The Mortal Gods; And Other Plays (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ...both With the same kiss, --the berry and the stone. Fastens cluster to her bosom "Heaven should have its sun." This sun will fade, But that I threw away had ne'er lost hue So near my heart, giving and taking fire. Something thrown from the bushes falls at her feet. She gazes at it, not taking it up A11 Biades' jewel Who..... Looks about guardedly Biades comes from the woods. He is dressed as a Helot in a scant tunic of goat-skin, and wears a large cap Pyrr. Whose slave are you, Bold Helot? Bia. Kneeling Thine Takes of cap, revealing his quantity of dark curls Pyrr. Are you in love with death, That you have come to Sparta? Bia. Nay, I come A banished man. Pyrr. I've heard how you were plucked. Bia. No feather left. Pyrr. Life, sir, is yours, and you Cast it away in Lacedsemon. Bia. Nay, --Pyrr. You whose dark outrage made her honor bleed, Think on her burning wound to set the foot Of impudence and live? Bia. I know the Spartans. They will exalt my courage above death. Pyrr. Courage that reckons so bates its own worth Till a coward might disport it. You will meet Death's mercy but no other. Bia. No, the virtue Dearest in them they'll hold dear in myself. But if not so, --blow out your candle, Fate, I'll go to bed. Pyrr. Why not have fled to Persia? She's softer mannered, --has no aching pride Your death would poultice. Bia. Pyrrha lives in Sparta. Howe'er I set my feet, love turned them here. Which way I bent some tinged thought of thee Crept as a secret sun to every sense And made the hidden threads of being blush Like coral boughs when Aphrodite's foot Is on the wave. Pyrr. Athenian, what canst hope From Stesilaus' daughter? Bia. I ask naught. But had a gem of..."