[_Flourish of trumpets._ _Enter a GALATIAN NOBLEMAN with crown on a cushion._ NOBLE (_kneels_). Greeting and health from Synorix. He sends you This diadem of the first Galatian Queen, That you may feed your fancy on the glory of it, And join your life this day with his, and wear it Beside him on his throne. He waits your answer. CAMMA. Tell him there is one shadow among the shadows, One ghost of all the ghosts—as yet so new, So strange among them—such an alien there, So much of husband in it still—that if The shout of Synorix and Camma sitting Upon one throne, should reach it, _it_ would rise HE!... HE, with that red star between the ribs, And my knife there—and blast the king and me, And blanch the crowd with horror. I dare not, sir! Throne him—and then the marriage—ay and tell him That I accept the diadem of Galatia— [_All are amazed._ Yea, that ye saw me crown myself withal. [_Puts on the crown._ I wait him his crown’d queen. NOBLE. So will I tell him. [_Exit._ Music. Two Priestesses go up the steps before the shrine, draw the curtains on either side (discovering the Goddess), then open the gates and remain on steps, one on either side, and kneel. A Priestess goes off and returns with a veil of marriage, then assists Phœbe to veil Camma. At the same time Priestesses enter and stand on either side of the Temple. Camma and all the Priestesses kneel, raise their hands to the Goddess, and bow down. [_Shouts_, “Synorix! Synorix!” _All rise._ CAMMA. Fling wide the doors, and let the new-made children Of our imperial mother see the show. [_Sunlight pours through the doors._ I have no heart to do it. (_To Phœbe_). Look for me! [_Crouches. PHŒBE looks out._ [_Shouts_, “Synorix! Synorix!” PHŒBE. He climbs the throne. Hot blood, ambition, pride So bloat and redden his face—O would it were His third last apoplexy! O bestial! O how unlike our goodly Sinnatus. CAMMA (_on the ground_). You wrong him surely; far as the face goes A goodlier-looking man than Sinnatus. PHŒBE (_aside_). How dare she say it? I could hate her for it But that she is distracted.