEPHEUS
  Was ever such a perverse witch?
  To ask the only thing I cannot give!ANDROMEDA
  Can I not have them, father?CEPHEUS
  They are Poseidon’s.ANDROMEDA
  Oh then you love Poseidon more than me!
  Why should he have them!CEPHEUS
  Fie, child! The mighty gods
  Are masters of the earth and sea and heavens,
  And all that is, is theirs. We are their stewards.
  But what is once restored into their hands
  Is thenceforth holy: he who even gazes
  With greedy eye upon divine possessions,
  Is guilty in Heaven’s sight and may awake
  A dreadful wrath. These men Andromeda
  Must bleed upon the altar of the God.
  Speak not of them again: they are devoted.ANDROMEDA
  Is he a god who eats the flesh of men?PRAXILLA
  O hush, blasphemer!
 
  ANDROMEDA
  Father, give command,
  To have Praxilla here boiled for my breakfast.
  I’ll be a goddess too.CEPHEUS
  Praxilla!PRAXILLA
  ‘Tis thus
  She talks. Oh but it gives me a shivering fever
  Somietimes to hear her.CEPHEUS
  What mean you, dread gods?
  Purpose you then the ruin of my house
  Preparing in my children the offences
  That must excuse your wrath? Andromeda,
  My little daughter, speak not like this again
  I charge you, no, nor think it. The mighty gods
  Dwell far above the laws that govern men
  And are not to be mapped by mortal judgements,
  It is Poseidon’s will these men should die
  Upon his altar. ‘Tis not to be questioned.ANDROMEDA
  It shall be questioned. Let your God go hungry.CEPHEUS
  I am amazed! Did you not hear me, child?
  On the third day from now these men shall die.
  The same high evening ties you fast with nuptials
  To Phineus, who shall take you home to Tyre.
  (aside)
  On Tyre let the wrath fall, if it must come.ANDROMEDA
  Father, you’ll understand this once for all, -
  I will not let the Babylonians die,
  I will not marry Phineus.CEPHEUS
  Oh, you will not?
  Here is a queen, of Tyre and all the world;
  How mutinous – majestically this smallness
  Divulges her decrees, making the most
  Of her five feet of gold and cream and roses!
  And why will you not marry Phineus, rebel?ANDROMEDA
  He does not please me.CEPHEUS
  School your likings, rebel.
  It is most needful Syria mate with Tyre.
  And you are Syria.ANDROMEDA
  Why, father, if you gave me a toy, you’ld ask
  What toy I like! If you gave me a robe
  Or vase, you would consult my taste in these!
  Must I marry any cold-eyed crafty husband
  I do not like?CEPHEUS
  You do not like! You do not like!
  Thou silly child, must the high policy
  Of Princes then be governed by thy likings?
  ‘Tis policy, ’tis kingly policy
  That made this needful marriage, and it shall not
  For your spoilt childish likings be unmade.
  What, you look sullen? What, you frown, virago?
  Look, if you mutiny, I’ll have you whipped.ANDROMEDA
  You would not dare.CEPHEUS
  Not dare!ANDROMEDA
  Of course you would not.
  As if I were afraid of you!CEPHEUS
  You are spoiled,
  You are spoiled! Your mother spoils you, you wilful sunbeam.
  Come, you provoking minx, you’ll marry Phineus?ANDROMEDA
  I will not, father. If I must marry, then
  I’ll marry my bright sungod! and none else
  In the wide world.CEPHEUS
  Your sungod! Is that all?
  Shall I not send an envoy to Olympus
  And call the Thunderer here to marry you?
  You’re not ambitions?PRAXILLA
  It is not that she means;
  She speaks of the bright youth her brother rescued.
  Since she has heard of him, no meaner talk
  Is on her lips.CEPHEUS
  Who is this radiant coxcomb?
  Whence did he come to se my Syria in a whirl?
  For him my son’s in peril of his life,
  For him my daughter will not marry Tyre.
  Oh, Polydaon’s right. He must be killed
  Before he does more mischief. Andromeda,
  On the third day you marry Tyrian Phineus.
  He goes out hurriedly.DIOMEDE
  That was a valiant shot timed to a most diascret-departure.
  Parthian tactics are best when we deal with mutinous daughters.PRAXILLA
  Andromeda, you will obey your father?ANDROMEDA
  You are not in my counsels. You’re too faithful.
  Virtuous and wise, and virtuously you would
  Betray me. There is a thing full-grown in me
  That you shall only know by the result.
  Diomede, come; for I need help not counsel.
  She goes.PRAXILLA
  What means she now! Her whims are as endless as the tossing of leaves in a wind. But you will find out and tell me, Diomede.DIOMEDE
  I will find out certainly, but as to telling, that is as it shall please me-and my little mistress.PRAXILLA
  You shall be whipped.DIOMEDE
  Pish!She runs out.
PRAXILLA
  The child is spoiled herself and she spoils her servants. There is no managing any of them.She goes out.