Little Child, I understand. I know your feelings. Athens herself is on edge these days--and little wonder. _Lydia_ Phocion, let me tell you honestly--I am afraid. _Phocion_ Anxious, perhaps, but not afraid. The mood of our beloved city takes you with it, as it takes us all. We all are patriots to-day. But the wife of Phocion has proved herself no coward. _Lydia_ (_Low voice._) Alexander is so powerful. Some say the Macedonian is a God. _Phocion_ Pshaw! In his own land, perhaps. But Athens has her own Gods. He is a conqueror, yes; but a conqueror can only take a city, not the souls who dwell in it. _Lydia_ (_Softly._) Phocion, when I hear your words my fear melts away. Yet Athens _is_ conquered. Our city trembles---- _Phocion_ Hush, Lydia. I do not like to hear you say such things. _Lydia_ Who can stand against him, then? Who is there can oppose this conqueror of the Persians? _Phocion_ Every Athenian--every Greek who loves our city more than he fears the Macedonian. _Lydia_ All Athens, then! _Phocion_ All the best in Athens. [_LYDIA looks nervously over her shoulder towards the city and Acropolis. The dusk deepens. The first star shows._ _Lydia_ (_Shudders._) Your speech is often mysterious like this now--dark with meaning. Each night as twilight gathers from the sea about our city, there are footsteps on the causeway that make me tremble. No sooner has Hymettus darkened than shadows move silently over the courtyard and between the pillars. (_Turns and flings her arms about him._) Oh, my Phocion, it is for you, not for myself, I am afraid. _Phocion_ Calm yourself, beloved. I am an Athenian who obeys his unconquerable Gods. I do no more than accept the destiny they lay upon him who loves his country---- _Lydia_ But if Alexander discovered you--if----! _Phocion_ Discovered me! What thought is this? _Lydia_ If he discovered you were true to Athens, I was about to say. If he took you from me! Oh, Phocion! In dreams I have seen you lying dead at his feet--lost to me for ever. _Phocion_ Not lost, most loving woman. If the Gods take me--if I die for Athens---- _Lydia_ Am I, then, less than Athens? _Phocion_ Athens is great because of women like you, Lydia. You would not see her less? _Lydia_ How less? _Phocion_ Less free. Liberty is the breath of life. _Lydia_ What is my liberty if I lose you? Your voice, your touch, your living presence here beside me (_embraces him_)--I want you alive and loving---- _Phocion_ Our love has grown with Athens. On the green Cephissian banks we first discovered it, and that evening on Hymettus when the honey--ah, I see it in your eyes, dear heart--you remember even as I remember. If Athens live---- _Lydia_ But if _you_ die! If Alexander crush you, kill you! Oh, my Phocion, this struggle against the conqueror is vain. You tempt the Gods. I fear for you and for your hopeless schemes---- _Phocion_ My schemes! Lydia, what do you know? _Lydia_