Act II, Scene II

   
   
    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.