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Transcriber's note:

   Text printed in italics in the original version is enclosed
   by underscores (_italics_).

   A Table of Contents has been added for the reader's convenience.

   A list of changes to the text is at the end of the book.





GYCIA

by

LEWIS MORRIS

      *      *      *      *      *      *

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

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      *      *      *      *      *      *


GYCIA

A Tragedy in Five Acts

by

LEWIS MORRIS

M.A.; Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
Knight of the Redeemer of Greece, Etc., Etc.

Second Edition







London
Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., 1, Paternoster Square
1886

(The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved.)




CONTENTS

   Preface

   Dramatis Personae

   Act I
      Scene 1 Bosphorus. The King's palace.
      Scene 2 Outside the palace.

   Act II
      Scene 1 Lamachus' palace, Cherson.
      Scene 2 Outside the palace of Lamachus.
      Scene 3 A street in Cherson.
      Scene 4 The garden without the banqueting-room.

   Act III
      Scene 1 Cherson, two years after. The palace of Lamachus.
      Scene 2 The same.
      Scene 3 A room in the palace.
      Scene 4 Irene's prison.
      Scene 5 Outside the palace.

   Act IV
      Scene 1 Cherson. Irene's prison.
      Scene 2 Room in Lamachus's palace.
      Scene 3 The council chamber of the Senate of Cherson.

   Act V
      Scene 1 Lamachus's palace.
      Scene 2 The banquet hall.
      Scene 3 Outside the banquet hall.
      Scene 4 The Senate-chamber.

   Notices of the press




PREFACE.


The following Drama was written with a view to Stage representation,
and it is therefore rather as an Acting Play than as a Dramatic Poem
that it should be judged by its readers.

It follows as closely as possible the striking story recorded by
Constantine Porphyrogenitus in his work, "De Administratione
Imperii." Nor has the writer had occasion (except in the death of the
heroine) to modify the powerful historical situations and incidents
to which it is right to say his attention was first directed by his
friend the well-known scholar and critic, Mr. W. Watkiss Lloyd.

The date of the story is circa 970 A.D.




DRAMATIS PERSONAE.


_PEOPLE OF BOSPHORUS._

_The_ KING OF BOSPHORUS.

ASANDER, _Prince of Bosphorus._

LYSIMACHUS, _a statesman._

MEGACLES, _a chamberlain from the Imperial Court of Constantinople._

_Three Courtiers, accompanying Asander and accomplices in the plot._

_Soldiers, etc._


_PEOPLE OF CHERSON._

LAMACHUS, _Archon of the Republic of Cherson._

ZETHO, _his successor._

THEODORUS, _a young noble (brother to Irene), in love with Gycia._

BARDANES, _first Senator._

_Ambassador to Bosphorus._

_The Senators of Cherson._

_Two Labourers._

GYCIA, _daughter of Lamachus._

IRENE, _a lady--her friend, in love with Asander._

MELISSA, _an elderly lady in waiting on Gycia_.

_Child, daughter of the Gaoler._

_Citizens, etc._




GYCIA.




ACT I.


SCENE I.--_Bosphorus. The King's palace. The_ KING, _in anxious
thought. To him_ LYSIMACHUS, _afterwards_ ASANDER.

    _Enter_ LYSIMACHUS.

  _Lys._ What ails the King, that thus his brow is bent
  By such a load of care?

  _King._                 Lysimachus,
  The load of empire lies a weary weight,
  On age-worn brains; tho' skies and seas may smile,
  And steadfast favouring Fortune sit serene,
  Guiding the helm of State, but well thou knowest--
  None better in my realm--through what wild waves,
  Quicksands, and rock-fanged straits, our Bosphorus,
  Laden with all our love, reels madly on
  To shipwreck and to ruin. From the North,
  Storm-cloud on storm-cloud issuing vollies forth
  Fresh thunderbolts of war. The Emperor
  Dallies within his closed seraglios,
  Letting his eunuchs waste the might of Rome,
  While the fierce Scythian, in a surge of blood,
  Bursts on our bare-swept plains. Upon the South,
  Our rival Cherson, with a jealous eye,
  Waits on our adverse chances, taking joy
  Of her republican guile in every check
  And buffet envious Fortune deals our State,
  Which doth obey a King. Of all our foes
  I hate and dread these chiefly, for I fear
  Lest, when my crown falls from my palsied brow,
  My son Asander's youth may prove too weak
  To curb these crafty burghers. Speak, I pray thee,
  Most trusty servant. Can thy loyal brain
  Devise some scheme whereby our dear-loved realm
  May break the mesh of Fate?

  _Lys._                      Indeed, my liege,
  Too well I know our need, and long have tossed
  Through sleepless nights, if haply