Act the First. The Game.
Chorus:
Dreams of Empyre ever whetted the ambition
of the wicked: first by sword they seek to spread
their sway and domination, then by arts more dark
and vicious, by evil genius of treachery they bring
to completion their designs. Thus even in our time
and sweat of your hands, the livelihood of our families
were but bones in great game of chance, amusement
in their struggles for dominions. They surpassed even
the labors of the alchemists, coaxing not from lead
or silver precious glitter of gold, but from the pledge
of the poor upon their unborn children, from the blood
Yea, they hath found the philosopher’s stone, and touched
the world with its edge, heeding not the mortal price
for their perverse miracle. It was to be paid for another,
and justice of man hath not brought account against them.
But even if the lictor’s sword would not touch their neck,
a far greater strike would come from heaven, to crush
Such now is this our tale, of a man tempted to bind
his end with those who burned the world, and with
his bet brought upon himself and the innocent their death.
SCENE ONE. CHADWICK’S TOWN-HOUSE.