immortality— What e'en a god, oh love, if reft of thee? The shepherd who, beside the murmuring brooks, Leans on his true love's breast, nor cares to look After his straying lambs, in that sweet hour Envies me not my thunderbolt of power! She comes—she hastens nigh! Pearl of my works, Woman! the artist who created thee Should be adored. 'Twas I—myself I worship Zeus worships Zeus, for Zeus created thee. Ha! Who will now, in all the being-realm, Condemn me? How unseen, yes, how despised Dwindle away my worlds, my constellations So ray-diffusing, all my dancing systems, What wise men call the music of my spheres!— How dead are all when weighed against a soul! (Semele approaches, without looking up.) My pride! my throne on earth! Oh Semele! (He rushes towards her; she seeks to fly.) Thou flyest?—art mute?—Ha! Semele! thou flyest? SEMELE. (Repulsing him.) Away! ZEUS. (After a pause of astonishment.) Is Jupiter asleep? Will Nature Rush to her fall?—Can Semele speak thus? What, not an answer? Eagerly mine arms Toward thee are stretched—my bosom never throbbed Responsive to Agenor's daughter,—never Throbbed against Leda's breast,—my lips ne'er burned For the sweet kiss of prisoned Danae, As now— SEMELE. Peace, traitor! Peace! ZEUS. (With displeasure, but tenderly.) My Semele! SEMELE. Out of my sight! ZEUS. (Looking at her with majesty.) Know, I am Zeus! SEMELE. Thou Zeus? Tremble, Salmoneus, for he fearfully Will soon demand again the stolen charms That thou hast robbed him of—thou art not Zeus! ZEUS. (With dignity.) The mighty universe around me whirls, And calls me so— SEMELE. Ha! Fearful blasphemy! ZEUS. (More gently.) How, my divine one? Wherefore such a tone? What reptile dares to steal thine heart from me? SEMELE. My heart was vowed to him whose ape thou art! Men ofttimes come beneath a godlike form To snare a woman. Hence! thou art not Zeus! ZEUS. Thou doubtest? What! Can Semele still doubt My godhead? SEMELE. (Mournfully.) Would that thou wert Zeus! No son Of morrow-nothingness shall touch this mouth; This heart is vowed to Zeus! Would thou wert he! ZEUS. Thou weepest? Zeus is here,—weeps Semele? (Falling down before her.) Speak! But command! and then shall slavish nature Lie trembling at the feet of Cadmus' daughter! Command! and streams shall instantly make halt— And Helicon, and Caucasus, and Cynthus, And Athos, Mycale, and Rhodope, and Pindus, Shall burst their bonds when I order it so, And kiss the valleys and plains below, And dance in the breeze like flakes of snow.
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