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A Greek Slave
Dialogue Following Song No. 27 — Act II
(After duet, enter Iris, Manlius follows)
Iris: (Aside) He's come back! Oh dear!
Antonia: Ah, Iris! I can trust you. What punishment do these people deserve?
Iris: Punishment? They don't deserve any; they must be rewarded handsomely.
Antonia: Rewarded after the trick they have played on me! Why?
Iris: Because they have taught you what all women should know and you didn't.
Antonia: What?
Iris: The secret of love. The Greek slave has melted your heart and now you know what love is.
Antonia: (Hesitating) Yes, I think I know what it is — but — (burying her head on Iris's breast) I have no one to love.
Iris: (Beckoning to Manlius, who comes forward) Oh yes, you have. A fine, noble young man who has been devoted and patient throughout all your —
Antonia: Throughout all my folly! Is this true, Manlius?
Manlius: Yes, Antonia!
Antonia: (To Diomed and Maia) Come here! (They approach) You are pardoned. (Suddenly) But oh! what a fool I shall look to Marcus!
Maia: No, he shall look the fool! Gracious Princess, I'll attend to that!
(Enter Marcus and lictors)
Marcus: Well, Antonia, I am going to give you one more chance. Will you marry the Prefect of Rome, or shall I call in all the slaves and show them how ridiculous you are?
Antonia: I can't marry you, Marcus.
Iris: Not possible! Eros wouldn't like it!
Marcus: Eros be hanged! (Kicks statue)
(Enter Saturnalia celebrants and Roman Ladies and Gentlemen and Heliodorus and Melanopis)
Marcus: Come and see the bridegroom of the great Lady Antonia! — a lump of stone shaped by the awkward hands of that slave! (indicating Archias)
Archias: Awkward! Art is wasted on a public official!
Manlius: Pardon me, Prefect, but I am the chosen bridegroom of Antonia!
Iris: Yes, he's her little bit of love.
Marcus: WHAT?
(Maia, who has been talking to Heliodorus, leads him forward)
Heliodorus: Yes, Marcus Pomponius. Urged by my occult powers, the God has descended from Olympus and taken the bodily form of Manlius of the Guards.
Marcus: (Frightened) Then you are really in league with the Gods?
Heliodorus: Yes; and I shall now proceed to turn you into a tree or a wild beast. Which shall it be?
Marcus: (On his knees) Oh no, no! I'll do anything —
Maia:
Let me intercede for him, Father!
Thus ends the pre-opening libretto on file at the New York Public Library, with only the notation (tag)
I assume that more dialog was written before opening, but all that is really required to get to the finale is something like]
Antonia: No need, for I pardon you all.
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