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© by Scott Wheeler (b. 1952)
Helena and the Moonstone
Language: English
Narrator: Long ago there lived a powerful huntress named Helena. She had sworn never to marry because she served the moon goddess Diana. But one day, in pursuit of a stag, her arrows crossed those of a great hunter, Prince Actaeon. They fell in love and married in secret. Their love brought them great joy, but Helena's greatest desire went unfulfilled. She longed to bear her husband's child. Each night she sang to him. Helena: Oh, I weep. Our joy is incomplete. Shall I grow old and never see my Actaeon's face and my own reflected in the tender gaze of our beloved child? Who can help us? Acteon: Helena, do not weep. I too have longed for our child. Could it be that the gods are punishing us because you have broken your vow to Diana? Helena: Oh, Actaeon, there is one goddess who will not turn her back on us: Hecate, the sorceress, the mother goddess of the Night. I know her well. Acteon: Helena, they say that each blessing from Hecate comes with a curse. How do we dare to call on such a fearful goddess? Helena: Farewell, dear Actaeon. Go to her for me. Tell her that her devoted Helena calls on her power. Go to her. Farewell. Narrator: So Actaeon rode deep into the forest until at last he came to Hecate's simple hut. He knocked at the door. Out of the darkness came a pale voice: Hecate: I know what you wish. I know what you've come for. Would you steal your child from the gods? Actaeon: I will do anything to give my wife this child. Hecate: You are blind. The gods will have their payment. Actaeon: I am willing to pay both you and the gods for the happiness of my wife. Hecate: Very well. If you want this child, you must go to Diana's grove at the full moon. While she sleeps, take the moonstone that she keeps by her side. Bring it to your wife. But before Diana wakes, you must return the stone, or the goddess will take vengeance on both your wife and your child. If you survive this theft, you may find yourself changed. Narrator: Actaeon was brave and his love for Helena was great. That night, under the full moon, he rode to Diana's grove. Actaeon watched as Diana placed the necklace with the moonstone by her side. A cloud covered the moon, and Diana slept. Actaeon seized the necklace and escaped into the darkness. He rode home to his secret bride and presented her with his treasure. Helena: Oh, my dear Actaeon, linger here in my arms. We shall have our child, our heart's desire. Narrator: Actaeon lingered too long with his beloved wife. Though he set off before dawn, as he returned the necklace to Diana he was caught by the first rays of the morning sun. The goddess woke in a sudden fury. Diana: Who are you? Why are you here? The mortal man who spies on Diana while she sleeps shall never tell what he has seen! Narrator: The blazing eyes of the goddess struck Actaeon to the ground. When he rose, he was transformed into a stag and ran off into the forest. Diana called after him: Diana: Run, hunter! Now that you are hunted, let your fate be a lesson to all men! Narrator: Soon, Actaeon's own hounds caught the scent of this new stag. Actaeon, the great hunter could no longer speak to call off his hounds. Helena and her hounds joined the hunt. Actaeon was run to the ground and killed. Helena never knew what she had done. In time, Helena bore Actaeon's daughter. As she cradled her child, she sang. Helena: Lullaby, little huntress, Lullaby, rest in slumber under the moon. We shall wait for your father. When he returns, our joy will be complete. Sleep now. Lullaby, my child of the moonstone. You will always run free. Yours is the night. You shall ride to the hunt. Yours is the forest and the moon. Slumber now. Lullaby. We shall wait for your father.
Authorship:
- by Scott Wheeler (b. 1952), copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Scott Wheeler (b. 1952), "Helena and the Moonstone", 2000, first performed 2000 [ soprano and piano ], Scott Wheeler Music [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Eric Saroian
This text was added to the website: 2022-06-27
Line count: 79
Word count: 687