The House of Admetus: Eumelus, The Lost Trilogy of Plays by Agathon
Page 7
the means to its execution. You must decide based upon what you think is just and set aside all other considerations.
EUMELUS: If I was an unbiased judge without stake in outcome, I could render a solution that could be viewed as just, but I love all three of those involved equally. Plus I must take my succession into consideration when rendering my decision. If I exiled our son, he would be as good as dead to us, plus there is no guarantee that he would not return with forces sufficient to displace the current King, whether me or my son. You may even choose to share his exile and be lost to me as well. This would solve nothing. The gods could not wish upon me a worst dilemma. I would rather face insurmountable odds in battle than render this verdict.
IPHTHIME: I pity you in your decision; even I do not see a way that would be fair to all.
EUMELUS: I will have to send you back to your prison until I make my decision. If you are in need of anything aside from freedom, please pass word to your jailers and it will be fulfilled.
Iphthime enters the palace to return to her cell. The Chorus approaches Eumelus.
EUMELUS: Have you come to make misery worst by your harangues? Am I not already at emotion’s nadir?
CHORUS: No we are not here to make light of your plight. We have come to speak for the people of your kingdom. During the last eleven years, your Queen ruled our city-state of Pherae and its possessions in your place. She proved a worthy replacement for you. During that time she defended us from Northern barbarians that sought to sack our city; not by leading the army but by providing armaments, supplies, and quality generals. Also, four years after you left the crops failed for two consecutive seasons, and a great famine was upon us. She provided relief to the people by distributing stores to those that had none and even purchasing food from other city-states that had excess, in some case using her own jewelry in exchange. During her time as ruler, she set up places for the poor to be housed and fed. She is looked upon as a benevolent Queen who has the best interests of her people at heart and who is loved in return. Promachos shares in this affection since he assisted his mother and then ruled in his own stead the last year. The people would view the deaths of either of them with much disfavor.
EUMELUS: She was caught in the act of poisoning my successor, Admetus, at the feast last night. An act instigated by our son, Promachos. By law that is an act of treason, punishable by death. Would you oppose the imposition of law? Without law, anarchy would prevail? The gods themselves have called for the death of Promachos. Would you also oppose the will of the gods?
CHORUS: The people were not witness to these events and could be easily persuaded that the death of Promachos is to protect your chosen heir, using false charges leveled against him to support his removal. The influence of the King is powerful and can reach out to every man in the kingdom.
EUMELUS: You dishonor me by your accusations. I have not created events that have not happened. I swear by the gods that everything I have told you is true. I have no desire to hurt either my Queen or my youngest son. If I could avoid punishing them, I would gladly do so. I am in a position of having to decide the fate of two people I hold very dear. I do not see a solution to my dilemma.
CHORUS: If what you say is true, then surely you are entrapped in a situation without any foreseeable outcome that is favorable.
Admetus exits the palace and joins his father. The Chorus moves to the side.
ADMETUS: I would have words with you father. You have talked to mother about her situation. What was the outcome of that discussion?
EUMELUS: She says her judgment about her part in the plot was clouded by her maternal feelings towards our son. She regrets her behavior but still fears for the fate of our son at your hands once you become King.
ADMETUS: I have no desire to harm mother or my brother and still love them both in spite of their heinous crime. But the law is clear on treason, and there is only one punishment that can be meted out, death. As mother was an accomplice tricked into being a party to it, her life should be spared. But as instigator, my brother should be executed as demanded by the gods and the law.
EUMELUS: It is easy to say such things when said decision is not yours. I do not look upon the judgment to be as clear as your words would indicate. The execution or exile of wife and son is a matter that requires much deliberation.
ADMETUS: Father, I think you delay for time, even when you know what is the just course of action. If you spare my brother and send him into exile, my life will still be at risk from him. You, father, know this better than anyone. Promachos as long as he is alive will be a rallying point for those dissatisfied with your or my rule. Even the most just leader makes enemy by his actions, even when he has the best of intensions. Those whose cannot pay their taxes can be swayed by promise of relief from debt to oppose a ruler. Mercenaries are always willing to join a cause in which they can gain wealth through payment or pillage, their only alliance being with the gold they seek. Pherae has enemies on all sides that covet their land; enemies who would be willing to back a royal outcast to give legitimacy to their greedy cause.
EUMELUS: Everything you say is true, my son. But would execution of beloved Queen and our son not give cause to our own people to rise up against our rule?
ADMETUS: The people need to be told of why these actions had to be taken and to count on them to see that this was the just course. I would much prefer to deal with local problems that can be handled with resources already in place than with an external threat that may have no restrictions on resources.
EUMELUS: This is true as well. I will have to dwell on this.
ADMETUS: Please do not delay, father. I believe things will on worsen with time.
Eumelus enters the palace. Admetus remains outside with the Chorus.
CHORUS: You claim to harbor no ill will towards your brother, but your words do not ring true. There is hidden purpose in your speech and actions.
ADMETUS: You women have no cause to question my motives or my actions. I am the future King of Pherae, and you had best keep that in mind if you hope for relief in the future from the ravages of time. I love my mother and brother. I seek only justice.
CHORUS: Justice like beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. By your continuing reference to her as your mother and not step-mother shows that you hold her in some affection, but there is little bond between you and your brother, he being young when you left. But wishing death on someone, as close in blood as Promachos is to you may have consequences that you cannot foresee. The gods can be very cruel to those that they perceive as violating their rules or wishes. You may get what you want in the present but set in motion a series of events leading to your downfall.
ADMETUS: You have said your piece, now be off with you.
A commotion from the palace and Teuthras rushes out and up to Admetus.
TEUTHRAS: My prince, your father is dead. He was pacing anxiously in his throne room when he cried out, grabbing his head and collapsing onto the floor. By the time I and the courtiers could reach him he was dead. He must have died instantly, as if struck down by Zeus himself.
ADMETUS: No, no, my beloved father cannot be dead. I must go to him.
Admetus and Teuthras rush into the palace leaving the Chorus alone.
CHORUS: King Eumelus could not bring himself to sentence to death his beloved wife and their son. But, as King, he was bound to follow the dictates of the law and of the gods and to protect his eldest son. He was unable to choose between these two agonizing paths, as if the gods put a spell of indecision on him. Such a great strain was too much for even this great man; a strain that could only be relieved by death. Now that decision has been passed to his son, Admetus, who will find that giving advice on what is the correct decision is much easier than actually making and executing that decision.
End of Part 1.
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