The Citadel of Antiochus at Jerusalem.
SCENE I. — ANTIOCHUS; JASON.
ANTIOCHUS. O Antioch, my Antioch, my city! Queen of the East! my solace, my delight! The dowry of my sister Cleopatra When she was wed to Ptolemy, and now Won back and made more wonderful by me! I love thee, and I long to be once more Among the players and the dancing women Within thy gates, and bathe in the Orontes, Thy river and mine. O Jason, my High-Priest, For I have made thee so, and thou art mine, Hast thou seen Antioch the Beautiful?
JASON. Never, my Lord.
ANTIOCHUS. Then hast thou never seen The wonder of the world. This city of David Compared with Antioch is but a village, And its inhabitants compared with Greeks Are mannerless boors.
JASON. They are barbarians, And mannerless.
ANTIOCHUS. They must be civilized. They must be made to have more gods than one; And goddesses besides.
JASON. They shall have more.
ANTIOCHUS. They must have hippodromes, and games, and baths, Stage-plays and festivals, and most of all The Dionysia.
JASON. They shall have them all.