University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

King, Posthumius, &c. meeting.
Posthumius.
We, in behalf of our Allies, O King!
Call'd on thee yesterday, to clear thy Glory:
Nor wonder now that Philip is unjust
To Strangers, who has murder'd his own Son.

King.
'Tis false.

Posthumius.
No Thanks to Philip that he fled.

King.
A Traitor is no Son.

Posthumius.
Heav'n's Vengeance on me
If he refus'd not yesterday thy Crown,
Tho' Life and Love both brib'd him to comply.

King.
See there.

[Gives the Letter.
Posthumius.
'Tis not the Consul's Hand, or Seal.

King.
You're his Accomplices.

Posthumius.
We're his Avengers.
'Tis War.

King.
Eternal War.

Posthumius.
Next time we meet—

King.
Is in the Capitol.—Haste, fly my Kingdom.

Posthumius.
No longer thine.

King.
Yes, and proud Rome a Province.
[Exit Posthumius, &c.
They brave, they make, they tyrannize o'er Kings.
The Name of King the prostrate World ador'd,
Ere Romulus had call'd his Thieves together.—
But let me pause.—Not Quintius' Hand, or Seal?—
Doubt, and Impatience, like thick Smoke, and Fire,
Cloud, and torment my Reason.

Antigonus.
Sir, recall,
And re-examine those you sent to Rome.
You took their Evidence in Haste and Anger.
Torture, if they refuse, will tell the Truth.

King.
Go stop the Nuptials till you hear from me.

[Exit King and Ant.
Erixine and Delia meeting.
Delia.
Madam, the Prince who fled from threaten'd Death,
Attempting his Escape to foreign Realms,
Was lately taken at the City Gates,
So strongly guarded by his Father's Pow'rs;
And now confin'd expects his final Doom.

Erixene.
Imprison'd, and to die!—And let him die.
Bid Dymas' Daughter weep.—I half forgot
His perjur'd Insolence.—I'll go and glut
My Vengeance. O how just a Traitor's Death?
And blacker still, a Traitor to my Love.

[Exeunt Erixine and Delia.
Scene draws, and shows Demetrius in Prison.
Demetrius.
Thou subterranean Sepulchre of Peace!
Thou Home of Horror! Hideous Nest of Crimes!
Guilt's first sad Stage in her dark Road to Hell!
Ye thick-barr'd sunless Passages for Air,
To keep alive the Wretch that longs to die!
Ye low-brow'd Arches, thro' whose sullen Gloom,
Resound the ceasless Groans of pale Despair!
Ye dreadful Shambles, cak'd with human Blood!
Receive a Guest, from far, far other Scenes,
From pompous Courts, from shouting Victories,
Carouzing Festivals, harmonious Bow'rs,
And the soft Chains of Heart-dissolving Love.
Oh! How unlike to these? Heart-breaking Load
Of Shame eternal, ne'er to be knock'd off,
Oh! welcome Death, no, never but by thee.—
Nor has a Foe done this.—A Friend! A Father!—
O! that I could have dy'd without their Guilt.—
Enter Erixene.
[Demetrius gazing at her.
So look'd in Chaos the first Beam of Light.
How drives the strong Enchantment of her Eye
All Horror hence?—How die the Thoughts of Death?

Erixine.
I knew not my own Heart. I cannot bear it.
Shame chides back; for to insult his Woes
Is too severe; and to condole, too kind.

[Going.
Demetrius.
Thus I arrest you in the Name of Mercy,
And dare compel your Stay: Is then one Look,
One Word, one Moment, a last Moment too;
When I stand tottering on the Brink of Death,
A cruel ignominious Death, too much
For one that loves like me? A length of Years
You may devote to my blest Rival's Arms,
I ask but one short Moment. O permit,
Permit the Dying to lay claim to thee,
To thee, thou dear Equivalent for Life.—
Cruel, relentless, Marble-hearted Maid!

Erixene.
Demetrius, you persist to do me wrong.
For know, tho' I behold thee as thou art,
Doubly a Traitor, to the State and me;
Thy Sorrow, thy Distress have touch'd my Bosom;
I own it as a Fault, I pity thee.

Enter Officer.
Officer.
My Lord, your Time is short, and Death waits for you.

Erixene.
Death?—I forgive thee from my inmost Soul.

Demetrius.
Forgive me? Oh! thou need'st not to forgive;
If Imposition had not struck thee blind.
Truth lies in Ambush yet, but will start up,
And seize thy trembling Soul, when mine is fled.
O I've a thousand, thousand things to say.

Erixene.
And I am come a Secret to disclose,
That might awake thee wer't thou dead already.

Officer.
My Lord, your final Moment is expir'd.

Demetrius and Erixene.
One, one short Moment more.

Demetrius.
No; Death lets fall
The Curtain, and divides our Loves for ever.

[Is forc'd at.
Erixene.
Oh I've a darker Dungeon in my Soul,
Nor want an Executioner to kill me.
What Revolutions in the human Heart
Will Pity cause? What horrid Deeds Revenge?

[Exit.
Scene shuts. Enter Antigonus, with Attendants.
Antigonus.
How distant Virtue dwells from mortal Man?
Was't not that each Man calls for other's Virtue,
Her very Name on Earth would be forgot,
And leave the Tongue, as it has left the Heart.
Was ever such a labour'd Plan of Guilt?
Take the King's Mandate, to the Prison fly,
Throw wide the Gates, and let Demetrius know,
The full Detail.
Enter Erixene.
The Princess! ha! be gone;
[To the Attendant.
While I stir up an equal Transport here.
Princess, I see your Griefs, and judge the Cause:
But I bring News might raise you from the Grave;
Or call you down from Heaven to hear with Joy.
Just Gods! the Virtuous will at last prevail.
On Motives here too tedious to relate,
I begg'd the King, to re-examine those.
Who came from Rome. The King approv'd my Counsel.
Surpriz'd, and conscious, in their Charge they falter'd,
And threaten'd Tortures soon discover'd all:
That Perseus brib'd them to their Perjuries;
That Quintius' Letter was a Forgery;
That Prince Demetrius' Intercourse with Rome
Was innocent of Treason to the State.

Erixene.
O my swoln Heart! What will the Gods do with me?

Antigonus.
And to confirm this most surprizing News,
Dymas, who, striving to suppress a Tumult,
The Rumour of Demetrius' Flight had rais'd,
Was wounded sore, with his last Breath confess'd,
The Prince refus'd his Daughter, which Affront
Inflam'd the Statesman to his Prince's Ruin.

Erixene.
Did he refuse her?

[Swoons.
Antigonus.
Quite o'ercome with Joy!
Transported out of Life!—The Gods restore her!

Erixene.
Ah! why recall me? This is a new Kind
Of Murder; most severe! that dooms to Life.

Antigonus.
Fair Princess, you confound me.

Erixene.
Am I fair?
Am I a Princess? Love and Empire mine?
Gay, gorgeous Visions dancing in my Sight!—
No, here I stand a naked shipwreck'd Wretch,
Cold, trembling, pale, spent, helpless, hopeless, mad.
Cast on a Shore as cruel as the Waves,
O'er-hung with rugged Rocks, too steep to climb;
The Mountain Billows loud, come foaming in
Tremendous; and confound, ere they devour.

Antigonus.
Madam, the King absolves you from your Vow.

Erixene.
For me, it matters not, but oh! the Prince.—
When he had shot the Gulph of his Despair;
Emerging into all the Light of Heav'n,
His Heart high beating, with well-grounded Hope;
Then to make shipwreck of his Happiness,
Like a poor Wretch that has escap'd the Storm,
And swam to what he deems an happy Isle,
When lo! the savage Natives drink his Blood.
Ah! why is Vengeance sweet to Woman's Pride,
As Rapture to her Love? It has undone me.

Delia.
Madam, he comes.

Erixene.
Leave us, Antigonus.

Antigonus.
What dreadful Secret this?—But I'll obey,
Invoke the Gods, and leave the rest to Fate.
[Exit Ant.

Erixene.
How terribly triumphant comes the Wretch!
He comes, like Flowers ambrosial, early born,
To meet the Blast, and perish in the Storm.

Enter Demetrius.
Demetrius.
After an Age of Absence in one Hour,
Have I then found thee, thou celestial Maid!
Like a fair Venus in a stormy Sea;
Or a bright Goddess, thro' the Shades of Night,
Dropt from the Stars, to these blest Arms agen?
How exquisite is Pleasure after Pain?
Why throbs my Heart so turbulently strong,
Pain'd at thy Presence, thro' redundant Joy,
Like a poor Miser; beggar'd by his Store?

Erixene.
Demetrius, Joy and Sorrow dwell too near.

Demetrius.
Talk not of Sorrow, lest the Gods resent
As under-priz'd so loud a Call to Joy.
I live, I love, am lov'd, I have her here!
Rapture in present, and in Prospect, more!
No Rival, no Destroyer, no Despair;
For Jealousies, for Partings, Groans, and Death,
A Train of Joys, the Gods alone can name!
When Heav'n descends in Blessings so profuse,
So sudden, so surpassing Hope's Extreme,
Like the Sun bursting from the Midnight Gloom,
'Tis impious to be Niggards in Delight;
Joy becomes Duty; Heav'n calls for some Excess,
And Transport flames our Incense to the Skies.

Erixene.
Transport how dreadful!

Demetrius.
Turns Erixene?
Can she not bear the Sun-shine of our Fate?
Meridian Happiness is pour'd around us;
The laughing Loves descend in Swarms upon us,
And where we tread is an eternal Spring.
By Heav'n, I almost pity guilty Perseus
For such a Loss.

Erixene.
That stabs me thro' and thro'!

Demetrius.
What stabs thee?—Speak.—Have I then lost thy Love?

Erixene.
To my Confusion, be it spoke.—'Tis thine.

Demetrius.
To thy Confusion? Is it then a Crime?
You heard how dying Dymas clear'd my Fame.

Erixene.
I heard, and trembled; heard, and ran distracted.

Demetrius.
Astonishment!

Erixene.
I've nothing else to give thee.
[He retires in Astonishment; she in Agony; and both are silent for some time.
He is struck dumb.—Nor can I speak.—Yet must I.
I tremble on the Brink; yet must plunge in—.
Know, my Demetrius! Joys are for the Gods;
Man's common Course of Nature is Distress:
His Joys are Prodigies; and like them too,
Portend approaching Ill. The wise Man starts,
And trembles at the Perils of a Bliss.
To hope, how bold? How daring to be fond,
When, what our Fondness grasps, is not immortal?—
I will presume on thy known, steady Virtue,
And treat thee like a Man; I will, Demetrius!
Nor longer in my Bosom hide a Brand,
That burns unseen, and drinks my vital Blood.

Demetrius.
What Mystery?

[Here, a second Pause in both.
Erixene.
The blackest.

Demetrius.
How every Terror doubles in the dark?
Why muffled up in Silence stands my Fate?
This horrid Spectre let me see at once,
And shew if I'm a Man.

Erixene.
It calls for more.

Demetrius.
It calls for me then, Love has made me more.

Erixene.
O fortify thy Soul with more than Love;
To hear, what heard, thou'lt curse the Tongue that tells thee.

Demetrius.
Curse whom? curse thee!

Erixene.
Yes, from thy inmost Soul,
Why dost thou lift thine Eyes and Hands to Heav'n?
The Pow'rs most conscious of this Deed, reside
In Darkness, howl below in raging Fires,
Where Pangs like mine corrode them.—Thence arise
Black Gods of Execration and Despair!
Thro' dreadful Earthquakes cleave your upward Way,
While Nature shakes, and Vapours blot the Sun;
Then thro' those Horrors in loud Groans proclaim,
That I am—

Demetrius.
What?—I'll have it, tho' it blast me.

Erixene.
Thus then in Thunder,—I am Perseus' Wife.

[Demetrius falls against the Scene. After a Pause,
Demetrius.
In Thunder?—No; that had not struck so deep.
What Tempest e'er discharg'd so fierce a Fire?—
Calm and deliberate Anguish feeds upon me.
Each Thought sent out for Help brings in new Woe.
Where shall I turn? where fly? to whom but thee?
[Kneeling.
Tremendous Jove! whom Mortals will not know
From Blessings, but compel to be severe.
I feel thy Vengeance, and adore thy Power.
I see my Failings, and absolve thy Rage.
But, Oh! I must perceive the Load that's on me;
I can't but tremble underneath the Stroke.
Aid me to bear!—But since it can't be borne,
Oh let thy Mercy burst in Flames upon me!
Thy triple Bolt is healing Balm to this.
This Pain unfelt, unfancy'd by the Wretch,
The groaning Wretch, that on the Wheel expires.

Erixene.
Why did I tell thee?

Demetrius.
Why commit a Deed
Too shocking to be told? What Fumes of Hell
Flew to thy Brain? What Fiend the Crime inspir'd?

Erixene.
Perseus, last Night, as soon as thou wast fled,
At that dead Hour, when good Men are at Rest,
When every Crime, and Horror is abroad,
Graves yawn, Fiends yell, Wolves howl, and Ravens scream.
Than Ravens, Wolves, or Fiends more fatal far;
To me he came, and threw him at my Feet,
And wept, and swore unless I gave Consent
To call a Priest that Moment, all was ruin'd.
That the next Day Demetrius and his Powers
Might conquer, he lose me, and I my Crown,
Confer'd by Philip but on Perseus' Wife.
I started, trembled, fainted; he invades
My half-recover'd Strength, brib'd Priests conspire,
All urge my Vow, all seize my ravish'd Hand,
Invoke the Gods, run o'er the hasty Rite;
While each ill Omen of the Sky flew o'er us,
And Furies howl'd our Nuptial Song below.—
Can'st thou forgive?

Demetrius.
By all the Flames of Love,
And Torments of Despair, I never can.
The Furies toss their Torches from thy Hand,
And all their Adders hiss around thy Head!
I'll see thy Face no more!

[Going.
Erixine.
Thy Rage is just.
Yet stay and hear me.

[She kneels and holds him.
Demetrius.
I have heard too much.

Erixine.
'Till thou hast heard the whole, O do not curse me!

Demetrius.
Where can I find a Curse to reach thy Crime?

Erixine.
Mercy!

[Weeping.
Demetrius.
[Aside.
Her Tears, like Drops of Molten Lead,
With Torment burn their Passage to my Heart.
And yet such Violation of her Vows—

Erixine.
Mercy!

Demetrius.
Perseus—

[Stamping.
Erixine.
Stamp 'till the Centre shakes,
So black a Dæmon shalt thou never raise.
Perseus? Can'st thou abhor him more than I?
Hell has its Furies, Perseus has his Love,
And, oh! Demetrius his eternal Hate.

Demetrius.
Eternal? Yes, eternal and eternal;
As deep, and everlasting as my Pain.

Erixine.
Some God descend and sooth his Soul to Peace!

Demetrius.
Talk'st thou of Peace, what Peace hast thou bestow'd?
A Brain distracted, and a broken Heart.
Talk'st thou of Peace? Hark, hark thy Husband calls,
His Father's Rebel! Brother's Murderer!
Nature's Abhorrence, and thy lawful Lord!
Fly my kind Patroness, and in his Bosom
Consult my Peace.

Erixene.
I never shall be there.
My Lord! my Life!

Demetrius.
How say'st? Is Perseus here?—
Fly, fly! away, away! 'tis Death! 'tis Incest!
[Starting wide, and looking round him.
[As he is going she lays hold of his Robe.
Dar'st thou to touch Demetrius? Dar'st thou touch him
Even with thine Eye?

Erixene.
I dare—and more, dare seize,
And fix him here: No doubt to thy Surprize.—
I'm Blemish'd, not Abandon'd; Honour still
Is sacred in my Sight. Thou call'st it Incest;
'Tis Innocence, 'tis Virtue; if there's Virtue,
In fixt, inviolable Strength of Love.
For know, the Moment the dark Deed was done,
The Moment Madness made me Perseus' Wife,
I seiz'd this Friend, and lodg'd him in my Bosom,
[Shewing a Dagger.
Firmly resolv'd I never would be more.
And now I fling me at thy Feet, imploring
Thy steadier Hand to guide him to my Heart.
Who wed in Vengeance wed not but to die.

Demetrius.
Has Perseus then an Hymeneal Claim?
And no Divorce, but Death?—and Death from me,
Who should defend thee from the World in Arms?
O thou still excellent! still most belov'd!

Erixene.
Life is the Foe that parts us; Death a Friend,
All Knots dissolving, joins us; and for ever.
Why so disorder'd? Wherefore shakes thy Frame?
Look on me; Do I tremble? Am I pale?
When I let loose a Sigh, I'll pardon thine.
Take my Example, and be bravely wretched;
True Grandeur rises from surmounted Ills;
The Wretched only can be truly great.
If not in Kindness, yet in Vengeance strike;
'Tis not Erixene, 'tis Perseus' Wife.
Thoul't not resign me?

Demetrius.
Not to Jove.

Erixene.
Then strike.

Demetrius.
How can I strike?
[Gazing on her with Astonishment.
Stab at the Face of Heav'n?
How can I strike?—Yet how can I forbear?
I feel a thousand Deaths, debating one.
A Deity stands Guard on every Charm,
And strikes at me.

Erixene.
As will thy Brother soon:
He's now in Arms, and may be here this Hour.
Nothing so cruel as too soft a Soul;
This is strange Tenderness, that breaks my Heart,
Strange Tenderness, that dooms to double Death:
To Perseus.

Demetrius.
True.—But how to shun that Horror?
By wounding thee, whom savage Pards would spare?
My Heart's Inhabitant! my Soul's Ambition!
By wounding thee, and bathing in thy Blood;
That Blood illustrious, thro' a radiant Race
Of Kings, and Heroes, rolling down from Gods?

Erixene.
Heroes and Kings, and Gods themselves, must yield
To dire Necessity.

Demetrius.
Since that absolves me,
Stand firm and fair.

Erixene.
My Bosom meets the Point,
Than Perseus far more welcome to my Breast.

Demetrius.
Necessity, for Gods themselves too strong,
Is weaker than thy Charms.

[Drops the Dagger.
Erixene.
O my Demetrius!

[Turns, and goes to the farther Part of the Stage.
Demetrius.
O my Erixene!

[Both silent, weep, and tremble.
Erixene.
Farewel.

[Going.
Demetrius.
Where goest?

[Passionately seizing her.
Erixene.
To seek a Friend.

Demetrius.
He's here.

Erixene.
Yes Perseus' Friend.—
Earth, open and receive me.

Demetrius.
Heav'n strike us dead,
And save me from a double Suicide,
And one of tenfold Death.—O Jove! O Jove!
[Falling on his Knees.
But I'm distracted.
[Suddenly starting up.
What can Jove?—Why pray?
What can I pray for?

Erixene.
For a Heart,

Demetrius.
Yes, one
That cannot feel. Mine bleeds at every Vein.
Who never lov'd, ne'er suffer'd; he feels nothing,
Who nothing feels but for himself alone;
And when we feel for others, Reason reels,
O'erloaded, from her Path, and Man runs mad.
As Love alone can exquisitely bless,
Love only feels the Marvellous of Pain;
Opens new Veins of Torture in the Soul,
And wakes the Nerve where Agonies are born.
E'en Dymas, Perseus, (Hearts of Adamant!)
Might weep these Torments of their mortal Foe.

Erixene.
Shall I be less compassionate than they?
[Takes up the Dagger.
What Love deny'd, thine Agonies have done;
[Stabs herself.
Demetrius' Sigh outstings the Dart of Death.

Enter the King, &c.
King.
Give my Demetrius to my Arms; I call him
To Life from Death, to Transport from Despair.

Demetrius.
See Perseus' Wife! [Pointing at Erixene]
Let Delia tell the rest.

King.
My Grief-accustom'd Heart can guess too well.

Demetrius.
That Sight turns all to Guilt, but Tears and Death.

King.
Death!—Who shall quell false Perseus now in Arms?
Who pour my Tempest on the Capitol?
How shall I sweeten Life to thy sad Spirit?—
I'll quit my Throne this Hour, and thou shalt reign.

Demetrius.
You recommend that Death you would dissuade;
Ennobled thus by Fame and Empire lost,
As well as Life!—Small Sacrifice to Love.

[Going to stab himself, the King runs to prevent it, but too late.
King.
Ah, hold! nor strike thy Dagger thro' my Heart!

Demetrius.
'Tis my first Disobedience, and my last.

[Falls down.
King.
There Philip fell! There Macedon expir'd!
I see the Roman Eagle hovering o'er us,
And the Shaft broke, should bring her to the Ground.

[Pointing at Demetrius.
Demetrius.
Hear, good Antigonus! my last Request.
Tell Perseus, if he'll sheath his impious Sword
Drawn on his Father, I'll forgive him all;
Tho' poor Erixene lies bleeding by.
Her Blood cries Vengeance.—But my Father's Peace—

[Dies.
King.
As much his Goodness wounds me, as his Death.
What then are both?—O Philip, once renown'd!
Where is the Pride of Greece, the Dread of Rome,
The Theme of Athens, the wide World's Example,
And the God Alexander's Rival, now?
E'en at the Foot of Fortune's Precipice,
Where the Slave's Sigh wafts Pity to the Prince,
And his Omnipotence cries out for more.

Antigonus.
As the swoln Column of ascending Smoke,
So solid swells thy Grandeur, Pigmy Man!

King.