ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

Arcas. Take your last farewell.

His vigour seems not yet exhausted quite.

You must be brief, or ruin will ensue.

[Exit.

Eva. [Raising himself.] Oh! when shall I get free? These ling'ring pangs

Eup. Behold, ye pow'rs, that spectacle of woe! Eva. Despatch me, pitying gods, and save my child; I burn, I burn; alas! no place of rest:

[Rises and comes out.

A little air; once more a breath of air;

Alas! I faint; I die.

Eup. Heart-piercing sight!

Let me support you, sir.

Eva. Oh! lend your arm.

Whoe'er thou art, I thank thee: that kind breeze Comes gently o'er my senses-lead me forward: And is there left one charitable hand

To reach its succour to a wretch like me? Eup. Well may'st thou ask it. Oh! my breaking heart!

The hand of death is on him.

Eva. Still a little,

A little onward to the air conduct me ;

'Tis well;-I thank thee; thou art kind and good, And much I wonder at this gen'rous pity.

Eup. Dost thou not know me, sir?

Eva. Methinks I know

That voice art thou-alas! my eyes are dim!
Each object swims before me-No, in truth,

I do not know thee.

Eup. Not your own Euphrasia ?

Eva. Art thou my daughter?

Eup. Oh! my honour'd sire!

Eva. My daughter, my Euphrasia! come to close A father's eyes! Giv'n to my last embrace!

Gods! do I hold her once again? Your mercies

Are without number.

This excess of bliss

[Falls on the Couch.

O'erpow'rs; it kills; Euphrasia-could I hope it?

I die content-Art thou indeed my daughter?
Thou art; my hand is moisten'd with thy tears:
I pray you do not weep-thou art my child:
I thank you, gods! in my last dying moments
You have not left me-I would pour my praise;
But oh! your goodness overcomes me quite!
You read my heart; you see what passes there.

Eup. Alas, he faints! the gushing tide of transport Bears down each feeble sense: restore him, Heav'n! Era. All, my Euphrasia, all will soon be well. Pass but a moment, and this busy globe,

Its thrones, its empires, and its bustling millions,
Will seem a speck in the great void of space.
Yet, while I stay, thou darling of my age!-
Nay, dry those tears.

Eup. I will, my father.

Eva. Where,

I fear to ask it, where is virtuous Phocion?

Eup. Fled from the tyrant's pow'r.

Eva. And left thee here

Expos'd and helpless?

Eup. He is all truth and honour:

He fled to save my child,

Eva. My young Evander!

Your boy is safe, Euphrasia?-Oh! my heart!
Alas! quite gone; worn out with misery;
O, weak, decay'd old man!

Eup. Inhuman wretches!

Will none relieve his want? A drop of water
Might save his life; and even that's denied him.

Eva. These strong emotions- Oh! that eager air-
It is too much-assist me; bear me hence,
And lay me down in peace.

Eup. His eyes are fix'd!

And those pale quiv'ring lips! He clasps my hand:
What, no assistance! Monsters, will you thus
Let him expire in these weak feeble arms?

Enter PHILOTAS.

Phil. Those wild, those piercing shrieks will give th' alarm.

Eup. Support him; bear him hence; 'tis all I

ask.

Eva. [As he is carried off.] O Death! where art thou? Death, thou dread of guilt,

[ocr errors]

Thou wish of innocence, affliction's friend,
Tir'd nature calls thee; come, in mercy come,
And lay me pillow'd in eternal rest.

My child-where art thou? give me; reach thy hand.
Why dost thou weep?--My eyes are dry-Alas!
Quite parch'd, my lips-quite parch'd; they cleave
[Exeunt.

together.

Enter ARCAS.

Arcas. The grey of morn breaks thro' yon eastern clouds.

"Twere time this interview should end: the hour Now warns Euphrasia hence: what man could dare, I have indulg'd-Philotas!-ha! the cell

Left void!-Evander gone!-What may this mean? Philotas, speak.

Enter PHILOTAS.

Phil. Oh! vile, detested lot,

Here to obey the savage tyrant's will,
And murder virtue, that can thus behold,
Its executioner, and smile upon him.
That piteous sight!

Arcas. She must withdraw, Philotas;
Delay undoes us both. The restless main
Glows with the blush of day.

The time requires

Without or further pause, or vain excuse,
That she depart this moment.

Phil. Arcas, yes;

My voice shall warn her of th' approaching danger.
[Exit.
Arcas.'Would she had ne'er adventur'd to our guard!
I dread th' event; and hark!-the wind conveys
In clearer sound the uproar of the main.
The fates prepare new havoc; on th' event
Depends the fate of empire. Wherefore thus
Delays Euphrasia? Ha! what means, Philotas,
That sudden haste, that pale disorder'd look ?

Enter PHILOTAS.

Phil. O! I can hold no more; at such a sight Ev'n the hard heart of tyranny would melt To infant softness. Arcas, go, behold The pious fraud of charity and love; Behold that unexampled goodness; see Th' expedient sharp necessity has taught her; Thy heart will burn, will melt, will yearn to view A child like her.

Arcas. Ha!-Say what mystery

Wakes these emotions?

Phil. Wonder-working virtue!

The father foster'd at his daughter's breast!
O! filial piety!-The milk design'd

For her own offspring, on the parent's lip
Allays the parching fever.

Arcas. That device

Has she then form'd, eluding all our care,
To minister relief?

Phil. On the bare earth

Evander lies; and as his languid pow'rs
Imbibe with eager thirst the kind refreshment,
And his looks speak unutterable thanks,
Euphrasia views him with the tend'rest glance,
Ev'n as a mother doting on her child;
And, ever and anon, amidst the smiles
Of pure delight, of exquisite sensation,

D

A silent tear steals down; the tear of virtue,
That sweetens grief to rapture. All her laws
Inverted quite, great Nature triumphs still!
Arcas. The tale unmans my soul.
Phil. Ye tyrants hear it,

And learn, that, while your cruelty prepares
Unheard-of torture, virtue can keep pace

With your worst efforts, and can try new modes
To bid men grow enamour'd of her charms!

Arcas. Philotas, for Euphrasia, in her cause
I now can hazard all. Let us preserve
Her father for her.

Phil. Oh! her lovely daring

Transcends all praise. By Heav'n, he shall not die. Acras. And yet we must be wary; I'll go forth, And first explore each avenue around,

Lest the fix'd centinel obstruct your purpose.

[Exit ARCAS. Phil. I thank thee, Arcas; we will act like men Who feel for others' woes-She leads him forth, And tremblingly supports his drooping age.

[Goes to assist him.

Enter EUPHRASIA and EVANDER.

Eva. 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.

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

'Tis speechless rapture!

Eva. Blessings, blessings on thee!
Eup. 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!

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »