FullReads

SEMELE.
The frightful ox-eyed one! How often he
Complains, in the blest moments of our love,
Of her tormenting him with her black gall–

JUNO. (Aside, furiously, but with embarrassment.)
Ha! creature! Thou shalt die for this contempt!

SEMELE.
My Beroe! What art thou murmuring there?

JUNO. (In confusion.)
Nothing, my Semele! Black gall torments
Me also–Yes! a sharp, reproachful look
With lovers often passes as black gall–
Yet ox-eyes, after all, are not so ugly.

SEMELE.
Oh, Beroe, for shame! they’re quite the worst
That any head can possibly contain!
And then her cheeks of green and yellow hues,
The obvious penalty of poisonous envy–
Zeus oft complains to me that that same shrew
Each night torments him with her nauseous love,
And with her jealous whims,–enough, I’m sure,
Into Ixion’s wheel to turn all heaven.

JUNO. (Raving up and down in extreme confusion.)
No more of this!

SEMELE. What, Beroe! So angry?
Have I said more than what is true? Said more
Than what is wise?

JUNO. Thou hast said more, young woman,
Than what is true–said more than what is wise!
Deem thyself truly blest, if thy blue eyes
Smile thee not into Charon’s bark too soon!
Saturnia has her altars and her temples,
And wanders amongst mortals–that great goddess
Avenges naught so bitterly as scorn

SEMELE.
Here let her wander, and give birth to scorn!
What is’t to me?–My Jupiter protects
My every hair,–what harm can Juno do?
But now, enough of this, my Beroe!
Zeus must appear to-day in all his glory;
And if Saturnia should on that account
Find out the path to Orcus–

JUNO. (Aside.) That same path
Another probably will find before her,
If but Kronion’s lightning hits the mark!–
(To Semele.)
Yes, Semele, she well may burst with envy
When Cadmus’ daughter, in the sight of Greece,
Ascends in triumph to Olympus’ heights!–

SEMELE. (Smiling gently.)
Thinkest thou they’ll hear in Greece of Cadmus’ daughter?

JUNO. From Sidon to Athens the trumpet of fame
Shall ring with no other but Semele’s name!
The gods from the heavens shall even descend,
And before thee their knees in deep homage shall bend,
While mortals in silent submission abide
The will of the giant-destroyer’s loved bride;
And when distant years shall see
Thy last hour–

SEMELE. (Springing up, and falling on her neck.)
Oh, Beroe!

JUNO. Then a tablet white shall bear
This inscription graven there:
Here is worshipped Semele!
Who on earth so fair as she?
She who from Olympus’ throne
Lured the thunder-hurler down!
She who, with her kisses sweet,
Laid him prostrate at her feet!
And when fame on her thousand wings bears it around,
The echo from valley and hill shall resound.

SEMELE. (Beside herself.)
Pythia! Apollo! Hear!
When, oh when will he appear?

JUNO. And on smoking altars they
Rites divine to thee shall pay–

SEMELE. (Inspired.)
I will harken to their prayer,
And will drive away their care,–
Quench with my tears the lightning of great Jove,
His breast to pity with entreaty move!

JUNO. (Aside.)
Poor thing! that wilt thou ne’er have power to do. (Meditating.)
Ere long will melt . . . yet–yet–she called me ugly!–
No pity only when in Tartarus!
(To Semele.)
Fly now, my love! Make haste to leave this spot,
That Zeus may not observe thee–Let him wait
Long for thy coming, that he with more fire
May languish for thee–

SEMELE. Beroe! The heavens
Have chosen thee their mouthpiece! Happy I!
The gods from Olympus shall even descend,
And before me their knees in deep homage shall bend,
While mortals in silent submission abide–
But hold!–’tis time for me to haste away!
[Exit hurriedly.