SEMELE. Strong is that mortal's arm whom gods protect,-- Saturnius loves thee--none can I e'er love But deities-- ZEUS. What! art thou doubting still Whether my might is lent me by the gods And not god-born? The gods, my Semele, In charity oft lend their strength to man; Ne'er do the deities their terrors lend-- Death and destruction is the godhead's seal-- Bearer of death to thee were Zeus unveiled! (He extends his hand. Thunder, fire, smoke, and earthquake. Music accompanies the spell here and subsequently.) SEMELE. Withdraw, withdraw thy hand!--Oh, mercy, mercy, For the poor nation! Yes, thou art the child Of great Saturnius-- ZEUS. Ha! thou thoughtless one! Shall Zeus, to please a woman's stubbornness, Bid planets whirl, and bid the suns stand still? Zeus will do so!--oft has a god's descendant Ripped up the fire-impregnate womb of rocks, And yet his might's confined to Tellus' bounds Zeus only can do this! (He extends his hand--the sun vanishes, and it becomes suddenly night.) SEMELE. (Falling down before him.) Almighty one! Couldst thou but love! [Day reappears. ZEUS. Ha! Cadmus' daughter asks Kronion if Kronion e'er can love! One word and he throws off divinity-- Is flesh and blood, and dies, and is beloved! SEMELE. Would Zeus do that? ZEUS. Speak, Semele! What more? Apollo's self confesses that 'tis bliss To be a man 'mongst men--a sign from thee, And I'm a man! SEMELE. (Falling on his neck.) Oh Jupiter, the Epidaurus women Thy Semele a foolish maiden call, Because, though by the Thunderer beloved, She can obtain naught from him-- ZEUS. (Eagerly.) They shall blush, Those Epidaurus women! Ask!--but ask! And by the dreaded Styx--whose boundless might Binds e'en the gods like slaves--if Zeus deny thee, Then shall the gods, e'en in that self-same moment, Hurl me despairing to annihilation! SEMELE. (Springing up joyfully.) By this I know that thou'rt my Jupiter! Thou swearest--and the Styx has heard thine oath! Let me embrace thee, then, in the same guise In which-- ZEUS. (Shrieking with alarm.) Unhappy one! Oh stay! oh stay! SEMELE. Saturnia-- ZEUS. (Attempting to stop her mouth.) Be thou dumb! SEMELE. Embraces thee. ZEUS. (Pale, and turning away.) Too late! The sound escaped!--The Styx!--'Tis death Thou, Semele, hast gained! SEMELE. Ha! Loves Zeus thus? ZEUS. All heaven I would have given, had I only Loved thee but less! (Gazing at her with cold horror.) Thou'rt lost-- SEMELE. Oh, Jupiter! ZEUS. (Speaking furiously to himself,) Ah! Now I mark thine exultation, Juno! Accursed jealousy! This rose must die! Too fair--alas! too sweet for Acheron!