 | Semele |  |
SCENE II.
ATHAMAS, INO.ATHAMAS.
O Athamas, what Torture hast thou born!
And O, what hast thou yet to bear!
From Love, from Hope, from near Possession torn,
And plung'd at once in deep Despair.
INO.
Turn, hopeless Lover, turn thy Eyes,
And see a Maid bemoan,
In flowing Tears and aking Sighs,
Thy Woes, too like her own.
799
She weeps!
The gentle Maid, in tender Pity,
Weeps to behold my Misery!
So Semele wou'd melt
To see another mourn.
The gentle Maid, in tender Pity,
Weeps to behold my Misery!
So Semele wou'd melt
To see another mourn.
Such unavailing Mercy is in Beauty found,
Each Nymph bemoans the Smart
Of every bleeding Heart,
But that where she her self inflicts the Wound.
Each Nymph bemoans the Smart
Of every bleeding Heart,
But that where she her self inflicts the Wound.
INO.
Ah me, too much afflicted!
ATHAMAS.
Can Pity for another's Pain
Cause such Anxiety!
INO.
Cou'dst thou but guess
What I endure;
Or cou'd I tell thee—
Thou, Athamas,
Wou'dst for a while
Thy Sorrows cease, a little cease,
And listen for a while
To my Lamenting.
ATHAMAS.
Of Grief too sensible
I know your tender Nature.
800
When I oft have su'd
To cold, disdainful Semele;
When I with Scorn have been rejected;
Your tuneful Voice my Tale wou'd tell,
In Pity of my sad Despair;
And, with sweet Melody, compel
Attention from the flying Fair.
INO.
Too well I see
Thou wilt not understand me.
Whence cou'd proceed such Tenderness?
Whence such Compassion?
Insensible! Ingrate!—
Ah no, I cannot blame thee:
For by Effects unknown before,
Who cou'd the hidden Cause explore?
Or think that Love cou'd act so strange a Part,
To plead for Pity in a Rival's Heart.
ATHAMAS.
Ah me, what have I heard!
She does her Passion own.
INO.
What, had I not despair'd,
You never shou'd have known.
801
You've undone me,
Look not on me;
Guilt upbraiding,
Shame invading;
Look not on me,
You've undone me.
ATHAMAS.
With my Life I wou'd attone
Pains you've born, to me unknown.
Cease, cease to shun me.
INO.
Look not on me,
You've undone me.
ATHAMAS.
Cease, cease to shun me:
Love, Love alone
Has both undone.
INO, ATHAMAS.
Love, Love alone
Has both undone.
| Semele | |