University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Enter ADELPHASIUM and ANTERASTILIS, from the temple of VENUS.
Ant.
Whoever hath a taste for elegance,
And visited the goddess' shrine to-day,
To feast his eyes, found it well worth his pains.
By Castor's temple, I was charm'd myself
To see how elegant the offerings were;
Worthy the queen of elegance herself!
Who could despise the honours of her day,
Where such variety of beauties met,
Each plac'd with art and nice propriety?
Odours of myrrh, and all Arabia's sweets,
Breath'd round. Thy fane and festival, O goddess,
Shone equal; such a croud of votaries
To Caledonian Venus bow'd. For us,
Our influence prevail'd, aton'd with ease,
For we were fair: nor were we, like the rest,
The may-game of the youth.

Adel.
I'd rather, sister,
Others should find it so, than you be left
To praise yourself.

Ant.
Sister, I wish so too.

Adel.
And I.—Since well I know the difference
Between ourselves and others.—Born as we are,
Shame should preserve us pure, and free from vice.

Han.
Great Jove! who dost preserve and guard mankind,
By whom we live and breathe this vital air,
On whom depends the hope of human life,
Make this day prosperous to my affairs.
Grant liberty to those, whom I, for years
Have mourn'd, and from their native country lost
Ev'n in their infancy; that I may know
For unremitting piety, there is
A due reward—

Ago.
Great Jove, I will engage
Shall grant your wish—He stands in awe of me.

Han.
Forbear, forbear such impious discourse.

Ago.
Uncle, weep not—

Ant.
Sister, how pleasant 'tis
To bear away the palm of victory!
Our beauty clearly won the prize to-day.

Adel.
You're not so wise as I could wish, my sister.
Why sure, because you have 'scap'd ridicule,
You do not therefore think yourself a beauty.

Ago.
Uncle, my uncle of all uncles uncle.—

Han.
Kinsman, my son, what would you have?

Ago.
Attend
Upon this business.

Han.
I'm about it.

Ago.
Uncle,
My best, my dearest uncle—

Han.
What's the matter?

Ago.
How pretty, elegant, and wise she is?

Han.
She has her father's disposition then
In that—

Ago.
In what?—The wisdom she deriv'd
From you, she has worn out long since—To me
And to my love, she owes her wisdom now.

Adel.
Sister, such is our birth, tho' now we're slaves,
We can't consistent with our character,
Do any thing would bring us in contempt.
Women have many faults, and of the many,
This is the chief; delighted with themselves,
Too great a zeal they have to please the men.

Ant.
Excess of joy, the omen for our sacrifice!
And what the soothsayer has foretold of both.

Ago.
I hope he prophesied no less of me.

Ant.
That in few days, in spite of our old master,
We should regain our liberty—And yet,
Unless our parents and the gods assist,
I know no room for hope.

Ago.
'Twas trust in me
That made the soothsayer promise them their liberty,
Because I lov'd this girl.

Adel.
Follow this way.

[to Anterastilis.]
Ant.
I follow.

Han.
If convenient, stop a moment.

Adel.
Who calls us back?

Ago.
One who desires to serve you.

Adel.
There's need enough of that—But who is he?

Ago.
Your friend—

Adel.
And so is every one, who is not
My foe—

Ago.
He's a good man, my love.

Adel.
I'd rather
Have such a man my friend, than one who's bad.

Ago.
If you'd engage in friendship, none so fit
To be your friend.

Adel.
I do not now propose it.

Ago.
He longs to do you many services.

Adel.
He proves his worth, by serving those who're good.

Han.
I'll give you joy.

Adel.
And pleasure to yourself.

Han.
And liberty to you—

Adel.
At such a price
You purchase us for ever for your own—

Ago.
If I were Jove, I'd marry this dear girl,
And turn old Juno out of doors—How fitly,
How decent, how consid'rately she talk'd!
And with what modesty she fram'd her speech!
She must, she shall be mine.

Han.
How artfully
[to Agorastocles.]
I play'd my part?

Ago.
Yes, handsomely, by Hercules!
Cleverly too—

Han.
Return then to the charge

Ago.
Proceed, be short—The pit I see is thirsty—

Han.
Why loiter we? Let us complete our business.
I summon you before the magistrate.

Ago.
Then seize them, uncle—

Han.
Seize them then yourself,
If you are wise—

Ago.
And do you bid me seize
This fair one?

Han.
Hold her fast.

Adel.
And is this man
Truly your uncle, Agorastocles?

Ago.
I'll make you know that presently—I'll be
Sweetly reveng'd on you—I swear by Pollux!
That you shall be my bride—

Han.
Come, come away
Before the magistrate; nor wast the time.

Ant.
Be you a witness for me, and lead on.

Ago.
I'll witness for you—Her I will embrace
And love that—so I would have said,—but I
Have spoke my wishes.

Han.
Still, you loiter here.
I summon you again—You would not sure
Be drag'd by force.

Adel.
Why summon us? Are we
In debt to you?

Ago.
Ask him that question.

Adel.
Does
My own cur bark at me?

Ago.
Yet, pat me but
A little, feed me with a kiss or two,
You'll make your cur as gentle as a lamb.

Han.
Come on, unless you would be carried—

Adel.
How
Have we offended you?

Han.
You're thieves—

Adel.
We thieves?

Han.
Both thieves—

Ago.
I know it to be true.

Adel.
What robbery
Is this?

Ago.
Ask him there.

Han.
You've for many years
Conceal'd my daughters: women of distinction,
Free, and of highest birth—

Adel.
You'll never prove us
Guilty of such a villainy—

Ago.
I'll bet
A kiss, you've said what's false. I care not whether
I win or lose—

Adel.
I have no business with you—
Be gone—

Ago.
Ay, but by Hercules! you have—
He is my uncle; I'm in duty bound
To be his advocate; and I'll inform him
How many thefts you're guilty of; and how
You keep for slaves his daughters, whom you know
Free-born, and from their native country stolen.

Adel.
Where, or who are they, pray?

Ago.
They're teiz'd enough.

[to Hanno.]
Han.
Shall I discover—?

Ago.
Now's the time, good uncle.

Adel.
Sister, I dread this matter—how 'twill end—
I am so sunk and spiritless.

Han.
Attend,
Both of you, hear.—And first, I could have wish'd
The gods, if possible, had spar'd your innocence.
For what their gracious wills have done for me,
For you, and for your nurse, we ought to give them
Eternal thanks, for that they have been pleas'd
To honour and approve our piety—
You are my daughters—Agorastocles
Is your relation, my own brother's son.

Adel.
Good heavens! do they mislead us with false hopes?

Ago.
So may the gods protect me! as 'tis sure
He is your father—Come, give him your hands—

Adel.
Our father, our unhop'd for father, hail!
Indulge us in one dear embrace.

Han.
My daughters,
My dearest, my long wish'd-for children, Oh!—

Ant.
My father! we are both of us your daughters,
Let both of us embrace you.

Ago.
Who shall after
Embrace poor me?

Han.
Now I indeed am happy.
Whole years of misery are now repaid
With joy!

Adel.
We scarce can think it credible.

Han.
'Twill be more credible, when I inform you,
Your nurse did at first sight acknowledge me.

Adel.
Where, I beseech you, is she?

Han.
At his house.

[pointing to Agorastocles.]
Ago.
Why do you hang upon his neck so long?
Before he has promis'd you in marriage to me.

Adel.
I've done—

Ago.
Hail! mine that is to be!

[kissing and embracing her.]
Adel.
Pray spare
Your compliment.

Ago.
And hail too, Anterastilis!

Ant.
Forbear, you teize me.

Han.
Let's now arm in arm
Unite, and henceforth form the band of friendship.
Who are on earth more happy?

Ago.
Worth finds here
Her due reward!—He has reach'd at length his wishes!
O Zeuxis! O Apelles! why are you
Now number'd with the dead? when here's a subject
Of your great pencils worthy, far above
The touch of meaner hands—

Han.
To you, ye gods,
What thanks, what gratitude I justly owe,
Who thus have fill'd my heart with joy and gladness,
And brought my daughters to my widow'd arms!

Adel.
The just reward of fatherly affection!

Ago.
Now uncle, call to mind your former promise,
That gave your eldest daughter to my vows.

Han.
I've not forgot it.

Ago.
Nor forget her fortune.