Household Gods

 
Like a deer from the brake; her silver splendour darts
Through the crisp air to the grove upon the isle…
Do you see her? Do you see her?
 
 
CRASSUS.
Monstrous! Vile!
These eyes betray me.
 
 
ALICIA.
No! your Adela lies
With arms thrown back, head tilted, open thighs.
Her lips flame out like poppies in the dusk.
The breeze brings back to us a scent of musk.
Her mouth is oozing kisses!
 

CRASSUS.

Filthy harlot!

 
ALICIA.
I never fed on a superber scarlet.
And look! the wonder of plumes that foams upon
Her tidal breast – oh, but a swan! a swan!
A swan snow-white with his sole scarlet hidden
In the abode forbidden!
 
 
O but his eye swoons as his broad beak slips
Within her luscious lips.
O but – I cannot see – I long to die
Alike for wonder – and for jealousy!
 

CRASSUS.

Vile, filthy whore! I'll catch you at it.

 
ALICIA.
Soft!
See how his feathers hold her soul aloft!
 

CRASSUS. Beast! Have you brought me through the wood for this?

ALICIA.

Now wonder I must teach you how to kiss.

CRASSUS.

I'll clip his wings.

 
ALICIA.
Sub pennis, penis! 'Slife!
It's not the wings of him that clip your wife.
 

CRASSUS.

Thou art as filthy a creature as she!

 
ALICIA.
Fat fool!
All your emotions vary with your -
 

CRASSUS.

What?

ALICIA.

Your state of health.

CRASSUS.

Be off with you, foul —

ALICIA.

Well?

 
CRASSUS.
I'll swim and stab them. The black mouth of hell
Yawns for their murder.
 
 
ALICIA.
I'll be at the death.
Dive then, but softly. Scarcely draw your breath.
 

CRASSUS.

O, she's unwary!

ALICIA.

Is your love forgotten?

CRASSUS.

All love is rotten.

ALICIA.

But your pure love for me you boasted of?

CRASSUS.

Ay, that was perfect love.

ALICIA.

You love me then, not her?

CRASSUS.

Indeed I do.

ALICIA.

Swear me the oath anew!

CRASSUS.

I swear to love you till the world shall end.

ALICIA.

Then, Crassus, I will always be your friend.

CRASSUS.

Ah, that is good! You do not mock me now!

 
ALICIA.
Creep softly to the land. Kiss but my brow.
My curls are wet… No, never touch me there!
 

CRASSUS.

Why? Have I not?

ALICIA.

You have not.

CRASSUS.

Just my hand.

 
ALICIA.
You disobey your mistress's command?
The time is near when you shall see
The keyhole of my comedy!
 

CRASSUS.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

 
ALICIA.
Hush, you coarse slave; we'll surprise
Your good wife in her mystic exercise.
Quick, through the bramble!
 

[They burst through upon ADELA.]

 
CRASSUS.
Now, you beast, I've got you!
The curst of God, and plague of Naples, rot you!
For this white brute – one slit!
 

[He cuts the throat of THE SWAN with his dagger.]

 
ADELA.
Oh love betrayed!
O my dead beauty! Faugh! deceitful maid.
Not Crassus found me out. Had I the wings
Of my dead love – oh love! -
 

ALICIA.

Why, wondrous things!

ADELA.

These nails shall serve. A servant!

 
CRASSUS.
She shall be
My wife, damned witch, when I have done with thee!
 

[THE SWAN dies.]

ADELA.

I'll kill her now. But see! my swan is dead.

 
ALICIA.
Yes! and what light is breaking overhead?
What blaze of blue and gold envelops us?
 

CRASSUS.

O marvel! O miraculous!

 
ADELA.
What is it? Why, my lover's life, in me
Once concentrated, now diffused, illumes
The endless reaches of eternity
With infinite brilliance, with intense perfumes.
 

ALICIA.

O then your lover was some god's disguise.

ADELA.

And you have robbed me. Now beware your eyes!

[She springs at ALICIA, who guards herself easily. But in the struggle her robe tears.]

ALICIA.

Take care!

ADELA.

A boy!

CRASSUS.

A boy! Then what am I?

 
ALICIA.
That is the key-word of the comedy.
You thought you had two vices at your need;
But she had Jove and you had Ganymede.
 

[They are struck dumb and still with amazement. ALICIA claps her hands four times.]

 
Sweep through the air, bright blaze of eagle-wings!
Crassus, sub pennis, penis! How he swings
His bulk from yonder sightless poise, to bear
me back to the Dominion of the air
Where I shall bear the cup of Jupiter!
Blind babes, love one another, no less true
Because the gods have deigned to dwell with you!
 

[The eagle bears GANYMEDE aloft.]

 
CRASSUS.
Adela! these mysteries too great
For you and me to estimate.
But, widowed both, come, seek domestic charms
As we were wont, in one another's arms!
What perfect moss for you to lie upon!