THE SIEGE



Take vantage not of earth. [Goes to curtains]
                       Farewell-till death.
  Aris. 'Twill not be long to wait. Thou canst not live
In Dion's arms.
  Ara.         Nor thine. As well to hope
The air-winged seed will root in vacancy,
And high mid-nothing hang with lobed bloom,
As that the rose of love will flower from
The wreck of men and gods.
      [He kneels and kisses her robe. She goes out]
  Aris.                  Before I die
I've touched divinity.
      [As he rises a slave rushes in, rear, and kneels]
  Slave.           My lord!
  Aris.                    You serve
Lord Heraclides, do you not
  Slave.                  I do,
And know his heart-his traitor heart.
  Aris.                              Speak, man.
  Slave. You love the noble Dion
  Anis. [Starts]               Dion Ay,
I love him well.
  Slave.      Sir, Heraclides comes
To slay him. Dion, the good! But you will save -him!
Xgisthus and Callorus aid my master.
They're bringing Dion here.
  Ans.                   Here   Haste!   Bring you
Ocrastes and Calippus! Freedom! Go!
  [Slave runs out. Aristocles steps back unseen as Dion,
    Heraclides, Egisthus and CaUorus enter. The slave
    running out meets them]
  Her. What do you, sirrah
            [The slave runs by without answer]
                               Go! You'll not outrun
The hangman!