 Forthcoming from Applause Books, spring 2004! |
THE GREEK MYTHSTHE GREEK MYTHS ran for ten years in the Vagabond Puppet Company's production, and during that time, toured throughout the U.S., and was seen by thousands of children and adults. Excerpt from EPISODE FOUR: THE BIRTH OF ZEUS VOICE Cronus, now ruler in heaven, Forgetting his mother's lament For her sons, his elder brothers, Imprisoned in Tartarus, Thrilled to be God of all Gods Pleasures himself as he pleases, Taking Rhea, his sister, to wife, The beautiful Titaness. Rhea one day announces: RHEA Cronus, my husband, my God-- CRONUS True. RHEA A fifth child is born, a child To bring us joy beyond joy. CRONUS False. RHEA False? CRONUS False. No child of mine, my wife, Can bring me joy beyond joy Since the prophecy foretold That the child I father will be The betrayer and death of me. RHEA (handing him the babe) Husband, my God of All Gods-- CRONUS True. RHEA I beg you to tell me, my love: The children that spring from my womb, I bring them to you, each one-- CRONUS And then? RHEA I bring them, and never-- It is strange, but never-- CRONUS Yes? RHEA I never do see them again. CRONUS And so? RHEA I don’t complain, My Lord, my God, But could you tell me-- CRONUS What? RHEA What happens to the babes I bear? CRONUS Oh, idle curiosity, A woman’s way. “Never see the babes I bear!” Ah, so like a woman to ask! RHEA But could you hint-- CRONUS I swallow them. RHEA Swallow--? CRONUS Eat. A demonstration? Here, you see? (He swallows the babe.) One gulp, and babe is gone. Best way, my dear, the best. Swallowed, Safely in my belly, No harm can come from them. And I, your Lord and God, Ruler of heaven and earth (And this household, dear) Can rest at ease. RHEA With all those babies Cluttering your belly? CRONUS At ease, secure, and sure That none will bring me harm.-- Ah, wife who worships me, I see, perhaps, another Child is on the way? RHEA Another? No. CRONUS Damn! My eyes are keen! My appetite is keen! Do you deceive...? RHEA Deceive! May heaven be my witness-- CRONUS True. I am. RHEA Then witness, Heaven, God of Gods, The truth is written in my eyes, My face-- CRONUS But when another comes--? RHEA He shall be yours, My joy, my heaven-- CRONUS Good. Ah, me, the pleasures of A simple, good and mindless wife! My blessing on your perfect innocence! RHEA My love, my joy, my holy one, my God-- (Cronus is gone.) A black destruction burn your eyes And scorch your stomach and your tongue! Choke, you swine and glutton, when you swallow My darling new-born babes! First, pretty Hestia, Then Demeter, my lovely thing, Then Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, All gourmandized by him, that beast. But not this one Not this one sleeping in my womb! Swinish Cronus, monster, You've dined your last! May fire, fire and lightning, burn your eyes! |
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