Enter EUPHRASIA, and EVANDER.

Evan. Euphrasia, oh, my child! returning life Glows here about my heart. Conduct me forward: At the last gasp preserv'd! Ha! dawning light! Let me behold; in faith I see thee now;

I do indeed: the father sees his child.

Euph. I have reliev'd him-Oh! the joy's too great;

'Tis speechless rapture!

Evan. Blessings, blessings on thee!

Euph. My father still shall live. Alas! Philotas, Could I abandon that white hoary head,

That venerable form -Abandon him
To perish here in misery and famine?

Phil. Thy tears, thou miracle of goodness!
Have triumph'd o'er me; these round gushing drops
Attest your conquest. Take him, take your father;
Convey him hence; I do release him to you.

Evan. What said Philotas! Do I fondly dream ? Indeed my senses are imperfect; yet

Methought I heard him! Did he say release me? Phil. Thou art my king, and now no more my

pris'ner;

Go with your daughter, with that wondrous pattern
Of filial piety to after times.

Yes, princess, lead him forth; I'll point the path,
Whose soft declivity will guide your steps

To the deep vale, which these o'er-hanging rocks
Encompass round. You may convey him thence

To some safe shelter. Yet a moment's pause;
I must conceal your flight from ev'ry eye.
Yes, I will save 'em-Oh, returning virtue !
How big with joy one moment in thy service!
That wretched pair! I'll perish in their cause. [Exit,
Evan. Whither, oh! whither shall Evander go?
I'm at the goal of life; if in the race

Honour has follow'd with no ling'ring step,

But there sits smiling with her laurel'd wreath

To crown my brow, there would I fain make halt, And not inglorious lay me down to rest.

Euph. And will you then refuse, when thus the gods

Afford a refuge to thee?

Evan. Oh my child,

There is no refuge for me.
Euph. Pardon, sir:

Euphrasia's care has form'd a safe retreat;

There may'st thou dwell; it will not long be wanted. Soon shall Timoleon, with resistless force,

Burst yon devoted walls.

Evan. Timoleon !

Euph. Yes,

The brave Timoleon, with the pow'r of Greece;
Another day shall make the city his.

Evan. Timoleon come to vindicate my rights!
Oh! thou shalt reign in Sicily! my child

Shall grace her father's throne. Indulgent Heav'n! Pour down your blessings on this best of daughters; To her and Phocion give Evander's crown ;

Let them, oh let them both in virtue wear it,
And in due time transmit it to their boy!

Enter PHILOTAS.

Phil. All things are apt; the drowsy sentinel Lies hush'd in sleep; I'll marshal thee the way Down the steep rock.

Euph. Oh! let us quickly hence.

Evan. The blood but loiters in these frozen veins. Do you, whose youthful spirit glows with life, Do you go forth, and leave this mould'ring corpse. To me had Heav'n decreed a longer date, It ne'er had suffer'd a fell monster's reign, Nor let me see the carnage of my people. Farewell, Euphrasia; in one lov'd embrace To these remains pay the last obsequies, And leave me here to sink to silent dust.

Euph. And will you then, on self-destruction bent,
Reject my pray'r, nor trust your fate with me?
Evan. Trust thee! Euphrasia? Trust in thee, my
child?

Though life's a burden I could well lay down,
Yet I will prize it, since bestow'd by thee.
Oh! thou art good; thy virtue soars a flight
For the wide world to wonder at; in thee,
Hear it all nature, future ages hear it,
The father finds a parent in his child.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE 1.

A Rampart near the Harbour. Enter MELANTHON and PHILOTAS.

AND lives he still?

Melanthon.

Phil. He does; and kindly aliment

Renews the springs of life.

Melan. And doth he know

The glorious work the destinies prepare?
Phil. He is inform'd of all.

Melan. That Greek Timoleon

Comes his deliverer, and the fell usurper

Pants in the last extreme?

Phil. The glorious tidings

Have reach'd his ear.

Melan. Lead on, propitious Pow'rs!

Your great design; second the Grecian arms,

And whelm the sons of Carthage in the deep.

Phil. This hour decides their doom; and lo! Eu

phrasia

Stands on the jutting rock, that rock, where oft
Whole days she sat in pensive sorrow fix'd,
And swell'd with streaming tears the restless deep.
There, now with other sentiments elate,

She views Timoleon with victorious prow
Glide thro' the waves, and sees the scatter'd navy
Of Carthage fly before him.

Melan. Blest event!

Evander, if thou mock'st me not, shall live
Once more to see the justice of the gods.
But wilt thou still protect my royal master?
Wilt thou admit me to his wish'd-for presence ?
Phil. Let it suffice that no assassin's aim
Can now assault him: I must hence, Melanthon;
I now must mingle with the tyrant's train,
And, with a semblance of obsequious duty,
Delude suspicion's eye: My friend, farewell. [Exit.
Melan. If he deceive me not with specious hopes,
I shall behold the sov'reign, in whose service
These temples felt the iron casque of war,

And these white hairs have silver'd o'er my head,

Enter EUPHRASIA.

Euph. See there; behold 'em; lo! the fierce encounter;

He rushes on; the ocean flames around

With the bright flash of arms; the echoin hills
Rebellow to the roar.

Melan. The gods are with us,

And victory is ours.

Euph. High on the stern

The Grecian leaders stand: they stem the surge;
Launch'd from their arm the missive lightnings fly,
And the Barbaric fleet is wrapt in fire.

And lo! yon bark, down in the roaring gulph;
And there, more, more are perishing-Behold!
They plunge for ever lost.