Rhesus
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Exit Dolon
Chorus.
[As the song ends Dolon reappears, in the disguise of a wolf. The Guards gather round him, bidding him godspeed as he crawls off in the dark towards the Greek camp. Meantime from the direction of Mount Ida has entered a Shepherd who goes to Hector's door and calls. The Guards seeing him return to their places.
Shepherd.
Enter Hector from tent
Hector.
Shepherd.
Hector.
He turns to go.
Shepherd.
Hector's manner changes
Hector.
Shepherd.
Hector.
Shepherd.
Hector.
Shepherd.
Leader.
Hector (bitterly).
Leader.
Hector.
Leader.
Hector.
Leader.
Hector.
Leader.
Shepherd.
Hector (yielding reluctantly, with a laugh).
To Shepherd[Exit Shepherd; Hector returns to his tent, amid the joy of the soldiers.
Chorus.
Enter Rhesus in dazzling white armour, followed by his Charioteer and Attendants. The Charioteer carries his golden shield. The Chorus break into a shout of "All Hail!"
Leader.
Chorus.
Re-enter Hector.
Rhesus.
Hector.
Rhesus.
Chorus.
[The Trojan soldiers, who have been listening with delight, here break out in irrepressible applause.
Rhesus.
Hector.
Rhesus.
Hector.
Rhesus.
Hector.
Rhesus.
Hector.
Rhesus.
why
Hector.
Rhesus.
Hector.
Rhesus.
Hector.
Rhesus.
Hector (making no answer).
Turning to the Guards before he goes.
[Exeunt Hector and Rhesus and Attendants. The Guards, who have been below, come forward sleepily from the camp fire, and sit watching by Hector's tent.
Chorus.
Another.
Third Guard.
Divers Guards (talking).
Another.
The Guard.
The Other.
A Guard.
Another.
Another.
Another.
Divers Guards (talking).
Another.
Another.
Another.
Leader.
[The Guards pass out to waken the Lycians. The stage is empty and dark except for the firelight, when a whisper is heard at the back. Presently enter Odysseus and Diomede in dull leather armour, Diomede carrying at his belt Dolon's wolf-skin and mask.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
[They steal on further, keeping in the shadow.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
[They creep forward in silence to the entrance of Hector's tent.
Odysseus.
They dash into the tent, swords drawn; then return.
Diomede.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
Odysseus.
[Diomede takes Dolon's wolf-mask off his belt and hangs it in Hector's tent, then turns.
Diomede.
[As they turn there appears at the back a luminous and gigantic shape, the Goddess Athena.
Athena.
Odysseus.
Athena.
Odysseus.
Diomede.
Athena.
Diomede.
Athena.
Diomede.
Athena.
Exeunt Odysseus and Diomede
She becomes invisible where she stands.
Enter Paris.
Paris.
[Athena becomes visible again, but seems changed and her voice softer.
Athena.
Paris (standing like one in a dream).
Athena.
Paris.
Athena.
Exit Paris She raises her voice.
Athena vanishes; a noise of tumult is heard
Enter a crowd of Thracians running in confusion, in the midst of them Odysseus and Diomede.
Voices (amid the tumult).
Captain.
A Man.
Captain.
[They pursue Odysseus and Diomede; catch them and bring them back.
A Man.
Captain (to Odysseus).
Odysseus (indignantly).
Captain.
Odysseus (in a tone of authority).
Captain.
Odysseus (to Captain).
Captain.
[Flies at Odysseus, but other men hold him back.
Odysseus.
Voices.
Odysseus (as they attack him).
Captain.
Odysseus.
Captain.
Odysseus.
[He makes off into the darkness. Diomede follows, and some Thracians.
Captain.
A Man.
Captain.
[The Thracians go off in pursuit. Meantime the original Guards who form the Chorus have hastened back. The two Greeks are presently seen crossing at the back in a different direction.
Chorus.
Divers Guards (talking).
Chorus.
Divers Guards (talking).
[A sound of moaning outside in the darkness, which has been heard during the last few lines, now grows into articulate words.
Voice.
Guards.
Voice.
Leader.
Voice.
Leader (calling aloud).
Voice.
Leader.
[There enters a wounded man, walking with difficulty; he is the Thracian Charioteer who came with Rhesus.
Thracian.
Leader.
Thracian.
The Guards catch him as he reels, and lay him on
the ground.
Leader.
Enter Hector in wrath, with a band of Guards.
Hector.
His eye falls on the Captain
Leader (grovelling before Hector).
[Hector is standing over him ready to strike when the Charioteer speaks.
Thracian.
Hector (steadied and courteous again).
He turns to his own men.
Thracian.
Hector.
Thracian.
Hector.
Thracian.
Hector.
Thracian.
Hector.
Thracian.
Hector.
[One party of Guards lifts carefully the wounded Thracian and goes off bearing him: another departs with the message to Troy.
Chorus.
[In the air at the back there appears a Vision of the Muse holding the body of her dead son Rhesus.
[The Guards hide their heads in their mantles.
Muse.
Leader.
Muse.
She weeps over Rhesus
Leader.
Hector.
Muse.
[The Vision rises through the air and vanishes.
Leader.
Hector.
Pointing to the dawn.
During the following lines Hector goes to his tent to get his shield, and as he enters sees Dolon's bloody wolf-skin hanging. He takes it, looks at it, and throws it down without a word. Then he puts on his helmet, takes his shield and spear, and follows the Guards as they march off.
Chorus.
Exeunt.
fetching the rest…