Hadrian & Antinous

ACT I - SCENE II

SCENE II - HADRIAN's bedroom at dawn, VIBIA and HADRIAN wake.

VIBIA: Stay you awhile, the day still is early.

Venus sleeps, along with your empire.

HADRIAN: Tis true, the day is young,

Though not as young as my thoughts.

I sense the day is yet to reveal its nature,

And we wait to learn of its intention.

VIBIA: What caused this quarrel?

Who planted this seed in your brain?

The day is planned and will go accordingly.

A new temple will be opened, a new jewel to your crown

Nothing more, nothing less,

I pray you, relax a little.

HADRIAN: Perhaps, my wife, perhaps you do speak true.

I'll trust your word till you are proven false.

Today we will either see it's virtue,

Or watch it fall with the sun and its pulse.

VIBIA: Oh! I do speak true - you should doubt it not.

Tis true as the sun warms the fields of Greece.

The days will grow as our empire ought,

When the temple's built and all is at peace.

HADRIAN: Speak of ambition, is Greece not enough?

Is my gold too common, and life too long?

Sweet Vibia, speak, your tongue is too tough.

I hope thee can speak, and then deem me wrong.

VIBIA: Gold is of worth only when it's not won.

HADRIAN: If such was true, then it's value is gone.

Off shall I now to prepare for the feast,

My men had called for me before you woke.

So long my cold wife, this talk has grown old.

(HADRIAN exits)

VIBIA: What of this, what of my valued man?

He speaks in tone I cannot understand.

Before this morn he was full with desire,

But now something seems to have ceased that fire.

Off I now, as water falls when it rains,

I'll try to decipher what's going on in his brain.

(Enter SERVINGMAN)

SERVINGMAN: Your majesty, a letter, (Hands letter) Arrived this morning for thee, by order of Secretary Gaius.

VIBIA: Thank thee, kind servant, I'll attend to it soon.

Leave me to myself, I'll be ready by noon.

SERVINGMAN: As thee wish, your majesty.

(Exit SERVINGMAN)

VIBIA: (Opening letter) Holy favor that this comes once my husband flees.

For its contents I'm sure would challenge his beliefs.

Hadrian, my love, cannot run all of Greece alone.

I help in the shadows, help to him that's unknown.

Our marriage is strong, but Hadrian may love still,

In the dark he escapes and does what he will.

Now our empire bleeds for an emperor strong,

Not a man who does his loving wife wrong.

I hired Gaius to serve as a spy for my cause,

Here he writes if Hadrian has done those flaws.

(Reading letter) "My sweet empress, tis true, your emperor is a man.

A creature that cannot commit to one hand.

Tis was two nights ago I watched another escape,

From your bedroom and towards your white pearly gate.

I fled back home, when I lost them to night,

But be sure, I saw such a conflicting sight.

Gaius remains loyal to Vibia the Great,

For she has helped hold together the State.

While Hadrian flirts with the those on the street,

She remains at the soles of the empire's weak."

Gaius claims that Hadrian is untrue,

However, I can't trust what Gaius drew.

The other that left our bedroom that night,

Was me making sure the gate was shut tight.

I didn't want any creatures to pass,

Into his bed, for it would be their last.

But sure enough, there was no one indeed,

Still, good Gaius has done me a good deed.

I will rely on his word as we go,

Through this hard time as my Hadrian knows:

His temple will open for Greece to see,

And I need to support him in his dreams.

Now to get dressed for the opening night,

I hope it all is a beautiful sight.

(Exit)