University of Virginia Library

ACT THE THIRD.

Scene, the Hall of the Palace.
GORGO, PRAXINOE, STRANGER, GREEK SINGING-GIRL.
GORGO.
Praxinoe! see the rich-tapestried room!
How exquisite! sure it was wrought in the loom
Of the gods!

PRAXINOE.
And how striking! how bold the designs!
No pencil could draw such elaborate lines!
Minerva! they rise above critical strictures!
For what animation enlightens the pictures!
Man's indeed a wise animal! See how they move—
Nay, start from the hangings: they cannot be wove!
But look on yon' figure: how charming he lies!
All silver the couch, and so vivid the dyes
Of his young downy beard—'tis not hard to discover
The features of Venus's beautiful lover.

STRANGER.
Cease—cease—idle dames, your impertinent tattle!
As hoarse and as broad as the pigeons ye prattle.

GORGO.
Indeed! who are you? Tho' we talk, shall you curb us?
Seek those who will listen, nor dare to disturb us!
Dost think Syracusians will tamely knock under,
That can trace to the city of Corinth their founder?
No, Master Officious! 'Tis seldom you hear of one
A slave, that's descended from mighty Bellerophon.
And as to our tongue, you've no reason to teaze us:
'Tis our own mother language of Peloponnesus.

PRAXINOE.
We have husbands, beside, that will bluster and cuff!
One tyrant, besure, is in conscience enough.

GORGO.
Hush—hush—my dear life! She's preparing the song:
The sweet little Grecian! How still is the throng!
She'll excel pensive Sperchis! See—see her prepare
With a languish so soft—so delicious an air!
So meltingly plaintive her musical tone is—
But hark!—She's beginning the death of Adonis. [OMITTED]
How sweetly she sings! Lord! how much she must know!
Happy minstrel! But bless me, 'tis high time to go.
Should my husband return before dinner is ready,
With his blustering vagaries my head would be giddy.
Adieu, then, at present, my sweetest Adonis!
And again may you meet such a crowd of your cronies!