SCENE IV - A secluded room. Enter VIBIA in the arms of two GUARDS.
GUARD I: By order of Hadrian, thou art to stay in this room.
Leave not unguided, or else meet your doom.
GUARD II: Feed thee will we, sleep here thee may.
But reflect mostly on why he's making thee stay.
GUARD I: The door will be shut once we leave.
No one will enter, I have the only key.
GUARD II: For thine affair with the secretary of Hadrian,
Thou art now locked in this chamber, and he banished.
VIBIA: Banished? Banished from Greece or from work?
GUARD I: Both, Empress, for his betrayal of our lord.
VIBIA: I must see him, before he must go.
GUARD II: He has already left, of that all I know.
VIBIA: Tis torture, tis torture, leave me alone.
(GUARDS exit.)
VIBIA: My husband, my husband, love of my life.
Treat me not horribly in this dark night.
My husband, my husband, I am thy wife!
Thy love, thy passion, tis no longer right.
Lock me in here, banish Gaius from Greece?
This is not an Emperor's way to lead.
While thy love Antinous falls to his knees,
To please thee. Fall I Apollo to plead.
Save Gaius, and of Antinous kill.
Murder the creature, let Hadrian see.
How canst I offer deliberate will?
Write shall I to Gaius who is yet free?
Paper, come hither thee now. Ink, thee too,
Show to my Gaius what I wish he'd do.
(Begin writing.)
Gaius, my love, my faithful companion. Wherever thou art, read this alone. Hadrian and Antinous leave tonight for Egypt. Tonight in Egypt, happiness post-poned.
Lucius I know is meant to bear the blade,
But only Gaius has shown self-control.
False men run from the worthiest missions,
Real men can conduct these things alone.
(Continue writing.)
Antinous has cast a spell on Hadrian, and Lucius may fall victim too. That is why I am writing thee to end his life, because Lucius may not that do.
Gaius, be man, Lucius may not be.
I know thou art, for tis loyal to me.
(Continue writing.)
I love thee, Gaius. With all of my heart. If thou dost too, take away the part of Hadrian keeping Greece from glory, and then we may rewrite thine story.
Greece will thank thee, my Gaius, oh, she will.
If she doth not, I will offer thee my fill.
I'll gift to thee all my lands and jewels,
If thou kills Antinous, my rival, fool.
Guard! I cry: Guard! Enter thy room.
Listen to my voice, I sing a tune.
(Enter GUARD I.)
I have the last payment for Gaius's service,
Lodged in this envelope to give to him.
Tis illegal to leave his earnings here,
Just due to his banishment.
Offer his money fast,
Or fear I we will feel his wrath.
GUARD I: Send will I then, this payment to Gaius.
As ordered by my lowly Empress.
VIBIA: Open not it thee, the numbers only he can see.
Send it hence, then leave it be.
My emperor and lord would want it as such,
Respectful and honest, I would want as much.
GUARD I: Quick will I hence, don't worry, I will.
Send him this paper, so he gets his fill.
VIBIA: Tis all then, hurry, you have little time.
GUARD I: Tis true, my lady, thank thee, goodbye.
(GUARD exits.)
VIBIA: Chase out what will come, chase out what comes out,
Let in what will last, let in what lets in.
Hadrian wilt not be of whom I shout.
But Gaius I know will take this and win.
Hadrian now past, his days with me through,
For he's no longer the man I married.
Gaius knows though, yes, Gaius always knew.
Exactly what it was, it too he carried.
Blind to it was I, till he caught off guard,
Vibia lost in arrays of weakness.
And then he showed that he bore the same card,
Of my late husband, he stole the Empress.
My heart belongs in the hands of that man,
I pray he kills the man of Hadrian.
YOU ARE READING
Hadrian & Antinous
Historical FictionExplore the love affair of the Ancient Greek Emperor Hadrian and his lover, a Greek man named Antinous, in this classically-written, full-length stage play. Based on a true story, the play also fills in the details lost to history with author Anthon...
