Edición filológica utilizada:
Lope de Vega, The Great Pretenders and The Gentleman from Olmedo. Two Plays by Lope de Vega, translated and adapted by David Johnston, Absolute Classics, Bath, England, 1992.
Procedencia:
Texto base
Lope de Vega, The Great Pretenders and The Gentleman from Olmedo. Two Plays by Lope de Vega, translated and adapted by David Johnston, Absolute Classics, Bath, England, 1992.
Procedencia:
Texto base
Edición digital a cargo de:
- Corbellini, Natalia (Artelope)
GENESIUS |
SEVERIUS |
MARCUS |
CURIUS |
APER |
FABRITIUS |
ALBINUS |
MAXIMIAN |
CELIUS |
LAELIUS |
MARTIUS |
JAILER |
DIOCLETIAN |
LAELIUS |
CAMILLA |
CELIA |
AURELIUS |
NUMERIANUS |
CARINUS |
FELISARDUS |
OCTAVIUS |
SALUSTIUS |
ROSARDA |
MARCELLA |
PINABELLUS |
ANGEL |
COSTUMES MAN |
SLAVE |
SINGER |
PATRICIUS |
RUTILIUS |
FABIUS |
CAPTAIN |
SOLDIER |
GUARD |
SULPICIUS |
SERGESTUS |
LELIUS |
Act I
Enter Marcus, a centurion.
MARCUS:
The Emperor's a fucking joke!
Fuck him and his fucking empire,
dragging us half-way across Asia
like a troupe of bloody gypsies...
5
And for what? The glory of it?
We have no business in this place,
doing the dirty work of this Nero,
because that s just what he's become.
With his son at home like a lord,
10
with more tarts than the Queen of Hearts
to make sure that he's all right jack,
while we slog from pillar to post,
in this god-forsaken country,
to teach the Persians a lesson
15
he thinks they'll never forget.
Enter Curius, a centurion.
Curius:
We're out here marching on Persia
while that young bastard Carinus
has the whole of Rome terrorised.
Like father, like son: two bastards,
20
neither fit to tie the laces of their brave Numerianus...
Numerianus... Carinus,
brothers, but like day and night,
one a coward and a bully,
the other a general and a god.
25
It's him that should have been Caesar,
instead of being brought here to die
like a dog in the Persian sun.
Enter Maximian, a centurion.
MAXIMIAN:
But for him we'd have gone by now,
deserted to a man... gone home,
30
not be dragging behind the flags
and eagles of an emperor
who doesn't give a tinker's damn
if any of us live or die,
and not a single soldier stirs
35
or turns around and says 'enough!'.
Enter Diocletian, a centurion.
DIOCLETIAN:
Two or three of us together,
we'd soon show you, mighty Caesar,
we'd be gone before you knew it.
There's no one in this whole army,
40
no man nor lad who'd spit on you
although you were dying of thirst.
What do you think you're playing at?
We've fought for you, we've died for you,
and now we should be going home,
45
instead of crossing the Tigris
to start a war we cannot win.
Maximian!
MAXIMIAN:
Diocletian!
DIOCLETIAN:
Marcus, Curius... what's going on?
CURIUS:
We're talking treason, my good friend,
50
taking fucking Caesar to task
far this latest piece of madness.
DIOCLETIAN:
Caesar, because we make him so,
and because Numerianus
won't move against his own father.
MAXIMIAN:
55
I’ll tell you what makes my blood boil...
Carinus, with his bodyguards,
murderers every last one,
like the cock of the walk in Rome;
doing exactly as he pleases
60
getting away with everything;
I’ve heard he's raped senators' wives,
profaned the temple of the virgins,
killed worthy consuls and praetors,
men who have stood Rome in good stead,
65
men who have served the city well.
MARCUS:
And Carinus is their reward,
a blood-thirsty animal
that Caesar has let loose on Rome;
Numerianus should have stayed,
70
he'd have Rome back where she belongs;
he would he another Trajan,
the dawn of a new golden age...
DIOCLETIAN:
Except Caesar does nothing right.
That's why he's Roman to the core,
75
a monster plucked from Roman pride.
Fuck it, I’m hungry.
CURIUS:
You're hungry?
You'll get nothing here but fresh air.
DIOCLETIAN:
There must be some money for food.
MAXIMIAN:
Not a single denarius.
80
I’d go through hell and high water
for just a couple of coppers
or a nice bit of crusty bread.
DIOCLETIAN:
Who’d want to be in Caesar’s shoes?
A whole army at his command,
85
and he can't rustle up some bread.
Aurelius, you fucking fool!
MAXIMIAN:
Why don't you pack up and go home?
CURIUS:
You’re always pissed out of your head!
DIOCLETIAN:
But the Emperor, even so
90
and the laurel deserves respect,
even if the head that wears it
belongs on the haunches of a pig.
MARCUS:
Does that matter?
DIOCLETIAN:
Yes, it matters;
one day I might be Emperor.
CURIUS:
95
You, Emperor?
DIOCLETIAN:
One day, who knows?
Enter Camilla, with a basket of bread.
CAMILLA:
White bread for sale, fresh baked, crusty.
MAXIMIAN:
Perhaps we're not so badly off...
DIOCLETIAN:
Good Caesar, we have done you wrong.
MARCUS:
Done him wrong? We've got no money.
100
We've not been paid for months on end.
DIOCLETIAN:
We have let our bellies rule our heads;
we owe Caesar our loyalty,
so let us give unto Caesar…
CURIUS:
Caesar'll get what's coming to him,
105
but only when my stomach knows
that my throat is still in one piece.
CAMILLA:
Come on, who wants some lovely bread?
Roll up and buy an honest crust.
MAXIMIAN:
I'll take some from you.
MARCUS:
So will I.
DIOCLETIAN:
110
Give me some, you know me of old.
and the heavens will smile on you.
CAMILLA:
A smile is a beautiful thing,
but it won't bring home the bacon.
DIOCLETIAN:
You'll have all the bacon you want
115
when I'm made Emperor of Rome.
CAMILLA:
Some joke!
DIOCLETIAN:
Is it not possible?
CAMILLA:
How should I know what's possible?
I sell bread and you never buy,
always saying you'll pay later
120
when you've become Emperor of Rome,
that's all I know.
DIOCLETIAN:
You mark my words,
this is no joke; neither is Rome.
And I could yet be Emperor
and lord of all that 1 survey.
CAMILLA:
125
Maybe, but my bread's still for sale.
DIOCLETIAN:
You have little head for business,
for you will be well rewarded
when I have become Emperor
and all of Rome is mine to give,
CAMILLA:
130
Here take your bread; Rome will be yours,
when a wild boar falls to your sword.
MAXIMIAN:
Take your bread and eat it, my friend.
You've won it easily enough.
DIOCLETIAN:
She's given me a different food;
135
a food for thought, a food for dreams.
A wild boar is a good omen,
for I've killed them by the thousand.
CURIUS:
How can you believe in omens?
DIOCLETIAN:
The gods speak to us through omens
CURIUS:
140
Eat up and give your head a rest.
You'll be Emperor when pigs fly,
not when wild boars fall to your sword.
DIOCLETIAN:
We’ll all share the bread together,
and if by some mysterious chance
145
the wild boar falls and Rome is mine.
I'll share my Rome in similar style:
Maximian, take this bread,
and eat, for you will rule with me;
and in my Rome, sweet Camilla,
150
you'll want for nothing at my side.
CAMILLA:
You may have nothing but your dreams,
but you dream well and you dream brave.
I'll give you all the bread I have,
and not just bread, the money too.
DIOCLETIAN:
155
And I will pay you well in Rome;
I'll not forget your kindness here.
CAMILLA:
I've lived so long in pitch darkness
I’m easily dazzled by the sun.
Your dreams are great and full of light,
160
and I love those dreams in you.
CURIUS:
The wind's rising
CAMILLA:
It'll bring rain,
I must go, but tell me your name.
DIOCLETIAN:
Diocletian.
CAMILLA:
Kill a wild boar,
my brave and good Diocletian,
165
and you'll be Emperor of Rome.
She leaves.
MAXIMIAN:
She'll be lucky to get home dry;
the sky is filling with storm clouds.
MARCUS:
And the heavens opening up.
DIOCLETIAN:
I think the storm's about to break.
170
It's more like night than day… lightning!
Jove, it split the sky like a sword.
CURIUS:
The clouds are rolling like black breasts,
full of fire.
DIOCLETIAN:
Like a silver snake
calling the elements to war.
175
Listen: you can hear the sea roar,
even in this, lonely desert.
MARCUS:
There's a wildness about tonight.
The elements have broken free.
CURIUS:
There's hardly a tent left standing.
DIOCLETIAN:
180
This is a storm to move mountains.
CURIUS:
Let's run for shelter to that rock.
MARCUS:
I'd kill to be under a roof,
even in stinking Damascus.
MAXIMIAN:
Run, the lightning's getting closer!
DIOCLETIAN:
185
Keep calm, my friends; no Emperor
has ever been struck by lightning.
They leave. Enter Aurelius Caesar, wearing a laurel wreath.
AURELIUS:
Your hail and lightning are useless
against my strength, against this arm,
for I have crossed rivers of ice
190
and I have sailed boiling oceans.
What sort of puny gods are these,
that send fire and snow and noise
against the men of mighty Rome,
Rome that has trampled Greece to dust
195
and will put Persia to the sword?
This sacred laurel, this strong sword
are proof against such empty fury.
I am Aurelius Caesar.
I am the Caesar of all Rome.
200
This whole world under the heavens
is mine, under my protection,
just as the skies of Olympus
belong to you, holy Jove,
for thus all power is divided.
205
Mars, with your chariots of war,
why do you let such storms rage here?
Enough blood has been spilled for you
by the faithful armies of Rome.
No, these are lesser gods who move
210
the skies against the might of Rome.
As Jove lives, I'll have revenge;
we'll pile mountain onto mountain
as the giants make war on you.
I’ll raise up a thousand legions
215
and I will take the skies by storm;
unless your lightning cuts me down
my vengeance will temper your fury.
He is struck by a bolt of lightning and falls to the ground. Enter Numerianus, Diocletian, Marcus, Curius and Maximian.
NUMERIANUS:
Quickly, men. I saw it strike here
just where my father was standing.
DIOCLETIAN:
220
So Emperors are not immune
from the fury of jealous gods.
NUMERIANUS:
What are you mumbling?
DIOCLETIAN:
Caesar, sir...
he's dead.
NUMERIANUS:
Today Rome's glory falls,
my father was the pride of Rome.
MAXIMIAN:
225
Look at him, he's been fried alive!
CURIUS:
But there's not a mark on his face.
I've never seen him look so well,
NUMERIANUS:
Dear Father, that the gods should scorch
your life away, like a dry leaf.
MARCUS:
230
Sir, your father-in-law is here.
Enter Aper.
APER:
What's happened to Aurelius?
NUMERIANUS:
He's dead, Aper… burnt to the bone,
by lightning, just felled like a tree…
the man who was my father,
235
who held the empire on his back,
who held the sky on his shoulders.
He has been struck down, and I thought
the world could not live without him.
APER:
Lightning strikes the highest towers
240
and only lightning could kill him,
for he fulfilled Rome's destiny,
he carried Rome's glory abroad
and wore the laurel of Augustus.
Prepare a funeral pyre
245
to pay honour to a hero,
and when his body is just ash,
the phoenix Numerianus
will arise with new-horn valour,
NUMERIANUS:
Nothing can be decided here
250
while my brother holds power in Rome.
If he accepts me as Caesar,
to share the laurel with him,
I swear I'll serve the empire well.
But I know Carinus from old;
255
he won't give anything away.
He wouldn't share power with me
any more than with his shadow.
DIOCLETIANS:
There's more to this than meets the eye.
APER:
How will you rally the army?
NUMERIANUS:
260
The army will do as it is told,
and I'll look to my dead father,
the great Aurelius Caesar,
and I'll stand against my brother
and I'll take the rank of consul.
265
Soldiers, we leave at dawn... for Rome!
APER:
Jove will stand by you, my son.
Rome will welcome you as Caesar,
and I will give thanks to the gods.
Men: salute Numerianus
270
the Consul.
EVERYONE:
Long live the Consul!
They leave. Enter Carinus accompanied by his servant Celius, two musicians and Rosarda dressed as a man.
CARINUS:
The stupid whore, she fell for it!
I nearly fell off for laughing
ROSARDA:
And what about her husband's face,
the way his mouth just fell open?
275
You stared him out, straight in the eye
and when you said: ''Sir, it's the law,
the ancient right of legover",
I thought that he would have a fit.
But he'd have been no match for you.
CARINUS:
280
Ah, Rosarda, you flatter me,
and I love it. You inspire me
to new and even greater depths.
CELIUS:
Rosarda, a muse to amuse,
CARINUS:
That's exactly the type of pun
285
that gives Spanish plays a bad name,
CELIUS:
It's not my fault that I'm from Spain.
CARINUS:
No, but you don't have to flaunt it.
The night is young; where to from here?
CELIUS:
Well, there's a lawyer who lives here,
290
and his wife is usually prepared
to take instruction from clients...
CARINUS:
Celius, just keep it simple.
CELIUS:
And some actors who live here too,
whose women are simply divine.
CARINUS:
295
Celius, it's me who's divine,
and speaking as one of the gods,
I think it's in very bad taste
that it should even cross your mind
that I could have any dealings
300
with the cheap chattel of actors.
ROSARDA:
You're becoming very choosy.
They're queens, ladies and empresses
nearly every night of the week.
CELIUS:
And where does the real difference lie?
305
Their play lasts barely two hours,
yours lasts a lifetime; only that.
You're no less an actor than them
until death parts you from your robes;
it's all written into your part.
ROSARDA:
310
What a clever idea!
CARINUS:
Clever?
He's been at the bottle again,
CELIUS:
In vino veritas, they say,
CARINUS:
What?
CELIUS:
Its Spanish for I'm sorry.
CARINUS:
The language of barbarians.
315
All I wanted was a night out,
and you come out with all this crap,
all this talk about plays and death.
CELIUS:
It's all an act, a sham, a fake;
but that doesn't mean you're about
320
to shuffle off this mortal coil.
You'll be here for centuries yet;
the gods protect the brave and good.
CARINUS:
You've upset me.
ROSARDA:
Well, Celius,
if all the world is just a stage,
325
as you seem to be suggesting,
then you are a lousy actor.
A servant's role is to flatter,
to please his master, and to lie.
CELIUS:
Then it's your turn to come on stage;
330
play the part of leading lady
and win him over with your love.
ROSARDA:
So now I'm your leading lady,
to strut across the stage with you.
CARINUS:
Well, at least that makes up for him,
335
Come and give me a kiss; you'll see
soon enough what's real and what's not.
This is no costume I'm wearing,
I am the Emperor of Rome,
Carinus Caesar, born to rule,
340
not some cardboard Caesar or king
like the actor who lives in here.
When Genesius comes on stage,
he is Caesar for but one day;
his empire is etched on parchment;
345
mine stretches beyond the horizon;
and I am Caesar for all time.
An Emperor is beyond death,
beyond the laws of human life,
beyond the dream in which you live;
350
there is an eternal abyss
between the human and divine.
Caesar is a god among gods,
lords of earth, lords of heaven.
While death plays scarecrow to the world,
355
it holds no fear for one like me.
Sing! Play music and be happy,
for as long as fortune's wheel is still.
Let's give this actor and his ladies
a song to quicken their tin hearts.
ROSARDA:
360
You're back to your old self again.
CARINUS:
I have quicksilver in my feet.
Let my father endure forced marches,
tramping about with the army,
conquering empires and kingdoms.
365
I was born for dancing and sport;
I'll stay in Rome where I belong.
Let's call that rogue Genesius.
ROSARDA:
He'll be playing a part... in bed,
in the arms of sweet Morpheus.
CARINUS:
370
Jove! Is there no decency?
By the gods, I'll soon waken them.
CELIUS:
I can hear someone corning down,
It's probably Genesius,
Morpheus is a heavy sleeper.
Enter Genesius.
GENESIUS:
375
I count myself fortunate, sir,
to welcome you to my poor house.
CARINUS:
You mustn't call me by my name
for tonight I'm playing a part;
I'm pretending to be a man,
380
just a simple human being.
GENESIUS:
I know exactly what you mean,
for I've just been casting a play.
CARINUS:
Who's it by?
GENESIUS:
Aristoteles.
CARINUS:
Of course, a wit of great renown.
385
It'll make for a lively show.
GENESIUS:
We'll be using a real live bull,
it's, the story of Pasiphae.
CARINUS:
You can keep your bulk and horses.
How are you off for female parts?
390
A play's not a play without them.
GENESIUS:
I had a wonderful actress,
who was cut down right in her prime.
She was nothing much to look at,
but she had a voice soft as wool.
395
One day she said that she'd been saved,
and we never saw her again.
CARINUS:
Saved?
GENESIUS:
Yes, she became a Christian.
CARINUS:
And she never acted again?
GENESIUS:
She lives as a penitent now,
400
high in the mountains above Rome
CARINUS:
If Caesar sends for her she'll come,
or else I'll make sure she's a very
sorry little penitent.
GENESIUS:
I admire your love of theatre
405
but the matter has been resolved.
Another actress has the part,
and she's already learned her lines;
if I gave the part to someone else,
she'd leave the company for good.
CARINUS:
410
Call your actors together now.
let's have a command performance.
GENESIUS:
That would be impossible, sir.
Those that aren't asleep will be drunk.
CARINUS:
Then I have another command:
415
I want a good play about me.
Get the city's finest poet
to cobble something together,
as long as it's fast and furious
and about Rosarda and me;
420
but, in the play she'll be clever
and I'll be just a jealous fool.
And here, take this for your trouble.
ROSARDA:
I think I'll buy a play as well,
although in mine you'll be well loved
425
but not give a damn about me,
and I will be madly jealous.
CARINUS:
And just what will you use for money?
ROSARDA:
I'll give him this chain... oh, I can't.
It has your portrait.
CARINUS:
Even so,
430
portraits were made to warm the heart
in absence; I'm here in the flesh,
and my flesh can well-warm your heart.
Give the chain to Genesius.
My portrait is my royal seal,
435
and with my seal Genesius
becomes our imperial actor.
GENESIUS:
I am overwhelmed.
CARINUS:
From now on,
you'll be known as Caesar's actor.
When can we come to see the play?
GENESIUS:
440
That depends upon the poet
who is chosen to write the play;
there are some who speak of their muse
as other men speak of women.
CARINUS:
I speak of women frequently.
445
Perhaps I'm also a poet
and simply didn't know it.
GENESIUS:
That's why art has to take its time.
Ars longa and vita brevis,
as the saying goes.
CARINUS:
You speak Spanish!
GENESIUS:
450
The muse is a woman; like women
she won't be rushed, nine months in all,
before bringing a play to light.
CARINUS:
And as I have paid for the play,
the father, they'll all be born sons,
455
and very handsome ones at that.
GENESIUS:
Some plays have been born as daughters,
and very ugly ones at that.
CARINUS:
Then find this Aristocrates;
he'll polish one off in no time.
GENESIUS:
460
There's a bit of a problem there;
he's a real stickler for the rules.
CARINUS:
Then write an ordinary play.
I can't be bothered with these rules
and regulations. Who needs art?
GENESIUS:
465
Then we'll be panned by the critics.
CARINUS:
Who gives a damn about critics?
So long as it all sounds okay
and the actors don't fall over,
then the critics won't say a word.
470
And now, royal Genesius,
you may retire for the night.
GENESIUS:
I kiss your hands before I go.
So not with my script and scrippage,
but with his royal garb and garbage,
475
the actor bows and leaves the stage.
Exit Genesius.
CARINUS:
Poets are really dreary types,
what with their metre and their rhyme.
It's just not natural at all
CELIUS:
What does sir's heart desire now?
CARINUS:
480
What do you suggest, Celius?
CELIUS:
There's a beautiful Spanish girl
who lives nearby; she'd chew you up
and spit you out; but she's as hot
as the sun in Andalusia.
CARINUS:
485
She could be as hot as pepper,
but you know that that's not my style.
She'd enjoy it and I would pay;
but no one would be left weeping;
no blood would flow nor tears be spilt;
490
now tell me, where's the fun in that?
ROSARDA:
He always loves his little joke.
CARINUS:
But tricking a senator's wife
or the young daughter of a judge
and getting them between the sheets,
495
well now, that's a different matter.
ROSARDA:
And the whole of Rome is angry.
CELIUS:
Mark Rosarda's words, Carinus.
CARINUS:
And I'll mark your back with my whip
if you don't hold your stupid tongue.
500
Look, over there: Laelius!
CELIUS:
For pity's sake, leave him alone.
ROSARDA:
Don't you know he's looking for you;
You raped his wife.
Enter Laelius, with three men.
CARINUS:
You're both such bores.
LAELIUS
(To his companions.)
Stay here.
FABRITIUS:
You mean to talk to him?
LAELIUS:
505
I have no choice.
FABRITUS:
This is madness.
LAELIUS:
I've got to protect my honour.
My whole reputation's at stake.
You, over there! Is Caesar with you?
CARINUS:
Who wants him?
LAELIUS:
One of his consuls,
510
whose wife he raped and whose honour
was turned to dust by his bragging.
CARINUS:
I am Caesar as you well know,
and I warn you to guard your tongue,
LAELIUS:
You have no right to my respect;
515
you have sinned against the laurel
which is the symbol of your rank
and the protection of the state.
You have offended against man
and you have offended the gods.
520
You are not Caesar, Carinus;
you've forsaken the right to rule.
The people have no love for you;
tell me what you have done for Rome?
What new provinces and what gold
525
have you added to Rome's honour.
You have squandered the Empire's wealth
on other madmen and on whores,
just as you squander your own seed.
CELIUS:
Sir, he's calling you a wanker.
CARINUS:
530
You're out of your mind, Laelius.
LAELIUS:
You do not recognise virtue
like your father and brother do.
You've eyes for only sin and vice,
for whores and pimps and murderers.
CARINUS:
535
Great Jove! Strike this man down dead.
I am Caesar, no son of Rome
shall ever talk to me this way.
LAELIUS:
We are the children of our acts,
and the crimes you have committed
540
are crying out to be avenged.
And I find you like this at night,
disguised and in the company
of wolves and whores.
CARINUS:
You'll die for that.
LAELIUS:
You're in disguise. Where are your guards?
545
I'll free Rome from this new Nero.
Laelius and his companions attack him.
CARINUS:
He's wounded me… I'm dying,
LAELIUS:
(To Carinus's companions as he makes his escape.)
Stay back, and you'll come to no harm.
ROSARDA:
My love, my love!
CARINUS:
I've played my part,
I was Caesar and I was Rome,
550
and now the tragedy is done.
Death has left me here stripped naked,
and my whole life seems to me
to have lasted barely two hours.
Listen to me well, Rosarda:
555
the law is common to all men,
so take the costume and trappings
of this actor-king and leave them
for my successor to put on;
he too will have to play his part,
560
Jove grant with more success than I.
ROSARDA:
I will die with you on the pyre.
CARINUS:
No, you must live to take revenge,
to tell my father and the world…
CELIUS:
Caesar is dead. Long live Caesar…
565
and death, for death takes even kings.
They leave. Enter Aper and Severius.
APER:
The army has returned to Rome
because Numerianus fell ill.
We'd no choice, he was at death's door.
SEVERIUS:
And has he fully recovered?
APER:
570
The journey was long, the sea rough,
but he has had the best of care.
SEVERIUS:
The whole city wants to see him
and welcome him as Emperor.
His brother, I'm afraid to say,
575
has lost the people's confidence.
APER:
He'd have dragged Rome down to the depths.
We can count ourselves fortunate
a new Emperor has appeared.
He is the chosen one of Jove
580
who has brought him safe to this place,
Enter Felisardus.
FELISARDUS:
Brave Aper! Good Severius!
I have come to pay Rome's respects
to Numerianus Caesar.
APER:
Felisardus, what news of Rome?
585
How will the people receive us?
FELISARDUS:
They had built a triumphal arch
to mark the return of Caesar,
the great Aurelius Carus.
But now they have learnt of his death
590
the arch has been dedicated to Caesar Numerianus;
so the city will honour him
and welcome him with open arms.
But I have some disturbing news
which will put a pall on this day.
595
His brother was murdered last night.
APER:
Carinus is dead?
FELISARDUS:
Tragic news.
He was killed by Laelius.
APER:
Why did he kill him?
FELISARDUS:
For revenge.
Carinus had raped his young wife.
APER:
600
Are you really sorry he's dead?
SEVERIUS:
Felisardus is a wise man,
FELISARDUS:
We are all equal in death's eyes,
APER:
And Laelius now?
FELISARDUS:
Hiding
in the house of Octavius.
605
But no one wants to arrest him.
In fact, people call him a hero.
Rome has been in bloody turmoil.
APER:
It's time to put an end to it.
Let us fetch Numerianus,
610
Severius, will you call him,
(Sevenus leaves.) I must talk to you in private.
FELISARDUS:
You can trust me in all respects.
What you say will go no further,
APER:
Does the city have its heart set
615
on Numerianus as Caesar?
How would people react… to me?
FELISARDUS:
Rome will accept the army's choice.
Your son-in-law is their favourite,
and they'll back him to the hilt
620
for as long as he lives or wants
APER:
For as long as he lives, you say?
FELISARDUS:
You think his life is in danger
APER:
I've told the men that he was sick
although I've kept him out of sight...
625
but if the truth were to be told...
FELISARDUS:
What?
APER:
Nurnerianus is dead
He's been earned on a litter
and kept behind closed curtains.
FELISARDUS:
You killed him, Aper, didn't you?
APER:
630
For the greatest empire in the world.
Ambition is never treason.
FELISARDUS:
And how will you announce his death?
APER:
Everyone knows how ill he was.
No one will have cause to doubt me;
635
in fact, they will be overjoyed.
My reputation goes before me
FELISARDUS:
(Aside)
Poor Rome, you have lost a good man,
and Numerianus his life
APER:
So?
FELISARDUS:
You have shown great cunning,
640
and you can count on my support.
Believe me, the Roman Senate
will not object to anyone
that the army foists upon it.
APER:
What do you mean 'anyone', 'foist'?
645
What's that?
FELISARDUS:
They're breaking the sad news.
The men will be very upset
when they hear how Carinus died.
VOICES:
Hurrah! Hurrah!
APER:
They sound distraught.
VOICES:
Hurrah for Numerianus!
APER:
650
That's them now. They've brought the litter.
FELISARDUS:
Enter Diocletian, Marcus, Curius, Maximian, Severius and two soldiers carrying Numerianus in a curtained sedan chair. One of the soldiers holds a laurel wreath
Have no fear, you will be Caesar.
DIOCLETIAN:
Numerianus, show yourself,
for your men to do you homage.
MARCUS:
Aper is here too.
DIOCLETIAN:
O Consul.
655
we know your son-in-law is ill,
but all we ask is one minute
to bestow on him the laurel wreath.
APER:
Men, you have my fullest blessing.
Jove knows I have feared for his life
660
and have done all I could for him.
CURIUS:
Consul, we're sure he will rally
when he receives the laurel from us.
APER:
Before you rouse him from his sleep,
spare a thought for my loving care,
665
and how I've ruled and guided you
through thick and thin since Caesar died.
I have been more than a father
to each and every soldier;
paying wages, helping the weak,
670
settling your disputes with justice.
No one here could speak ill of me.
MAXIMIAN:
And not one would wish to, Aper.
You have always been good to us,
but we are here to honour Caesar.
675
Raise the curtains; men, on your knees.
DIOCLETIAN:
And I will honour him with you.
MARCUS:
Caesar, behold the men of Rome!
CURIUS:
He won't look up; he seems so pale,
as though he'd no spirit for this.
DIOCLETIAN:
680
Hail Caesar!
MARCUS:
The laurel is yours
to bring you back to health and strength.
DIOCLETIAN:
Caesar, the whole world kneels to you,
and you are one in the laurel
with Julius and Augustus.
685
Comrades, he hasn't said a word.
He's dead.
MARCUS:
Take his hand for a pulse.
DIOCLETIAN:
As cold as ice. Caesar is dead.
CURIUS:
He can't be
DIOCLETIAN:
His body is stiff,
but his eyes have been fixed open.
690
His laurel crown's a funeral wreath.
MARCUS:
This was never any illness.
MAXIMIAN:
Numerianus was murdered.
Only one man could have done it.
CURIUS:
Why else would he have said all that,
695
trying to convince us of his worth?
There's not a mark on his body.
He must have given him poison.
APER:
Soldiers, your duty is to me.
MARCUS:
Men, take the body from this place
700
and prepare a funeral pyre.
We will bury him as Caesar.
(They carry the sedan chair off.)
CURIUS:
The final trappings of glory,
the silent turning of the wheel.
APER:
Men, we must choose a new Caesar.
705
Numerianus is at peace
with the gods in high Olympus.
What more could any man desire?
But Rome must have a strong leader.
I alone should wear the laurel.
710
I alone am worthy of Rome,
for I have proved myself to you.
I am Aper, I am consul,
I am a hero to my men,
I have conquered lands in Asia
715
and in Europe. I am Caesar;
the army shall enter Rome with me,
and proclaim me Aper Caesar.
MARCUS:
The army will never choose you.
You killed the very best of men;
720
our leader and your son-in-law.
APER:
I...
FELISARDUS:
You cannot deny your crime.
Men, he has already confessed;
he told me about it himself,
that he took the life of the man
725
who would have restored Rome's greatness,
that he killed Numerianus
to wear the laurel wreath himself.
Soldiers, does justice not demand
that Aper pays the proper price
730
for his treacherous ambition?
APER:
Men, I am your rightful leader;
I have proved myself through courage
and through triumphs on land and sea.
I pay you and I win your battles;
735
now I'll rule Rome on your behalf.
There is nothing else that matters.
DIOCLETIAN:
I remember the bread seller.
What did she say: ‘Rome will be yours
when a wild boar falls to your sword'?
740
Aper's name means exactly that.
The prophecy must lie fulfilled;
but if the soldiers accept him,
then they will pull me to pieces.
I am just the son of a slave,
745
an unknown centurion,
but I have fought long and hard for fame,
and one blow now will bring glory
that will endure for ever.
Aper, where does your name come from?
APER:
750
It means 'wild boar’, the sign of strength.
DIOCLETIAN:
It signifies a murderer.
APER:
Diocletian, stand by me now
and bring your legion to my side,
and you will be well rewarded.
DIOCLETIAN:
755
The dark shade of your son-in-law
appeared to me in dreams last night,
and begged me to avenge his blood.
I act for Numerianus.
(He stabs Aper.)
This man was a traitor to Rome
760
who robbed us of the greatest king
since the dry was horn from wolves.
But if you think that I've done wrong,
that I have acted out of turn,
then have Marcus draw my sword
765
and cut my heart from my body.
MARCUS:
The gods have given you courage;
they have illuminated you
and led you safely here for this.
You and Aeneas are as one.
MAXIMIAN:
770
Soldiers, we know Diocletian
as a man of peace and of war.
The army must not allow Rome
to fall into civilian hands.
DIOCLETIAN:
I am not a public speaker,
775
I haven't Cicero’s glib tongue.
I am a soldier, your comrade,
and if I am Emperor,
then we'll all be Caesars of Rome.
Will you give me the laurel wreath'
EVERYONE:
780
Hail Caesar!
DIOCLETIAN:
Then I am content.
Take the money, arms and jewels
belonging to Numerianus,
and the spoils of Aper's tent,
and divide them among yourselves.
785
I will take nothing for myself,
as long as I have this true sword
to defend the empire and you,
CURIUS:
The army is yours to command,
Diocletian. Hail Caesar!
DIOCLETIAN:
790
Then we'll enter Rome together!
End of act one
Act II
Enter Diocletian to a fanfare of trumpets.
DIOCLETIAN:
Rome has taken me to her heart,
and I pledge my loyalty to her.
I shall be the father of Rome,
and a new golden age shall flower,
LENTULUS:
795
Not even Augustus Caesar
met with such a warm reception.
DIOCLETIAN:
My love and gratitude for Rome
are boundless; I will serve her well.
And I will honour her armies.
800
The soldiers will be paid today
and war bonuses handed out.
EVERYONE:
Hail Caesar! Long live Diocletian!
DIOCLETIAN:
I have but one request to you;
that you give me your love and goodwill;
805
those are riches enough for me.
LENTULUS:
They all get off to a good start;
and then fail victims to their greed.
DIOCLETIAN:
Tonight I'll dine with the Senate
before tomorrow's celebrations,
810
celebrations fit for a king
and for the people who love him.
LENTULUS:
What entertainment shall we have?
DIOCLETIAN:
Whatever the people ask for…
gladiators with swords and nets,
815
throw some slaves to wild animals.
Have we got a good selection?
LENTULUS:
Indeed, sir… some lions, a bear,
horses, bison and elephants,
wolves by the score and a zebra,
820
two tigers and a huge serpent
that was brought to us from Libya.
Rome has never seen such a thing;
it can hypnotise, then devour
a raging bull.
DIOCLETIAN:
I fought one once,
825
when we were at war in Egypt
LENTULUS:
You have the strength of Hercules,
I will see to the arrangements.
Exit Lentulus. Enter Maximian.
MAXIMIAN:
Caesar, I come to kiss your feet,
DIOCLETIAN:
Maximian, you've come at last!
830
I've been expecting you all day.
Why did you not come until now?
This is an insult to a friend.
MAXIMIAN:
Mighty Caesar, I was frightened.
You are a god; I am a man.
835
Yours is the glory of the sun;
if I look upon you I burn.
DIOCLETIAN:
Maximian, men are equal
in the eyes of faithless fortune.
She abandons some, raises others;
840
she has no constancy at all.
But her power is temporal,
and our celestial souls are free.
She has raised me to the heavens,
but my soul has remained unchanged.
845
I don't think it will ever change.
And you and I were once comrades;
we've fought and suffered together,
and there would be no justice left
if I turned my back on you now,
850
if I clasped fortune to myself.
You'll say chat it's impossible,
but I will raise you up with me.
Just as we both were soldiers,
so shall we both be Emperors.
855
This is the sign of my friendship.
When we shared bread in the desert
we were the very best of friends.
Now I'll share my glory with you,
and the gods will keep us free
860
of all envy and jealousy.
Bring me another laurel crown!
MAXIMIAN:
I have no words to give you thanks,
great and noble Diocletian.
The human tongue cannot convey
865
the generosity of gods.
Make me a servant in your house,
for I cannot be your equal,
I ask no more.
DIOCLETIAN:
Are you all deal?
I said bring me a laurel crown!
A slave brings him a laurel wreath.
MAXIMIAN:
870
I was worthy to be your friend,
but that does not make me worthy
to share the laurel wreath with you,
DIOCLETIAN:
I place it on your brow myself;
these consecrated leaves are yours,
MAXIMIAN:
875
You have honoured them with your touch;
that is laurel enough for me.
I could ask no more than your love.
Your friendship's an empire to me.
DIOCLETIAN:
Maximian, sit by my side,
The two men sit down just as Camilla enters
CAMILLA:
880
Well, they do say that the gods move
in strange and mysterious ways.
I liked Diocletian well enough,
and I enjoyed his little jokes;
but when my little joke comes true,
885
well then, I reckon he owes me.
Let's see if he’ll repay his debts.
Great and mighty Diocletian
the whole wide world is at your feet.
Can you cast your mind back in time,
890
when I gave a starving soldier bread?
You promised me a thousand times
that you would one day pay me well.
"For you will be well rewarded
when I am Emperor of Rome
895
and all of Rome is mine to give".
Noble Caesar, the time has come
for the Emperor to honour
the soldier's debts. What you owe me,
pay me now, I have witnesses;
900
Maximian, you know it's, true.
DIOCLETIAN:
No woman can ever rule Rome,
or else you would he queen with me.
The mystery of my good fortune
lies in your hands; I am Caesar
905
and as Caesar I'll reward you.
Your bread was good; tell me its price.
CAMILLA:
Caesar must pay what Caesar thinks.
DIOCLETIAN:
There'd not be gold enough in Rome
to give you all that you deserve.
910
Ask for what you will, and I'll pay.
CAMILLA:
So you want me to name my price?
Then my price is this: the freedom
to be wherever you may be,
to enter the imperial chamber
915
at any time of any day,
with no one to bar my way.
DIOCLETIAN:
That's al! you want?
CAMILLA:
It's all I need
I consider myself welt paid,
for it is a rare gift indeed.
DIOCLETIAN:
920
I sink further into your debt.
You there! Let the whole household know
that Camilla may come and go
as she pleases, at any time,
even when I'm with the Senate.
Enter a slave.
SLAVE:
925
Caesar, Genesius is here
and begs permission to enter.
Enter Genesius.
GENESIUS:
Great and mighty Diocletian,
let me draw near and worship you.
DIOCLETIAN:
You are a welcome visitor,
930
for your fame travels before you.
GENESIUS:
And if your triumphs and wisdom
could become the stuff of theatre,
great Caesar, I, Genesius,
would act out tales of glory for you
935
that would keep the poets of Rome
and not just Rome, of Spain as well
busy until the sands of time
ran dry.
DIOCLETIAN:
I have a task for you,
Tonight I dine with the Senate
940
and you will act a play for us,
something suitably elegant.
GENESIUS:
Any particular favourite?
Perhaps Terence's Andria?
DIOCLETIAN:
Too old-fashioned.
GENESIUS:
Well then, Plautus.
945
How about The Boastful Soldier?
DIOCLETIAN:
I'd rather have action than art.
I have very un-classical tastes.
I'd rather have a good story,
one I can really believe in,
950
than a play which follows the rules.
Art and nature are different things.
Poets, who are concerned with art,
even in the speeches they write,
where nothing comes from the heart,
955
nothing ever sounds quite right,
and for the sake of adornment,
decoration and ornament,
for the sake of rhythm and rhyme
subject life to art, every time.
960
That sort of thing just leaves me cold.
GENESIUS:
I have one called The Slave of Love.
DIOCLETIAN:
That title could mean anything:
All plays have got lovers in them.
Who's it by?
GENESIUS:
A priest of Jove.
DIOCLETIAN:
965
What sort of poetry is it?
GENESIUS:
Elaborate and, well, priestly.
If he can say: "when Aurora
swept the firmament with her gaze
and called Phoebus from dark Hades",
970
then he will.
DIOCLETIAN:
And what does it mean?
GENESIUS:
The sun came up. Exotic stuff.
He mentions all sorts of wild beasts,
and even serpents from Libya.
DIOCLETIAN:
They're probably his audience.
975
A tragedy perhaps might suit,
more fitting for the occasion.
GENESIUS:
Electra by Leonitius,
a masterpiece of tragic force,
much more moving than Sophocles,
980
words that would melt a heart of stone,
and yet poetry much deeper
than the verses of Seneca.
But I can do you anything.
CAMILLA:
No tragedies, Diocletian.
985
Tragedies tell of murdered kings.
Don's tempt fortune with such a thing,
not on your coronation day.
DIOCLETIAN:
I'll leave the choice of play to you.
GENESIUS:
In that case, the first performance
990
of my new play will be for you,
here tonight after you have dined.
So if you happen not to like it,
then there's only me to blame.
DIOCLETIAN:
And what part will you play, my friend?
995
I've heard you do a wonderful king,
a fiery Spaniard, a wise consul,
a wily Persian, a brave captain,
but best of all, a true lover.
GENESIUS:
Acting holds a mirror to life,
1000
it's imitation, reflection.
But like the poet, the actor
takes his art from life, learning from love
to imitate love upon the stage.
An actor who has not felt love,
1005
felt its passion perform in him,
cannot perform love for others
the pain of absence, jealousy,
the flaring of violence and hate,
these are the feelings which we live,
1010
the stock in trade of the actor's art.
DIOCLETIAN:
We shall see all these things tonight.
Come, Maximian, time to dine
and to honour our senators
with our imperial presence.
MAXIMIAN:
1015
You have honoured Rome already
It's now time that she honoured you.
DIOCLETIAN:
Camilla, you will dine with us.
You have every right in the world.
CAMILLA:
If only I had rights to you…
DIOCLETIAN:
1020
So that's your price?
CAMILLA:
The greatest love,
the greatest treasure in all Rome.
They all leave, except Genesius,
GENESIUS:
Love, as your flame flickers and grows
and burns in my heart's deep core,
so my fame as an actor grows.
1025
Your fire, your force of feeling
have touched even Diocletian,
and he can't wait to see me act,
to watch me imitate my life.
What is imitation, what truth?
1030
The play springs from my will to love;
my intellect is the poet
of the story I'm inventing,
singing the despair I've lived through.
And my senses all take on roles
1035
and act out these mad emotions.
My ears are cast as a deaf man
who will not listen to reason;
I hear good advice on all sides
which I ignore, push to one side,
1040
and I persist in foolishness,
knowing that through love I will die.
My eyes play a poor blind beggar
stumbling through the streets mumbling
his passion's prayer, my sense of smell
1045
a weak soul in the asphodels,
living off the fragrance of flowers,
for my mind lives off fragrant hope,
a flower that is always green,
a flower that will not bear fruit.
1050
My touch wanders like a madman,
constantly reaching for the stars.
A madness has rooted in me,
a thousand different madnesses
that love thinks few, that rage and burn.
1055
The heart is a mad asylum.
And my taste, once my best actor,
now plays but one part; the lover
who rings the final curtain down,
who takes the play to its bitter end.
1060
And though love is a comedy,
it will have no happy ending.
We suffer; this is tragedy
Enter Pinabellus, an actor who specializes in playing servants.
PlNABELLUS:
They're all here now.
GENESIUS:
And the costumes?
PlNABELLUS:
Yes, they're here too.
GENESIUS:
The musicians?
PlNABELLUS:
1065
All but one, but he won't be long.
GENESIUS:
I hate working with musicians,
drunk, late, no timing, out of step, invariably out of tune.
PlNABELLUS:
The Emperor is still eating.
We have plenty of time to spare.
1070
But if you want to keep the peace,
make sure Marcella gets something,
a little gift from good Caesar.
GENESIUS:
For her? Something for Marcella?
Why should I do anything for her?
1075
Don't even mention her to me.
PlNABELLUS:
This isn't you, Genesius.
Just who are you trying to kid?
Is this some pan you're rehearsing?
GENESIUS:
I wish to heaven that it were.
1080
Even in the midst of fire,
my heart freezes and pulls away.
If I tell her that I love her,
she may well despise me for it.
My love knows only jealousy;
1085
it is full of fears and shadows.
PlNABELLUS:
Then get rid of Octavius,
and you'll have her all to yourself.
GENESIUS:
Thank you for that piece of advice,
but it comes just a little late.
1090
He's the best actor that we've got.
If he ever decides to leave
off his own bat, then we're all sunk.
Marcella would pack up and go
or she'd be so miserable
1095
that she wouldn't be worth a damn.
She'd even take it out on me.
PlNABELLUS:
Then ask her father for her hand.
He'd rather have you any day,
after all you're his daughter's boss.
1100
A better catch than some actor,
a windbag who hasn't a clue
whether he's been blown up or stuffed.
GENESIUS:
Marry her off against her will,
knowing that she loves someone else?
1105
Caesar wants a comedy of love;
he'll get one about jealousy,
for that's the measure of us both.
PlNABELLUS:
You'll have the odd love scene, won't you?
You and Marcella?
GENESIUS:
Love scenes, yes.
1110
As many scenes as chains she's placed
around my heart; and then the scene
in which I kill Octavius.
PlNABELLUS:
Your imagination runs wild.
GENESIUS:
And her lather is in it too,
1115
the embodiment of stupid greed.
Are the actors getting ready?
PlNABELLUS:
They are ready
GENESIUS:
I'll go inside
and dress my senses for their parts.
PlNABELLUS:
Go now; Caesar is coming in.
GENESIUS:
1120
Marcella and Octavius
are there talking to each other.
PlNABELLUS:
They're acting out love's desire,
while you stick to cheap comedy
GENESIUS:
Where you see jealousy performed,
1125
there you see tragedy, my friend.
They leave. Enter Diocletian and Maximian accompanied by two senators, Lentulus and Patricius.
LENTULUS:
I thank you on behalf of all here,
in the name of the senators
and the grateful people of Rome.
You shower us with noble gifts.
DIOCLETIAN:
1130
If I deserve your thanks and praise
it's as a Caesar who is just,
in the line of good Augustus.
You have welcomed me like a god.
But thank Maximian also
1135
for his great heroic valour.
MAXIMIAN:
Diocletian, the valour's yours,
and it's right Rome should speak of you
as though of great Augustus,
for your goodness has been well proved.
1140
You have divided your empire
with one who was simply your friend.
DIOCLETIAN:
Let Rome say we have shared the world,
for the world is ours to conquer.
MAXIMIAN:
Thus will Rome restore its grandeur.
DIOCLETIAN:
1145
And now let's put war behind us;
we've had our bread, now the circus,
for the people's love means much to me.
LENTULUS:
The people love you well, Caesar,
and pray to heaven for your long life.
DIOCLETIAN:
1150
And I will be their protector;
I'll bring them happiness and wealth.
Enter Camilla.
CAMILLA:
They're ready
DIOCLETIAN:
Let the play begin.
We'll see how their art mimics life.
They sit down and the musicians appear
SINGER:
1155
O never in Rome
Has the world heard such greeting
As we welcome home
Our Caesar Diocletian.
A soldier renowned
1160
By his comrades elected
Divine laurel crowns
Our great Emperor selected.
Sing voice, pipe and drum,
A victorious song
1165
To the triumph of Rome
And her glorious son.
No inherited might
Has brought him such power
But his strength in the fight
1170
And the glow of his ardour,
O Caesar divine,
By virtue so worthy,
The empire is thine,
We honour and serve thee.
1175
Sing voice, pipe and drum,
A victorious song
To the triumph of Rome
And her glorious son.
The musicians leave. Genesius rushes on like a man possessed.
GENESIUS:
Alexander has taken Athens by storm!
1180
He pushes his phalanx into Europe
and lays waste her countryside.
"Bring me the poet Thebanus",
for then kings sought poets
like women seek out mirrors.
1185
"Have the poet brought to me!"
Thebanus prepares himself:
"The Prince of War
and the Prince of Letters"
Socrates had said,
1190
but Thebanus is frightened,
he shivers nervously at the door.
The poet knows
the pen is not mightier than the sword,
it cannot cut through flesh.
1195
He takes off his gloves,
a simple sign of respect.
It's all he can do.
If he were a horse
he'd remove his shoes, he's so frightened.
1200
He walks forward,
and his gloves flap ludicrously in his hand.
He feels he is falling into the sun,
and he kneels
because he can walk no further.
1205
His gloves fall to the floor.
forgotten,
and he prostrates himself
until at last a voice:
"Thebanus, arise:
1210
we are equals you and I"
And he sees the gloves.
"They must be Alexander's",
for his eyes are full of Alexander.
He has looked into the sun.
1215
He picks the gloves up,
kisses them like holy relics,
and hands them to the king.
"Your gloves, great king"
"Poet, the gloves are yours",
1220
and Alexander laughs
and turns his face to the wall.
Thebanus bows and bows
and wishes for the earth to open up. You have come to Rome,
as Alexander came to Athens.
1225
But this time the poet
has sought out the king.
I rehearsed my speech,
I struck my pose,
I came into your imperial presence:
1230
"Ave Caesare, fortis Diocletian!"
I stripped the powers of my soul
away like gloves;
peeled away my senses;
placed them not in my hands,
1235
but in my tongue.
In an actor's silver tongue.
And I looked upon the sun
and my words fell away
On wings of wax
1240
they fell to earth.
I scooped them up
and held them out to you.
"The words are yours, Genesius"
And I wished the earth would open up;
1245
no words of yours could touch the ground,
Rome's praise for you wings high.
My words are lead;
my soul has been stripped bare.
Pardon me, Diocletian,
1250
for humbling them on the ground.
Exit Genesius.
LENTULUS:
There's not an actor to compare
with Genesius in all of Rome.
DIOCLETIAN:
That was an improvisation?
He just drew that comparison
1255
from thin air?
LENTULUS:
He’s our finest poet.
DIOCLETIAN:
Camilla, take this ring to him
as a token for that prologue.
Musicians appear
SINGER:
0 Iulieta.
That once your eyes were stars up in the skies
1260
May not he so;
That their heavenly light
Is a goddess bright - it must be so.
That your mouth is made sublime of coral fine
May not be so;
1265
When your lips suppose
To surpass the rose - it must be so.
That the sun you can surprise, 'bove phoenix rise
May not be so;
But that you have the grace
1270
Of an angel's face - it must be so
0 Iulieta.
Genesius re-appears, dressed as a handsome youth, accompanied by Marcella, in the costume of a beautiful young lady.
MARCELLA:
Leave me alone once and for all!
GENESIUS:
I seek only your happiness
I love…
MARCELLA:
You torment me with your love.
1275
I feel it everywhere I go.
And you fill me up with hatred,
a hatred greater than your love.
GENESIUS:
If your hatred torments you so,
sweet Iulieta, it kills me.
1280
My pain and yours are worlds apart,
as different as day and night,
like being loved and being forgotten.
MARCELLA:
My hatred for you, Romeus,
corrodes my soul and blights my life.
GENESIUS
1285
But you have never been hated;
you do not know what it is to die,
only to kill.
MARCELLA:
I'll not listen.
I'll not encourage your madness.
GENESIUS
Iulieta, won't you even
MARCELLA:
1290
I'll not be held responsible.
It's better that you face the truth.
GENESIUS:
You think I don't know, Marcella?
The truth? That you love Octavius,
that you're leaving me for him?
MARCELLA:
1295
You're meant to be acting, remember?
GENESIUS:
I'm acting out the pain I feel
when you say that you don't love me.
MARCELLA:
Romeus, I'm lulieta.
Why do you call me Marcella?
GENESIUS:
1300
I'm talking to you, Marcella,
in the only way that I can.
MARCELLA:
I don't know the words
GENESIUS
You'd know them,
if your heart just had ears to hear
MARCELLA:
Follow the script. Caesar's watching.
GENESIUS
1305
Take pity on me, Marcella.
MARCELLA:
I've lost my place. Let's start again.
GENESIUS
This is the start; the final act
has yet to come.
MARCELLA:
What final act
is there for love and hate like ours?
MAXIMIAN:
1310
They're not acting. They're just talking.
LENTULUS:
They've been put off by your presence;
they must have forgotten their words.
DIOCLETIAN:
You have little understanding
of the art of the thespian.
1315
This madness is the crowning touch
in his portrayal of real love.
He is a consummate actor.
Enter Fabritius, dressed as an old man.
FABRITIUS:
This is the price a father pays
for having a lovely daughter.
1320
When family honour is at stake
I become my daughter's keeper.
I guard and watch over her
like the saucer-eyed dog in hell.
Iulieta! What's going on?
1325
What are you doing home alone
with this young man? Has he…
MARCELLA:
Father,
he has been courtesy itself.
He came here asking to see you.
GENESIUS:
May Phoebus grant you long life, sir.
FABRITIUS:
1330
Tell me your business.
GENESIUS:
I'm in love.
Your lovely daughter's fame is such,
that I came here to talk with her,
to see such beauty for myself.
My father doesn't know I'm here;
1335
but now I've seen Iulieta
my only wish is to take her
for my lawfully wedded wife.
I've done wrong coming here like this,
but I swear I'll make good my fault
1340
and I'll offer love as my bond.
My father is a senator,
a man of good and noble name.
You and I will go together
and tell him of our wedding plans
FABRITIUS:
1345
My son, my heart sings to hear you.
You have brought honour to this house.
GENESIUS:
Your daughter now belongs to me?
FABRITIUS:
She is yours to have and to hold.
GENESIUS:
May I kiss her before we go
1350
as a token of our bargain.
FABRITIUS:
Iulieta, he asks little.
You may embrace him.
MARCELLA:
But, father
Genesius embraces her.
GENESIUS:
Iulieta, this is heaven.
Enter Octavius and Pinabellus.
OCTAVIUS:
Did you see them?
PINABELLUS:
Yes.
OCTAVIUS:
He kissed her!
PINABELLUS:
1355
I'm afraid so.
GENESIUS:
We should go now.
FABRITIUS:
But first you must tell me your name.
GENESIUS:
Romeus, but what's in a name?
Genesius and Fabritius leave.
MARCELLA:
Octavius, you've come, my love!
OCTAVIUS:
You have no right to speak my name.
1360
Your unfaithfulness disgusts me.
You have no right to look at me.
As Jove lives, I'll kill Romeus
and I'll put you in black mourning
before you've ever married him.
1365
All your promises, all my plans,
is this all that they amount to?
Iulieta, you're a woman,
merely a woman after all.
MARCELLA:
Listen to me, Octavius,
1370
I swear…
OCTAVIUS:
You dare to speak my name?
MARCELLA:
I'm innocent of these charges.
Romeus tricked his way in here.
I kissed him because I had to;
my foolish father ordered me.
OCTAVIUS:
1375
Lie to me once more, I'll kill you.
You would do well to be silent.
MARCELLA:
Pinabellus, what can I do?
How can I make him see reason?
PINABELLUS:
A lovers' tiff, that's all this is.
1380
You both say you love each other,
that you would die for each other,
that you'd go to the ends of the earth
to be with him and he with you.
Then do it.
OCTAVIUS:
Do you have a plan?
PINABELLUS:
1385
Iulieta will come with me,
and we'll go down to the Tiber.
I can borrow a closed carriage
so no one will recognise us
and we'll find a ship bound for Spain.
1390
You can meet us down there later,
at midnight when the tide is high.
OCTAVIUS:
Will you go with Pinabellus?
MARCELLA:
For you my love, into Hades.
OCTAVIUS:
Then let us leave this place at once
1395
and soon we will set sail for Spain.
MARCELLA:
Farewell, dear father, forgive me.
PINABELLUS:
Trust me, master
(Aside)
And she'll be mine,
we'll take ship all right, but to Crete.
This is the last time they will kiss,
and though I'm betraying their trust
1400
I'll forget my shame in her arms.
MARCELLA:
You'll marry me.
OCTAVIUS:
You have my word.
MARCELLA:
If only the play were for real!
OCTAVIUS:
Nothing could make me happier.
MARCELLA:
If only we could make it true
1405
and trick Genesius this way
OCTAVIUS:
Faithful and lovely Marcella,
would you do such a thing for me?
MARCELLA:
You'll see on board just what I'll do.
They all leave.
DIOCLETIAN:
They bring great realism to their parts.
1410
Do you think they're really acting?
CAMILLA:
They're simply fleshing out the words,
adding some sort of personal touch.
LENTULUS:
So the slave betrays the master,
who in turn betrayed the father,
1415
who was taken in by Romeus.
Bravo!
PATRICIUS:
The father's coming back.
Enter Genesius and Fabritius
FABRITIUS:
Your father received us with joy.
He inquired as to the virtue
of my daughter, not her dowry
GENESIUS:
1420
His only concern is for me.
FABRITIUS:
And your only concern is love?
GENESIUS:
That's the only dowry 1 seek.
FABRITIUS:
Noble birth, virtue and beauty
are the finest dowry of all.
1425
What does money matter, my son?
Enter Lelius.
LELIUS:
Sir, I have news of your daughter.
She's run off with Octavius,
both of them driven to despair
have sinned against your family name.
1430
They're on their way to the river…
GENESIUS:
Go now, and stop them from sailing.
With them goes your precious honour,
and with them ebbs away my life.
I swear to Jove I'll kill myself.
FABRITIUS:
1435
I'll go alter Iulieta
and kill Octavius, if need be;
but I will bring her back to you.
Exit Fabritius.
GENESIUS:
How did you find out about this?
1440
Did you see them with your own eyes?
LELIUS:
I heard them myself, I swear it.
They planned it with Pinabellus.
They said that they would sail to Spain.
GENESIUS:
Gods in heaven, stop her for me!
1445
Cause the sea to rear and rise up,
to throw its sands up to the stars,
so that the waves boil and bellow
and the whole ship trembles with fear
Let the winds rip the mast and sails,
1450
topsails, cables, rigging and ropes,
all come tumbling down upon them,
and let the night grow dark, so dark
that no one can tell north from south,
and leave them blinded on the sea.
1455
And if he brings, her up on deck,
like proud Paris with good Helen,
then let the wind tear him away
and hurl him into the black sea.
Gods in heaven, stop her for me,
1460
while I am stranded here on land.
Help me; find her and bring her back.
I am on fire; I burn-
while she travels on cold water
LELIUS:
Your love has run away with you,
1465
like a mad horse galloping wild.
Rein it in, before it's too late.
DIOCLETIAN:
He plays his part well.
MAXIMIAN:
Wonderfully
LENTULUS:
Genesius as a lover,
overcome by madness and by grief,
1470
could cause the stones themselves to weep,
but when he plays a Christian
who abandons the sacred gods
in favour of a little fish,
he would make your hair stand on end.
DIOCLETIAN:
1475
Then tomorrow let's do just that.
We'll ridicule those who deny
their rightful incense to Venus,
to Jove, to Mercury and Mars.
Genesius will play the role
1480
of an unrepentant Christian
standing firm against all torture.
MAXIMIAN:
He's starting again.
GENESIUS:
Holy Neptune,
master of the sea's sunless depths.
raise your head from your cold chambers,
1485
crowned with pearl and shining coral,
and slash the waves with your trident,
stir up the seas and make them roar
and let them dash the ship on rocks,
push it into The jagged reefs
1490
and smash it as though a mirror.
Lelius, what are they doing?
This is the second cue they've missed.
LELIUS:
You ad-libbed that one very well.
Very powerful.
GENESIUS:
Where are they?
1495
Gods in heaven, stop her for me.
Help me; find her and bring her back.
I am on fire; I burn
while she travels on cold water.
Enter Fabritius.
FABRITIUS:
It's all over, Genesius.
1500
You can drop the act, it's finished.
GENESIUS:
There's still another scene to come.
FABRITIUS:
Listen to me; Octavius
has gone, and taken her with him,
GENESIUS:
Gone?
FABRITIUS:
And taken Marcella too.
GENESIUS:
1505
Take off your beard, the play's over.
Tell them, but be careful what you say
FABRITIUS:
Great and mighty Diocletian.
Iuli... my daughter Marcella,
in real life, has been carried off,
1510
abducted by Octavius.
Great Caesar, I beg you to punish them.
GENESIUS:
Justice is your concern, Caesar.
You must have the traitor brought back.
Otherwise the play cannot end.
DIOCLETIAN:
1515
I am confused, Genesius.
Is this an act, part of the play?
You want us to be actors too,
to trick us into performing?
GENESIUS:
No, sir, it's true, as I stand here.
1520
Octavius loved Marcella,
but her father had chosen me.
I've been my own victim.
I myself scripted their escape.
Enter Pinabellus.
PINABELLUS:
Octavius has returned.
1525
Please be seated. The play goes on.
LENTULUS:
What an actor? What genius!
This was his finest role ever
Bravo, Genesius! Bravo!
DIOCLETIAN:
Your trick has worked to good effect,
1530
but since I've played myself so well,
and carried off the part of Caesar
you must pay me as I pay you.
GENESIUS:
I wish no payment, great Caesar
That I have shared the stage with you
1535
is more than ample recompense.
DIOCLETIAN:
But now that I'm an actor too
I have acquired a taste for plays
Bring your actors back tomorrow;
you shall be my guests of honour
1540
Besides, I have a mind to see
you play the part of a Christian.
GENESIUS:
Great Caesar, I promise you this:
that the part I play tomorrow
will be a lifetime's performance.
DIOCLETIAN:
1545
(Standing up.) Come.
MAXIMIAN:
You enjoyed the actor's wit?
DIOCLETIAN:
He twisted us round his finger.
They leave. Only Genesius and Pinabellus remain.
GENESIUS:
Pinabellus, did she come back,
or was that just for Caesars sake?
PINABELLUS:
I'm sorry; not even Caesar
1550
could catch them now
GENESIUS:
Then it's all true.
PINABELLUS:
By now they must have found a ship.
GENESIUS:
I can't believe this has happened.
Everything I worked for has been destroyed.
PINABELLUS:
Not so loud, Caesar might hear you.
GENESIUS:
1555
Then he'll think that I'm rehearsing
for never were words so true:
Gods in heaven, stop her for me.
I am on fire: I burn
while she travels on cold water
END OF ACT TWO
Act III
Enter Diocletian and Camilla.
CAMILLA:
1560
So you don't think the worse of me
for tricking my way into here,
before telling you of my feelings.
DIOCLETIAN:
I had kept my love secret too.
CAMILLA:
I begged the right to enter here
1565
to give me time to win your heart.
DIOCLETIAN:
Camilla, we reap what we sow,
and you sowed generosity.
CAMILLA:
I sowed hope and harvested you.
I give thanks to the gods above,
1570
for I have been well rewarded.
All my world is centred on you,
for you are master of the world
and I am mistress of your heart.
DIOCLETIAN:
All the gold in Rome could not repay
1575
the loaves of bread that you gave me.
And my soul cannot repay your love.
Enter Rutilius.
RUTILIUS:
The amphitheatre is ready,
full of all manner of wild beasts.
DIOCLETIAN:
What sort of beasts?
RUTILIUS:
Strange beasts, fierce beasts,
1580
big beasts… they defy description.
Only the finest of poets
would even dare to attempt it.
DIOCLETIAN:
Tell us about them anyway
RUTILIUS:
There are two lions from Sudan,
1585
both of them as black as pitch;
two huge bears from Ethiopia,
females, and all the fiercer for it…
they're the biggest Rome's ever seen.
And a wild boar, the very one
1590
which tossed and gored brave Adonis.
Then there's a circopithecus,
brought here from distant India.
It has a white man's beard and hair,
but the rest of its body is black.
1595
It lives in trees, high in the jungle
and gestures and shouts out and spits
at the terrified passers by.
And a huge cynoprosopus,
with the head of an angry dog,
1600
an alsatian to be exact,
and the body of a woman
-as announced in Virgil's Georgics.
A pegasus with a fine tail
so highly prized in Aramis
1605
that women wear it as a wig.
A hermaphrodyte hyena
who doesn't know whether to laugh
or cry; a green catobletus,
a horrible sight to behold,
1610
and a dragon which spits out fire
and spins elephants in the air
until the elephant is dead
and the dragon is so dizzy
the elephant falls and crushes him.
1615
A crocodile pulled from the Nile
that would tear any man in two,
but which weeps before it kills
CAMILLA:
Stop!
I know of another monster
that's fiercer than any of these.
DIOCLETIAN:
1620
Fiercer?
CAMILLA:
And even more cruel.
DIOCLETIAN:
Have it brought to Rome... what is it?
CAMILLA:
Love.
DIOCLETIAN:
Love is fearsome indeed.
A wild and furious monster
CAMILLA:
And not even the fear of death
1625
stops it from seeking its pleasure,
and though these weird and wonderful beasts
may sink their claws into our flesh,
only love draws, blood from the soul.
There is no greater cruelty
DIOCLETIAN:
1630
I'm looking forward to the games,
the greatest Rome has ever seen,
a symbol of my love for her,
a token of my love for you.
CAMILLA:
My love, such games are not for us.
1635
I have no wish to see men die,
to see beasts tear them limb from limb.
They are men just as you are a man,
and loving you I love all men.
Yes. I know Caesar is a god,
1640
but it's the man in you I love.
DIOCLETIAN:
There will be no blood spilt today
Let the people see the monsters,
but no man will be thrown to them.
Let's not encourage cruelty.
1645
I speak as a man.
CAMILLA:
And a god.
for your word are full of wisdom.
DIOCLETIAN:
So in that case the play's the thing.
Rutilius, tell the actors.
RUTILIUS:
They've been ready for quite a while.
Exit Rutilius. Enter Genesius
GENESIUS:
1650
Caesar, you wish to see a play?
DIOCLETIAN:
You too have been the sad victim
of cruelty, Genesius.
No man should be treated the way
that cold Marcella treated you.
1655
What happened?
GENESIUS:
Her father found them
a minute before the ship sailed
and he dealt with them on the spot,
a punishment they won't forget.
DIOCLETIAN:
He didn't…
GENESIUS:
Yes, he married them.
DIOCLETIAN:
1660
That'll soon cool their heels all right;
pleasure's not for the marriage bed.
We love the things we fear to lose:
if we get them on a piatter
then we take them or leave them;
1665
it becomes routine, it all goes stale.
Where are they now?
GENESIUS:
Backstage, waiting.
To err is human, to forgive….
DIOCLETIAN:
You're not burning with jealousy?
GENESIUS:
Ah, but she's another man's wife.
1670
What have I to be jealous of?
DIOCLETIAN:
Only poets really forgive,
only poets know love's frailties.
GENESIUS:
Great Caesar, love lives in the soul,
to which the poet holds the key
1675
What play would you have us perform?
DIOCLETIAN:
I've heard you play a Christian well,
that it's one of your finest roles.
GENESIUS:
If such is your desire, my lord.
DIOCLETIAN:
Call your actors and set the stage.
1680
And meanwhile, you and I, my love,
will play out our roles in the garden,
for you have roses in your cheeks
and the sun's shining in your eyes.
CAMILLA:
It's my love you see shining there.
Enter Marcella.
MARCELLA:
1685
Okay, what's it to be today?
GENESIUS:
Today we act out your false love.
MARCELLA:
False? It's the greatest love of all!
GENESIUS:
You said that you loved me too.
MARCELLA:
A passing infatuation,
1690
that's all; a notion, a fancy,
a candle compared to the fire
that I feel for Octavius.
I'll be faithful and true to him.
GENESIUS:
Can truth be born from trickery,
1695
the greatest love from this deceit?
MARCELLA:
Whose fault is that? Who wrote the script?
It was you who showed me the way
GENESIUS:
Fact and fiction make strange bed partners.
I wrote the scene to learn from it,
1700
not for you to take it as fact.
MARCELLA:
Love's a fact.
GENESIUS:
I'd make you happy
MARCELLA:
I am.
GENESIUS:
For how long?
MARCELLA:
Forever.
GENESIUS:
You did change your mind once before.
MARCELLA:
If I do I'll come straight to you.
GENESIUS:
1705
Will you?
MARCELLA:
I might.
GENESIUS:
I can hope then?
MARCELLA:
You think I'm fickle?
GENESIUS:
I hope so.
I know you are.
MARCELLA:
Then wait and see.
GENESIUS:
What am I supposed to believe?
There's a good play in this at least,
1710
but, Marcella, you drive me mad.
Enter Octavius.
GENESIUS:
Your husband.
MARCELLA:
So what?
OCTAVIUS:
Gods above,
what play have they got in mind now?
GENESIUS:
Octavius, I'm glad to see you.
Let's get down to work straight away;
1715
he wants to see the Christian play,
a tribute to the Roman gods,
a blood sacrifice on the stage.
MARCELLA:
I've forgotten some of the words.
OCTAVIUS:
We'll rehearse our scene together
1720
I've told you time and time again
not to talk to Genesius,
except when you're both performing.
MARCELLA:
You might think little of my love,
but you'll not insult my honour
OCTAVIUS:
1725
Just do as I say, Marcella,
for the roles he plays out with you
seem frighteningly real to me.
MARCELLA:
I won't even say a word to him,
I promise, my lips are sealed.
OCTAVIUS:
1730
Virtue avoids the occasion
of sin, just you remember that.
Marcella and Octavius leave.
GENESIUS:
A lovers' tiff… ah, jealousy,
you lurk green in newlyweds' hearts.
Right! To work. A bold Christian
1735
who laughs in the face of torture,
who clings fast to his crazy faith.
So how do I play such a part?
An expression of piety?
Gestures of scornful derision
1740
when they lead me to be tortured?
Perhaps a quiet word with Christ,
to show the audience my hidden depths?
And with what 's-her-name too, of course,
I'll need to remember her name.
1745
I'll make that the tear jerking scene,
when I cry out in pain to… to…
Mary, that's it… and all the saints,
I'll throw myself on their mercy,
I'll appeal to their sweet spilled blood,
1750
Holy Mother, the holy saints,
I'll call out in my agony
with a voice as clear as a bell,
and I will curse the gods, of Rome,
and all their abominations,
1755
and I'll shatter their images,
and then I'll see the skies open,
when my body's about to break,
and I'll speak with the martyrs…
that's going to be a super scene…
1760
and I’ll look into Caesar's eye.
"Oh, great Caesar, you too will die
and you too will be forgotten,
and you will lie with the earth's dead,
while we rejoice with God above".
1765
Oh yes, this will work like a dream.
“You torture my body, Caesar,
but my spirit belongs to God.
Neither fire nor hard iron
will force me to love your false gods''
1770
I've always had a good strong voice;
it'll bring a shiver to their spine.
Then I'll raise my eyes to heaven.
"Holy martyrs, pray for my soul,
pray to Christ to give me courage,
1775
to let his passion fill my heart.
Baptism is the door to life,
give me baptism. Lord, I pray''
(Music plays as doors upstage open to reveal images of Mary and of Christ in the arms of God, and a host of martyrs lined round the holy throne.)
Why did I ask to be baptized?
Thai's got nothing to do with this
1780
I never wrote a scene like that.
Although it's not a bad idea;
it has a certain ring of truth,
and Caesar's fond of realism.
What would be the best words to use?
1785
"Saints, pray to God to baptize me,
accept me today in heaven"
All this nonsense lust for Caesar.
VOICE:
Pray to me and you will be saved.
You will not play this role in vain.
The doors close.
GENESIUS:
1790
An actor's voice, it must have been.
Jove above, how well he answered,
it was like a voice from the gods.
"Genesius, you will be saved",
a voice that touched my very soul.
1795
Even if that was an actor
they say that Christ took human form,
that this human form suffered death
so that all men could learn to live…
Enter Fabius
FABIUS:
There s no working with some people
GENESIUS:
1800
…that the whole world be cleansed of sin,
that our eyes be cleansed to heaven
FABIUS:
It's useless, she won't do a thing.
Now that's she got her hooks in him,
she'll not learn lines, she'll not rehearse.
1805
She's said she won't do the angel.
Fuck Marcella!
GENESIUS:
What is heaven?
I must raise my eyes to heaven,
adore him, touch holy water
and cleanse my eyes. Yes, baptism.
FABIUS:
1810
He hasn't even noticed me.
What a pro!
GENESIUS:
I must be baptised,
for his voice has stirred my senses.
FABIUS:
Fuck Marcella, I was saying.
She's refused to…
GENESIUS:
And then there's hell
1815
for those who refuse to listen.
A darker Hades, more cruel,
more pain, who wouldn't die tor Christ?
FABIUS:
This is no time for rehearsals.
Listen to me; Caesar's waiting
1820
and Marcella won't learn her lines.
I'll have to be the fucking angel.
GENESIUS:
God, you have shown yourself to me.
FABIUS:
Listen lovey, I'm not doing both.
God or an angel, but not both.
GENESIUS:
1825
You spoke to me through an angel,
oh Jesus.
FABIUS:
It's me, Fabius.
GENESIUS:
Sorry, I got carried away,
An angel was speaking to me.
FABIUS:
I was talking about angels.
1830
Me, I've got to do the angel.
GENESIUS:
I thought the voice came from heaven.
FABIUS:
Your heaven's here, with Marcella.
You were just thinking about her.
Anyway, she won't do the part,
1835
says it's not dignified enough,
but that it's good enough for me.
GENESIUS:
The gods are playing tricks on me,
even heaven must have its laugh
You'll have to do it, Fabius.
FABIUS:
1840
I haven't had those old wings on
for donkey's ages.
GENESIUS:
We've no choice.
Let's go and run over the words.
FABIUS:
This angel's heading for a tall.
GENESIUS:
Oh Christ, lead me to your God's side.
They leave. Enter Diocletian, Maximian, Camilla, Lentulus and Sulpicius.
DIOCLETIAN:
1845
Sit here, Camilla, between us,
a great Caesar on either side.
CAMILLA:
What greater fortune could there be?
The wheel spins, some fall to the ground
while others are raised up on high,
1850
raised up to the heavens themselves.
Yesterday, I sold bread to soldiers;
today, I sit with two Caesars,
two Emperors, to watch a play.
MAXIMIAN:
Camilla, the world is fickle.
CAMILLA:
1855
The tragedy's about to start.
Enter singers and musicians.
SINGER:
Jesus came down into this world
From the Father,
And took flesh from Mary His Virgin Mother;
His law of life He wrote in blood.
1860
It is the Good News for all Christians
Which will give them strength to suffer
Every kind of martyr's death;
And through this death live with Him
In the glory of His Kingdom. Amen.
The singers and musicians leave. Marcella enters.
MARCELLA:
1865
The elephant's a wondrous beast,
noble, kind and strong; a king.
Naturalists have written of one
who learned to write, while many men
can make no sense of scholarship.
1870
He wrote these words in the sand,
then wept when wind and sea took them away.
''These are my words; remember me
for they will be my epitaph.
You will measure my achievement
1875
in their shadow over the years".
Another elephant killed himself,
leapt into space from a high cliff
when his friend was braver in battle.
The dolphins wept over his grave.
1880
More generally, two things are true.
When they meet with lesser creatures,
or have to move through flocks of lambs,
they gently push the lambs aside
so they don't crush them underfoot.
1885
And when they cross rivers and streams
the bulls and queens watch from the banks
and let the little ones cross first
so the water level won't rise
with their huge bulk, and drown their young.
1890
Genesius and his poor flock
now pass between two great Caesars.
Push us aside with gentle care,
and if on life's endless journey
we too must cross streams and rivers,
1895
we beg you to watch over us,
to shelter us from your grandeur
The plea at a humble woman.
Marcella leaves. Genesius is dragged on in chains by a captain and three soldiers.
GENESIUS:
Treat me at least with some respect.
CAPTAIN:
Shut up!
GENESIUS:
Death holds no fear for me,
1900
and I'll suffer prison for Christ.
But I spoke to you out of pride,
and I am heartily sorry.
Insult me, torture me, kill me,
do with this body as you please,
1905
for the sake of Christ I will endure.
CAPTAIN:
Go easy with him.
DIOCLETIAN:
I like this
It's an arresting beginning.
MAXIMIAN:
He plays the part to perfection.
GENESIUS:
Oh, God, I am yours already
1910
Bring me baptism, free me now,
or let them spill my blood for you,
for blood and water cleanse alike.
SOLDIER:
That's not in the play
CAPTAIN:
He's like that,
he's a dab hand at improvising.
SOLDIER:
1915
Well, he's certainly in good form.
CAPTAIN:
It's playing in front of Caesar,
it gets the old humours going.
An angel appears on a balcony.
ANGEL:
God has heard you and read your heart.
Your desire has filled him with love.
1920
Come up and I will baptise you.
GENESIUS:
Lord, my lips know not what to say.
Read the silent words of my heart.
He goes up to the balcony.
CAPTAIN:
What the hell is he playing at?
We didn't rehearse it like this"?
SOLDIER:
1925
This isn't improvisation.
It's anarchy
CAPTAIN:
Where's he off to?
SOLDIER:
God knows.
DIOCLETIAN:
The Christians follow Christ.
He's pretending that he's been saved,
that the angel came to get him,
1930
and whisk him off to... wherever.
MAXIMIAN:
Stuff and nonsense, if you ask me
DIOCLETIAN:
Try telling them that.
CAMILLA:
He's praying.
That's what they do you know, just talk
instead of a good sacrifice.
1935
And then they eat a bit of bread.
DIOCLETIAN:
It's all a mystery to me.
Music sounds and angels appear; one holds a basin of water, another a white candle and another a hood.
GENESIUS:
Lord, who knows the secret of our hearts,
who raised dead Lazarus from the tomb,
who forgave a thief on the cross
1940
and brought him to reign at his side,
who plucked Jonah from the wild sea
who showed himself to Isaiah,
now bless this bread for it is yours.
Yours is the glory.
1945
Mine the martyrdom.
Break this bread for me.
Bring me back to life.
Yours is the cross.
Mine is the sorrow.
1950
I will act no more.
The curtain closes.
DIOCLETIAN:
A great actor!
MAXIMIAN:
A superb scene!
LENTULUS:
Like the real thing!
CAMILLA:
True conviction!
Humility and arrogance.
DIOCLETIAN:
He speaks and gestures with such ease
1955
that you'd swear he wasn't acting.
(Genesius appears and begins to come down).
GENESIUS:
Lord, you have given me your grace,
strengthen now my heart with your love,
hold me now in the face of death,
sustain my weakness at this hour.
1960
I am ready, my friends. Take me.
CAPTAIN:
I just can't work like this, lovey.
What scene is this supposed to be?
What's my cue? Where are we? I'm lost.
GENESIUS:
And I've been found. I'm here to die.
1965
God has written my cues for me,
all my entrances and exits,
all my acts are written in him.
For all the world is an actor,
and without these cues all is lost.
CAPTAIN:
1970
Prompt! Genesius has lost his cue.
SOLDIER:
Prompt! Prompt!
GENESIUS:
I have no need of prompts.
My words come from inspiration,
from an angel who called to me:
"Genesius! Genesius,
1975
walk, for that is the will of God".
The play was wrong, badly scripted.
Where it said devil, there was God:
and for heaven we read hell;
and life for everlasting death,
1980
and glory for eternal pain;
the play was wrong; the actor lost.
But an angel taught me my lines,
and prompted me to speak to God.
You are witnesses to this play.
1985
It is right you have enjoyed it
because heaven is the reward.
I am God's; I am of his faith;
I shall be his finest actor,
CAPTAIN:
Prompt! He's completely lost his place.
1990
He's making all this up.
Fabius appears, dressed as an angel,
FABIUS:
Hark! Hark!
Genesius, God has sent me
to have a quiet word with you.
He beats out syllables on his hand as he speaks these lines.
CAPTAIN:
That’s beautifully timed, Fabius,
but we've already done this scene.
1995
You've baptized him already.
FABIUS:
What?
CAPTAIN:
No point in doing it again.
FABIUS:
I didn't.
CAPTAIN:
You did.
FABIUS:
Didn't.
CAPTAIN:
Did.
DIOCLETIAN:
Actors, you forget where you are.
You are performing for Caesar.
GENESIUS:
2000
The fault is mine. You can blame me.
DIOCLETIAN:
The play's half-baked, How dare you all
bicker like this in my presence?
CAPTAIN:
You saw an angel, great Caesar?
DIOCLETIAN:
Yes
CAPTAIN:
Well, he says it wasn't him…
2005
He wants to do the scene again.
DIOCLETIAN:
We all saw him with our own eyes.
FABIUS:
Great Caesar, if it can be proved
that I've already played my scene,
I'll lay my head upon the block.
DIOCLETIAN:
2010
I saw you myself
CAMILLA:
We all did
FABIUS
Caesar, senators, great nobles.
It wasn't me.
MAXIMIAN:
He must be mad
GENESIUS:
His part was played by an angel
DIOCLETIAN:
What do you mean "by an angel”?
GENESIUS:
2015
An angel who brought me a script
and taught me the part I'm playing.
Caesars, I am now a Christian;
I've received holy baptism.
Jesus Christ has mapped out my words.
2020
He's the author; he controls us all.
The second act will be your wrath.
The third will be my martyrdom.
DIOCLETIAN:
What are we supposed to believe?
Are you still acting?
MAXIMIAN:
They’re all mad!
GENESIUS:
2025
I speak the truth. You are tyrants.
MAXIMIAN:
You will die tor that.
DIOCLETIAN:
Lunatic!
Do you deny Jove?
GENESIUS:
I deny
all other gods. Jove is evil.
He has no right to be a god,
2030
and those that follow him are dogs.
DIOCLETIAN:
Then listen well to what I say.
You've lived in a play all your life;
now you'll die there too. Bring him here.
GENESIUS:
Fools, don't you see it's death I seek?
DIOCLETIAN:
2035
Then you shall die without a trial.
My part is done. Come, Camilla,
we have no place in this affair.
Have the whole company questioned.
MAXIMIAN:
You are the fool, Genesius.
2040
You have forfeited Caesar's grace.
GENESIUS:
I have God's grace.
Diocletian, Maximian and Camilla leave.
LENTULUS:
Will you recant.
Are you aware of what you've done?
GENESIUS:
I have spoken, my truest words.
I love God; I am a Christian.
LENTULUS:
2045
Guards:
Enter two guards.
GUARD:
Sir!
LENTULUS:
Get this fool out of my sight.
GENESIUS:
Sweet Lord, you have granted my wish.
He is taken away.
LENTULUS:
Get the actors. Let none escape.
Send them in to me one by one.
SULPICIUS:
Who would have thought it possible?
LENTULUS:
2050
It's well know Christians are shameless
Enter Marcella.
MARCELLA:
What do you want of me?
LENTULUS:
Your name?
MARCELLA:
Marcella, sir.
LENTULUS:
What was your job?
MARCELLA:
But you saw me! Leading lady.
Enter Octavius.
LENTULUS:
Who are you?
OCTAVIUS:
Her husband.
LENTULUS:
Indeed?
2055
And what exactly was your job?
OCTAVIUS:
Leading man.
Enter Sergestus.
LENTULUS:
And what do you do?
SERGESTUS:
I'm a sort of jack of all trades,
knaves, bragging soldiers, old beggars.
You name it, I do it.
Enter Fabius.
LENTULUS:
And you?
FABIUS:
2060
Boys, princes and ugly young men,
I don't usually do angels.
LENTULUS:
We're not getting anywhere here
Who are you?
ALBINUS:
Albinus, kind sir.
I do the jokes, The comedy,
2065
but this is no laughing matter,
is it? I also do shepherds,
the sort that rescue lost ladies,
I mean lost in the high mountains.
Enter Salustius.
LENTULUS:
And you?
SALUSTIUS:
I play all the traitors.
LENTULUS:
2070
Perhaps now we're getting somewhere
You seem a shifty sort.
SALUSTIUS:
No sir,
I'm a gods fearing citizen.
Enter Fabritius
LENTULUS:
What else would you be? Who are you?
FABRITIUS:
I play kings and ancient fathers,
2075
roles of substance and dignity.
LENTULUS:
You can take my role any day.
This, is becoming tedious.
FABRITIUS:
You know the law, the words to say.
I'm an actor; we know nothing.
Enter Celia.
LENTULUS:
2080
I suppose you're another queen.
CELIA:
I'm just a supporting actress.
I play maids and ugly sisters.
The costumes man appears.
LENTULUS:
And you?
COSTUMES MAN:
I'm just the odd job man.
Nothing to do with anything.
Enter Martius.
LENTULUS:
2085
You're the last one. What about you?
MARTIUS:
I play gravediggers.
LENTULUS:
Gravediggers?
MARTIUS:
I'm the one who carries off the dead,
although sometimes I tell jokes too.
LENTULUS:
Frankly, I've had enough of this.
2090
There's no point in keeping you here.
Just answer me this one question.
Are you Christians?
ALL:
No, sir.
LENTULUS:
Then go,
but go also from this city.
I sentence you to be exiled.
MARCELLA:
2095
Through you I beg Caesar's pardon.
LENTULUS:
You will leave at once.
OCTAVIUS:
At once, sir.
LENTULUS:
I'll tell the Emperor you've gone.
OCTAVIUS:
We'll not delay a single moment.
They all leave. Enter Genesius in chains.
GENESIUS:
My God, you took fact for fiction.
2100
I thought it was a harmless game,
all I sought was Caesar's applause.
I played my part for him so well.
You saw me act out love for you,
you saw this man and pitied him
2105
and sorrowed for his lies and pain,
and you took me at my word,
so my little play ends in you.
Enter Sulpicius and a jailer
SULPICIUS:
These are Caesar's express orders.
When he returns from the circus
2110
he wants him to be impaled.
JAILER:
The show didn't go down too well,
eh, Genesius?
GENESIUS:
Truth is hard,
but I perform God's truth for him
and will not lie for a mere man,
JAILER:
2115
You were such a good Christian.
The audience used to love it,
the way you pulled funny faces
as you were being tortured.
GENESIUS:
That was the devil's company.
2120
He's a proud but cruel actor,
but even he cannot play God.
We all perform our parts tor him.
Mary Magdalene is lost
on a high mountain and is found,
2125
by answering the shepherd's call.
Dimas is the thief on the cross,
who is called to Christ's right hand side
Joseph and Mary are the leads,
their love fills the entire play.
2130
Paul is the knave who soon repents.
Nicodemus the gravedigger
whose dead arise eternally.
There's no traitor, not a Judas,
no cruel and bloodied Emperor.
2135
The world costumes the part of lust,
the flesh consummates its greed.
The beggarman buries the dead,
but these dead lie dead for ever,
for there can be no curtain call.
SULPICIUS:
2140
You'll have your chance to speak later.
GENESIUS:
God wants me to speak, act and sing.
I'll act out my part in heaven.
My death begins the second act.
And my name will be remembered
2145
as that of the supreme actor.
They leave. The troupe of actors appears on their way out of Rome. Some carry packs, others props and costumes.
OCTAVIUS:
Rome is the greatest of cities.
MARCELLA:
Light of the world.
FABIUS:
Laurel of life.
FABRITIUS:
Rome is the finest of empires.
SERGESTUS:
Temple of gods.
SALUSTIUS:
Triumph of arms.
ALBINUS:
2150
Farewell to Rome.
CELIA:
Farewell to life.
OCTAVIUS:
Beloved Rome, I don't blame you.
And good Caesar, you have been just.
We carry no complaint from here
except against Genesius.
2155
For he chose to act out his death
at a time of hope and glory,
our richest opportunity.
Thanks be to Jove and the gods
that the tragedy stopped with him.
2160
But, friends, how shall we put on plays,
how will we win audiences,
when the supreme actor has gone?
Who is there to play Adonis?
MARCELLA:
There's only you, Octavius,
2165
just you alone.
OCTAVIUS:
And when Troy burns,
who will play the part of Paris?
FABRITIUS:
Fabius can learn lines quickly.
MARCELLA:
We'll learn new plays, and we'll survive,
OCTAVIUS:
Slow down, my friends. Here's the theatre
2170
where Genesius performs today,
where he plays out his life and death.
Here on the field of Mars.
Genesius is suddenly revealed, impaled.
GENESIUS:
People of Rome, listen to me.
I played to the world
2175
I played its vices
and its misery.
I mocked the true God
and worshipped idols.
And now it's over.
2180
The comedy of men
is an empty farce.
In my God's heaven
the play will resume.
OCTAVIUS:
And so dies the supreme actor,
the patron saint of all actors.