Phaethon’s Ride
By Joseph M. Barat

Cast

HERMES - the Messenger of the Gods (narrator)
HELIOS - the God of the Sun
PHAETHON - Helios’ half-mortal son
ZEUS - the King of the Gods
CONSTELLATIONS

(HELIOS is sitting on a throne. Enter HERMES.)

Hermes: The Palace of the Sun was a brilliant place.
It’s roof shone with gold. It’s pillars were radiant ivory.
And jewels sparkled in the architecture.
There Helios, he who pulls the Sun across the sky in his steed-drawn chariot,
Sat upon a golden throne, crowned with magnificent light.
It was always noon there; darkness and night had no place.
Few mortals would have been able to endure the unyielding light without consequence.
Nevertheless, a boy, mortal on his mother’s side,
Dared to approach the palace.
(Enter Phaethon)
But, when he came before Helios, he had to halt.
For the brilliance of his crown was too awesome to behold.

Helios: What brings you here?

Phaethon: My mother told me you were my father.
I’ve come to find the truth.

Hermes: Helios removed his shining crown so the boy could see him.

(HELIOS removes the crown)

Helios: Come, Phaethon,
You are my son
Clymene, your mother, spoke the truth.
But if you doubt my word as well, I will swear by Styx,
The River of Unbreakable Oath, that whatever you ask of me now,
As proof, you shall have.
I swear by the Styx!

Phaethon: I have often watched the Sun ride across the daytime sky
And I would think, with excitement and pride,
"That’s my father up there!"
Then I would wonder what it would be like to drive that chariot,
Drawn by fiery steeds, to pull the Sun across the sky
And provide light and warmth to the Earth below!
I choose to take your place, Father, for just one day,
To feel that triumph and glory!

Hermes: Helios then realized this folly.
Zeus himself could not brake an oath sworn by the Styx.
And Helios had sworn that oath.
To grant whatever foolishness might enter a boy’s hot head.

Helios: Dear Son,
This is the only thing I would have refused you.
But by Styx I have sworn, and if you persist I must yield.
I hope you do not.
Let me tell you that you don’t know what you ask.
To drive the chariot of the Sun across the sky is not a simple task.
No mortal, nor God (save for myself) can make that ride.
And it would prove disast’rous if any tried.
The road is rough.
It rises from the ocean so steeply that the steeds can barely climb it.
At Midheaven it arcs so high,that even I dare not look down.
And the descent, again so steep I wonder how I don’t tumble into the sea.
The steeds are wild and untamable creatures.
Even with the reigns in my hands, they can hardly be controlled.
How could you, you’re not half as strong as I?
Do you expect to discover a myriad of wonders up there;
Cities of Gods, celestial marvels, and universal revelations? There’s nothing of the kind!
There are fierce beasts of prey up there -
The Dragon and the serpent - high above you
And the beasts of the Zodiac - the Bull, the Ram, the Scorpion, the Crab,
The Lion and the others - all have the power to harm you!
Be persuaded by my words and change your foolish mind.
Look at the riches of the world and choose your heart’s desire
And it shall be yours.
Or if it is proof that I’m your father that you seek,
Then my concern for you should be proof enough.

Hermes: But Helios’ words did not dissuade Phaethon.
They only served to fuel his desire to pilot the golden chariot.
To hold the reigns in his hands and guide the steeds even Zeus could not master.
He had no fear nor doubt of his ability to do so.
Dawn drew near.

Helios: I cannot dissuade you.
Nor can I break an oath by Styx.
I have no more time to argue.
Already the gates of the East glow purple
And Aurora has filled the sky with rosy light.
You must make haste.

(PHAETHON gets on the chariot)

Hermes: Phaethon mounted the chariot and took the reigns.
The steeds spit fire and smoke, anxious to be released.
Then the Seasons flung open the gates and they were off.

(HELIOS exits.)

Phaethon was ecstatic as he made the ascent into the clear morning sky.
He felt like a God; mighty and proud. But then . . .
The chariot began to speed and swing to and fro.
The steeds dashed this way and that, leaving the road.
The chariot nearly crashed into the Lion, just missing the Crab.
The Scorpion whipped its tail dangerously close to Phaethon.
He grew faint, releasing his grip on the reigns, allowing the steeds a free rampage.
They soared up to the top of the sky were the Sun burned a scar across the Heavens, creating the Milky Way.
Then, plunging strait down to Earth, the Sun set the world on fire.
The Mountains burned first - Ida and Helicon, were the Muses dwell,
Parnassus and high Olympus - the flames running down into the valleys
Shrinking the rivers as they turned into steam; The forests ablaze.
Phaethon, burning and wrapped in smoke cried for release
(PHAETHON cries)
Mother Earth’s cry for help reached blazing Olympus, where
Zeus, looking down from burning Olympus, knew he must act quickly.
He seized his thunderbolt and hurled it at the repentant boy,
Struck him dead,
Shattered the chariot,
And the steeds fled to the sea.
Phaethon’s flaming body fell and landed in the river Eridanus.
Phaethon’s sisters, the Heliades, or "Daughters of Helios",
Wept for their brother on the shores of Eridanus
Where they were turned into poplar trees
And their tears became amber in the rivers water.
The Naiads, water nymphs, buried him.
And carved upon his tomb:

"Here Phaeton lies who drove the Sun-God’s car.
Greatly he failed,
But he had greatly dared."

(Exit HERMES. Exit PHAETHON.)

©Copyright 1997 by Devyn