Algernon Blackwood

“ Phocion
The love of Athens is ours. It is the love of country that the Gods call sacred. (Looks out across the fading city.) Hellas, your valleys and mountains, streams and happy groves ... beautiful, beloved ... who would not die for you...!
Lydia
I love you. If you live for me, you live for Hellas even more. Athens lives in our hearts, not otherwise.
[92]
Phocion
(Sternly.) If a barbarian rule our dear city, our hearts are dead. It is better for my heart to mingle with the soil of Hellas than beat as the slave of Alexander. ”

“ Phocion
Less free. Liberty is the breath of life.
[90]
Lydia
What is my liberty if I lose you? Your voice, your touch, your living presence here beside me (embraces him) —I want you alive and loving——
Phocion
Our love has grown with Athens. On the green Cephissian banks we first discovered it, and that evening on Hymettus when the honey—ah, I see it in your eyes, dear heart—you remember even as I remember. If Athens live——
Lydia
But if you die! If Alexander crush you, kill you! Oh, my Phocion, this struggle against the conqueror is vain. You tempt the Gods. ”

“ Turns and gazes at the great Temple of Aton whose white columns still gleam in the golden after-glow some distance across the desert.
Rames
(Moving closer, with hand on his shoulder.) Egypt, our great land, now witnesses the climax of her splendour. A change, which is divine, steals over her. It is no longer the mere disc of the sun we worship; it is the power behind. ”

“ Lucia
Would that I had a whole casket of both kinds, my Paulo! Of one kind I would sell all. You should have a studio with north light, the best paints that can be bought, the choicest hangings, the fairest models, and—and, oh, everything these others possess [151] who have not risked all for Love and brought a wife from Florence—— (Voice breaks and stops.)
Paulo
Hush, hush, Little Child! You have given all you had—and that is everything. My art, if it is inspired as we dream, is stronger than circumstances, and will conquer. And I have liberty—love, beauty, liberty! ”

“ Tell me, Little Child. You feel—? Why, I declare, you tremble.
Lucia
(Very low.) One thing, I fear, one thing alone! The golden bloom, the warmth, the joyous laughter and the richness all Venetians love. It will be judged with the work of—of others whom plenty and comfort and—and all that help which money can provide——
Paulo
Men who feed from their patron’s hands like obedient lap-dogs——
Lucia
Madonna, help me! They have never to calculate if their blue paint can last till the sky is finished. (Impetuously.) Why, in Florence, the Medici gives his painters——
Paulo
That name again! ”

“ Lydia
Who can stand against him, then? Who is there can oppose this conqueror of the Persians?
Phocion
Every Athenian—every Greek who loves our city more than he fears the Macedonian.
Lydia
All Athens, then!
Phocion
All the best in Athens.
[Lydia looks nervously over her shoulder towards the city and Acropolis. [88] The dusk deepens. The first star shows.
Lydia
(Shudders.) Your speech is often mysterious like this now—dark with meaning. Each night as twilight gathers from the sea about our city, there are footsteps on the causeway that make me tremble. ”

“ Phocion is alone with Lydia. There is a moment’s silence.
Phocion
(Brokenly.) Athens! I have failed you! My life is broken in pieces.
[Hides face in hands.
Lydia
But I meant to save you, Phocion. My love would save you. Have I done wrong? Oh, tell me.
Phocion
(Low.) You have done—your—best. No one—no woman—can do more.
Lydia
I could not face life without you. I could not see you die. My love made the desperate [122] plan. I bargained with Alexander’s queen—life with honour and glory for you in Egypt, the land you love. Oh, Phocion, beloved, do not judge me hardly. You do not speak. ”

“ Little Child, I understand. I know your feelings. Athens herself is on edge these days—and little wonder.
Lydia
Phocion, let me tell you honestly—I am afraid.
Phocion
Anxious, perhaps, but not afraid. The mood of our beloved city takes you with it, as it takes us all. We all are patriots to-day. But the wife of Phocion has proved herself no coward.
Lydia
(Low voice.) Alexander is so powerful. Some say the Macedonian is a God.
Phocion
Pshaw! In his own land, perhaps. But Athens has her own Gods. He is a conqueror, yes; but a conqueror can only take a city, not the souls who dwell in it. ”

“ Paulo
(Grandly.) Except my inspiration—and my liberty. Think what that means. My work is done in freedom, and must surpass their best since it is bought of luxury. (Earnest and contemptuous.) What artist, no matter his genius, that can see truth while a patron jogs his brush, bidding him do this and that, set here a touch of gold and there of scarlet, put here a flower, a bird, and there a—a (explodes) —a sprat—! Why not? It is the soul alone that sees truth, and such men have sold their souls. They will be paid accordingly. ”

“ Your eyes seem strange to me to-night: they look far away into space. Your voice sounds distant like the desert jackal’s cry. (She puts a hand on his and looks searchingly into his eyes.) Yet you call me Little Child, as of old, when we met here every evening in the dusk ... to play and talk and dream together ... of the future. Menophis (taking his other hand and drawing her body closer to him) , will you not tell me—your Little Child—this sacred night when the Tear of Isis bids our river rise—tell me what wonderful new dream has crept into this faithful heart? ”

“ But poverty is not helpful to your work, and I must—as patron of unreasonable genius—protect your art and yourself. I offer, therefore, the best help in my power. If you accept—then I need take nothing (glancing at Lucia) from your store of beauty.
Paulo
Dios! This cruelty—this treachery!
[180]
Lucia
No, no, no. Paulo, do not think of me——
Paulo
It is too late. (To Medici, with effort.) Your vile scheme means this, then: that I submit my art to your paid dictation, become your creature, or you will— (struggles violently) . Let me free! (to Men) . This bastard is not fit to live. ”

“ Paulo
Who bought it, Lucia? Your head to the right a little—so.
Lucia
A great Prince, a stranger to Venice, they said, who has bought the Cavaliere Palazzo on the Grand Canal. Gossip is full of it. He has sworn to make it more beautiful than Cosimo Medici’s in Florence——
Paulo
That odious name again! (Smiling.) It haunts you, Little Child! (She starts.) Don’t move! don’t move! The pose is perfect.
[158]
Lucia
Haunts the gossip of the town, rather—for which you asked me, Signor! The ceilings are to be painted with classical scenes alone—the loves of Apollo, and Athena’s triumph. ”

“ Medici
(Shrugging.) You have chosen the one spell that moves me. Even more strong than the love of a fair woman is my love of art—its wonder, its beauty, and its triumph. His picture will outlive even your [141] loveliness. (Sighs.) My name and my great palace will remind a later world of me, and of what I did for beauty. Well, well, my Lady Lucia, you win me over—for the moment, at any rate. I will stand behind this screen and listen. I must hear how you persuade genius to abjure its principles! ”

“ You’re wholly mine—and yet I want your forgiveness somehow——
[18]
Phillip
(Deep patience.) All the love and forgiveness in the world I give you, Little Child. But you ask for what was always yours.
Mrs. Lattin
Your broken mission. You alone have the strength and patience Egypt needs. I have ruined all, all, all!
Phillip
There! I forgive you, then. (Kisses her.) I forgive you all, all, all. But please calm yourself. This excitement does you harm. You torment yourself for nothing. It is I who have been, and am, the egoist. All men who think their work is a mission are shameless egoists. ”

“ Paulo
So it was he who bought the Eros too? (To himself.) This is an evil omen. (To her.) I thought us safe in Venice.
Lucia
You are so calm, so quiet. You terrify. I would fear your anger less. Oh, my great Paulo, my dear, listen to me one moment. This family—this man—vile though he be—loves art and beauty, and in so far is not—Oh, I mean—oh, Paulo, it is his ceilings, his palace, his help to your career that have [167] betrayed me! You could bring Greece to life in Venice—and for ever. Think not of him. Think only of your beauty—lighting the world when he is dust——
Paulo
(Quietly.) ”

“ Lydia
Lysander chides me that I accept kindness from the queen of Athens’ conqueror.
Phocion
I see no harm in that, and possibly much good. Your love will ever guide you. Farewell, now, for a little while. And happiness go with you!
Lydia
I leave you. It is your friends who come to you at twilight now so often. The Fates protect you, my Phocion! (Whispers to Lysander as she goes.) Oh, save him, [107] Lysander! Save him from himself—for me, his wife! ”

“ Phocion
What comes, sweet wife, comes to both of us together. You are overwrought with sleeplessness and watching. Trust me and love me—more I cannot tell you now. Your love shall give me strength. (He embraces her and moves slowly off towards the colonnade.) And if there is a greater love than yours, some day we shall find it—know it both together. What comes to me to do now—I must do.
[Goes slowly off.
Lydia
(At him.) A greater love! Ah, Phocion—you’re going from me—going towards death. I know not what you mean. There [94] is no greater love. (Watches him disappear.) ”

“ Competition, by rights. Yet Vernio’s is just a shade more rich, more splendid. I have seen it. And Gagliano has a purer colour. But then, of course, Gagliano buys his paint from that fellow by the Zucca who has a secret method—and charges accordingly, the scoundrel!
Paulo
(Unable to contain himself longer.) I paint as I desire, and as I can. The picture is mine. And not for sale!
Medici
(Kindly.) I admire your spirit, Signor. It has the independence of ancient Greece herself. Yet at what price? You may be satisfied with yourself, but your art thereby suffers. ”

“ Lydia overhears their talk.
Lysander
(With enthusiasm.) Our last meeting now, and then to action. Oh, Phocion, I feel the Gods are with us. Your daring shall save Athens, and Hellas will live—even if we die.
Phocion
We all stand or fall together. They are picked men, and heroes; no one among them thinks of self. The risk, of course, is great, [98] but it is nothing when the stake is considered.
Lysander
Everything favours us. The best troops of Alexander’s army are still in Egypt. The entire city is behind us. All Athens will rise when it sees you are our leader. ”

“ Paulo
(Passionately.) You have such darling moods. I love you. The work is ours, not mine. (Caresses her.) I understand so well. It is your love that makes you tremble for the work’s sake: the picture grows, the Competition Day comes nearer. It’s like the sea-tides rising—it affects you—I understand!
Lucia
Yes, yes. You always know. You’re always right. An inner tide seems rising in me as the time draws near. You understand my woman’s moods, and so forgive them.
[144]
Paulo
(Painting.) Picture the scene, as we used to do when scudi were very scarce. ”

“ Lucia
Two roses added to our love makes a whole garden. And one day soon you shall lack nothing the work needs. (Tenderly.) Oh, Paulo, beloved, by rights everything should be yours now. There is not a painter in Italy who comes near you. ”

“ Lucia
Oh, it must be so! Paulo, it must be so! You see?
[170]
Paulo
(Proudly.) Conditions that leave the spirit free, at least. The spirit of beauty owns no master——
Medici
The husband of such beauty should be more gracious. (Frankly.) Ah, Salviati, you speak to a Medici, indeed, but also to one who loves beauty as you yourself do. I might—had I persisted—have taken your golden bird in my own net. (Pauses.) It is my pleasure now to set you free from the hard conditions that enslave you. In this way can a Medici reward good for evil. Signor, I forgive all for the sake of your genius. ”