_Cyn._ Oh, pitiful adventurer! He dares to lose, but does not dare to pay! Come, be a man! See, _I_ am brave enough, And I have more to bear than thou! Behold! I am alone, thou hast thy statue bride! Oh, Artemis, my mistress, hear me now, Ere I remember how I love that man, And in that memory forget my shame! If he in deed or thought hath been untrue, Be just and let him pay the penalty!
(_PYGMALION, with an exclamation, covers his eyes with his hands._)
_Cyn._ I know no pity, woman; for the act That thawed thee into flesh has hardened me Into the cursed stone from which thou cam’st. We have changed places; from this moment forth Be _thou_ the wife and I the senseless stone! (_Thrusts GALATEA from her._)
_Daph._ It seems Pygmalion _has_ the fearful gift Of bringing stone to life. I’ll question him And ascertain how far that power extends.
_Myr._ Oh, we were all so happy yesterday, And now, within twelve miserable hours, A blight has fallen upon all of us. Pygmalion is blind as death itself, Cynisca leaves his home this very day, And my Leucippe hath deserted me! I shall go mad with all this weight of grief!
_Daph._ But can’t you stop her? Shut the creature up, Dispose of her, or break her? Won’t she chip?
_Daph._ Ah, were I his wife, I’d spoil her beauty! There’d be little chance Of finding him and her alone again!
_Myr._ There’s little need to take precautions now, For he, alas! is blind!
_Daph._ Blind! What of that? Man has five senses; if he loses one The vital energy on which it fed Goes to intensify the other four. He had five arrows in his quiver; well, He has shot one away, and four remain. My dear, an enemy is not disarmed Because he’s lost one arrow out of five!
_Myr._ The punishment he undergoes might well Content his wife!
_Daph._ To be sure she is; She has the power to punish faithlessness, And she has used it on her faithless spouse. Had I Cynisca’s privilege, I swear I’d never let my Chrysos rest in peace, Until he warranted my using it! Pygmalion’s wronged her, and she’s punished him. What more could woman want?
_Cyn._ What more? Why, this! The power to tame my tongue to speak the words That would restore him to his former self! The power to quell the fierce, unruly soul That battles with my miserable heart! The power to say, “Oh, my Pygmalion, My love is thine to hold or cast away, Do with it as thou wilt; it can not die!” I’d barter half my miserable life For power to say these few true words to him!