University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Aristea, Argene.
Arg.
No tidings of the combat yet arriv'd?

Aris.
No, beauteous Argene: the law is hard
That suffers not our sex to be spectators.

Arg.
Alas! 'twere greater pain, perhaps, to see
The man we love expos'd in such a conflict,
Nor have it in our power to give him succour,
Yet to be present—

Aris.
I methinks am present
Though absent far: even now my labouring mind
Forms things that are not. Could'st thou see this heart;
The combat's here, my friend, here, here it rages
More than in yonder field: before my eyes
I see the lists, I see my Megacles,
The judges and contending combatants!
Imagination paints his rivals stronger,
His judges partial: doubly in my soul
I feel whate'er he feels: the cruel blows,
The threats, the insulting shouts—O! were I present,
I should but fear the truth; while thus in absence,
My anxious thoughts create a thousand dangers,
And what is not, and is, alike I fear.

Arg.
No messenger as yet appears—

[looking out.
Aris.
None yet—
O Heaven!

Arg.
What can this mean?

Aris.
Alas! I doubt!
How my heart trembles!

Arg.
Whence this mighty tumult?

Aris.
My fate's decided—See, Alcander comes.

Arg.
O! haste Alcander, haste to give us comfort;
What news?

SCENE II.

Enter Alcander.
Alc.
Most fortunate! The king, O princess!
Sends me to you the harbinger of joy.
And I—

Aris.
Are the games finish'd?

Alc.
Yes; they are.

Arg.
Declare the victor.

Alc.
I'll relate the whole:
Already now the impatient gazing crowd—

Aris.
All this I ask not.

Alc.
Let me yet relate—

Aris.
Say, who has conquer'd?

Alc.
Lycidas has conquer'd.

Aris.
Ha! Lycidas!

Alc.
The same.

Arg.
The prince of Crete?

Alc.
Yes, he who lately landed on these shores.

Aris.
Ill fated Aristea!

[aside.
Arg.
Wretched Argene!

[aside.
Alc.
Most happy princess! What a noble consort
Has fate allotted thee!

Aris.
Alcander, leave us.

Alc.
The king expects you.

Aris.
Leave us—I will follow.

Alc.
He waits your coming in the sacred temple,
Where now assembled—

Aris.
Wherefore go'st thou not?

Alc.
Is this the recompense my tidings find!

[aside.]
[Exit.

SCENE III.

Aristea, Argene.
Arg.
Ah! tell me, princess, is there under Heaven
One, O ye powers! more hopeless than myself?

Aris.
Yes, Argene, that wretch am I!

Arg.
O never
May love on thee inflict the pangs I feel!
Thou know'st not what I've lost; how dear that heart
Had cost me, which thou now hast ravish'd from me.

Aris.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

Enter Amyntas.
Arg.
[to herself.]
And must I neither pity find nor succour?

Amyn.
Almighty powers! Sure Argene appears
In yonder form!

Arg.
At least revenge, revenge
May be procur'd.

[going.
Amyn.
Thou, Argene, in Elis!
Why here, and here alone in homely weeds?

Arg.
Art thou too come to assist the black designs
Of thy perfidious prince? The Cretan king
Has doubtless to a sage conductor given
The care of Lycidas! Behold the fruit
Of thy instructions! Glory then, Amyntas,
To see thy pains succeed: who seeks at full
To know the tiller's care, must mark the soil.

Amyn.
Already has she heard— [aside.]
Not my advice—

Arg.
Enough—no more—In Heaven there still is justice
For all, and may sometimes be found on earth:
I will implore it both from men and Gods;
My rage shall, like his falsehood, keep no bounds.
To Clisthenes, to Greece, to all the world
I'll publish he's a traitor: infamy
Shall still pursue his steps, that every one
May hate, may shun him, and with just abhorrence
May point him out to all that know him not.

Amyn.
These thoughts are sure unworthy Argene.
Anger, though just, is yet a treacherous guide.
Were I as thee I'd prove more gentle methods.
Contrive that he may see thee, speak to him,
Recall his promises to his remembrance;
'Tis ever better to regain a lover,
Than to subdue a foe.

Arg.
And dost thou think
That e'er Amyntas he'll return to me?

Amyn.
I hope at least—thou wert his only joy,
For thee he languish'd, died for thee; remember,
Has he not vow'd a thousand times—

Arg.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

Amyntas
alone.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

Clisthenes preceded by Lycidas, Alcander, and Megacles wearing an olive crown. Chorus of wrestlers, Guards and People.
Chorus.

Chorus.
Part I.

Chorus.
Part II.

Chorus.

Clis.
Brave youth! who 'midst thy glory still retain'st
Thy graceful modesty; permit me now
To press thee thus with fondness to my bosom.
O happy king of Crete! who could give birth
To such a son as thee! O had I still
Preserv'd my son Philinthus, he perhaps
Had been like this— [to Alcander.]
Alcander thou remember'st
With what affliction I consign'd him to thee;
But yet—

Alc.
It now avails not to revive
Misfortunes past.

Clis.
'Tis true—My Aristea
[to Megacles.
Shall recompense thy worth: if Clisthenes
Has aught besides to give, demand it freely:
Thou canst not ask what I'd refuse to grant.

Mega.
Be firm, my heart!— [aside.]
My lord, I am a son,
And have a tender father; every pleasure
I share not with him loses half its value:
I would be first to bear the tidings to him
Of all that has befallen me; I would ask
The sanction of his will for my espousals;
And in his presence give my hand in Crete
To Aristea.

Clis.
Thy desire is just.

Mega.
With your permission I will now depart:
But, in my stead, I leave this friend behind
The guardian and conductor of my bride.

[presenting Lycidas.
Clis.
What can those features mean? While I behold them.
A strange emotion runs through every vein!
[aside.
Declare, what youth is this.

Mega.
His name's Egysthus;
His country Crete; he to the royal blood
Is near allied; but friendship more than blood
Unites our souls; so equal are our thoughts,
In every grief or joy alike we share,
And naming Lycidas you name Egysthus.

Lyc.
Ingenious friendship!

[aside.
Clis.
Let Egysthus then
Conduct thy spouse: but surely Lycidas
Will not depart without one interview.

Mega.
O no—this meeting must be dreadful to me,
For parting would be death: I feel already
The pangs of suffering—

Clis.
Aristea's here.

Mega.
Unhappy me!

[aside.

SCENE VII.

Enter Aristea.
Aris.
To these detested nuptials
I come, even as a victim to the altar.

[aside.
Lyc.
Those heavenly charms will soon be mine for ever!

[aside.
Clis.
Draw near, my daughter: look, behold thy husband.

[presenting Megacles.
Mega.
Ah! were it so!

[aside.
Aris.
My husband!

[sees Megacles.
Clis.
Yes; confess
A fairer tie was never form'd by Heaven.

Aris.
If Lycidas has conquer'd, can my love—
My father's sure deceiv'd.

[aside.
Lyc.
She thinks her husband
Is Lycidas, and hence her trouble springs.

[aside.
Aris.
Is this the victor, father?

Clis.
Canst thou ask it?
Dost thou not know him by his looks? His face
Besmear'd with dust, bedew'd with honour'd toils?
That leafy wreath, the glorious ornament
Of him who triumphs?

Aris.
Said'st thou not, Alcander—

Alc.
I said the truth, O princess!

Clis.
Doubt no longer:
Behold the spouse to whom thou art join'd by Heav'n;
And never could a father's love obtain
A nobler from the indulgent Gods.

Aris.
O transport!

[aside.
Mega.
O torture!

[aside.
Lyc.
Happy day!

[aside.
Clis.
What! neither speak!
Whence is this silence?

Mega.
Heavens!—What shall I say!

Aris.
Fain would I speak but—

Clis.
Well I understand thee,
My presence is ungrateful: majesty,
The stern demeanour of the king and father,
Accords but ill with love. I know how irksome
To me were such restraints: remain together,
I praise the modesty that keeps you thus
In mutual silence.

Mega.
Still my fate's more wretched!

[aside.
Clis.
I know that Love's a boy, and flies
The converse of the grave and wise;
Delights in gamesome toys, but fears
The rigid frown of hoary years:
For distant awe can ne'er agree
With frolick mirth and liberty.

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

Aristea, Megacles, Lycidas.
Mega.
O whither shall I turn, divided thus
Between my friend and love!

[aside.
Lyc.
'Tis time I now
Reveal myself to Aristea.

[to Megacles.
Mega.
Stay—
[to him.
O Heaven!

[aside.
Aris.
My lord, my husband, from thy wife
Conceal thy grief no longer.

Mega.
Cruel fate!

[aside.
Lyc.
My friend, my love admits no more delay.

[to Megacles aside.
Aris.
Thy silence, dearest Megacles, distracts me.

Mega.
Yet hold, my heart; complete thy sacrifice:
[aside.
Vouchsafe, O prince! one moment to retire.

[to Lycidas.
Lyc.
Retire! Say, wherefore—

Mega.
Go: confide in me.
I must disclose the whole to Aristea.

Lyc.
But may not I be present?

Mega.
No: this converse
Imports far more than thou may'st think—

Lyc.
'Tis well;
Thou bid'st and I obey: I'll not be far,
An instant may recall me—Think, my friend,
For what, for whom thou speak'st: if Lycidas
Has e'er deserv'd thy gratitude and love,
Now prove it; to thy faithful aid I trust
My peace, my life.

[Exit.

SCENE IX.

Megacles, Aristea.
Mega.
O cruel recollection!

Aris.
At length we are alone, and I may now,
Without constraint, give vent to joy; may call thee
My hope, my treasure, my delight—

Mega.
No, princess;
Those rapturous names are not for me: reserve them
To grace some happier lover.

Aris.
And is this
A time for such discourse? this happy day—
But thoughtless as I am thou dost but mock me;
I am to blame to be alarm'd.

Mega.
Alas!
Thou hast but too much cause—

Aris.
Explain thyself.

Mega.
Hear then; but rouze thy courage, Aristea:
Prepare thy soul to give th' extremest proof
Of dauntless virtue.

Aris.
Speak, what would'st thou say?
How my heart trembles!

Mega.
Hast thou not declar'd
A thousand times, 'twas not my form that won thee,
But that sincerity, that grateful mind,
That soul of honour which inspir'd my thoughts?

Aris.
Most true indeed: such didst thou seem to me;
As such I know thee yet, as such adore thee.

Mega.
Should Megacles e'er change from what thou knew'st him,
Be false to friendship, perjur'd to the Gods,
Forget the benefits conferr'd upon him,
And give him death to whom he owes his life;
Say, couldst thou love him still? permit him still
To woo thee, or receive him for thy husband?

Aris.
And dost thou think that I can e'er suppose
My Megacles so lost to every virtue?

Mega.
Know then, by fate's decree, that Megacles
Must be this wretch if e'er he prove thy husband.

Aris.
What hast thou said?

Mega.
Now hear the fatal secret.
The prince of Crete, who languish'd for thy charms,
Implor'd my pity; 'twas to him I ow'd
My life preserv'd: ah! princess, judge thyself,
Could I refuse—

Aris.
And thou hast fought—

Mega.
For him.

Aris.
And wilt thou lose me thus?

Mega.
Yes, to maintain
Myself still worthy of thee.

Aris.
Must I then—

Mega.
Thou must complete my work: O Aristea!
Confirm the dictates of a grateful heart.
Yes, generous maid, let Lycidas henceforth
Be what till now thy Megacles has been;
To him transfer thy love: my friend deserves
This happiness: I live within his breast;
Nor can I deem thee lost, if he has gain'd thee.

Aris.
Distracting change! I fall from highest Heaven
To deepest Hell—A passion, pure as mine,
Deserves a better fate—Alas! without thee
Life is not life!

Mega.
O beauteous Aristea!
Do not thou too conspire against my virtue.
Already has it cost me dear to form
This dreadful resolution: one soft moment
Destroys the glorious work.

Aris.
To leave me thus—

Mega.
I have resolv'd—

Aris.
Hast thou resolv'd? And when?

Mega.
This is the last—How shall I live to speak it?
This is the last farewell.

Aris.
The last!—Ingrate!
Assist me, Heaven! my feet begin to fail;
Cold damps bedew my face; methinks I feel
The freezing hand of death upon my heart.

[leans against a tree.
Mega.
My boasted fortitude decays apace;
The longer I remain, the less I find
The power to part—Rouze, rouze, my soul!—I go—
O! Aristea, live in peace.

Aris.
What say'st thou?
Wilt thou then leave me?

Mega.
Fate, my Aristea,
Demands this separation.

Aris.
And thou go'st—

Mega.
Yes, never to return.

[going.
Aris.
Hear me—Ah no!—
Say, whither go'st thou?

Mega.
Far from thee, my love,
To breathe in other climes—

[going, he stops at the entrance.
Aris.
O help!—I faint—

[falls in a swoon upon a rock.
Mega.
Unhappy Megacles! what do I see?
Her spirits sink with grief; my only joy,
[returning.
My Aristea, droop not thus: behold
Thy Megacles is here—I will not go—
Thou shalt be yet—What have I said? Alas!
She hears me not: and have ye, cruel stars,
More misery for me? No; there rests but this,
This only to sustain! Where shall I find
A friend to counsel? What must I resolve?
To leave her thus were cruel tyranny!
But what avails my stay? Shall I espouse her,
Deceive the king, betray my friend? O! never:
Honour and friendship both forbid the thought:
Yet may I not at least defer this parting?
Alas! my resolution then must meet
A second separation. Cruelty
Is mercy now—Farewell, my life! Farewell,
My dear lost hope! On thee may Heaven bestow
The peace denied to me— [kisses her hand.]
—Almighty powers!
Preserve your beauteous work, and add to her's
The days that I may lose!—What Lycidas!
Where art thou, Lycidas?

[looking out.

SCENE X.

Enter Lycidas.
Lyc.
Has Aristea
Been told of all?

Mega.
She has—Make haste, O prince!
Assist thy spouse.

[going.
Lyc.
Ye powers! What do I see?
What can this mean!

[to Megacles.
Mega.
Some unforeseen disorder
Has overcome her senses.

[going.
Lyc.
Dost thou leave me?

Mega.

[Exit.

SCENE XI.

Lycidas, Aristea.
Lyc.
What labyrinth is this in which I am lost!
See Aristea senseless! Megacles
Departs afflicted—

Aris.
O ye powers!

[coming to herself.
Lyc.
But look!
Her gentle soul resumes its wonted functions:
My love, my princess! once again unclose
Those beauteous eyes.

Aris.
Ah! faithless, faithless husband!

[not seeing him.
Lyc.
Call me not thus; but here receive my hand,
A pledge of constancy.

[takes her hand.
Aris.
At least—O Heavens!
[sees Lyc.
Where, where is Megacles?

Lyc.
He's gone!

Aris.
Ingrate!
Is he then gone! Had he the heart to leave me
In such a cruel state?

Lyc.
Thy husband's here.

Aris.
Is then humanity, faith, love, compassion,
[rising in a rage.
Banish'd from every breast! If swift-wing'd justice
Consume not such offenders, why, ye powers!
Why are there bolts in Heaven?

Lyc.
I am all amazement!
Say, who has wrong'd thee? Dost thou seek revenge?
Speak, speak, my love! Behold thy husband present,
Behold thy Lycidas!

Aris.
O Gods! art thou,
Art thou that Lycidas? Fly hence, be gone!
Avoid my sight! It is through thee, perfidious,
I suffer all this wretchedness!

Lyc.
What crime
Have I, unknown, committed!—I am distracted!

Aris.

[Exit.

SCENE XII.

Lycidas, enter to him Argene.
Lyc.
[to himself]
And am I this barbarian, this perfidious!
Ye powers!—I'll follow her, and know the cause
Of this mysterious chiding.

Arg.
Traitor, stay!

Lyc.
Ha! do I dream or wake!

[sees Argene.
Arg.
Thou dost not dream;
O no! thou seest forsaken Argene;
Ungrateful man! behold these features, once
Thy sole delight, if midst my past misfortunes
A trace remains of what they once have been.

Lyc.
Whence could she come? In what a luckless hour
Am I surpris'd? If still I loiter here
I lose my Aristea. [aside.]
— [to her.]
Beauteous maid!
I understand not what thy words import;
Some other time thou may'st at better leisure
Explain thy meaning.

[going.
Arg.
Hear me, cruel man!

[holding him.
Lyc.
Unhappy me!

[aside.
Arg.
Dost thou not understand me?
But well I understand thy perfidy,
Thy new affection! All thy frauds I know;
And Clisthenes from me shall know them all,
To thy confusion.

[going.
Lyc.
O forbear! Yet hear me;
[holding her.
Be not offended, Argene: forgive
This seeming coldness: I remember now
My former love, and if thou wilt conceal me,
Perhaps—who knows th' event?

Arg.
And can I suffer
A baser insult? Say'st thou then, perhaps—
Who knows th' event? Yes, yes, 'tis I am guilty:
The motives thou hast urg'd to plead thy pardon,
Are doubtless mighty proofs of thy affection.

Lyc.
Yet hear what I would say.

[offers to take her hand.
Arg.
Leave me, ingrate!
I'll hear no more!

Lyc.
O! Gods! I'm all distraction!

Arg.

[Exit.

SCENE XIII.

Lycidas
alone.
Was ever fate so cruelly perplex'd?
If Argene betrays me, I am lost.
I must pursue her yet, and calm her rage;
But who, meanwhile, shall pacify the princess?
My friend alone—but whither is he gone?
I'll seek him; Megacles at least will give me
Advice and comfort.

[going.

SCENE XIV.

Enter Amyntas.
Amyn.
Megacles is dead.

Lyc.
Say'st thou, Amyntas!

Amyn.
'Tis, alas! too true.

Lyc.
Ha! wherefore!—Say, what impious hand has dar'd
Cut short a life so precious? Let me find him,
He shall be made a monument of vengeance
To all mankind.

Amyn.
Forbear thy search, and know
'Twas Lycidas that kill'd him.

Lyc.
Me?—Thou rav'st!

Amyn.
O would to Heaven I did! wandering but now
In search of thee, amid these trees I heard
A sudden groan, and hastening tow'rds the sound,
Beheld a man who turn'd his sword unsheath'd
Against his breast, and stood prepar'd to fall
Upon the fatal point: I ran to save him,
Held him from death, and snatch'd the weapon from him:
But when I saw the face of Megacles,
Think how we both remain'd; recovering soon,
What madness urges thee to seek thy death?
I would have said, but ere I could begin,
“Amyntas, I have liv'd enough—” (he cried,
And sigh'd full deeply from his inmost heart)
“I cannot, will not longer bear the light,
“Depriv'd of Aristea; ten long years
“I've liv'd for her! 'Tis Lycidas, alas!
“Unknowing kills me: yet he wrongs me not;
“This life was once his gift, and he resumes it.”

Lyc.
Alas! my friend—Go on—

Amyn.
This said he vanish'd
Swift as a Parthian shaft. Thou see'st yon' rock,
Whose lowering front o'ershades Alpheus' stream:
Like lightning thither speeding, from the summit
He leap'd, and headlong plung'd amid the flood.
In vain I cried for help, the waves receiv'd him,
And opening, swift in circling eddies whirl'd,
Then sudden clos'd again; the echoing banks
Return'd the sound, and he was seen no more.

Lyc.
What dreadful image rises to my sight!

Amyn.
O let us seek at least those dear remains
That once contain'd such treasure of a soul:
'Tis the last office that afflicted friendship
Can pay his memory!

[Exit.

SCENE XV.

Lycidas
alone.
Alas! Where am I!
What has befallen! Must then offended Heaven
Shower all its wrath on my devoted head?
O Megacles! Where art thou, Megacles!
What is this world without thee? Cruel Gods!
[raving.
Restore to me my friend! 'Twas you who snatch'd him
From my embrace, from you I now demand him;
If you refuse to give him to my vows,
Where'er he is, by force I'll wrest him from you;
I fear not all your bolts—I have a soul
Can urge my steps to tread the path below,
Which Hercules and Theseus trod before.

SCENE XVI.

Enter Alcander.
Alc.
What, Lycidas!

Lyc.
Even from the lowest depth—

[not hearing Alcander.
Alc.
Hear, Lycidas!

Lyc.
Ha! what art thou whose rashness
Breaks in upon my frenzy?

Alc.
From the king
I come a messenger.

Lyc.
What would the king?

Alc.
He wills that thou be banish'd far from hence,
A shameful exile: should the setting sun
Leave thee in Elis, thou'rt condemn'd to die.

Lyc.
And sends he thus to me?

Alc.
Learn hence to assume
A borrow'd name, to break the bonds of faith,
And dally with the majesty of kings.

Lyc.
Dar'st thou, rash man!—

Alc.
No more—thus far, O prince!
My duty bids me, which I have fulfill'd;
The rest remains with thee.

[Exit.

SCENE XVII.

Lycidas
alone.

[Exit.