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A Greek Slave
Dialogue Following Song No. 13 — Act I
Heliodorus: Well, Lady Antonia, are you satisfied?
Antonia: Almost. I fell that I can love now. But why does not Eros come down to me and embrace me?
Heliodorus: (Aside to Maia) I don't know. Why doesn't he come down and embrace her?
Maia: (Aside) Embrace her! Not if I know it!
(Enter Iris and Archias
)
Maia: (Aloud to Antonia) Will you take the statue back with you to your Palace? Invoke the god as we have done and make him mortal by the warmth of your love.
Iris: Yes, Lady Antonia — do — and as you are going to take the statue — I'll take the man who made him — I'll make him mortal.
Antonia: (To Heliodorus) You have shown me a glimpse of happiness — I will do as you say. I will take the status. My treasurer will pay you. Your slaves will bring the statue with me. Come my Iris.
(Iris, Archias and Antonia talk together)
(Enter Marcus unobserved by them — he goes to Heliodorus and Maia)
Marcus: Well, did she fall into the trap?
Heliodorus: Like a birdl she is madly in love with my Greek slave and is going to take hime off and marry him.
Marcus: Marry him! I don't see what good that will do me. I want to marry her myself!
Maia: But the Greek Slave is only a status of marble.
Heliodorus: (Aside, chuckling) Oh, is it?
Maia: And though she may make love to a statue, she can't marry it.
Marcus: Of course not. And how ridiculous she will look. Heliodorus, you have done well, and can count on my protection for the future.
Heliodorus: y sole desier is to satisfy the noble Prefect. (Aside) I've satisfied myself, too. No Greek slave as a husband for my daughter.
Antonia: My slaves can bring the statue with me. Come, my Eros!
Maia: (To IRIS, laughing aside) Yes, go, her Eros! I say he ought to make a good husband! He'll never contradict her!
(Enter Slaves bearing Diomed — sculptor bearers — with a sheet of cloth. They form procession and exeuent with Antonia, Iris,Archias, Diomed and Slaves. Iris dancing off with Archias at tail of Antonia. Diomed turns round in mute wonderment as he is being borne in a way to show the audience that he is alive — Too close to the curtain, Maia does not see him.)
Page created 10 November 2001 |
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