Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Scene from Act V

Kleopatra enters Althaea's sitting room.  She is obviously upset.
Kleopatra: Oh, mother! I cannot believe my eyes!
                  Your son, my husband, has slain his kin.
                  Your brother lies dead, and my brother lies dead!
                  To live to see the day when such a thing
                  My mother I know not how to face him.
                  How can I live, my daughter live
                  With such a monster, our lord, her father
                  Who willingly did slay for love of she
                  The wild, unwomanly Atalanta
Althaea( aside): No! It cannot be true! What lies are these?
              And yet, I felt that some dark cloud loomed near
              It seemed to me the howling wind brought woe
              Alas! My brother, my baby, kin-killed
              Meleager you are no more called my son
Althaea (to Kleopatra): daughter, fetch Europinditis hither
              I must have speech with my son's favored servant.
Kleopatra: Mother, I go.
Exit Kleopatra
Althaea: My heart has died, my hatred overflowing.
              Oh Fates, you once foretold my son's end.
              Well, now, I pray that I may have the strength
              To bring the prophecy to pass, and use
              My son;s most loyal friend to seal his doom.
              May the gods forgive my traitorous act!
A moment of silence, while Althaea steels herself
Enter Euriponditis

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