• hopilavayi: an erotic dictionary

memories of my ghost sista

~ the dead are never satisfied

memories of my ghost sista

Tag Archives: She-Wolf

act i. scene i.

01 Saturday Feb 2025

Posted by babylon crashing in Armenia, Armenian, drama, Translation

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Armenian translation, King Lear, Lykopis, She-Wolf, translation

CHARACTERS [so far, in order of appearance.]

LADY ANDROMEDA. Lykopis’ chief advisor. Her name means, “Ruler of Men.”

LADY TELEPYLEIA. Lykopis’ oldest friend and sometimes lover. Her name means, “Far Vision.”

MOLPADIA. Telepyleia’s bastard daughter. Her name means, “Death Song.”

QUEEN LYKOPIS OF THEMYSCIRA. Elderly Amazon. Her name means, “She-Wolf.”

LADY BELLONA. Lykopis’ daughter-in-law. Married to Titus.

LADY OCTAVIA. Lykopis’ daughter-in-law. Married to Amadeus.

LORD TITUS. Lykopis’ oldest son

LORD AMADEUS. Lykopis middle son.

LORD CHERUBINO. Lykopis youngest son.

QUEEN OF ARMENIA. Connoisseur of boys.

LADY PHOEBE. Also connoisseur of boys.

֍

Themyscira. Inside Queen Lykopis’s Palace. Lady Andromeda, Lady Telepyleia & Telepyleia’s daughter, Molpadia, all enter.

ANDROMEDA.

Ես կարծում էի, թէ թագուհիը Օկտավիաի Տիկինն աւելի է սիրում, քան թէ Բելոնաին:

I thought the queen loved Lady Octavia more than Bellona.

TELEPYLEIA.

Մեզ միշտ այդպես էր թվում, բայց հիմա, երբ թագուհին բաշխում է իր թագուհիությունը, ամենևին էլ պարզ չէ, թե տիկնանցից ով է նա ավելի շատ գնահատում։

It always seemed that way to us, but now that the Queen is distributing her kingdom, it’s not at all clear which of the ladies she values more.

ANDROMEDA.

[Pointing to Molpadia.] Սա ձեր աղջիկը չէ՞, տիկին:

Isn’t this your daughter, ma’am?

TELEPYLEIA.

Այո, տիկին, ես նրան մեծացրել եմ։ Ես այնքան հաճախ եմ կարմրել՝ ճանաչելու նրան որպես իմ աղջիկ, որ հիմա դեմքս կարծրացել է։

Yes, madam, I raised her. I have blushed so often to recognize her as my daughter that now my face has hardened.

ANDROMEDA.

Ես ձեզ չեմ հասկանում:

I don’t understand you.

TELEPYLEIA.

Իմ վայրենի պատանեկության տարիներին ես սիրահարվեցի… մի ստրուկի՝ Հռոմից: Միգուցե ես ուղղակի միամիտ էի։ Մինչեւ ամորձատվելը, ինչպես ասում են, մի վերջին սերմնաժայթք է ունեցել… ներսումս։ Հասկանու՞մ եք վիրավորանքը։

In my wild youth, I fell in love with … a slave from Rome. Maybe I was just naive. Before he was castrated, as they say, he had one last ejaculation … inside me. Do you understand the insult?

ANDROMEDA.

[Wincing.] Ես չէի կամենայ, որ այդ յանցանքը կատարուած չլինէր, քանի որ արգասիքն այսքան գեղեցիկ է:

I wish that crime hadn’t been committed because the result is so beautiful.

TELEPYLEIA.

Բայց, տիկինս, ես օրինական երեխա ունեմ՝ մի քանի տարով մեծ, որը, սակայն, ինձ համար ավելի թանկ չէ, քան այս մեկը։ [To Molpadia.] Ճանաչո՞ւմ եք այս ազնվական կնոջը՝ Մոլպադիային։

But, my lady, I have a legitimate child, a few years older, who, however, is no more precious to me than this one. Do you recognize this noble woman, Molpadia?

MOLPADIA.

Ոչ, տիկին իմ:

No, my lady.

TELEPYLEIA.

Սա Լեդի Անդրոմեդան է; այսուհետև լավ հիշիր նրան որպես իմ սիրելի ընկերոջ և սիրելիի։

This is Lady Andromeda; henceforth remember her well as my dear friend and beloved.

MOLPADIA.

Ծառայ եմ ձերդ յարգութեան:

I am your honor’s servant.

ANDROMEDA.

Ես ձեզ շատ կը սիրեմ եւ յոյս ունեմ, որ աւելի լաւ ծանօթանանք:

I love you very much and I hope we get to know each other better.

MOLPADIA.

տիկին իմ, ես կ`աշխատեմ արժանի լինել այդ պատուին:

My lady, I will work to be worthy of that honor.

[A drum roll announces the arrival of the Queen. A slave enters bearing a crown, followed by Queen Lykopis; then the Ladies Bellona and Octavia; followed by Titus, Amadeus, Cherubino & Attendants.]

LYKOPIS.

[To Telepyleia.] Իմ վաղեմի բարեկամ, գնա բարևի Հայոց թագուհիին և Լեդի Ֆիբիին։

My old friend, go greet the Queen of Armenia and Lady Phoebe.

TELEPYLEIA.

Ես կգնամ, իմ թագուհի: [Exits with Molpadia.]

I will go, my queen.

LYKOPIS.

Այժմ մենք կբացահայտենք մեր ավելի գաղտնի նպատակը։ Տվեք մեզ քարտեզը: Թող ձեզ հայտնի լինի, որ մենք մեր պետությունը բաժանել ենք երեք մասի և մեր ծերությունից հաստատ որոշել ենք թողնել ամեն հոգս ու աշխատանք և ամեն ինչ վստահել մեզանից ավելի եռանդուն ուժերին։ Մեր հարսը` Բելոնան, և մեր նույնքան սիրելի հարսը` Օկտավիան, յուրաքանչյուրն օժիտ ունեն, երբ ամուսնացան մեր տղաների հետ: Մեր փոքրիկ պաշտելի որդու՝ Չերուբինոյի սիրո մեծ մրցակիցը հայոց թագուհու և լեդի Ֆիբիի միջև է, ովքեր երկար սպասել են սիրո հույսով, և հիմա նրանց պետք է պատասխանել։ Բայց ասա՛ ինձ, որդի՛ք, քանի որ ձեր մայրը շուտով կկորցնի և՛ իշխանությունը, և՛ երկրի շահերը, և՛ պետության հոգսը, ձեզնից ով ավելի մեծ սեր ունի մեր հանդեպ։ Նախ, Տիտոս, մեր ավագը, դու առաջինը խոսիր։

Now we will reveal our more secret purpose. Give us the map. Let it be known to you that we have divided our state into three parts and, from our old age, have firmly decided to leave all care and labor and entrust everything to more energetic forces than ourselves. Our daughter-in-law, Bellona and our equally beloved daughter-in-law, Octavia, each have a dowry when they married our sons. The great rival for the love of our little adorable son, Cherubino, is between the Queen of Armenia and the Lady Phoebe, who have long waited in hope of love, and now they must be answered. But tell me, sons, since your mother will soon lose both the power and the interests of the country and the care of the state, which of you has the greater love for us. First, Titus, our eldest, you speak first.

TITUS.

Ես սիրում եմ քեզ, իմ տիկին, ավելին, քան բառերը կարող են արտահայտել, և դու ինձ համար ավելի թանկ ես, քան արևը, օդը, բոլոր ազատությունները, քան այն ամենը, ինչը համարվում է հարուստ և հազվադեպ: Ես սիրում եմ քեզ այնքան, որքան կյանքը՝ լի երջանկությամբ, փառքով ու պատվով, գեղեցկությամբ ու առողջությամբ։ Ես սիրում եմ քեզ այնքան, որքան որդին երբևէ սիրել է իր մորը, սեր, որի առջև բառերն անզոր են: Մի խոսքով, ես սիրում եմ քեզ ցանկացած չափելի սահմանից դուրս։

I love you, my lady, more than words can express, and you are dearer to me than the sun, the air, all freedoms, than all that is considered rich and rare. I love you as much as life is, full of happiness, glory and honor, beauty and health. I love you as much as a son ever loved his mother, a love before which words are powerless. In short, I love you beyond any measurable limit.

CHERUBINO.

[Aside.] Էլ ի՞նչ կարող է Չերուբինոն խօսել: Սիրել եւ լռել:

What else can Cherubino say? Love and be silent.

LYKOPIS.

Լավ` Այս սահմանները, այս գծից մինչև այս գիծը, լի անտառներով, խիտ ու զով, հարուստ դաշտերով, առատ գետերով և անծայրածիր ճահիճներով, ես քեզ տեր եմ նշանակում. թող նրանք ընդմիշտ պատկանեն Լեդի Օկտավիային և քո սերունդներին։ Հիմա ի՞նչ է ասում իմ երկրորդ որդին՝ Բելոնայի ամուսինը՝ գեղեցկադեմ Ամադեուսը։

Good! These borders, from this line to this line, full of forests, dense and cool, rich fields, abundant rivers and endless swamps, I make you master; let them forever belong to the Lady Octavia and your descendants. Now what does my second son, Bellona’s husband, the handsome Amadeus, say?

AMADEUS.

Ես կազմված եմ նույն նյութից, ինչ իմ եղբայրը, և ես գնահատում եմ իմ արժեքը նրա արժեքով: Եվ ես իմ անկեղծ սրտում գտնում եմ այն ամբողջ սերը, որը նա բացատրեց: Բայց եղբայրս դեռ բավարար բան չի ասել։ Ես ինձ թշնամի եմ հայտարարում այն ամենատարբեր հաճույքներին, որոնք կարող են մեզ տալ զգայարանների ամենանուրբ մասը։ Եվ ես ինձ երջանիկ եմ գտնում միայն այն երանության մեջ, որ տալիս է ինձ քո անգին սերը, մայրիկ։

I am made of the same stuff as my brother, and I estimate my worth by his worth. And I find in my sincere heart all the love that he explained. But my brother has not yet said enough. I declare myself an enemy to all the various pleasures that the most delicate part of the senses can give us. And I find myself happy only in the bliss that your priceless love gives me, mother.

CHERUBINO.

[Aside.] Ուրեմն վա՜յ քեզ, աղքա՛տ Չերուբինո. բայց ո՛չ, ո՛չ աղքատ, քանզի վստահ եմ, որ սէրս մեծ է, քան թէ իմ լեզուն:

So woe to you, poor Cherubino! But no, not poor, for I am sure that my love is greater than my tongue.

LYKOPIS.

Քեզ և քո սերունդներին, որպես ժառանգություն, թող հավերժ մնա մեր գեղեցիկ թագուհիության այս երկրորդ մասը, ոչ մի կերպ զիջելով Տիտոսին հատկացված բաժինը, ոչ չափով, ոչ գեղեցկությամբ, ոչ արժեքով։ Հիմա դու խոսիր, մեր ուրախություն։ Թեև ամենավերջինը, բայց ոչ պակասը, ում քնքուշ սերն այժմ մրցում է Հայաստանի որթատունկի և Ֆիբի կաթի հետ, ի՞նչ պետք է ասես, որ քո եղբայրներից ավելի շքեղ երրորդ բաժինը ստանաս։

To you and your descendants, as an inheritance, may this second part of our beautiful kingdom remain forever, in no way inferior to the portion allotted to Titus, neither in size, nor in beauty, nor in value. Now you speak, our joy. Though the last, but not the least, whose tender love now rivals the vine of Armenia and the milk of Phoebe, what should you say to receive the more luxurious third portion from your brothers?

CHERUBINO.

Ոչինչ:

Vo’chinch.

LYKOPIS.

Ոչի՞նչ:

Vo’chinch?

CHERUBINO.

Ոչինչ:

Vo’chinch.

LYKOPIS.

Ոչնչից միայն ոչինչ դուրս կը գայ: Խօսիր դու կրկին:

Nothing comes out of nothing. Speak again.

CHERUBINO.

Որքա՜ն դժբախտ եմ ես, անկարող սիրտս շուրթերիս բարձրացնել: Ես սիրում եմ քեզ այնպես, ինչպես որդին պետք է սիրի իր մորը՝ ոչ ավել, ոչ պակաս:

How unhappy I am, unable to raise my heart to my lips. I love you as a son should love his mother, no more, no less.

LYKOPIS.

Այդ ի՞նչ է, Չերուբինո, քիչ ուղղիր խօսքդ, թէ չես կամենում բախտդ փչացնել:

What’s that, Cherubino? Be a little more careful with your words, if you don’t want to ruin your luck.

CHERUBINO.

Ո՛վ իմ բարի մայր, դու ինձ ծնեցիր, կրթեցիր և սիրեցիր։ Փոխարենը, ինչպես տեղին է, հատուցում եմ քեզ՝ հնազանդվում եմ քեզ, սիրում եմ քեզ, հարգում եմ քեզ։ Ինչո՞ւ են իմ եղբայրները կանայք ունենում, եթե նրանք իսկապես սիրում են միայն քեզ: Եթե պատահի, որ ամուսնանամ, ես նրան կտամ իմ սիրո, պարտքի և հոգածության միայն կեսը: Եթե միայն մորս սիրեի, եղբայրներիս նման չէի ամուսնանա։

O my good mother, you gave birth to me, educated me and loved me. In return, as is fitting, I repay you: I obey you, I love you, I respect you. Why do my brothers have wives if they truly love only you? If I happen to marry, I will give her only half of my love, duty and care. If I only loved my mother, I would not marry like my brothers.

LYKOPIS.

Միթէ՞ սիրտդ էլ խօսքերիդ պէս է:

Is your heart like your words?

CHERUBINO.

Այո՛, ազնիւ տիկին:

Yes, dear lady.

LYKOPIS.

Այսքան մանկահաս, եւ այսքան անսէ՞ր:

So childish and so unkind?

CHERUBINO.

Այսքան մանկահաս, տիկին իմ, եւ անկեղծ:

So childish, my lady and so sincere.

LYKOPIS.

Բահ` Թող ձեր անկեղծությունը ձեր օժիտը լինի: Քույրե՛ր։ Արևի սուրբ ճառագայթը, Հեկատի խորհուրդը և մութ գիշերը, երկնային ոլորտների ազդեցությունները, որոնցով մենք ծնվում կամ մահանում ենք, ահա, այսուհետ ես հրաժարվում եմ մայրական խնամքից, բոլոր արյունակցական կապերից, ազգակցական կապերից և այս պահին դու օտար ես ինձ և իմ սրտին: Բարբարոս սկյութացին կամ հռոմեացին, որ ուտում է իր երեխաներին իր ախորժակը հագեցնելու համար, ավելի մոտ կլինի իմ կրծքին և կգտնի ողորմություն և կարեկցանք, ավելի շատ, քան դու, իմ նախկին որդի։

Bah! Let your sincerity be your dowry. Sisters. The sacred ray of the sun, the counsel of Hecate and the dark night, the influences of the celestial spheres by which we are born or die, behold, henceforth I renounce maternal care, all blood ties, all ties of kinship and for this moment you are a stranger to me and to my heart. The barbarian Scythian or Roman, who eats his children to satisfy his appetite, will be closer to my breast and find mercy and compassion, more than you, my former son.

ANDROMEDA.

Իմ թագուհի`:

My queen!

LYKOPIS.

Լռի՛ր, Անդրոմեդա, մի՛ կանգնիր պատերազմի ձիու և նրա կատաղության միջև։ Ես շատ էի սիրում տղային և հույս ունեի, որ խաղաղություն կգտնեմ նրա նվիրված խնամքի ներքո: [To Cherubino.] Ես չեմ տեսնում, որ ինչպես ճիշտ է, որ ես խաղաղություն գտնեմ գերեզմանում, այնպես էլ ճիշտ է, որ ես հիմա նրանից խլեմ մորս սիրտը։ Բելոնա, Օկտավիա, ես ձեզ տալիս եմ իմ երկու որդիների օժիտների այս երրորդ մասը: Թող այդ ամբարտավանությունը, որը նա անվանում է պարզություն, լինի այն սերը, որը նա երբևէ ստանում է: Ես ձեզ տալիս եմ իմ իշխանությունը, դրա հետ մեկտեղ արտոնությունը և բոլոր լայն իրավունքները, որոնք պատկանում են թագուհուն: Իսկ մենք, պահելով հարյուր մարտիկ, որոնց ապրուստը դուք պետք է ապահովեք, հերթով կմնանք ձեզանից յուրաքանչյուրի հետ։ Մենք պահպանում ենք միայն թագուհու անունն ու տիտղոսները։ Բայց իշխանությունը, եկամուտը, վարչարարությունը, աղջիկներ ջան, այսուհետ ձերն է։

Be silent, Andromeda, do not stand between the war-horse and its fury. I loved the boy very much, and hoped to find peace under his devoted care. I do not see that as it is right that I should find peace in the grave, so it is right that I should now take my mother’s heart from him. Bellona, Octavia, I give you this third part of the dowries of my two sons. Let that arrogance, which he calls simplicity, be the love that he ever receives. I give you my power, with it the privilege and all the wide rights that belong to a queen. And we, keeping a hundred warriors, whose livelihood you must provide, will remain with each of you in turn. We retain only the name and titles of the queen. But the power, the income, the administration, dear girls, are henceforth yours.

[Lykopis takes her crown from her slave & hands it to Bellona & Octavia.]

ANDROMEDA.

Ով մեծապատիվ Լիկոպիս, ես քեզ միշտ պատվել եմ որպես իմ աստվածուհի, ես քեզ սիրել եմ որպես մայր և միշտ հետևել քեզ, ես քեզ միշտ հիշել եմ որպես իմ պաշտպան…

O venerable Lykopis, I have always honored you as my goddess, I have loved you as a mother and always followed you, I have always remembered you as my protector…

LYKOPIS.

Աղեղը լարուած եւ խիստ ձգուած է. խուսափիր նետից:

The bow is strung and drawn tight: avoid the arrow.

ANDROMEDA.

Չէ, թող թռչի, թեկուզ նետը դիպչի սրտիս։ Թող Անդրոմեդան անքաղաքավարի լինի, երբ Լիկոպիսը խելագար է։ Ի՞նչ ես անում, պառավ։ Ի՞նչ եք կարծում, պարտք է իզուր խոսել, երբ իշխանությունը խոնարհվում է շողոքորթության առաջ։ Ազնվականությունը պարտավոր է լինել շիտակ, երբ վեհությունը կորցնում է հիմարությունը։ Վերցրեք ձեր որոշումը և փոխեք այդ դաժան, հրեշավոր կարգը ձեր լավագույն նկատառումներով: Թող իմ կյանքը լինի իմ խոսքի գրավականը, քո փոքրիկ տղան քեզ սիրում է ոչ պակաս, քան մյուսները։ Անսիրտ չեն նրանք, որոնց ցածր ձայնը չի որոտում խուլ արձագանքը։

No, let it fly, even if the arrow hits my heart. Let Andromeda be rude when Lycopis is mad. What are you doing, old woman? Do you think it is a duty to talk in vain when power bows to flattery? Nobility is obliged to be straightforward when grandeur loses its stupidity. Make your decision and change this cruel, monstrous order with your best considerations. Let my life be the guarantee of my word, your little boy loves you no less than others. They are not heartless whose low voice does not thunder a deaf echo.

LYKOPIS.

Անդրոմեդա, ի գին կեանքիդ, լռիր:

Andromeda, for the price of your life, be silent.

ANDROMEDA.

Իմ կեանքը, աստվածուհի, ես պահել եմ միշտ որպէս գրաւական` ոսոխներիդ դէմ դուրս գալու համար, եւ չեմ վախենում կորցնել նրան, երբ պահանջում է քո՛ փրկութիւնը:

My life, goddess, I have always held as a pledge to stand against your enemies, and I am not afraid to lose it when it demands your salvation.

LYKOPIS.

Կորի՛ր իմ աչքից:

Get out of my sight!

ANDROMEDA.

Բաց արա աչքերդ, ո՛վ Լիկոպիս, և թույլ տուր, որ հաստատ մնամ քո հայացքում։

Open your eyes, O Lykopis, and let me remain firmly in your gaze.

LYKOPIS.

Աթենա՜ն իմ վկան է։

Athena is my witness!

ANDROMEDA.

Իմ թագուհի, դու ապարդյուն երդվում ես քո աստվածներով։

My queen, you swear by your gods in vain.

[Lykopis lays a hand on her sword.]

LYKOPIS.

Ստրու՛կ, անհաւա՛տ:

Slave! Unbeliever!

OCTAVIA & BELLONA.

Խնայեցէք՜, տիկին աստված՜ուհի:

Save yourself, lady goddess!

ANDROMEDA.

Սպանեք ձեր հպարտությունը և վճարեք ձեր ստոր հիվանդության համար: Եթե ​​ոչ, մինչ ես միջոցներ ունեմ այս իմ կոկորդից աղմուկ հանելու, նորից կասեմ, որ սխալ եք անում։

Kill your pride and pay for your vile disease. If not, while I have the means to make noise from this throat of mine, I will tell you again that you are doing wrong.

LYKOPIS.

Հիմար, քանի որ դու հիմա ձգտում ես խախտել մեր ուխտը և միջամտել մեր իշխանություններին ու որոշումներին այնպիսի ամբարտավանությամբ, որ ոչ մեր էությունը, ոչ մեր աստիճանը չեն կարող ներել, ուրեմն ճաշակի՛ր մեր զորությունը։ Ստացեք ձեր պարգևը: Մենք ձեզ ընդամենը հինգ օր ենք տալիս աքսորի պատրաստվելու համար։ Եթե ​​վեցերորդ օրը դեռ մեր գավառում ես, ուրեմն այդ պահից դու մեռած ես։ Հեռացիր իմ աչքից։ Աթենան իմ վկան է, իմ խոսքն անդառնալի է.

Fool, since you now seek to violate our covenant and interfere with our authorities and decisions with such arrogance that neither our nature nor our rank can forgive, then taste our power. Receive your reward. We give you only five days to prepare for exile. If you are still in our province on the sixth day, then from that moment you are dead. Get out of my sight. Athena is my witness, my word is irrevocable.

ANDROMEDA.

Ցտեսություն, մայր թագուհի, եթե դա քո հրամանն է: [To Cherubino.] Եվ դու, երեխա, թող աստվածները քեզ պահպանեն, դու ճիշտ մտածեցիր և ճիշտ խոսեցիր։ [To Amadeus & Titus.] Թող քո գործերը ներդաշնակ լինեն քո մեծ ելույթներին, և լավ արդյունքներ ծնվեն քո սիրո խոսքերից: Այսպիսով, քույրեր, Անդրոմեդան հրաժեշտ է տալիս բոլորիդ, նա պետք է տանի իր հին բնությունը նոր հայրենիքում:

Farewell, Queen Mother, if it be your command. And you, child, may the gods preserve you, you have thought right and spoken right. May your deeds be in harmony with your great speeches and good results be born of thy words of love. Thus, sisters, Andromeda bids you all farewell, she must carry her old nature to some new homeland.

[Drums play. As Andromeda exits Telepyleia enters with the Queen of Armenia, Lady Phoebe & Attendants.]

TELEPYLEIA.

Ձեզ եմ ներկայացնում Հայաստանի թագուհուն և Լեդի Ֆիբիին:

I present to you the Queen of Armenia and Lady Phoebe.

LYKOPIS.

Տիկին Ֆիբի, նախ դիմում ենք ձեզ, որ մրցակից եք մեր որդու համար. Ի՞նչ նվազագույն օժիտ եք խնդրում նրա համար, առանց որի դուք կդադարեցնեիք ձեր ցանկասիրությունը:

Lady Phoebe, first we appeal to you, who is a rival for our son: What minimum dowry do you ask for him, without which you would cease your lust?

PHOEBE.

Ձերդ աստվածուհիական վեհափառութիւն, ես չեմ պահանջում աւելի, քան այն, ինչ առաջարկեց ձեր մեծութիւնը, ոչ էլ պէտք է դուք պակաս շնորհէք:

Your most royal Majesty, I want nothing more than what your Highness has already offered, and I know you won’t offer less than that.

LYKOPIS.

Տիկինս, երբ տղան մեզ համար թանկ էր, նրա գինը բարձր էր; բայց հիմա նրա արժեքը ընկել է։ Տիկինս, ահա նա կանգնած է։ Եթե ​​քեզ դուր է գալիս այդ փոքրիկ, տգեղ մարմնի որևէ հատված, որն օժտված է միայն իմ ատելությամբ և ոչ ավելին, կարող ես վերցնել այն, դա քոնն է։

My lady, when the boy was dear to us, his price was high; but now his value has fallen. My lady, here he stands. If you like any part of that little, ugly body, endowed only with my hatred and nothing more, you can take him, he is yours.

PHOEBE.

[Amazed.] Ին՞չ պատասխանեմ:

What should I say?

LYKOPIS.

Տիկին իմ, ահա նա, այն արատներով, ինչ որ նա ունի. որբ, անբարեկամ, նոր որդեգիրը մեր ատելութեան, մեր անէծքներով միայն օժտուած եւ մեր երդումով մեզ օտարացած. ուզո՞ւմ էք նրան, թէ՞ բաց էք թողնում:

My lady, here he is, with the defects he has: orphan, friendless, the new adopted son of our hatred, endowed only with our curses and alienated from us by our oath. Do you want him or will you let him go?

PHOEBE.

Ներող եղէք ինձ, վեհափառ տիկին իմ, ոչ մի ընտրութիւն չի կարող լինել այդ պայմաններով:

Excuse me, madam, no choice can take place under those conditions.

LYKOPIS.

Ուրեմն թողեք թշվառին, երդվում եմ Աթենայով, որ պատմեցի ձեզ նրա ողջ ունեցվածքը։

So leave the wretch, I swear by Athena that I have told you all his possessions.

[To the Queen of Armenia.]

LYKOPIS [cont.]

Իսկ դու, մեծ Հայաստա՛ն, ես չէի ցանկանա անարգել քո սերը՝ քեզ կապելով այն ամենի հետ, ինչ ատում եմ։ Ուստի աղաչում եմ, որ ձեր սերն ուղղեք ավելի արժանի առարկայի, քան այս թշվառ տղան։

And you, great Armenia, I would not wish to dishonor your love by associating you with all that I hate. Therefore, I beg you to direct your love to a more worthy object than this wretched boy.

ARMENIA.

Զարմանալի է. տղան, ով քիչ առաջ քո ամենասիրելի առարկան էր և քո գովասանքի էությունը և քո ծերության բալասանը, ամենալավը, ամենասիրվածը, կունիլինգուսի մեջ ամենամեծը, ինչ հրեշավոր հանցանք է նա արել մի ակնթարթում՞ Անշուշտ այդ մեղքը պետք է լինի ամենաանբնականն ու ամենահրեշավորը։

It’s amazing: the boy who a moment ago was your most beloved object and the essence of your praise and the balm of your old age, the best, the most beloved, the greatest in cunnilingus, what monstrous crime has he committed in an instant? Surely that sin must be the most unnatural and the most monstrous.

CHERUBINO.

[To Lykopis.] Ձերդ մեծությունից խնդրում եմ վերջին շնորհքը. Որ իմ մեղքն այն է, որ ես մի բան ասելու և այլ բան մտածելու սահուն, նրբագեղ արվեստ չունեմ, քանի որ իմ բարի կամքը, ես դա անում եմ խոսելուց առաջ: Ուստի խնդրում եմ ձեզ հայտարարել, որ ո՛չ ցանկության բիծը, ո՛չ սպանությունը, ո՛չ գարշելիությունը, ո՛չ անամոթ արարքը և ո՛չ էլ անպատվաբեր քայլը չեն եղել ինձ ձեր բարեհաճությունից զրկելու պատճառը։ Բայց որովհետև ես ոչինչ չունեմ, որի պակասը հարստություն է. աչք, լեզու, որի բացակայությունն ինձ տանջել է քո մայրական սիրուց։

I ask your majesty for a last favor. That my fault is that I do not have the smooth, elegant art of saying one thing and thinking another, because my good will, I do it before speaking. Therefore I beg you to declare that neither the stain of lust, nor murder, nor abomination, nor shameless act, nor dishonorable step have been the reason for depriving me of your favor. But because I have nothing whose lack is wealth: an eye, a tongue, the absence of which has tormented me with your maternal love.

LYKOPIS.

Աւելի լաւ էր` ծնուած չլինէիր, քան այս աստիճան քեզ ատել տայիր:

It would have been better if you had never been born than to be hated to this extent.

ARMENIA.

[Astonished.] Արդյո՞ք այս ամենը: Բնության դանդաղաշարժությունը, որը երբեմն անհասկանալի է թողնում անհրաժեշտ պատմությունը, չի զրկում սիրո պատմությունից: Ի վերջո, սերը այն սերը չէ, որի մեջ խառնվում են այլ նկատառումներ։ Լեդի Ֆիբի, ուզու՞մ եք նրան: Տղայի օժիտն ինքն է։

Is this all? A slowness of nature, which sometimes leaves the necessary story untold, does not deprive the story of love. After all, love is not love in when other considerations are mixed. Lady Phoebe, do you want him? The boy’s dowry is himself.

PHOEBE.

[To Lykopis.] Ով ամենապատիվ Լիկոպիս, տուր ինձ միայն այն, ինչ խոստացել ես, և ես անմիջապես կբռնեմ Քերուբինոյի ձեռքից և նրան կդարձնեմ իմ ամուսինը։

O most honorable Lykopis, give me only what you have promised and I will immediately take Cherubino by the hand and make him my husband.

LYKOPIS.

Ես ոչինչ չեմ տա: Ես երդվել եմ. Ես ամուր կկանգնեմ:

I’ll give nothing. I have sworn. I’ll stand firm.

PHOEBE.

[To Cherubino.] Ափսոս, որ մորդ այսպես կորցնելով, դու էլ պետք է ապագա կորցնես։

It’s a shame that by losing your mother like this, you also have to lose your future.

CHERUBINO.

Տիկին, երբ ձեր սերը միայն հարստության համար է, ես չեմ կարող լինել ձեր ամուսինը։

Madam, when your love is only for wealth, I can’t be your husband.

ARMENIA.

Գեղեցիկ Չերուբինո, դու շատ հարուստ ես։ Չնայած լքված, բայց պաշտելի: Ես կանգնած եմ քո և քո բոլոր առաքինությունների կողքին: Թույլ տվեք ինձ համար վերցնել արհամարհվածին: [To Lykopis.] Ո՛վ թագուհի, քո այդ տղան, առանց օժիտի, դուրս գցված, թագավոր է իմ, իմ ժողովրդի և իմ գեղեցիկ Հայաստանի վրա։ [To Cherubino.] Քերուբինո, հրաժեշտ արա նրանց, թեև նրանք կույր են և դաժան: Կորցնելով այս վայրը՝ դուք շատ ավելի լավ բան կգտնեք:

Beautiful Cherubino, you are very rich. Although abandoned, you are adorable. I stand by you and all your virtues. Allow me to take the despised one for myself. O queen, that son of yours, without a dowry, cast out, is king over me, my people, and my beautiful Armenia. Cherubino, bid them farewell, though they are blind and cruel. Having lost this place, you will find something much better.

LYKOPIS.

Նա քոնն է, հայ։ Թող քեզ լավ լինի, մենք այդպիսի տղա չունենք, և նրա դեմքն այլևս չենք տեսնի։ [To Cherubino.] Գնա, ուրեմն, առանց մեր շնորհի, առանց մեր սիրո, առանց մեր օրհնության: Արի, ազնվական Ֆիբի։

He is yours, Armenian. May it be well with you, we have no such boy, and we shall never see his face again. Go, then, without our grace, without our love, without our blessing. Come, noble Phoebe.

[Everyone except the Queen of Armenia, Titus, Amadeus & Cherubino exits.]

ARMENIA.

Հիմա ժամանակն է, որ դուք էլ հրաժեշտ տաք ձեր եղբայրներին։

Now it’s time for you to say goodbye to your brothers.

CHERUBINO.

Ձեզանից ոչ ոք չկանգնեց իմ կողքին, երբ ես կարիքի մեջ էի: Ես գիտեմ, թե դու ինչ ես, բայց որպես եղբայր ես խուսափում եմ քո սխալներն իրենց անուններով անվանել։ Սիրիր մայրիկիս: Ես վստահում եմ նրան քո սիրո մեջ, և այնուամենայնիվ, ավա՜ղ: եթե ես դեռ լինեի նրա շնորհքի մեջ, ես նրան ավելի լավ տեղ կտայի: Հրաժեշտ, հրաժեշտ:

None of you stood by me when I was in need. I know what you are, but as a brother I avoid calling your faults by their names. Love my mother. I trust her in your love, and yet, alas! if I were still in her grace, I would give her a better place. Farewell, farewell.

AMADEUS.

Դու մեր պարտքը մեզ մի՛ սովորեցնի:

Don’t teach us our duties.

TITUS.

Մուրացկան որբ, փորձիր կնոջդ հաճոյանալ քո կունիլինգով, որը նա ընդունեց որպես բարություն անօթևանների հանդեպ։

Beggar orphan, try to please your wife with your cunnilingus, which she accepted as a kindness for the homeless.

[Cherubino & Armenia exit.]

TITUS.

Եղբայր, ես ատում եմ այդ շոտակոնը և շատ բան ունեմ ձեզ ասելու մի հարցի մասին, որն ինձ շատ հոգեհարազատ է։ Կարծում եմ՝ մեր մայրն այս գիշեր կգնա այստեղից։

Brother, I hate that shotacon and I have a lot to tell you about a matter that is very close to my heart. I think our mother will leave here tonight.

AMADEUS.

Իհարկե, մայրիկը կգա ձեզ մոտ, իսկ հաջորդ ամիս՝ մեզ մոտ։

Of course, mother will come to you and next month to us.

TITUS.

Տեսնու՞մ եք, թե որքան փխրուն է կնոջ ծերությունը։ Մեր տեսած օրինակը փոքր չէ. նա միշտ սիրել է մեր եղբորը ամեն ինչից ավելի, բայց պարզ հիմարությունը, որով նա հենց նոր դեն նետեց երեխային, ակնհայտ է։

Do you see how fragile a woman’s old age is? The example we have seen is not small: she has always loved our brother more than anything, but the simple stupidity with which she has just thrown away the child is obvious.

AMADEUS.

Դա ծերության թուլությունն է, բայց թագուհին իրականում երբեք չի հասկացել, թե ինչ է նա անում:

It’s the weakness of old age, but the Queen never really understood what she was doing.

TITUS.

Մեր մոր կյանքի ամենալավ ու առողջ օրերին նա բռնակալ էր, ուստի նրա ծերությունից պետք է սպասել ոչ միայն արմատացած արատներ, այլև անզուսպ կատաղություն, որ գալիս է թույլ ու դյուրագրգիռ պառավի հետ։

In the best and healthiest days of our mother’s life, she was a tyrant, so we should expect from her old age not only deep-rooted vices, but also the unbridled rage that comes with a weak and irritable old woman.

AMADEUS.

Թագուհուց մենք պետք է սպասենք ավելի շատ այնպիսի անկայուն կատաղությունների, ինչպիսին Անդրոմեդայի այս աքսորն է։

We should expect more of the Queen’s volatile rages, such as this exile of Andromeda.

TITUS.

Մեր մոր և Հայաստանի միջև դեռևս հրաժեշտի արարողություններ են։ Զգուշացնում եմ ձեզ, որ եթե թագուհին մնա ինչ-որ ուժով, թեկուզ փոքր, իր ներկայիս տրամադրությամբ, դա աղետալի կլինի մեզ համար։

There are still farewell ceremonies between our mother and Armenia. I warn you that if the queen remains with any power, however small, in her current mood, it will be disastrous for us.

AMADEUS.

Կը մտածենք այդ մասին:

We’ll think about it.

TITUS.

Երկաթը տաք պիտի ծեծենք:

We must strike while the iron is hot.

[They exit.]

NOTES:

Shotacon [Japanese term for a sexual attraction to prepubescent or pubescent boys.]

Bastard [Any child born to unmarried parents.]

Themyscira [Legendary city of the Amazons, said to be on the Black Sea.]

she-wolf: a new retelling of macbeth [act ii]

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by babylon crashing in drama

≈ Comments Off on she-wolf: a new retelling of macbeth [act ii]

Tags

Amazon queen, Amazon warrior, amazonomachy, drama, Macbeth, remix, Shakespeare, She-Wolf

[Setting: The interior of QUEEN MARPESIA’S extravagant royal tent. It is huge, crammed with valuables from all her many military campaigns — Trojan knickknacks, Persian vases, Armenian carpets hanging on the walls, a bed from China, a Mongolian rug on the floor, etc.]

[With a flourish QUEEN MARPESIA, HIPPOTHOE, MALAPADIA and ORITHIA enter. MARPESIA is still in her shiny armor, though HIPPOTHOE carries her helmet and sheathed sword. During MARPESIA’S monologue SLAVES come forward and undress their queen, hanging her armor, helmet and sword on a wooden mannequin off in one corner.]

QUEEN MARPESIA:
Glory. The white almond is stripped away
from its green husk. Glory. As I wandered

along my city streets — under archway,
through door — I saw nothing that I treasured

more than the Women of the Red Horses;
with their belts spun of gold and their quivers

full of arrows. They were like the Graces,
if the Graces were ever warriors.

Glory. I love my horse-riders. Naked
on their steeds. Naked in battle. Night birds

are not as beautiful as you are — rude,
riding hard, burning down the world. My blood

burns for you. Glory as you ride homewards.
Be man’s nightmare: women fierce, divine, nude.

[LYKOPIS, PENTHESILEA, TECMESSA and THRASO enter.]

QUEEN MARPESIA [to LYKOPIS]:
My worthiest sister! Just this moment I was feeling guilty of ungratefulness. You have done so much for us that it is impossible to reward you as it should be. If only you had done less then perhaps my thanks would match your deeds. [Laughs at own jokes.] All I can say now is that you are owned more than I can repay back.

LYKOPIS:
To serve you is my greatest reward, my queen. It is I who owe you. My duty to you and our sisters is like the duty of a daughter to all her many mothers.

QUEEN MARPESIA:
You are welcome here. By making you Marpesia’s Hallowing I have planted the seeds for an incredible future for you. Please allow me to make sure that they grow. [To PENTHESILEA.] Loyal Lady Penthesilea, you deserve no less than Lady Lykopis. Let me embrace you and I shall give you the benefit of all my heart.

PENTHESILEA:
My queen, if I accomplish anything in this life then know that all the glory is because of you.

QUEEN MARPESIA:
How is it that joyfulness can make me weep? My daughters, sisters, chieftesses — and all those closest to me — I want you to witness that I am bestowing a new title on my eldest daughter, the Lady Malapadia. Today I shall name her the Princess of Potidaea. But that will not be the only honor that I give. [To LYKOPIS.] Your queen asks a favor, let’s go to your castle at Cirra, I wish to have a taste of your hospitality.

LYKOPIS:
Serving you is my greatest joy. I will go now and tell my slaves the good news that you are coming.

QUEEN MARPESIA:
Now I know why Athena has blessed you as the greatest and most worthy.

LYKOPIS [to herself]:
Malapadia is now the princess of Potidaea? To become queen myself I shall either have to step over her or lay down my ambition. Great Hera, hide my pride so that no one can see the terrible desires that lurk within me. If the hand is brave then the eye must be a coward for it always hesitates at what the hand must do to see things done.

[LYKOPIS exits.]

QUEEN MARPESIA [to PENTHESILEA, nodding in agreement]:
You’re right, dear Penthesilea; Lady Lykopis is every bit as heroic and bold as you say. I feel drunk because of her. If it is her duty to lead then it is ours to follow. She is a woman without equal.

[They exit.]

][][

[The slave SHASHGAZ enters, reading a letter. As a warrior-class the Amazons were a single-sexed society; however, off the battlefield, in the privacy of their own lives, it was rumored that many kept male as well as female slaves and lovers. SHASHGAZ is both things to LYKOPIS, a slave that she captured in battle, as well as her lover and confidant. If the She-Wolf is the epitome of war-like female spirit, then SHASHGAZ is a slightly duller, more corrupt, mirror image; muscular, tricky of tongue, highly enjoying his role in manipulating his mistress.]

SHASHGAZ [reading out loud]:
“The Furies met me on my return from my victory in battle. When I tried to question them they vanished into thin air. While I stood mesmerized two of my sisters from the queen arrived and greeted me as Marpesia’s Hallowing, which is precisely how those weird witches saluted me before calling me ’the forthcoming queen!’ I thought I should tell you this so that you might rejoice as well in my incredible future …”

[He looks up from the letter.]

My mistress is a queer duck. She is made Marpesia’s Hallowing but says that she will be queen. But how can she be queen if the queen still lives? She is too full of the milk of human kindness to strike out violently. She wants to be powerful, Lykopis certainly doesn’t lack in ambition, but she doesn’t have the sadistic streak that these things call for. The things that she does are because she thinks that is what makes a warrior, yet she still wants what doesn’t belong to her. For all the years that I’ve known her, my mistress has been afraid to do what necessity demands. So be it. Hurry home, Lykopis, so that I can coax. After all, the Furies and the gods both want you to be queen.

[A SERVANT enters.]

SERVANT:
The queen is coming here tonight.

SHASHGAZ:
Quit your jibber-jabber! Isn’t our lady with the queen? She would have told me in person if such a thing was happening so that I could prepare this eyesore called a castle.

SERVANT:
I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. Lady Lykopis is coming. She sent a messenger ahead who arrived so out of breath that he could barely speak.

SHASHGAZ [half to himself]:
So … yes, go and take good care of the boy. He brings curious news.

[The SERVANT exits.]

SHASHGAZ:
Benevolent Zeus! The Amazons’ wretched goddesses must not think very highly of Marpesia to allow her to spend the night under my roof. Hear me, you murderous spirits, fill me from head to toe with deadly brutality! Thicken my blood and clog up my veins so I won’t feel remorse, so that no human compassion can stop my plan or prevent me from accomplishing it. Come, impenetrable night, cover the world in the darkest hell-smoke so that my knife can’t see the wound it opens, and so that the gods can’t spy through the darkness and cry, “No! Stop!”

[LYKOPIS enters.]

SHASHGAZ:
Marpesia’s Hallowing! By the prophecy you told me I too can see your glorious future. Seizing it is only a matter of time.

LYKOPIS:
My love, our queen is coming here tonight.

SHASHGAZ:
Indeed. Tell me, when is she leaving?

LYKOPIS:
Tomorrow, or so I’ve been told.

SHASHGAZ:
Then tomorrow will never come. Your face betrays strange feelings, my lady, and people will be able to read it like a book. In order to deceive them, greet the queen with a welcoming expression in your eyes, your hands, and your words. You should look like an innocent flower, but be like the viper that hides underneath the flower. The queen is coming, and she must be taken care of. Let me handle tonight’s preparations. What happens tonight shall make you the greatest Amazon the world has ever known.

LYKOPIS:
We must talk about this.

SHASHGAZ:
When you see her you must look innocent because if you look guilty then you will arouse suspicion. Leave all the rest to me.

[They exit.]

][][

[Setting: A different part of the castle. The stage is half in shadows, with the glow and noise of a celebration off-stage being the only lighting. SLAVES appear, carrying dishes of food into the large banquet hall. LYKOPIS, fleeing the festivities, enters the empty stage, standing half in shadow as she speaks.]

LYKOPIS [to herself]:
Marpesia has been here all day, so why does my heart still tremble? If murder could be forgotten the moment after committing it then it would be best to get it over with quickly. If the murder of the queen swept up everything, preventing any consequences, then murder would be the be-all and end-all. For that I would gladly put my soul at risk. But for crimes like these there are still punishments in this mortal world. The queen trusts me. I am her war-sister and her subject, and I am her host. But how will history see me? Marpesia has been such a humble leader, so free of corruption that her virtuous legacy will speak for itself when she dies, as if angels were calling out the injustice of her murder already. Pity, like a horrible newborn monster, will ride the wind to spread news of the bloody deed to everyone. My sisters will shed a flood of tears that will drown the wind. I can’t urge myself to action. The only thing motivating me is ambition, which makes fools rush ahead into disaster.

[SHASHGAZ enters.]

LYKOPIS:
What news do you have?

SHASHGAZ:
Our queen has almost finished her last meal. Why did you leave the dining room?

LYKOPIS:
Has she asked for me?

SHASHGAZ:
Don’t you know that she has?

LYKOPIS [flustered]:
We can’t go on with this plan. The queen has just honored me. I want to enjoy these honors while the they’re fresh and not throw them away too soon.

SHASHGAZ:
My lady, where I come from being called “womanly” is an insult; and yet when I am here I find that you have somehow tuned it into a word of honor. So tell me, were you drunk when you seemed so eager just moments before? Have you spent too much time with the Greeks and woken up green and pale with fear as their women do? From now on this is what I’ll think of you: afraid to act the way you desire. Will you take the crown you want so badly, or will you live as a coward, always saying “I can’t”? You are womanly, my lady, just make sure that the word isn’t spoken as a curse.

LYKOPIS:
Please, stop! I dare to do only what is proper for a warrior to do.

SHASHGAZ:
“Proper?” If you aren’t a warrior, then what kind of beast were you when you first told me you wanted to do this? When you dared to do it, that’s when you were a warrior. The time and place are good, but it seems that they’re almost too good for you.

LYKOPIS:
But if we fail?

SHASHGAZ:
The greatest Amazon in history shall not fail. When Marpesia is asleep I’ll get her two bodyguards so drunk that their memory will go up in smoke through the chimney of their brain. When they lie asleep like pigs, dead to the world, what won’t you and I be able to do to the imprudent Marpesia? All that the heart craves.

LYKOPIS:
Once we have covered the two servants with besotted blood and used their daggers to kill, won’t my sisters believe that they were the criminals?

SHASHGAZ:
Who could think it happened any other way? We’ll be grieving loudly when we hear that our queen has been assassinated under our own roof.

LYKOPIS:
I’m decided. I will use every muscle in my body to commit this crime. Go now, be the slave that Marpesia thinks you are and I shall be the friendly hostess. I will hide with a false face all that I know sleeps in my false, false heart.

[They exit.]

][][

[Setting: Another part of the castle. PENTHESILEA enters with her daughter, PHOEBE, who lights the way with a lantern.]

PENTHESILEA:
How’s the night going, my girl?

PHOEBE:
The moon has set. The guard hasn’t called the hour yet.

PENTHESILEA:
The moon set at midnight, right?

PHOEBE:
I think it’s later than that, mother.

PENTHESILEA:
Here, take my sword. Selene is being stingy with her light. I’m tired and feeling heavy, but I can’t sleep. Merciful Gaia, keep away the nightmares that plague me when I rest!

[LYKOPIS enters with a SERVANT, who carries a lantern of her own.]

PENTHESILEA [to her daughter]:
Give me back my sword. [Calling.] Who’s there?

LYKOPIS:
A loved comrade.

PENTHESILEA [relaxing]:
You’re not asleep yet, my dear lady? The queen’s in bed. I would be too, if I could sleep.

LYKOPIS:
Forgive me. We were unprepared for the queen’s visit, as you know; we weren’t able to distract her as well as we would have wanted to.

PENTHESILEA [laughing]:
Everything’s fine. I had a dream last night about the three Furies. At least part of what they said about you was true.

LYKOPIS:
I don’t think about them now. But when we have an hour to spare we can talk more about it … if you’re willing.

PENTHESILEA:
Whenever you’d like, my love.

LYKOPIS:
Rest easy in the meantime.

PENTHESILEA:
Thank you, Lykopis. You do the same.

[PENTHESILEA and PHOEBE exit.]

LYKOPIS [to the SERVANT]:
Go and tell Shashgaz to ring the bell when my drink is ready; then get yourself to bed.

[The SERVANT exits.]

LYKOPIS [dazed, to herself]:
Is this a dagger I see before me? Its pommel points toward my hand. [To the dagger.] Come, let me hold you. [She grabs at the air in front of her without touching anything.] I can’t hold you but I can still see you. Fateful apparition, isn’t it possible to touch you as well as see you? Or are you nothing more than an illusionary dagger, a phantasm from my fevered brain? You look as real as this one. [She draws out a second dagger.] My eyesight, like my nerves, must be failing. I can still see you, dagger; I see blood splotches now, all over your blade and handle, that weren’t there a moment before. [Blinks in confusion.] Ai! There’s no dagger now. It’s the murder that I’m about to commit that’s making me think I see one. Let half the world sleep and be deceived by nightmares. Furies are offering sacrifices to their goddess, Nix. The hard ground does not listen to the direction of my steps, but while I stand here Marpesia still lives. Too much thinking cools the mind and dulls the blade.

[A bell rings off-stage.]

LYKOPIS [as if waking from a dream]:
So be it. The bell commands me. Don’t listen to the tolling, Marpesia, for it is the voice of Charon, ready to lead you down to hell.

[LYKOPIS exits.]

][][

[SHASHGAZ enters.]

SHASHGAZ:
The drunken slaves and their red wine have made me bold. The same liquor that knocked them down has fired me up. Listen! Quiet! That was a shriek owl hooting farewell like the bells they ring right before an execution. Lykopis must be killing the queen. The doors to Marpesia’s chamber are open. Her slaves make a mockery of their jobs instead of protecting her. I drugged their cups, leaving them floating somewhere between the living world and the shadow realm of death.

LYKOPIS [from offstage]:
Who’s there? What is it?

SHASHGAZ:
By Zeus, I’m afraid the servants woke up, and the murder didn’t happen. For us to attempt murder and not succeed would ruin us. [He hears a noise.] Listen to that! I put the servant’s daggers where Lykopis would find them. She couldn’t have missed finding them. If Marpesia hadn’t reminded me of my own dead mother when I saw her sleeping, I would have killed her myself.

[LYKOPIS enters carrying two bloody daggers.]

LYKOPIS [shocked]:
I have done the deed. Did you hear a noise?

SHASHGAZ:
I’ve heard the crickets crying all night and an owl scream.

LYKOPIS:
An owl? When?

SHASHGAZ:
Just now.

LYKOPIS:
As I entered?

SHASHGAZ:
Yes.

LYKOPIS:
What’s that noise? Who’s sleeping in the second chamber?

SHASHGAZ:
Orithia.

LYKOPIS [looking at her bloody hands]:
This is a sorry sight.

SHASHGAZ:
That’s an ill-advised thing to say.

LYKOPIS:
One of the guards laughed in her sleep, and one cried, “Murder!” and they woke each other up. I stood and listened to them, but then they said their prayers to Athena and went back to sleep.

SHASHGAZ:
Sisters Malapadia and Orithia are asleep in the same room.

LYKOPIS:
One guard cried, “Great Hera save us!” and the other replied, “Murderer!” as if they had seen my hands stained red with blood.

SHASHGAZ:
Don’t think about it too much.

LYKOPIS:
But why did they call upon Hera if they did not know the horror I had just committed?

SHASHGAZ:
We can’t think about it. If we do, it’ll drive us crazy.

LYKOPIS:
I thought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep is dead! Lykopis has murdered sleep.” Innocent sleep. Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest and heals hurt minds. Sleep, the feast and the desert; the most nourishing balm.

SHASHGAZ:
What are you jabbing about?

LYKOPIS:
The voice kept crying, “Sleep is dead … Lykopis will sleep no more.”

SHASHGAZ:
Who said that? Why, my fearful warrior, you let yourself think about things in a cowardly manner. Go get some water and wash this blood from your hands. Wait. Why did you carry these daggers out of the room? They have to be found there. Go take them back and smear the sleeping guards with the blood.

LYKOPIS:
I … I can’t go back. I’m afraid even to think about what I’ve done.

SHASHGAZ [grabbing the daggers]:
Cowardly woman! The dead and sleeping can’t hurt you anymore than shadows on the wall can. Only children are afraid of shadows. If Marpesia bleeds I’ll soak her slaves’ faces with their queen’s blood. We must make it seem like they’re the guilty ones. [He exits.]

[A sound of knocking from offstage.]

LYKOPIS:
Where is that knocking coming from? What’s happened to me? I’m frightened of every noise. [Looking at her hands.] Whose hands are these? [Laughs.] They’ll pluck out my own eyes. Will all the water in the ocean wash this blood from my hands? No, instead my hands will stain the seas red, turning the deep green into a scarlet tide.

[SHASHGAZ enters.]

SHASHGAZ [holds up his palms]:
My hands are as red as yours now, but I would be ashamed if my heart were half so pale and weak.

[The knocking is repeated from offstage.]

SHASHGAZ:
I hear someone knocking at the south gate. Let’s go back to our bedroom. A little water will wash away the evidence of our guilt. It’s so simple and yet you’ve lost your resolve.

LYKOPIS [dazed]:
“My resolve”?

[Knocking.]

SHASHGAZ:
Listen! There’s more knocking. Put on your nightgown, cover your breasts. Snap out of your stupor.

LYKOPIS [dully]:
I’d rather be in a stupor than think about what I have just done.

[Knocking.]

LYKOPIS:
Terrible Lady Nix, wake poor Marpesia with your knocking, only you can now!

[They exit.]

she-wolf: a new retelling of macbeth [act i]

03 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by babylon crashing in drama

≈ Comments Off on she-wolf: a new retelling of macbeth [act i]

Tags

Amazon queen, Amazon warrior, amazonomachy, drama, Fall of Troy, Macbeth, remix, She-Wolf

La sangre de mi matriz cubriendo la carretera está;
las patas de mi hija echan fuego de alquitrán …

The blood of my womb is covering the road;
the legs of my daughter throw black fire …
— “Marbella’s Song,” from Quevedo’s Dream of the Skull [17th century, Spain.]

][][

ACT I

[Time: Three years after the fall of Troy where the great Amazonian queen, Penthesilea, fell while defending the city, along with many of her warrior-sisters. As a result the Amazon tribes, scattered up and down the Black Sea coast, are now in disarray, confused, fighting among themselves for power.]

[Setting: Crickets chirping on a muggy evening. Roll of distant thunder. Sound of heavy bodies moving through a cane field. Pause. Suddenly the ERINYES, the Greek Furies, enter. They are monstrous, female chthonic deities of vengeance. Homer called them, “those beneath the earth who punish all blood oath breakers.” They are ALECTO (“the unnamable one”), MEGAERA (“grudging dislike”), and TISIPHONE (“vengeful destruction”), the stuff of nightmares.]

ALECTO:
When should we meet next? In the bloody rain or at the height of the thunder and lightning?

MEGAERA :
When the din of the war has fallen silent or when the battle has been won? I care not.

TISIPHONE:
Then it’ll happen when the sun sets upon this blood-dim tide …

ALECTO:
… and the stars speak through the infernal machine. So! Name the place.

MEGAERA:
In an open field? In the shadow of a hanged-man strung up at the crossroads? In the ashes of Troy? I care not.

TISIPHONE:
Wherever we go we shall meet the She-Wolf, Lady Lykopis.

ALL:
So it begins. Fair is foul, and foul is fair. We shall meet again in mist and war-torn air.

[They exit.]

][][

[An all-female battle camp, as depicted in the Greek Amazonomachies. Chaos of war raging nearby. QUEEN MARPESIA, in full armor, enters with her daughters, MALAPADIA and ORITHIA, as well as her personal body-guard, HIPPOTHOE, and a number of commanders. They meet a wounded and bloody comrade, ANDRODAMEIA, dragging herself off the battlefield.]

QUEEN MARPESIA:
Who is this bloodstained ghost? Quick, fetch my surgeon. We must save her; perhaps she can tell us about the rebellion.

MALAPADIA [stepping forward]:
This is the chieftess who fought to keep me from being captured, mother. Androdameia, my brave sister! Tell us news.

ANDRODAMEIA [half-blind, gasping and gory]:
My queen, sisters, for a while I couldn’t tell who would win. Like two weary swimmers, the armies clung to each other … like bodies dragging each other down through the dark depths. The depraved rebel, Antimachos, who sided with Achilles at Troy, was supported by soldiers from Attica, and it seemed that the fickle Fates were with her … but not for long. The Greeks and Antimachos together weren’t strong enough. Lykopis, who deserves the title of She-Wolf, laughed at the fates, the rebels and the Greeks. She slaughtered her way to deceitful Antimachos, who stood shocked and mute before her. Then our brave sister split the traitor from jawbone to belly and left her corpse on the battlefield, to be picked over by carrion crows.

QUEEN MARPESIA:
My dreadful war-sister! My praiseworthy chieftess!

ANDRODAMEIA:
Nevertheless, my queen, in the same way that violent storms often appear out of nowhere so can the tide of war turn. As soon as we left those Attican soldiers in heaps on the field the Spartan king saw his chance to attack us with reinforcements.

QUEEN MARPESIA:
No! What befell our terrible sisters, Lykopis and Penthesilea?

ANDRODAMEIA:
Those that we call mere warriors bathed in our enemies’ blood. They put the ten-year war at Troy to shame. Lykopis and Penthesilea fought the new enemy with even more violence as before …

[Before she can finish, though, ANDRODAMEIA crumples from blood loss.]

QUEEN MARPESIA:
Sister! Take her to the surgeons.

[ANDRODAMEIA exits, helped by attendants.]

QUEEN MARPESIA:
Her words, like her wounds, bring us all honor.

[TECMESSA and THRASO enter.]

MALAPADIA:
Mother, your most loyal warrior, Lady Tecmessa, approaches.

HIPPOTHOE:
Odd, she looks like she brings you a strange tale to tell.

TECMESSA:
Great Hera blesses us all!

QUEEN MARPESIA:
What news do you have, sister?

TECMESSA:
First queen, I’ve come from where the Spartan flags once flew over our land. Our soldiers were exhausted, in disarray, and fell into confusion the moment this new threat took the field. But, still wearing her war-battered armor, brave Lykopis met the Spartans as if she were the goddess of war’s only lover. She broke the enemy’s charge and now we have just return, triumphant.

QUEEN MARPESIA:
Great joy! Great joy, indeed.

TECMESSA:
So now, false Leonidas, the Spartan king, wants a truce. We told him that we wouldn’t even let him bury his dead until he went to the temple of Athena and swore on his worthless testicles that his people would never raise their cowardly hands against us, for now and forever.

QUEEN MARPESIA:
Sic semper tyrannis. The cravens of Sparta will never again wage war against us.

[They all exit.]

][][

[Thunder over a wretched moorland. The three ERINYES enter.]

ALL:
Captured goddess, her sword blades and poppy
seeds. I was down in the market. I’ve seen

how dire amethyst shivers; red, bloody
cinnamon flickers. The heart of a queen

can be broken. It was her wings. Rainbow
feathers. Hera’s terrible tongue, wrapping

around the girl’s clit. Caught in afterglow
and a blood-soaked bed; they caught her, coming

the way the gods come. Down in the market
I found her. Shorn of her wings; tied in chain

while men bargained for her. Let gold-silver
damn you when you call a goddess a slut;

when you kill a queen. Who will explain
why the She-Wolf is now a Queen killer?

][][

[LYKOPIS and PENTHESILEA enter. Both are wounded, blood-stained and exhausted to the point of hallucination.]

LYKOPIS [with a grievous cut across her scalp, causing blood to run into her eyes]:
I have never seen a day that was so fair and foul.

PENTHESILEA [with the broken shaft of an arrow sticking out of her shoulder]:
It hurts. Three handkerchiefs are inside me. This makes the fourth. [She sees the ERINYES] Great Gaia! What are these wild, alien monstrosities? They look like the nightmares that the gods have when they dream. [To the ERINYES] Are you living creatures or phantoms? Speak, can you understand me?

LYKOPIS:
Speak, if you have tongues. I would call you sisters but I’ve never seen anything as weird or wild as how you present yourself.

ALECTO:
We honor you, Lady Lykopis! We honor Spartan’s Bane!

MEGAERA:
We honor you, Lady Lykopis! We honor Marpesia’s Hallowing!

TISIPHONE:
We honor you, Lady Lykopis! Forthcoming queen!

PENTHESILEA [to LYKOPIS]:
My sister, why do you look so startled and afraid? You have already blessed our Queen Marpesia with such victories as will be sung for a thousand years to come. [To the ERINYES] If you are from the gods, if blood-hungry Athena sent you to watch us win honor on the battlefield, then you greet my war-sister with honors and talk of a future so glorious that you’ve made her blush like a maiden before her first battle; but you don’t say anything to me. I don’t beg for favors and I’m not afraid of death; tell me of what will happen.

ALECTO:
Creature of clay, we honor you!

MEGAERA:
Phoebe’s mare and fortune, we honor you!

TISIPHONE:
Lady Penthesilea, we also honor you!

ALECTO:
You will be lesser than Lady Lykopis but your future will also be greater.

MEGAERA:
You will not be as happy as Lady Lykopis but your future will be much happier.

TISIPHONE:
Your daughters will be queens, even though you will not be one.

ALL:
We honor you, Lady Lykopis and Lady Penthesilea!

[The three ERINYES rise up as if to depart.]

LYKOPIS:
Wait! You only told me part of what I want to know. Stay and tell me more. I already know that I defeated the Spartan king Leonidas. But why do you call me “Marpesia’s Hallowing”? For me to be the queen is impossible, it is treason, for there already is a queen that I love and that I have sworn a blood oath to … to protect. Why would you speak words that you know are sacrilegious? Why do you stop us at this forsaken waste with prophetic words that can only sew discontent? Speak, witches, I command you.

[The ERINYES vanish.]

PENTHESILEA:
The tar pits at high noon have bubbles that break the surface from deep below and burst, leaving nothing behind. These phantoms must be like those bubbles, I thought them real until they revealed that they were nothing more than trickery and sulfur.

LYKOPIS [dazed]:
“Trickery and sulfur.” They melted into the air. I wish that they had stayed …

PENTHESILEA [groaning as the arrow in her shoulder suddenly reaffirms itself]:
Ahh! Sister, look at us. We’ve been through too much and lost too much blood this day to say that what we just witnessed came from a calm mind.

LYKOPIS [still in a dream]:
But … your daughters will be queens.

PENTHESILEA:
No, sister, you will be the queen.

LYKOPIS:
And “Marpesia’s Hallowing,” too. Isn’t that what they said?

PENTHESILEA [falling to the ground, faint]:
I … think. Who’s this?

[TECMESSA and THRASO enter.]

TECMESSA:
My sisters, we have found you! Our queen was exultant to hear of your triumphs and conquests, Lady Lykopis. She was shaken to hear that on the same day that you fought the traitor Antimachos you also fought against the army of Leonidas, and that you beat those Greek bastards, slaughtering everyone around you.

THRASO:
Ladies, our queen sent us to find you, to give you her thanks and to bring you both back to her.

TECMESSA:
Lady Lykopis, since you saved your sisters and all our tribes, chief of our chieftesses, you shall be known from now on as “Marpesia’s Hallowing.”

PENTHESILEA [shocked]:
Pox and Pluto! Are you telling lies?

THRASO [startled]:
Lady! I … don’t understand …

LYKOPIS:
Please, forgive us. We are fresh off the battlefield and have been dribbling our vitals in every footprint we’ve left behind. The heat, the blood loss, the killing … it has made us a bit mad. Take us to our queen, Lykopis salutes you.

[The four begin to walk off stage. As soon as they are without ear shot, PENTHESILEA grabs LYKOPIS and whispers in her ear.]

PENTHESILEA:
Sister! Hold, I beg you. Those furies told us nothing short of treason. “Marpesia’s Hallowing” has many meanings, for good and evil. We must forget what we’ve been told.

LYKOPIS [dazed]:
But it’s just like they said … and the best part is still to come. Aren’t you hoping that your daughters will be queens one day?

PENTHESILEA:
But this whole thing is queer! Evil is tempting but it can only lead us to our destruction. [Turning to TECMESSA and THRASO] Sisters of Hippolyte’s Sash, a word with you, if you may.

[TECMESSA, THRASO and PENTHESILEA move off to one side.]

LYKOPIS [to herself]:
So far Great Athena’s bloodhounds have told me two things that came true, so it seems that I might one day become queen. This temptation doesn’t appear to be an evil thing, but can it be good? If it’s evil then why was I given the name of the queen’s protector? That is a title not used in these last two hundred years … but if it is a good then why was I told that I would be queen? There is but one queen, my darling Marpesia; and for a new queen rise only means that the old one is dead … Great Hera, that is a thought so horrifying that it freezes my cunt and makes my heart pound inside my breast!

PENTHESILEA:
Look at our sister, our dear Lykopis … she’s in a daze.

LYKOPIS [still to herself]:
But often the Fates throws chance to the ones who least expect it. Perhaps all I must do is stay dumb and mute and victory shall simply fall in my lap? Was that not how Hercules beat all nine of my sisters? Was that not how Troy fell? I care not, just give me a sign.

PENTHESILEA:
Our sister is not use to meaningless titles. She is a warrior first; gathering up fallen Spartan heads is the best glory that she can find. Pomp and circumstance like “Marpesia’s Hallowing” only confuses things. For some of us titles are like the wild bulls in the pasture; they are arrogant until you break them.

LYKOPIS [still to herself]:
Hera, give me strength! I cannot see the future. One way or another what’s going to happen will happen.

PENTHESILEA [coming over and embracing LYKOPIS]:
Sister, we’re ready when you are.

LYKOPIS [as if waking from a dream]:
O! Forgive me. I have been dazed after shedding so much blood today. It was terrible and I’ve been distracted. Kind sisters, I won’t forget the trouble that you’ve taken for me every time that I think of this day. Let’s go to the queen. [Turning to speak in PENTHESILEA’S ear] Think about what happened today, I beg of you, and when we’ve both had time to consider these divinations, pray, come to me.

PENTHESILEA:
Of course, my love.

[They all exit.]

my lykopis, my she-wolf

07 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by babylon crashing in Illustration and art, Poetry, sonnet

≈ Comments Off on my lykopis, my she-wolf

Tags

amazons, archer, art, Lykopis, poem, Poetry, She-Wolf, sonnet

lykopis

She-Wolf, slashed and torn. Mother of archers
letting loose the great arrow heads as you
backed your way up the temple steps. Fingers
drew the iron bow string back and men, who,
moments ago mocked you, now lay shattered
in the wind; pomegranate’s blood pooling
by their heads. Lykopis, there is no word
to help me find your grave. Even crafting
arrow heads is a lost art, nothing glints
like flint taken from a bright stone. She-Wolf,
even as you stood by the temple’s gate
and struck down Theseus, Athens’ cruel prince,
I lost you—-I love you—-I need no proof.
I burn for you—-beyond faith—-beyond hate.

][][

note:

Lykopis was an Amazon archer who fought under Andromache. Her name means, “She-Wolf.”

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