University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Enter Ulysses.
Ulys.
The law be reverenc'd:
Behold Ulysses here.

Near.
Ulysses, Heavens!
Forgive, O! generous chief, my hasty speech:
I fly to tell the king these welcome tidings.

[going.
Ulys.
Yet one word more: art thou not here a servant
Of royal Lycomedes?

Near.
Rightly spoken,
I am his servant.

Ulys.
And thy name?

Near.
Nearchus.

Ulys.
What country claims thy birth?

Near.
The town of Corinth.

Ulys.
Why didst thou quit, for this, thy native land?

Near.
I came—O! Heavens!—I tarry here too long;
Forgive me, sir, the king meantime impatient,
Knows not as yet what ships have reach'd the port.

Ulys.
Go then, my friend, dispatch.

Near.
[aside.]
How well I feign'd!
Yet scarcely could escape his wise detection.

[Exit.