eft, followed by slave. GUeLISTANE comes
up the stairs, an old slave-woman behind
her. GANEM bends forward from a niche
above, spies GUeLISTANE and comes down
the stairs.]

GANEM (takes her by the hand).
My dream, whence comest thou? So long I lay
To wait for thee.

[The old slave-woman mounts the stairs.]

GUeLISTANE.
I? From my bath I come
And go now to my chamber.

GANEM.
How thou shinest
From bathing.

GUeLISTANE.
It was flowing, glowing silver
Of moonlight.

GANEM.
Were I one of yonder trees,
I would cast off my foliage with a quiver,
And leap to thee! O were I master here!

GUeLISTANE.
Aye, if thou wert! Thy father is quite well.
He bade me dine alone with him this evening.

GANEM.
Accursed skill, that roused this blood again,
Which was already half coagulated.
I saw him speaking with thee just this morning.
What was it?

GUeLISTANE.

I have told thee.

GANEM.
Speak, was that all? Thou liest, there was more!

GUeLISTANE.
He asked me--

GANEM.
What? But hush, the walls have ears.

[She whispers.]

Beloved!
While thou art speaking, ripes in me a plan,
Most wonderful, note well, and based on this:
He now is but the shadow of himself,
And though he still stands threatening there, his feet
Are clay. His wrath is thunder without lightning.
And--mark me well--all this his lustfulness
Is naught but senile braggadocio.

GUeLISTANE.
Well,
What dost thou base on this?

GANEM.
The greatest hope.

[He whispers.]

GUeLISTANE.
But such a poison--
Suppose there should be one of such a nature,
To end the life, but leave the corpse unmarred--
This poison none will sell thee.

GANEM.
Aye, no man,
A woman will--

GUeLISTANE.
For what reward?

GAN