we are ready
I came not out of greed but in the cause of justice
stay if you wish
No I must return north there has been trouble while I conducted this war what I want is to bring some of your country mine manners ease civilized discourse
are rather independent
I have always that culture was kept by the women
encouraged to go abroad
But they have a reputation for wisdom is that false
our women are the best
so
quiet little girl
I will love and respect you
does she ask for her sister
she didn’t explain she insisted I come to you and I did what she asked
Procnes not ill
She was well when I left she has her child companions
what do you think tereus
You’re her father
And you’re her husband
I only meant Procne would accept any decision you made it is a long journey
do you know this play tereus
No
heart I bring low
That sound
Do you have good theater in Thrace
We do not encourage art
Phaedras fallen in love with Hippolytus
Her own stepson thats wrong isn’t it
I have strayed from the path of good sense
Why should we pity her these plays condone vice
That is Gods will
Terrible advice
Philomele you are talking to a king
and to a brother let her speak Pandion
you were a child
we have no art no philosophy in Thrace philomele
i beg you pass me by
ah
don’t you?
no
Tereus whats the matter
nothing the heat
i feel so sorry for Phaedra
you pity her philomele
its not phaedras fault she loves him
she could keep silent about it
in your tenderness
how do you know all this philomele
crying to escape
philomele
hippolytus has dared to assault my wife
phaedra has lied thats vile
and tereus isnt phaedra look
i have expert sailors i dont think well crash against the rocks
its such a long journey
we’ll travel swiftly Procne is so impatient to see her sister we much go soon or she’ll fall ill with worry
when?
tomorrow
ah
youre crying philomele
you have to promis
why are the sails up captain
we have a good wind tereus
take them down
they’re tired tereus
we’re sailing too fast its frightening philomele
I love to feel the wind tereus
why arent you asleep
I was watching the fires on athos
athos yes the hooded men
the captain was telling me about them
lower the sails captain
but tereus
this isnt a battle we have time
i’ll take philomele down with me my lord
not yet come and talk to me philomele
entertain his lordship philomele
well you were talking easily enough when i came above
tell me about my sister tereus
i’ve already told you
how does she occupy her time
i dont know she has women with her
what do they talk about
what women talk about i didnt ask you to grill me philomele talk to me talk to me about the night
the night
the night something what were you saying to the captain
how well they sing what an eery tune
do you want to be marrie philomele
i am with my brother niobe
you can go niobe
the queen said i was not to go far
youre beautiful
has she kept that in all her years
in the moonlight your skin seems transparent
does she laugh with her women
i dont know
does she laugh at you
philomele
yes brother
what sort of man do you want to marry a king
or a noble captain
not necessarily from Athens
as long as he is wise
wise
they have to be or they wouldnt be kings
you are born a king nothing can change that
all is well when power smiles that i know
philomele would you marry a king
sisters sisters
if procne were
procne
if procne were to become ill
tell the captain to go faster
i didnt say that but it
yes i had many sisters
things happen
my love will protect her and yours too tereus
yes but should
sister we will be so happy
philomele
tereus
yes
he wants to speak to you
speak
we’ve had enough
i have my reasons
yes what reasons
you must trust me am i not your leader
yes tereus but
my knowledge is greater than yours…that glory fame i have seen it all along
wheres the enemy
i have information
id rather something happen anything
I know this is difficult for you…trust me and youll understand all in time
philomele and niobe enter (scene 11)
philomele
dont make him angry
philomele
ill bring some to procne
philomele
and heres some wild thyme procne loves its bitter taste
philomele
what is this plant Niobe? smell it its salty ive never seen it before procne will know
philomele
quiet brother youre disturbing the butterflies procne would not like that
procne procne procne is dead…perhaps better not to find it
never look for a battered body its worse than the death that came to it
mourn philomele mourn with me she was my wife
procne
sister beloved sister my sister
not mine between us above us
traitor traitor traitor a young girl defenseless go to the underworld with your shame around your neck be more careful philomele
where is tereus
here a delay
theres blood on your hands
a wild beast or a god in disguise unnameable
my sister
not here
no drowned
but i am here
heres the king hold back your tongue philomele
now i wish you didnt exist
when will you explain tereus
explain
why the cause i wish to understand
i dont know what to do with you
is that it answer
what
do they know the real you your soldiers your subjects
thats enough
shall i tell them yes i will talk
quiet
a man of pseudo spirit who abused power for his own means
i said that was enough
they will all know what you are
i warn you
men and women of thrace come and listen to the truth about this man
i will keep you quiet
i will go i dont know what she wants
you should have kept quiet i did what i had to do you threatened the order of my rule how could i allow rebellion i had to keep you quiet i am not sorry except for your pain but it was you or me you are more beautiful now in your silence i could love you you should have allowed the god to have his way you should kept quiet niobe you will look after her this is to ease the pain why werent you more careful let me kiss those bruised lips you are mine my sweet my songless my caged bird
will you come with me this time tereus
no
you have to be born one
but you’ll be a king itys thats almost as good and almost as powerful
arent you
yes
would you like that
not yet
oh how i miss my sister
i wish to spend time with itys
do you love him
i now believe his is the only thing in this world i have ever truly loved and you
i am the son of a king and i command you
its daylight at last the revels are over time to go home its time for you to go home go on stager home procne tell your women to go home
philomele is revealed
i had wanted to say
say what tereus
if i could explain
you have a tongue
beyond words