The Ephesian Matron A Comic Serenata, After the Manner of the Italian |
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| 3. | SCENE III. |
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 | The Ephesian Matron |  |
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SCENE III.
The Centurion, the Maid, the Matron on the Ground by her Husband's Body.CENTURION.
Ho, who's there below?
MAID.
Bless us! I shall die with fear!
A man descends into the cave!
What shall our lives our honours save!
CENTURION.
Hey, who the devil have we here?
MAID.
A handsome fellow, never stir!
CENTURION.
Speak.
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Two sad women, worthy Sir.
A Matron, and my mistress, she
Who there upon the ground you see:
Her consort dy'd some days ago,
Which griev'd the poor dear lady so,
That, being here last night inter'd—
I think the like was never heard—
She wou'd needs be buried too.
And now, Sir, tell me who are you.
CENTURION.
A soldier—standing at my post,
To guard yon gibbets on the coast,
I saw a light, and hither came,
Directed by the glimmering flame.
MAID.
My mistress, Sir, is much to blame.
Noble, and rich, and young, and fair—
CENTURION.
Her character is something rare.
Soft—harken—yes—she draws her breath.
MAID.
Besides she's almost starved to death.
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CENTURION.
I'll rouse her from this desperate fit.
AIR.
Lovely dame, what, ho! what, ho!
From the depths of pain and woe,
A soldier calls your beauty.
And can bravery do less?
To succour ladies in distress,
Is still the soldier's duty.
From the depths of pain and woe,
A soldier calls your beauty.
And can bravery do less?
To succour ladies in distress,
Is still the soldier's duty.
Cupid whispers in your ear,
And will you refuse to hear,
Accents form'd to move?
Oh! lovely dame,
For shame, for shame!
Shall one so fair,
Be kill'd by care?
Rise to life and love.
And will you refuse to hear,
Accents form'd to move?
Oh! lovely dame,
For shame, for shame!
Shall one so fair,
Be kill'd by care?
Rise to life and love.
| The Ephesian Matron | |