 | Hypsipyle |  |
SCENE I.
Part of the garden belonging to the palace, with fountains on each side, and in the middle a grove sacred to Diana. Time, night.Eurynome, Learchus concealed in the grove.
Eury.
In every part methinks these eyes behold
Some dreadful objects that augment my fury.
Ye lonely horrors of the silent night,
Raise no remorse to terrify my soul!
Say rather that my son's unhappy shade
No longer roves without a wish'd revenge:
Say that no more he sighs in vain to cross
The dire Lethean flood; and that his peace
Is cheaply purchas'd by his mother's crime.
Lear.
It is Hypsipyle—be bold Learchus.
[comes out of the grove.
Eury.
Some one approaches! Heavens! what can it be?
Lear.
Thou dearest!—
[takes her hand.
Eury.
Say, what art thou? Whence that voice?
Lear.
Ha! I'm deceiv'd!
[retires.
Eury.
Ye powers! what chilling fear
Runs through my veins! Methought I heard the voice
Of my Learchus—where art thou, my son!
Ah! do not hide thee from a mother's sight:
O! speak and tell me why thou art return'd:
What would'st thou? Wherefore dost thou hover round me?
Runs through my veins! Methought I heard the voice
184
Ah! do not hide thee from a mother's sight:
O! speak and tell me why thou art return'd:
What would'st thou? Wherefore dost thou hover round me?
Unhappy shade of him I mourn,
Dear son, no longer mine;
If vengeance prompt thee to return,
Know 'tis already thine.
Dear son, no longer mine;
If vengeance prompt thee to return,
Know 'tis already thine.
What victim can appease the dead,
What peace canst thou obtain,
If all the blood this hand has shed,
Was shed for thee in vain?
What peace canst thou obtain,
If all the blood this hand has shed,
Was shed for thee in vain?
[walks about in great agitation.
| Hypsipyle | |