Helena and the Moonstone

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.