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Scene III:
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Cyrene is walking carefully through the woods with her bow and arrow.
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CYRENE:
(singing (forte))
Oh does it make my heart sing
To flit through the woods
Like creatures of wing
Free to heed the call of the game
Of tracking, and stalking
And chasing the tame
And prey like the fierce lion of the mountain
Or the wolf strayed away
From the pack which no longer counts it
I dash and I fly
Never wondering if I
Should be in the home
To which good maidens are bound in
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Cyrene spots her prey, slows down, creeps from tree to tree
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CYRENE:
(singing (piano/softly))
But why should this bird leave the trees
So long as the good king leaves me be
For I think
No prince
On earth
Could catch
Or test
Or impress
Me...
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Cyrene shoots her bow, then walks up and stands over a slain stag
.
For they all see a maid
Most strange, ill behaved [she crouches down to pluck the arrow]
But there is no other way
I can be
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Fog fills the forest, Artemis appears. Cyrene is startled, and kneels and bows.
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CYRENE:
Mistress of the Forest! Maiden of the Hunt!
(singing)
But what brings the great goddess here to grace this lady with her presence?
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ARTEMIS:
(singing)
Why I have heard the call
Of a heart that is torn
Though treading free
Through my forest halls
It fears a life of lonely scorn
Despite service to me?
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Cyrene pauses, unable to answer. Artemis smiles.
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ARTEMIS :
(singing)
Fear not, fair child
For I will raise you above all
As no woman wild
Will you be remembered
Above man and maid
Will you stand tall
None through Greece may deny
A champion sent by me
To conquer any feat
Great or small
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Music stops.
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CYRENE:
But how will this be?
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A pair of large hunting dogs enter and sit by the goddess.
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ARTEMIS:
(speaking)
A contest, of sport in arms. There you will be proved to all the kingdoms of Greece.
And, perhaps, you may also find one worthy of your company in hand.
(singing)
But he need be very great indeed
To impress the likes of me
Or my maiden, Cyrene!
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Cyrene is quiet. Music resumes.
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ARTEMIS:
(singing)
Here with this gift you may
Set out to win the day,
A pair clever and swift
And precious to me.
Bring home fame and fortune all the more
To your king who honors the goddess most loyally
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Mist fills the woods, Artemis vanishes.
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CYRENE:
But of what contest do you speak?!
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Dogs go to Cyrene, she greets and pets them.
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CYRENE:
Would you fine hounds know the answer?
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Dogs give friendly barks.
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CYRENE:
Come then! I suppose we should get my prize home.
Perhaps your lady will send some token to me in reply.
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Cyrene retrieves the stag onto her shoulders, exits with the dogs.
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