 | The Olympiad |  |
104
SCENE XI.
Enter Aristea.Aris.
Stranger.
[without seeing his face.
Mega.
Ha! who is this that breaks upon me?
[turning.
Aris.
O Heaven!
[sees Megacles.
Mega.
O Gods!
[sees Aristea.
Aris.
My Megacles! My life!
And is it thee, do I again behold thee!
Ye powers! I faint with joy, my tender breast
Can scarce support this mighty tide of pleasure.
Thou dearest object of my constant wishes,
So long bewail'd, so long invok'd in vain!
At length thou hear'st thy faithful Aristea;
Thou art return'd in a propitious hour;
O happy sufferings! O indulgent love!
My sighs and tears are amply now repaid.
Mega.
How cruel is my fate!
[aside.
Aris.
Thou answer'st not,
My much lov'd Megacles! Still art thou silent!
Why does thy colour change? What mean those looks
Confus'd? Why seem thy eyes to shun me thus?
Whence is that starting tear? Perhaps, alas!
No longer I possess thy love—perhaps—
105
What say'st thou!—Ever still—know then, I am—
I cannot speak—What wretchedness is mine!
[aside.
Aris.
Thou chill'st me to the soul: and know'st thou not
That here for me the combatants contend?
Mega.
I know it well.
Aris.
And com'st not thou to enter
The lists for Aristea's sake?
Mega.
I do.
Aris.
Why are you then so sad?
Mega.
Because—O Gods!
What torment equals mine!
Aris.
I understand thee:
Some envious tongue has made thee doubt my truth:
If this afflict thee, thou art indeed unjust;
For never, Megacles, since last we parted,
Have I even sinn'd in thought against my love.
Thy voice has seem'd for ever in my ears;
My lips have dwelt for ever on thy name;
My heart retain'd thy image: never yet
I've felt a second flame: thy Aristea—
Mega.
Enough—I know it well—
Aris.
Thy Aristea,
Shall sooner die than for a single moment
Forego her plighted faith.
106
Distracting thought!
[aside.
Aris.
But look upon me—speak—
Mega.
What can I say?
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