A Greek Slave Dialogue Following Song No. 16

A Greek Slave
Dialogue Following Song No. 16 — Act II

(Enter Iris)

Iris:

(Aside to princess) Well, Princess, has anything come of it?

Antonia:

No, he looks the same god-like man he was yesterday. But he has no heart.

Iris:

Perhaps the sculptor forgot to put one in!

Antonia:

I am beginning to fear that he has given it away to some-one else. Here, Manlius —

(Enter Manlius)

Antonia:

Conduct my lord to his apartment.

(Diomed rises, bows and follows Manlius)

Iris:

(To Diomed) You haven't kept it up very well.

Diomed:

I have dome more than I ought. I have kept up the imposition I loathe, because I promised Maia to do so.

(Exit Diomed and Manlius)

Antonia:

(Rising to go) And Iris, send someone at once with a hundred slaves to bring the necromancer to me — I want him to commune again with Eros and make him more human. (on Exit) It's very nice to think of a god as a lover, but for a husband a girl wants something more real.

(Exit Antonia)

Iris:

(Aloud) Send a hundred slaves for the necromancer! One can do that work. He and Maia have been prowling about the grounds ever since we came to Baiae — I'll soon find them. (Looks about)

(Heliodorus' head appears above the parapet. He whistles. IRIS turns to him)

Iris:

Oh there you are, Heliodorus! Well, you're wanted.

(Heliodorus disappears. Iris leans over parapet)

Iris:

You needn't be afraid. Antonia only wants you to put more life into Eros. You've left too much of the marble in his system.

(Enter Heliodorus, climbing over parapet)

Heliodorus:

(looking nervously around) I thought she was satisfied. She has a beautiful young man. He's much more useful about the house than a god.

Iris:

Girls of high position don't expect a man to be of use about the house, and she's beginning to find out that this one is no use as a husband. Besides, Maia isn't satisfied.

Heliodorus:

No, and she says that if I don't give her back her lover, she'll tell Antonia how we deceived her. I'm the victim of two disappointed women. I think I'd better go and confess to the Prefect.

Iris:

He'll have you cut up into little bits — to please Antonia.

Heliodorus:

Then I'll go myself and confess to her.

Iris:

She'll have you flogged into little bits to please herself.

Heliodorus:

Oh dear!

(He goes to parapet and leans there in despair as he sings the first lines... )