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(Aria)
POLYAENOS: With this blade the worthless part I would have lopped;
But three times from my trembling hand the razor dropped.
Now, what I would have done, I cannot do;
For, cold as ice, the shuddering thing withdrew,
And shrank behind a wrinkled canopy,
Hiding its head from my revenge and me.
(he creeps into bed)
So by its fear I'm foiled in my attempt,
And in mere mouthing words forced to vent
My anger upon it.
(He raises himself on his elbow, looking down on his part with disgust.),
What have you to say for yourself, abomination of gods and men?
Your very name must not be mentioned by those with any self-respect.
Did I deserve from you such treatment --
To be dragged down from heaven's ecstacy to hell's torments,
To have the prime of my life poisoned and reduced to the imbecility
of old age?
Give me, damn you, give me -- give me proof that you are yet good for
something!
(Enter Giton.)
GITON: I heard you were ill, darling.
POLYAENOS: I've merely gone to bed to get some rest.
GITON: I have noticed for a long time now that you must be pissing
away your energy somewhere else.
POLYAENOS: No! no! honey, my feelings for you remain the same;
But reason now wins out over lechery and love.
GITON: Well! thank you, thank you for the Socratic innocence
of your passion.
POLYAENOS: I tell you, 'little brother', I have lost all sense
of my manhood.
That part of me that once made me a very Achilles is now dead and buried!
(Arietta)
GITON: You're really down, lover. I should go. And
quite frankly, I don't want to be seen alone with you. Rumours of your
little adventures have already caused a minor scandel around here.
In that regard, you can count me out!
POLYAENOS: Giton!
(Exit Giton in a huff.)
(He is hardly gone when Chrysis's voice is heard from off-stage.)
CHRYSIS: Polyaenos!
POLYAENOS: (calling out toward the doorway) Yes, Giton.
I can explain......
(Enter Chrysis.)
POLYAENOS: Oh, it's you. Hello, Chrysis.
CHRYSIS: I have brought you a letter from my mistress.
(hands him the letter)
POLYAENOS: Really? After my less-than-rousing performance?
(does not look at the letter)
CHRYSIS: Well? are you going to read it? (pauses)
Oh, excuse me, for a moment I forgot your position. (takes the letter
from him) I'll read it.
POLYAENOS: (sarcastically) I'm impressed.
CHRYSIS: "Dear Polyaenos: If I were nothing but a coquet,
I would complain bitterly of my disappointment. Instead I am positively
thankful for your impotence; for I was allowed to enjoy dallying with pleasure
longer than is usual with your sex."
POLYAENOS: What else does it say?
(Aria and Duet)
(CIRCE puts down the letter)
CHRYSIS: She has no fear but she can find another lover to satisfy
her a little. Her mirror and her reputation tell her this is honestly true.
These predicaments are common enough. So don't be afraid, everything
is gonna be alright. For to tell you the honest truth.....
This is honestly true.....
From the moment you let her down, she has not been her own woman.
POLYAENOS: I admit, Chrysis, I've often done wrong. But
never before this day have I committed a mortal sin.
CHRYSIS: Now, let me help you. There's a little old woman
waiting outside who may be of some assistance. Here she comes presently.
(Enter OLD WOMAN.)
OLD WOMAN: How now, Sir Squeamish? Do you feel yourself
in better fettle? Hee hee hee hee hee!
POLYAENOS: (to himself) Good gods!
(Aria)
OLD WOMAN: A hank of plaited yarns of different colors, to tie
around the neck. Then dust and spittle puddled together, (she dips her
middle finder in the mess, disregarding his repugnance), to mark the forehead
with.
Never despair! Priapus I invoke, To help the parts that make his altars
smoke.
OLD WOMAN: Spit out thrice.
(she unwraps 3 pebbles from a purple bag after making a
sign over them, and hands them to him)
Thrice toss pebbles into your bosom
(Then putting her hands to his privates)
Now let me see what we have here. Hee hee hee hee hee.....
(Trio)
POLYAENOS: Oh ho! my nerves have obeyed your command.
Bravo! old woman.
OLD WOMAN: Look, Chrysis, look, how I've started the hare for
other folk to course. Hee hee hee hee hee!
CHRYSIS: Oh! marvelous! My lady's jewels are recovered!
(the Old Woman turns Polyaenos round to show Chrysis his erection.)
(Exit Old Woman.)
CHRYSIS: (calling out) Circe! quickly! come
in! come in!
(Enter Circe, eventually sitting down on his pallet.)
(Exit Chrysis.)
(Aria)
POLYAENOS: This criminal readily admits his crime, and deserves
any penalty you prescribe. Remember one thing only, it was not myself,
but my tools that failed me.
The soldier was ready but he had no arms.
But, believe me, Circe:
I will satisfy you yet, if only you will give me just one more chance.
CIRCE: Sit down by my side. (He does so.)
How goes it, paralytic? (she laughs) are you quite recovered
already?
POLYAENOS: Why ask me, instead of making trial?
(He throws himself bodily into her arms, and takes his fill of good,
healthy, unbewitched kisses).
(Duet)
CIRCE and POLYAENOS: Your loveliness draws me irresistibly to
you.
Our bodies join in mutual embraces
Till our very souls seem fused in one.
CIRCE: (swooning) Oh! Polyaenos.
POLYAENOS: Circe!
CIRCE: (ecstatically) Polyaenos!
POLYAENOS: Circe!!
CIRCE: (angrily) Polyaenos!!
CIRCE: Again you dare fail to rise to the supreme height of our
ecstacy?
POLYAENOS: Dear gods! my nerves have failed me again.
(Aria and Finale)
CIRCE: Lashed to fury by two such dire affronts, I want vengeance!
(calling out loud toward outside)
Chamberlains, give him a good beating.
(ordering to Chrysis)
Chrysis, call together all the lowest dregs of the house.
(the Chamberlains give him a sound thumping. soon enter wenches
and drudges.)
Lashed to fury by two such dire affronts, I seek vengeance!
I order you to spit at him!
Drive him from the room in a hurricane of blows and spittle!
(He Claps his hands to his eyes. They begin to beat on him.)
POLYAENOS: I know I deserve it all!
(He flees from the room, driven forth under a hurricane of blows and
spittle.)
(End of Act II)
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