University of Virginia Library

SCENE, A sea-port.
Enter Cherinthus, Cephisa, and Attendants.
CEPHISA.
What means this sadness, prince? With silent gaze
You look and sigh, and if with friendly speech
I urge your converse, when you seem prepar'd
To tell me much, your fault'ring tongue is mute.
Where is your wonted chearfulness? the grace
That season'd your discourse? Are you in Thrace
The same Cherinthus that I knew in Phrygia?
Or is it thus, with melancholy looks,
You Thracians to her lord conduct a bride?

CHERINTHUS.
If my afflictions bear a sad presage,
On me, fair princess, every evil fall:
My stars can little add to griefs like mine,
Nor breathes a wretch so hopeless as Cherinthus.

CEPHISA.
And claims Cephisa then so little share
In your esteem! The time has been—

CHERINTHUS.
Forgive
This cold reserve—and yet believe me, fair-one,
There is a something here commands my silence.

CEPHISA.
'Tis true, I am a woman, and your secret
Were ill confided to our sex's weakness.
I urge no further—lead me to the palace.

CHERINTHUS.
Yet hear—those eyes like light'ning pierce my soul,
And all my firm resolves are lost before them.
O! turn, Cephisa, and with gentler looks
Unbend those brows, while trembling I confess,
'Tis thou hast robb'd me of my peace—I gaze
With rapture on thy matchless charms; I own
My love is fruitless all, that these fond wishes
Would grasp they know not what: I know that death
Alone can end my pains.

CEPHISA.
What means Cherinthus!

CHERINTHUS.
I knew too well I should offend—And yet
The faults of love—

CEPHISA.
Forbear—I'll hear no more.—
Is this the brother of Timanthes? This
The prince deputed by the Thracian king?
And is it thus Cherinthus thinks to guard
That faith a brother and a father claim?

CHERINTHUS.
I own my crime—I know that every tie
Of son and brother should forbid my passion.
Why was I only singled my Demophoon,
To bring thee to Timanthes? Could I view
Thy charms, and yet resist?—I saw and lov'd.
Each day beheld me near thee, while the name
Of kinsman gave a license to my tongue;
Nor did this name alone deceive the world,
I was deceiv'd myself—that love, which made
Me sigh for ever for Cephisa's presence,
Appear'd but duty, and a thousand times
I thought to paint the affections of a brother,
While my too eager speech betray'd my own.

CEPHISA.
[aside.]
Alas! 'twas not in vain—Cephisa too
Perceiv'd a something she would fain disown.

CHERINTHUS.
And yet sometimes I felt a flattering hope:
Methought I oft observ'd a tender sigh
Steal from thy breast, view'd in thy eyes a softness
That seem'd much more than friendship—

CEPHISA.
Hold, Cherinthus,
Thou dost begin to abuse my easy nature.
It ill befits the daughter of Nicanor,
Affianc'd to Timanthes, heir of Thrace,
To hear with calmness these injurious vows,
At once destructive to her peace and fame.

CHERINTHUS.
Forgive me, princess, and I will obey;
Thou shalt no more reproach my daring love,
Injurious to thy glory—Spite of all
The pangs that rend my heart, conviction's force
Dwells in thy words, and I'll no more offend.
No, I will strive to wear the face of joy,
And kindly bless my happier brother's fate.
Enter Timanthes.
Welcome, Timanthes, to thy native land,
Fame, the loud harbinger of thy approach,
Has rous'd each Thracian son to hail thy presence,
And I but join the common voice.

TIMANTHES.
Receive
In this embrace my thanks—but say, Cherinthus,
Is this the royal fair one who forsakes
Her country's gentle seat to visit Thrace,
And with her beauties gild our rougher clime?

CHERINTHUS.
It is—Behold, while others with applause
Congratulate thy fortune, what a treasure
Thy brother brings, to give thee every blessing
That love and beauty can bestow.—

TIMANTHES.
Her looks
Bespeak perfection—Let Timanthes then,
Imperial virgin, greet thy save arrival
From Phyrgia's happy shore—Vouchsafe awhile,
Cherinthus, to retire apart—my thoughts
Revolve some secret of import, that claims
The princess' ear alone.

CHERINTHUS.
I shall obey.
What can this mean? But wherefore ask, or what
Avails their converse to the lost Cherinthus?

[walks aside.
TIMANTHES.
How shall Timanthes, beauteous princess, dress
His thoughts in apt expression? I should now
Pour forth the raptures of a heart, decreed
To excellence like yours—but O! there is
Fatality in man, and oft when Heaven
Holds out an unexpected blessing to us,
Some mystery forbids—

CEPHISA.
What would the prince?
Let not Timanthes seek the low disguise
Of art, the refuge of ignoble minds,
But boldly, as he meets his foes in battle,
Speak out his secret soul.

TIMANTHES.
The statesman oft
Joins with the specious plea of public good
Two hearts averse: our parents have decreed
An union to thyself perhaps ungrateful.
Thy virtues might demand the noblest heart;
But fate forbids us ever to unite:
There is a bar which nothing can surmount:
My father knows it not, nor must I speak it;
Refuse, refuse me then, enlarge my faults,
And thus preserve thy fame, my peace and life!

CEPHISA.
'Tis well—my lord—

TIMANTHES.
I see the conscious pride
Of greatness rising on thy cheek—my presence
But adds to your displeasure—my Cherinthus,
The care be thine, with every mark of honour,
Such as may suit her station and desert,
To lead from hence the princess to the palace.

[Exit.
CEPHISA.
What have I heard! Is this the boasted youth
Whom fame extols for gallantry and arms!
And is it thus he treats a virgin, sprung
From Phrygia's scepter'd kings!—neglected! Heavens!
And shall I tamely bear this outrage?

CHERINTHUS.
coming forward.]
Princess,
What indignation rises in your breast?
Your looks are chang'd—has then my brother—

CEPHISA.
Yes,
I see your mutual purpose to betray me:
Was it for this I left my native land,
Left the lov'd arms of an indulgent father,
To meet with insult on this foreign shore!
To bear unmov'd the injury that waits
Cherinthus' passion, and his brother's scorn?
But if Demophoon—

Enter Adrastus.
ADRASTUS.
To the fair Cephisa,
Our sovereign wishes health; the Thracian palace,
Adorn'd with every pomp, expects your presence;
Demophoon now, as annual rites require,
Sequester'd with the priests till morning dawn,
Invokes the powers divine; mean while he sends
By me to pay the tribute of respect
Your rank demands, and to conduct you hence
Where suppliant crowds attend with duteous zeal,
To pay their homage to their future queen.

CEPHISA.
I thank thee, lord—Cephisa hopes no less
From great Demophoon and her father's friend.
Cherinthus, let us hence—but still remember
Thy plighted word; for know, whatever chance
Subjects Cephisa to unlook'd-for insult,
Yet nothing from her mind can e'er erase,
Such thoughts as fit the daughter of a king.

[Exeunt.