University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

A procession appears at a considerable distance, consisting of priests, youths, virgins, &c. &c Leucothöe in the centre, covered with a black veil; as it approaches the audience, the following semi-chorus is sung with frequent pauses.
Semi-Chorus.
Prepare! ye Stygian pow'rs, prepare!
In all your pomp of horrors dress'd;
Ye dreadful ministers of fate,
Set wide Death's adamantine gate,
For, lo! we bring a guest.
Prepare! prepare! prepare!

[The procession being come to the front of the stage.]
Strophe.
Hear! injur'd chastity; pure essence, hear!
From yonder marble sphere;
Where-e'er thou hold'st thy mansion in the skies,
Look down, look down,
From thy exalted and star-spangled throne,
To thee we sacrifice.

Chorus.
To thee,
To thee we sacrifice.

Anti-Strophe.
Hear, Justice! awfulest of beings, hear!
Tremend'ous and severe,
Thou whose stern resolution never dies,
Look down, look down,
From thy immovable, immortal throne;
To thee we sacrifice.

Chorus.
To thee,
To thee we sacrifice!

Epode.
To her, to thee our voice we raise,
Avert your anger from the state;
Deign to accept a nation's praise,
And let the forfeiture she pays
Her crime expiate.

Semi-Chorus.
Prepare! ye Stygian pow'rs, prepare!
In all your pomp of horrors dress'd;
Ye dreadful ministers of fate,
Set wide Death's adamantine gate,
For, lo! we bring a guest.
Prepare! prepare! prepare!

Leucothöe,
Putting aside the veil. She appears in white, with fillets, after the manner of a sacrifice.
Oh, mighty God! that guides the day,
A moment stop your rapid way;
Behold me in this dreadful strife,
Just tott'ring on the brink of life,
No help, no friendly comfort nigh,
To break my fall,
Beset with all
The terrors of eternity;
While doubts and fear
My bosom tear,
And with alternate passion vie;
Think when you see,
And pity me;
Oh! think it is for you I die.

A Youth.
Thy charms just rising to their noon,
Ah! must we see them set so soon?

A Virgin.
Those charms which distant princes woo'd,
And deities themselves pursu'd!

A Youth.
What heart that is not frozen quite,
But must in thy afflictions share?

A Virgin.
To see, oh melancholy sight!
To see you plung'd in sudden night!

A Youth.
To be you know not what!

A Virgin.
To go you know not where!

Leucothöe.
Weep not, my dear companions!

Chorus of Youths and Virgins.
Cruel stroke!
Can nothing then thy destiny revoke?

Leucothöe.
No! we must part; e'en now fate lifts the sheers,
To cut the thread of my scarce half-spun years.
Farewel! when poor Leucothöe's forgot,
Oh! may you find a more indulgent lot.
May each be happy in some nymph or youth,
Proud to repay your tenderness and truth.
Then, if between the transports of your bliss,
You should recount a piteous tale like this,
Of some poor creature by her love betray'd,
As the sad accidents your mem'ry strike,
Bestow a tear in pity to my shade,
And mourn at once two fates so much alike.

Youth and Virgin.
Come, Sorrow, from thy gloomy cell,
Where in eternal rage you dwell;
From thy bed of raven's plumes,
Curtain'd round with dusky fumes.

Chorus.
Come, and with you bring your groans,
Frantic gestures, sullen moans,
Fury of conflicting passions,
Sighs, and tears, and lamentations,
Join with us in doleful lay,
Rage and Death triumph to-day.

[The procession disperses, and the music strikes dead and solemn.]